royalrory:“I could have loved a man like you.” Her eyes are sad but a smile gr
royalrory: “I could have loved a man like you.” Her eyes are sad but a smile graces her beautiful face. She has flowers in her hair, a simple coiffure for a woman who will have to work from now on. Athos woke up, startled. Her words won’t go away, they haunt him in his sleep at night and crawl into his consciousness in the middle of the day. Unwanted memories. Was it not Aramis the one with a penchant for women? Now, whenever Athos is not consumed by thoughts of revenge for her, his mind only conjures images of la Comtesse de Larroque. No, not la Comtesse, Ninon. Another trait they share: to the word, la Comtesse de Larroque was dead, and le Comte de la Fére did not exist anymore. Two people running away from their past. They had both been living an idyll, a life too good to be true. And then, a bit by choice and a bit because there is no other choice for people like them, they are banished from the places that had brought them both happiness and agony. A bedroom, a library. So many ghosts that still needed to be chased away. Athos got up from his pallet, stretched his muscles, and stared at the small mirror on the wall in front of him. The man staring back had bloodshot eyes, and a beard longer than he remembered. A single white hair on his left temple had appeared. The life of a musketeer might make you feel younger but it does not stop the clock from ticking, old man. So much time spent drinking, so much self recrimination for what might have been if only he… If only. Would Ninon be another ‘if only’ in his life? If only she had not been his life at all. If only he had made himself see behind the rebellious side of Ninon, if only that had not reminded him of her. But, then, what would he have done? Followed her? Lived in sin with her? And do what? What life was there for him if not that of a musketeer? But man does not live forever. And a life regretting does not bring peace. Athos was not certain what had made him decide to go look for her, he only knew nothing else made sense. He wanted to see her, to see if the spark between them had not been a dream after all. Finding her will not be easy, of course. “I will not be silenced. But, I promise, you will not hear my voice.” And a powerful voice can always be heard, no matter how softly it whispers. (to be continued hopefully) * Comments and suggestions are welcomed. If I have made any mistake, feel free to message me and point it out, I will correct them as soon as possible. Whenever you see ‘she’ or ‘her’ in italics I am referring to Milady de Winter- Athos cannot find it in himself to speak or think her name. -- source link
#the musketeers#fanfiction