Chapter Text
She cursed herself with every passing horseman: asking her husband to come to England with her didn’t seem such a great idea anymore.
Anne didn’t know for sure why she had done that in the first place. She should hate him, shouldn’t she? Hate the man who betrayed her, betrayed her love, hanged her without trial and remorse, after his brother atempted to rape her. So what’s led her to forgive him? Maybe it was the fact that Athos finally opened his eyes on the whole situation, saved her from Catherine's noose?
Whatever it was, Anne thought, didn’t matter at the moment, not when her heart skipped a beat every time someone rode by the crossroads, not when her mind was wondering and dreaming about a future spent with Athos, enjoying their love.
Nevertheless, Comtesse's patience was on the verge of running out, all the waiting had been playing on her nerves. But the moment she decided to ask the carrier to start towards Le Havre, she heard neighing of the approaching horse, hooves clacking against stones on the road and stalling the motion.
Anne came out of the carriage and stumbled into the firm body covered in leather, clutching broad shoulders for balance. Tilting her head up, she saw Athos looking down at her with softness that almost choked her and made her whimper in relief. His hands holding her by forearms strong yet every bit careful.
“Anne…”
“Athos…”
They gasped out each other’s name simultaneously, voice barely above a whisper, pausing to let the other one talk and again beginning to speak together. Anne shook her head and indicated to him to go first.
“I… I am sorry that I took so long, I wanted to come here earlier, but so much happened after you left: We got rid of Rocheforte…” Athos started to fervently describe everything that she missed in the last day only to be silenced with Anne’s gentle finger and then warm mouth over his lips.
Their first kiss in a long six years, filled with love and tenderness and not lust. The kiss nobody wanted to end, but had to in order to get some air.
“Shh, Athos… It doesn’t matter.” She started as they drew apart. “All that matters is that you are here, with me. I cannot believe you are actually here and want to sail with me to England. It seems as though my heart can’t hold it anymore and wants to explode. I can’t believe you are choosing me…” Her voice breaking in the middle of her speech, it was Anne’s turn to babble out in excitement.
Athos’ face suddenly changed from smiling to somewhat guilty at the happiness his wife radiated. It broke him how much she loved him, loved him even now, after all he had done to her. He was such a fool for betraying the only pure thing that was in his life, for breaking his Anne’s loving heart, for turning her life into hell. And he hated himself even more as he knew he was going to break her heart again, because he wasn't here to leave with her for England. He hated himself in advance for changing that hopeful look in her eyes into something gloomy, but he couldn’t do otherwise. War with Spain was declared, he had to stay in France and defend his country, it was his duty for which both his wife and he himself hated him.
Noticing his grimm expression, Anne stopped talking in confusion, her expressive brows knitting together. She took a step back to better look at her husband.
“Wha… What's wrong, Athos?” Her voice faltered mid sentence. “You are not here to be with me?” The musketeer hated how tiny she sounded with her realising what possibly could have ailed him.
“That’s… That’s not exactly what it seems to be, Anne.” Out of instinct he gripped her shoulders tightly and was right to do so as hearing his words she took another step back. But she didn’t break their embrace, giving him hope that he had a chance to explain everything to her, to ask her of something she would consider another betrayal.
“You are abandoning me, aren’t you? Again?” Anne continued as if she didn’t hear him. And then she started to break out of his hold to no avail, as he held her even firmer, never letting go. She fought his grip for all she was worth, his heart shattering to pieces at the sight of tears streaming down her pale cheeks, her never-ending attempts to break free.
“No, no, no… Anne, it’s not like that, I am not abandoning you, not anymore! Anne!” He managed to draw her closer and wrap his arms around her shaking form. “Please, Anne, calm down! Let me explain everything!”
“I hate you!” He felt a weak punch to his chest, as though she had no strength left to fight him for real, to hate him for real.
“France is going into war with Spain, Anne! I can’t…” She interrupted him.
“You are choosing your damn duty over me, Athos! Again! Why did you come here then? Why do you keep hurting me again?” She was relentless.
“I am sorry, Anne! I am sorry that loving me has brought so much pain in your life! I love you, but I cannot do otherwise! I must fight! Treville has pronounced me the Captain.” He was tenderly stroking her back in a dire attempt to sooth her.
“Damn you, Athos. What if something happens to you? What if you die in this stupid war? What am I going to do without you? Do you ever think about me? About what’ll happen to me if you die?” His ever strong wife was sobbing heavily, choking on every sentence.
“I am always thinking about you, my love! Always!” He prepared himself for her resentment after his next words. “That’s why I need you to go to England! And don’t come back till the war is over! I need you safe!”
“What? No way that is going to happen! If you are bullheaded about fighting this war, I am not going to leave you behind! I will fight beside you!” Her sobs have finally started to subdue in favour of anger sipping through her every word.
“No, Anne! No, I will not allow that!”
“As if I am going to ask your permission!” He knew where that led, the battle with his stubborn wife was never an easy one.
Athos carefully withdrew from her embrace and cupped her cheek with one hand, tilting her head to look into his eyes. The other hand firmly placed on her lower back just in case.
“Anne, please, listen to me! I am not going to put you into harm's way! I need you safe, please!” He begged her with everything he had, hoping she would see in his eyes that he was asking her of that only out of his love for her.
“But, Athos, I could be helpful! I am a spy, I can gather intelligence. That way I will be able to help you and stay out of the direct brutality of the war.” Her reasoning was good, but he couldn’t afford to rely on luck in matters of his wife’s safety.
“I know that you are skillful, and we could’ve used your skills to win this war…” The swordsman trailed off.
“But I hear there's a ‘but’.” She challenged him.
“But I can’t take any chances, Anne! I am too afraid something will happen to you! Seeing you with a noose around your neck the other day has wrecked me. After we were done with the mission, I couldn't piece myself together. I cannot let you do something that could even potentially bring danger to you! I won’t be able to survive losing you! Not anymore!”
“That’s hypocritical of you, Athos!” Her eyes started to water at his words, and she punched him into the chest. “You cannot see me getting hurt, but want me to let you fight the war alone. In case something happens to you, I’ll never know that! You think I can handle your death? No, I can’t! You die, Athos, I’ll die as well!” The only thought of his demise has been making her heart clench in pain.
“Please, Anne! Go to England, I swear I will come after you as soon as war is finished! I’ll find you and we will never be apart ever again! Please, just go to safety!” His begging has finally reached her. He saw her thinking about it, considering that option.
“If you are really going to abandon me again, please, Athos, please…” She started looking him into his ice-blue eyes, she adored so much. “Please, promise me just that one last night with you!”
“It won’t be our last night, Anne! We’ll have lots of merry nights. When I find you, I will never let go of you, I promise.”
With that he was finally able to calm her and somewhat to get her to agree to sail to England. Away from him, yes, but also away from the war.