Athos

Also known as: Comte de la Fère / the Comte de la Fère / the Musketeer · Family: King's Musketeers · Role: Musketeer · First appears: Chapter 2

At chapter 2, Athos was part of an agreement with Porthos and Aramis concerning their shared meals. At Rue Férou, Porthos and Aramis escaped after two Musketeers died while Athos was grievously wounded and left behind; he nevertheless reached M. de Tréville’s cabinet, where he collapsed from blood loss before being carried away for treatment. Soon afterward, he arranged a duel with D’Artagnan, but the two joined Porthos and Aramis against the Cardinal’s Guards, where Athos was wounded again by Cahusac without giving way. After the fight, he called the three Musketeers and D’Artagnan inseparable, and his hostility toward D’Artagnan became friendship.

Athos served in the King’s Musketeers under M. de Tréville, while his valet Grimaud served under him; Grimaud was strongly attached to Athos and venerated his talents. Athos was arrested after being mistaken for D’Artagnan, imprisoned in Fort l’Evêque, and released when Louis XIII signed the order carried by M. de Tréville. Given leave to recover, he nevertheless agreed to follow D’Artagnan on the queen’s mission, placing D’Artagnan at the head of their enterprise: “All for one, one for all—that is our motto, is it not?” At Amiens, Athos was again detained through a mistaken arrest, barricaded himself in a cellar with Grimaud, and left it only after D’Artagnan persuaded him to do so; he then helped prepare their military equipment and advised D’Artagnan to abandon Milady.

Athos disclosed that his wife had been branded with a fleur-de-lis and hanged by her husband, later revealing that he himself was that husband and that his name concealed the Comte de la Fère. In 1627, he confronted Milady, forced her to surrender Richelieu’s authorization, took her cardinal safe-conduct, and helped the others defeat the attacking troop at the bastion of St. Gervais. In 1628, he remained with D’Artagnan, Porthos, and Aramis in the King’s escort and on furlough to rescue Mme. Bonacieux; after her death, he led the pursuit of Milady with D’Artagnan and Lord de Winter. Before her execution, he pardoned her for the harm she had done him: “I pardon you for my blasted future, my lost honor, my defiled love, and my salvation forever compromised by the despair into which you have cast me. Die in peace!”

Athos remained a Musketeer under D’Artagnan until 1633, when he quit the service under the pretext of having inherited a small property in Roussillon.