Disclaimer: I do not own The Musketeers.

AN/ So the end is finally here! I decided to post early given that my housemate woke me up before schedule and so I've got time to do so before work. I hope you've enjoyed following the story and that the epilogue will serve as a decent conclusion to the narrative. I would also like to offer my most heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone that has invested their time in reading this story, has fave'd or followed, or who has left me reviews.

Now without further ado...

'From what you have told me, and from what little I learning from him when we met, he is a very strong and kind man,' Juliette said softly as she stood in d'Artagnan's room. 'Thank you for telling me the truth of it, Constance. I'm glad that I was able to help you all.'

As evening had rolled in, Juliette had returned to the garrison and, over an evening meal, Constance had told the woman the truth of what d'Artagnan had asked of her. Now the two women were in d'Artagnan's room upon Juliette's request to look in on him.

The bruises on his face and arms were beginning to take on a yellowing tinge, and bandages still adorned his chest and hands. His shoulder had been strapped against his chest to prevent him from moving it and causing more damage.

The last vestiges of his fever had now left him, and Aramis had declared that the wound was now healing properly, although it would leave a relatively messy scar, for he had been unable to place stitches in the wound. Now d'Artagnan merely looked pale and bruised and completely worn out.

'Thank you for bringing the ring to me,' Constance said. 'A lesser person might have taken it for their own, even not knowing what it was.'

'Then your husband truly is a good choice of character,' Juliette said cheekily. Constance blushed a little at the double meaning to Juliette's words.

'I shall take my leave, but will be staying as the Ravens Foot Inn for the next few nights. Do you know it?' Juliette asked, to which Constance nodded. 'Good, I shall come by before I leave for home, to check on d'Artagnan and yourself.'

'I'll send word to the Inn if he awakes before I next see you,' Constance said.

'Thank you,' said Juliette. 'Good night Constance.'

The two women bid adieu and Juliette left Constance in the room alone with her husband.

As the evening progressed and more candles were lit amongst the room, Porthos, then Aramis, and finally Athos returned to the room to sit in the young couple's company.

With the imminent danger of the fever passed, and the answers concerning the ring now provided, the atmosphere in the room was somewhat brighter than the previous night, and now they merely waited for their d'Artagnan to awaken.

The four of them had settled into a comfortable silence when a small groan emanated from the bed. Constance turned to her husband, while Aramis lurched towards the bed with surprising speed.

'D'Artagnan?' Constance called to her husband. She watched as he attempted to throw off the last vestiges of sleep, and then… slowly… his eyes began to open.

His right eye was puffy, and could only open part way, but his eyes were clear and they settled on Constance's face almost immediately. He stared at her for a moment and then a smile spread across his bruised face, although he winced intermittently.

'H-hi,' he tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse, his throat bruised and dry and he instead erupted into a bout of coughs that set his chest on fire and nearly pulled him back into oblivion once more.

Once he recovered, Aramis offered d'Artagnan a cup with a mix of water and pain draught which d'Artagnan took without question.

'Welcome back by brother,' Aramis said softly as he helped d'Artagnan lift his head and take his drink.

'Was I gone?' d'Artagnan asked softly.

Porthos snorted from the corner and d'Artagnan's head turned slightly, trying to find the source of the noise.

'Right here brother,' Porthos said, moving into d'Artagnan's vision. The Gascon smiled at his friend and then a small frown appeared.

'Athos is here too,' Porthos told him, gesturing at Athos, who had been watching the scene with his breath stuck in his throat. He moved towards the bed also, and rested his hand on d'Artagnan's leg.

'Hello d'Artagnan,' he said quietly, a rare smile breaking onto his face.

D'Artagnan watched him momentarily and smiled back.

Then his eyes drifted back to Constance and he held them there as he drank her in. She ducked down and kissed him gently on his forehead and then his lips.

'I love you,' she whispered softly, completely uncaring about their audience.

'Love you too,' d'Artagnan whispered back breathlessly. His eyes were drooping, his body relaxing as Aramis' pain draught did its job.

'Go back to sleep,' Constance told him softly, but sternly. 'We'll be here when you wake up.'

'Um…' d'Artagnan hummed contently, but his eyes slid back open and a small frown appeared.

'The ring…' he muttered. 'Did she get here?'

'Both Juliette and the ring arrived here safely,' Aramis reassured his brother. 'You completed her duty and now you must do as you're told and rest.'

D'Artagnan smiled at that and his eyes slipped closed and he drifted off into a restful sleep, with his brothers and his wife by his side, watching over him.

END