Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to Alexandre Dumas. Enjoy! Italicized Quote from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, Chapter 34: Equipment for Aramis and Porthos, p. 350
"He found Athos and Aramis philosophizing. Aramis was again thinking of becoming a priest, though this time his thoughts were only tentative."
"I want to become a priest."
Such was the answer Aramis gave to Athos' question of "How are you?" He looked agitated and it was clear that he was a man who could not make up his mind.
"Haven't you always wanted to become a priest?" Athos asked, unaware that Aramis' goals had changed.
"I have, but I think the time to leave the musketeers is drawing near."
"Then leave."
"Well, there is the problem," Aramis said, looking despairingly at his friend. "I don't want to leave quite yet. I don't want to commit myself to the priesthood when there is still much I need to do in the musketeers."
"Then don't resign."
Aramis bit his lip, reddening it. "Do you know why I can't seem to choose one or the other?"
"No. Would you like to tell me?"
"There's the problem! I don't know. I thought you might."
Athos clasped his hands together, thinking. He looked almost as though he were praying. "Aramis, only you can make up your mind on this." He paused. "Perhaps…you would like to tell me why you want to be a priest, and why you think you might not be able to?"
"Yes, that is a good idea." Aramis allowed himself a few moments to collect his thoughts. Then, blushing, he said, "Women."
Athos offered him a small smile in response.
"You don't find that a good enough reason?" Aramis asked, knowing full well how his friend felt on the matter of women.
"If you were cured of women by becoming a priest," said Athos, "it would be the best thing that could ever happen to you. However, since the priesthood does not cure men of women," here his smile turned almost ironic, "you would not have to worry about women either way. Unless, of course, you want to be rid of them."
"This is true," Aramis murmured. "Then my next reason would be that…I enjoy fighting for my country. But is it wrong for a priest to approve of such methods?"
"Priests fight for God," Athos pointed out. "And some even fight for things other than their Lord. Cardinal Richelieu is no stranger to warfare."
"The ordinary priest does not use a sword," Aramis countered. He put his head into his hands. "I want to become a priest so much, yet I can't bring myself to leave the musketeers, nor can I imagine life without intrigue and adventure. I keep thinking about one calling, but right when I'm sure of what I want to do my mind strays back to the other like some unfaithful lover."
"You need more time to think," Athos told him. "Such important decisions cannot be made in haste."
"No," Aramis conceded, "but I don't think they should take years to make, either."
"All in due time," Athos murmured.
Aramis was interrupted in his response by the arrivals of d'Artagnan and Porthos. For the time being, Aramis' mind was put to rest on the matter of being a priest, as he threw himself wholeheartedly into the work of a musketeer.