René d'Herblay, alias Aramis

Aramis faces him eagerly. Athos is wise and experienced, and Aramis is hungry for any knowledge that can see him through this. "It is not pity I feel for myself," he says. Aramis' thoughts towards himself are of loathing, but more grief will surely come when this knot that squeezes at his heart unravels.

"For you, for Porthos, I am sorrowful. How will I tell him?" Athos has had a long time to live with this, and he came into their relationship with full knowledge of what Aramis has done, but Porthos is innocent. "I can't bear to hurt him, Athos."