# XXVIII: The Place Royale explained — Twenty Years After

> Chapter companion for Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas.

## What happens

The four former musketeers meet at the Place Royale to reconcile after their recent conflicts. Athos mediates a tense confrontation, leading to a solemn oath of eternal friendship sworn on a diamond cross, despite their political divisions.

## Themes in this chapter

### Friendship and Loyalty

The four friends swear an oath of eternal unity despite political divisions, prioritizing their bond over factional loyalties.

### Honor and Duty

Athos insists on breaking swords and swearing a sacred oath to preserve honor and mutual respect.

### Revolution and Rebellion

The musketeers acknowledge their divergent paths as Cardinalists and Frondeurs, yet vow to remain friends amid civil war.

## Character check-ins

### Athos

Mediates the reconciliation, breaks his sword, and proposes a sacred oath of unity.

### D'Artagnan

Confronts Athos and Aramis about their deceptions, but ultimately embraces the renewed friendship.

### Porthos

Emotionally reaffirms his loyalty, weeping as he embraces Athos.

### Aramis

Initially angry and defensive, but submits to Athos's authority and breaks his sword.

## Key lines

> Never! I swear before God, who seeth us, and who, in the darkness of this night heareth us, never shall my sword cross yours...

Athos vows that he will never again fight against his friends, invoking God as witness.

_Athos's solemn oath to preserve friendship above all._

> I swear that I would give the last drop of my blood and the last fragment of my limbs to preserve the friendship of such a friend as you, Athos—of such a man as you, Aramis.

D'Artagnan declares he would sacrifice everything to keep their friendship.

_D'Artagnan's emotional reconciliation with Athos and Aramis._

> And whenever we meet in battle, at this word, 'Place Royale!' let us put our swords into our left hands and shake hands with the right, even in the very lust and music of the hottest carnage.

Athos proposes a secret signal to recognize each other in battle and reaffirm their bond.

_The symbolic gesture to maintain friendship even as enemies on the battlefield._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twenty_years_after_se/chapters/xxviii-the-place-royale
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twenty_years_after_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twenty_years_after_se/chapters