AN- So here's the beginning of that monster fic I've been ranting about (no the title isn't meant to hint any relation to Blinded by the Light- it's a song title for later).
Normally at this point, I would have focused my story on Aramis -as he is my favourite character- but since I wish to remain true to his cannon pairing with Anne, I have happily settled on Athos- who's been battling in my mind for first place since day 1 anyway. And so I bring you another Athos whump/angst fic- with some romance tied in ;)
This is also my first fic containing an oc- I was hesitant to use one as im not usually a fan of them myself, but being the mad woman that I am I decided to give it a shot.
I hope you like her and this story! ;)
~o0o~
(Warning- this gets a little graphic in places- not too badly I hope, but just fyi)
It was the thick of night and a dense fog now loomed across the open meadows, partially shrouding the dimly lit gravel road back into Paris.
Not put out by the eerie conditions, Athos scanned the area easily, able to see in all directions for miles around, unwinding as he acknowledged there could be no surprises lying in wait for them here, that they would not see coming.
The musketeers finally began to relax in their saddles at this, tired from their long ride around the country to escort their hopeless governor to his large estate and pick up the proper parchment that allowed the passing of a new law awaiting him in commerce.
Everything had appeared normal, no suspicious activity that would cause any unease for the guards out front. No warning about the ambush that lay waiting for them ahead.
No one had been prepared for what happened next.
Springing up from their concealed beds among the long wheat grass, an army had seemingly appeared as if by magic, screaming anguished cries into the silence of the night as they charged the guards, armed to the teeth and outnumbering them at least fifty to one.
Flying from their saddles and courageously standing their ground by the doors of the governors carriage, each musketeer fought hard against the slew of swords forcing their way forwards.
"Perhaps a retreat with the governor would be best!?" Aramis suggested loudly over the clashing of swords, chancing a glance over to Athos who fought hard on his left flank.
It seemed even the expert swordsman was struggling to keep up with his growing number of opponents Aramis acknowledged grimly.
This didn't look good.
They couldn't keep up this fast pace forever, with each parry, blow and dodge their strength would wane while the new men would continue to attack them without such hindered reservations.
"Can't risk it!" Athos replied with a grunt, gathering all of his strength to his arms so he could push his sword back against the pressing assailant -of whom was attempting to force his sword bend back to meet its maker.
If they were to retreat now, the governor would become an easy target for the long range muskets. They could not allow that to happen Athos concluded eyeing the musket on the back of his attacker, glad for the small mercy that they'd had the wits not to use their pistols in such close quarters.
Whirling to the side and ducking under the arc of a narrowly arcing blade that sought his face, Porthos circled into Aramis' sight.
"Any o' you's got those fancy smoke bombs on 'and?" he panted, smashing his free left hand into the nose of an on comer while he continued to do battle with his right.
The two men dared to offer their eyes to Porthos to convey their expressions of hopelessness.
They hadn't thought to pack any their sad eyes stated, ripping their eyes away and back to the fight at hand.
"Here!" D'artagnan suddenly shrieked gleefully from amidst the bustling of leather bodies, battling his way forwards and using his nimble frame to sidestep and roll his way around the deadly blows that came his way.
The newest member of their brotherhood, D'artagnan was always one to come over prepared into the field, carrying plentiful supplies in his over burdened satchels.
It looked as if his diligence had finally paid off as he raced forward to hand over the bomb, seeking the matches his friend was responsible for carrying as the 'unofficial cook' of the group.
Porthos quickly turned to the call of his friend, spying his tall lanky form and brown leather jacket through the sea of cut throats and glinting of rising swords and aloft muskets.
Noting the promising progression of his Porthos' plan, Athos fought more vigorously, his sharpened blade slicing holes and damning gashes through the pale flesh of the men surrounding him, splattering blood over his outfit and the gravel below.
He'd probably be mistaken as a thriving butcher at this point, Athos speculated, thrusting his second dagger into the jugular of another as continued his slow pace towards Aramis' defenceless back.
He supposed the only big defining difference between the two careers was that he was cutting down men and not pigs… Not much of a difference actually he corrected humourlessly as he left a gash across another's stomach, dropping him effectively to the crimson ground.
"Catch!" D'artagnan warned, pitching the hefty steel ball full of dried leaves and chemicals over to Porthos.
He could get no closer without leaving his back vulnerable in the thicker swarm of men and so he continued to fight back with all his might, hoping his brother had heeded his call while he set off back the few paces he'd come, so he could escort the governor from his carriage when the time came.
Having kept his sights on the boys advances when he could, Porthos removed his blade from a mans gut and used the moment of freedom to raise his free arm and catch the smoke bomb.
Rifling desperately through his back pocket with his left, cradling the bomb in the nook of his elbow and parrying his blade with at least two others at a time, Porthos was relieved when his fingers caught hold of the match sticks.
Knocking his closest attackers back with a wide sweep of his sword, Porthos struck the matches against the stubble on his skin and lit the fuse, an evil smile now crossing his features.
Finally, they could get out of here Porthos sighed in relief, raising his arm back to throw the bomb into the middle of the mess.
Just as he was about to let the ball loose, a man suddenly rammed his shoulder from the side, jostling his grip and causing the ball to fly from his grasp -its slowed momentum causing it to roll to a stop only three feet from his position.
Not wanting to get caught by the shrapnel or the blinding sparks that would come with the initial blast, Porthos fought mercilessly against his restraining adversaries, gaining a few feet per second as he vacated towards the outskirts of the battle, eyes always searching for his brothers.
Sensing rather than seeing the threat of the bomb fall into the tangle of dancing boots, Athos grasped at Aramis shoulder, "We need to leave, now" Athos commanded urgently, slowly leading his brother away as they fought back to back, walking to the edge of the battle.
Acting on instinct, D'artagnan swept his blade wide for a final blow before turning his back and entering the governors carriage, arms catching hold of his embodied sleeve and launching him up from his seat and out of the shadowed interior with a powerful tug.
Having been on the left side of the carriage where the wheels lay at the abrupt edge of a ditch narrow that followed the road, D'artagnan considered himself lucky that he only had five men to deal with.
There was simply not enough room for many men to be standing on this side without standing in the ditch, and that would leave their heads dangerously vulnerable to arcing swords at waist height.
Covering his body with his own, D'artagnan roughly shoved the spluttering governor ahead, taking out the few men at his immediate sides before leaping the ditch and running into the tall cover of the cornstalks standing on the other side.
Just as D'artagnan had leapt to the safety of the adjacent field, a loud crack filled the air, followed by billowing smoke that quickly spread to consume the ongoing battle and cover his brothers from his sight.
D'artagnan prayed that they would remain safe until he could rejoin them once more.
That prayer went unanswered.
Sorry, I had to cut this intense chapter in half! It was taking over! I hoped you found it intense -as the next one definitely will be!
Lots of angst/whump/tragedy coming up! Hope you're intrigued. Leave a comment and let me know what you thought!