MERRY CHRISTMAS MY LOVELIES!

I was tempted to wait a bit longer to start publishing but figured Christmas was the perfect time to give you all a gift of a new story!

For those of you who have read my other story this is the sequel to my story Hidden Pain, it's not completely crucial to have read it but if you haven't there will be several references you wont get.

This wasn't originally going to be chapter one but then when the idea hit I couldn't not right it so unfortunately it might not seem as quite the gift I was originally planning on lol.

Also I'm aware this chapter is quite short, don't worry the others will be longer and I will be following my usual update schedule of daily (or every other day if I'm being lazy) updates.

As always please read/review/follow/favourite

Enjoy & Merry Christmas!

xxx

Disclaimer: I don't own the musketeers, only my OC's

Chapter One: Race Against Time

Athos cursed internally as he urged his horse forward, fear and panic gripping him as he sent up a series of numerous prayers to a God he wasn't sure would even hear him that he wasn't too late, that he hadn't let things get so away from that his brother would pay the price.

A glance to his left confirmed that he wasn't alone and for that the swordsman was eternally grateful, while he thought himself strong enough to handle most things he didn't have confidence in himself that he would be able to endure this alone should they be too late.

The closer they raced to their destination the more Athos's guilt grew… Rumors of what was happening or was about to happen had reached him several days before they had actually acted, purely because of who the rumors had come from. He knew those in the regiment who were aware of Milady De Winter would not fault him for acting solely on her word when she had shown up almost a week ago, but he also knew that the brother racing by his side would never truly be able to forgive him should they lose their brother due to his stubbornness that forbade him from taking Anne at her word.

It was only, several days later, when the rumor was confirmed by someone the entire garrison trusted without question that they had acted and now he could only hope they weren't too late.

Unfortunately for the musketeers, they were alerted to the fact they were nearing their destination when an all too familiar cry of pain pierced the air, barely audible over the sound of the pounding hooves of their horses.

The sound of their brother in pain had the two members of the inseparables acting before any of the rest of their unit could react. Both men's protective instincts had surged to the surface, making them force their horses to go even faster as they weaved their way through the thinning trees, eyes focused on the goal in front of them.

Athos, being further ahead than his brother, spotted their target first, his breath catching in his throat as he saw his beloved brother, seemingly barely conscious if the about of blood covering him was any indication, with a thick rope being tied around his neck.

"No," gasped his companion as he too spotted the scene in front of them.

Neither man paid any attention to the guards nor mercenaries loitering in the area as they once again urged their horses forward, their complete focus on reaching their brother before the worst could happen.

Having noticed the pair's approach, an order was given to knock over the support that was keeping their brother stable and the rope slack.

Athos, being the once closest, snarled in unbridled fury as he launched himself off of his horse and towards his brother just as the support was kicked out from under him and the rope snapped taut.