Authors note: For those who need to know…they are all featured throughout, but there is more Aramis whump, some d'Artagnan whump (and worry/angst from him) and a little Athos whump.

If you have not read 'Small Injuries' all you really need to know is that they were all captured, briefly, by a gang. During their escape d'Artagnan burnt his hands, Porthos received a burn to his arm, Aramis fell over and has a bruised leg, hip and arm and Athos has a bit of a fever.

Deceptions

Chapter One

The fire had died down, but the sun was up and Porthos could feel its rays on him. Whilst not offering much warmth it did provide the safety of light. They had taken turns to keep watch. Aramis had watched first. Porthos had been surprised when Athos had woken him for his turn a few hours earlier. The still feverish man had stated that when he had awoken he had found that Aramis, who was supposed to still be on watch, had fallen asleep, clutching the water skin he had intended Athos to drink from.

They were all tired, they had only been hunted for a couple of hours by the gang before they lost them in the woods, but a collection of small injuries, and then Athos' fever had left them all at the point of collapse.

D'Artagnan stretched with a groan besides him, Porthos grabbed the young man's wrist before he unconsciously used his hand to push himself into a sitting position. D'Artagnan's eyes flew open, startled by the contact.

Porthos chuckled, 'it's OK, I'm just stopping you from hurting yourself.'

The young man looked confused for a few seconds as the last vestiges of sleep left him and he recollected the previous couple of days events. He held up his bandaged hands, then nodded his thanks to Porthos before looking over at Athos and Aramis who were both still sleeping.

'Athos woke me up a few hours ago, he's not fully fit, but he was alert enough to take a turn…' Porthos smiled when d'Artagnan looked a little guilty at being allowed to sleep through the night, 'you can take a turn next time we need to set up a look out rota.'

Stiffly Porthos pulled himself to his feet, he moved across to his still sleeping comrades and crouched down, he gently shook Aramis' shoulder. The marksman shifted his position with a moan of pain, his hand reaching out to his bruised hip and leg, an earlier fall leaving the man struggling to walk as the bruising had become progressively worse.

Porthos helped his friend to sit up and once certain Aramis was fully awake he turned his attention to Athos who was beginning to stir.

As Athos opened his eyes Porthos could see the man was still suffering, the tension in his expression was obvious. As with Aramis, Porthos helped the man to sit. He picked up the discarded water skin and pushed it into Athos hands. Athos pulled out the stopper and took a drink before passing the skin to Aramis who did the same.

'Are you two OK to start walking back to the remains of our camp?'

Both men nodded. Porthos returned to d'Artagnan and helped him up.

'Can you walk with Athos, whilst I help Aramis?'

D'Artagnan nodded crossing to Athos and offering his arm to the swordsman. Slowly Athos pulled himself up, keeping hold of d'Artagnan for a few seconds before releasing the young musketeer. Athos was pale, but appeared alert enough, although Porthos knew they would need to keep an eye on him. Porthos could see Aramis eyeing his friend carefully.

Porthos held out both hands to Aramis who grabbed them, he hauled the marksman up and immediately grabbed his right arm and pulled it around his shoulder whilst snaking his left arm around the man's waist. Aramis tried to bear weight on his left leg and hissed in pain.

'Why try?' asked Porthos.

'Sorry,' said Aramis through clenched teeth.

Slowly they moved off towards their camp. Athos led, with d'Artagnan remaining nearby. Porthos and Aramis followed.

MMMM

As they walk back towards the remains of their camp d'Artagnan could tell that Athos was not as well as he was pretending to be. Although he was no longer being short with them he was still shivering, despite now wearing his doublet again.

The man had stumbled a few times which was also a giveaway, Athos was usually so sure footed, almost balletic with his movements. D'Artagnan did not want to say anything but instead chose to keep as close as he could in case his friend were to fall.

As they reached the camp they spread out and took stock of the remains. The gang that had caught them the previous day had not left much behind, their horses and most of their gear had been taken. D'Artagnan watched as Porthos helped Aramis to the ground, the pale marksman clearly suffering from having to walk through the rough terrain. Athos was picking through what had been left by the gang.

'There is nothing of use to us, we will have to press on to the road,' he said rising, d'Artagnan noticed he swayed slightly but quickly stopped himself as he glanced across at Aramis who was not watching him at that moment.

D'Artagnan realised Athos had managed to keep himself out of Aramis' reach since they had woken. Athos was clearly trying to hide how ill he was from the marksman who would no doubt want the man to rest rather than struggle on. Athos was a stubborn man at times thought d'Artagnan.

D'Artagnan decided he would have to say something, he stepped towards Athos to confront him but stopped when he saw Athos staring intently to the left of him. As the young musketeer turned to see what had caught the swordsman's eye he noticed movement in the trees behind Athos.

Half a dozen men, including the man who had interrogated them the previous day stepped forward, their weapons trained on them.

The Musketeers froze, they were in no state to resist, they had no weapons and were all injured. The leader of the gang smiled as he took in the four. He slowly walked up to each of them in turn. He looked down at d'Artagnan's bandaged hands and nodded, then knocked Aramis' bruised leg with his foot, eliciting a hiss of pain from the marksman and a slight reaction from Porthos. The leader crossed to Porthos and grabbed his arm, the one the man had burnt with a hot poker the day before. Porthos could not suppress a cry of pain at the action.

The man stopped in front of Athos and observed him for a few seconds before nodding and turning to his men.

'That one,' he said pointing at Aramis, 'and that one,' he continued pointing at d'Artagnan.

Two of the men moved towards Aramis grabbing him and hauling him up to stand, keeping him upright when he nearly fell back down.

'You two, on your knees,' said the leader indicating Athos and Porthos. When neither man did as they were told, one of the gang pressed his gun into d'Artagnan neck.

Porthos crossed the camp and knelt down next to Athos, who swayed again.

'I only need two of you, to make it worthwhile, you,' he pointed at Porthos, 'are clearly too much of a liability, your injury is minimal, you will be too much trouble, and you,' he looked at Athos, 'are sick and I cannot ransom a dead man. Those two are injured enough that they are unlikely to cause me any problems.'

Aramis had regained his composure enough to speak, 'no one will pay for us, we're worthless.'

'Speak again, and I will have these two killed.'

Aramis, who was about to complain clearly thought better of it and shut his mouth.

'Get them on a horse.'

Aramis was roughly walked over to a saddled horse and despite the obvious pain he was in was forced up to sit on the saddle. D'Artagnan could tell Aramis was struggling to keep upright as he was walked over to the same horse and helped up behind the marksman. The leader, who had mounted his own horse walked over to them and pulled out a set of manacles with a short chain. He leaned over and grabbed d'Artagnan's wrist, attaching one manacle, he looked at d'Artagnan who reluctantly put his other arm around Aramis waist and allowed himself to be chained.

'I suggest neither of you fall, it probably would not be pleasant,' the leader said with a chuckle as he took the horse's reins and began to lead them from the thicket and back towards the road.

D'Artagnan managed to twist around enough to make eye contact with Athos and Porthos who could do nothing but watch as their brothers were taken by the gang.

MMMM