Authors note: Thanks for all the comments. I love you all.

Chapter Three

'What do you want?' asked Aramis as he turned back to face the young man who had his gun held to d'Artagnan's neck.

D'Artagnan looked a little apprehensive, which was understandable. Their attempt at a confession could be cut very short if the man threatening them decided to just kill them both.

'Weapons off,' said the man with a nod towards Aramis. 'You as well, slowly. Drop the belts on the floor.'

Aramis did as he was told, slowly slipping the two weapons belts off and lowering them to the floor next to him. D'Artagnan was doing the same, although he was gingerly taking his time, not wishing to startle the young man into shooting him accidentally. As he was about to drop his weapon belt the man reached out and pulled d'Artagnan's gun from the belt before stepping back. He aimed one gun at each of them.

'You didn't answer my question,' said Aramis.

Now that d'Artagnan's life was not in such immediate danger Aramis felt able to try to engage them in conversation.

'I want you to do as I tell you.'

The man sneered at them both before continuing.

'My father will be pleased. We wondered if we might-' the man stopped himself from continuing.

Aramis had wondered if the man might have told them straight away that he had been involved in the hunting. But they were not to be that lucky. The man was still thinking that the Musketeers had not seen them with their hoods down.

'You,' he said looking at d'Artagnan, 'tie him up, by the wrists, around the bedpost.'

The man nodded towards a plain belt hooked over a chair. D'Artagnan glanced at Aramis who nodded slightly. He had no idea what the young man was planning, but he had obviously worked out that having two trained soldiers to deal with was going to need careful consideration. Putting one out of commission was a good first move.

D'Artagnan picked up the belt as Aramis stepped up to the bedpost.

'Take off your jacket first.'

Aramis looked at the man for a few seconds before doing as he was told. Removing his doublet left him feeling a little vulnerable. The leather would not stop a bullet or forceful sword stroke, but it did protect him from a fair amount of injury.

After laying his jacket on the bed he stared at the man for a few seconds before stepping up to the bedpost and putting his arms out, one each side of the post. D'Artagnan glanced at the man for a few seconds before crossing to Aramis and slowly wrapping the belt around Aramis' wrists. The man moved a few steps to the left so that he could see what d'Artagnan was doing.

'Step back,' the man said, gesturing with d'Artagnan's gun for the Musketeer to move away from Aramis.

D'Artagnan retreated a few paces being careful to keep his movements slow and obvious. The man kept the gun on d'Artagnan, he tucked his own smaller weapon back into his belt before reaching out to Aramis and tugging at the belt, checking that d'Artagnan had indeed restrained Aramis.

The man nodded, he made eye contact with Aramis for a few seconds. Aramis saw only evil in the man's eyes. There was also a sense of mischief about him. The man had bad intentions. And Aramis had a fair idea he was going to be the one on the receiving end.

As the man stepped back again, he moved to the other side of the bed, he looked at d'Artagnan.

'I am going to inflict pain upon your friend,' he said, his voice calm. 'I will give you a choice...you get to decide how bad his pain will be.'

Aramis wanted to turn and look at d'Artagnan but did not want to worry him. He knew his own fear could cause d'Artagnan problems. They knew the chances of them being hurt in their quest was high, but it did not make it an easy thing to bear.

D'Artagnan took a step forward, 'why are you doing this?' he asked. 'What have we done to you?'

The young man was about to say something, Aramis felt hopeful for a moment but again the man stopped himself. It was almost as if he knew they were being listened to. He knew he could not outright say why he had taken them captive, why he was about to hurt them.

'I am doing this because I can, now do as I say, or I will just kill you.'

D'Artagnan did not respond, Aramis guessed that was what the man wanted. He sneered again, his breathing increasing. Aramis could tell the man was excited.

'I am going to shoot your friend in the knee,' said the man.

Aramis new he looked shocked at the suggestion. The man looked very satisfied when he glanced at him. D'Artagnan shifted awkwardly. Aramis again wanted to look over at him but could not take his eyes off the man. Aramis wondered what the alternative was going to be. Being shot in the knee was not something he wanted to happen.

'Or,' said the man, drawing the moment out, 'you,' he gestured at d'Artagnan with the gun, 'are going to break one of his fingers, the small one on his left hand. We'll start easy.'

Aramis blinked a few times, he actually felt faint, although he would never admit to it. Shot in the knee or watch as one of his best friends broke his finger? Neither were attractive propositions, but he knew, and the man knew, and d'Artagnan knew which the better option was. Aramis hated the man. He also hated the fact that his listening friends would allow it to happen. They were not even close to extracting a confession from the man. They had firmly told Treville that they were prepared to endure some pain and injury in their mission to convict the men.

D'Artagnan did not move, Aramis knew he had to give him permission. They had not expected this to happen. How could they? Aramis turned to d'Artagnan who was still looking at the man, he slowly turned to Aramis. Aramis nodded to him. D'Artagnan looked pale.

Aramis could not imagine what was going through the young man's mind at the prospect of hurting him deliberately.

They had inflicted wounds on one another by accident before; occasionally by design, if a mission called for it. But this was different. This was callous and calculated.

D'Artagnan was hesitating, 'I can't do that…'

'Would you rather I shoot him in the knee?'

The man smiled at d'Artagnan. D'Artagnan looked at Aramis again. Aramis nodded at d'Artagnan again.

D'Artagnan swallowed and shook his head. The man chuckled.

'Your friend wants you to break his finger...I suggest you get on with it...or I will shoot him in the knee.

D'Artagnan hesitated again, his breathing had increased. Aramis watched as the young man forced himself to calm down and stepped towards him. Aramis looked at his hands and realised he had unconsciously clenched them in a vain attempt to protect himself. Much as d'Artagnan had forced himself to calm down, Aramis forced himself to straighten his left hand out, spreading his fingers.

Aramis looked directly at d'Artagnan for a few seconds before again nodding slightly. The man stood across the room from them chuckled quietly, enjoying the show; enjoying the pain he was inflicting without even touching either of them.

Slowly d'Artagnan reached up and gripped Aramis' smallest finger. Aramis held his breath and looked away, screwing his eyes shut. D'Artagnan applied pressure. Aramis was not sure if he imagined the sound of the bone breaking or not, but he certainly was not imagining the pain. For such a small injury the pain was all consuming. He could not help crying out, he knew his knees had buckled and that d'Artagnan was holding him up. He was breathing fast, desperately trying to calm his breathing, not wishing to give the man the satisfaction of seeing him in pain.

As his breathing settled and the initial pain receded to a dull roar Aramis wondered if it was actually worth it to try to bring the men who had hunted them to justice.

MMMM

Porthos took a step towards the adjoining door as Aramis cried out in pain. They had heard the conversation quite clearly, heard the proposition that the man had made. Although he could not see his friends reactions, he could guess what they were. Poor d'Artagnan would have struggled to carry out the demand and Aramis, despite knowing the pain it would cause, would have probably been forced to encourage him.

Athos took Porthos by the arm and led him away from the door, leaving Treville and the two ministers listening. Minister Levesque had become quite pale when he heard the cry from the next room. Paget had rested a reassuring hand on the minister's shoulder.

'You do not have to stay here,' said Athos quietly, 'but if you are going to stay you need to be calm.'

Porthos nodded, 'I'm sorry, you know my view on this plan of theirs…'

Porthos looked away for a few seconds taking a deep breath.

'I'm staying,' he said.

Athos looked at him for a few seconds before releasing him with a nod. They returned to the door where they could hear d'Artagnan talking.

'What possible reason have you for hurting him?'

'What reason?' replied the man. 'It's entertaining, what other reason do I need?'

They could hear Aramis breathing hard, Porthos guessed his friend was in pain and trying to calm himself down.

'So that's why you've brought us here?' said d'Artagnan, the incredulity evident in his voice. 'You want to be entertained?'

'Amongst other things, but we'll have to wait for my father to get back for that...Now, he seems to have recovered from that...shall we do another finger? On the same hand?'

'What?!'

'I could shoot him in the knee? You know the choices, they haven't changed.'

Porthos looked at Athos for a few seconds, Athos shook his head. They could not interfere; the man had still not confessed.

There were a few seconds of silence from the next room, all the men could guess what was happening. D'Artagnan was readying himself to break the second finger. Aramis was probably tensing up awaiting the pain he was about to endure for a second time.

Another cry of pain and an apology from d'Artagnan could be heard in the next room. Porthos hoped his friend would not have to endure any further harm.

MMMM

D'Artagnan kept hold of Aramis as the injured man worked through the worst of the pain. He had felt nauseous as he heard the second finger break and Aramis cry out. Snapping his friend's fingers, knowing that they had volunteered to put themselves in harm's way, had been very difficult. If Aramis had not encouraged him, d'Artagnan did not think he could have done it. But the alternative the vile man had suggested would have left Aramis crippled.

Aramis was breathing hard, his forehead pressed against the bedpost, he was shaking.

'Step away from him,' said the man waving the gun to underline his command.

Aramis shifted slightly, standing straighter, d'Artagnan reluctantly let go of his friend, who despite his best efforts sagged slightly at the loss of support.

The motive of the man remained a mystery to d'Artagnan. They had expected him to do the same as the unknown man who had kidnapped them, to ask if they recognised any of the hooded men on the hunt. Why had he not simply kept them captive until his father had arrived? Why did he feel the need to hurt them?

The sound of the door handle being pushed down drew his attention. As he looked across the room, he noticed that Aramis had managed to finally push himself up to stand properly, although he was still breathing fast.

The father, Monsieur Cote and his younger son entered the room. The younger son looked shocked at the sight that greeted him.

'What?' said Cote as he looked at his older son.

'Father, I saw them outside the throne room, they recognised me, I'm sure.'

D'Artagnan glanced at Aramis who managed to look across at him despite the obvious pain he was in. Were they about to get their confession?

The father nodded, he looked at d'Artagnan for a few seconds, 'have you asked them yet?'

'I was waiting for you.'

'Why have you hurt him then?' asked the younger son.

'Quiet Pierre,' commanded Cote.

D'Artagnan watched as Pierre shook his head in disgust but did as he was instructed, remaining by the door.

'You have done well, Marc,' Cote said to his older son, 'perhaps your brother could learn from you.'

Cote crossed the room, pulling a dagger from his belt as he did so, he grabbed d'Artagnan with no warning and pushed him face down onto the bed. D'Artagnan felt the tip of the dagger blade pressed against the back of his neck. He did not resist the man. Aramis had managed to turn enough to look down at him, his eyes filled with worry.

'Do you know us?' asked Cote.

Aramis managed to shake his head.

'Are you sure?'

'Yes, monsieur, we do not know you…Please, why are you doing this?'

D'Artagnan felt the man shift slightly behind him, he dared not move for fear of him using the dagger on him. They needed the confession; his only consolation was the fact that help was only a matter of yards away.

'We have to be sure that you have not told anyone else about us.'

'What would we tell anyone, we don't know you?'

D'Artagnan watched as Aramis began the tricky task of getting the man to admit what he and his sons had done.

'A few weeks ago, what were you both doing?'

Aramis pretended to think for a few seconds, he paused looking at Cote before responding slowly as if the realisation of who the men were had dawned on him.

'We were on a mission to an estate a few miles from here. Legrand was the landowner...you must be…'

'Yes, we are,' said Cote.

D'Artagnan knew they needed more, he wanted to help Aramis, but his position was too precarious. The dagger was still pressing against his neck

'I don't think they recognised you at all,' said Pierre from across the room. 'You could have just let them be.'

Cote looked across at his younger son and shook his head in disappointment.

Pierre turned back to the door saying, 'I'm sorry father but I cannot stay for this.'

The younger son opened the door and slipped out of the room. There was silence for a few moments after the son left.

'Useless boy,' muttered Cote, 'takes after his mother.'

'Should we kill them?' asked Marc.

D'Artagnan looked at Aramis again, who was obviously trying to work out what else he could say to get the men to confess.

'Please, we don't even know who you are. Let us go and leave Paris, who would believe us anyway?'

The father shifted behind d'Artagnan, stepping away from him. D'Artagnan was about to push himself up when he felt a sharp blow to the back of his head.

MMMM

Athos and the others continued to listen intently. When the father had arrived, they had all hoped their friend's ordeal would be over quicker. But still, the men did not say enough to give the ministers fuel to have the men arrested. They could not work out what was happening in the room but d'Artagnan was now silent and Aramis was speaking.

'Do you know us?' asked Cote. 'Are you sure?'

'Yes, monsieur, we do not know you…Please, why are you doing this?' Aramis replied, he had managed to inject a sense of urgency and worry to his voice.

Cote spoke again, 'we have to be sure that you have not told anyone else about us.'

'What would we tell anyone? We don't know you.'

Athos nodded his approval of the leading question, if Cote replied with an explanation of who he was they would have enough to convict the man.

'A few weeks ago, what were you both doing?'

There was a pause, Athos could imagine Aramis pretending to think back to what they had been doing.

'We were on a mission to an estate a few miles from here. Legrand was the landowner...you must be…'

'Yes, we are,' replied Cote, without elaborating.

Athos sighed, they needed more than Cote was giving them. He glanced at the ministers who looked equally disappointed.

They continued to listen as the younger son protested at the treatment of the Musketeers. When the son told his father he could not stay, and went to leave Athos turned to Porthos and nodded towards the door to the corridor. Porthos nodded in return pausing when Treville whispered to him.

'Take him somewhere and talk to him, he might be the weak link...try not to harm the lad, a confession under duress will not be as good.'

Porthos nodded. As he was about to leave Minister Paget moved to join him.

'Let me accompany you, Porthos, if he does confess, he can confess to me as well.'

Porthos smiled and led the minister away. Athos glanced at Treville and Minister Levesque who were watching Porthos and Minister Paget leave.

'Hopefully, we can put a stop to this sooner rather than later,' said Paget who still looked a little pale.

They went back to listening intently at the adjoining door. Aramis was again trying to get Cote to openly say who they were.

'Please, we don't even know who you are. Let us go and leave Paris, who would believe us anyway?'

There was another pause before the sound of someone being hit and a body moved. They heard a dull thud as someone was dropped on the floor near the adjoining door. What Cote said next made Athos blood run cold.

'You are of course correct Marc, we will have to kill them both, they have seen us now. But first I might as well teach you some lessons in how to inflict pain...you are a soldier and no doubt used to pain, so will be able to take more than an ordinary man. Once we are done with you we can start on the other one...find something to gag him with...oh I wouldn't even think of shouting for help or I will ensure that your young friend there is given some extra painful treatment...would you like that?'

MMMM

Authors note: My apologies, but I'm working early tomorrow (Tuesday), so the next chapter will go up around 1700 (British public transport permitting).