Wow, I haven't updated in a while! So sorry you guys, life has been a real pain lately. I'm actually really happy with this chapter, and am surprised at the length. Hopefully you enjoy it as well.

Also, as I've said before, I am looking for a way to watch The Musketeers (again) without having to pay and without getting a virus on my computer. It would be really helpful if you gave me some advice on what to do! Thank you!

Anyway, I'm going to shut myself up now. I have to go drown myself in as much Aramis angst as I can get my hands on soooooooooo ... I will be back. Don't forget to read and review!

-M


The Present...

Anne was the first to wake up. She felt herself in someone's familiar hold, and when she looked up, she saw Aramis sleeping above her. He was clearly tired, and in plenty of pain. There were dark circles under his eyes, his mouth was open in a silent scream, and his hands were slightly twitching. Anne felt sadness washed over her, and she couldn't help the tears from falling down her face. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek

The man suddenly grunted. His eyes opened slowly, and he sighed. "Did you get some rest?" he asked weakly. He sounded exhausted.

The Queen nodded, her hand cupping his face. "You look tired, Aramis," she said.

Aramis simply shook his head. "I'm fine," he replied. "We just really need to get out of here."

"But-"

"Anne, please," Aramis interrupted. "I need to get you to safety. My health does not matter. Not anymore. What matters is you. You are no longer my lover, you are my Queen. And as your Musketeer, I have the duty to protect you."

Anne's eyes widened, and she took a deep breath to try and break down what Aramis had just said to her. "Alright," she finally said. "Just please, let me help you with your injuries."

In a few minutes, Anne helped Aramis remend his wounds with the last of their bandages, and when they finished, the two of them filled up Aramis' water skin, and then began searching through their supplies. They had Aramis' sword, dagger, and two pistols. They also had two blankets from the Queen's satchel, as well as a small dagger she always carried with her.

But their ammo was low. They only had one bag of thirty two musket balls. Anne heard Aramis curse in Spanish as he searched through all his pockets and satchel for at least one more bag. She watched him run his hand through his hair, sighing. "Save the ammo," he murmured to himself. He took one of the muskets and half of the ammo and placed it into Anne's satchel, knowing that she would understand what he wanted her to do with it.

He jumped when thunder rumbled, and cursed once more. He looked at Anne, who was patiently waiting for him with her arms crossed. "If we have to go, I will," she said, letting her arms fall at her sides.

Aramis nodded slowly. "We can wait for a few hours … see if the rain will die down," he explained.

"Good," Anne replied. She slowly walked into him, both of her hands falling on his chest. She felt him hug her, his body giving off light tremors. She knew that the both of them needed this feeling one more time, before...she couldn't even think about it any further. She didn't know how she would be able to live without Aramis' love.

"You are still cold," she said, reaching for her satchel and taking out a blanket. She wondered why she hadn't taken it out earlier.

… She wrapped the large piece of fabric around Aramis' shoulders and then led him over to a wall, pushing him onto the ground. She fell into his arms, and pulled part of the blanket over herself. "Just rest for a while, Aramis," she said. "And then we will move forward."

Aramis kissed the top of her head, and pulled her closer to him, not saying another word. He slowly began to fall asleep, and Anne was more than grateful when his body relaxed, and he was finally getting the sleep he really needed.

XxXxX

In a couple of hours, the two of them woke up, and then made their way out of the cave. It was still raining, but it was better.

Aramis kept Anne as close to him as he could, his mind - and body - on high alert. They barely spoke, but Anne knew that her lover was hurt and exhausted. His stance, his breathing, and his eyes showed it all.

Suddenly, he stopped walking. He heard the rustling of trees in the distance. He pushed Anne behind a large rock, and began waiting, signaling her to stay quiet. He tensed. At the same time, he prayed that it was nothing, but he also wanted to find out who the bastards that had caused him so much trouble were.

It was the latter.

"We have to find them!" an unfamiliar male voice said. "Dacheux needs them alive … who knows what condition they're in now!"

"I am guessing that you are looking for me," Aramis said then, standing up from his hiding place. Muskets and swords were immediately pointed at him, but he paid no attention. He kept his calm, trying not to show any of his weaknesses.

"Where is the Queen?" the man from before said. He was dressed in a black cloak, his face were five men surrounding him, all dressed in hoods as well. Each stranger had a weapon's belt on his waist, carrying a variety of weapons. The leader seemed to be the strongest out of all of them.

"That is none of your concern," Aramis replied cooly. "What is of your concern is what you are going to do with me, now that you have me."

The leader burst into laughter. "You really think I am that stupid?" He smiled from beneath his cloak. It was definitely not a friendly type of smile. "I know that she is somewhere. You are a Musketeer. You would never leave her alone."

"Hmm, maybe you are right...," Aramis said. "I am a Musketeer. And I will right to protect my Queen." He paused. "Your Majesty, RUN!"

And then he lunged at the men, taking out his sword and dagger. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Anne running, as he had told her. He began trying to lead his opponents in the opposite direction. He had taken every one of them down in a couple of minutes ... except for the leader, who was dead set on killing him. He almost succeeded when he suddenly shoved his sword into Aramis' side.

The Musketeer gasped, his own weapon falling out of his grasp. He felt the stranger pull out his sword, and he cried out, falling to his knees. He looked up, and saw the man preparing to deliver the final blow…

… When the sound of a gun exploded.

He heard his opponent scream in agony, and then he felt someone pulling him an leading him somewhere. He felt rain falling down on him, and he couldn't figure out whether it was refreshing or painful. He could barely open his eyes, but when he did, he saw Anne in front of him, running. She was holding his bloody sword in her hands. Aramis was confused as to why. He forced himself to keep on going.

Finally, he couldn't run any further. He collapsed, groaning.

"No, no, no, no, no, Aramis, please, no," someone was begging. "Do not fall now. Just a little bit more, come now, I see shelter."

Someone pulled him up again, and then he was running once more … for what, he did not know.

The next time he fell, he fell on a hard surface, and he realized that this 'someone' had dragged him into another cave. He opened his tired eyes and saw Anne ripping off a large chunk of her dress. "W-why…?" he managed to whisper, his voice hoarse.

Anne helped him sit up, taking off his doublet and shirts and beginning to wrap his waist with the bandage she made out of her clothing. "Oh God, Aramis, I am so sorry!" she exclaimed when the poor man moaned, trying to get away from her touch. "Just a little more and then you will be able to rest."

When she finished, she leaned against a wall, and used Aramis' garments as a pillow as she placed his head on her knees. She felt him shivering, so she took one of their blankets to drape across his shaking shoulders. "It's alright, Aramis, I have you," she murmured in his ear, wondering if he even heard her. Tears were falling down her face, embedding themselves in the injured warrior's hair. "You are going to be okay," she continued. "Everything will be okay."

Throughout the night, Aramis was plagued with heavy nightmares. When Anne checked, it turned out that he had a fever, which was what had been causing these terrible dreams.

She did her best to calm her Musketeer down, but it wasn't enough. The poor man was lost in pain and discomfort. Anne hated seeing him so hurt and vulnerable.

So she did everything she could to help. She gave him water when it seemed he needed it. She stroked his hair and softly talked to him, hoping that it would somehow make him feel better, or help him finally wake up.

Nothing was working.

Aramis just couldn't escape this mental torture chamber his mind was trapping him in.

But it finally ended when he lost his final battle with complete unconsciousness, both his body and his mind too exhausted and hurt to fight the pain anymore.

And after everything that she saw that day, Anne went into a deep sleep as well, her arms wrapped around Aramis the entire time.

And she didn't wake up again until she heard Aramis give out a loud, pain-filled groan.