A.N. Sorry for making you wait for the new chapter. It was a busy week. On the other hand things finally move in this chapter. Still no answer to Aramis' and Fernando's relationship though. The next chapter will still take a week to come out. Maybe longer as I find I have very little time to write these days
As always thank you so much to everyone who has read or reviewed this story. A special thanks to guest reviewer Anna - We will get back to Carlos soon and shall see where his loyalties lie... :)
Anything you recognise does not belong to me
D'Artagnan took the silent treatment for as long as he could, which considering his youth and overzealous nature was longer than anyone would give him credit for. But the silence was starting to get to him and he longed for something or someone to break it before he went mad.
After the initial short conversation between Porthos and Athos all three Inseparables had become quiet, their thoughts turned inwards, while he himself was left with so many unasked questions. Questions he longed to pose. Something on the face of Athos however told him that his questions would not be welcome.
Not that it was the look on his mentor's face which stopped D'Artagnan. He had long since ceased to be the little boy who had had a bad case of hero worship for their eldest and whilst he still respected the man he had sufficiently established himself in their midst to contradict all three of his older and much more experienced friends; they in return welcomed his input recognising the fact that their Gascon had grown up into a mature level headed young man.
No, it was not Athos who stayed his tongue rather it was Porthos.
From the very first day he had met them, D'Artagnan had observed the bond that existed between his three friends. They it seemed would do anything for each other. But in spite of the fact that both Porthos and Aramis respected and loved Athos – after all hadn't he seen this that very fateful day in their mad rush against time with no more than a passing concern for their own safety to stop Athos' death at the gallows – their own relationship seemed to be on an entirely different plane.
Aramis cared about and loved Porthos more than anyone else – including it seemed Athos and the bigger man seemed to reciprocate his gesture. These two men were the best of friends – no they were more than that. D'Artagnan had even in his own mind struggled to label their relationship; actually describe how close they were. So if Porthos, the man who knew Aramis the best was choosing to stay his tongue, D'Artagnan would too. For now at least. But still someone needed to say something soon. Otherwise he was going to go crazy.
His patience was finally rewarded when Athos called out to their marksman. The older man had been watching Aramis closely for the last few minutes, having learnt enough about head injuries to know that he could not let the marksman sleep. Not with the concussion he had and when Athos saw Aramis close his eyes he acted.
"Aramis", he called out again when his first command went unheeded. Though there was no note of panic in his tone at the lack of response, there was an insistence that penetrated the fog the other man seemed to be in. The marksman however did not respond verbally instead choosing to let his eyes meet the other man's own.
It was as if the older man's words had released some sort of invisible barrier of silence and this time it was Porthos who carried the conversation. "How are you feeling Aramis?" he questioned the medic. Aramis didn't verbally respond to this either, instead turning in the direction the big man's voice had come from and squinting vaguely at him.
"You all right?" Porthos' voice carried a hint of panic this time
"Hmmm…", was all he got in reply.
Porthos' worry rose to a whole new level when Aramis only turned back and let his head drop to his chest. His eyes met Athos' and a silent conversation took place over the marksman's head. The conversation ended with a nod from the older man who then turned towards D'Artagnan with a slight smirk.
Even though D'Artagnan wasn't fluent in the silent tongue in which his three older comrades seemed to be experts he knew enough to understand what was being asked of him and responded with a short nod.
Athos then turned his attention back towards Aramis. The younger man had so far ignored everything around him and seemed content to continue to do so. "Aramis", Athos called out again and received a brief nod to let him know he was being listened to. "We need to get out of here", he continued not deterred by the lack of verbal response. "Do you think you can walk?"
As the medic normally it would be Aramis who made such decisions when it came to one of them; however Athos had always trusted the younger man's input when it came to his own health. Aramis was smart enough and experienced enough to know that hiding his injuries would only get himself or his friends killed when it came to a fight. So he thought carefully before responding with a brief, "Yes".
However another thought hit him and he squinted up in confusion and held out his bound hands in front of their leader his confusion only increasing as Athos grinned.
"I have a dagger hidden in my boot", D'Artagnan stated simply.
That seemed to finally produce an actual response from Aramis. "Then why the hell haven't we used it till now?" he snarled. He'd have been much happier if he'd never known Fernando was alive.
"Because you were dozin' off", Porthos responded keeping his tone light despite the worry churning in his gut.
"Of course we could have just left you to have your reunion", their Gascon added and then winced wishing he could've bitten his tongue off. At the mention of the reunion Aramis' already pale face had lost what little colour it possessed. He began to panic at the realisation that his friends would want to know who Fernando was and why they had been nabbed in the first place.
Not for the first time D'Artagnan wished he had thought of his words before he had opened his mouth. At the rate he was going he wouldn't need to worry about Fernando's men. Athos and Porthos' glares would do their job for them.
"Let's move", Athos called out curtly instructing D'Artagnan to cut their bonds.
"Do we know where we're going?" Aramis questioned him then added almost sheepishly. "I did not notice anything earlier when we were dragged off". The comment prompted another silent exchange between Porthos and Athos. Normally Aramis was hyper vigilant when it came to his surroundings; a consequence of Savoy when he had been caught unawares. That he had not noticed anything this time was not good news.
"I know where we are", Athos responded softly after a minute of awkward silence.
"Really? How?" questioned D'Artagnan. The young man had been busy releasing his own bonds and even now was working on the ropes binding Porthos.
"Because I have been here once before", Athos commented casually and then expanded on his previous answer when three curious looks were directed at him. "I was a child when I was last here. There was an evening of entertainment, something to do with the former owner of the chateau we're at. My family was invited".
Then deciding to get it all out before they nagged him out of it he continued, "I was bored so I went exploring".
"Explorin'?" Porthos questioned him prompting him to continue.
"Yes well, it does not matter", Athos dodged. "What matters is that I can lead us out of here. If you think you can pick the lock on the door that is", he turned back to Porthos with an almost challenging look.
Porthos just chuckled and went to work on the door even as Athos and Aramis' own bonds were untied.
"This place is still bound to be watched". Unlike Athos and Porthos, Aramis was not confident in their ability to escape. "Fernando would have scouted the exits out. He wouldn't leave them unguarded. And we have no weapons".
"I don't need no weapons", Porthos all but growled as he reflected on the treatment meted out to Aramis.
"Maybe I can help", D'Artagnan told them and then hastened to explain at the raised eyebrow from Athos. "When we were being brought in I noticed them leaving our weapons somewhere near the entrance".
"We were blindfolded", Athos reminded him.
"Yes well while you lot", here he tilted his head to indicate Athos and Porthos "were busy worrying about Aramis I heard something being dropped somewhere to my right. Something metal and heavy", he added almost sheepishly realising how ridiculous he sounded. "I'm hoping they are our weapons", he finished in a small voice.
Three pairs of eyes stared at him. "What?" he questioned distinctly uncomfortable at their intense gazing.
Aramis' quiet chuckle broke the silence. "I'm glad you are with us D'Artagnan", he stated sincerely just as they heard a click from the door.
"Let's go", Porthos told them triumphantly leading the way out of their prison.