G is for Gunshot...
The day was quiet, too quiet for King Louis, it seemed. The young king had proclaimed himself bored, and kept barging into the Cardinal's study, demanding something to do that wasn't signing papers, reading papers or talking to commoners and the resulting paperwork that followed. The cardinal had soon taken to doing nothing whatsoever, as every time the King entered his room, boots stomping on the floor as he walked up to his desk, he lost his train of thought completely.
After the third time- after the cardinal had suggested croquet, reading, and merely talking to Anne to pass the time, the King demanded a walk. The cardinal tried to persuade him to take a walk in the grounds, perhaps walk with Anne in the gardens, or to the pond.
But alas, the King wanted excitement, he proclaimed! He wanted fun! He wanted to walk in the wood instead, to take in real air!
And so it was that Athos, Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnan ended up babysitting the king of France as he meandered along a small copse of woodland just outside the Palace. Treville had a lot to answer for, mused Athos as he rolled his eyes as the King tripped on a root. 'Careful, your highness.' He muttered, stepping closer. 'Wouldn't want you to break your ankle...'
'No, quite right!' The King chuckled, lifting his feet off the ground to ensure no more trips. 'This is frightfully exciting, isn't it?'
'Frightfully...' Porthos breathed, earning a small chuckle from Aramis as they walked together a little further back.
'I should do this more often!' Louis proclaimed, nodding. 'Yes, every weekend I shall call on you to accompany me here...I could make a real habit of this walking lark!'
'It would be our pleasure, your majesty.' Athos said, whilst internally screaming. This was just what they needed on top of their other duties. 'Perhaps Aramis and Porthos could spend a day scouting possible routes? Otherwise it'll get boring doing the same walk.' He added, shooting his friends a smile- two stony faces looked back, each fervently shaking their heads.
'What an excellent idea!' Louis replied, turning to the men and nodding- they quickly plastered honoured smiles onto their faces.
'We would love that, your majesty.' Porthos smiled through gritted teeth.
'Such a privilege to serve you, your majesty.' Aramis added, bowing swiftly, his hat hiding his grimace.
'How lucky am I to have such devoted musketeers?' Louis mused to himself, before turning and continuing to walk- Aramis shook his head at Athos, who resisted an urge to snort.
D'Artagnan was a little further ahead, eyes scanning the small woodland with narrow eyes.
'Everything ship-shape up there?' Louis called- Athos rolled his eyes once more.
'Perhaps you shouldn't shout so loud, your highness.' He muttered- they were in public land, after all.
'And why ever not?' Louis shot back, eyebrow quirked.
'You don't have France's most inconspicuous voice, your highness,' Athos replied, looking around. 'It might draw unwanted attention.'
'Oh, you mean a peasant? Well I-' the King's voice was cut off by the sound of a musket shot.
'Protect the King!' Athos cried, and Porthos pulled the King behind him, sword out, with Aramis centring himself behind him, musket out and ready.
'D'artagnan!' Athos yelled as he crossed the small wooded copse- a yell from in front of them was peppered with clashes of steel. 'D'artagnan!' His eyes widened as he saw the young man crossing swords with a man who had shielded his face with his scarf. The man was good. D'Artagnan was better.
Athos looked back to the others- the King was cowering in the middle of a musketeer sandwich, but it looked like no harm would come to him; d'Artagnan took care of that. A split second was all it took for Athos to take his eyes off the young man. A split second was all it took.
The blast of a musket, sudden and unexpected, made everyone jump with alarm- it was the strangled yelp from d'Artagnan that made Athos run down the small embankment and to his side. He took out his dagger- it was too late to get his musket ready to take a shot; the man in question was already scrambling up the hill- and threw it with all his might.
It was a long shot, and sure enough the blade fell with a dull clump at the man's feet; he didn't even look back.
Athos was on his knees beside d'Artagnan in an instant. 'Where have you been hit?' He asked urgently, eyes scanning the young man for blood- his eyes fell on his shoulder, which d'Artagnan clutched with an already bloody hand.
'Aramis!' He yelled, before taking off his scarf and thrusting it into the wound. 'Anywhere else?'
'No...' D'Artagnan groaned through gritted teeth, eyes squeezed shut. 'Damn him, he came out of nowhere…'
'These things happen, just relax now.' Athos instructed, before looking up as Aramis and Porthos ran up beside them- he turned to find out where the King was; he would have smiled if it had been a different situation. Louis was stood a little back, eyes round and wide, a silk handkerchief pressed to his mouth and nose as he took in the scene. 'Is he going to die?' He asked, voice high with anxiety.
'I bloody hope not!' D'Artagnan groaned out, before realising who he had just spoken to. 'Your Majesty.' He added, eyes once again screwing up.
Aramis deftly lifted the young man's hand, leaning in to take a good look at his shoulder. 'It's just clipped you.' He confirmed, pressing it back down. 'You need a couple of stitches, but you will make a full recovery, just-'
'Thank God for that!' Louis exclaimed, letting out a deep breath. 'I thought I was going to have to bury one of my favourite musketeers!'
D'Artagnan smiled despite his pain, chuckling as Athos rolled his eyes again. 'Let's get you up, then. 'He muttered, and together he and Aramis got him into a standing position. D'Artagnan hissed out a breath while Aramis held him steady, his hand around his own as he stemmed the bleeding. 'Keep a good amount of pressure on it.' He told him, before walking back to the King.
'It's unsafe for you to be here, your highness...perhaps walks around the palace grounds would be safer in future?'
'Oh, why can't anyone let me have just a moment's fun?' The King exclaimed to the heavens, sighing dramatically. 'It's terribly tedious being King.'
'Oh I bet...' Porthos muttered under his breath as they walked on, the King launching into an angry monologue as they made their way back to the palace. 'Daily assassination attempts must be so boring...'
Athos snorted lightly, before falling into step beside d'Artagnan, who had very pale. 'Let's go and get you sorted out.' He muttered, and they continued their walk to the palace- each sure that the sound of their King's voice would haunt their dreams for many nights to come.
Thanks for reading! Hope you liked it!
Next chapter up tomorrow (if the site doesn't go down again, that is ^^)
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