Love is the Most Selfish of All the Passions

Chapter Ten

Athos, Porthos, and d'Artagnan followed the horses' tracks they found nearby the area where their friend had been taken from, but eventually the tracks increased and began to go in multiple directions, indicating that there have been several horses riding through these woods within the last few days and making impossible for the musketeers to know which ones to follow.

"They could have taken Aramis anywhere by now," Porthos said in frustration as he pulled his horse to a stop and then took a drink of water from his water pouch, as did d'Artagnan, while Athos got down and knelt over the tracks to try to get a closer look at them. "They're at least a half a day ahead of us."

"Can you tell which tracks we need to follow, Athos?" d'Artagnan asked, ignoring their friend's complaining.

Their leader shook his head and answered, "I was hoping that I'd be able to tell if one of these tracks appeared deeper than the others, but… Several of their horses must have been carrying heavy loads. There's no way we can continue tracking them."

As he stood back up and got back onto his horse, Porthos looked out around them and then spoke again saying, "Well, there are at least three villages between here and the border. Our assailants must be hiding in one of them, the question is… which one?"

"We'll just have to search them all," Athos replied.

"What I'm more concerned with is the villagers' reception of us," d'Artagnan responded nervously. "I've heard many of those that live out north beyond the forest aren't real fond of the King or his musketeers."

Athos looked between his friends and then answered, "Which is why we won't be going in as musketeers."

Meanwhile…

Hours after the torture began, Aramis was finally left alone in the dim light as his head hung against his chest and his body leaned forward as far as it could, while his arms remained restrained high above him within the shackles. He had fallen unconscious shortly after forty lashes, the total number being unknown and when he finally awoke again, he found that he had been stripped down to his undergarments and the pain throughout his body from his multiple wounds had grown to become unbearable. However, now that he was alone again, he allowed the tears he held in, long before the physical pain even began, to fall silently down his cheeks.

Aramis struggled to turn his head up to look out through the cell door in order to see what time of day it was and all he saw was more darkness, indicating that night had fallen, though it didn't help him to know how long he had been held a prisoner, or how long it had been since he had last seen his friends, then he allowed his head to fall back down against his chest as he could no longer hold it up. Porthos, Athos, and d'Artagnan were alive, Aramis was sure of it, but he knew that they would stop at nothing to try to rescue him, or to avenge his death, even if it would cost them their lives in doing so, which frightened him more than dying himself . Unfortunately, escape was not an option. He could barely move, even if he were freed of his bindings. Only his friends would be able to help him now, though Aramis prayed they didn't come, as he no longer believed he was worth saving.

The musketeer could hear some kind of celebration going on outside, which meant that many of the people within this village were most likely getting drunk. If that were true, it may make it easier for the others to get inside unnoticed should they arrive that night, though there was at least one person he knew would not hinder herself for any reason, even if she did get the chance to kill the man she has longed to kill since she felt he betrayed her; Milady de Winter. It wouldn't be long before she walked back into his prison, looking to continue his torment.

A few minutes later, someone did walk inside, except it wasn't Milady or any of the Cardinal's guards. It was the young woman he had spared and had given money to two days ago at the beginning of their search. As she quietly opened the cell door and cautiously stepped inside, Aramis' head was still down, but she slowly approached and when she saw who he was, she carefully lifted a flask to his lips and helped him to drink, all without saying a word until she finished.

She spoke quietly saying, "I was hoping that it wouldn't be you."

"Why… why are you… here?" he asked weakly when he finally managed to look over at her when she knelt down at his side. "How…?"

"I live here," she replied quickly. "I arrived back here earlier this evening and when I heard that the villagers here had captured a musketeer, I immediately thought of you and had to come see for myself. No one else knows I'm in here."

Aramis lowered his head again, then responded, "You should go… before some… one sees you… talking… to me."

The young girl slowly stood again and then answered, "I'm going, but… there has to be something I can do to help you. You and your friends helped me when you didn't have to. You didn't just spare my life after I tried to kill you, but you also gave me your own money, which I can't imagine you have much of."

"My friends… are out there… looking for me as we… speak," Aramis replied. "Every… everything's going to be… fine. I'll be… fine. Thank you. What is… your name?"

"Renee," she responded quickly, as she looked toward the door thinking she had heard someone coming. "I have to go, but… I'm going out to go and look for your friends. If I can find them, I'll tell them where to find you. It's the least I can do after the kindness you showed me."

Aramis tried to object before she left as he called out, "Please… don't, Renee. If they come here, my frien… friends could die. I can't… can't…"

When he could no longer speak as exhaustion finally fell over him and his consciousness faded, Renee looked down on him sadly and then replied, "I can't just let you die without doing something to help you. You're a good man, who does not deserve this."

Renee turned and quickly left the dungeon when she saw that the way was clear, then carefully walked through the crowds all gathered around a bonfire as they drank and danced around in order to make her way toward the gate, where there was a loose board that she could easily slip through without being noticed by those guarding the entrance. Once she left the compound, she started to run toward the forest again, in hope that she would be able to find the musketeer's friends, despite what he said.