Evening my lovelies
Right I'm feeling proper evil today as any nice writer would not leave you hanging after yesterdays cliffhanger... UNFORTUNATELY I am quite mean and am going to make you wait to find out what's happened to D'Artagnan Mwhahaha!
Also Kara is back in this one so just giving a warning to my Guest reviewer(s) who say she is becoming (or is) a Mary-Sue. I dont know what it is about her that makes her that so i cant really change it as in my head she's fine so just a warning so you dont get too fed up with her, she has a part to play in the next few chapters so i had to bring her back.
Notes On Reviews
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm tempted to get Milady to burn the house simply because she has a thing for burning houses lol :) but yeah i think the house needs to meet its end by the end of this story. Really glad you liked Athos's comment to Porthos i wasnt sure if it would fit the tense/seriousness of the chapter but i liked it :) Porthos really doesnt need to be adding any more guilt onto Athos's shoulders at this point as once we get into my plans for D'Artagnan he'll be feeling guilty enough to drink even more than he already does lol. Afraid you'll be waiting till tomorrow to find out what's happened to D'Artagnan - I'm mean i know :D
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Tomorrow is a D'Artagnan focused chapter which shows how he's truly coping (as well as what happened after yesterday's cliffhanger)
Ebm36: Thanks for the review - I know i'm evil lol :D hopefully tomorrow and Saturday's chapters will make up for the cliffhanger as they as my favourite chapters so far. Part of me feels bad making you all wait even longer to find out what's happened but it'll be worth it i promise :)
Yuriko Quested: Thanks for the review - Glad my cliff hanger had such an effect :D we'll find out tomorrow and Saturday what's up with D'Artagnan all i will say is that it's not Pierre he has to worry about
Guest: Thanks for the review - As Porthos was awake when the shot went off there's no way, injured or not, that he's leaving without knowing what's going on and Athos isnt about to leave after hear that although they will head to Toulouse at some point. In terms of whumpage they all get a bit Aramis's and Porthos's is mainly physical whereas theres a lot of mental and emotional whump for D'Artagnan (and some physical maybe... you'll have to wait and see) Athos will be getting some physical whumpage in a bit but nothing major but he'll be suffering with a lot of guilt, especially when he learns Milady's involved. I will say that Aramis is going to one of ones in the worst conditions.
Issai: Thanks for the review - Porthos is most definitely in no condition to fight, its mostly the adrenaline and fear for his brothers that's keeping him awake at this point so Athos will be on his own for a while. Pierre and D'Artagnan will be having a moment in a later chapter (possibly chpt14) and he'll quite vindictive with him as in his mind a lot (if not all) of their problems are D'Artagnan's fault, especially after what's going to happen in the next chapter.
I promise tomorrow's chapter will be worth the wait, I'm really excited to see what you all think of it
Much love as always to readers/followers/favouriters/reviewers you guy are the best!
Enjoy
xxx
Chapter Ten: A Leaders Mission
SEVERAL DAYS EARLIER
"Your Majesties" Treville spoke, bowing low to the royal couple who nodded at the Captain
"You wished to see us Captain" spoke the Queen lightly, she knew what the Captain had come to do and supported him wholeheartedly but her husband was known to change his mind whenever the mood took him and she prayed that now was not one of those times as she truly didn't know how much sway she would have in convincing him to keep his word.
"The last of the party guests will be leaving within the hour and I will be heading out shortly after that to –"
"What do you mean you're heading out?" King Louis questioned, seemingly confused as to what was troubling the man before him.
"My men still have not returned Your Majesty" Treville explained with a monumental amount of patience and calmness that he didn't really feel, "Aramis has been missing almost two weeks now and Porthos nearing one. When I brought this matter to you before you gave me your blessing to bring aid to my men"
"And if they're dead?" Richelieu sneered; he held no love for the musketeers, especially the group that those men belonged to. To see them gone would only serve to aid him and his plans.
"Then I will turn my attention to Calais and bring news of their deaths to their brothers before bringing their bodies back to be buried in the musketeer graveyard alongside the rest of their deceased brethren" Treville answered, never missing a beat nor allowing the royal couple or Richelieu to see how much the Cardinals words affected him.
Louis huffed dramatically, hating the idea of losing his Captain but having the sneaking suspicion that should he deny him this that the man would simply leave regardless, much like he had done with the whole ordeal with Lucian months ago, "Do you even know where to look, I wont be losing the Captain of my musketeers for weeks on end while he goes on a wild goose chase"
Treville smiled softly at the young King, realizing that the man had yet to deny him the permission to search for his men and was actually considering giving it, "Their captors left Porthos instructions on where to head and he managed to smuggle them to me, away from prying eyes so I know where to go and can be there within two days"
"Very well Treville" the King acknowledged, "I want you back within ten days, regardless of the status of you men, understood?"
"Completely and I thank you Your Majesty" Treville agreed, once again bowing low, "I have already made arrangements for my temporary replacement and am only taking four men with me so the men will still be able to serve you fully whilst I am gone, I will see you within ten days" he bowed again before exiting the room to gather the men who would be accompanying him. He had them picked days ago and they had spent the time preparing to leave as soon as they were given the go ahead, each of them also carried an extra saddlebag filled with medical supplies and food. This had not been ordered by Treville but they were experienced soldiers and understood what condition they would likely find their brothers in after being held for over a week and they were not about to lose two of the best men in the regiment because no one thought to bring extra bandages of ingredients to make broth.
As soon as the men saw their Captain racing towards them after meeting with the King, a grateful smile on his face they knew they had been given the go-ahead and mounted up ready to find their brothers.
PRESENT DAY
Treville and his men had been riding hard since they had left the garrison almost two days ago, he knew his men were beginning to flag but would not vocalize any complaints. Many of the regiment owed their lives to Aramis's medical skills and/or Porthos's strength so ignoring the fact that they were a brotherhood, their honor would not have them issuing complaints whilst those men were suffering or worse.
Whilst Treville was humbled by his men's dedication to each other he knew they were no good to their captured brothers if they were dead on their feet so he was forced to accept the need to make camp for the night.
The men reframed from making complaints about the added delay but Treville could tell they did not wish to stop any more than he did but that they all knew their bodies needed rest and food if they were going to be any use to their ailing brothers.
A twig breaking along with the rustling of leaves had Treville's senses on high alert and his men instantly tensed and reached for their weapons, ready to defend themselves and their Captain at a moments notice.
"Identify yourself!" Treville commanded, using every ounce of his intimidating aura as he spoke.
It was silence for a few moments and Treville began to doubt they would get a response, when a feminine voice broke the silence, sounding defiant yet there was a hint of fear to her voice that she couldn't quite hide, "You first Monsieur"
Feeling calmer now that their newcomer was known to be a woman Treville felt little need to hide his or his men's intentions, "I am Captain Treville of the King's Musketeers…" he got no further in his introductions as the woman appeared from her hiding space.
"Thank God I found you! I'm Kara, René's… I mean Aramis's niece," she informed him
"I assume Porthos got you out?" Treville asked, signaling his men that the woman was no threat to them and they could relax. He remembered from the note Porthos had left him that Aramis had been on his way to see his niece when he had likely been kidnapped and that he had feared for her safety as well as the Spaniards
"He did" she nodded, "He told me to get to Calais and inform Athos and D'Artagnan"
"They know the situation?"
"They are in the house now sir" she informed, placing an arm over her ribs as she moved to sit on the floor, brushing off Treville's concerned looks as she continued her tale knowing the Captain needed all the information, "They left me and a box with a friend of D'Artagnan's in Toulouse while they went to rescue the others, having realized that Porthos had likely been captured alongside my uncle."
"What brings you here then?" Treville asked
"I know René is hurt" Kara said quietly, guilt at leaving her uncle still eating away at her, "I have medical training I only wanted to help."
"We would welcome it" Treville said, smiling softly at the woman before him, "We leave at first light so help yourself to some stew and I'm sure we have a spare blanket you can use."
True to his word Treville had his men up and ready to leave at first light, Kara moved slightly slower due to her injuries but Treville could see a determination in her eyes that reminded him greatly of his missing marksman.
Approaching the house it was Treville that spotted him first and wasted no time in charging his horse forward and calling out his name
"PORTHOS!"
His shout awoke the dozing musketeer who had momentarily given in to the demands of his body. Unfortunately his rater startled awakening pulled on every single one of his wounds and he couldn't contain the grunt of pain that escaped his lips.
"You're hurt" Treville stated, kneeling down beside his wounded man, seeing Porthos alive loosened the band of fear that had gripped his heart but to see him so hurt it made his fear for his marksman increase tenfold
"I'll live" Porthos grunted hoarsely between gritted teeth as another surge of pain shot through him
Seeing her rescuer in pain Kara delved into her bag to find a small vial, D'Artagnan's friend Dorian had little in the way of medicinal herbs but he had enough for her to create a couple of pain reliving draughts. Working quickly Kara poured the liquid into a bowl and mixed it with some water before kneeling in front of Porthos, who seemed quite surprised to see her
"Here" she said, gesturing to the bowl, "it'll help with the pain" and it was a testament to how bad Porthos was feeling that he took the draught without a single word of complaint
While Kara worked to assess the large musketeer's injuries, mentally noting what supplies she would need to properly treat them Treville was working on getting information from his clearly flagging musketeer
"How did you get out?"
"…Athos found me… Said the whelp was looking for 'Mis" Porthos slurred, his body once again demanding rest, before thought of his youngest brother sending a surge of adrenaline through him and he gripped his Captain's arm with such strength it was sure to bruise.
"What's wrong?" Treville questioned, not liking the panicked look in his man's eye
"We were waiting for 'Mis and the whelp… When we heard a shot… 'Thos took off to look for them"
Treville sighed in frustration and anger at the thought of another of his men potentially injured before turning his gaze to Kara, "Do you have this?"
"I'm fine" she said not looking up for where she was sorting through the musketeer's medical bags in search of the supplies she needed, "Go, we'll be fine"
With one final look to his injured man Treville ordered the rest of his men up and they headed towards the house, intent on taking out any person who got in the way of their search for their brothers.
"Thought you were in Toulouse?" Porthos commented, grunting as Kara poured some alcohol over his many back wounds. Athos had done his best to clean them but he understood the need to ensure they were cleaned properly.
"Had a feeling you lot would be in need of a medic" she replied with a forced nonchalance as she focused on plucking out as many tiny bits of fabric that had entered the numerous wounds as she could.
The pair fell into an easy conversation as Kara worked to treat Porthos's wounds, each understanding the need to keep the others thoughts from focusing on what was going on in the house.
Kara was less than pleased when she realized, much like Athos's earlier assumption, that she would be unable to stitch a fair amount of Porthos's wounds and would have to settle for simply covering them while they healed on their own.
"Here" she said passing the musketeer a bottle of strong smelling alcohol, "I need to stitch some of these, you're going to want that"
Grimacing at the thought of being stitched Porthos took the bottle, downing half of it in a single go. The effects of the drugged drink were almost instantiations and Kara eased him into a laying position as he fell unconscious.
Once she was sure her charge was completely unconscious Kara set to work stitching up every wound she could before covering the bandages she would later wrap him in, in a poultice that worked to fight off infections and speed up healing.
Bandaging the large musketeer was a challenge that left the woman breathless and in pain afterwards but was a task that needed doing and once her work was done she settled herself next to the sleeping man, pistol loaded and ready to defend them against dangers as she awaited the return of the rest of the musketeers.