Evening My Lovelies

1000 Apologies for the lateness of this chapter, the beast that is writer's block had me tightly in its jaws these last few days but I eventually managed to persevere and end up with a chapter I really quite like so I'm really hoping it was worth the wait :D

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Ask and ye shall receive my friend :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Jmp (Guest): Thanks for the review - Aramis will definitely be needing his brothers in the coming days so it's definitely a good thing they are there :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yeah it would have been nice to see, also wouldn't be completely out of character as I'm sure he's at least somewhat familiar with herbs and stuff given his farming background, I would imagine he would have learned not to touch some plants because they're harmful or because they could be used in herbal treatments so you kind of want them around. I'm very much looking forward to when our boys get their hands on those responsible :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Hmm not sure if by toads in this instance you mean Issac and Favier as I didn't mean for it to come across that maybe they had something to do with it, though looking back I can see how that last bit in the chapter might have made you think that, sorry for that! Enjoy the new chapter! x

Whatfunny: Thanks for the review - Answers as slowly coming for our boys they're be unravelling this one step at a time, because I'm evil like that mwhaha :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - They might not have as much information as our boys are hoping for but it will definitely be enough to give our boys a starting point. I'm not sure where that idea for D'Art came from but it made me smile when I had it so had to include it :D Glad you're still hooked! Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Ten: Explanations

Despite the inseparables obvious desire to gather any and all information relating to the assault of their brother, none of them were prepared to leave the unconscious man's side until they were absolutely sure that everything had been done to treat and tend to him, and even then they weren't trusting enough to leave him completely alone meaning that after some lengthy discussion Athos and Porthos were off to find Issac and Favier while D'Artagnan remained by Aramis's side, the younger man working diligently to create more poultices and draughts he was sure his brother would need over the coming days while simultaneously keeping his ears attuned for any sounds coming either from Aramis or from outside, none of the musketeers trusting that the villagers wouldn't try to do something in retaliation for the crime they thought Aramis had committed.

"It's going to be okay Aramis," murmured D'Artagnan quietly as he paused in his work to dab a cool cloth on his brother's burning forehead. "We'll figure this out."

"Are you sure this is wise?" asked Porthos with no small amount of concern in his voice as the pair made their way to where they knew their comrades were staying. "He's not going to be pleased to see us, me in particular."

"We don't have a choice," responded Athos with a sigh, "He's grieving and angry, blaming Aramis was a heat of the moment thing, once he's calmed down and is thinking clearly he'll realize Aramis couldn't have done this and then he'll want true justice done."

Nothing more was said as they finally reached their destination, both men studiously ignoring the looks they knew they were getting from various members of the village.

Thankfully they didn't have to endure them for long as the door to the small house was opened and they were ushered inside by a weary-looking Favier.

"How is he?" asked Porthos quietly as the trio entered the small living room, concern lining the larger musketeer's face as there was still no sign of their grieving friend.

Letting out a long sigh Favier sunk down into the small sofa, his hand coming up to run through his hair before he looked up at the two worried men. "He hasn't said a word since his outburst in the square. He woke up briefly on the way back here but fell asleep again once I got him in a bed. Ines… She was the only blood family Is had left, their parents died some years ago and he took it upon himself to look out for her, always sent her whatever money he could spare and never gave up trying to persuade her to move closer to Paris so he could reach her if she was ever in trouble." With another sigh leaving his lips the musketeers were able to see the grief the man in front of him was trying to contain and they were reminded that he knew her too, but before either man could say anything Favier continued. "He… He always swore to look after her and now… now he…"

"He's blaming himself," spoke Athos, his voice equal parts sure and full of a pain only someone who had dealt with something similar could display. Porthos heard this and instantly knew just where his brother's mind had gone and had to resist the urge to reach over to the man, knowing it would not be appreciated right now, not when the focus needed to be on those whose tragedies were still fresh.

Favier nodded once, his head turning towards the staircase, every part of him wanting nothing more than to be up by his brother's bedside, though he knew he was needed elsewhere right now.

Shaking himself out of his funk Favier cleared his throat before turning his attention to Athos, "How's Aramis? He looked really out of it when they dragged him out into the street, at least more out of it then I would have expected from someone accused of murder."

"He didn't murder anyone," growled Porthos out of reflex only to feel a bit sheepish at the look Athos sent him and how Favier reacted.

"I know," reassured Favier calmly, a tired sigh leaving his lips as he gestured to the stairs, "So does he, even if he won't admit it just yet."

"He was beaten," stated Athos, his voice almost clinical as he observed the man in front of his, watching his reaction. In his heart, he didn't think either musketeer had anything to do with what had befallen his brother but at the same time, he couldn't trust that, not until he saw the truth with his own eyes.

Like he had known and hoped Favier's reaction appeared genuine as his eyes widened in shock before anger flooded his features, though it was the guilt that quickly replaced them that had both inseparables on edge, worry quickly flooding them that they might have placed their trust in the wrong people.

"There was a brawl, shortly after we arrived here in the inn," stated Favier as he looked at the two musketeers, completely unaware of the worrying thoughts now surging through their minds. "Aramis never told us what it was about, no matter how many times we asked but he was definitely involved, I wouldn't be surprised if he got some bruises from that."

The latter part of his explanation sounded more like a question but it still answered at least part of the question of what had befallen their friend.

"It would account for some of the older ones," confirmed Athos, his eyes narrowing slightly at the guilt still present in Favier's eyes. "Most of them are fresh, no more than a few days old.

Favier mumbled something under his breath then that was too quiet for them to accurately make out but they were almost certain it was a curse.

"Favier?" pressed Porthos as he sat on the edge of his chair, desperate for any and all information that could relate to his brother's injuries.

"… A couple of days old?"

Athos nodded, "At most."

"I knew something was going on!" snapped Favier as he all but jumped to his feet and begun pacing, though the two inseparables were fairly confident the snapping was at himself and not at them.

"Explain," ordered Athos as his eyes narrowed once more.

"Aramis and I have been staying here," explained Favier after a moment, eventually pausing in his pacing to sink back into the chair. "Space is tight at Ines's and we wanted to give Is time to reconnect with his sister, its been ages since he's been able to come and see her."

The two inseparables nodded in understanding as they wait for the man to continue.

"Aramis didn't come back the other night," admitted Favier finally after a moment's hesitation, continuing his explanation quickly before either man could interrupt him. "I didn't think too much of it at first, We'd gone out to eat earlier that evening and he had been flirting pretty heavy with one of the barmaids, I figured he'd managed to get an invitation into her bed for the night."

Once more the pair nodded, faint smiles tugging at the lips as the recalled the numerous times both on and off duty that Aramis had managed to charm his way into woman's bed, leaving their group a member short for the rest of the night.

"I didn't think much off it until it got to after lunch the next day and we still hadn't seen him," explained Favier. "I went back to the tavern from the night before but the barmaid wasn't there so I figured they'd spent the day together. It wasn't until that night when he still wasn't back when I got really concerned. Issac and I went out looking for him, visited all of the taverns and inns but he wasn't anywhere. Eventually, it got too dark to continue the search so we were forced to call it a night… We were actually out looking for him when everything happened this morning."

Back in the barn, D'Artagnan was beginning to get concerned about Aramis's fever which was showing no signs of breaking. He had been trying everything he could think of to keep his brother cool and hydrated and all it seemed to have done was deplete the water Porthos had brought in earlier that night.

Torn he found himself glancing between the door to the barn and his brother, wondering if it was safe enough to leave him for the few minutes it would take to get some more water from the well but eventually the decision was made for him as Aramis, whose skin was now covered in a sheen of sweat, let out a low groan of pain, shifting uncomfortably in his sleep.

Unwilling to see his brother suffer D'Artagnan gave the man once last check over before rising to his feet and grabbing the bucket, resolving himself to rush with as much speed as he could there and back, praying he would get back before either of his brother's returned to find him gone.

Unfortunately, he was too wrapped up in thoughts of his brothers that he missed the figure slipping into the barn once he was outside with his back turned.