Evening My Lovelies

To those of you who were wondering how D'Art and Evan knew each other I'll be clearing it up in tonight's chapter, hopefully, it gives a bit more depth to their relationship :)

Notes On Reviews:

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yep, Athos was not in the best mindset to be storming into the Court but it was a lot of fun to write :) We'll be seeing who the voice belonged to right away tonight. Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Flea's great :D Not sure if I'll do her justice but hopefully :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Guest: Thanks for the review - Haha I love your description of our lovely swordsman. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Coffeecup35: Thanks for the review - We'll be finding out who the voice belongs to right away :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - Yep :) I really enjoyed writing that side of him, he's usually fairly stoic so it was nice to change things up a bit. Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - *Hands over muffin and pats head* Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm really glad you liked it. Athos is usually restrained so I had a lot of fun writing him letting loose with his anger (something that might happen again when he learns what's going to happen in chapter16 :D mwahaha) D'Art's been a bit of the voice of reason lately and I'm hoping the back story between him and Evan revealed today will help show why he's protective of him. Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Fourteen: Inside The Court

"You are unharmed," breathed Athos as he stared at the new arrival, the proud woman's confusion clear on her face as she stared the two armed musketeers down, though there was also a hint of worry there as well as her eyes occasionally darted to Evan, unsure on how safe the teen was in the current situation.

"Should I not be?" snarked the woman as she narrowed her eyes at the swordsman. "I may not have money like you musketeer," she spat, "but I can take care of myself."

"He means," spoke D'Artagnan quickly before Athos could respond, the man's earlier anger not forgotten by the Gascon and the younger man was unwilling to risk angering the one person who might be able to help them understand what was going on and to locate their missing brothers. "That there are signs of an attack at the house you were meeting Aramis in. With him having disappeared we feared a similar fate for yourself."

Flea blinked, confusion growing. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Now it was D'Artagnan's turn to look confused as he looked over to his mentor and brother, who took a step closer to stand by his brother's side, lowing his voice as he spoke so only the two musketeers and Flea would be able to hear him, more than a little aware now of the audience they had accumulated.

"I understand you may wish to keep it quiet you were helping us, my lady," spoke the musketeer with a forced calm, an uneasy feeling growing in his gut as he watched the woman's face, her confused expression never faltering, even for a second. "But Aramis disappeared after meeting you, he's been gone for hours now and Porthos for even longer. Every minute you try to protect your reputation by denying the meeting is another that my brothers are in harm's way -"

"I have no idea what you're talking about musketeer," interrupted Flea, a dangerous gleam in her eyes as she took clear offence to what Athos had insinuated. "I've had no dealings with musketeers in months, even Porthos knows better than to come around here."

"Did you deliver the letter?" asked D'Artagnan softly as he turned to face Evan, the teen still watching Athos with wary eyes tore his gaze away to look his friend in the eye, ignoring the curious look Flea was sending his way.

"Letter?"

Raising a hand to silence her D'Artagnan kept his attention focused on his friend, knowing that, despite his current circumstances, the boy wasn't one to lie unless his life was in danger, which it wasn't this time.

This thought almost brought a scowl to his face as he remembered the first time he had met the younger man in front of him.

It was not long after he had arrived in Paris and Mr Bonacieux had kicked him out of the room he had been renting from him and his wife, leaving him with nowhere to go that night. It was not the only time something like that had happened, the man had done it many times over the months prior to D'Artagnan earning his commission, but it was the first and as such the Gascon had no idea where to go and little money on hand to afford any sort of decent room in an inn.

He had debated seeking out his new friends from the musketeer regiment but had hesitated when his pride got in the way of things, leaving him with no real alternative but to wander the city to find somewhere cheaper to stay for the night and hope that Bonacieux chose to let him back into the house the next day.

It was during his wanderings that he came across Evan who, at the time, was being ganged up on by several large men and being beaten relentlessly.

Unwilling to walk away or to do nothing the Gascon reacted without much thought as he launched himself into the fight, raising his arm to block a punch from the apparent ringleader of the men. They traded words for a moment or two before the fight resumed, only with D'Artagnan now being the focus of the men's ire.

Fortunately for the Gascon, the men were largely hindered by the alcohol they had drunk meaning he was able to get the upper hand and end the fight before things got too bad, although he did walk away with several bruised ribs and a busted nose and lip.

When the fight was handled D'Artagnan had then turned his attention to the barely conscious teen, all but dragging him over to a nearby fountain before doing his best to clean up the battered teen's face, tending him as best he could before the boy woke up.

Evan had been, understandably hesitant to trust him but eventually warmed up to him enough to offer to show him somewhere he could safely spend the night in payment for his help.

D'Artagnan continued to meet with the boy over the following months, helping him out when he could with coin or spare food, he had even, at one point, convinced Constance to give him a couple of her husbands old shirts she had been about to throw out so the boy would have something else to wear.

"Evan?"

This time it was Flea who spoke, making the boy look even more nervous as he glanced warily to the musketeers before letting his gaze stop on D'Artagnan's face, knowing he owed his friend this much.

"Flea was busy when I returned," explained the teen, not missing the way the musketeers looked over at the woman in question, who nodded, having only just come from meeting with one of the small local churches who had always been kind to those of the Court, never judging them for the circumstances and even going as far as to help locate the occasional job for them to help get some of its members off of the streets and out of the Court for good.

"So she never got it?" inquired Athos as he tried to temper the anger even he could hear seeping into his voice. Disgust and guilt still heavy within him for his actions earlier.

"I never got no letter," confirmed Flea, though the look of alarm and denial on Evan's face instantly grabbed the group's attention.

"B-But I gave it to him," stammered the teen, "He said he was heading to meet you anyway and would give it to you seeing as how I couldn't meet with you."

All expression vanished from Flea's face as she took a step closer to the teen, her voice firm and serious as she asked, "He who?"