Evening My Lovelies!
Okay so who's missed our lovely pup? I'm hoping most if not all of you otherwise you'll hate this chapter as its D'Art focused.
If you think back to the second chapter where we first saw D'Art (even if I hadn't quite revealed it as him at that point) and saw he kept gripping something in his pocket...Well we'll be seeing what that was tonight :D
Notes On Reviews:
pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Bwhaha loving the name for Rochey XD Porthos is unfortunately not doing too good right now and its only going to get worse before it gets better. I loved writing that short moment between Constance and Damien so I'm glad you liked it. I haven't decided yet if Phillip will find her there. I'm definitely leaning towards it as I'd quite like to explore Damien's protective side a bit more as well as how much he has actually healed if he's forced to fight. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Damien doesn't want to ride out to warn them as he wants to protect Constance, who isn't really in a condition to ride just yet. Plus they don't know if she managed to kill Phillip or not so there's a chance he'll find them so Damien will need to be there to protect her. Haha yeah, Constance is stubborn, this wont be her first attempt to leave but I have something in mind that's going to happen before she does. D'Art's kinda planning as he goes but its working, somewhat, for him at the moment. Enjoy the new chapter! x
theredwagon: Thanks for the review - Ask and ye shall receive my friend :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm glad too, think the week without it showed me just how addicted to the thing I am, I didn't like not being able to write or update so I'm very glad to be back. Constance is being stubborn and Athos and Aramis are on the hunt but don't worry drama and some emotional stuff will be happening in the coming chapters. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - It might be :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Oh it's good to be back when I get to read reviews from you lovely people again :D Poor Porthos's ordeal is only going to get worse before it gets better for our lovely man but I'm going to keep you waiting with regards to him for a little bit as we're back with D'Artagnan today. I'm hoping who I'm choosing to focus the chapters on is making sense, I've made things a bit difficult for myself as I have about four or five different groups/people all in different locations to flick between, but I will admit I'm liking the challenge :D Constance and Damien have been surprisingly enjoyable to write. I don't write a lot of Constance and Damien's a new (well new since the last story) OC so I don't have a lot of experience with writing either of their characters. We've got a while before they cross paths with D'Art again, unfortunately some more stuff is going to happen before that point. Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm so glad to be back, apologies again for the wait :) Rochefort is not being a kind host to our lovely musketeer that's for sure. Unfortunately for Porthos things are going to get worse before they get better. Constance is definitely being feisty and this definitely wont be the last time she tries to leave. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Yep, pretty much :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Fourteen: The Right Motivation
D'Artagnan was practically slumped over in his saddle when he and his horse finally reached their destination. A large part of him wanted to go ahead and proceed to the next part of the plan but the logical part of him, which sounded suspiciously like his brothers, much to his amusement, forced him to abandon that idea when his body made it crystal clear how much pain he was truly in.
Deciding it was best to act on his plan when he felt he could actually move, the Gascon forced his aching body towards the nearest inn, actually sighing in relief when they confirmed that they did indeed have a room available on the ground floor, meaning he wouldn't have to fight his body to get upstairs, something that seemed to amuse the owners young child who giggled in response before being quickly shushed by their father.
Smiling wearily at the child D'Artagnan paid for his room before leaving the bustled tavern area of the inn, heading straight for his room. It was nothing fancy but there was a bed and that was all the Gascon truly cared about at that point in time.
For several long minutes the musketeer simply stretched out on the bed, letting the pressure of the last few days lessen slightly as he let his body relax, though there then came a knock at the door. Groaning as he forced his body to move the Gascon was surprised to see the inn keepers wife at the door with several of the workers behind her, looking like they were ready to prepare a bath for him.
Seeing the confusion on the musketeer's face the older woman smiled softly, "You look like you need this dear," she shook her head when the Gascon tried to refuse, knowing he did not have the coin to spare on something like a proper bath, having resigned himself to having a quick wash from the basin in the room. Instead the woman insisted there would be no extra charge as, she reiterated, he looked like he needed it.
Unable to argue with the woman's persistence D'Artagnan allowed them into the room, something he was beyond grateful for several long minutes later when he felt his stress practically melt away with the comforting heat of the water, his aching muscles loosening and relaxing, losing the tension they had be carrying for days now, ever since this whole thing began, frowning D'Artagnan thought back to how this all started, his anger at Rochefort growing every second the memory progressed.
FLASH BACK
D'Artagnan had been sulking in his room, having once again been denied approval to return to work, when Alain knocked on his door, a sympathetic look in the young musketeer's eyes as he too was in a similar position of wanting to work and train but being forbidden to do so.
"Alain?" greeted D'Artagnan, somewhat confusedly having only spoken to the man about an hour earlier when he had gone to the infirmary to, once again, try and convince Gerald that he was fine and could return to work.
"Messenger just delivered this," explained the musketeer, handing his friend a small package, "Said it was for you and that he had been told it was important to get it to you as quick as possible." The musketeer looked a bit uneasy at that but D'Artagnan's smile helped soothe that.
"Athos sent my father's watch to get fixed and requested a rush be put on it, it's probably that."
Alain nodded, understanding and sympathy flashing in his eyes. The watch was one of the only things of his father's that his friend had left, but he had damaged it in a fit of frustrated rage when his recovery wasn't going as smoothly nor as quickly as he would have liked. Regret had flooded the Gascon immediately afterwards but Athos hadn't let the younger man dwell on it, instead taking the damaged watch and promising he would get it fixed for him quickly, ignoring the weak protests from the younger man.
The two men spoke for a few minutes more before Alain was called away, leaving D'Artagnan, once again, alone in his room.
Deciding to check out the repair D'Artagnan opened the package, only to frown in confusion when he realized the packaged did not contain his father's repaired watch.
Confusion rapidly changed into both worry and anger as he pulled out two very familiar objects, both of which were stained with blood.
Constance! His heart lurched as his fingers delicately pulled out the now broken chain of a small necklace he knew he would recognize anywhere, having been the one to gift it to the young woman after receiving his first pay as a commissioned musketeer. He had stated it was a thank you gift for housing him for as long as she did but they both knew, as did his brothers much to their amusement, that it was actually a token of his affection. Constance had accepted it readily, despite having decided to remain with her husband and, to his knowledge; she had not removed it since.
As the worry for the love of his life threatened to overtake him it was then that D'Artagnan noticed what the necklace had been wrapped in and then he felt his heart stop as it had been wrapped in a bandana the Gascon had seen his brother wear fairly frequently. The fabric was stained with dried blood, sending the young Gascon's panic to a whole new level as that amount of blood signified quite a serious head wound.
Knowing he had to have been sent these for a reason D'Artagnan then wasted no time in unfolding the note that came with the items, his worry turning to anger as he read the short note that contained a meeting point and directions to not tell anyone.
With a growl of anger D'Artagnan tore the note, scrunching the parts into balls before throwing them across the room.
D'Artagnan was ready to storm out of the garrison and head to whoever had his love and his brother when he remembered he had been essentially grounded in the garrison after he last tried leaving when his broken hand had been healing and he had fallen over, crushing his healing hand and setting back the recovery time several weeks. None of the regiment would simply let him walk out without Treville's approval and he couldn't rush out without guaranteeing someone would follow him, which was exactly what the note had forbidden.
Having no other choice D'Artagnan decided to take a risk and so he went to Treville, employing everything he had and playing every card he had to get the Captain to relent and send him on a simple solo delivery mission, which, as luck would have it was actually only a town or two away from his destination
END FLASH BACK
By the end of the memory D'Artagnan was full on scowling, remembering how he had then encountered Rochefort in a shady bar where he had proceeded to force him to work for him and betray his brothers to ensure neither Constance nor Porthos were hurt further, though the addition of the word 'further' had D'Artagnan's anger rising, but the reminder that Rochefort was the only one who knew where they were and so was the only one responsible for ensuring they had food and water kept that anger grounded.
Rochefort had then demanded he send a letter to his brothers explaining his absence so they wouldn't follow, the man not wanting to bring the whole regiment down on him.
At first D'Artagnan wasn't sure what to write, his mind rapidly trying to come up with a way to warn his brothers what was going on without actually coming out and saying it, as he knew Rochefort was going to read it before sending it.
Inspiration had hit then and he quickly wrote to Treville, stating he was leaving the musketeers, even going as far as to include his pauldron with the note. He knew Rochefort would be pleased as it would make his apparent betrayal all the more believable if and when he was found out… But D'Artagnan was banking on the fact that the statement would force Treville to show the note to Athos and Aramis and they would know him well enough to be put on guard by him returning the pauldron he had worked so hard for, and if they were already on guard they would be more likely to pick out his subtle warning of Constance being in danger, something he hoped would be enough as he had no way of telling them of Porthos without arousing Rochefort's suspicion.
Scowling as Rochefort's smug grin as he read the letter filled his mind D'Artagnan physically shook himself before sinking even lower into the now cooling bath, wanting to enjoy it for as long as he could before he retired to bed.