Evening My Lovelies :)
Well I'm feeling well and truly loved by you all as my hope was to reach 200 reviews by this time BUT I ended up with 201 reviews before I'd even left for work this morning :D You guys are awesome! 3
I'm not entirely sure about this chapter as I had 2hrs to write it and wrote it under the influence of A LOT of sugar and fizzy drinks in a desperate attempt to keep me awake as I'm well and truly shattered tonight *yawns*
We've now caught up to where I had already written chapters so now the chapters published will be written the same day. As such they might be slightly shorter than the last few just because of the time I have to write them. I'll do my best to keep them over 2000 but at the very least they'll be a minimum of 1500
Notes On Reviews:
fariedragon: Thanks for the review - I would say worry not about D'Artagnan but I know what I have planned so I would be lying if I said that. I've also done it again cliff-hanger wise (I'm evil I know) enjoy the new chapter! x
Deana: Thanks for the review - I'm glad Treville found them too :) They're in dire need for some comfort and healing now. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm soo happy you're loving the story :) I'm slightly worried I might give you another heart attack at the end of this chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
RangerMyra: Thanks for the review - Hahaha I do so love my cliff-hangers :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
A reader (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm glad you think so, thanks for the kind words :) If you like Athos you'll be please to know I have some lovely moments for him planned soon :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - Hope it was worth the wait. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Aramis has some more stubborn moments today as well. I'm thoroughly enjoying writing him so stubborn :D You're absolutely right... D'Art's in REALLY bad shape. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Yeah our boys aren't in the best shape, luckily help is on the way... but will it be enough... :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
ploiuiu: Thanks for the review - Treville will eventually get the documents back though it might be a chapter or two before it happens as I plan to try to kill you with the suspense again at the end of the chapter :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - Mwahaha I know, I'm just evil :D I'm officially LOVING the idea of a puppy pile when they've all healed up enough. It's definitely happening at some point. I hadnt really thought of Lucifer but the evil doggie may return tomorrow if I can work it into the story. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - Haha yeah you might want to swap the hate-o-meter for an angst-o-meter :D I may give you another heart attack at the end of today's chapter... Sorry I just couldn't help it :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Ruth (Guest): Thanks for the review - That you even take the time to review at all is awesome for me so thank you regardless of how often you do it :) With my tendency to leave you all with cliff-hangers it's probably a good thing that you have several chapters to read in a row lol. Yeah Ortiz slowly became less focused on finding his stuff and more focused on just being a sadistic A-hole! I will do my best not to skip past the healing/comfort moments. I have a few moments planned for it all so hopefully it wont come across rushed... If it starts to seem like I'm rushing just yell at me and I'll slow down with it all :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the reviews - (Chapter 19) Not at all your musings are interesting :) I hated breaking Aramis's leg but I needed to do something else to him (considering I had him whipped I probably didnt need to do anything else but I'm an evil person) I was so tempted to have something happen to Treville but figured our boys are due for some comfort now so couldnt really do anything... yet :D Worry not about Porthos too much he was returned after Aramis was taken... D'Artagnan however... :D Worry not ramblings are always welcome. (Chapter 20) Unfortunately you were about half an hour late of being the 200th reviewer but you were 201 :) Trust me Treville is now severely questioning his decision as more injuries are found on his men. Yeah Athos is quite bad... and cold hence the huddling (plus it was cute to imagine) I dont think anything could prepare Treville for if one of the inseparables died. We are close to finding out who was awake at the prologue. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - You are indeed review number 200! :D Thank you for the continued support :D I might have done it again today, apologies :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - There is a fair bit more pain to come :D but I will allow them some comfort/healing moments before then. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Hugs and cookies to you lovely people who follow/favourite/review/read this story, love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Twenty-One: Rescue II
"D'ARTAGNAN!" screamed Aramis in horror when the door opened presenting him with a view of his little brother.
Ignoring the burning pain in his leg Aramis shrugged himself away from the slackened grip of Etienne and stumbled the few steps into the room before he crumbled by D'Artagnan's side.
His hands shook as they hovered hesitantly above the boy's barely moving torso as if the medic was terrified of causing the boy additional pain by simply touching him.
Though if Aramis was being honest with himself he was terrified that he would feel the last heartbeats of one of his most beloved brothers if he placed his hands on his pulse points.
Distantly Aramis could hear Treville demanding answers from him regarding D'Artagnan's condition but he couldn't process anything but the horrific sight of what his brother had truly endured during his time in Ortiz's grasp.
D'Artagnan was lying in a crumpled heap in the middle of the room, stripped of all but his breeches and even they were torn and blood-soaked.
His chest was a mesh of cuts, some deeper then others and some even looked like a torn mess, as if Ortiz had continually twisted the blade as he removed it.
Overall the young Gascon's chest much resembled Athos's back in the damage done to it, however unlike Athos, where Ortiz had cauterized most if not all of the wounds, D'Artagnan had been left with several bleeding wounds that had received no treatment and had been left to bleed freely.
Normally the severity of the cuts wouldn't be anything to get too concerned over. Sure they'd need stitching but it wouldn't be a life or death wound.
However now, with all the other injuries he had sustained, Aramis couldn't help but worry about what the loss of blood from those wounds did to his brother's chances.
Aramis then moved to check the other injuries he knew about – the broken hand and the bitten leg.
Guilt flowed to the surface as Aramis finally had a chance to assess the damage he had missed the last time he had been this close to D'Artagnan. He let out a slew of mumbled Spanish curses when he saw the iron cuffs were still keeping his brother imprisoned, even though they weren't holding him up like he assumed they were earlier. The skin surrounding the cuffs was deeply bruised and covered in a coating of dried blood from previous attempt to escape.
It was the sight of the hand itself though that almost made the barely holding it together medic lose it. Each of D'Artagnan's fingers were swollen yet clearly broken, all at odd angles and none even remotely straight.
Aramis didn't know whether it was luck that Treville arrived when they did as the bone had only just begun healing so they could be reset without him… or more accurately given his currently state, so someone could reset without breaking them.
The nails were another story altogether. Each had been removed and only the highly sensitive nail bed remained. It was clear they hadn't received any sort of care either – not that Aramis was surprised. Small slivers of what he could only assume to be wood, were left in a few of the beds, leaving Aramis to sigh at the obvious infect that had set in.
Remembering Porthos's words several days ago about D'Artagnan's increasing temperature Aramis abandoned his inspection of the wounds that littered nearly every part of his brother and instead placed his hand lightly on the boy's forehead… Almost snapping the hand back at the heat that resided there.
Aramis turned to inform a very anxious Treville that they needed to get the boy some help now! When he was distracted by a slight whimper of pain as D'Artagnan subconsciously nuzzled the hand still lightly resting on his forehead, almost as if it he recognized it wasn't going to hurt him but instead help.
"D'Art" whispered Aramis brokenly; nearly collapsing on the boy when the young Gascon twitched and turned his head to face the direction his voice had come from.
"Come on little brother" he pleaded, his voice thick with unshed tears as he lightly stroked the boy's cheek, "Help's here now so please open your eyes"
"…'Mis" croaked a small voice, sounding more broken and pained then any of the men present had ever heard
"D'Art" Aramis smiled, his voice cracking slightly as he pressed his forehead into D'Artagnan's own, whispering a multitude of prayers up in thanks that the boy yet lived.
"You had us worried there for a while D'Artagnan" spoke a voice just behind Aramis, though D'Artagnan had precious little energy left in him to find the source, all his did have he was channeling into trying to offer his clearly terrified and, if the pain line on his face was anything to go by, injured brother a small smile
"How's he doing Aramis?" The voice asked, finally coming into D'Artagnan's eye line and the boy, despite his barely conscious state, was surprised at who it was.
"…Cap'in?"
"Aye D'Artagnan" Treville nodded, offering the boy a rare soft smile before quickly anticipating the young man's next question, "We have the others as well, they need some medical attention but all live, as do you"
D'Artagnan practically sagged with relief and Aramis was about to chuckle at the boy's worry over them given his own condition when he realized the young Gascon had actually sagged as his energy levels had finally depleted, especially now that help was there, and as such he had fallen unconscious yet again.
"We need to go" Aramis stated firmly as he tore his worried gaze away from D'Artagnan's once again unconscious form to look Treville in the eye.
"Is it safe to move him?" Treville asked concerned, as he helped Aramis back over to Etienne who was waiting to carry him, no longer willing to let the man aggravate his injuries given his recent crumble to the floor moment when he saw D'Artagnan.
"We have no choice" Aramis replied sadly, wincing when Etienne shifted him slightly to get a better grip. "We can't work on him here and there's no way we're leaving him so we'll have to hope he'll be okay" the medic admitted sadly
Treville sighed, rubbing his temples in an effort to stave off the building headache forming there before he gently picked D'Artagnan up, carrying him bridal style and wishing he had finished Ortiz when he had had the chance with every small whimper of pain the young man in his arms let out as they moved.
"Has he always been this light?" Treville asked after a few minutes of silent walking. He was concerned over just how light the unconscious boy was in his arms. He knew the lad had always been skinny but even with all the cuts and bruises that littered his chest Treville could make out the indentation of his ribs… several of which appeared to be broken given the angle that sat at.
Aramis frowned as he lifted his head tiredly from where it had been resting on Etienne's shoulder, "He hasn't been given any food in quite a while Captain" the sharpshooter explained, internally wondering if they could get away with not feeding Ortiz during the trip back to Paris.
"…N't tru'" slurred D'Artagnan weakly as he nestled closer to the warmth that was Treville's chest. The sight brought forth chuckles from the men who had accompanied the Captain and brought a brief, soft smile from the Captain himself. "…'ad br'th" D'Artagnan added sleepily, unable to open his eyes but at least somewhat lucid.
"Really?" Aramis asked surprised, he saw first hand what little regard Ortiz held for his brother's health. The Spaniard feeding him seemed quite out of character.
"…Call'd me … Charlie," mumbled D'Artagnan with a slight scowl on his face that worried the men slightly until he added "…Knows… I h'te… Charlie." After which he promptly passed out again.
"We need to get some food into him soon Captain" Aramis stated, worry practically emanating from every part of his being as he watched the young man's labored breathing from his spot on Etienne's back. "Several of his wounds were infected and have been for a while. Without the necessary reserves to fight them…"
"Understood" nodded Treville, making a mental note to have a large serving of broth made up for all of the captured men as soon as they arrived back at their campsite.
"Drop the brat!" sneered a voice, slightly startling the group who's attention had been on the slightly worrying sounds coming from D'Artagnan as the boy tried to breathe
Once they noticed the new arrival, which turned out to be a well muscled guard by the looks of him and several of his features spoke to him being of Spanish decent the men all moved into defensive positions around their Captain, though they knew they would be little help in a fight seeing as how they were all carrying an injured musketeer.
"I'll be dead before you touch him" growled Treville, subconsciously tightening his grip on the young man as he pulled him closer to his chest.
"Fine by me" snarled the guard as he pulled his sword from its sheath. Only to stun the musketeers' moments later when he crumpled to the floor. A terrified young man standing behind him, hands still holding the piece of wood he had used to knock him out.
"…Bryce?" Aramis asked stunned. He had not pegged the young man as having the guts to do anything overt in helping to stop Ortiz and his men, though Ortiz being in musketeer custody might have helped give him the extra push he needed.
"Tha-That actually worked" Bryce whispered, looking as surprised as the rest of them that his plan had worked.
"Aramis?" whispered Treville as he kept his eyes locked on the young man before him.
"One of the villagers" Aramis explained tiredly, the pain in his body slowly becoming too much for him to handle while conscious, "He doesn't seem to like Ortiz much though and he helped stitch my arm"
"You can come if you wish" Treville said, startling the young man, "Either way we will not hold any prior actions against you but my men need a healer now so we're leaving"
Bryce was stunned by the offer and shame and guilt quickly flooded him as he noticed the appalling conditions of the four musketeers before swiftly nodding, "This way" he said, gesturing to a small corridor, "There's a short cut to the outside. Ortiz added it in case he needed to leave in a hurry"
Thanks to Bryce's help the small group was able to get out of the mansion and back to the small clearing in the woods much quicker and with a lot more ease then if they had attempted to climb the stairs and exit the house the way they had entered.
Arriving at the campsite Treville allowed himself a moment to smirk as he saw what looked to be Ortiz's slumped form by a tree on the furthest edge of the campsite, chained with an extraordinary amount of chain and rope. It also appeared his men had take his words to heart as he could see the corner of fabric tied around both the man's eyes and his mouth.
"Sir" called one of the men he had left behind to get prepared for their return, "Who's worse?" he asked grimly having noticed the horrific conditions of all of the rescued men.
Treville opened his mouth to reply when Aramis beat him to it "D'Artagnan" he said determinedly, not about to let himself get treated before someone saw to his brother first.
After quickly depositing the four injured men on waiting blankets Treville turned to his men.
"You two, gather us enough firewood to last the night, we need to keep them warm" he instructed, watching as the men darted off to fulfill his orders.
"Farrin" he called getting the man's attention from where he had been checking on Athos, "You're on food duty, we need something warm and easy to eat for all four of them" he ordered, glaring at Aramis to disagree with him when he stressed that all of them needed food.
"Aye Captain" nodded Farrin as he started on the food.
"Thierry and Etienne will help me with the rest of the injured whilst those two focus on D'Artagnan" Glaring at Aramis he added, "Don't give me that look Aramis we can clean and stitch wounds well enough. I wont have you getting infected because you're too stubborn to accept help until D'Artagnan's been seen to"
"The rest of you" he added after confirming the medic had been sufficiently chastised, "Are on guard duty and are expected to help with whatever any of us needs"
The camp was a blur of movement for several minutes as everyone got settled into their jobs. However the entire camp froze when one of the two more medically trained men who was working on D'Artagnan exclaimed:
"Shit! D'ARTAGNAN!"