Evening My Ever Lovely Readers
Today's chapter was quite difficult to write. I have no idea why but I ended up deleting and rewriting sections so many times i'm actually amazed i finished it.
Pierre's punishment is kinda announced here but he wont actually suffer it until tomorrow.
Notes On Reviews:
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the reviews - Aramis has had very little to do in the back of the wagon than watch his brother hence why he was probably the first to realize the nightmares had returned (aside from when D'Art pulled his stitches because of one). Pierre will be getting his comeuppance tomorrow so not long to wait now :) Enjoy the new chapter
Tidia: Thanks for the review - I'm really tempted to have Louis order them all back on duty but I think when he sees them even he will have a heart and let them rest. Enjoy the new chapter
CaroH: Thanks for the review - I feel that Athos would have the face of a parent during a long car journey when the kid insists on asking 'are we there yet' every 5sec lol :) We will be dealing with his nightmares shortly, as well as Athos's guilt so that should be an interesting chat. I'm thinking of linking the two together so we'll see how that works out. Enjoy the new chapter
Issai: Thanks for the review - I can imagine it going something like "Let's go hunting" then after 10seconds on the horse both Aramis and D'Artagnan fall off and injure themselves worse. I feel that after seeing how bad they look he wont be ordering them back straight away. I quite like the idea i have planned for Pierre so i'm hoping you'll like it too :D Enjoy the new chapter
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Glad you didnt think it was a rubbish chapter :) I think Athos is looking forward to some alone time after being stuck with them 24/7 for god knows how long, Especially after the bickering and punching lol. I doubt D'Art could really hit hard in his condition but i'm glad you liked it, it was fun to write. Enjoy the new chapter
Apologies now if Louis is a bit out of character, i wanted him to be more angry then petulant as he usually is so hopefully it still works.
Hugs and high fives to you lovely people who continue to support this story by reading/following/favouriting/reviewing it :D
Enjoy
xxx
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The King's Decision
As Treville made his way back to the garrison he felt lighter then he had in weeks. All of his men had safely returned home, despite the horrific injuries they sustained and now the King had promised justice be dealt to the man responsible for their pain.
The only thing that could have made the situation better would have been bringing Milady to justice, as they all knew that she had been the brains' behind the whole operation. But to bring her to justice would mean Athos admitting to the King and to a judge; his connection to the woman and the Captain feared what such a revelation would do to the musketeer as well as the trust held for him by the King and Queen. His lieutenant's past with the murderess was a highly guarded secret, even in the garrison, and the only people who knew were his brothers, his Captain and the few men the Captain had brought with him on their rescue attempt. Even then the men had been told under oath never to reveal what they had learned to anyone else, including their brothers back in Paris.
Seeing as how bringing Milady to justice was an unattainable idea, at least a present, Treville was content to at least see Pierre receive an appropriate justice for his vendetta against the inseparables.
Arriving back at the garrison Treville's first point of call was Athos's rooms so he could alert the men that their presence would be required the following afternoon.
He was surprised to find however that the men had not all been congregating in one room as he had expected but had apparently all sort out their own lodgings.
"D'Artagnan and Porthos were quite insistent on resting in their own beds" Athos informed, answering his Captain's unasked question with a quirked eyebrow at the man's unexpected arrival, "Aramis was kidnapped by Mademoiselle Kara, she was quite adamant about checking over his injuries" he added with a smirk
"The King requires all four of you at the palace tomorrow afternoon" Treville informed
"The other's aren't ready to return to duty!" Athos exclaimed, "D'Artagnan and Aramis can barely stand as it is to…"
"Peace Athos" Treville calmed, raising a hand to stop the musketeer in the middle of his rant, "I was able to persuade the King to put of punishing Pierre until you all returned, he wants to have the four of you there when he does it tomorrow"
Athos visibly relaxed now he knew that his brothers weren't about to be forced back onto duty before they were ready. "We'll need to use the wagon again then." He said, his mind whirling as he tried to come up with reasons to use against D'Artagnan when the boy attempted to ride his horse, something he knew his young protégé was undoubtedly going to do.
"I'll make sure it's prepared for you… Now get some rest, I'll see you tomorrow." Treville smiled, patting Athos on the shoulder before taking his leave, intent on informing the rest of the inseparables.
"You managed the whole trip without ripping your stitches René" Kara remarked teasingly, "I'm impressed"
Aramis rolled his eyes at his niece's words. The young woman had dragged him off as soon as she had seen him, and despite his protests had insisted on checking him over. It wasn't that he didn't want to see the woman, he loved her dearly, but he had been intending on offering to keep watch over D'Artagnan as the boy's nightmares had returned.
He was about to attempt, once again, to get the woman to leave when a knock at the door cut him off before he could start.
"Captain Treville" Kara said, having moved to open the door so that Aramis could remain seated on the bed.
"Sir?" Aramis asked concerned, pushing himself up into a straighter seated position.
Treville smiled fondly at the Spaniard, the sight of him unconscious, pale and cradled in Athos's arms still haunting his mind. He snapped himself out of it quickly and explained the reason for his visit.
He was slight surprised by the intensely dark look that formed on the medic's face at the mention of Pierre and was about to question it when he remembered that Aramis had been there when D'Artagnan had been shot. Although Pierre had not pulled the trigger he had taken the boy away from him while he was bleeding out, leaving the seriously ill medic to worry and panic over whether the boy was even still alive.
Pierre had also been responsible for the majority of the sharpshooter's injuries so it was understandable that the man would be the most interested in seeing justice dealt.
After relaying the information to the medic Treville once again took his leave, promising to subtly check in on D'Artagnan after the medic admitted to him that the boy's nightmares had returned.
"You should not be going anywhere" Kara remarked as she focused on re-wrapping a bandage around the gashes on his legs.
"It is the King's wishes, one cannot refuse" he shrugged, the dark look returning as he added, "besides I would see Pierre pay for the pain he has caused"
Kara huffed at her uncle's stubbornness and grabbed a pair of heated water skins from by the fireplace. "These'll help the muscles relax" she said, placing one water skin under each leg, "Might help you walk easier tomorrow"
Aramis smiled at the woman before insisting that he was fine and was simply going to sleep and that she should head to the rooms Treville had assigned to her.
The next morning was eventful to say the least. The men were mustered first thing to be informed that the one responsible for hurting the four best men in the regiment was going to receive his punishment later that afternoon. The news that the King wanted it to be announced in a small private setting irked many of the men who wanted nothing more than to see the one responsible for the attack on their brothers pay.
Then Athos and Treville had to rush to catch Aramis before he fell down the stairs, his injured legs seizing up on him mid step. The Spaniard had then tried to hide how much pain his legs were causing him all the while stubbornly refusing the many pain draughts both his brothers and his niece tried to force on him – wanting to be completely clear headed when he saw Pierre again.
Porthos had arrived during the middle of the standoff with a very pale and tired looking D'Artagnan leaning heavily on him. All thoughts of Aramis's stubbornness were quickly pushed aside at the sight of the young Gascon who had the beginnings of dark circles under his eyes, eluding to just how much sleep the boy had lost.
"Nightmares?" Athos asked sympathetically, hoping that the boy would be honest with them.
To his relief and concern the young man nodded tiredly, his unbound arm reaching to wrap around his healing stab wound.
"How are the stitches?" Aramis asked, his own pain forgotten at the sight of his little brother in such a way.
"Still there" Porthos informed when it became clear that all of the boy's energy was focused on staying upright and awake. "Whelp might'a pulled them a bit but I checked this morning and they've held"
Aramis smiled, relieved that he would not have to force the boy to endure having his injury re-stitched.
"Do you wish to talk about the nightmare?" Athos asked quietly, knowing the boy would not wish the regiment to see him vulnerable – not that he lacked trust in them but it was more a matter of pride for the hot-headed youth.
D'Artagnan hesitated for a few moments before nodding, leaning into his mentor's touch when Athos placed a comforting hand on his uninjured shoulder, "Not now though" D'Artagnan said tiredly, "After we've dealt with Pierre"
The three musketeers nodded their acceptance at this arrangement; simply glad the boy was willing to talk to them about what haunted his dreams.
Thankfully the rest of the morning lacked the earlier excitement, mainly consisting of last minute injury checks before the group, accompanied by Treville headed to the palace.
"Ah Treville" Smiled the King, "come in" he said, waving the group into the room.
Noticing the state of two of the musketeer's standing before her the Queen quickly requested some chairs be brought in for them before they collapsed. The pair nodded their thanks to the young Queen, although one of them allowed his eyes to linger just a moment longer on the pregnant royal.
"Bring in Pierre" Louis ordered, seating himself back on his lavish throne while he watched the prisoner being brought in. The young King couldn't quite help the smile that tugged at his mouth when he saw the protectiveness that emitted between the four men when he noticed the leader… Athos he recalled his name being, moving to stand in front of the two more injured men.
Watching Pierre being brought into the room drew a small smirk from Porthos as he observed many light injuries adorning the man that had not been there before they had parted ways with Treville's group – Clearly Pierre had learnt what happened when someone targets members of their regiment. The larger man doubted the man would have survived the trip if both Athos and Treville weren't adamant on him being tried by the King.
"Monsieur Pierre" the King spoke, rising from his seat as he did, " the crimes you have committed against men in my service are grievous, what do you have to say for your actions"
Pierre glared at the four men and their Captain before turning to reply to the King, the venom in his voice plain for anyone to hear, "Those pieces of scum deserved everything they got and more… my only crime is that I did not kill them" he spat, his inevitable fate loosening his tongue.
"One could say the same for you Monsieur" the Queen retorted, hating the slurs against the men who saved her life.
"Indeed" Louis nodded, placing a calming hand over his wife's. "There is a saying yes? An eye for an eye" the King added, a slight smirk forming as he saw the fear in his prisoner's eyes. "Let's see if you can survive what you have put those before you through… An adequate punishment for one so unremorseful of their actions" he spoke before passing the man off to the guards and his musketeer's
"Your men will heal I hope Athos?" the King asked, wanting to hear from one of the men injured that he would not lose some of his best and favourite musketeers.
Athos seemed surprised by the King's concern but was quick to mask it, bowing low to the young royal as he responded, "Yes Your Majesty. With time and rest they will heal"
"That is good to hear" Louis nodded, before turning serious, "Should he survive his punishment his life is yours to deal with" he added before turning to leave, leaving the musketeer in a state of shock and full of a rare gratitude to the King.
