Evening My Lovelies
Just letting you know now. There's a flash back in this chapter that I'm not 100% sold on so apologies if you dont like it.
Notes On Reviews:
watlocked: Thanks for the review - :) Glad you liked D'Art and Treville's bit. We'll get a few answers about Richelieu today and as for Thierry I havent decided whether or not to kill him off yet... I'm tempted but I also quite like him. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Deana: Thanks for the review - Yeah Aramis's shoulder is going to be quite sore after all this, but the women are too tempting for him to resist lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Haha yeah Athos is never going to leave the boy alone again. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yeah lots of stuff going on now :) I loved Athos's description of Aramis too so I'm glad you liked it :) Athos is never leaving D'Art alone again I think lol haha Yeah everything but the kitchen sink. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - Your reviews always make me smile, I genuinely think that by the end of the story I will have collected all the sound effects :D Hopefully your nails will survive the story. Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - Gotta keep you all on your toes :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha I loved the idea of D'Art falling out of bed so I'm glad you liked it too :) I'm really happy you're enjoying the story so far. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - We'll learn about the Cardinal a bit today. We'll find out where D'Art knows two of the names from and we get to deal with one of the other names on the list. I do like confusing you all :D Thierry and Porthos get a bit today which will hopefully clear up a few (maybe?) questions. Athos's trip to the kitchen was safe, worry not :) Hopefully this answers some questions. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Yeah you should of known :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the chapter. I was going to have D'Art dressed but I quite like the image of him shirtless, hence the lack of shirt :D Glad you liked the fight, I always get a bit worried when I write fight scenes. Have you recovered from your gasps? lol :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always many thanks and much love to you lovely people who follow/favourite/review/read this story
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Thirty-Five: Explanations and Discoveries
"Explain," said Treville, his voice firm as he turned his full attention on to Leroy.
"...He's been attacked sir," explained the musketeer, eying D'Artagnan worriedly when he noticed the boy pale at his words
"WHAT!" Growled the musketeer Captain, he may not get on with the Cardinal at the best of times... Heck most of the time they hated each other, but the last thing he wanted or needed right now was for that man to be injured.
Leroy opened his mouth to retell the details he had been given by the red guard messenger when he was cut off by a slightly worried Athos.
"Sir, it's D'Artagnan he's..." blinking owlishly at the pained yet sheepish look on his young protégé's face as he tried to push himself up from the floor. Sighing Athos placed one hand on his hip and used the other to run through his hair as he forced himself not to go off on the young man that was very much resembling a kicked puppy, "...right here apparently," he finished lamely.
"He's fine, I've checked him over already," said Treville curtly before he turned back to Leroy, getting the details of Richelieu's attack more important than dealing with whatever D'Artagnan had forced himself to try and tell him.
Seeing the expectant gaze of his Captain, Leroy began his explanation. Apparently Richelieu had dismissed the men in his private guard after returning to his office, stating that they had already cleared the room and that he had confidential matters that required his attention. The men, not wishing to irritate the already tense Cardinal agreed providing they were allowed to stand guard by the doors.
The doors had been shut only a few minutes before the guards heard sounds of a struggle coming from the room. They forced their way in only to see the Cardinal crumple to the ground while the assailant leapt from the window with one had pressed curiously on his side.
"How bad?" Treville asked, sinking into his chair.
"Surgeons are with him now, that's all I was told Captain."
"Spread the word," Treville growled, "No musketeer is to leave this garrison alone. The gall of this man, to attack the Cardinal in his own garrison speaks to his arrogance. I doubt the men are the targets but I will not risk their lives regardless."
"Yes Captain," Leroy nodded before swiftly exiting the room to do just that.
"And get Porthos and Aramis back here! I don't like them out there in their conditions!"
"...Captain?" called a voice, startling the man as he had honestly forgotten he was there.
"Ahh yes D'Artagnan. Care to tell me why you felt it necessary to practically fly into my office when you are supposed to be on bed rest?" Treville asked, quirking an eyebrow at the boy.
"Yes," stated Athos as he glared at the boy, "I would like to know as well."
D'Artagnan pouted before remembering why had actually come in the first place. "I remembered!" he explained, looking a mix between relieved at remembering and terrified at what he remembered.
"The names on the list?" Athos asked inquisitively, his head tilting to one side as he observed his little brother, who upon realizing the swordsman understood what he meant was nodding furiously.
"They're delivery men," D'Artagnan explained, "Brothers I think... They offer their services to all our main delivery people, especially Elise and Carmen when they have heavy baskets of laundry to collect."
Treville nodded, this made sense to him. The men would be inconspicuous in a crowd and even in the midst of one of the regiments they would not be questioned. It was unlikely that any of the busy soldiers would stop to ask for their names so it gave them anonymity
"How do you know their names though?" Athos asked curiously, never having seen the Gascon chatting to delivery staff before.
"I asked…" D'Artagnan replied, giving Athos a look that expressed what he thought of the obvious question.
"What can you tell me about them?" Treville asked, not wanting to give Athos a chance to berate the boy for not giving a satisfactory answer.
D'Artagnan's face scrunched up as he tried to recall anything he knew about them. "Not much," he admitted sadly, though considering they had only spoken once it was hardly surprising, "the younger one… Marcus, he stank of stale alcohol so I'd guess he spends a lot of his time in the tavern but I have no clue as to which one."
"It's more of a lead then we had five minutes ago," Treville reminded him, not liking the look of failure that had settled on the lad's face after he finished speaking.
"As much as I want to run this down I should get to the palace to check on the King, no doubt he is not taking the Cardinal's situation well." Stated Treville with a sigh; he had just put his jacket on when…
"CAPTAIN!"
"Now What!?" exclaimed Treville, almost throwing his hands up in the air in exasperation.
"Get them to the infirmary!" called a voice, freezing the occupants in the office as they clearly heard the panic and worry underlying the voice's words. "Someone find Doctor Pascal he should be heading this way anyway now… Stay with us Thierry!"
At the cry of Thierry's name, Athos, who at that point had flung D'Artagnan's arm around his shoulder in an effort to help keep the boy vertical, had rushed out of the room, D'Artagnan doing his best in his highly weakened state to keep up, just as eager as Athos to see the situation. Thierry had been sent to guard Porthos after all… If Thierry was injured what did that say for their brother.
"Porthos" the pair whispered brokenly as they watched their brother being rushed to the infirmary.
Aramis could barely contain his grin as he and the men Treville sent with him made their way slowly back to the garrison. He had managed to get out of the room he had been cooped up in for god knows how long now, had been able to chat to some very lovely people who weren't sweaty men just finishing their work for the day and had even managed to find the woman they were searching for.
FLASHBACK
"This is the last one Aramis," Etienne warned, watching with a fond smile as the marksman immediately began flirting with the nearest woman. Etienne allowed the rest of the men in their group to split up and investigate the workers for the woman they had been sent to find while he settled himself at the bar, content to keep a watchful eye over Aramis and the others.
"Well lookie who just dropped by," called a sultry voice, smirking flirtatiously at Aramis as she made her way over.
Aramis grinned, "Bella ma chérie, how it warms my heart to see that beautiful smile of yours."
"Not sure if I should be smiling since you've been away for sooooo long," the woman replied, sliding in to sit next to the medic as one hand came up to the back of his neck to play with his hair. "I'm not a patient woman Aramis," she warned coyly, whispering the words into his ear.
"Apologies my lady," Aramis replied, smiling as he placed a kiss on the woman's hand, "A situation came up, inescapable I'm afraid."
"That why your so banged up sugar? Coz if it eint and that's the sort of kinky thing you're into now-a-days you gotta give a girl some warning first."
Aramis laughed, shaking his head, "The situation did lead to this yes… In fact" he said leaning in slightly so as to not be overheard, "I could use your help with a little something."
"Oh?" Bella replied, her curiosity spiked
"Finding a woman," Aramis explained, chortling at the woman's overdramatic pout he received in return. "Not like that ma chérie" he reassured, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, "Musketeer business I promise."
"You got a name for this mystery lass of yours?" Bella replied
"Giselle… Giselle Marceau" Aramis answered, eyebrows rising as he saw a flash of recognition in Bella's eyes. "You know her?"
"New girl," Bella explained, nodding as her fingers continued to play with Aramis's hair, "Been here a few months, quite popular too. She's upstairs with a client now."
Kissing the woman on the cheek in thanks, Aramis waved over Etienne and Galen who had been watching his interactions and explained what Bella had told him to them. Laughing uncontrollably at the pairs expressions when the woman had eyed them up and down before leaning further into his side and stating that she 'charged extra for groups.'
Etienne had then instructed his men to go and collect the woman – once she was done, heaven knows they didn't want to walk in right in the middle of something – whilst he left Aramis flirting shamelessly with the petite brunette snuggled up against him.
END FLASH BACK
Now as the group was riding back to the garrison with their prison in tow, not even the agonizing pain in his shoulder and leg from using the crutches could dampen the musketeer's spirits.
The closer they got to the garrison however the more Aramis got the feeling that something had gone horribly wrong. He didn't know what it was but there was a growing feeling of dread settling within him and nothing he did to convince himself otherwise worked in removing it.
That feeling only intensified when they returned to the garrison to find Treville glaring at a chained man in the middle of the courtyard whilst pressing the musketeers surrounding said man for information.
" – Passed out just as we got there. We brought them back here as quickly as we could." One of the musketeers' explained, looking something between angry and worried.
"Captain?" Aramis asked hesitantly, leaning heavily on his crutch as he handed the reigns of his horse over to Henri the stable boy.
"Good your back," Treville grunted, a soft sigh of relief escaping him that did little to reassure the Spaniard's growing sense of dread.
"Sir?"
"Aramis and Etienne the pair of you need to get to the infirmary now." Treville stated, nodding over his shoulder to the infirmary.
"But –"
Looking the pair of confused men in the eye Treville said, "It's Porthos and Thierry."
Both men paled instantly and rushed as best they were able, Etienne supporting much of Aramis's weight, to the infirmary.
"What happened!?" demanded Aramis as he caught sight of an alarmingly pale Thierry in between the throw of assistance trying to help. Etienne noticed him too and quickly rushed over to his brother's side, grabbing one of his hands in his own as he started his own demands for answers.
"They were ambushed on their way back from meeting Flea." Athos supplied, his voice dangerously low as his eyes promised a world of pain for the survivors who initiated the attack on his brother and friend.
"How is he?" Aramis asked, hobbling over to where Porthos was lying on the cot, pale and unconscious.
"He's got quite a few deep cuts, is no doubt going to have some serious bruises in the coming days and his wrist sustained further damage," Athos explained darkly, his eyes never leaving Porthos's form
"T-They had to… re-break it," D'Artagnan added with a whisper, desperately trying to remain in the present as the sound of his brother screaming as his wrist was broken brought the memory of when it happened the first time to the forefront of his mind.
It would do no-one, especially Porthos, any good for him to break down and have a panic attack over memories now so D'Artagnan tried to focus on reminding himself that they were home now, not in Lupiac but Paris… It was hard work but seemed to be holding for now.
Aramis noticed the boy's struggles, instantly recognizing the signs from where they appeared with him and his own memories of Savoy. The Spaniard sunk into the cot D'Artagnan was sitting on and wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulder, trying to help ground him in the present with his touch.
"What of Thierry?" Aramis asked, his heart breaking as he watched Etienne struggle not to cry over his brother's unconscious body as the medics worked to save his life.
Athos grimaced, "He took substantially more damage, most likely trying to protect Porthos. The patrol that spotted them said he had already lost quite a bit of blood by the time they got there, though doctor Pascal says that both theirs and Porthos's attempts to stop the bleeding might have just been enough to save his life."
"Might?" Aramis winced, knowing the pain of losing brothers all too well, something he would not wish on someone like Etienne.
"As I said, he's lost a lot of blood."
"What of the group responsible? I take it that the man Treville was questioning outside was one of them?" Aramis asked, needing to ask questions so that he didn't up and demand the men leave so he could see to his brother. He knew in his condition he wouldn't be able to remain standing long enough to be of any help to either man and the last thing he wanted was to endanger them because of his own selfish desires.
"Yeah, only one left alive. Captain's trying to figure out if it's linked to the attack on the Cardinal," D'Artagnan explained, his voice a little shaky but he felt more with it now that Aramis had his arm around him.
Aramis blinked, just how much had happened in the morning he had been away? "Attack on the Cardinal?"
Athos nodded and explained the situation to their out of the loop friend, none of their eyes leaving their unconscious brother as they spoke.
After they had finished explaining what happened the trio descended into silence as they waited for news on their friends.
Several hours later the doctor informed them that whilst he'd be in a fair amount of pain, Porthos should be awake again come morning – something that brought immense relief to the inseparables.
"And Thierry?"
"I'm not one for giving false hope," acknowledged the doctor sadly, "He's lost a lot of blood and, while stable, is still critical. It'll be touch and go for a while with him."
And with those words the musketeers and Etienne were left to spend the night watching over their fallen brothers.