Evening My Lovelies
We did it! We've reached 400 reviews! God I love you guys! And the responses I got from yesterdays chapter just made my day :D
Oh Heads Up People! This Sunday it is very likely there wont be an update as I am traveling and staying the night in Milton Keynes for a work thing and I very much doubt I'll have my computer with me... If I do then obviously I'll get something up but as it's unlikely figured I'd give you all ample warning now.
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Pain and worry will pretty much be hanging around for the next few chapters :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha I know, it started cute but then my evil mind took over and it got dark quickly :D I love that you loved the chapter :D and sorry about the cliffys I can't help it, I love them too much XD Enjoy the new chapter! x
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - I feel that, with how close D'Art did actually come to death, that their nightmares would have to be intense to match that. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - I felt a little bad writing such bad dreams for them but figured they'd have to be intense given how close D'Art actually got to dying. The rescue for Alain begins tomorrow so we wont be waiting long I promise! It was going to start here but I got a bit too into the flashback scene we have today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Figured the boys wouldn't react well to seeing the extent of D'Art's injuries as well as hearing him in pain while Gerald treated him... Plus I wanted them to rush to his side after the nightmare so I needed them out of the infirmary. We'll be preparing for our rescue today though they wont be heading out until tomorrow. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the reviews - (chapter34) He's going to wish he listened to the explanation sooner but too late now. (chapter35) Yes! I'm so glad you loved the nightmares, I am quite proud at how they turned out so ecstatic to know you loved them :D I kinda saw our boys being unable to resist moving closer to D'Art if he cried out in pain at all given his condition so they'd greatly impede Gerald's work, even without meaning too. Plus our boys are injured themselves, plus exhausted so he really did want them to rest. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Ah but if you don't read on Sundays then it usually means you'll have 2 chapters to read Monday so hopefully that's a good thing :D I couldn't resist having them flee to D'Artagnan's side after each of their nightmares so I'm glad you liked it. We'll be setting out to find Alain soon I promise! Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - All our muskys are in need of some good old fashion TLC from our lovely doc, though the man's isn't too impressed with D'Artagnan's condition. I loved writing the nightmares and I'm glad the terror came across well :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Avioooor: Thanks for the review - YES! I am SOOO glad you liked the chapter, I absolutely adored your idea and was a bit nervous it hadn't come out like you hoped so knowing you liked it is a huge relief. I don't think I could every write a permanent death for our boy, I love him too much :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Haha He's got a bit more than that but don't worry we'll be sorting Alain out very soon :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Heartbreaking was what I was going for so I'm taking that as a win :D We're setting out to rescue Alain very soon, promise! Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Oh I just loved reading your review :D I'll admit I am quite proud of how the nightmares turned out but I was a bit nervous to hear what you all thought of them so to know they had you enraptured had me grinning a bit like a loon :D Considering what I knew was coming I couldn't resist the small bit of brotherly love and cuteness before my evil mind got a hold of the chapter and took it all downhill, tone-wise :D I figured there was no way they wouldn't go rushing to D'Artagnan side after a nightmare like that and I fell in love with the image of them meeting each other there as they realized they suffered from similar things. The tricky part was deciding what to have their nightmares be about. I was set on Aramis's one from the get go but I was debating having a funeral one instead for Porthos but the idea I ended up going with hit me just before I started writing his bit and I'm so glad it did as it was a lot better than the funeral scene I had be picturing before then. Thanks for the congrats btw :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Thirty-Six: A Mystery Revealed
"We need to talk… Its about Alain."
All three musketeers sat up at that, their tired eyes filling with worry and concern at the expression on their Captain's face.
"Did the search teams find him?" asked Athos, knowing Treville had left men behind at the workhouse to dig through the rubble in search for their missing brother.
"…'lain," whimpered D'Artagnan tearfully as he shifted in his sleep, startling both his brothers and Treville who allowed the Gascon to pull their attention for a moment before realizing he wasn't waking up, just reacting to what they were saying.
"Treville?" pressed Porthos hesitantly, not liking how the Captain's eyes narrowed at their youngest brother.
"When you were in there," began Treville, his eyes never leaving D'Artagnan's unconscious form, "Did you see any sign that D'Artagnan hadn't been kept alone?"
All three men perked up at this, similar feelings of dread filling them as they realized what the Captain was trying to ask them.
"Are… Are you saying Alain was there?" stammered Aramis weakly, his grip on D'Artagnan's wrist tightening unconsciously as guilt began to fill him that they may have left a brother behind, something they had sworn never to do.
"No," dismissed Athos as he shook his head, "We searched the place before we left, we saw no sign of him. He was not there."
"Well I've got a man outside who claims to have seen both D'Artagnan and Alain in the compound, even managed to describe what the pair of them looked like," explained Treville with a sigh as he launched into an explanation of the conversation that had just occurred.
FLASH BACK
"I'm surprised you stuck around," stated Treville as he walked over to the table he had left the man from earlier at. He had hoped the man would still be in the garrison but he also would not have been surprised if he wasn't. He had, after all, left the man waiting for several long hours while he helped with D'Artagnan and saw to the incarceration of the man Corbett and the rest of them brought back.
The man smiled weakly as he lifted the bottle of wine he had been given some time earlier. "Your staff ensured I was well taken care off, plus this is important."
"We can speak in my office, follow me."
Upon entering his office Treville allowed himself a moment to compose himself, having a really bad feeling regarding what he was about to learn.
"Take a seat."
"I'll get right to the heart of the matter," stated the man as he settled himself into one of the chairs in front of Treville's desk. "Moreau, the man I am assuming your men were out to either capture or kill is in possession of a young man I believe to be part of your regiment."
"Surely you saw earlier, my men rescued Moreau's captive."
To his surprise and displeasure the man merely chuckled. "No not D'Artagnan," Treville sat up straighter, really not liking where this was going. "There was another, one of the men brought him from the workhouse that exploded thinking he was the boy."
Treville cursed, every part of him wanted to refute the man's words, he had almost lost D'Artagnan to Moreau's twisted mind and the thought that Alain might have been, and potentially still was suffering too was nigh on unthinkable. He found himself cursing again when he realized that the man's explanation was the only one that made sense. He had had teams scouring the demolished workhouse for almost an entire day and none had seen any sign of the younger man, it was almost like he hadn't been in there to begin with, something Treville knew wasn't true.
Sensing that part of the Captain was stubbornly clinging to the belief and hope that his words were wrong the man continued, sadness and sympathy shining in his eyes.
"I can understand how the man was confused, for they appear quite similar… The same height, same messy brown hair… Damn they even wear similar expressions when angry," he added as an after thought, part of him hating the obvious pain he was causing the man before him. "To those who have seen and talked to D'Artagnan before it was clear the man had brought the wrong musketeer… But Moreau's not one to waste or miss and opportunity, especially if it means he can hurt some musketeers."
Treville's eyes narrowed, "You speak as if you know Moreau personally Monsieur. I detest being played so why don't you go back to your boss, I will not fall for his tricks."
The man's eyes widened at the anger he heard in the Captain's voice but he was quick to control himself, having expected a much worse reaction when the man learned who he worked for.
"D'Artagnan got shot protecting the man!" he exclaimed, his words stopping Treville in his tracks as the Captain had been moving to open the office door, intending to kick the man out.
"I managed to get the bullet out and I wrapped the wound as best I could. Moreau ordered no medical treatment be given but the boy did not deserve to die, not when a man such as Moreau still lived."
"Where. Is. He?" demanded Treville as he abandoned his approach to the door and instead stalked towards the man.
"Moreau has an estate, not far from Paris, allowing him to keep up to date with the going-ons of the city without risking his neck by entering it. If he was going to take your musketeer anywhere it would be there."
Treville nodded absently, a plan already beginning to form in his mind. Once again he started moving towards the door, only this time he intended to be the one leaving. Just as his hand rested on the handle a thought occurred to him and he turned back around.
"Who are you anyway? What do you have to gain by betraying your boss now?"
The man scowled, "Its hardly betrayal if said employment was forced upon you!" he spat venomously, needing a few moments to calm himself before he continued. "Several years ago Moreau found himself in need of a healer. I treated him, not knowing who he was or what kind of man he was. Several months later my home was attacked."
Treville gasped almost inaudibly, his heart clenching at the raw pain and agony on the face of the man before him.
"I had been out treating a farm accident outside the village and when I returned I found my home ablaze."
"And this made you want to work for Moreau?" asked Treville, his voice full of disbelief.
"I never wanted that!" snapped the man before continuing. "Moreau sought me out the following day and stated he had my family, that they were alive and that, providing I worked for him, they would stay that way."
Treville cursed, understanding filling him as he realized what had motivated a physician and healer to work for someone as cruel and merciless as Moreau.
"What changed?" he asked softly, "Why go back on your… agreement now?"
The man sighed, heartbreak and grief filling every part of his expression. "Twice a year I would be allowed to see them, to hold my wife and tell her that I loved her, to hold my baby boy and apologize for missing another birthday while trying to distract him from the 'scary' men who kept them under watch."
The man's voice cracked as he spoke to his family and Treville didn't hesitate to move towards him, placing a comforting and supporting hand on the man's shoulder.
"Before my last visit however," continued the man, his voice thick with emotion that he fought to keep contained. "I had protested his treatment of D'Artagnan, not only was he continually hurting the lad but he always refused to let me treat him, having decided it was more fun to watch the boy suffer… As a result the sight that greeted me on my next visit was the bloodied and torn apart bodies of my wife and seven year old son."
"Jesus," breathed Treville, feeling the need to sit after hearing that.
"So as you can see I bear no love for Moreau. I merely wish to see his head removed from his body before I depart my own to meet my family once more."
Not knowing what to say to that Treville nodded, having seen the determination to die in the man's eyes.
"I am at peace with my decision Captain," offered the man softly, having noted the indecision in the man's eyes and knowing he was uncomfortable with not doing anything to stop him killing himself. "I want this… But we have spoken long enough. Your man might hold out for a while but as news of the raid on the compound reaches him Moreau will become increasingly violent and then it's only a matter of time before you too walk in to see a similar sight to mine."
This was enough to propel Treville into action as he offered the man a heartfelt thanks before heading to the door again.
"And it's Gaspard," called the man, a strained smile tugging at his lips, "My name."
END FLASH BACK
The musketeers sat in stunned silence as they took in their Captain's words, though plans and scenarios had already begun running through his mind.
"How soon can we leave?" asked the swordsman, his eyes momentarily flickering to D'Artagnan's unconscious form. He detested the idea of leaving the boy but he could not, in good conscience, leave Alain with Moreau, not when he knew what fate awaited him.
"First light," stated Treville, though the way he looked at the three men gave Athos pause. "I'm sending most of the regiment. I want Moreau captured or dead."
The three men nodded, understanding and determination clear in their eyes. Athos opened his mouth to respond when a faint voice caught the group's attention.
"…I'm coming too."