Evening My Lovelies
First off... I'm SOOOOOO sorry for there being no update yesterday, my internet decided to die on me (stupid TalkTalk :( )
Secondly... I'm kinda loving the fact that out of all of you... Only one of you lovely reviewers correctly guessed who our "I'm coming too" person was :D
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Just a bit... Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you liked it. I had a different backstory in mind for Gaspard but then that idea came to me and I couldn't resist. Glad all the sadness & pain came through okay. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha I know, it was definitely the last thing they needed after what they've been through. I hadn't intended Gaspard to ride out with them but I love the idea so have tweaked my original idea a bit to incorporate it, thanks for the idea :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Hmmm I might let him survive, we'll see how things progress. Don't worry it's not D'Art who spoke up ;) Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Haha don't worry Athos and the others wont be letting Moreau get away. Loving how everyone's automatically assuming (likely because we know how much I love whumping the boy) that its D'Artagnan who spoke up. There is someone else who'd want to go search for Alain ;) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Yes, currently Alain is alive. Don't worry it's not D'Art who spoke up, there's someone else in the garrison who wants to find Alain. D'Art's still unconscious right now. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you liked it. I had a slightly different backstory for Gaspard but then this idea hit me and I couldn't help but roll with it. Don't worry the person speaking is not D'Art, our puppy's still unconscious right now... Can't promise he wont attempt a second escape but he's not even awake right now so it wont happen for a little bit. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Avioooor: Thanks for the review - I'll admit he's kinda growing on me too... I can't guarantee he'll survive but I'm open to the idea of him not killing himself. I'm afraid they're not finding him tonight but they will tomorrow (I hope!) The voice doesn't belong to D'Art, he's unconscious right now... There's someone else with a much greater desire to rescue Alain who is the person who spoke up. Hahaha I'm thinking, knowing me, that it is likely there will be a cliffhanger on Sunday, I'll try not to though. Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the backstory even though its a sad one. I'm surprised it's possible to dislike Moreau any more than you did already but I'll take it as an accomplishment :D Nope, it's not D'Art. I have a feeling most people have forgotten who would have a greater reason for rescuing Alain. Wow what good timing, I was just in the middle of responding to this when your other review regarding the whole guest thing came through :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Well you'd be wrong! It's not D'Art, its someone I'm worried you've all forgotten. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Hehe I couldn't resist the cuteness of D'Art mumbling Alain's name in his sleep. He's beginning to wake up (which I'm dead excited to write) hence why he responded. Moreau has indeed underestimated Gaspard as he's out for blood now. I think I might have actually fist pumped when I saw you had guessed it right :D I was hoping someone would guess it and I did have a feeling it might be you :D As a prize there's a little something for you in this chapter I'm hoping you'll pick up on :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Brother Missing I
The appearance of the voice startled the men almost as much as the source. They each turned to the face the doorway with varying looks of shock, relief and happiness as they took in who had spoken.
"Blaise!" exclaimed Porthos joyfully as he rushed to help the clearly tired man into a chair. "Didn't know you were awake yet."
Smiling weakly in thanks Blaise eased himself into the chair, "I woke up not too long ago. I heard voices and Alain's name so decided to investigate."
"Blaise," sighed Treville, regret and relief warring for dominance on the older Captain's face.
"Captain I am going with you tomorrow," interrupted the musketeer, managing to pull off an impressive look of determination despite his obvious exhaustion and pain.
Treville's eyes narrowed at the interruption, "Blaise you flew from a window during an explosion," stated the Captain stoically, his mask almost breaking as the musketeer in question sent him a look that clearly meant "So? Your point?"
Sighing Treville continued. "I can't allow you to go, not when you look ready to collapse from exhaustion now and that's just from walking from your infirmary room to here."
"You're letting Aramis go and he looks just as ready to collapse!" retorted Blaise, his eyes burning with fiery determination.
"Hey!" snapped Aramis indignantly, "I'm not about to collapse!"
Blaise sent him a look, "Really? You look as bad as I feel so I very much doubt that."
Porthos chuckled, but concern filled his eyes just as much as amusement did, "You did faint several hours ago 'Mis," he offered, chuckling again at the look his brother sent him.
"You would have too in my position," snapped the medic as he glared at the larger musketeer.
"Me?" snorted Porthos, amusement now clearly winning in his expression, "I never faint… 'Thos neither," said musketeer nodded in agreement, a smirk tugging at his lips when Porthos nodded over his shoulder at him. "But you 'Mis," grinned the larger man, "… Well I've lost count. It's like you've got a contest going with the whelp or something…"
Porthos's chuckles reverberated around the room as he ducked to avoid getting hit with the roll of bandages Aramis had grabbed from the bedside table to throw at his head.
"As amusing as this all is," interrupted Treville, his voice serious and instantly grabbing the attention of the room, "Aramis will not be accompanying us either."
"WHAT!" exclaimed the medic as he jumped to his feet, the sudden movement causing him to gasp in pain as a scream threatened to tear its way from his throat as pain shot through the wound on his back.
"My point exactly Aramis," sighed Treville, though not unkindly, he waited until the musketeer was settled back in the chair again before continuing. "Moreau's estate will have countless more guards than his compound in the city. I wont put Alain's life at risk to accommodate your need for revenge. My decision is final Aramis, you're staying here."
"But," protested the medic, his eyes seeking his brothers, hoping for a sign of support only to find varied, yet similar, looks of relief. He knew his brothers were relieved as he was injured and could make his wound significantly worse in a battle but it hurt a little that none of them were supporting him.
"Aramis," said Athos softly, understanding the look of hurt in his brother's eyes. "Moreau will likely recognize your name from his last appearance in the city." Aramis flinched at this, remembering what had happened to Marsac and the relentless hunt he himself had led to find the person responsible. Ignoring his brother's flinch Athos continued. "Even if he doesn't know what you look like, all it would take would be for him to hear someone call your name, just once, and he would target you."
"I'm hardly defenseless Athos," huffed Aramis as he refused to look his brother in the eye.
Athos offered the man a rare smile before nodding, "I know but your wound will greatly hamper what you will be able to do in a fight. We're used to training to fight with only one arm so Porthos will be okay and I've fought with worse injuries than a broken ankle so I can manage."
"So can I!"
Athos shook his head, "One wrong move or twist and you'd be wide open for attack Aramis. You're better served staying here and watching over D'Artagnan. Treville's right, we can't risk Alain's life because we're focused on keeping you safe."
Aramis wanted to scream, hating that he was being sidelined at a time such as this. Ever since the incident with Marsac all those years ago he had been desperate to see Moreau pay for his crimes and that desire had only grown into a near obsession the more the situation with D'Artagnan developed… but at the same time he knew his brothers were right. Alain had to be their focus, he had been in Moreau's clutches for too long.
"What if you need me?" asked Aramis, his tone different now he had accepted that he wouldn't be able to persuade his brothers into supporting him accompanying them. "Alain's likely to be hurt and none of you have extensive training."
Blaise visibly flinched at the mention of Alain being hurt, his eyes traveling to the unconscious form of D'Artagnan lying in the bed next to him. His hands turning white as they gripped the arm rests of the chair as he took in each and every injury that he could see the boy had sustained, mentally picturing what he would do to Moreau if his little brother had suffered similar or worse wounds.
"We'll be taking Etienne," answered Treville, the man relaxing slightly as he saw Aramis was becoming less confrontational about leaving with them. "He and a couple of the other men in the regiment have some medical training, they should be able to stabilize the boy until we can get him to a physician."
Aramis nodded, if somewhat reluctantly. "I'll keep watch over D'Artagnan while you're gone, that way Tristan and Gerald can prepare the infirmary for Alain and any others that might get injured."
Treville nodded, smiling gratefully at the man, knowing it was extremely hard for the man to accept he wouldn't be coming. "Now Blaise –"
"I'm coming Treville," stated the musketeer, his expression telling them all that he would not be swayed on the matter. "I failed to protect Alain once I'm not about to leave him alone in Moreau's clutches now I can do something about it."
"You're in no condition to come along!"
"You can either take me with you or I'll ride out after you, it's your choice but I am going."
"I could always lock you up until we return," stated Treville firmly, though he knew he wouldn't do such a thing, though he was willing to bluff if it stopped the man acting so recklessly.
To his surprise though Blaise simply shrugged, "Then it would simply take me slightly longer to ride out after you, but it wouldn't stop me."
"You're not coming Blaise," ordered Treville, his eyes daring the man to disobey him, "You need to rest and recover, the regiment will find and rescue Alain, you'll be no good to him in your current state."
Blaise said nothing for several long moments, choosing to glare at the musketeer Captain instead. Eventually, to the surprise and suspicion of the rest of the group, he nodded, rising to his feet, albeit somewhat shakily. "Very well, I shall return to my room to rest then. Good luck tomorrow."
Sighing at the man's, understandable, attitude Treville also rose, turning back to the men by D'Artagnan's bedside. "You should all get some rest as well, we leave at first light."
Elsewhere Alain was thanking whatever luck it was that had him being left alone in his cell.
The small room was hardly his ideal choice of location but he'd gladly take it if it meant Moreau left him alone, even for just a few minutes.
Something was going on, he could hear the hustle and bustle going on just outside his cell, but he was far too exhausted and in far too much pain to give it much thought.
The only downside to his solitude, he realized, was that it allowed his mind to drift back to D'Artagnan and his failure to protect the boy. He had no idea if Athos and the others had found the compound, had found him there and brought him back home to be buried but it was the worry that they hadn't that was motivating him to keep fighting. He refused to let D'Artagnan rot in that cell, he would survive until a rescue came for him, as he was not naïve enough to think he could escape on his own, given his current condition. Then, once he had been reunited with his brothers he would help them locate the compound. He would explain to Athos, Aramis and Porthos what had happened to their brother, how he had thrown himself in front of a bullet to save him and how he had remained strong until the end, despite believing himself responsible for their deaths. He doubted the inseparables would really like to hear that last part but he felt he needed to tell them, to let them know that they were in his thoughts, even if it was in a slightly morbid way.
As another agonizing wave of pain worked its way through his body the musketeer began contemplating trying to sleep. He had avoided doing so, not wanting to be even more vulnerable in Moreau's vicinity if he could help it, but now, now he wasn't sure there was much more the man could do to him and it sounded like there were other things keeping him busy right now, meaning it might be safe to try and sleep.
Dawn came a lot earlier then the men were ready for, Athos and Porthos had a hard time leaving D'Artagnan's side, the younger man looking far too small and vulnerable in the bed, wrapped up in bandages. It was only after Treville called them for the second time they were able to leave, extending promises to Aramis as they did so that they would ensure Moreau paid for what he did, painfully if possible.
When they met the rest of the men out in the courtyard they were surprised by the newest addition standing by Treville, looking equal parts grieved and determined.
"Gentlemen," called Treville, drawing the group's attention to him as he nodded to the man next to him. "This is Gaspard, he brought the information regarding Alain's capture to my attention and he has graciously offered to accompany us as he shows the way. He is also a physician and if D'Artagnan's injuries were anything to go by, his skills will be needed."
Nothing further was said as each of the assembled men looked to the new addition with gratitude, a few even verbalizing it to the surprised man before the group mounted up, determination burning brightly in each and every man's eyes as they raced out of the garrison.