Evening My Lovelies
Just wanted to give a shout out to: A reader (Guest) who suggested the idea for a D'Art moment that appears in the middle of this chapter. I was so excited to write it so I'm hoping I've done your idea justice as I really liked it. It'll carry on to the next chapter as well slightly but anyways Thanks for the awesome prompt and I hope you like how it turned out :D
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Yeah I really don't want to think about how painful that must be but I figured he's too tall and lanky for Treville to carry, unless he did it piggy-back style which would be an amusing image... Enjoy the new chapter! x
SunnyFreckles (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay a new reviewer (sorry I got a bit happy about seeing a new name in my review list :D ) I'm really happy you're enjoying the story so much, I don't always plan to leave chapters on cliffhangers and stuff it just sort of happens. My original plan for this story was for Athos to receive the most amount of whumpage as he's gotten off pretty lightly in my other stories but I just cant help but whump D'Art as well. Enjoy the new chapter! x
CaroH: Thanks for the review - Well I couldn't let it all go to plan could I? what sort of evil minded writer would I be if I did that lol Enjoy the new chapter! x
A reader (Guest): Thanks for the review - As I've said above, I've tried to write your prompt idea into this chapter. I'm really hoping you like it :D I think Athos was done with Vincent like 20 chapters ago lol :D I wont keep you waiting about whose been shot (it was tempting but it would spoil my D'Art moment) And thank you so much for the compliment it was really sweet of you to say so :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Treville was very lucky that Porthos didn't attack him with how angry he was, though there's probably some punches coming his way soon for suggesting the idea in the first place. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - Oh I can, I will and I will laugh while doing so MWHAHAHAA... yeah I might be high on sugar right now ignore me :D We're getting close to some comfort moments and I'm determined for some more snuggly moments soon as well. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - Is it bad that getting a review that starts off with 'I hate you' made me smile :) Don't worry too much about Laurent, he's hurt but I have no current plans to kill him off... He's growing on me a bit, plus his bit of a bad-ass moment in today's chapter earns him some more points in my book. You can also relax as there's no evil cliffhanger today :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Worry not I physically dont have it in me to kill of any of our boys :) Fraid you'll be waiting until tomorrow for Vincent's demise though hopefully today's will be enough to keep you going until then :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
iamthesoulfinder: Thanks for the review - Yay another new reviewer :D You wont be kept waiting long to find out who he shot so dont worry :) I'm really happy you've been enjoying the story so far :) I don't want it to end either, I'm having such fun writing it and hearing what you all think of it... though I dont know what I can do to extend it, we are getting close to the end now. Enjoy the new chapter! x
nurse13: Thanks for the review - I aim to please :) I trust the images were good? I loved writing the Porthos scene so I'm really pleased with how well received it has been. Worry not I cant kill the comte... nearly kill him yeah but actually do it... no I dont have it in me. I've been really excited to write the deja vu scene so I'm crossing my fingers that everyone likes it. I like your idea for Vincent and D'Art and I have a way in which it could work... We'll have to wait and see whether I can actually write something with the plan I have. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Treville was blaming himself when he heard the screams anyways so he didnt have the heart to reprimand Porthos for acting upon his love you the young man and everyone else knows how close they are and are angry themselves (thou not at treville) I figured if everything was about to go downhill again at the end of the chapter we might as well get in some cute brotherly moments. The image I had in my head when writing Athos's speech about not being ashamed of his tears was far too cute for me to pass up so I'm glad you liked it :) Laurent's having another brave moment today which is helping him grow on me and lessening the chance that i might kill him off at some point (i have no plans to do so but you never know with my brain) I've been itching to write the cradling scene since I received the prompt so I'm so anxious and excited to hear what everyone thinks of it, hopefully I've done the great idea justice :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always hugs & cookies to every single one of you lovely people who continue to support this story by following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Enjoy
xxx
Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Rescue III
When they had noticed Vincent was in the room with them Porthos had gently placed the still unconscious D'Artagnan on the floor before moving to stand protectively in front of him, knowing that if it came down to a fight he was in a better state than his brothers to protect them if his hands were free.
To see the crazed version a man he used to count as a friend of sorts point a gun at one of his dearest brothers was almost enough to have Porthos abandon his position. It was only the fact that doing so would leave D'Artagnan vulnerable that stopped him from doing so. The young Gascon has suffered greatly at the traitor's hands and whilst the three elder members of the inseparables wanted nothing more than to make Vincent pay for that, none of them were willing to risk D'Artagnan's life to do so.
What the three men and their Captain didn't notice was that, while Vincent was shouting away above them, D'Artagnan had begun to stir back into wakefulness behind them, the pain of his wounds preventing him from staying unconscious.
Unfortunately for the injured Gascon what finally brought him completely back awake was the sound of a gun firing. From his spot on the floor the first thing D'Artagnan saw when his eyes shot open was the sight of his beloved mentor and friend, falling backwards as blood started to pool on his chest.
"ATHOS!" the remaining musketeers cried, voices full of pain and anger, though D'Artagnan's was notably weaker and a lot more hoarse.
Before any of the still standing musketeers could react the sound of cackling laughter reached their ears… At the top of the stairs, grinning and laughing like the crazed person that he was stood Vincent.
The only person completely unbothered by the cackling of the mad man was D'Artagnan, whose complete focus was on his bleeding brother. Choosing to ignore the searing inferno of pain that was his back, D'Artagnan began to weakly try and crawl his way to the downed musketeer.
Catching the youngster's movement in the corner of his eye was enough to break Aramis out of his spell of disbelief. Swinging his arm over Treville's head, the medic went to hobble his way over to the bleeding musketeer he had long treasured as a brother.
"Ah ah ah" tisked Vincent, jabbing his sword closer to the throat of Laurent, who was now looking considerably more pale. Though whether that was from blood loss of from what they just witnessed, none of them could be sure. "Athos" Vincent spat, barely sparing the musketeer a glance, "got what he deserved… And now you can all watch him die!"
"LAURENT!" cried a voice, the source of which was a bloodied and very worried Félix who had rushed to the room he knew his trainee would be in as soon as the shot went off. He had yet to see the true victim of the shot but his surprise entrance distracted Vincent just enough for him to loosen his grip on his blade.
Taking advantage of this momentary slip up Laurent used his remaining strength to tackle the larger man down the stairs.
The second both men reached the bottom step the musketeers launched into action… Though unfortunately so did a number of the remaining bandits who had also sought out the cause of the gunshot.
While Porthos charged like a rampaging bull, through the numerous bandits who blocked his path, to reach the area where Laurent and Vincent were now wrestling. Treville took up guard position and handled any men foolish enough to try and attack the vengeful musketeer from behind. Félix at this point had noticed that it had been Athos, not Laurent, who had been shot and quickly rushed to the hobbling medic's side, helping to support him so he could reach Athos side.
The sight that greeted them simply broke Aramis's heart. During the commotion on the stairs D'Artagnan had finally been able to reach his injured friend and despite the pain it was causing him, had lifted the musketeer's head to rest in his lap while he leaned over and tried to put pressure on the bleeding wound. Unfortunately his ordeal at Vincent's hand plus the crawl to Athos side had left the usually vibrant young man uncharacteristically weak so his efforts were largely for naught.
"Come on 'Thos" D'Artagnan pleaded weakly, his voice heartbreakingly wretched as he abandoned his efforts to stop the blood flow and had resorted to stroking his mentor's hair and tapping his cheek in a desperate effort to get him to wake up.
D'Artagnan's own vision was beginning to blur and he could feel his lightheadedness threaten to floor him but he pushed on. Tears leaked from his eyes unashamedly, landing and then running down Athos's cheek. "We… We haven't talked yet," the boy continued, hoping that his begging would get the man to open his eyes.
As Félix helped him down so he could examine his friend, Aramis tried his best to dislodge the sickening feeling in his gut when he saw that Athos's shirt was soaked in blood.
Taking a steadying breath he worked as quickly as his injured body would allow, using a dagger given to him by Félix to cut open Athos's shirt, allowing him better access to the wound. He almost collapsed in relief when he saw the location wasn't as close to the heart as he had originally feared.
Almost instantly the two men got sorted into their roles; with Félix on guard duty, occasionally passing the few things he had to hand to him, while Aramis worked with fierce determination to stop the bleeding that was threatening to kill one of his oldest friends.
While they worked both men tried to ignore the near insensible pleading that was coming from D'Artagnan as he continued to stroke Athos's hair and attempt to wake the man up.
D'Artagnan didn't know which was worse at that present moment in time; the pain of his injuries or the emotional pain in his heart that he may lose his best friend at any moment and that said friend would die thinking he still hadn't forgiven him.
Swallowing a sob that got lodged in his throat D'Artagnan leaned over, no longer caring about his own physical pain, resting his forehead on Athos's own, he weakly wrapped his arms around his brother's neck, whispering over and over "I forgive you, please don't die" as tears continued to stream out of his eyes. The sight of Athos in this situation was heartbreakingly familiar to the young Gascon, as it much resembled how he had held his own father as he died of a gunshot to the chest and he honestly didn't believe he could survive having another person he treasured, dying in his arms.
Oblivious to the turmoil happening across the room Porthos was once again stopped from reaching Vincent by a rather bulky looking man with a jagged scar running down from his eyebrow to his chin. The man had just as many, if not more, muscles as Porthos as was currently flexing them in an attempt to intimidate the musketeer.
Growling low and feral, Porthos launched himself at the man, healing burns be dammed, this man was the last one keeping him from finally getting his hands on Vincent.
The mercenary was clearly surprised his intimidation tactic failed to work and in his surprise was slow to respond to Porthos's attack. Unfortunately for the musketeer the mercenary's muscles weren't just for show and after a sloppy attempt at blocking his attack that gave him a rather deep gash across the top of his torso, the man was fighting back with a strength that kept the undefeated brawler of the musketeers on his toes.
While Porthos was taking care of the mercenary, Treville's attention was drawn back to his injured men when a panicked call of his name from Félix caught his attention. The weary musketeer was trying to fight three men at once who had decided to target the distracted men. Aramis was trying to help as best he could but he could not let up on the pressure on Athos's wound without risking him bleeding to death and D'Artagnan was too close to unconsciousness again to be any help, besides the fact the pained musketeer wasn't noticing anything that wasn't Athos right now.
Quickly dispatching the guy he had been fighting with Treville rushed over to Félix's side and the two fought back to back, defending the other three musketeers.
Porthos was growing increasingly agitated with his opponent; he wanted Vincent to be at the other end of his blade not some no named bandit. He'd admit that the man had some skill, although he focused on strength and power over precision, speed and consistency. As such the large bandit's grip on his blade began to waver, his earlier strength all used up in a few powerful strikes that, had he not been experience in dealing with, would have killed him.
Seeing his opportunity when the bandit's sword began to tremble in his hand, Porthos swung his blade widely, too quick for the tired mercenary to deflect, cutting him deep across the throat.
Not bothering to spare his opponent another glace, Porthos stormed passed him, his whole body tense, pure rage rolling off of him in waves.
"VINCENT!" He growled, glaring daggers at the man that had now gotten the upper hand against the injured Laurent and was once again pointing his blade against his throat. "THIS ENDS NOW!"
At the sound of his name Vincent smirked, lowering his blade from Laurent's throat, who took the opportunity to get out of the way of the two men and lean against the wall as he tried to catch his breath. "You're going to die Porthos" Vincent sneered, now pointing his blade at the larger musketeer, the tips of their swords just grazing each other as their owners glared daggers at one another. "At least that disgrace will have company in the afterlife now!"
That was the last straw for Porthos and he launched himself at the crazed man who had caused his brothers so much pain.
"How's he looking Aramis?" Treville asked, wiping his sweaty brows with he sleeve, kneeling down beside the pale medic.
"Bad" Aramis admitted, then smiling ever so slightly he added, "though not as bad as I first feared. I can't remove the ball here, I don't have the equipment, the best I can do is try to stop the bleeding until we get somewhere I can treat him"
"We have supplies with our horses" Félix suggested kneeling the other side of the downed musketeer, he wanted to go and check on Laurent but the young man was looking better now he had a moment to rest and to get that close to the fighting pair would be suicide on his part so he decided to stay and help the injured medic and his friends. "They're in the clearing. It's not far from here but I don't know how we'd get him there"
"Can you make the trip Félix?" Treville asked, eyeing his soldier carefully, he had noticed the man had received a gash to the leg during their last bout.
Félix looked surprised for a moment before he realized what the Captain was talking about. Steeling his expression he nodded and quickly gathered a list of what urgent supplies Aramis needed to help Athos and without another word scrambled to his feet and headed out of the room.
"How ya doing D'Art?" Aramis asked, trying to keep his voice light. His brows furrowed when the young man didn't respond to him.
"D'Artagnan?" Treville asked, placing a gentle hand on the Gascon's arm. This succeeded in making the boy flinch and whimper but not much else. He insisted on keeping up whatever it was that he was mumbling to Athos and Treville could do little more than sigh.
Sharing a look at the medic, Treville sent up a prayer for Athos's survival. Losing one man, especially Athos, would be devastating but he had a feeling that if Athos perished then D'Artagnan's fragile soul would be broken and it would not be long until the young man followed his mentor.