Merry Christmas Eve to all of you lovely readers!

I hope you have a wonderful time with your family & friends and can relax at this special time of the year.

Here is my next chapter as a small Christmas present. I hope you will like it.

I want to say thank you so much to Beth who has corrected already so much of my written text. She is doing such a wonderful job. Get better very soon. Sending a big hug your way xx

I want to thank Tricia as well, who helped me this afternoon with proofreading the last paragraph of this chapter. xx

Kira

To Barbara:

"Poor Athos, worrying about his arm. It will get better, it just takes time. I can't imagine you will make Athos lose his arm! I want Nurse Porthos to look after me next time I am poorly. He can lie next to me and cuddle me to keep me warm.I hope Treville gets the answers he wants from the Cardinal but I doubt it. Excellent chapter. Looking forward to the next one."

Thank you so much. You might find out about Athos' arm in this chapter … I will call and ask nurse Porthos if I can give you his phone number, but I am sure he is more than happy to help. I can understand why you want to have him as your nurse.

Tréville & the Cardinal … well … I can only say let's wait and see. xx Kira

To Debbie:

"So Louis too has his suspicions that the cardinal sent a 2nd letter. Now his headache has once again become Trevilles. LOL!
Now they fear Athos may not be able to pick up a sword again because of numbness in his hand. But I believe he'll eventually recover."

Thank you so much. Hmm about Athos' arm … (well you know that I try to write in canon ;-)). Oh yes, poor Tréville, I fear his headache will increase in the following chapter …

Chapter 36

When Doctor Lemay returned to the garrison in the evening he wasn't sure in what condition he would find his severely wounded patient. That he hadn't been called earlier was a good sign, but nevertheless he gave the young man a fifty fifty chance of surviving or dying. He had seen other patients with theses wounds who hadn't survived and he didn't want to give his friends and the Captain false hope. The fact that Athos' body had already been weakened from the earlier attack didn't bode well. He still had the swordsman's pale face with the now barely visible freckles and the bloodshed eyes in his mind, the slightly bluish lips and the cold, clammy skin, while his whole body had shivered. Combined with the huge amount of blood that Athos had lost over the past two days that was not a good sign.

When he reached the courtyard he slowly dismounted his horse and took his medical bag. A Musketeer, who introduced himself as Henri to Lemay appeared and accompanied him to the infirmary, where he softly knocked and then opened the door for him to enter it, while retreating himself.

Lemay looked into the dim light of the infirmary where it was warm. A fire was burning in a stove near the window. Some candles had been lit. Three men were lying in beds, sleeping, with Porthos sitting wide awake between the two beds, where Aramis and Athos were resting. Aramis' hand was lying protectively on Athos' left shoulder.

Porthos stood up and walked over to him, when the doctor entered. His face looked tired and Lemay imagined he could see some sadness around his eye wrinkles.

"How are they?" Lemay asked quietly while trying to get a better look at the most severely wounded Musketeer.

"Still alive." Porthos muttered.

Lemay wasn't sure if the strong Musketeer was trying to joke to ease the tense atmosphere. Then Porthos added:

"Athos seems to be a little better, Aramis is still fighting with his concussion and d'Artagnan has a sprained ankle and bruised hands."

"So another patient we need to worry about."

Lemay said, whilst looking over to the young man who was sleeping in a third bed. Then he turned all his attention back to Athos and approached his bed, while putting his bag on the floor. He stepped between the two beds and sat on the small stool.

Then he started a rough examination without saying much, recognising that Porthos' eyes followed each of his moves: First Lemay lifted his own right hand and placed it on Athos' forehead feeling to see if the clammy skin had gone by now. He watched Athos' face in the dim light closely. His eyelids fluttered slightly, but his patient didn't wake up. His breathing was calmer, less rapid and shallow than before. His lips were chapped, but the bluish colour had gone.

That's a good sign.

Then he removed several layers of sheets and blankets from Athos' body to reach for his left hand and put it in his warm hand feeling for the pulse on his wrist. After several seconds of silence he looked up and talked to Porthos, who was waiting anxiously.

"His forehead and hands are still cold, but the cold sweat has gone." He mumbled more to himself. "His pulse is still fast."

After that he started to entangle Athos from more of the sheets to finally reach his shirt. The swordsman didn't moan or wake this time, when he lifted it and placed his palm on his patient's chest. Waiting for about a minute to feel his heartbeat.

Porthos waited patiently, he had stepped back next to Athos' other side, ready to help with whatever the doctor needed.

"His heart isn't beating so fast anymore. Thank God." Lemay said. Then he turned to Porthos, who was standing on Athos' right side and addressed him:

"I will need your help to check on his wounds. I need to know if infection has set in or not. Tell me Porthos how was he over the past hours?"

Lemay stood up and walked to his bag and opened it, searching for some instruments, salves and fresh bandages while Porthos updated him:

"He was in a great deal of distress, but your pain potion helped and we gave him broth each time he woke up. I helped him earlier with the chamberpot and now he's been sleeping for over one hour without moaning in his sleep. I hope it's a good sign. Earlier we raised his feet, because Aramis said it would help him."

"Aramis was right. I have read some articles about patients who felt better when their feet were elevated after suffering from shock, but I have no experience with it." He mumbled. "Has Athos spoken to you?"

"Yes he has. He's worried about his right arm."

"We will come to that." Lemay quietly said. "Was he confused when he awoke or could he remember what happened?" He asked further.

"I would say a little confused about the timeline and what happened during the attack, but he remembered several things and could speak to us."

"Good." Lemay said again more to himself. "I'll need your help now, Porthos. We have to check the healing of his wounds. I have to make sure that they are not infected. First his thigh then his arm. We must make sure that the rest of his body is still wrapped in blankets, when we have a look at those. He's still very cold."

Lemay nodded at Porthos, who now stepped in front of the bed, removed the additional pillows and more of the blanket and sheets, that covered Athos' lower body and legs. He gently freed Athos' left leg and thigh from several sheets, while covering his upper body with other sheets and gently touching his friend's cold left hand, he pressed it for a moment. He felt Athos weakly pressing his hand with his fingers back, but when he lifted his eyes towards Athos' face, the swordsman's eyes stayed closed.

"Are you awake Athos?" He whispered quietly. "Doctor Lemay is here to examine you." Athos stayed silent.

Porthos waited several seconds but nothing. Had he only imagined Athos pressing his hand? He wasn't sure. He hoped so much for a sign of life from his brother that didn't consist of deep breathing or loud moaning. He gently massaged his friend's hand with circling his thumb over it, before putting it down again under the sheets.

"We will have to remove his breeches." Lemay said. "I need to have a better look at the wound. "Let's hurry, I think he's showing the first signs of waking. His eyelids are moving and I prefer to check on his wounds while he's still asleep."

"Why?" Porthos asked. "I think it's better when he's awake. He could tell us about the pain." Porthos added.

"Because he will most probably fight me. Removing the bandages and touching the wounds will be painful even with the pain potion you gave him earlier."

"He will fight when he's asleep as well." Porthos said unsatisfied about the instructions of the doctor, but followed them. He gently started to remove Athos' breeches, so that they could more easily reach his wounded thigh.

A loud moan escaped Athos' mouth, when he pulled on the cloth and he cursed himself inwardly that his movement had hurt his brother.

"Sorry, mon ami." He said quickly looking up, before continuing to manhandle his friend's left leg out of the breeches.

Lemay stepped next to Athos' face and looked at his sleeping patient.

"Athos, it's doctor Lemay. I'm here to examine your wounds. Can you hear me? Are you awake?"

No answer, no blinking with his eyes. Athos was still in between sleeping and waking. Lemay could see that Athos' eyelids moved slightly again, but other than that he could only hear his deep breathing.

"Alright he's still in the waking stage. Let's hurry, Porthos."

Lemay moved next to Porthos and started with some swift and fast moves to loosen the bandage around Athos' thigh. Porthos could hear Athos' breathing changing and then he noticed that his friend was moving his right leg under the sheets. Trying to free it from them. He heard Athos' breathing changing and hoped that he would finally open his eyes, but he didn't do him this favour. Instead he started to moan more and more and tried to curl up on his left side.

Where am I? I want to sleep. I'm so tired. Who is talking to me. I can hear voices … Go away … I want to sleep … Who's touching me? Why I am in so much pain?

Aramis … is that you … I want to sleep … I …

No, wait ... it's Porthos … with someone else …

Does it really matter … Go away … leave me alone … arghhh ...

"Porthos, hold his right leg down!" Lemay shouted. "I can't work like this. If he continues moving around he'll most probably tear his stitches again." He added frustratedly.

"I really think it's better if we wait until he's awake." Porthos protested now a little more loudly, while gently trying to hold Athos' right leg down to stop him from lying on his left side. "Doctor he doesn't know what's going on, he will fight us and it will only upset him … I doubt that's such a good idea in his state of health … I know him …" Porthos tried to explain in a more neutral tone, trying to convince the doctor that his idea was not very wise. Another moan escaped Athos' lips and he bent towards his ailing brother's ear and tried to calm him with soothing words. "Shh … Athos, calm." He tried again, but Athos didn't hear the voice of his brother.

Porthos, is this you? Why am I so cold … so tired … why am I in so much pain …?

Whoever is touching me … tell him to stop … leave me alone … I … arghhh ...

Athos still confused mind only registered that something was wrong. He felt a sharp pain in his left leg and for a moment he was, in his thoughts, back on the floor, trying to reach Aramis and fighting for his life. When Porthos tried to calm him and pressed his right leg down, it only frightened and agitated him more.

Go away … I need help … I need to save Aramis … I … arghh … everywhere pain … my chest … why does my chest hurts so much …?

Athos felt an itching pain in his chest, his heart thundered under his rib cage and he suddenly felt that he was not able to breathe any longer. He opened his mouth wide in order to draw in more oxygen, moaning and fighting as best as he could. He screamed out loud, when Lemay removed a part of the bandage that had stuck on some dried blood around the stitched wound.

It was this moment when Aramis sluggishly opened his eyes. Feeling the distress of his friend he moved his hand from his left shoulder onto his chest, feeling with his palm Athos' fast heartbeat. Still fighting with his own hurting head and dizziness each time he moved it, he only managed to cry out loud in order to help Athos:

"Stop it!"

His loud voice boomed through the infirmary and made Lemay stumble backwards irritated by the loud command. Porthos let go of Athos' leg at once and drew nearer to his confused brother on his right hand side, sitting down on the wooden chair he whispered gently into Athos' ear to calm him again.

"Do you want to kill him?" Aramis now swayed dangerously while sitting up on his bed and glared angrily to Lemay.

"I thought it would be better to check on him while he's still asleep."

"His heart is beating like a galloping horse in his chest. He's a soldier, for God's sake. He's confused and doesn't know what's going on! He will always fight in such a moment. You should know better!" Aramis angrily chided the doctor.

With all the strength he had left he got up and managed to sit on the small stool next to Athos' other side and softly stroked over Athos' hair, calming him, with his melodic voice not letting his eyes leave his friend's face for one second.

"I told you to wake him first." Porthos now angrily glared towards the Doctor too, while Aramis didn't stop talking to Athos:

"Athos, it's me Aramis. You are safe. Come on, open your eyes for me. I know you can hear me. Open your eyes for me." Aramis whispered over and over in his friend's ear. "I need to see that angry glare on me." He gently mocked.

Aramis … you are alive … that was only a bad dream … a nightmare … it was nothing but a horrible nightmare … I made up … but why is then my leg hurting so much … my … I need to know … I have to see … I wish they would go away and leave me alone … so tired … why can't they let me sleep …?

Slowly, very slowly Athos heartbeat calmed, but the sick man didn't open his eyes, instead he tried to curl upon his left side, still gasping for air. Aramis looked over to Porthos and the strong man understood at once. He stood up and helped Athos in a more comfortable position on his left side, while Aramis continued stroking over his head.

"Shhh ... everything will be alright." He continued his litany.

Lemay looked at his ailing patient and the two Musketeers helping him to calm down again from the distance and waited patiently. Next to him the young Gascon had woken up with a start and looked astonished at what was happening around him. Seeing Porthos and Aramis taking care of Athos, he decided to remain on his bed and stay quiet in order not to disturb them.

After what felt like an eternity for Aramis and Porthos, but didn't last longer than five minutes, Athos started to breathe more evenly and tried to move onto his back again. Porthos gently rolled him into his previous position, while seeing Athos fight to open his eyes. He blinked several more times and finally opened them. Sluggishly and exhausted he looked into Aramis' brown eyes. The marksman had bent more and more over Athos' face making sure that he was getting enough air. Now he moved back to give Athos some space.

"Where …?" Athos slurred confused.

"Infirmary." Porthos said from the other side.

"What ...?" Athos blinked and looked into Aramis' eyes.

"You were assaulted. Do you remember that?"

"Hmm …" Athos mumbled, while closing his eyes again.

"Stay with me."

Aramis encouraged him and gently stroked over Athos' left cheek with his thumb, forcing the sick man to open his eyes again.

"Why do … feel … like … fought?" Athos gasped, while glaring confusedly into Aramis' eyes.

"Because you just fought the doctor."

Aramis grinned, putting his palm back on Athos' chest and finding that his friend's heartbeat had slowed down again. A sigh of relief escaped his lips.

"That was not … my intention …" Athos whispered, while moving his head to see who else was with him.

"I know my friend. I guess you simply didn't know what was going on."

Aramis whispered into his ear, while still stroking over his friend's thick curls. Athos leaned into his touch and for a moment they both stayed like that. The medic patiently waited for Athos to come back to his senses. In the background they could hear Lemay mumbling an apology, while Porthos slowly stood up and started to walk restless around the room.

I should have stopped Lemay. I knew that was coming, I had no idea that it would agitate Athos so much.

Athos followed Porthos' strange walk back and forward around the infirmary and frowned:

"Porthos, what are you doing? Stop it, please." Athos whispered.

Porthos stopped and sat back on the chair he had left seconds earlier.

"How do you feel my friend?" Aramis gently asked as he watched each of Athos' facial expressions.

"Like waking from a nightmare." Athos muttered.

"The doctor is here to check on your wounds. Do you want him to continue?" Aramis gently asked, looking now over to Lemay who had stayed silent for the past minutes while watching as Aramis calmed Athos.

"Can you tell me if I will be able to use my arm again? I only feel it …" He paused and gulped: "I ... my right hand feels numb." Athos barely audible whispered, trying to sit more upright in his bed, but stopped when he felt a burning pain in his thigh.

"I will have a look now. First your thigh, if that's alright with you." Lemay told him.

Athos nodded and Lemay continued with the examination he had stopped minutes ago. Aramis tried to change his position on the small stool, but swayed dangerously.

"You should lie down again, Aramis."

Porthos chided him, but the stubborn medic ignored him. Porthos rolled his eyes, but was glad in the next moment, when Athos felt another itching pain in his thigh and gasping for air, that Aramis was next to him and comforting him.

"Easy, it's alright." Aramis appeased his ailing friend.

With his fingers Lemay carefully probed the stitches, while searching in the dim light for any signs of pus.

"Porthos can you hand me a candle, please." The Doctor asked the strong man and the latter hurried next to his side.

Athos felt Lemay's fingers probing at one and the same spot for several seconds, bowing his head further down and mumbling something he couldn't understand.

"What's wrong? Is the wound infected?" Athos asked now more awake and coherent.

"No, this part is still sore, but I can't see any signs of infection. Your Captain is a good sewer." Lemay added, looking up in his patient's face.

Athos frowned:

"The Captain?" He mumbled.

"Yes, he helped to sew your thigh the second time. His stitches are nearly as neat as Aramis'." Lemay explained to his patient.

"I don't recall that?" Athos mumbled and searched Aramis' eyes.

"You were in a great deal of pain. It will come back to you later."

Aramis softly explained, seeing that Athos was trying to free his left hand from under the blanket and was searching his way to Aramis. He felt the cold hand in his own. It was a clear sign that his friend didn't feel comfortable with the examination and that he was afraid about what the doctor would tell him regarding his arm injury.

Lemay spread some fresh salve on the stitches and then asked Porthos to rebind the wound with a fresh bandage while they changed positions. Porthos followed his instructions and after he had finished, he gently helped Athos back into his breeches and put his left leg under the sheets and blanket again.

Athos had closed his eyes, but was still wide awake, pressing Aramis' fingers in a firm grip that only the marksman knew about.

"Alright Athos, I will have now a look at your arm. Porthos can you help me to sit our patient in a more upright position?" Lemay turned towards the streetfighter, who was already standing on the right side of Athos' head. Carefully he put his hands under Athos' armpits.

"Are you ready?" He asked his friend and when Athos nodded he heaved him into a higher position. Exhausted from the pain in his leg and the movement his body had to endure Athos let his head drop on his friend's chest.

Porthos could feel the still cold forehead of his friend through the thin fabric of his shirt and the soft warm breath on his skin.

"It's alright, nearly finished."

Porthos whispered, while stroking gently over his friend's head, now feeling worried because this behaviour was so much unlike Athos. Usually Athos sought distance when he didn't feel well. The doctor paused with what he was doing and looked over to his patient. The fact that the soldier was behaving like that, when before he had battled him irritated Lemay as well.

"Athos are you in any kind of pain?"

"My arm and leg are hurting me, the leg much more." Athos said between gritted teeth. "I want to know about my arm."

Athos whispered and waited until Porthos had put some more pillows behind his back. He felt Porthos' arms around him gently guiding his head back on the pillows and exhaustedly he leaned on them. His eyes were now closed again, while he breathed through the pain.

XXXXX

Earlier at the palace

Captain Tréville's and Cardinal Richelieu's noses nearly touched. Two angry blue eyes stared into two widened grey eyes. For a moment Richelieu wasn't sure if the Captain of the Musketeers would punch him in his face, but he wouldn't be surprised. Tréville was furious and he had every right to fear for the life of his Lieutenant.

Richelieu had ignored a direct order of the King, instead of going to the garrison or sending a Red Guard to ask Tréville to come to his chambers, he had left the palace in a hurry after he had been informed that Don Fernando wanted to talk to him. This had been a matter which he had to handle first and as fast as possible. If Don Fernando was found and arrested by a Musketeer his plan would have failed.

Richelieu finally had enough of the angry stare contest and looked at his desk.

"What do you want, Tréville? I am busy with church affairs and I have to celebrate mass in half an hour." Richelieu told the Captain of the Musketeers in his usual nonchalant way, which made Tréville nearly explode.

Tréville had searched for the Cardinal for over two hours from his quarters he had walked over to Notre-Dame hoping to find him there, but the Cardinal seemed to have disappeared. After walking to some other places in Paris, where he assumed Richelieu could be he had returned for a last try to Le Louvre, to finally meet him there. From one of his Musketeers, who had palace guard, he was informed that the Cardinal had just arrived several minutes ago in a hurry and he hadn't looked delighted.

"You were supposed to meet with me by the order of the King!"

Tréville ignored Richelieu's question and shouted angrily at him, his hands were pressed on Richelieu's desk and the Cardinal could see that the knuckles of his hands had already turned white. His black hat he had tossed earlier angrily on the Cardinal's desk, not caring about if it would disturb important papers. The Captain of the Musketeers had to restrain himself and the Cardinal knew that it was about time for an apology.

"I assure you Captain, I had to fulfill important matters for the King of France, otherwise I would have already met with you. How is Athos?"

Richelieu walked several steps away from his desk, so that there was now more distance between him and the furious Captain.

Tréville removed his hands from the desk:

"Not good!"

"I am sorry to hear that." Richelieu answered quietly.

"Into what kind of danger have you sent one of my men?" Tréville shouted angrily.

"Captain, I assure you, I had no idea that this would be a trap. To be honest I wasn't aware that you would send your Lieutenant for this simple letter."

"He volunteered. You said you would only need one man. Why didn't you send one of your Red Guards instead?" Tréville didn't stop asking. "What kind of letter have you sent to Don Fernando?" Tréville shouted again, ignoring the previous words of the Cardinal.

"Captain, it was only an invitation from the Queen … nothing more …" Richelieu tried to calm the agitated officer.

"So if it was only a simple message, why is my Lieutenant now fighting for his life? Are you aware that he was attacked a second time? Someone wants to see him dead. So either it is about this message he should take to Château de Fontainebleau or he has witnessed something he shouldn't have witnessed." Tréville shouted pointing with his finger angrily at Richelieu's chest.

The Cardinal moved another step backwards not wanting to be pushed by the seasoned soldier. Curiously Tréville tried to observe each of Richelieu's facial expressions. He was trying to read his mind, but it didn't work. He believed the Cardinal, that it hadn't been his plan that Athos would get hurt, but he sensed that Richelieu was lying about something else.

"Captain, I assure you, if I had known that this was a dangerous mission I would have told you. Nevertheless Athos is a soldier, a King's Musketeer, it is his duty to serve the King and Queen of France and you of all must know that your soldiers can get hurt." Richelieu answered now with an acid tone in his voice.

"Why send a Musketeer then? Why ask explicitly for only one Musketeer to deliver the message from the Queen? Why not send her herald? Tell me, your Eminence! Explain it to me! You know more about this Don Fernando and his stay in France then you want to let me know. Now would be a good time to inform me. I won't leave before I receive an answer." Tréville added angrily.

Richelieu sighed aloud and walked back to his desk where he seated himself and asking Tréville to sit at the opposite with a simple gesture by his hand. Tréville ignored his invitation, but waited standing in front of his desk too angry to follow an order from this treacherous churchman and too cautious to trust one of his explanations.

Two hours of searching. I have enough of this hide and seek game. He knows something. He knows more than he wants to tell me. Do I have to expect a third attack on Athos' life? Is it something personal and has it nothing to do with this damn letter? But why has then this Juan tried to kill Athos? It can't be something personal ... Will Athos still be alive when I return? He has to be …

Tréville felt an aching pain in his head while all these thoughts were racing through his mind.

"Captain, you have to believe me, if I had known that this was such a dangerous mission, I would have told you. I thought that one man would be enough. I haven't send any other letter to Don Fernando. I wasn't even aware that Don Fernando was in France. I only found out when the Queen told me."

"So why was Athos attacked?" Tréville interrupted the Cardinal impatiently.

"I can only assume that perhaps bandits thought he was delivering something important back to the King." Richelieu answered slowly.

"Come on, they wouldn't go after him and try to kill him within garrison walls. They wouldn't be that stupid to risk their lives in a place full of soldiers." Tréville answered, placing his hands in his hips.

"Maybe it is something personal and hasn't anything to do with the letter and Don Fernando at all?" Richelieu told him.

"Ha! Good try!" Tréville snorted. "So why is one of Don Fernando's soldiers now dead, he was shot when he tried to kill two of my soldiers. Where is the link between my Lieutenant and a Spanish soldier? He has never been to Spain."

"I don't know Captain, I guess it will be the best explained when I question Don Fernando." Richelieu suggested.

Tréville who was realising that he wouldn't get any further answers from Richelieu decided that he was wasting his precious time.

"Oh, believe me, I will do that. He left the château and I assume that he is somewhere here in Paris. I will let my soldiers search for him and I will send some more Musketeers to Château de Fontainebleau.They shall bring Dona Ynes-Mancía here for further questioning."

Tréville grabbed his hat, placed it on his head, turned around and left without waiting for an answer. He had enough of being lied to by the Cardinal. Richelieu looked after him. When Tréville had left his office, he stood up and started to pace to and fro in the large room.

This can't be true … if he continues his search he will find out … Don Fernando has to vanish and I am not sure how much Dona Ynes-Mancía knows … ohhhh I knew it … it was a mistake … a great mistake … Of course it could have worked … but … Athos being hurt or injured was never the plan … oh this bungler … I warned him ...

Outside Tréville had to rein in his emotions. Oh how much he had wished to punch the Cardinal in his face, but it would not bring him any answers. He had doubted that Richelieu would tell him more, but now he had to set his own plan in motion. He gave two of his Musketeers, who had been waiting outside the chambers of the Cardinal a sign to come over to him. Now he instructed them to observe the Cardinal and follow him through the streets of Paris, informing him where he went. He would most probably lead him to Don Fernando. Threatening to find and arrest Don Fernando by his own, Tréville now felt sure the Cardinal would lead him to this Spanish nobleman. He had no proof, but if he had to guess, Richelieu had met within the past hour with Don Fernando. But why? What was this all about?

To be continued ...

Note:

I am really planning on finishing this story. I have reached now chapter 43 and I don't want to write more than 50 chapters! I hope it will be less to be honest. So yes, I am nearly at the end of this story. Most of the now written text hasn't been proofread yet, so just give me a little time and don't wonder when I probably won't be able to post regularly each Saturday. xx Kira