Evening My Lovelies
Okay so I was going to have us see what D'Art's plan actually is tonight but now that will be happening tomorrow. I felt like it was a good point to end where I have - got a bit distracted by Porthos and D'Art so putting the actual plan on hold until tomorrow.
Notes On Reviews:
pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Athos and the others are coming as fast as they can, can't guarantee it'll be in time though :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
theredwagon: Thanks for the review - :D In that case you might want to prepare yourself for parts of this chapter :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - I did debate that being the plan but no, I have something else in mind, hopefully it'll make sense when we get there. Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Oh I quite agree :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yeah unfortunately I don't think D'Art will be up for that, no matter how much he may want to. Hmmm I agree, hanging doesn't quite fit as a punishment, I quite like the idea of essentially setting Athos loose on the man so I think that might have to happen regardless to whether it actually kills him. Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Porthos in comfort mode is adorable, I'm loving writing him like this, even if I'm putting him through the ringer a bit emotionally (especially today). I think that D'Art's kinda resigned himself to not living through this since the whole torture by the Spanish thing I put him through, it's kinda broke him a little bit. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Haha I know, the mental image of protective Porthos essentially snuggling with an injured D'Art is very cute :D We've got some more moments between the two tonight but they're a little more on the heartbreaking side then cute but I really really liked how they turned out, hopefully they haven't made our boys appear ooc. The box isn't actually under the tree, D'Art (if you remember) only hid the box's contents, not the box itself, not that Rochey knows that :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Ooh what good timing on your part, I was literally about to click upload for this chapter when your review came in :D I'm still trying to decide how I want Rochey to meet his end but worry not he'll be meeting it soon :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Fifty-Three: Last Chance II
"I don't like this," growled Athos as he fought the urge to get up and pace. Their search party, consisting of nearly every member of their regiment, had been pushing their horses to the absolute limit throughout the day, ever since leaving the garrison that morning, but now they had lost the light and were forced to stop for the night, something neither of the inseparables were taking well, despite knowing logically that there was no other option and that riders and beasts alike needed the break.
"You and me both," sighed Aramis from his spot by his brother, neither man letting the other out of their sight, something that had developed since the true extent of what was going on had become known to them, their protective instincts pushing them to watch over and protect their last brother, ensuring the man didn't meet the same fate as the others. Unlike Athos however Aramis had found something to keep his mind busy before while on watch and had, with help from Tristan and Etienne, begun creating a batch of poultices and draughts ready for when they found their missing brothers, prioritizing those that fought infections and eased pain. Athos had tried to help, needing something to stop his mind from imagining increasingly worse scenarios, however he was too distracted to be much help and before long Aramis had been forced to put a stop to it before he cost them too much of their limited supplies.
Thankfully it seemed Treville noted his lieutenant's need to do some as he called him over to discuss strategy, a subject Athos typically excelled at.
Smiling at the look on his brother's face now his mind was on other things then imagining what they could possibly end up seeing, Aramis returned his attention to his latest poultice, having decided to finish this latest batch before turning in for the night, unexcited to do so but know he would be of little help to any of his brothers if he was exhausted.
Back in their cell D'Artagnan forced a smirk onto his lips, channeling a confidence he didn't truly feel as he stared down Rochefort, knowing he had to play things carefully if he had any chance of getting his brother out of this.
"Then you'll have to show me," snarled Rochefort as he stormed back over to the pair before grabbing the Gascon's arm roughly and violently pulling him from Porthos's embrace, smirking himself when the Gascon let out a cry of pain at the action.
"Let him go!" snapped Porthos as he forced himself to his feet, his hand wrapping around D'Artagnan's other wrist as he constantly reminded himself that he couldn't pull his brother back, no matter how much he desperately wanted to.
"Porthos comes too," breathed D'Artagnan after a few moments, leaning heavily on the larger man as he fought against the urge to either vomit or pass out or both knowing my luck he added mentally with a bitter chuckle before forcing his rapidly diminishing attention back to his captor. "You want me to show you? I'm not leaving my brother here to be murdered by your goons."
Rochefort fell silent, thinking over the Gascon's demand. D'Artagnan on the other hand watched on nervously, his plan relying on getting Rochefort to agree to this. Breaking out of their cell and Rochefort's compound might have been doable had they not been so badly injured so D'Artagnan knew their best chance would be to already be outside. He was relying on the fact he knew Rochefort didn't consider either of them much of a threat given their current conditions, something he was right to have assumed as Rochefort grunted as he nodded his agreement before calling his guards to restrain the pair before dragging them out of their cells.
The Gascon fought to contain the smirk on his lips as they made their way to the box's location. Rochefort had been so intent on getting his hands on it he hadn't wanted them to delay them by trying to walk so had forced the pair on the older horse Yanis had loaned him when he left the physician's care.
"…Porthos," he whispered quietly, using the fact that he was in front of both his brother and most of Rochefort's entourage to hide what he was about to say. Porthos said nothing, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to them, choosing instead to tap his thumb twice on D'Artagnan's shoulder, the larger musketeer's restrained hands having been lightly resting on the younger man's shoulders for stability during the ride.
Feeling the taps D'Artagnan smiled weakly, forcing himself to continue looking forward and not back at his brother. "…If this works, " he began, knowing that what he was about to say would not go down well, "don't look back." He felt Porthos tense behind him and knew his brother understood what he was trying to say. "If Rochefort's man has the King's ear then he's right, there is no saving me… Do this for me Porthos, please. Get out of here no matter what… Get out and get back to Athos and Aramis, ensure Constance is safe and… and tell them all I love them, please Porthos."
Porthos felt his heart completely shatter at the broken voice his brother spoke in, his words hurting him worse then any physical wound Rochefort could ever have given him and while he wanted to protest, to offer words of comfort and promises of safety, he also knew his brother well enough to know the younger man would never believe them.
He had seen it, back in the cell, how D'Artagnan was barely keeping it together and if agreeing to this was what his baby brother needed to keep going, to keep fighting, then that's what Porthos would do, no matter how much it sickened him to do so.
"Okay whelp," he said softly, feeling like he had just been punched it the gut for agreeing to, essentially, abandon the boy should it come to that, but then he noticed his brother's shoulders sag in obvious relief and he knew, not matter how much it killed him to do so, it was what he needed to do for the Gascon at that moment.
For the next several minutes the pair remained silent, both trapped in their own thoughts of what was about to happen, but that didn't last long as before too long Porthos noticed D'Artagnan tense once more, the younger man deciding to risk Rochefort's ire and to ignore the demands of his body by shifting slightly in the saddle so he could look at his older brother's face, hands reaching to lightly squeeze Porthos's own as he whispered, "Remember your promise."
D'Artagnan waited for Porthos to nod, knowing how much he was hurting the man by asking him to do this, taking one last second to commit his brother's face to memory in case the plan fell through he then slowed the horse to a stop before turning his head to face Rochefort, "We're here."
