Evening My Lovelies
Hmm I was really excited to write this but now I have I'm not too sure I like how it turned out... Hopefully you all think its alright and its just because I bigged up the scene in my head so much that I'm now unsure about it.
Notes On Reviews:
pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Trust me I'm doing the same, I hated writing that but it needed to happen :( Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Treville understands what Athos is going through and also knows what he needs (I think its his papa instincts coming out lol) Oh Porthos's guilt is going to be eating him alive for some time I'm afraid :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
theredwagon: Thanks for the review - I wanted to cry writing it, I hated putting them through that but it needed to happen. Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - We'll be seeing what he was planning tonight, hopefully my idea for it makes sense. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - D'Art occasionally uses his brain but unfortunately its not going to work out completely in his favor. After everything he's been through, mainly the whole tortured by the Spanish thing, D'Art's mind/sanity is a little on the fragile side, getting Porthos out is kinda the only thing keeping him going right now. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - We'll be finding that out tonight :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I couldn't resist checking in with Athos's group and exploring a bit on what our two safe musketeers are feeling right now. Yesterday was full of protective moments... today not so much :) We'll be seeing D'Art's plan come into fruition, hopefully you like what I have planned. Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha yeah it went downhill pretty quickly yesterday. No Athos or Aramis tonight but we'll be seeing them again tomorrow. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Fifty-Four: Last Chance III
The look on Rochefort's face when he announced they had arrived sent shivers down D'Artagnan's spine and he had to force himself not to look back as he stumbled off of the horse, the movement clumsier than usual given both his injuries and that Porthos was being forced to stay on the horse, something that actually worked in the man's favour given what D'Artagnan had planned.
Despite not knowing exactly what his brother had planned Porthos knew the promise he had made and he was determined to keep it, even if it broke his heart to do so and so he said nothing as his brother was all but dragged off of the horse, silencing a retort behind his gritted teeth when the Gascon gasped in pain, stumbling slightly when his feet touched the floor once more. Instead the larger musketeer shifted forward in the saddle just enough to give him a sturdier seat for when D'Artagnan acted.
"I don't see it," growled Rochefort as he took over holding the young musketeer, his grip hard, unforgiving and likely leaving deep bruises on the man's already battered skin. "Do not test me D'Artagnan."
"I hid it," hissed the Gascon as he forced his arm out of Rochefort's hold, wincing internally as his body flared in pain at the movement. "I couldn't leave it out in the open," glaring up at the former red guard he spoke with pure venom in his voice as he added, "The Spanish are after it too lest you forget."
Irritation flashed across Rochefort's face for a moment before his mocking smirk returned, "Ah yes my old friends. Tell me D'Artagnan, just how did you manage to get away from them, they're not ones to give up a hunt easily, when my men found you I almost believed you had killed them all to escape."
Porthos stopped shifting position at this, his worry and anger for what his brother had endured making him want to know how he had escaped and if there was still another threat out there searching for him.
However the Gascon refused to answer, choosing instead to limp to where he had hidden the object that so many people seemed to want. "It's over here."
Unveiling the small box D'Artagnan turned back around to face Rochefort, catching Porthos's eyes as he did so, the larger man tensing in readiness as he caught the silent warning in his brother's eyes.
D'Artagnan didn't get a chance to even hand the box over before Rochefort was snatching it from his grasp, nodding sharply to one of his men who swiftly kicked D'Artagnan's feet out from under him, sending the younger man to his knees with a sharp cry of pain.
"D'ARTAGNAN!" cried Porthos as he began to move to go to his brother's aid before he felt the familiar point of a dagger pressing against his side, stopping him from both dismounting or moving further.
"Did you open this?" growled Rochefort as he noted the broken lock on the box he now held in his hand.
When D'Artagnan failed to answer right away the guard who had knocked him down pressed hard on his neck, unknowingly putting pressure on one of D'Artagnan's many whip wounds, causing him to cry out in pain.
Glaring at the former minister through the tears pricking in the corner of his eyes D'Artagnan took a moment to compose himself once more before doing his best to adopt a look of nonchalance. "The Spaniard did," he answered with a weak shrug. Besides, what does it matter if I did, I'm not stupid enough to think you'd let me leave here with my life even if it remained locked.
"Smart boy," mocked Rochefort with a sneer before his eyes dropped to the box in his hand, said hands moving to open it and thus causing him to miss the sharp look the Gascon sent his still mounted brother, who acted immediately, tensing himself for whatever was about to happen and to ride. His whole body was aching, his leg burning in from the infection attacking it and the lack of food the last day or two certainly wasn't helping matters.
Watching as Rochefort lifted the lid of the box D'Artagnan sent up a prayer that he had not forgotten his brother's lessons, which he had used to create this plan of his.
As it turned out he needn't have worried because as soon as the lid opened things progressed much as he had hoped.
The opening of the lid activated the trap he had managed to hurriedly put together, using the gunpowder he had managed to steal from the Spanish compound the Gascon had essentially created a small bomb that went off right in Rochefort's face, destroying the box as well as burning the former minister's hands. While too weak to actually kill the man the explosion served to knock him to the ground, hard, whilst also serving as enough of a distraction to create the perfect opportunity for himself and Porthos, who was now grinning at the boy like a proud father, to move.
"GO!" screamed D'Artagnan with so much urgency in his voice Porthos almost obeyed, only choosing not to when his brother cried out in pain as one of Rochefort's men grabbed his arm.
Torn between helping his brother and honoring his promise Porthos knew he had to make a decision, however he was unwilling to leave without doing something so, without really thinking about it, he threw the fork he had managed to smuggle out with them at the man holding his brother. It did little but graze across his skin instead of impaling him like he had hoped but it was enough of a surprise that the guard loosened his hold on the Gascon allowing him to escape.
D'Artagnan tried to make it to his brother, he honestly did but when it became clear that those former red guards not rushing to their bosses side, were beginning to surround them he knew he wouldn't make it.
"GO!" he screamed once more as he raised his fists, ready to cover his brother's escape no matter the cost. When Porthos still refused to move D'Artagnan had no choice but to add, "YOU PROMISED! GO!"
That was enough to put an end to Porthos's indecision, especially when added to the groan of pain now slipping from Rochefort's face. He felt sick to his stomach for what he was about to do but his brother was right, he had sworn to do this and he would not break that oath to the younger man now.
"Don't die!" he hissed back, his grip tightening on the older horse's reigns for a moment before he pushed away the part of him that was screaming at him to stay and fight and instead urged the horse into a run.
