No Mercy Chapter Fifty Three.

Captain Fabére and four of his men ascended the dark stone steps towards the forbidden domain. Marcel and a couple more musketeers followed closly behind. Jacob had wanted to aid in whatever it took to help his saviours. After a short plea and an exchange of words Fabére permitted him to go with them as long as he did as he was told. The thin man had agreed.

"This is it monsieur." whispered Jacob. The others turned as he spoke. "This is were we left Athos and Porthos before they entered those doors."

The men glanced towards the chamber doors. "Which one? asked Marcel eyeing three sets of doors.

Jacob shot a glance at the musketeer. "They appear to be using all of them...Athos and Porthos entered through the first one before being carried out by two masked men."

Fabére was scanning the passageway closely. "Right men...we need to split up...we do not want us all to be apprehended at once. If something should go wrong you go back to the forest and let the others know.

The men nodded.

xxxxxx

Forest Adjacent to Chateau:

Musketeers and cadets sat around underneath the trees as they waited for Tréville and the others to make an appearance. Some playing cards, others eating or drinking and chatting among themselves. The horses were tethered to trees and were busy grazing.

A couple of red guard still loitered around chatting as they waited for their comrades to make an appearance.

Lucca paced back and forth, now and again he would pause and look up at the battlements of the chateau. The young man had started to become uneasy, he took his pocket clock from his doublet and checked the time.

"Something is wrong, I can feel it. They are taking too long." he muttered to no one in paticular.

The others glanced up. " Be patient mon ami, when have Captian Tréville and his elite men ever failed? commented Ezra from his sitting position.

Lucca glared at the young cadet. "Well I do not like it...Captain Tréville said if they were not back in two hours to go back to the palace for help. It is now ten minutes after that."

That moment one of the chateau guards appeared through the trees on foot prompting the men to reach for their pistols. They all jumped to their feet in haste.

The guard held up his hands in defence. "I have been sent by Marcel...he and the other musketeer have gone to search for your captain and his men with Captain Fabére. They fear something is amiss."

Lucca and Ezra swapped glances. "You were saying? muttered Lucca sounding concerned.

Ezra raised his brows, he knew it was futile to even argue the fact.

Lucca eyed the chateau guard. "Are you telling me that they are all missing?

The guard nodded. "It seems that way no one has seen sign nor light of any of them."

Lucca exhaled a loud breath of frustration. "God oh God...I do not like any of this."

He turned to his horse and began to saddle up.

"Where are you going? asked Ezra

"I am going back to the palace...the king needs to know...anything could be happening in there...I don't like the sound of it." replied Lucca as he fastened the saddle straps into place.

"Why don't we go and find them ourselves...is that not what we are supposed to do...use our heads.? suggested Amand joining the group.

"You heard Treville...I am merely following his orders. You all stay here and do not attempt to enter the chateau, it could be dangerous." ordered Lucca.

"Who put you in charge all of a sudden? asked another cadet glancing at the others.

Lucca climbed up onto his horse and pulled at the reins. "I am just doing what needs to be done."

He kicked his mount into a gallop. "Yaah!

The others watching after him as he disappeared into the trees.

Ezra turned to the chateau guard who still stood lingering. "Where is Captain Venell did he not join the search?

The guard eyed the musketeers. " No monsieur...I heard he didn't want to risk losing any men."

Ezra shook his head and exchanged glances with his comrades. "It's his bloody job...typical red guard."

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Workers Chambers:

Captain Tréville, d'Artagnan and Emille sat shackled against the stone wall. They had been left alone in the chamber, their captors having left the room.

"They have to be in one of these chambers." muttered Tréville trying his best to wrench at the chains.

"I just hope and pray that they are still alive captain...this is not like Athos and Porthos." answered d'Artagnan. "

The Gascon scanned the room slowly looking for portential methods of escape. His eyes suddenly paused on the table top, d'Artagnan stretched his neck as he noticed a long thin needle. He glanced down at the chains around his wrists. Would they or would they not stretch that far, he thought, anything was worth a try.

d'Artagnan tugged suddenly making Treville and Emille wince with the sudden force.

Tréville glanced at the Gascon and followed his gaze as he looked at the table top, he realised the young man had seen the needle.

"Do you think you can reach it? asked the older man.

"Try and give me as much chain as you can through the manacles." said d'Artagnan giving another tug. I am the nearest to the table."

Both Tréville and Emille pulled as much chain as they could through the manacles that were fixed to the stone wall trying not to let them clink and cause attention.

d'Artagnan stood the best he could and tugged once more at the chain. Tréville and Emille watched as the Gascon positioned himself and stretched towards the table, with his hands tethered behind his back it made it difficult for the young misketeer to negotiate his movement. He stretched once more, it was no good he needed more slack.

Tréville and Emille had read his thoughts as they both moved as far as it was possible towards the table with the chain taut.

d'Artagnan winced and clenched his teeth together as he stretched as far as he could to reach the needle. He could see the pain on Tréville and Emille's features as he tugged. He gasped and grunted as he tried more stretch.

"Just do it d'Artagnan" whispered Tréville with a slight gasp as the chain pulled into his arms.

d'Artagnan paused for a moment to take his breath. "One more go...I may be able to reach it."

The Gascon positioned himself once again. Tréville and Emille gave as much slack as they could muster as d'Artagnan stretched with all his might, he had reached the table top, his back towards the tray top he felt around for the needle, he had it and dropped it, he felt for it once again he clenched it tightly in his fingers.

The three men glanced towards the doors as they heard footsteps. d'Artagnan rushed back to his sitting postition as quickly as he could.

The large doors opened with a slight creek. Welland slowly walked into the chamber. His eyes meeting that of the musketeers. He began to smirk.

"I keep pinching myself gentlemen...I am finding it somewhat hard to believe that the kings elite guard have walked into my life...this is going to be some acomplishment...it will certainly push my work forward."

d'Artagnan fiddled with the needle between his fingers as he sat heeding Wellands devious ramblings. He had managed to place it into the lock chamber.

That moment one of the masked men walked into the chamber and whispered into Wellands ear prompting a nod.

"Prey excuse me gentlemen...it seems your two friends have been prepared for the removal of their features." he grinned with his ruthlessness and unfeeling tone. "My dreams are about to come true."

Dear God! gasped d'Artagnan feeling suddnely nauseous.

"Your a demented mad man Welland...your mind is sick to the core...no human would perform such atrocities on another...you are evil." growled Tréville.

Welland smirked. "I am helping future medicine Tréville...nothing is mad about that."

"Future medicine? Is that what you call it? hissed d'Artagnan through clenched teeth. "I could think of other words...such as BARBARIC!

Welland ignored the Gascon and followed the beaked man into the next chamber.

Tréville scanned the chamber, he noticed their own weapons piled up on one of the trunks. He watched as Welland followed the beaked man into the next chamber.

Tréville put his head back against the wall and closed his eyes for seconds as he thought of Athos and Porthos. Was he about to lose two of his elite soldiers, no that cannot be.

The musketeer captain jerked from his thoughts as they all glanced towards a slight creek of the outer doors.

The look of relief filled their features as Fabére and Marcel crept in to the room followed by Jacob.

"Am I glad to see you lot." gasped d'Artagnan who nodded towards the chain keys on the trunk.

"They are in the next chamber. "Whispered Treville hastly as Marcel rushed to their side. "We have to be quick...Porthos and Athos are in mortal danger."

Fabére had picked up the keys from the top of one of the trunks and was freeing his new found friends.

d'Artagnan was on his feet in a second, he rushed to grab his own pistol, he handed Tréville and Emille their own weapons belts.

"How many are in there? asked Fabére

"About four of them including a mad Englishman who thinks he can create a new population in France." answered Tréville.

xxxxxxx

Athos felt his whole body beginning to tremble as the beaked men muttered between themselves about the musketeers being part of their attainment. He could feel the indentation on his face were the masked men had drew an outline around himself and Porthos' faces and were now preparing their implements ready to remove them. He couldn't move his head to even look at the big musketeer beside him, but he could hear him cursing under his breath. Was this it, was this the time they were going to lose their lives together, not on a battlefield or some sort of conflict with the red guard, or one of their many missions. But because some mad man wanted to rule France by using the faces of other people. It was certainly the stuff of horror stories. Who would ever have believed such lunacy.

"Athos! whispered Porthos.

Athos knew what was coming next, they all knew each other so well it was almost scary.

"Yes mon ami."

"If this is our last day on this earth...I want you to know...you 'ave been a fine friend...we 'ave had our fill of good and bad days. This is one of them bad days...that 'ave just gotten worse...

Athos suddenly interjected into Porthos' words as the two beaked men approached, one of them holding a small knife. He felt his stomach churn over and over.

..."you have been a good friend to me mon ami...I will never ever forget it...if their is a Heaven as Aramis says there is...you will enter as a fine musketeer. I will probably end up in hell."

..."No you will be in Heaven with me Athos...that I promise. Hell has no place for you...it is a place for the likes of this lot of vermin."

The beaked man looked into Athos face as he held the knife. Welland had joined him and smirked.

"Oh do spare me the pathetic sentiments gentlemen...I feel rather bilious. Put look on the good side...your God given features will live on. But attached to someone else."

Welland cackled aloud.

Athos felt his eyes stinging as he glared up at the mad Englishman. "Is that supposed to make me feel better? your insane, you bastard, you think you can carry on with this despicable notion that you can take over France...you will fail Welland...you will never thrive...you will hang.

Welland ignored the comments as he nodded towards his workers.

The beaked man positioned himself nearer to the slab as Athos lay there unable to move a muscle. The swordsman could see the knife glistening off the walls as the man held it in his hands. He closed his eyes tightly allowing the tears to run down the side of his face. He wanted to look at Porthos but he knew he couldn't, he wanted to see that giant musketeer for one last time, he wanted to hear his growl, and that laugh of his that reverberated around any building. The knife was now coming into his view as Welland stood smirking, he could hear Porthos struggling to no avail to help him. He could hear him cursing and growling.

"YOU FUCKING BASTARDS! WHY? TAKE MINE FIRST! he roared.

"NOOOOOOO! yelled Athos.

That moment shots rang out echoing around the chamber. The beaked man reeled back in agony with a screech before dropping to the floor, the knife still clenched in his hand.

Welland fled as fast as he could into one of his secret chambers. The door making a grating sound as it closed behind him.

Another shot rang out as another masked worker was flung against the wall with the sudden jolt from the pistol. His body slid down the wall leaving a streak of blood as he fell.

d'Artagnan looked from Porthos to Athos, he could see the instant relief on their faces.

"You took your time! growled Porthos as he struggled under the tethers.

The Gascon began to cut the leather tethers from each of his two friends.

"I apologise my friend I was somewhat preoccupied with freeing myself from chains."

Porthos grinned.

Athos patted the Gascon on the shoulder. "Welland got away...we need to find him."

Tréville and Emille entered the chamber. The musketeer captain let out a sigh of relief as he noticed his two missing men still in one piece.

That instant captain Fabére and Marcel entered the chamber with two more masked men, this time it was they that were tethered.

"Found these two in the next chamber." said Fabére pulling the mask off one of the faces to reveal a bald middle aged man.

"How many of you work down here? asked Tréville glaring at the man in the face.

The bald man glared back with a smirk.

"Answer the fucking question you piece of shite." growled Porthos grabbing him by the collar and pushing him against the wall. "Or I will rip your bloody face off with my own hands...see 'ow you like it."

The bald man winced as his head hit the wall. "There..be ten..of us...the rest are in the secret chambers."

"Where are these chambers? asked Tréville.

The man turned slightly and nodded towards the wall.

Athos averted his eyes to the wall. What did he mean there was nothing there. The swordsman moved towards the wall and brushed his hand over the stone slabs. d'Artagnan joined him.

Athos picked up a knife from the table and began to scrape at the slab, bits of soft sandstone fell away as he chipped away at the stone.

"Here! Its here." gasped the swordsman as he found the door beginning to take shape in the wall.

Porthos and d'Artagnan pushed at the slabs until they moved.

"Wait! interjected Tréville. "We don't know what is behind there. "They could be waiting for us!

Fabére stared in disbelief. "How in Gods name did they get in there in the first place? there has to be another door."

"Too many bloody doors in the place." growled Porthos. " Never seen the likes before."

Athos turned to the bald man. "How did they enter?

The man remained quiet before receiving a nudge from the swordsman.

"Answer me!

"They will kill me".

"Your going to hang anyway." commented d'Artagnan." So it doesn't make much difference does it?

The man began to lift the ornate rug that adroned the floor revealing a trapdoor.

The others watched in awe. As he pulled it back.

"Thats all we need another bloody trap door." growled Porthos. "These past couple of weeks 'ave been nothoing else."

"Are you telling me that this enters the workers into the secret chambers? asked Tréville sounding unconvinced as he glanced at the bald man.

The bald man nodded.

"Chain them up." ordered Tréville.

Porthos and d'Artagnan dragged the two men away.

Tréville turned to Fabére.

"I thank you my friend...you just saved our lives."

Fabére nodded. "I could not stand by and let such evil transpire."

"I feel like this is all my fault monsieur." said Jacob suddenly.

Athos glanced at the small thin man. "If you had not alerted us to this in the first place mon ami...well we might never have found out the determined and ferocious deeds of this insane vermin."

Tréville nodded in agreement. "Take those notions from your head Jacob...you did the right thing."

Jacob looked almost childlike as he became timid and embarrassed, his pale face turned a pink hue.

He smiled slightly with relief.

"Come...we have a lunatic to apprehend." added Tréville.

lllllllllllllllllllllllll

Royal Palace

Infirmary

Paris:

Aramis was dressing in haste as he heeded everything Lucca was orating to him.

"Dear God in Heaven...I cannot believe of what you speak of mon ami." commented the marksman as he pulled on one of his boots with a slight wince, he was still very sore after having been shot in the side, but now and then his mind would choose to forget that fact until he suddenly decided to move.

"Oooch! he hissed.

"Maybe I should have gone straight to his majesty monsieur Aramis...you are still unwell." murmered Lucca as he potted about prepared to help the older man.

Aramis glanced up at the young man. He paused for a second as he reached for his other boot.

"You did the right thing coming to me, we will take more men with us and return to Versailles. But I need to speak with the king first."

"Just where do you think you are going may I ask? Came the sudden muffled male tones.

Aramis and Lucca glanced up as doctor Lemay entered the infirmary followed by Constance.

"The others have met trouble...I need to go after them doctor." answered the marksman.

Constance suddenly became agitated as she approached them. "What kind of trouble...prey tell me they are alright?

Aramis shot an uncertain glance towards Lucca. "They just need more men...It would seem there are more of these reprobates than first thought."

Constance looked from Lucca to Aramis. "Come now...you two don't fool me...something has happened has it not?

Aramis patted Constance's arm with a slight smile. "I am certain they will be fine Constance...now I must go and gather more men."

Doctor Lemay held up a hand in defence. "I do not think that would be wise Aramis...your wound is still very raw, I do not want you undoing my stitch work."

Aramis stood and reached for his doublet, he gave the physicain a slight smile.

"Come now doctor, I am fine...that remarkable salve you used has indeed done its job."

"I am not happy about this Aramis...you could end up injuring yourself more." commented Lemay.

"My dear doctor Lemay...I can stand! I can walk! I am in no pain at this moment...and I feel alright...and that is all down to you my friend." replied the marksman with a wink. Now if you will forgive my hastiness...I need to find his majesty."

Aramis patted Lucca on the shoulder and the two men left the infirmary leaving Constance and Lemay watching after them.

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

To be continued...

Hi Guys,

Thanks again for the reviews, love them.

So glad you are still following the story.

Not that many chapters left now, I have been working on another new FF.

Will update soon.

Love yer

Pippa xxxx

.

.

.