Evening My Lovelies (or very early morning)
So sorry this is later than usual!
We did it! Over 500 reviews! I can't tell you all how ecstatic I am at this! We have over 500 reviews and over 40k views for this story! You guys are officially the best readers EVER!
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Just can't seem to let them off easy :) Aramis will get some sleep later today, not the most peaceful sleep but sleep nevertheless. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Flea is definitely in a bad position at the moment and hers and the Court's fate are tied to the King's mood. D'Artagnan's action were wrong and our boys are determined to prove this too him when they find him. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - Your reviews never fail to make me smile :D We're definitely going to need a new AOM that's for sure :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - As tempting as it is to have D'Art be the one to end Ortiz, I just dont see that happening, as you said he's much to injured and broken at the moment. I am toying with the idea of Athos being the one to do it but it's working out a way of doing it that seen as justice rather than vengeance but is still enough punishment wise. Enjoy the new chapter! x
fariedragon: Thanks for the review - Hello 500th reviewer! :D D'Art will be okay once our boy's finally get to him, he has a bit of a head start on them and they don't know where he's gone so they have some serious catching up to do. Glad you're loving the story :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Yeah Aramis really shouldn't be riding right now but he's a stubborn man and wasnt about to just do nothing whilst D'Art's missing. As for Ortiz I dont think D'Art's well enough physically or emotionally to handle the Spaniard at the moment. I am toying with the idea of Athos being the one to do it, though it would depend on circumstance leading up to it... We'll see. Enjoy the new chapter! x
AmazingWriter123: Thanks for the reviews - (chapter48) Etienne's an OC so I'm really glad you like him :D (chapter49) Hehe I love it when reviews start all in caps lock :D It pleases my evil mind :D D'Arts in for a little bit more hurt but it's all from his existing injuries rather than any new ones... Plus he's due some emotional pain when he and Athos finally have their chat. Sad to hear I might not be getting anymore reviews from you for a while but my best good luck wishes for you with your exams! Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - I was tempted to kill Treville but just couldnt do it. I love the idea of Aramis throwing things at people when he's annoyed and in medic mode so I'm happy you liked the idea too :D Despite not liking musketeers much Flea would never do anything that would put her people at risk and hurt Porthos so there was no way she had anything to do with the attack... now they just need to convince the King of that so he doesnt try to destroy the Court. D'Artagnan certainly wouldnt be the pup we know and love if he wasnt a stubborn ass lol Things will get sorted for them soon though. Haha Love your idea for Ortiz's fate though i do agree it would be quite extreme for our boys... though I'm sure they're contemplating it. Thanks for the congratulations and the continued support! x Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - I really am beginning to think you're psychic or something, it's quite scary lol :D Glad you liked the chapter :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I know! :D *happy dances* I seriously can't believe how many reviews this story has gotten and from what I remember they've all been positive ones as well XD I'm now really tempted to check out the musketeer page on this site and see if it really is the most but I know if i did that i would get too distracted by the fics to really pay attention to anything else lol I think i would squeal and happy dance all around my flat for like an hour straight if that was true :D I seriously cant wait to see what this story ends up with review wise. I would have been happy with 10 and now I have 506! (still cant get over that!) Oh Flea's gonna get some revenge for that punch quite soon :D She's gonna show the Court she's not to be messed with :) Our pup does like to worry us all doesnt he :D Our boys will take care of him... when they find him. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Biggest hugs and thanks ever to you awesome people who follow/favourite/review/read this story. Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Fifty: Wayward Brother I
D'Artagnan was beginning to forget what it felt like for his body to not be in pain.
It had broken his heart to leave the garrison; it had felt like home ever since his first steps within its gates all those many months ago. Within its walls he had found both peace and purpose. To leave, to sneak out whilst everyone else was busy like a coward, had been one of the hardest thing he had done but he knew it needed to happen.
He also knew that the second Aramis found his goodbye when he went to check on him that he would end up blaming himself. It killed him to put that guilt onto the man who had been responsible for saving his life so many times in the relatively short time they had known each other, but it had been the only time D'Artagnan would have been able to sneak out without all eyes on him. He wished there had been time to write a proper explanation so that the guilt of his actions wouldn't hurt the Spaniard but he had just needed to get away.
Honestly, he was still surprised that he had managed to get to the stables and onto his horse without anyone noticing him, though it seemed to be even more confirmation that his path was the right one.
The pain in his body hardly registered in his mind as he had unlocked the gate of his mare's stall before attempting to scramble onto her back. Thankfully the mare seemed to understand that he was wounded and had aided his endeavor by kneeling down slightly so it was much easier for him to climb on.
He hadn't wasted time with saddling or anything like that, knowing it was just tempting fate to come and screw him over so he and his mare had bolted out of the garrison with little more than the clothes on the Gascon's back.
Aramis was beside himself with worry while he sat on his horses back in the middle of the town square awaiting the return of his brothers.
The three of them had doubted D'Artagnan's ability to get far from the garrison in his current condition and so had split up to cover more ground within the city.
It had been risky, even more so with the recent attack on Treville's unit but they hadn't even thought about that at the time, the only thought on any of their minds was that D'Artagnan… Their D'Artagnan was out there alone and in pain.
The medic perked up when he saw the approaching musketeer horses, only to slump again when he saw D'Artagnan wasn't amongst his returning brothers.
"Nothing I take it?" asked Aramis sadly; feeling the guilt within him rise as both confirmed they had found no signs of their wayward brother. The medic had been cursing himself all day for not having checked on D'Artagnan sooner, he should have noticed the plan brewing in his eyes and put a stop to it before it even begun.
"We should check his father's grave," stated Porthos already turning his horse in the correct direction.
"You really think he'd go back there after it was where we found him last time?" mused Aramis as he followed Porthos's lead, a sick feeling in his stomach as Athos's silence continued. The swordsman hadn't spoken a word since he had passed him D'Artagnan's one-word note and the silence was slowly getting to him.
Porthos shrugged, "Boy's 'urt and not thinkin' straight. Doesn't wanna be around us, where else would 'e go?"
Aramis nodded sadly at that logic and the three men pushed their horses to race towards the small church.
Wincing as he opened his eyes to find his face full of the snout of his mare D'Artagnan couldn't contain the humorless, broken laugh that escaped him at how much the universe seemed to hate him.
Clearly at some point in their journey the agonizing pain that was terrorizing his body had overwhelmed him to the point where he had passed out and despite his horse's best efforts to keep them going, he had fallen from her back.
Turning his head to one side his eyes quickly widened in recognition before he attempted to stand once again.
"We… We're almost there girl," he whispered absently, leaning heavily on his horse's neck as the animal helped him stand upright again. "Just a little bit more..."
By the time the trio had reached the church tensions were running extremely high.
Athos was still remaining silent but had taken to occasionally glaring at the medic's back.
Porthos was watching both of his brothers worriedly
Aramis… Aramis was barely able to keep himself stable on his horse as exhaustion and guilt continued to plague him. The glares from Athos only accented the weariness of the musketeer and he had found his emotions quickly turning into anger and fury despite his attempts to control them.
"Greetings musketeers," called the voice of the church's father, the old man smiled warmly at the three men though it faltered slightly at the look on Aramis's face.
"Dear boy you look like you're ready to collapse at any moment." The father exclaimed gently, "Come. Night is setting in and we have a few basic rooms for travellers."
"Apologies Father but we can't stay." Aramis said softly, "We seek a dear brother of ours who has disappeared. Do you remember the young man we collected from your grounds not too long ago?"
"Charles yes?" smiled the priest, "He is a sweet lad," the smile faltered as the man recognized what the musketeer had said, "I am sorry my boy but I have not seen hide nor hair of the lad since your last visit to our humble church."
Porthos felt his heart sink at the news, "You sure?" he asked, clinging to any shred of hope that still remained, "Could he have entered without your knowledge?"
The priest smiled sadly at the man as he shook his head, "We are a small church my boy and as such very little happens on our grounds that we don't know about. I personally have been out passed the graveyard not even an hour ago and there was no young man there."
"Then he is lost," muttered Porthos as he visibly sagged in the saddle.
"Come. Rest for the night and find solace within God's walls, maybe he will be able to give you the answers you seek." The priest said kindly, though his eyes were firm and unwavering, telling the musketeers he would not take no for an answer.
Eventually the three men agreed, knowing they would not be able to continue their search in the dark and that as much as they hated to admit it, they were all tired and sore.
Back at the garrison Leroy was tending to the Captain when a pained moan from the man caught his attention.
"Easy sir," said the musketeer soothingly, "You took quite the hit, you'll be sore for a while."
Treville turned his head to the voice and squinted as his eyes adjusted to the light in the room, despite only being a candle it hurt his eyes. Leroy seemed to notice this and moved the candle further from the Captain's eyes.
"Wh-What happened?" Grunted Treville as he tried to move into a more comfortable position.
"We were outnumbered by Ortiz and some followers he's managed to get from the Court. When Pierre was wounded his cry distracted you long enough for Ortiz to shoot you when your back was turned." Informed the musketeer and despite how out of it he felt, Treville could still hear the clear anger and rage in the man's voice. It was understandable anger though, even if he hadn't been the man's commanding officer musketeers prided themselves on having honor, even in battle and shooting a man whilst his back is turned was far from an honorable act.
"The King?" Treville asked, knowing full well that as soon as the King learnt that members of the Court had been involved in his injury that the monarch would see it as reason enough to exterminate all those living within it's walls.
"Knows you were injured but not specifics," reassured Leroy, knowing where Treville's mind had gone
"We've also spoken to Porthos's contact, Flea." Added a voice, startling the Captain slightly but the surprise quickly turned to relief when he saw that it was Etienne and that despite looking tired he seemed to have no serious injuries.
Etienne smiled warmly at his commander, greatly relieved to see him awake and lucid. He then took the seat next to Leroy and began to fill the Captain in on what had transpired since his injury whilst Leroy set to work creating a pain draught to ease some of Treville's discomfort.
"Figured Aramis would be here," muttered Treville, unsure if he was glad or worried that the Spaniard wasn't there to go all mother-hen on him.
Treville then noticed both Leroy and Etienne squirm uncomfortably in their chairs and just knew something had happened.
Weakly raising one eyebrow he asked, "Okay, What's happened?"
Leroy looked questioningly at Etienne who, after several silent moments, sighed before looking at Treville who felt apprehension building within him at the seriousness he say in the musketeer's eyes.
"It's D'Artagnan."
When the musketeers were left alone in the small room given to them for the night by the head priest the three of them felt the events of the day catch up to them as they each fell into silent contemplation.
"Why?" hissed Athos, surprising his brothers' as it was the first words he had spoken since finding out about D'Artagnan's disappearance.
"What?" sighed Aramis having noticed that Athos's question was directed at him.
"Why was he left alone?" growled the swordsman as he advanced on the now defensive musketeer.
"Are you kidding me!" exclaimed Aramis as he pushed Porthos's hands away so he could stand nose-to-nose with Athos, "I," snarled the medic, "was too busy saving Treville's life to be concerned with the brother I thought was still resting." Swatting the man's chest he added, "Where were you!?"
Athos blinked at Aramis's question before letting his eyes narrow, "I was with Porthos."
"Who could have handled the situation without you being there," retorted the medic.
"We had almost lost Treville I wasn't about to risk his life as well!" bellowed Athos, both men ignoring Porthos's attempts to placate the two men before things escalated further.
"We trusted YOU to look after D'Artagnan!" snapped the swordsman.
At his words Aramis saw red and without warning, threw a punch at the man's jaw, sending him careering into the wall.
Limping towards the shocked musketeer Aramis faced his brother with vision blurred from unshed tears, "You can lie to us and yourself for as long as you want Athos," he hissed, his voice thick with emotion and barely above a whisper. "But we all know you went with Porthos to put off having to talk to D'Artagnan. You're as much to blame for this as I am."
With those words Aramis turned and practically threw himself on one of the beds, ensuring his back was facing the two stunned musketeers.
The punch Aramis had thrown his way had been enough to knock some sense into the swordsman and he had watched with a guilty heart as Aramis chastised him and spoke truths he had yet to admit to himself.
He watched sadly as Porthos attempted to get Aramis to talk to him before he too gave up and retired to his bed.
Athos knew in his heart that Aramis's words were truthful, he had no right to blame his brother for not noticing D'Artagnan's disappearance when the man had barely been given a moments rest since the boy's injury.
He allowed himself several moments' quiet contemplation on the floor before he moved to stand.
Glancing over to the now sleeping form of Aramis, he felt his guilt intensify and before he knew it he had moved to stand by the medic's bedside.
"Apologies my friend," he whispered softly, taking off his cloak and draping it over the shivering Spaniard, "I have made a mess of everything. I will see it fixed, you have my word."
Sparing his brother one last look Athos retired to his own bed, new determination to find D'Artagnan now burning within him.
