TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.
Chapter Twenty Seven.
Doctor Lemay and his associate Monsieur Doroux had hastened to arrive at the garrison just as they said they would, Aramis had felt a slight pang of conceivable optimism run through his very sole as the two men arrived to aid with Athos' injury. The musketeer smiled as they both entered the infirmary.
oo
Monsieur Doroux placed the pewter pot down onto the table and glanced up at Aramis, the marksman had tarried in anticipation awaiting the final moment the concoction would be applied to his dear friends eyes. The medic had prayed every hour since Athos had been returned to them by his saviour, the old farmer who had found him. They were all grateful that their brother had been spared his life. It had saddened them on discovering Athos' world had become an abyss of darkness. They now all hoped that Monsieur Doroux could help him.
Aramis smiled with curiosity as he eyed the large vessel.
"How do we do this? asked the marksman taking off the lid and sniffing the contents.
Doroux turned to the medic and opened his medical bag.
"I have brought muslin with me Aramis." he answered delving into his bag and retrieving the cloths. "We will have to cover Athos' eyes every hour with fresh mixture in order for it to suffuse through the muslin carefully."
Doctor Lemay began to cut the muslin into long strips with a sharpened knife, spreading them over the table top in order for the mixture to be applied.
Aramis watched as the two men set to work.
"Can I do anything gentlemen? he asked suddenly.
Doroux smiled at the musketeer.
"Indeed dear Aramis, if you would be so kind and have Athos body inclined, so his legs are raised, we need to make certain the blood is flowing towards the brain."
Aramis frowned slightly as he heeded Doroux's request, his mind a maze of perplexed thoughts and bewilderment.
The medic nodded as he moved towards his friends bedside.
Athos could feel his brothers presence as he got closer. The swordsman turned towards him and held out a hand. Aramis smiled and took his hand in his.
"Good you are awake mon ami." he said squeezing his brothers hand in his.
"Aramis...they are here are they not? Monsieur Doroux and Doctor Lemay?
Aramis swept his friends hair from his brow and smiled.
"They are indeed mon ami, they are preparing the concoction as we speak." replied the medic. Monsieur Doroux has asked me to raise your legs."
"Why? asked the curious swordsman.
Aramis patted his brothers shoulder.
"Seemingly the blood will flow to your brain, hence your eyes. But before I do so, I would like to apply a fresh dressing to your side my friend."
Athos was staring up at the ceiling as Aramis lifted his friends shirt and began to remove the old dressing.
"Where is Porthos and d'Artagnan? he asked suddenly.
"They have gone to question our prisoner, one of the reprobates that tried to kill you my friend, the other evaded capture, but Tréville has men out searching for him, he won't get far. The captian is adamant to get to the truth, and we all know the cardinal is involved...mmmn that is healing nicely."
Athos turned his face towards his friends voice.
"If anyone can obtain the truth from him it is Porthos." said Athos. "He won't last five minutes."
Aramis sniggered as he tended his brothers wound and pulled his shirt back over his skin.
"Our big friend has been forewarned my friend, Tréville will be present, we want him alive...well for the moment anyway."
Athos lay back against the pillow.
"I will get you a drink mon ami." murmered Aramis pouring water into a cup.
"I would prefer ale if you would be so kind."
Aramis shook his head slightly and smiled.
"Not as of yet my friend, you have been mortally wounded and I am not going to undue my work."
Athos snorted.
"Thirsty."
"Tea will indeed suffice for now, there is plenty of time for ale." replied Aramis sounding determined. "We want you well again mon ami."
Athos squeezed his eyes tightly shut and moaned slightly with frustration.
"You are becomming a mother hen Aramis."
The medic turned to his friend and smirked with a quirk of the brow.
"It's my job my friend." he snorted.
oooo
Garrison Cells.
The man was crouched in the corner of the cell as the doors grinded open, the rasping sound of the metal as it grated across the stoney ground reverberated off the walls.
The prisoner looked up swiftly as the flame of a torch suddenly lit up the small enclosure prompting the man to squint through the haze of orange glows.
Porthos and d'Artagnan entered, both swapping glances as they turned and eyed the man, the reeking stench filled the the already stale air.
The prisoner ran his fingers through his unruly hair and glared at the two musketeers, a slight scowling grin on his face.
"Well if it ain't the kings elite guard, I am most privileged gentlemen." he mocked with a snort.
Porthos stood glaring at the man, his tightened jaw and clenched fists as he slowly moved closer to the renegade.
d'Artagnan shot a glance to his big friend before turning back to the prisoner.
"You tried to kill my friend, I am not one for letting anyone get away with such dirty deeds." growled Porthos suddenly as his face became closer to the mans. "It is somewhat a wonder you still live."
The prisoner cowered away as the big musketeers features became nearer.
"You cannot kill me musketeer, the king will have your head on the block, I deserve a fair trail." seethed the man.
d'Artagnan began to chortle as he watched the spectical.
"That is were you are wrong, you see the king does not know you exist, we can kill you here and now and no one would know any different." grinned the Gascon.
Porthos put his hand around the prisoners throat and guffawed mockingly.
The renegade's features suddenly became full of evident anxiety as the two musketeers mocked.
"You will not get away with this, my associate is still at large and will inform the rightful authorities of your behaviour towards me."
"That is were you are wrong." came the growl from captain Tréville as he suddenly entered the cell.
Both musketeers turned towards the older man as he entered.
"You see...your associate as you call him has just been apprehended by my men and is on his way here as we speak."
Porthos and d'Artagnan swapped stifled grins.
The Gascon folded his arms scornfully and leaned against the stone cell wall, he glared at the prisoner and raised both brows.
"So if you wish to live, now would be the time to inform us for whom you work for." he said. "Otherwise we close the door behind us and leave you with my dear friend here."
The Gascon patted Porthos on the back and winked mockingly.
"He always obtains the truth, I have witnessed first hand at what he is capable of." he snarled.
d'Artagnan looked into the prisoners on edge features and quirked a brow.
"Is is not a pretty sight, limbs everywhere, sometimes not being able to itentify whether it be an arm or a leg."
Porthos growled mockingly as he glared into the mans terrified face.
Tréville could hardly contain his mirth as the young musketeer snarled out at the prisoner.
"So who are you working for? he demanded.
The prisoner swallowed hard as he glanced into Porthos irked features, his fists still clenched tightly as he towered above him like an angry bull waiting to charge.
"I work for no one, we despise the monarchy, we wanted to rid France of the kings elite guard."
Tréville snorted a chortle.
"You two have not got the brains to think up such a notion." he hissed. "Come d'Artagnan, leave Porthos to do the deed."
"Be my pleasure." growled the streetfighter.
The Gascon nodded as he clapped his friend on the shoulder.
"Yes Sir." he replied walking towards the door.
Both Tréville and d'Artagnan swapping glances with the big man as they moved to the cell door.
Porthos glared at the man, as he began to remove his doublet and crack his knuckles loudly.
The door closing loudly with a rasping grind.
"WAIT! yelled the prisoner.
Both Tréville and d'Artagnan exchanging glances of fulfilment.
ooo
Infirmary.
Aramis had managed to have his friends legs raised on three pillows as he lay in the bed. The swordsman lay still, his mind a labyrinth of thought and images as he endeavoured to take in the last few hours of events. His friend had carefully explained what Lemay and Doroux were about to do in order to try their best to help him.
Monsieur Doroux began to scoop up the mixture and spread it onto the muslin strips, Aramis and Leamy catching each others glances as he did so.
"Have you seen this work Monsieur? asked Aramis out of ear shot of Athos.
Doroux smiled slightly as he scooped up more mixture.
"Indeed I have, a year ago when a man tumbled from a roof, he lost his sight the next day, I administered this and his sight returned in two days. Another was a child four years ago. Both have made a full recovery, but I must warn you gentlemen, not everyone is lucky, so I implore you to keep that in mind."
Aramis felt a sudden churn of his stomach. It had to work, it had to, please God.
Doroux and Lemay moved towards Athos. Lemay setting down the strips of muslin onto the nightstand.
"Now Athos I am about to put this onto your eyes." said Doroux. "You may experience a cold sensation whilst the mixture warms against your skin."
Athos felt the reassuring squeeze on his arm from Aramis as Doroux administered the strips of muslin to his friends eyes.
Athos flinched slightly with the sudden icy feel of the concoction made contact with his skin.
"Feels strange." murmered the swordsman.
"Stay as still as you can Athos." ordered Doroux as he tied another strip of clean muslin around the musketeers head. "There that should suffice."
"How long do I have to stay like this? asked Athos suddenly.
"After a few hours I have requested that Aramis removes it and administers another. I want you to sleep like this Athos, I am aware it is not comfortable, but it is most crucial that the mixture seeps into the eyes.
"How long will he be like this? asked Aramis suddenly.
"I would say at least two days...then I shall return to examine the globes once again." replied Doroux firmly.
Lemay patted Aamis on the shoulder.
"We shall pray this works my friend, try not to fret so."
Aramis turned and glanced at his friend, his eyes covered, he wanted to yell out loud to God. It has to work, It has to, for Athos's sanity.
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TBC...
Hi guys,
I thank you for the fabulous comments my friends, love them all.
I hope you are all well and not becoming too bored with the lockdowns all over the world.
I really am so proud of all the medical staff who have to put their lives on the line every day. BRAVO!
Will do my upmost to post ASAP!
Speak soon
Pippa xxx
PS: I am not a medic, all what you have read in the story is my own research from the 17th Century eye doctors.
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