Authors note: This is a continuation from Chapter Two where d'Artagnan had a difficult decision to make.
Porthos watched the expression on d'Artagnan's face. He could see the indecision. He also knew what d'Artagnan would choose. Porthos did not want d'Artagnan to do what he was about to do.
'Pick-'
'You talk again, and I will kill you both. Slowly. I can make it last and make it painful. Your friend will watch every second of your agony.'
The leader, a balding old man with a sneer, nodded to one of his men. The man advanced on Porthos, pulling a couple of dirty rags from his pocket. The man pushed him against the stone wall. The force used meant he knocked his head on the stone, leaving him momentarily stunned. He tried to pull free, tried to get more than one word out before he was silenced. He failed. He glared at the man responsible for gagging him. Thoughts of ripping the man apart flashed through his mind as the pain in the back of his head receded. He wanted to dismember the man and the leader. He wanted to smash the leaders bald head against the stone walls.
As Porthos got his breathing back under control, he focused on d'Artagnan. The younger man was looking at Aramis. The regret on his face was almost enough to break Porthos.
Porthos knew if he was the one picked; he could fight back. Aramis was in no state to fight back. Porthos would initially behave and go with the men, lull them into a false sense of security. Then he would strike. He would take them out. He would deal with them. He would return to release d'Artagnan, and they would help Aramis out. All three of them would escape.
But d'Artagnan was going to let the leader take Aramis out to kill. D'Artagnan was not looking at the situation in the same way. He was thinking further ahead. He was thinking, that at some point they would both be moved, and, with two uninjured men, they could fight back as one. If d'Artagnan saved Aramis, he was effectively leaving himself alone to attempt to escape. And he would probably be forced to leave Aramis behind. If Aramis' injuries were serious. he might succumb to them before they had a chance to escape.
D'Artagnan was thinking about the bigger picture. He was considering what was better for the greater good.
And Porthos did not blame him.
But Porthos did not want to see Aramis dragged off. Did not want to watch his friend dealing with having made that decision. If he had not been gagged, he would have demanded that it be him that was taken. The small chance of fighting back was worth it.
Was it?
Or was d'Artagnan's choosing the correct one?
Was there a correct choice?
Porthos knew there was not. Either way, one of more of them were not getting out alive.
Without looking at Porthos, d'Artagnan turned to the leader. He nodded towards Aramis.
'Take him.'
Porthos closed his eyes and shook his head. He hated it. Hated the situation they were in. But they were soldiers and men died. On the battlefield, he had left injured men behind knowing their fate was uncertain. But when there was a war to wage, there was no time for sentiment. For regret. That came afterwards. As they picked their way back through the bodies of their comrades. Of their friends.
This was not a battle. This was not a battlefield. This was not a regiment of men. This was three soldiers. Three close friends. This was personal.
The leader pointed to two of his men. The man that looked as though he had burns on his face, and the one that had played with the dagger, stepped forward. They dragged Aramis' limp body towards the door Aramis did not attempt to pull away from the men. Porthos guessed his friend had lapsed into unconsciousness. He was glad. With luck, Aramis would not even know what was about to happen to him.
Porthos glanced at d'Artagnan, who was looking at the floor. The young soldier would have to live with his decision. Porthos may have objected to the d'Artagnan's actions, but he was not going to remonstrate with him. This was no place for recriminations. Their task and focus had to be on escape at the first opportunity.
'That was not so difficult, was it, young man,' said the leader with a chuckle. 'I'll leave you for a while... would you like me to give your friend his speech back? Or would you prefer him kept quiet?'
D'Artagnan finally looked up. He made eye contact with Porthos for a few seconds before looking at the leader.
'Take the gag off him,' he said quietly.
Porthos wondered if d'Artagnan wanted him to be angry. Did he want to be told he had made the wrong decision?
The leader walked up to Porthos and pulled the gag from his mouth. Porthos did not protest. He did not want to make the situation any worse than it already was. The bald man walked away, a smirk playing on his lips.
As the door slammed and the men retreated, dragging their unfortunate friend to his fate, Porthos looked at d'Artagnan who stared at the door.
Porthos waited for his friend to speak first. If Porthos was honest with himself, he was not sure if he was capable of stringing a sentence together at that moment. They had to use the time they were alone wisely. They had to gather their wits and push away any emotions that threatened to bubble over. They had to act as though they were on the battlefield. They could deal with what had happened later.
The End
Whumpee: Aramis. Featuring: Porthos and d'Artagnan.
Authors note: This story continues in Chapter Nineteen.