Evening My Lovelies

Phew! Almost didn't think I'd get this out today. Hit a little bit of writer's block, which was properly annoying as I knew what I wanted to write but it just didn't want to happen :( Got there eventually though so I suppose it all worked out in the end :D

Notes On Reviews:

WelshEssex - Thanks for the reviews - (chapter13) Its pretty safe to say they're all in trouble right now :D My evil self just couldn't help itself lol :D Glad you liked the Queen, I really enjoy writing her :D (chapter14) Haha yeah it's a pretty hefty reality check for our king and I'm quite intrigued to write it :) We'll be seeing Issac again in a few chapters but seeing Favier in the next one (I'm quite looking forward to writing his reaction to everything :D) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha he's definitely reminding D'Art of them too right now... Ahh sorry I guess I wasn't too clear in that chapter, Blaise volunteered but our esteemed baddie has other plans for him leaving it up to our other muskys to fight. Sorry about the confusion I keep forgetting that just because something makes sense to me because it's my idea doesn't mean it necessarily makes sense to everyone else lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysAramisRios: Thanks for the review - We'll be seeing Maurice's fight tonight so we'll see if the plan works out or not :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx


Chapter Fifteen: Fight For Survival II

Maurice, not having been outside his cell since waking up, wasn't sure what he had expected to see after being dragged out of it but it certainly wasn't the set up now surrounding him.

"Our activities are quite profitable," remarked their captor after he spotted the look on the musketeer's face as his men continued to drag him though their camp towards the arena, which, despite being makeshift was still impressive in its construction and set up.

Unable to stop himself, despite knowing full well how easy it could backfire on him Maurice sneered, "Your crimes you mean… Don't bother trying to make light of the pain and misery you've created to have all of this."

Unimpressed with the man's attitude but also largely ambivalent about it as well their captor simply shrugged, "We've all got blood on our hands here musketeer, don't pretend that just because yours is there by order of the king that your skin is any less stained."

Maurice let out a low growl in the back of his throat but otherwise remained largely silent as he was pushed into the arena, his eyes scanning the gathering crowd as he tried to get a rough estimate of both numbers and the setup, knowing that every scrap of information he was able to gleam would only help them in their escape attempt.

His surveying was put to an abrupt end when a familiar blade hit the dusty ground in front of him, pulling him from his thoughts.

"Won't have anyone say I didn't give you every chance to make it through this musketeer," grinned their captor as he settled himself into the only chair in the area, which was sat on a raised platform, a silent statement of the user's power and status.

Gritting his teeth against the remark that wanted to flow from his lips Maurice slowly lowered himself to where he could pick up his blade, taking a moment to relish in the familiar feel of the steel sword in his hand before being forced to quickly jump backwards as his opponent suddenly charged at him, catching him by surprise as the musketeer had been so lost in his observations of the crowd and of their captor that he had missed the arrival of the brute now standing before him brandishing a scarily large blade in his two hands.

Cursing himself for his lack of focus Maurice pushed all thoughts not related to the fight before him from his mind as he worked to quickly get the scope of his attacker, all whilst attempting to dodge out of the way of his blade.


Elsewhere in the compound, Blaise's ears caught the sound of cheers and the clashing of blades, causing his head to turn slightly towards the small, barred window across from him, grimacing as he did so as the movement caused his already screaming muscles to protest but he just couldn't stop himself, not when he knew one of those blades belonged to one of his friends.

As another wave of pain shot through his body Blaise cursed both his own luck and his captor, who had ordered the musketeer to be tied in such as way that put immense pressure on his body and his muscles. It was a method of torture Blaise knew that the red guards sometimes used to interrogate their prisoners, a fact that Blaise was determined not to forget as he tried to ignore the growing pain radiating throughout his body.


Back in the arena, Maurice had come up with a strategy… By his own admittance, it wasn't a great one but it was all he had and all he could come up with whilst dodging attacks so it was the one he was going with. His opponent's blade was large, giving him extra reach when compared to the musketeer's own blade but it was also significantly heavier than Maurice's meaning that not only did it take two hands to wield but the blows from it were slower and tired out the user quicker than Maurice.

Knowing he could use this to his advantage Maurice had already attempted several, frankly daring, manoeuvres where he practically dodged into the blow of the blade, getting underneath his attacker's guard when he raised the sword for a blow. Unfortunately the angle he was able to get prevented him from getting a fatal blow but he had already managed to land a few solid attacks of his opponent.

This manoeuvre wasn't one he could keep doing, however, something that quickly became apparent when, after trying to do it for the third time, he was met with the pommel of the sword smacking down hard enough on his head to send it collapsing onto the ground, the musketeer barely having the time to roll out of the way before his opponent brought down his blade and even then he didn't escape completely without injury as he let out a sharp cry of pain as the blade cut a long wound across his back, blood quickly pouring from the newly opened wound and staining the dirt ground beneath him.

Knowing he couldn't stay down for long, despite what his dazed head and injured body wanted him said to the contrary Maurice forced himself up, D'Artagnan's earlier words replaying in his head as he took in the dark look on his opponent's face.

Ignoring the unease he felt at attempting such a move Maurice arced his blade across the ground, sending a spray of dust and dirt up into his opponent's eyes, the larger man instinctively loosening his hold on his blade as he tried to get the offending dirt out of his eyes, a string of curses flying from his lips as he did so.

Not one to waste an opportunity Maurice followed up by taking advantage of the loosened hold and knocked the man's blade from his hand before he could react, thrusting his own blade so quickly into the man's chest that the cheering crowd became silent in an instant as they realized that the musketeer had indeed won.

Once was sure the man wasn't going to get up again Maurice pulled his blade free from the now corpse, staggering backwards slightly as the effects of both his head and back wound made themselves known, the musketeer only managing to remain on his feet through sheer force of will than anything else.

A quick glance over towards their captor spoke to just how displeased he was that the musketeer was the victor, though Maurice had little chance to contemplate it further as another sharp blow to the head sent his careening to the ground, unconscious.


Back in Paris Athos's heart felt like it was in his throat as he and Porthos raced through the streets following a clearly extremely panicked Alain, the younger man had refused to say anything other than D'Artagnan's name, but in fairness, that, coupled with the look on the younger man's face was all that was needed to get the two inseparables moving, the uneasy feeling in their guts growing with every step they took closer to the city gates.

"I found her when I returned," panted Alain as they slowed their pace as they approached the gate, ignoring the looks of confusion on the two musketeers faces. "It took ages to calm her but I didn't want to risk rumours getting back to you before I could if I brought her to the garrison first."

Athos opened his mouth to demand answers only for the demand to fall silent on his tongue as he took in just what had the young musketeer so rattled as before them… Stood a very familiar, clearly agitated mare… riderless and covered in blood that was clearly not her own.