Chapter Seven

He opened his eyes and immediately regretted the act. The room was not bright but even the slivers of light coming in around the gaps in the shuttered window were too much. He felt something cool on his head. The cool thing was moved gently across his forehead around to his temple.

'Whilst I am pleased to be able to return the favour,' came Aramis' voice from beside him. 'Don't scare me like that again.'

Athos opened his eyes again, looking to his left. Aramis was leaning over him with a damp cloth dabbing at his face. As his friend came into focus Athos tried to work out what had happened.

'I fell?'

Aramis nodded, 'you were coming back from collecting water, you stumbled but could not stop yourself from falling. And you managed to knock your head on a protruding rock.'

Athos had a memory of tripping and nothing afterwards.

'I am afraid you are probably more bruised than you might have been. I don't have the strength to lift you, so I inelegantly dragged you back here. Your clothes are dusty now as well.'

Athos managed a smile, even though it hurt his head, 'I think I can put up with some dust,' he said. 'A good job you were recovered enough to be up and about.'

Aramis nodded grimly, 'I hate to imagine how long you might have lain out there if I had still been restrained. The shepherd's not due again until tomorrow.'

Aramis went back to his ministrations for a few minutes. Despite the ache in his head Athos watched his friend carefully. There was a shake to Aramis' hand but that was probably due to the overexertion he had made in tending to his patient. His movements were no longer punctuated by twitches or moments of confusion.

'I think the enforced sleep probably did you good,' mused Aramis. 'I guess you've not slept well whilst I've been ill?'

Athos did not respond; he did not want Aramis to start to feel guilty again.

'I would have done the same,' continued Aramis, 'you don't realise how tired you are when you are preoccupied. You will be pleased to know it won't need stitches. I doubt you'd trust me to do that yet?'

Athos laughed, 'perhaps not just yet.'

Once Aramis was satisfied with his work, he gathered the bowl of water and the cloths and got to his feet. Athos watched him walk from the hut. Aramis was still walking slowly, there was no spring to his step. He might have been behaving more like his normal self, but Aramis was still not fully fit and would not be for some time.

'I'm glad you rescued my medical bag,' Aramis said as he returned. 'I've made you a pain killer.'

Athos could not help pulling a disgruntled expression. Aramis chuckled as he perched on the edge of the bed and picked up the cup that had been sitting on the floor out of sight.

'This will probably make you drowsy. I promise not to do anything other than eat some more of the bread and cheese.'

Athos allowed Aramis to support his shoulders as he drank the foul-tasting concoction. As he settled back on the lumpy pillow, he watched Aramis doing as he had promised. He put together a plate of bread and cheese with an apple placed almost reverently next to the plate. Athos remembered Aramis mentioning the apples he had been given during his captivity. As he drifted off to what he hoped would be a sound sleep, he was pleased to see his friend's appetite had returned.

An owl hooting somewhere in the distance brought a clearer-headed Athos to full alertness. He opened his eyes, pleased to find the ache in his head had receded enough that he could sit himself up without waves of dizziness washing over him.

He looked across the small hut and sighed at the sight that greeted him. Aramis was lying on the other bed. He appeared to have collapsed over the bed rather than settled down for the night. Aramis had been forced to push himself more than he was ready for. Athos hoped his accident had not pushed Aramis' recovery back.

The fact that Aramis had been able to deal with the emergency was good. It meant he was able to focus again. Athos only wished his friend had not exhausted himself in the process.

He pushed himself up to stand and cross the couple of yards to Aramis' side. He straightened his friend's limbs and covered him with a blanket. The sleeping man mumbled something but did not wake up. For the first time since Athos had freed Aramis, he looked peaceful in his sleep.

Athos returned to his bed and lay back down, he hoped they were nearing a point where they could complete their journey home.

MMMM

As the light returned to the small hut that had been their shelter for a couple of weeks Athos looked across to Aramis. His friend was still lying on the other bed, but he was awake, staring at the ceiling. It took Aramis a few seconds to realise he was being watched. He smiled at Athos.

'Are you feeling better?'

Athos nodded and pushed himself up to sit, 'you clearly are. I was worried you had overdone it helping me yesterday.'

Aramis chuckled, 'I barely made it back to bed after I closed up for the night. But I slept well. I know I'm not fully recovered, but I am sure I am over the drugging now.'

The confidence with which Aramis made the statement pleased Athos. It had been a struggle at times and there was still a long way to go but Aramis would fully recover, Athos was sure of it. Although he vowed to watch his friend for some time to come. He knew the niggle of temptation to find something to fill the void of the drug might haunt Aramis for a while.

'Will you be ready to finish the journey to Paris? We can take our time; I doubt you are ready for a full day in the saddle.'

Aramis looked away for a few seconds before nodding, 'I still need to pass on the information, at least what I can remember of it.'

'Are you going to tell Treville what happened?' asked Athos.

Without hesitation, Aramis nodded, 'I have to. I can't deny what happened. I was systematically drugged for weeks and I was ready to talk. I was going to give up the information-'

Athos was about to interrupt his friend.

'I know I am not at fault for that,' Aramis added quickly.

Athos nodded, 'the Captain will understand.'

'And,' continued Aramis, 'I will accept whatever conditions he puts on my return. I am not going to be fit for duty for another few weeks. I can accept my limitations-'

'An unusual occurrence for you,' chuckled Athos.

Aramis rolled his eyes and laughed before nodding, 'but I will accept that I am not fit this time.'

'In which case,' said Athos, 'once we are both rested, we can make our way home.'

Aramis nodded his agreement. Athos reflected on the previous few weeks. He had gone from wondering if his friend were still alive to wondering if he would survive. And now he was sure Aramis would fully recover, even if it took a while.

The End.

Authors note: To be continued...