Evening My Lovelies
I quite like how this chapter turned out... The beginning part went on for longer than I initially planned but I think it works :D Hope you all like it! Oh and heads up... Next Sunday (so the 18th there probably won't but an update as work have scheduled me a shift so I'm not sure if I'll be able to get anything written... Obviously if inspiration strikes I'll write but just figured I'd give you the warning
Notes On Reviews:
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - We'll be seeing a bit of D'Art tonight so hopefully that will answer one of your questions as for the rest... I'm assuming you mean the baddies? No updates on them in this chapter but I will be addressing them soon :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysAramisRios: Thanks for the review - Hehe it seems my evil plan to have everyone worried is working :D We'll get a bit of D'Art today but I can't guarantee it'll make you feel any better about the situation :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - Yep you guessed correctly :D I was quite happy you did :D Issac's not in the best way right now but he is in good hands so there's that... As for D'Art, we'll be seeing a bit of him in tonight's chapter, though I can't guarantee it'll be bringing a lot of relief :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Surprising Findings III
Sitting back Aramis took a moment to take in Blaise's unconscious face. The injured musketeer had remained unconscious during Aramis's treatment of him, stirring only slightly when the medic treated a particularly painful wound, something Aramis was immensely glad for.
Under normal circumstances, Aramis would have tried to wake the unconscious musketeer but he had not been blind to the pure exhaustion lining the man's face, present even in his current unconscious state and the medic in him knew that his friend would need all the rest he could get if he was to recover from the torture he had endured.
"Is he really okay?" asked the surprisingly timid voice of the king, who had watched Aramis work with pure fascination in his eyes. "D'Artagnan said he had been hurt badly and he was struggling to walk at first when we escaped…"
Sensing the king's concern for his friend was genuine Aramis offered the man a gentle smile before nodding, "As I said earlier his wounds were inflicted in a way to cause pain, not death. He will likely have a longer road to recovery than he'd like but with rest and the right treatment I'm confident you'll see him back in our parade line ups before too long."
At this reassurance, Louis let out a sigh of relief before shuffling closer to the musketeer pair now he was sure he wouldn't get in the medic's way and hinder his guard's treatment.
"I… I do have to ask though Your Majesty," started Aramis, looking uncomfortable with what he was about to ask but also knowing in his heart that he needed to know. He waited until the young king was looking at him before he spoke, "What can you tell me of D'Artagnan's condition… Obviously, he was well enough to move about which is a relief but anything you can tell me can help me prepare for when Athos and the other's bring him back."
Aramis was surprised and more than a little proud of the respect that appeared in the king's eyes at the mention of his youngest brother's name, although that all turned to worry when the king shook his head, a troubled look slowly morphing on his face.
"To be honest musketeer I was quite surprised he could even stand with his injuries, let alone move and fight as he did… It is truly a testament to Treville's training of you all."
"And to D'Artagnan's own stubbornness no doubt," added Aramis with a forced chuckle but he couldn't hide the worry in his eyes and with a little more prompting the king began to explain what he could of the young Gascon's injuries, unaware of the growing concern and panic his explanation was causing the marksman before him.
Eventually, after the king had finished his explanation, the pair settled down to watch over their sleeping companion in silence, the only noise coming from Aramis as he worked to prepare what he could for when his brother's returned with their fourth, the stubbornness inside of him refusing to accept that they wouldn't.
However, it wasn't D'Artagnan who appeared when the sound of hooves reached their ears. Unwilling to be caught unaware Aramis had reacted quickly, pulling the king behind him and standing in front of both the monarch and his injured comrade, his tense frame relaxing only when the horse and rider entered their small clearing and he was greeted by the sight of Favier cradling a very familiar form in his arms.
"Issac!?" exclaimed Aramis as he quickly lowered his weapon before rushing to help his friend get their clearly injured friend off of the horse and to the ground.
"He's beat to hell and breathed in a lot of smoke," explained Favier in a panic as he too dismounted before rushing to his brother's side.
Ignoring the king's demand to know how Issac was with them when he was supposed to be in prison Aramis went to work assessing and treating his wounds, wincing when he saw the dark purple, almost black bruises already forming on the man's chest.
"We think he was the voice you heard calling out to D'Artagnan before the explosion," explained Favier quickly, not wanting the king to further punish his brother should the man survive the beat down he received as a result of breaking his cover.
Back in the camp Athos and Porthos had found the source of the explosion, both men paling at the destruction in the area as their minds flew to the damage that could have been done to their youngest if he was close enough to the blast.
"Hear that?" asked Porthos after a few moments as his ears picked up the faint sound of water over the crackle of the flames. "If he's hurt and separated from the others the pup's going to be running more on instinct than anything else so…"
Nodding Athos agreed, "He'd head towards water."
With that, the pair drew their swords and headed towards the source of the water sound they could hear, both knowing that the Gascon was likely not in any position to fight off pursuers so they needed to be ready to act at a moment's notice to defend their youngest.
Their worry for the youngest member of their quartet only grew when they spotted blood on the foliage and ground, indicating that whoever came this way was hurt.
Both musketeers shared a look before increasing their pace as they began to almost frantically search the area for any signs of the youngster, fearing that calling out his name could alert any hostile in the area of their presence.
It was Porthos who spotted him first, noticing the familiar form lying awkwardly on the ground, dangerously close to the bank of the river.
"ATHOS!" he bellowed, no longer caring about being quiet as he sprinted to his baby brother's side, arriving there mere moments before Athos, the pair quickly dropping to their knees as they gently rolled the youngster onto his back so they could assess the damage and, most importantly, check if he was breathing.
However, the sight that greeted them had both musketeers gasping in shock as the skin on D'Artagnan's face and around his eyes was horribly blistered and red, hiding a lot of the paleness they were sure would have been there given the alarming amount of blood coating the front of his shirt.
"Is… Is he breathing?" asked Porthos hesitantly as his eyes remained locked on his brother's face.
"Barely," admitted Athos just as quietly as he reached out a hand to lightly stoke the younger man's cheek, whilst his other hand had grabbed the boy's wrist. "His pulse is also weak… We need to get him to Aramis."