Evening My Lovelies

Well, we got there eventually when it comes to getting this chapter up, was honestly beginning to believe it wasn't going to happen lol. Somehow this chapter turned out a lot more angsty than I initially planned but I have to say, I'm kinda all there for it :D

Notes On Reviews:

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - Ha, yeah one of the only good things to come out of all this is that the king is growing up a bit lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Ah I was surprised about the guest reviewer as I've pretty much gotten used to seeing reviews from the same few people (because you're all awesome like that and review each chapter! xxxx). Haha yeah the king pretty much has no sense when it comes to knowing when not to speak, thankfully he respects Blaise enough now to listen to him when he silently tells him to shut it XD I thought you might like the whole blindness thing, I really loved the idea when you suggested it and was looking forward to writing it :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysAramisRios: Thanks for the review - Yeah things aren't going too great for the pup and I'm afraid that's not really going to change tonight :D I am SO incredibly sorry to hear about your dad! I can't even imagine the pain you and your family must be in right now and whilst I'm sure it won't do much please know that I'm sending you all the love and good thoughts I can along with plenty of covid safe internet hugs xxxx Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - Yep and not a moment too soon :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Thirty: The Burden Of Guilt

The news that D'Artagnan may have permanently lost his sight hit the musketeers hard and for several long moments, the only noise in the clearing came from Aramis as he worked to tend to his youngest brother's injuries.

"...He… He's going to hate me isn't he?" asked a quiet, pained voice, shattering the silence that had settled over the group and immediately drawing the eyes of every other occupant to where a badly beaten Issac was watching the Gascon with pure, deep sadness in his eyes.

"IS!" exclaimed Favier in relief as he had to force himself not to give in to the temptation to barrel into the now awake musketeer after being separated from him for so long only to find him unconscious and beaten to a pulp.

Ignoring his brother's exclamation Issac's tired eyes remained locked onto D'Artagnan's unconscious form. "It… It was an accident I swear. He was aiming at his back I had to do something… I didn't know the barrel would explode."

"Is," tried Favier once more, only this time his voice was infinitely softer as he recognized the distress in his brother's entire being and longed to soothe it. "You saved his life, he wouldn't be here without you… He won't hate you for that."

With his distress only growing Issac frantically shook his head as he attempted to push himself up into a seated position, apparently oblivious to the pain likely radiating throughout his body. "If it had only ended with him injured maybe… Injuries heal… Blindness… Blindness would mean D'Artagnan would never be a musketeer again, I would have taken two irreplaceable things from him… He'd never forgive me."

"Enough," growled Athos, silencing Issac's guilt-induced rant as he moved to kneel in front of the injured man, blocking his view of the unconscious Gascon. "Aramis said the damage might be permanent… might, not definite. D'Artagnan's survived worse injuries than this and come back stronger and he won't stop being one of us if he can no longer serve. Without your actions, we would never have had him return to us… Regardless of what his prognosis might be he's going to need us, your misplaced guilt will do nothing but hurt you both."

Issac said nothing at the end of Athos's mini-lecture but the look in his eyes told the swordsman that the man had heard him so with one last pat on the man's shoulder he stood from his position and returned to D'Artagnan's side, staring at the boy fondly for a few moments before turning to Aramis.

"How long until we can move?"

"You want to move him!?" exclaimed the king with worry tinting his voice. His upbringing might have shielded him from seeing a lot of injuries, but even he could see the Gascon was in a bad way.

"We have no idea where the men who took you all went," explained Athos, cutting of the defence he was sure Porthos was about to bite out. "Every minute we remain out in the open the greater the risk to all of us becomes."

"I've almost finished treating his wounds," explained Aramis, his eyes not looking up from the last of his work. "I'd like for him to wake up for a bit first so we can explain the situation to him. Given his last memories are likely from either being held captive or attempting to escape if he wake, essentially blindfolded and on a horse, he's likely not going to react well. I doubt he'll have a lot of strength or energy but he could still do himself a fair amount of harm if he struggles too much."

"Whelp's a fighter," added Porthos off-handedly before he, like the rest of the group, minus Aramis, turned his attention back to Athos who nodded once after a few moments of hesitation.

"One hour Aramis, we can't afford to wait any longer than that.

The next hour flew by as preparations for their departure were quickly made. It was decided that D'Artagnan would ride with Athos, Issac with Favier, Blaise with Porthos and that the king would ride with Aramis.

However, a slight tension hung over the group as they prepared to leave with eyes frequently drifting to their unconscious friend. By the time the hour was up D'Artagnan had yet to wake and even their attempts to rouse the boy hadn't garnered more than a soft groan of pain from the Gascon.

None of the inseparables liked the idea of leaving without explaining things to their brother but they also knew they had no choice as they had already pushed their luck by staying as long as they had.

"I've got him Aramis," reassured Athos quietly so that his voice was only audible to the medic fussing over the unconscious boy now settled against his chest as they both sat mounted on his horse. "First sign of him waking I'll call for a stop I promise."

Aramis did not ease up on his fussing but he did send his brother a grateful look before he stepped away to head to his own horse, instructing the king to mount up before him… Only for a glimmer out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, causing him to freeze in place for fraction of a second before his mind realized what it was and panic and adrenaline flooded his system.

"EVERYONE MOVE NOW!"