Torment and Heartache
Chapter Seventeen.
The queen was ushered swiftly down the hallway by Athos and d'Artagnan, relief evident on her pale features, but she knew they still have to get out of this place, she felt reassured that Constance was safe.
Athos went ahead halting as he approached a bend, the swordsman holding up his hand to pause d'Artagnan and the queen as he peered around the corner, just a couple of torches burned allowing the musketeer to see that the passageway was indeed clear. He beckoned them towards him.
"Quickly we need to make haste before they return." muttered the swordsman.
"Something is wrong Athos...Aramis and Porthos would have been here by now." commented d'Artagnan as they hurried down the passageway.
"Soon as we have get her majesty to safety we will endeavour to find them." replied Athos.
"I heard Rochefort speaking of two musketeers." said Anne as she hurried with her musketeers.
"That was no doubt Aramis and Porthos your majesty." replied Athos. "Do not concern yourself, we will find them."
That moment heavy footfalls reverberated off the stone walls followed by voices.
Both Athos and d'Artagnan swapping agitated glances as they paused in their tracks.
Athos noticing a doorway to the right, he swiftly rushed towards it and tried the handle, it opened.
The voices becoming louder as they approached.
d'Artagnan swiftly followed his brothers path as he ushered the queen into the chamber and closing the door softly behind him.
Athos watched through a slight gap as a group of men emerged from the dim passageway.
The queen and d'Artagnan swapped hesitant glances as they heard the muffled voices.
lllllllllllllllll
The pain was excruciating in his head as he tried to move, it was dark, where am I, so cold. His eyes flickered more before opening. Aramis suddenly realised what had happened. He slowly put his hand to his head, it felt sticky and cold, blood, it had to be the fall. The marksman turned his head.
"Porthos!...Porthos! he whispered hoarsely.
Aramis lay on his back, his eyes scanning above and seeing nothing.
"Porthos...can you hear me? he pressed.
A sudden grunt emitted into the darkness as the big musketeer regained consciousness.
"Aramis...wha' 'appened...where are we."
"Are you hurt mon ami? asked the marksman.
"Me arm aches...but I'll live." came the reply.
"You alright?
"Think my head is bleeding, may have caught it as I fell through the trapdoor" answered Aramis.
"Can you move? asked Porthos.
"I think so."
A sudden scraping of movement could be heard as Aramis tried to sit up.
"Can't see a bloody thing down here." growled Porthos feeling around the darkness.
"And no flintlock to light anything." said Aramis.
"Lets 'ope Athos and d'Artagnan 'ave had better luck than us for all our sakes." grunted Porthos.
"Indeed...I pray the queen and Constance are alright." came Aramis' reply.
lllllllllllllll
"How many are there." whispered d'Artagnan as Athos peered through the tiny gap in the door.
The swordsman held up four fingers in reply.
"d'Artagnan!...see if there is a way out besides this door." he asked suddenly.
The Gascon lit a discarded candle that lay on the floor and began to search the room they had found themselves in.
"Rochefort could be anywhere." whispered Anne.
"Rochefort's days are numbered your majesty, he has deceived the king too may times to get away with such an atrocity." replied Athos.
"Athos! came the loud whisper of d'Artagnan suddenly.
The swordsman gently closed the door and turned towards the Gascon.
"There is another doorway here, it leads into a narrow passgeway, the barbican is not far from here where we left Constance."
"Good! said Athos. "Take the queen and go, I will take care of this lot and follow you on."
d'Artagnan gave his brother an unsettling look.
"I am not leaving you Athos...there are four men out there...all armed."
"d'Artagnan is right Athos." commented the queen. "There are too many to handle."
The swordsman unclipped another pistol from his belt, holding one in each grip of his hands.
"I thank you for your concern your majesty...but we have no time to lose"
He turned to d'Artagnan.
"Do as I have asked...GO!
The Gascon rolled his eyes in protest.
"Come your majesty." he said ushering the queen towards the new found escape route.
Athos watched as they went before turning back to the door and peering through the gap once again. The four men still remained, two with their backs to him, that would give him plenty of leeway to dodge back into the chamber to re-load his pistols.
He slowly opened the door wider, they had not noticed him yet. That instant the swordsman charged out into the passageway prompting one of the men to yell.
"A MUSKETEER!
Shots rang out, reverberating off the passageway walls.
ooooooOOOoooooo
TBC...
Hi Guys,
Hope you are all ok and safe.
I know another cliffy, I'm such a tease. Sorry.
Thank you for your comments, love them.
Until next time.
Sending hugs
Pippa xxx
.
.
.
.