Evening My Lovelies

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Chapter Five: Suspicions

To the surprise of both conscious musketeers the figure at the now open door wasn't any of the men they had met but instead a clearly terrified young woman who couldn't have been more than fourteen years old.

"She's a damn kid," hissed Aramis in disgust as they watched the scared girl take a few steps towards their cells, holding a wooden tray in her trembling hands. It was beyond clear that the young woman was not there voluntarily and it sickened both musketeers to think what else those holding them had done to the girl and any others they held to make them so afraid.

Thankfully when the girl was in front of their cells they could see that apart from a split lip she bore no other visible injury, though that did not help the disgust they felt at seeing the wound.

It was only when the trembling woman placed the tray down in front of Athos's cell that the swordsman allowed his attention to drift from her face to the contents on the tray she had been carrying, his expression quickly morphing into one of suspicion and barely controlled anger.

"What is this?" he demanded, harsher than he intended given how the young woman flinched in obvious fear at his words and tone, though his words did prompt the marksman in the cell next to him to look to the tray, understanding flooding him as he too took in its contents.

"I… I… I was told they were your favorites My Lord," stammered the girl, tears forming in her eyes, sending a wave of shame through Athos's body as he realized how he had scared her further. "I… I just did what I was told… I promise!"

Aramis opened his mouth to calm the girl only to be cut off before even uttering a word by a loud thud against the door to their cells which startled the girl so much she jumped to her feet before turning to see the person at the door, one of the guards who had dragged Athos in earlier that day. Seeing the guard the girl began to shake even more before moving, reluctantly, to the door, letting out a small cry of alarm and pain when, as soon as she was within reach, the guard grabbed her by the arm, dragging her from the room, slamming the door behind them before Aramis could protest the rough treatment of the young woman.

"Athos…" murmured Aramis a few long moments after the echos from the slamming door had ceased, the dark tone to his brother's voice telling the swordsman all he needed to know.

"Aye," he agreed, his eyes firmly locked on to the door a promise made between the pair to see the girl and any other prisoners free before they left this place.

It was a few more moments before either musketeer addressed the contents of the tray sitting well within reach of both of them.

"It might not mean anything Athos," spoke Aramis quietly but even he knew the seed of suspicion was well and truly planted.

"Another coincidence?" grumbled the swordsman, though he hated himself for it. "There can only be so many before we have to address the possibility at the very least… You know this," he explained, his tone turning softer the more he spoke as he more than understood the turmoil his brother was likely feeling.

Letting out a small sigh Aramis shook his head, his gaze drifting from the tray to Porthos's unconscious form. "He wouldn't have wanted this Athos…He's our brother, he couldn't have done this."

"And you think I want to believe it any more than you do?!" snapped Athos as he jumped to his feet to begin pacing his cell. "He's been secretive Aramis! You know this! Getting messages he refuses to speak of, disappearing for days on end and then brushing off our questions when he finally returns to us… These could be put down to the boy not quite feeling comfortable enough to open up to us but the timing Aramis… The timing is what's suspicious! Days after he started becoming secretive the attacks on our brothers started."

"An unfortunate coincidence!" defended Aramis though it was with far less vehemence than he would have liked given his relationship with the Gascon. He hated that they were even discussing this but part of him couldn't fully deny the logic in Athos's words, not when he saw just how badly it was tearing the man up to say them.

"And our capture?" pressed Athos as he sunk back to the ground, defeat in his voice as he looked towards his brother, allowing the man to once again see just how much he hated the words he was speaking. "Do you not remember the looks of fear we got in the tavern when we asked after him? … What of the comments our lovely hosts keep making? They know things that are not common knowledge, nor is this," he spat as he gestured to the tray of food in front of them, lined with favorites of both men.

Before the marksman could offer anything in his youngest brother's defence the door to their cells once again opened and a familiar guard strode into the room, a dark grin tugging on his lips as he looked towards the medic.

"Times up my friend," he grinned as he approached the cell, several other men entering the room behind him ready to act as back up should the marksman act up.

Acting up was exactly what Aramis wanted to do as he glared daggers at the men before him but he knew he was not exactly in peak condition and it would only put their escape at a greater disadvantage if he was harmed further so, with a reluctant glance down to his still unconscious brother and through gritted teeth he approached the door to the cell, arms up in surrender.