Chapter 7 Heaven Can Wait

I apologize for the giant gape school is officially in full swing for me, but I'm not expecting there to be too many more chapters left but yet again I could be wrong. Thanks for your patients.

Aramis tried in vain to speak or at least give warning by moving but he was too tightly bound, and Grimaud had too strong of a hold on him. All that time in captivity had left his body rather weak and feeble. Then out of the shadows came another voice, "Porthos, wait," this one commanding even through the whisper, Athos portrayed his meaning well. And if Grimaud had not been holding a knife to his throat Aramis new he would have smiled they had not changed much.

"Quiet." a third voice warned. Aramis' eyes filled with tears at the sound of the last voice confirming all his brothers had come to rescue him. When they finally came into the torchlight in front of his cell Aramis was so full of conflicting emotions; joy, fear, love, hate to name a few he could do nothing but watch as the events started to unfold.

Grimaud stepped out into the light of the first rays of the morning sun dragging Aramis along with him.

The King's Private Chambers

The Queen sat in the King's parlour waiting for him to grace her with his presences. Her son sat on the floor near her playing with gold solders while Constance stood behind her and a little of to the right. She and Constance both look like a portrait of serenity but, any who knew them well enough would now better. For under the facade of patience and calm was an all-consuming fiery rage.

The King finally entered the room paying no heed to the women he went over to his son. Anne let him enjoy a few minutes with her son for she only had two very powerful words to tell him once that may very well shake him to the core. When he finally looked up at her, she set him a steely stare one that would have made ice feel warm and said, "I know." Then getting up and curtsying she left the room without another word followed Quickly by Constance and her son.

Aramis' Cell

Athos froze as he laid eyes on the scene before him and for a moment all he could do was stare for after so long he was standing face to face with Aramis the only problem was the man holding a knife to Aramis' throat. Athos' heart skipped a beat and landed hard crushing his chest as he took in sight before him. Aramis was only a shadow of the man he had been and the years were not kind. His hair though recently trimmed was dull and oily, his skin taking on a yellowish hue, though he still seemed to have some muscles he mostly looked gaunt and malnourished, and then there were Aramis' eyes once exuberant with life had a rather dull and far off look to them. It mad Athos sick. Suddenly a voice brought Athos out of his mussing.

"Why is it not the Three Musketeers here to save the day." a cruel voice said sarcastically from behind Aramis.

"Grimaud." Athos sneered. And then everything went to hell. Grimaud fluidly and swiftly moved his blade stabbing Aramis at the sametime ten more guards swarmed them.

The King's Private Chambers

Louise stared at his Queen as she purposefully walked away. He shook himself he was KING DAMN IT. He would not be cowed by any woman least of all his unfaithful wife. Those word shook him she knew, she knew, and that meant the three musketeers knew and if they brought back Aramis alive or not Louise would have a lot to answer. The people would not even believe the charges against her if she played innocent and all the evidence would point towards him on falsely imprisoning one of his best and most loyal soldiers. That would lead to unrest and then . . . Louise could not even think about it. He called one of his services in and yelled, "Bring me my older brother at once."

Aramis' Cell

Aramis could barely hear anything over the pounding in his ears his heart made. He could hear muffled shouts and steel on steel. Suddenly a face came over him at the same time he felt pressure put on his abdomen, and he grunted in pain. As the pain subsided he could barely make out a female face with hazel eyes, he knew those eyes from somewhere but could not remember. She looked like an Angel he thought with her golden hair shining, and as he stared he saw her mouth moving he smiled she must be singing to him, he thought as he closed his eyes. But only moments later he was being shaken by the Angle, and she looked worried, why would angles worry.

"Aramis!?" she said through her voice was very faint as if it was travelling over a long distance. "Aramis," the Angel said again though louder, "Stay AWAKE."

Stay awake Aramis thought why it would be so easy to just go to sleep. Why would the Angle not let him sleep? He again slowly closed his eye welcoming the blackness. And just before Aramis could fully envelop himself in the darkness he heard the Angel's sad voice one more time.

"The Queen and your son need you, Aramis please, DON'T GO."