To be honest he had been surprised as they finally came. He wasn't too surprised to not be ready, but surprised enough to look twice if it truly could be them. At noon on the second day of being on the road he had started to cover his tracks, just as they had planned out. They had hoped that the Red Guards would stop their search once they wouldn't be able to find any tracks. Apparently they hadn't stopped. Or he hadn't been as careful as he had thought he was. Either way, the Red Guards had somehow found him. Their horses whirled up brown clouds of dust behind their racing horses, covering the grey shade of the sky. It would soon enough rain, the water washing away all their tracks and the dust from their skins. He hoped the rain would make it impossible for the Guards to follow the others, if they even had searched for them. But as far as he could see, there were only four men coming up to him, so the chances were high that they had split up earlier.

He decided to stay were he was as long as possible. Hidden beneath thick bushes, his horse a good hundred feet away, resting on a small creak. Maybe, just maybe, they hadn't seen him yet and would not notice the sticks he had accidently crumpled while walking towards his hideaway. Maybe they would just keep on riding, missing him by just a few feet and never be able to find him again.

But, he knew, there were just too many maybes in this hope to full fill itself.

So, he kept still and held his breath once they came closer. He ducked as deep as possible, his eyes watching them from between a gap in the thicket.

He watched them passing him, not shooting him a second glance. Until the last of the men passed is hiding place, his eyes narrowing on the small forest. Probably thinking that it would be a great place for a break – or to hide. He gulped, his pulse pounding in his throat and the blood rushing through his ears as he tried to calm his heartbeat. He had the feeling the Red Guard had to hear his heart hammering in his chest, even though he knew it was impossible.

The fourth man slowed down his horse, eyes still taking in the trees and bushes, while his comrades had already ridden further.

Troyes

She had watched him run the room back and forth for most of the morning. Then watched him clean their weapons one too many times, his eyes never on the weapon in his hands but on the window. By noon he had given up his work just to sit by the bed and to start change Aramis' bandages – which she had changed just a few hours before. She had said nothing all day, even though she had wanted to from the first minute he had walked up and down through their room. His nervous tells made her even more nervous than she already was. She tried to supress it nevertheless. Busying her hands with repairing the holes in their uniforms, going to the market and finding new clothes for Aramis, looking after the horses. They had agreed that it would be best if Athos and Aramis stayed in the room as much as possible. She would be less suspicious than two battle-worn men. She didn't like that they stayed at an Inn at all. She would have liked to stay outside of the city, make a camp somewhere and wait there. But she saw the sense in giving Aramis a real bed for at least a night to rest in and a warm meal. Moreover they needed more food and Aramis needed new clothes. They would have had to visit a city anyways.

Constance finally snapped at Athos as he controlled Aramis' bandages for the third time this day, causing the marksman's eyes to flutter open at the prodding.

"Will you stop it, Athos?! His wounds are healing just fine, no need to wake him every few minutes."
Athos pulled his hands away immediately, shooting a short, apologizing glance towards Constance before turning back to the wakening Aramis.

The marksman tried to sit up, almost collapsing back to the bed, weren't it for Athos to steady him and help him lean against the wall.

"Good afternoon, sleeping beauty." Constance greeted the marksman, a gentle smile caressing her lips as she stood up from her place by the fire and brought over a bowl of soup. "Hungry?"

Aramis still looked a little bit groggy but nodded nevertheless. He was always hungry. But each time he started to eat he felt sick after just a few spoons. His stomach had to get used to food again.

He thanked Constance with a smile as he took the bowl, taking a few spoons of the soup.

"When are we expecting the others to reach us?" He then asked the burning question.

Athos sighed, looking out of the window again.

"Porthos should reach us by nightfall. D'Artagnan and Treville will need the next morning to catch up with us."

Aramis hummed, following Athos' gaze through the window before placing his hand on Athos' shoulder.

"They will make it."

Marigny-le-Châtel, an hour away from Troyes

He growled as his sword connected with the weapon of his opponent with such a force that his arm arched. Sweat was running down his skin, causing his shirt to cling to him in an unpleasant way. He looked around shortly, making sure that the other three men were still out cold. He hadn't time enough to look at them too closely, but he didn't see anyone swinging down a sword onto him – so that was a win. He had to return his attention back to the man in front of him – even taller than him and just as broad – a sight to behold. Porthos grunted as it took all his strength to block the Red Guard's strikes without stumbling further back. His feet were already soaked through from the water he stood in. He could not risk to tumble further into the lake.

He tried to use his agility against the colossus, dancing from one leg to the other just like d'Artagnan always did. With a graceful jump that he had copied from Aramis, he sprang out of the water and to the side of the bulk. A fast strike forced his sword in between the ribs of the man, causing him to howl out in pain. Porthos jumped back just as fast, ripping his weapon back out of the skin with a thickening sound.

He raised his sword, ready to land the fatal blow as something hit his back. He hauled, stumbling forward as the blade cut through his leathers and skin.

Porthos caught himself and swirled around to face the skinny man he had knocked out earlier.

"Shouldn't have woken up again." He growled, pounding on the man with fast and hard strokes, forcing him further backwards. He noticed the Red Guard's eyes opening wide in fear, his blade impaling itself in his chest.

Unfortunately it got stuck their and the Red Guard took it with him as he fell into the raging lake lifelessly. Porthos turned around, the colossus had apparently recovered from the still bleeding wound to his side. Grinning wildly he ran towards the unarmed Porthos.

Just another road

"Faster. C'mon, I know you can be faster." He pleaded, his heels kicking maybe a little too hard into the flanks of the horse.

The animal was on it's limits, he knew. He wished he could stop, give it a pause.

Unfortunately that would have meant to fall right into the hands of the four Guardsmen following them closely. He heard them shout, felt their bullets fly past him. He had leant forward as much as possible, leading the animal away from the road and towards the forest. It was a dangerous maneuver. The horse could fall and break something – break him. But he had no chance if he stayed on the road. Sooner or later the Guards would get to him. He had to loose them.

He made sure to ride further away from Troyes, not daring to lead them any closer towards the others. He thought about stopping and fighting them, but they had him severely outnumbered and he only would fight them if it truly was necessary.

So he spurred his horse into the thicket, sticks snapping against his head and arms, thorns ripping open his trousers as he kept riding on. The path he took was so narrow that barely one horse fit through it, forcing the Red Guards to ride behind each other. A small triumph for ones.

The Guards had stopped shooting, too. With all the trees and curves it would have been close to the impossible to hit him.

He lead his horse downhills, made it jump over a narrow creak and then turned sharply to the left. As he looked back, he couldn't see the Red Guards anymore. But their shouts were still heard easily. He decided to risk it all, now.

He slowed down his horse as much as he dared before jumping from it's back and gripping right onto a branch. He gave the horse a light kick, causing it to keep on running. He heaved himself upwards from where he was dangling on the branch, just in time. He managed to climb the tree upwards and laid down on a thick branch just as the Red Guards rode down through the path beneath him, following his horse.

Now, he had to wait and hope.

Yay Me!
For once I haven't kept you waiting for weeks / months!

Hope you enjoyed it :)