'It's been days,' said Aramis with exasperation.

Treville looked up at him for a few seconds. He was not surprised to find his Musketeer walking up to him with no respect for rank or etiquette. Aramis was right to be angry, annoyed… worried.

Athos and d'Artagnan were trailing behind their friend. Athos looked as though he had tried to stop Aramis' advance. Although Treville suspected he had not tried very hard.

They were all worried.

Porthos had been missing for days. Aramis was not exaggerating.

'You are right. But what can we do, Aramis.'

'Search-'

'We've already done that,' said d'Artagnan.

'We need to search again. Visit the Baron he was sent to see. Check the road. Check his haunts.'

'Aramis,' Athos interjected, a hand on the wound-up Musketeer's shoulder.

'We have done all those things. All of us have. And I know you have been searching every opportunity you have had.'

Aramis turned away from them and leaned over the balustrade, his hands clasped, his head down.

Treville looked at Athos and d'Artagnan and saw the same worry for their friend. If Porthos had been sent on a trip that would take him days or weeks to complete they would not have started to be concerned for some time. But Porthos had only been sent a few hours out of the city. He should have returned late the same day, possibly the next morning. He should not be missing a week later. They could not deny that something had happened to him.

Treville had allowed his men to do a cursory search of the route the following day, in case something happened to leave him stranded at the side of the road. Nothing was found.

Two days later he sent Athos and d'Artagnan on the same journey to talk to the Baron. They learned that Porthos reached the Baron and left to return to Paris. But other than that piece of information nothing was learned.

Now it was a week and Aramis, who appeared to have barely slept the previous few nights, was wound up to the point of lashing out at his superior officer. Treville felt no ill will towards Aramis. He agreed that something should be done. But what?

What could they do? Porthos had disappeared into thin air. He was nowhere. There was no sign of him.

It was true men did disappear. Some left of their own volition. Some were not given a choice. Treville did not believe Porthos the sort to do the former, which meant the only conclusion was the latter. Porthos had been attacked for some reason and his liberty, or worse his life, had been removed from him.

With no clue as to Porthos' whereabouts, Treville did not know what else they could do.

Aramis sighed deeply, he pushed himself up to stand straight and turned around. He made eye contact with Treville, sending an awkward non-verbal apology for his insubordination. Treville smiled sadly and nodded his acceptance of the apology.

'Get some rest, Aramis,' said Treville. 'Take a few hours. Rested you may come up with a location that we have not searched. And I will not stop the three of you from continuing to search whilst you are on patrol.'

Aramis mumbled his thanks and turned away, walking past Athos and d'Artagnan who remained where they were for a few seconds before following their dejected friend. Treville watched them go, knowing they were feeling as useless as he was at that moment.

They moved aside on the stairs to allow one of the stable boys to climb up. The lad, probably no more than twelve was new to the garrison but hard-working and good with the horses.

He looked nervous as he approached the Captain. Treville smiled encouragingly.

'Monsieur,' said the boy, Treville searched in his mind to remember his name. 'I was walking Blackberry back from the street.'

Treville thought his name began with a 'G'.

'One of the cadets had stopped to talk to a friend. I thought it would be helpful if I took the horse.'

Treville nodded his agreement as he wracked his brains for the boy's name.

'A man walked up to me. I thought he wanted to ask about the horse. He was tall and had a scar on his neck.'

Gilbert.

Treville had to stop himself from smiling when he remembered the name.

'- said they would swap him for another man.'

Treville realised his mind had wandered.

'Swap who? Blackberry.'

Gilbert looked confused and shook his head.

'Porthos.'

Treville was aware of Aramis, Athos and d'Artagnan who had been talking quietly on the stairs, stopping and turning to look up at him and Gilbert.

'Porthos?' said Aramis.

Gilbert looked at the Musketeers, aware he was the centre of attention.

'The man,' said Gilbert, 'he gave me this. He said he would swap,' Gilbert paused for a second as he remembered something, 'swap Lorenzo for Porthos.'

'Lorenzo?'

Treville had no idea what Gilbert was talking about. The stable boy held out a folded piece of paper. Treville took it, unfolding it as Aramis, Athos and d'Artagnan reached him.

Treville read the message out loud causing all three Musketeers to react. Athos cursed under his breath. D'Artagnan shook his head in disgust. Aramis looked relieved.

Treville knew how each man felt. The note indicated Porthos was alive and that he stood a chance of being restored to them.

'We need to find out who this "Lorenzo" is,' said Athos.

'We need to be prepared for whatever state Porthos is in,' mused Aramis. 'He's been at their mercy for a week. He wouldn't have gone willingly. He'll be injured.'

'I'll make sure the horses are ready and gather whatever we might need,' said d'Artagnan earning himself a nod of approval from both Aramis and Athos.

'Athos, come with me to the Palace. I suspect this "Lorenzo" is a political prisoner somewhere. I know it's unlikely the King will allow this man to be released for a lowly Musketeer, but we can try.'

Aramis visibly bristled at the insinuation that Porthos was lowly. But they all knew what their worth was in such situations.

'Once we have been to the Palace we'll reply to this note and find out where they are bringing Porthos for the exchange. We'll work out the subterfuge then.'

Aramis, a determined look on his face turned to Gilbert, who was watching the exchange with interest. Treville doubted the lad had been able to keep up with their conversion.

'You did a good job, Gilbert,' said Aramis. 'Show me where the man went after giving you the note. He's probably long gone but it won't hurt to check.'

Gilbert puffed out his chest as he realised he was being praised, and offered the chance to contribute further.

'Whilst you wait for us to come back from the Palace. Once everything is in place, I want you to eat something and rest,' Treville could tell Aramis was annoyed. 'It could be a couple of hours,' continued Treville. You know what the King is like, and you look on the point of collapse.'

Aramis nodded once before turning to go with Gilbert.

'I'll make sure he follows your order,' said d'Artagnan.

With nothing else to arrange Treville led Athos to the stables. A lot had changed in a matter of minutes with a simple note. He had gone from trying to help his men come to terms with the possible permanent loss of Porthos to managing their expectation that they might get him back within a few hours.

Treville hoped they would not be disappointed.

To be continued…

Whumpee: Porthos (although absent from the story). Featuring: Athos, Aramis and d'Artagnan.