December Desolation Chapter 12
A/N: I got this done for this week, hopefully there will be another one this time next week but for now enjoy the new chapter. :D
Distantly Aramis registered a strong hand gripping him by the arm as he roamed aimlessly in the frigid wasteland of his mind, a voice calling his name lost in the roaring that filled his ears. The trees around him seemed to inch ever closer, the gaps between darkening ominously as sudden flashes of silver blinked in and out of existence.
"Marsac" he called blearily fighting the arms holding him back, a gnarled skeletal hand gripped the trunk of a tree so tightly that the cracking sound could be heard from miles away ricocheting off every available surface. As he squinted desperately, thick viscous blood began to ooze along the long fingers, feeding a puddle that was growing ever larger as it crept along the forest floor to his feet. Without even having to take another step he knew, just knew what he would find through those trees, as surely as he knew his own names and the words to the prayers he comforted himself with each night.
"Aramis" Athos' voice finally penetrated the haze that clouded his brain and he blinked rapidly to clear his blurry vision, tears that he hadn't even noticed tickling his skin as they rolled into his beard.
"Aramis calm yourself" hands landed on both his shoulders as his surroundings came into focus and his panicked eyes locked with the gentle, calming brown of Athos'. His breaths became gasps, as he battled to banish the memories floating far too close to the surface of the stormy sea that comprised his mind, threatening to drown him at any moment.
"I am fine Athos" he wheezed quietly, reaching up and covering Athos' hand with one of his own "I am fine"
The King took a couple of tentative steps forward from where he had been shamelessly loitering in an attempt to watch his soldiers breakdown. "What is going on?" he demanded arrogantly, hands resting pretentiously upon his hips as he shook his long hair back off his shoulders.
"I apologise for the shameful display Your Highness" Aramis managed to pant, bending awkwardly at the waist from where he sat prone on the snowy ground. How he had ended up sitting down he had not the foggiest but he regretted it, his bum was wet, wet and cold and getting wetter and colder as every second passed. Yet he could not force himself to his feet no matter how hard he tried his legs would not cooperate, unsurprising really considering he had a gaping hole in one of them.
"Nonsense, nonsense Aramis" Louis waved his hand flippantly "you are injured and I suspect not entirely healthy yet, all is forgiven"
The cheerful man bounced away to converse with his servants, and the Musketeers took advantage of this respite to smother their ailing brother with concern. Athos' sharp eyes spotted the tremors still racking Aramis' too thin hands and gripped them tightly between his own, rubbing furiously in an attempt to warm them up. "Why didn't you tell us that you were cold Aramis?" Porthos scolded good naturedly, pulling the slender man to his feet with disturbing ease and wrapping a strong arm about his shoulders.
"I wasn't, it just suddenly hit me as I was sitting there, and I could see him" he broke off shuddering violently "and I was alone"
Footsteps clicking along the pathway towards them interrupted their conversation and they turned as one to the approaching King. He was flanked by two maids weighted down under a massive mound of blankets which they dumped unceremoniously upon the seats they had previously been occupying.
"They are for you" Louis said gently, gesturing to the blankets and taking his own seat with typical majestic grace, "I hope that you will be more comfortable this way, for I really must insist that you remain with me until the threat has been neutralised"
The three men helped their wobbling brother take a seat and bundled him up in more blankets than he had ever seen in one place before, settling him gently into his chair and taking their own, Athos subtly maintaining contact with his brother by pressing their legs together.
"Now" Louis smiled widely, the reflection of the snow making his teeth gleam "tell me exactly what happened"
After sharing an uncomfortable look with his brothers, Athos grimaced and began to relay to the King the sordid details of their actions towards their brother in the recent weeks. As he slogged his way through the veritable quagmire of mistakes, they realised with terrifying clarity the true extent of their betrayal and felt a stab of guilt like a knife to the gut.
A look of genuine disbelief marred the King's features at the culmination of their sorry tale, to be replaced almost instantaneously by disappointment. "I thought better of you all" he exclaimed in shock "you always took much better care of each other than this, and worst of all to leave Aramis on his own!"
"We know Your Highness" Porthos growled lightly, "it should never have happened and will never happen again"
"Well I cannot allow this to go unpunished" Louis sighed, appearing genuinely regretful at his words but ploughing on regardless "I am taking you all off duty for the next month, and you shall be staying at my hunting lodge and not leaving until you have my express permission"
All three men sat dumbfounded for a few moments, unable to comprehend what exactly the King had just said. In all the time they had known him, Louis had only ever involved himself in the affairs of soldiers when they had angered him and in order to have them arrested. It was unheard of that he ever reward his soldiers with a holiday, a holiday of all things!
"I have no words Your Highness" Athos smoothly responded, bowing his head politely in thanks "we shall endeavour to meet the standards that you hold of us"
"Yes, you would do well to do so" Louis nodded, a maid practically vibrating with nerves approached and bent to address the King, scurrying away quickly once she had done so. "You may leave now my loyal Musketeers, the threat has been dealt with and I do not wish to see you here for another month are we understood?"
"Perfectly" the men chorused, swiping their hats from their heads and pressing them to their chests as they bowed and the King made his way exuberantly back to the palace and the warmth.
D'artagnan stifled a giggle and an involuntary noise as his eyes landed upon the sleeping form of Aramis, propped up awkwardly by the mound of blankets with his chin leaning upon his chest.
A/N: Chapter 12 done! Thankyou to everyone who has reviewed every chapter, your reviews are so lovely and really push me to write :D Please carry on reading and review as well and let me know how you think it should go. Next chapter the journey to the lodge :D
