"Aramis is in no fit state to be gallivanting off to the palace in order to thwart a kidnapping!" Porthos exclaimed from his position by the door with his arms crossed in indignation.

"I agree but unfortunately, we have very few options as it stands right now." Athos murmured from behind his steepled hands at Aramis' bedside. "If we do not comply with this madman's demands then we forfeit the very lives we swore to protect."

"I don't know about you but I'm willing to risk it, you guys are my family there is nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"I'm going to pretend I didn't just hear you say that" Treville frowned in disappointment at young D'artagnan. "You took an oath when you received your commission from the King, and that was to protect his life above all others on this earth, including your own. As much as it pains me also, Aramis does not come above the King."

Athos grimaced almost imperceptibly at the words, uncomfortably reminded of his father with the borderline callous words of his superior officer, the most discomforting aspect of this situation however, was the fact that Treville was right. They were Musketeers and must first and foremost put the needs of the Royal Family above their own, however, there was nothing to say they couldn't have the best of both worlds. His mind immediately began racing, formulating plans and scrapping them just as quickly. There must be some way they could save Aramis and the King.

"You're doing it again" Porthos chuckled with a grin, nudging D'artagnan and jerking his head towards their eldest brother whose face was pinched in consternation, brows knitted together in deep thought. D'artagnan grinned in delight and kicked Athos lightly in the shin, innocently meeting the dark gaze piercing him, "so, what have you got?"

Their conversation was disrupted by a weak voice floating up from the bed in the corner of the room. "I have to go, that's what we've got."

"Don't be ridiculous Mis" Porthos exclaimed, perching on the edge of the bed and pressing down on Aramis' narrow shoulders, gently pushing him back to lie down. "You aren't going anywhere"

"Actually Porthos he is" Athos murmured, pushing away from the wall he had appeared to be leisurely leaning against. He met Porthos' astonished face with a steadfast gaze, before looking past him to give his ailing friend an apologetic smile. "This is the only way, we give them what they want."

Not twenty minutes later and all five men were mounted on horses and picking their way through the crowded streets of Paris as quickly as was possible with a barely conscious man swaying in the saddle. "You had better have a plan Athos, or I will not be happy"

Without speaking, Athos levelled a withering glare at his brother, one eyebrow raised in obvious disgust and disbelief at his words. It almost seemed to scream what do you take me for, an idiot? This is me we're talking about here.

"Alright, alright" Porthos prevaricated, hands raised in supplication, "I was just making sure."

"I will not spell out all the details of my plan" Athos gave a secretive smirk and tilted his head ever so subtly towards the shadows of a nearby house as they passed, "I would hope you know me well enough by now to figure it out yourself, or at least to follow my lead."

"Alright, alright"

"Do we have a parrot following us Athos?" Treville chimed in from behind his men, knowing exactly which buttons to press after so many years with these particular men.

"I'm not talking to you lot any more" crossing his arms Porthos turned his head away from his companions, tilting his hat lower down on his forehead to shade his eyes from the glare.

The five men turned the corner in silence and stopped short at the gates to the palace. Stretching on before them was what seemed to be miles of perfectly manicured gardens, immaculate topiary animals of all kinds leering menacingly down at them from their marble pedestals. If you had the time or the inclination to prostrate yourself on hands and knees and measure the blades of grass, you would be unsurprised to find that they were all identical in length and colour. The most impressive feature of all was undoubtedly the white gravel pathway that crunched satisfyingly beneath booted feet and could be found scattered about your quarters weeks later when you trod on them in your stockings.

Athos gently pulled his horse to a halt, swinging round to block the path of the other men before they could enter through the gates. "Now that we've managed to shake off our little pest problem, I can be a little more open with you regarding our plan of attack. Now I know you're not going to like this but we have little choice, so bear with it."

Frederic's face stretched wide into a manic grin as he observed the five men approaching the palace slowly from his vantage point on the balcony. He couldn't hide his satisfaction as all his pieces slowly began to fall into place in the most satisfying chess game he had ever played in his life.

Aramis the bastard, he could see him swaying, barely conscious in the saddle in the middle of all his friends. Some rope was just visible, securing his hands firmly to the saddle in front of him. The restraints filled him with glee and a certain sense of security that the man could not simply punch him in the face the moment he came close but also that it was clearly as much about keeping him upright as anything else.

"Come Your Majesty" he beckoned Louis over, "look at your faithful, valiant Musketeers. Look at what they have been reduced to. Isn't it just beautiful."

The King peered out on his men with a face as pale as snow and felt a slight weakening in his knees, relief rushing through him more powerful than any adrenaline rush he had ever felt before. He was forced to grip onto the balcony to prevent his royal person from hitting the floor as his knees buckled ever so slightly.

"You will not get away with this, not with your life" he murmured, nodding calmly at Treville whose piercing blue eyes had been scanning for any sign of his King.

"I don't care about my life" Frederic began to laugh maniacally, "all I care about is destroying him."