Evening My Lovelies

I'm seriously loving the end of this chapter, can't wait to see what you all think of it :)

Also... On the whumpage front, I thought I'd tease you all by letting you know I've got some proper delicious ideas of what to do to our boys :D It might take a bit but if I can get them to come across the way I'm picturing it, it should be evil *cackles*

Notes On Reviews:

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Hmm I'm liking your distrust of my new OC, we'll have to see if he deserves your distrust. Oh, Treville isn't going to just accept the King's decision as we'll get a hint of tonight. Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - Lots and lots of trouble is coming for our boys :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Jmp (Guest): Thanks for the review - Given it's a story written by me I think it's pretty safe to say there's going to be trouble :) haha I love all the distrust there is for my new OC Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Yeah, unfortunately, Louis doesn't see anything wrong about sending the red guard. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha I was wondering if that scene would get any recognition :D I'll go into Treville helping out Liam in a later chapter, promise. Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - Yeah Louis's not really thinking things through, don't worry too much Treville's not just going to do nothing, he has a plan. Hmm as to your hope for them being unharmed? No promises there :D *cackles* Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Four: Dread & Determination

Treville didn't even try to hide his displeasure as he all but stormed out of the palace after being forced to give up his men's location to three members of the very regiment that had been the cause of no end of pain for not only those men but the rest of his regiment as a whole.

The King had tried to placate the Captain with barely logical arguments but Treville wouldn't hear them, letting the man ramble on before excusing himself with as much forced politeness as he could muster before leaving.

His fury must have been extremely obvious as he distantly noted several people scamper to get out of his way as he stomped his way through the Parisian streets, a destination in mind that wasn't his garrison. The King may have ordered him to not send any of his men out after the inseparables but that didn't mean the Captain had to place his trust in the chosen red guards. He would protect his men as best he could, no matter the risks.

"Captain Treville?" greeted a curious voice as Treville entered the establishment, the musketeer's serious expression prompting the place's owner to stop what he had been working on to turn his full attention to the furious man.

"I need a favour," stated the Captain as he tried, and failed, to keep the anger from seeping into his voice.

Nodding the establishment's owner put away what he had been working on. "I recall owing you several. What do you need?"

It didn't take long to explain what he needed and Treville left feeling a little lighter after having it confirmed his contact would do his part, as he headed back to the garrison he could only pray that it was enough.

"It's very quiet here," commented D'Artagnan, a small smile on his face as he closed his eyes, enjoying the peace around them, the quiet reminding him of the small church he often sought refuge at in the city.

"Part from the birds," grinned Porthos, chuckling when Aramis, who had just been settled into the bed, chucked a small pillow at him.

"I'm not going to shoot the birds," protested the medic with a huff, all but ignoring the chortling coming from his companions as he instead turned his attention to Tristan, allowing the physician's assistant to begin checking him over to ensure his injuries had not worsened during the trip.

"How is he?" asked Athos once the assistant was finished, all the earlier levity had faded from the room as each of the marksman's brothers eagerly awaited news.

To their immense relief, Tristan smiled at them, "The travelling hasn't done him any further harm. A couple of his injuries have pulled stitches which I imagine will make things a bit uncomfortable for the next short while but none of them have torn nor need restitching so he should be fine with something for the pain."

"He can hear you," grumbled the marksman but whatever response his brothers might have been planning flew out of the window when there was a knock on the door.

"Liam," greeted Athos as he nodded his head at the man now standing in the doorway.

"I wanted to invite you to dine with us," stated the Brother as he sent the men a somewhat worried look, "It's been several hours since you've arrived I trust the journey didn't make your condition worse?"

Sending the man a small smile Aramis shook his head, "I thank you for your concern Brother, I'm fine."

Liam nodded, "Dinner should be served shortly if you wish to join us, though you may also eat in your room should you prefer to rest." The Brother was about to leave before pausing, turning back to face the now curious musketeers, although his attention seemed mainly on Athos as he stretched out his arm, a small piece of parchment in his hand. "I forgot. This arrived for you a short while ago."

Elsewhere Alain, Blaise, Favier and Issac were pushing their respective horses as hard as they dared as the two duos raced towards their targets, each praying they could reach their brothers before anything happened.

For the first few hours of both parties journey, neither pair experienced anything but their own growing worry for their friends, it was only when the evening began to fall that they each became aware that something was seriously wrong.

"Blaise," mumbled Alain as quietly as he could as he edged his horse as close to his brothers as he could safely do, his eyes narrowing when the senior musketeer nodded minutely.

"I hear it too," acknowledged Blaise, his own eyes narrowing as he focused on the increased sound of hoof-beats they could hear now that they had been forced to slow their own mounts out of fear for pushing them over the brink.

Had they recently passed a settlement or an inn of some kind he likely would have brushed off the noise as simply another traveller on the road but they had specifically chosen a more secluded route that while less maintained, cut a significant chunk off of their total journey time so as far as Blaise was concerned the only reason they could now hear the additional horses was because they had been followed the entire time.

Determination flooded Alain's face as he slowly loosened his grip on his horse's reins, fully prepared to reach for his weapons at a moment's notice. "What's the plan?"

In the complete other direction, Issac and Favier's journey was also now not going as smoothly. The two men, like their counterparts, had managed fine until darkness began to slowly descend when they too noticed they were being followed, although neither man had any qualms withdrawing their weapons, having dismounted their horses at a river to allow the beasts a few minutes rest to drink their fill, their grips on their blades tightening as the sounds quickly drew closer.

Back in Aramis's room, the three other inseparables watched with growing concern and dread as Athos's entire frame tensed up as he read the note he had received, his hand scrunching the paper as he clenched it into a fist before throwing a punch, hard, at a nearby wall making his brothers startle and call out his name, only for the swordsman to ignore them as he stormed out of the room, the crumpled paper floating innocently to the ground and the words it contained rang tauntingly in Athos's ears.

Are you sure it's wise leaving Aramis all by himself?

Who knows what might happen while you're gone.

Yours,

A Concerned Friend.