Evening My Lovelies

Okay, so how is it that when I actually feel motivated to write (like last week) writer's block hits me like a tonne of bricks but when I FINALLY get an idea to get passed that block (last night and today) my laziness reaches an all-time high and I procrastinate until the very last minute lol. Fortunately, I FINALLY managed to get this written so I won't be keeping you waiting any more.

Notes On Reviews:

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - We won't be checking in with Alain and Blaise tonight so I'm going to be keeping you waiting on their front a little while longer :) Haha I'm loving the reactions I'm getting to the monk XD Thanks for the concern, things seem to be getting a bit better personal drama-wise so I'm hopeful :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - Oh I'm SO looking forward to Audric makes his allegiances known :) We've got a bit until we get to that point but I'm very much looking forward to writing it. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Jmp (Guest): Thanks for the review - Danger is EVERYWHERE :D My evil side is very much enjoying writing this story so far lol :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Thank you for the concern :) Things seem to be looking up personal drama-wise so I'm hoping it'll sort itself out :) Help won't be coming the way our boys are expecting but there is something coming their way. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Yep, fortunately, Treville is planning on helping his men even if he doesn't know they definitely needed it :) Hmmm at the moment I'd worry more about Alain and Blaise than Issac and Favier but who knows, I'm already feeling pretty evil with this story so that could change at any moment :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - Haha no promises there I'm afraid, it wouldn't be fair for them to get through all this without some kind of whumpage when everyone else has suffered :D Though I may hold back on killing them, haven't decided yet. Aramis is doing a bit better despite what's going on, I'm thinking to have something to focus on is helping. Brother Audric... All I'll say about him is I'm VERY much looking forward to when our boys learn about his true allegiance :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Seven: In The Days That Followed…

The days that followed saw tensions slowly grow amongst the inseparables as their paranoia over a potential attack continued to build and the hours of missed sleep accrued between the group as they took turns watching over each other and waking at every little noise grew.

Tristan was the only member of the musketeer travelling group who was feeling even remotely rested and whilst he understood the reasoning behind it, them needing him at his best should an attack happen and his lack of any significant offensive, or defensive training, even the young physician assistant was beginning to feel the strain.

"You need to sleep," ordered the assistant, his voice firm and unyielding as he stared down Athos, continuing to speak when it became apparent the man was about to refuse his demand. "None of you are any good to anyone half dead with exhaustion. Now, one of you can come out with me and guard the room whilst the rest of you are going to sleep," stated the man as he nodded to the two, small makeshift cots both he and Porthos had been 'using' since their arrival to the church.

"He's right you know," commented Aramis with a strained smile when it once again looked like his brothers were going to protest. He hated that they were suffering because of him. A logical part of him kept trying to remind itself that the author would likely target them regardless of whether he was with them but that did little to comfort him. "My grip's gotten better," he added with a forced smirk. "I can at least shoot now, maybe not with my usual skill or flare-" both Athos and Porthos rolled their eyes at this, "-But I can at least be a line of defence and Tristan knows at least how to fire a pistol so he won't be completely defenceless, so decide who's getting to sleep first before I order Tristan to drug your drinks." The physician's assistant was quick to nod his agreement to this plan when the inseparables looked to him and before too long he was sitting outside the room with D'Artagnan, the Gascon having guilted his mentor by reminding him how much sleep he had forgone over the last few days to ensure D'Artagnan got a little more.

"...Would you really have drugged us?" asked D'Artagnan after a few moments, curiosity burning too much for him to stop himself from asking.

With a completely dead-panned expression, Tristan turned to the Gascon and nodded once. "With the way, you lot have been behaving? Absolutely and without regret."

Silence reigned for several long moments after Tristan's declaration before the man finally cracked a smile at the expression on the young musketeer's face, causing the Gascon to let out a chuckle of his own.

Unwilling to be bored for the next few hours while his brother's slept he pulled out a pack of cards and, after waving them at Tristan, began to shuffle and deal.

Elsewhere Issac and Favier were hold up in a small cave as they reluctantly accepted it was too difficult to see where they were going through the sheets of rain now bucketing from the sky.

As he went about setting up a small camp-fire Issac couldn't help but glance over at his brother in concern, his eyes narrowing as he saw the way his brother gingerly moved about, his arm wrapped tightly around his midsection as he attempted to unsaddle their horses.

They had encountered a spot of luck when their attackers decided to abandon the fight several days ago. Now, days on they still had no idea what prompted the men, who had still outnumbered them, to flee the battlefield. The musketeers had put up a good fight but even they could admit it hadn't been that good that it warranted the retreat.

It hadn't taken long for the two men to get back on their horses, though Issac had noticed the pain his brother had been in immediately as the man struggled up onto his horse, letting out a gasp of pain as he did so.

Once both men were safely on their mounts they too had fled the area, heading in the opposite direction to where they knew Henri to be, not wanting to risk their attackers finding him if they continued to follow them.

It had taken hours before they felt it was safe enough to stop and tend to their injuries, Issac's being surprisingly minor given that they had been outnumbered. Aside from a large darkening bruise on his side which he put down to where he had tackled the man off of Favier, he was sporting little more than a few cuts and gashes, with only two of them deep enough to need stitches.

Favier, on the other hand, had definitely drawn the short straw of the pair given that the move that sent his careering to the ground, knocking the air out of his lungs, had also managed to crack several of his ribs and leave him sporting an alarmingly large and dark bruise on his back.

Remembering the herbs they had packed from the garrison Issac had worked to provide his brother with what relief he could from the pain he was undoubtedly feeling before wrapping the man's ribs in hopes of preventing further damage.

They hadn't returned to following after Henri until the following morning, wanting to put as much distance between their unsuspecting brother and their attackers as they could.

Now, they were close, both men could feel it and they hated that they literally could even see a few feet ahead of them with how bad the rain was. To be as close as they felt they were but unable to reach their friend was agonizing, especially as they didn't know whether trouble had befallen their friend in the time he had been travelling alone.

Hours passed somewhat pleasantly for both Tristan and D'Artagnan before the latter decided to voice a concern that had been growing over the last day or so.

"We've had no word from the Captain," he said quietly, his eyes downcast as he tried to focus on his cards and make it seem like he wasn't as worried as he definitely was. It was a serious matter, he had no doubt their Captain would respond so the fact they had yet to hear anything was worrying and did nothing to ease the growing unease brewing in his gut.

"He's probably riding out to save the day and didn't want to risk any messages being intercepted," shrugged Tristan, attempting to comfort his younger friend, all the while silently worrying about the very same things.

D'Artagnan wanted to believe that, desperately, but there was a niggling part of him that refused to but when he opened his mouth to further voice his concerns he spotted the approaching form of Liam. The expression on his face doing little to ease the musketeers' nerves.