Afternoon My Lovelies

Well, look at me, uploading on the actual day I'm supposed to lol :D

Drama's beginning to build for our OC muskys at the moment but fear not it's just around the corner for our inseparable boys as well (they just don't know it yet :) )

Notes On Reviews:

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha probably right not to trust the red guard, Marin though... he might be different as we'll be seeing tonight. Enough trouble? is it possible to have such a thing? Apparently not where my devious mind is concerned *cackles* :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Haha yeah definitely I think they would rather do anything but be stuck with Athos hence why they are more than willing to leave that job to Marin. I loved writing that scene with Corbett, can't guarantee trouble isn't going to find them though :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - We'll be getting Marin's story today as there's no way Athos is going to trust him without knowing it. We'll also be checking in with Issac and Favier so I won't be keeping you waiting on that front. As for our inseparables... When are they ever safe when I'm involved lol :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - Our Treville's a smart cookie, plus there was no way in hell he was trusting his men's safety to a bunch of red guards. Glad you liked the scene with Alain and Corbett, I loved writing it :D We'll be addressing the cliffhanger right away so I won't be keeping you waiting on that front. Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Eleven: Truths

Following the piercing gunshot a silence fell over the area, furthering the musketeers worry as they raced towards the source of the sound, both praying they were not about to see what they feared they would.

It wasn't until they came across a clearing that either man let out a sound as gasps flew from both their lips as they hurried out of their saddles, neither paying their now exhausted mounts any consideration as they scrambled across the mud-sodden ground to the two figures laying on top of each other that they had seen upon entering the clearing. Neither man appeared to be moving but when the musketeers got closer Issac was able to see the all too familiar pauldron on the shoulder of the bottom man.

Recognizing him instantly alarm flooded his system as he skidded to his knees by the man's side, "HENRI!" he cried as he and Favier worked quickly to push the man off of the top of their friend, relief flooding both men when, with the extra weight removed, Henri let out a large gasp as his lung eagerly began sucking in air.

"Easy brother," soothed Favier as he placed a gentle hand on Henri's shoulder, preventing the man from moving when he had instinctively tried to get up.

With their friend in good hands with his brother Issac turned his focus to the other man, his eyes immediately finding the source of the gunshot as there was a large pool of blood staining the man's chest but what really caught the musketeer's attention was the amount of small or light wounds the man was sporting, clearly, he had been engaged in a struggle with Henri before receiving his life-ending injury.

"H-He came out of nowhere," panted Henri, confusion heavy in his voice as he was finally allowed to sit up after Favier ensured he didn't have any broken ribs, just bruised. "All but tackled me off my horse."

Confusion flooded the faces of both the other musketeers.

"Odd," mused Favier as he eased himself into a more comfortable position, now they had confirmed Henri was okay his own injuries were more than willing to make themselves known. "Was he armed?" he asked, having noted the lack of any visible weapons on the dead man's person, "Surely only a fool would take on a musketeer when unarmed."

Henri shook his head before nodding behind him. "Had a blade but I managed to get it off of him in the struggle, not before he nicked my shoulder. Nothing serious, though I will need to wrap it soon."

Favier frowned, "Still…"

"...I think I know why he attacked," spoke Issac, the man having been going through the dead man's pockets for any sign of his identity while his brothers had been speaking. Now though he was stark white as he turned to face them, a letter with an all too familiar looking handwriting on it held tightly in his fist.

Unable to help the snark that entered his voice Marin crossed his arms over his chest, "So because I gave a damn it makes me suspicious?"

"Watch your tone," scolded Glenn as he lightly cuffed the younger man on the back of the head, smirking at the look he received for the action. "You can hardly say you and yours wouldn't be if the position was reversed."

During this interaction, and the light bickering that followed, Athos was distinctly reminded of his little brother's attitude, the red guard reminded him very much of D'Artagnan and he had a feeling the pair would get along like a building on fire if the prejudice between the two regiments didn't exist.

When it became clear that neither musketeer was going to let the matter go without an explanation Marin huffed and shuffled slightly before turning to face Athos, who was watching him expectantly. "My father and uncle were both musketeers," he admitted, secretly enjoying the looks of surprise on both men's faces. "I had hoped to follow them but… circumstances changed and I became a red guard instead, doesn't mean I stopped caring what happened to their regiment."

Sensing the dark story hiding behind the younger man's words Athos hated that he had to push but he needed to know who to trust given his brothers' lives were at stake. "Were? What happened?"

"They were killed during a mission that went wrong," stated the younger man, the slight tremor in his voice betraying how hard the subject was for him to talk about. "Overnight I became responsible for the livelihoods of my mother and two younger sisters. I've got no other talents than with a blade and the red guards both pay more and take on less risky assignments."

Athos had wanted to believe the younger man, the emotion he could hear in his voice is hard to fake, but it wasn't until he stated his last name that he realized just who he was speaking to.

"They died at Savoy," breathed the swordsman as he recognized the surname as the same one that belonged to the pair of brothers who had accompanied Aramis and the recruits to the training mission in Savoy that eventually led to everyone but Aramis dead. He hadn't spoken to either man much but Aramis had opened up in the months that followed that the two men had been fondly bragging to whoever would listen that their son/nephew would be joining the regiment in the next year or so and how talented the boy was.

In an attempt to ease his guilt of surviving after the massacre Aramis had tried to reach out to the family, wanting desperately to help them in any way he could, only to be told by Treville that the widow had asked to be left alone in their grief, that she wanted nothing to do with the regiment that had taken her husband and brother-in-law from her and her children.

Flinching at the name of the place his family had died Marin nodded, "My father and uncle loved the regiment and those in it. I might be unable to join myself but that doesn't me I won't protect the thing they so cherished if I can."

"Issac," breathed Favier, having instantly recognized the handwriting on the letter and knew immediately that his brother would be reminded of his recently deceased sister.

"I'm okay," reassured the musketeer, slowly easing off his grip on the letter as he approached his brothers, needing their support as he read its contents.

You musketeers sure like to scatter and split from each other, even when you have already found trouble.

Are you sure that's wise, who's to say trouble won't return when you're alone?

Yours,

A Concerned Friend