Evening (or early morning) My Lovelies

Well, this chapter has been a bitch to write... Probably would have had this up earlier had I not been so stubborn with it. We've got a D'Art centric chapter today and it's his POV that was causing me such writer's block. I've ended up writing and re-writing this chapter so many times I've lost count but I really liked the idea of seeing D'Art in his current situation so I didn't want to change it (as evidence by the fact I've unknowingly stayed up until 5 am to get this done!) Probably a good thing that I'm off work at the moment as the shop I work at has been closed due to this coronavirus...

Speaking of which I hope every one of you (and your families) are okay throughout all of this. Things are pretty crazy out there right now but I hope you all stay safe while we wait for things to get back to normal x

Notes On Reviews:

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha very true :D I'm very much looking forward to Athos getting his hands on Rochey for this but right now they need to save their pup :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Oh Rochey's not made things easy for our boys, which we'll see in the next chapter :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - It's definitely going to be a difficult search, especially as Rochey's not going to make it easy on them (not that it's easy at the moment) I kinda feel like all this drama might be good for Aramis right now actually, forcing him to return to himself while also distracting him from the nightmares that have been plaguing him, though we'll have to see if that still holds true once this is all over. Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

p.s. Stay safe everyone! x

Chapter Nineteen: Buried I

Waking up with an aching head was, unfortunately, not something new for the Gascon, especially considering the man he considered a mentor was well known for drinking to excess. That being said though the agony that shot through his skull as he regained consciousness was definitely not the result of a night of drinking with Athos.

It took some doing for the young musketeer to push past the pain ricocheting around his head to remember what had led him to be in his current condition, especially as part of him had registered the importance of keeping his newly conscious status from being expressed vocally for as long as possible.

During this time D'Artagnan also slowly became more aware of other things as he forced his focus away from the agony in his head to the rest of his body and his surroundings.

Finding that his body felt unnaturally heavy did little to ease the Gascon's growing fear and worry, the younger man knowing, even without trying, that attempting to move any of his limbs was going to be a struggle and it frustrated him that the reason behind his current situation continued to allude him.

It was while he was mentally pouting at this that he then noticed how quiet it was around him. Quiet had been expected, given he was likely in some sort of cell or infirmary if his aching head was any indication. However, the absolute silence that surrounded him wasn't normal and it caused the hairs on his arms to stand up as every single one of his instincts began to scream at him that something was very, very, wrong.

Knowing that it was time to risk alerting his captor of his return to consciousness, now sure it wouldn't be his brother's who greeted him when he woke, D'Artagnan slowly opened his eyes, knowing from past experience just how much even the smallest amount of light could hurt after being out cold for a while. He was fully expecting to have to shield his eyes so to be greeted by pitch-black darkness sent a rush of adrenaline flooding through his veins.

A thousand desperate reasons for the darkness quickly flashed through the Gascon's aching mind but the one he chose to settle on to calm his now racing nerves was that something must be covering his eyes in some way, despite the fact that the logical part of him was trying to tell him that it simply couldn't be the case as he couldn't feel anything on his face, not even when he blinked. Ignoring that part of his mind, the young musketeer desperate to not acknowledge what it would mean if he listened to that part of his mind, D'Artagnan mustered what little remained of his stubbornness and strength to force his arm to move, slowly so as to not alert anyone who may be hiding in the dark, in an attempt to feel and remove whatever it was that was obscuring his vision.

It took far more effort than he would have liked to get his arm to move, the limb feeling like it weighed a tonne but eventually, he managed to lift it, only for it to knock against something just above him, a small wooden sounding knock shattering the silence that had surrounded him since his awakening.

This simple knock sent another surge of adrenaline racing through his body as his mind abandoned all thoughts for the pain still shooting through his skull and instead focused entirely on frantically trying to dismiss the idea suddenly at the forefront of his mind.

"N-No," he breathed, his voice quiet and shaky as he slowly lifted both arms up, quickly feeling wood under his palms, barely a foot above his head. "P-Please no," he whispered, panic quickly beginning to flood his body as his hands and feet began to frantically feel out his enclosure, tears unwillingly growing in the corners of his eyes as he was forced to accept the truth.

However just as the panic racing through his body began to cause his breathing to become erratic the young musketeer's thoughts turned to his brothers, more importantly to a conversation he had had with Athos shortly after surviving the explosion Vadim had caused during his first few months with the musketeers.

He had confided in his mentor, after a heavy night of drinking he desperately wanted to forget, that he genuinely thought he was going to end up buried alive when Vadim set off his plan and in typical Athos fashion the swordsman didn't mollycoddle him, deciding instead to give him advice on what to do to increase his chance of survival should he ever find himself in such a position, a frightening thought at the time but he had found himself greatly reassured by the dark look in Athos's eyes which promised, even then, that the musketeer would not rest until he had been rescued and those responsible punished should such a thing occur.

Thoughts of his beloved brother and mentor were just what D'Artagnan needed to calm down enough of his panic to begin to think clearly. It took some effort, given the situation he was now in, but the Gascon was able to force his erratic breathing to calm, taking small shallow breaths instead of the frantic panting he had been doing earlier. The scared part of him wanted to scream for help, desperately hoping his brothers would be able to hear him but logic won out, acting on that desire would likely only serve to drain his air quicker and he needed to give himself the best chance for his brothers to find him, strength filling his terrified body as he reassured himself that they would be coming after him.