Evening My Lovelies

I'm getting back into the swing of actually uploading on time :D No muskys this chapter and even possibly the next (depends on how long the idea I have in mind takes) we're focusing instead on those dastardly red guards and the ever-lovely Treville :D

On a completely unrelated note do any of you get double alert emails when fics get updated? It doesn't happen with every story I read (I'm a bit of an addict now lol) but most of the time when a story is updated I'll get two emails about it, even occasionally get double review emails. It's a bit annoying really so I'm just wondering if this is a me thing or is it happening to the rest of you too?

Notes On Reviews:

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Oh Athos definitely isn't going to let the pup go far from his side for a while if he can help it (gonna be cute 3) I debated having Aramis ride by himself but then I remembered how banged up he got in the last story and he's still recovery so it didn't seem a good idea to have him ride alone... plus it's amusing to imagine how he and Porthos will act whilst sharing a horse :) I have plans for Treville so I'm hoping you like how it turns out :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Having to share definitely brings out the pouty child in them lol :D Yeah I realised I had completely forgotten about Treville and the other OC's and the situation I left them all in so wanted to revisit them and then had a bit of an idea on how to bring them back into the story which I'm hoping everyone will like :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - You'll have to wait to see if Treville is alone and yes Rochey is in the wagon :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Forty: A Captain's Suspicion

Treville almost wanted to laugh as he watched the two red guards try to appear as though they weren't disobeying the orders of their King whilst simultaneously committing treason if the occupier of the wagon they were guarding was who he feared it was.

The atmosphere around the small party had grown increasingly tense, though Treville paid it little mind as he took a single step forward, inwardly smirking at how the pair's hold on their weapons tightened subconsciously on his approach, all while his face remained impassive.

"I would ask the pair of you to stand aside," stated the musketeer Captain as he took another step forward, his gaze once again locked on the wagon. "Your presence here means you have decided to ignore the orders given to you by your King," he said, his voice cold and firm as his face remained expressionless. "I am intrigued as to whether you have committed treason as well."

Unable to help himself Marcus let out a snort as a smirk formed on his face, "You're a hypocrite Captain," he spat, ignoring the worried, warning look his companion was giving him as he took a single step closer to the musketeer before them. "What reason do you have to be here other than checking on your precious musketeers?" he sneered, though the smirk remained in place. "The King forbade you from doing so yet here you are."

If Marcus expected a reaction to his taunt he was severely disappointed when Treville kept up his expressionless mask if anything the man actually looked bored with their current situation, something which irked the two red guards, who, fortunately for them, were smart enough to keep that observation to themselves.

"Orders change," shrugged Treville before his eyes hardened, "I won't ask again. Move aside."

The two red guards looked to each other for a moment before wisely choosing to follow the order and so stepped aside, watching with barely concealed hatred as Treville stepped up to the wagon, the Captain's eyes widening slightly at the contents. Not the person, he had expected the pair to be trying to smuggle out Rochefort but at the condition of the former red guard Captain, obviously, someone had done some serious damage to him and Treville relished the pride the flooded through him at the thought, enjoying it without any trace of guilt as he remembered all the pain and suffering those under his charge were put through since the man's return to the capitol.

"We were bringing him in," stated Ethan quickly as he tried to subtly signal his companion to follow along with his plan, he doubted the musketeer Captain would have made such a journey from Paris alone, not when he suspected his men were in trouble, doubly so if he suspected Rochefort to be involved so they needed to get the man on their side before his companions returned from wherever they were hiding. If Treville didn't suspect them then they would be safe and could plan their escape for when the man and whoever was accompanying him let their guards down.

"Blame your precious Athos if you wish," snapped Marcus, thinking quick on his feet and smirking internally when he saw the name pique the Captain's interest, though he could see the suspicion and anger still clear in Treville's cold eyes.

Putting on an air of far more confidence than he felt Marcus shrugged, "It is his orders we are following," he stated flippantly, his inner smirk growing when he saw the glimmer of both pride and amusement in his companion's eyes, though the man was quick to push such feelings down.

Raising a single eyebrow Treville looked over at the pair, "Explain. Now."

Seeing this an opportunity to not only gain the man's trust but to also hurt the musketeer Marcus hid another smirk. "He killed a musketeer," he explained with a nod towards his former boss, his inner glee spiking at the flash of pain he saw cross Treville's face. "Also critically injured at least two of those men you sent," with a shrug he added, "They might be dead we don't know. Athos wanted him far them and ordered us to get him back to Paris."

For a moment there was nothing but silence as Treville tried to process what he had been told, letting out a shaky breath he looked back up at the men, not missing the glimmer in both their eyes at his obvious distress.

"Who?" he breathed, guilt filling him as he thought of the pain his men must now be feeling, that was if the red guards were telling the truth.

"The kid," answered Marcus with fake sympathy lining his voice. Rochefort had revealed some of his plans to them after they met up again in the church and had taken great joy in explaining the plan involving D'Artagnan and how the boy would die alone in the ground after his brothers gave up searching for him. They hadn't questioned how the former red guard planned on getting the musketeers, who were notorious for their loyalty, to give up the search for one of their own but after hearing the explosion and Athos's grief-filled bellow of Rochefort's name they knew the man had been successful.

This was beneficial for them now because if Treville was looking for signs of a lie from either of them he would find none as it was the truth. "Well, they do say the truth hurts," thought Marcus with an inward grin.

Treville felt his breath leave him as he realised who they were talking about, D'Artagnan had been instrumental in bringing Rochefort to justice so it was no surprise the man had wanted revenge, with a long, quiet sigh Treville felt his heart go out to the inseparables, Athos in particular who had developed such a deep, brotherly bond with the young Gascon.

It was the reminder of this that made Treville's breath catch in his throat and he had to grip the side of the wagon to keep himself from doing something he might regret against the two red guards in front of him. His mind was racing at lightning speeds before it settled on a single consensus which hardened his heart against the men before him, not that he had ever truly trusted them.

"I see," he breathed, taking a moment to settle himself before raising his head, allowing no sign of his decision to show on his face. "So you were taking him to Paris?" he asked nodding sharply towards Rochefort, who was still lying unconscious in the wagon, occasionally letting out a quiet sound of pain, something which Treville took no small amount of satisfaction from.

Now it was Ethan who spoke up, "We didn't want to risk running into trouble on the man road so we decided on this route," he explained unnecessarily gesturing to their surroundings. "It also means that he has no idea where he is should he wake up in any condition to make an escape attempt."

Treville nodded, seemingly accepting the explanation for the moment, the action making the two red guards relax a fraction and even share a smirk when they thought the Captain wasn't looking. They fully expected to be grilled further on the action which led to the death of D'Artagnan so they were both startled and surprised when Treville simply raised a hand to his lips before letting out a sharp whistle which pierced through the air of the otherwise silent night.