Evening My Lovelies

Got a little distracted writing this... hope it doesn't show. Anyways I'm really liking how this turned out so I can't wait to get your opinions on it, we've actually got a little bit of our boys here too... only a little but they'll be back more in the coming chapters.

Notes On Reviews:

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yeah Etienne isn't in the best way :) It wasn't going to happen that way but my evil side took control and I just couldn't' help it *cackles* Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Treville's hesitant to leave Rochey at the moment, not that the man could actually do anything but still... Don't worry though there are plenty of others around to help out though :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - Our musketeers would probably agree but his actions warranted an immediate response hence the beheading... Ethan's still alive though so who knows what they might do to him :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - Yay, gotta love a binge :D hope you had fun :D Aramis knows his limits... doesn't mean he's always going to respect them though... but don't worry our other boys will be there to set him straight. Oh yeah, I'm really looking forward to their reunion with Treville and the others. Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Forty-Three: The Choice II

Etienne's name was cried out in alarm by several of the men around him who quickly moved to grab the now profusely bleeding man before he could crash into the ground, instead lowering him with the utmost gentleness before they began the frantic task of tending to his injury.

Unfortunately, the cry had also drawn the attention of the rest of the musketeers, including those who had been keeping the remaining red guard, Ethan, occupied. At the cry however they had stopped their attacks, instinctively moving toward their injured friend before remembering the man they were supposed to be taking care off.

Not one to waste an opportunity Ethan used this momentary distraction to his advantage to turn sharply on his heels and dart into the nearby trees, a smug grin tugging at his lips as he heard curses come from the musketeers who quickly realized their target had vanished.

With adrenaline and confidence filling him with every step he ran the red guard failed to notice he hadn't, in fact, managed to escape from every musketeer.

To say Treville was disappointed in how his men had allowed themselves to become so distracted that the red guard had managed to escape would be an understatement but with one man already seriously injured he wasn't about to risk anyone else my sending them after the fleeing man in the dark, not when he noticed, much to both his pride and annoyance, that two had in fact already gone after him.

Instead he, much like the rest of his men turned the focus to their injured friend. Treville was quick to order several men to dispose of the dead red guard's body whilst also instructing several others to go through the supplies the red guards had travelled with to see what they had to work with whilst leaving those with the most medical training to tend to Etienne.

"Gaspard," he breathed, watching as the physician, who had been keeping well away from the earlier fighting jumped into action the moment Etienne was lowered to the ground. He had never been more thankful for Etienne's earlier insistence in bringing the physicians with them when they rode out after their missing men.

"I'll do what I can," promised the physician, his eyes never leaving his patient as he made quick work of cutting off the man's shirt. "I could do with more light though," he added after a moment, knowing that many of the men would need something to do to keep from worrying after their injured brother.

With a grateful look in his eyes, Treville nodded before calling over a small group of his men, instructing them to seek out both firewood and a water source before he returned to his guard over the still unconscious Rochefort, doing all he could to keep from looking both at Etienne and at Rochefort, not knowing how he would react to the man until he knew his solider was going to make it.

"Doing all right there 'Mis?" asked Porthos quietly as the group slowly made their way through the woods. The group had opted to, after much deliberation, take a more convoluted way back to the capital, one which would avoid most of the main roads, thus keeping them safe from most bandit attacks but also would put several small villages in their path where they desperately hoped they could find some supplies they desperately needed.

They had been riding for several hours now and for as much as he protested riding with someone Aramis quickly became grateful for the physician's insistence for him to do so as it hadn't taken long for his injuries to make it very clear that they did not approve of riding. He had done all he could to keep the true amount of pain which he was feeling from showing on his face but he hadn't been able to stop from leaning back into Porthos's firm chest when keeping his own posture became too difficult, nor could he hide the faint tremors that were beginning to rack his body.

Porthos, much to Aramis's eternal gratitude, had refrained from commenting on this fact for as long as he could, only speaking up when Aramis was unable to smother a gasp of pain and even then he kept his voice low enough so that only the marksman sitting in front of him could hear him.

Aramis desperately wished to assure the man he was fine, not wanting to stop the group because of him, not when he had seen the worried look on Athos's face which had only grown worse as D'Artagnan's condition continued to deteriorate. The longer they went without supplies the worse things would get for not only his baby brother but also their injured friends, they needed to continue to the first village and not be stopping because he was hurting.

Unfortunately, this wish was not to be as when Porthos's horse moved to step over an uneven bit of ground Aramis was jerked just enough to push his already painful injuries past his silent threshold, causing him to let out a small cry of pain which was not missed by their party, all of who quickly stopped to turn to the marksman who was now trembling and gasping in Porthos's worried arms.

"We need to stop for a bit," stated Porthos with no small amount of worry in his voice, though that worry quickly turned to frustration when Aramis began to vehemently shake his head.

"No!" snapped Aramis, all the pain of his injuries forgotten as he glared over his shoulder at his brother, ignoring the pang of guilt that hit him when he saw the obvious worry for him in Porthos's eyes. "I can handle it. I. Am. Fine."

"Aramis," sighed Tristan as he slowly stood from where he had been sitting in the wagon beside his most injured patients, but before he could say anything more Aramis cut him off.

"I. Am. Fine!" he growled out through gritted teeth the pain radiating through his body making his tone even sharper than usual. "The sooner we get to a village the sooner we get supplies D'Artagnan and the others desperately need. I can handle this. Let's go!"

With that Aramis snatched the reigns out of a slightly dumbfounded Porthos's hands, urging the beast forward a few steps before they were stopped when Athos reached out to grab them from his hands. The swordsman remaining unaffected by the glare sent his way as he instead nodded up to the sky.

"It's starting to get dark," he stated evenly, though even he couldn't hide the worry he felt for Aramis after seeing the man's pale tone and clearly pained eyes. "We'd be better off getting camp settled now before we lose the light. I know you'll want to check D'Artagnan over before getting some rest yourself."

It was low, Athos could admit that to use Aramis's protective instincts over their youngest against the man but Athos felt no shame, knowing it would eventually work out to both men's benefit so he did his best to hide his smirk when he saw the indecision cross Aramis's face, desire to stop warring with his desire to continue.

"We're not going to reach the village tonight anyway," added Tristan as he hopped down from the wagon, "An early night tonight means an early start in the morning."

Knowing what his brother and friends were doing Aramis couldn't help but pout, wanting nothing more than to continue even as his body was begging at him to stop.

Eventually having had enough Porthos made the decision for them by dismounting and taking the reigns back from Athos, holding them out of Aramis's reach as he stared at the man, almost daring the marksman to come and take them.

Unable to stop the childishness which seemed to overtake him in his injured state Aramis crossed his arms over his chest, decidedly ignoring the trembling he felt in his limbs as he let out a resigned sigh and nodded his head.

Elsewhere Issac and Favier continued to follow Ethan through the woods, the moment one of their brothers had called out Etienne's name in a panic the pair knew the red guard would attempt to use the distraction to his benefit and neither was about to let him get away, even with their existing injuries limiting their effectiveness.

It had taken a great amount of determination not to rush to their friend's side at the cry of his name but their anger had won out and the pair had been able to follow at a distance which kept the man in their sights but kept them out of his, though the red guard seemed so confident that no one had followed him and that the darkness which had now fully covered the area kept his movements hidden from any who might try.

This confidence only spurred the musketeers on as they waited for him to deem it safe enough to stop, which wouldn't be much longer they wagered given the way he was loudly panting as he ran, the man having been exhausted earlier in the fight with their brethren.

True to expectations Ethan continued for around ten minutes before deciding that he was safe enough from pursuers to risk stopping for a break, the man leaning heavily against a nearby tree as he desperately tried to catch his breath and it was then that the pair revealed themselves. The sounds of their blades being pulled from their sheaths being the only sign of their approach.