Evening My Lovelies

Whoops! Sorry about yesterday everyone, lost complete track of my days and forgot it was an upload day! Got a tiny bit of drama in this chapter, hopefully it'll make up for the slight delay :)

Notes On Reviews:

pallysAramisRios: Thanks for the review - Yeah D'Art's not having a good time at the moment... I can't help it! I just like to whump him :D Oh yeah, Athos is definitely one more complication away from a full-on breakdown... The other boys are watching out for him though so that's something. Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - Hehe glad you liked it, the mental image it conjured made me smile so I had to include it. I'm leaning more to Etienne surviving... but we'll see :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha so glad you liked it, Athos's patience for things is pretty much gone at this point, couple that with his natural protectiveness when it comes to D'Art then you get papa-bear Athos :D I'm loving that image of Treville and D'Art, they're DEFINITELY going to hug! I like the whole history they have in that sense... pretty sure I've used it at least once in my stories... or at least I have in stories I've started but never published... anyways! Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Seems to be a lot of love for Etienne :D I am currently leaning towards him surviving his wound but who knows what'll happen in the future if my evil side gets involved lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - Binge reading is always fun :) I'm quite looking forward to when they all reunite and Treville's group gets to meet Marin as Athos's team are going to be quite protective me thinks :D Hahaha yeah I don't think Athos is going to be able to stop scaring villagers for a while, he's pretty high strung at the moment... that's what we have Porthos and Aramis for though lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Forty-Seven: Time To Move

Tension filled days followed Treville's travelling party after their encounter with the red guards. Due to Etienne's injury, Treville had, somewhat reluctantly, ordered the group to remain at the camp for two days, unwilling to risk splitting his team but also hating the idea of putting Etienne in further danger by forcing him to travel when he was so weak.

To everyone's immense surprise and relief the wounded musketeer continued to cling to life despite the grievous wound he had endured. Etienne was still unconscious and as pale as snow but he continued to breathe and his heart continued to beat which was all the other men were asking of him.

Treville had been forced to order Ethan to be gagged after the man began to make several infuriating remarks in hopes of sending the already tense and frustrated musketeers over the edge, the man had now settled for scowling at those tasked with guarding him as the reality of his situation began to sink in.

After two days of rest however Treville knew he had to approach Gaspard, if the situation at the church was as dire as the red guards had spoken of then they couldn't afford to waste any more time, though that thought did little to ease the guilt he felt when he observed the physician tending to Etienne.

"Doctor," spoke Treville, the Captain forcing his eyes away from Etienne's pale face as guilt once again churned in his stomach.

Gaspard sighed, a sympathetic look settling on his face as he turned from his patient to face Treville, "I was wondering when you'd come to talk to me."

Nodding once Treville didn't waste time beating around the bush, "You know what I want to ask?"

"Yes," nodded Gaspard as he took a moment to glance back over his shoulder at his patient. "He'll need to be in the wagon," he continued as he nodded towards the supply wagon they had brought with them, several men having brought it from where they had hidden it before the situation with the red guards.

Treville once again nodded at this, having expected as much, "I can get some of the men to make some space, now we have Rochefort's wagon we can split supplies between the two."

Smiling Gaspard did not hide his approval for how seriously Treville was taking the situation. "I know you will want to go racing off but…"

Waving away the man's concern Treville interrupted, "I would," he agreed, "However if the red guards are to be believed then I have already lost at least one of my men at quite possibly two of my old friends… I have no intention of needlessly risking Etienne. If I could I would send the pair of you back to Paris with several of the men but this encounter alone proves we don't know what we're up against here. I need you here."

Sympathy once again filled Gaspard's face as he took Treville by the shoulders, looking directly into the man's eyes so he could see the truth in them as he spoke, all while gently offering the man a reassuring squeeze. "The regiment is my home, it's people are my family. I would gladly endure a bit of danger to see our missing members safely returned to us. Do what you need to Treville," glancing over his shoulder for a moment he added, "It's what we both want."

Gratitude filled the guilt-filled Captain making it so he could only nod in agreement, as he placed his hands over Gaspard's, squeezing gently before taking a step back. Treville took a moment to take a steadying breath and to glance over once more at Etienne's unconscious form before turning on his heels to begin ordering his men to begin preparations to leave, a smile tugging at his lips as he saw how they all leapt eagerly to the task at the thought of getting to go to their comrade's aid.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do 'Thos?" asked Porthos quietly as the pair stood outside the tavern, the larger man feeling overly proud of the fact he had managed to get Athos to leave their Gascon's side for a few minutes to get some fresh air, the swordsman not having left the inn since their arrival several days prior.

Letting out a tired sigh Athos shook his head. He honestly wasn't sure if his decision was the right one but they had no choice. "We've exhausted what supplies this village is able to spare. It's a miracle that Fredrick and Glenn hadn't developed an infection but they still need herbs and other supplies if we're to keep them that way… Besides, D'Artagnan…"

He didn't have to finish that sentence as Porthos knew exactly what he was struggling to say and it broke his heart to be so helpless. Even with the warm lodgings and few supplies, they had been able to get from the village D'Artagnan's condition continued to deteriorate. It was almost painful just to listen to the boy's attempts to breathe and while Aramis was continuously reminding them to have hope he had caught the man frantically praying when he thought no-one was watching.

"He'll pull through," reassured Porthos as he watched Athos continually glance towards the tavern where their brothers were resting. "D'Artagnan's too damn stubborn to die."

They were still several hours away when the sinking feeling in Treville's gut made itself known, causing him to shift uneasily on his horse as his eyes scanned their surroundings for any explanation of its source.

"Captain?" asked Favier quietly as he too scanned the area, assuming his Captain had seen or heard something that put him on alert.

"It's nothing," dismissed the Captain as he tried to push the unease down, assuming it was just a reaction to getting closer to finding out whether he had lost one of his most promising men.

It was an act that proved futile when a little over an hour later it returned in full force as they all spotted thick, black smoke on the horizon, right in the direction they were heading to.