Evening My Lovelies

Damn! I was hoping to keep up my small streak of uploading daily as this whole setting a timer and writing every day seems to really be working for me but after finishing the chapter I wrote yesterday I really wasn't happy with it so I decided to completely rewrite it today and I have to say I am SO much happier with this one :D

Notes On Reviews:

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - I figured it was time for me to throw a curveball :D We'll have to wait and see who the traitor is, I won't be revealing that just yet :D. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Oh I'm loving the reactions I received from this curveball. I'm not going to reveal who the traitor is just yet as I'm still working on the best way to do that so I'm going to be keeping you all in suspense a little while longer, hopefully, it's all worth it in the end. Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysAramisRios: Thanks for the review - I know! :D My evil side thoroughly enjoyed the idea when I had it so I just had to roll with it :D Athos is not going to handle the news well that's for sure :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Suspicions

Finishing his explanation of Henri's theory, Athos found himself waiting anxiously as he stared at Treville, silently willing the man to both answer him and to tell him Henri was wrong, that they hadn't been betrayed, in the worst way by one of their very own.

Eventually, the waiting became too much and Athos was forced to speak up, taking a single step forward, his eyes somehow both hard and pleading. "Captain…"

Letting out a small sigh Treville ran a hand over his face, suddenly feeling at least a decade older as he looked at his lieutenant, "I don't want to believe it," he said softly, not ignorant of the way his words sent ice through Athos's veins, "It is, however, the most likely answer. I don't see how they would have received the information otherwise."

Silence settled among the pair for a few heavy moments as Treville allowed Athos to have the time to process everything, the seasoned Captain not even flinching when Athos let out a roar, filled with both fury and anguish, as he launched a punch at a nearby tree.

"Are you done?" he asked as he approached the now heavily panting swordsman, ignoring the man's glare as he reached out to pull the man's now injured hand towards him, inspecting it for damage, sighing quietly upon noticing the blood coating Athos's knuckles and how his hand was already starting to swell.

"You're lucky that wasn't your sword arm," scolded the Captain as he released Athos's hand, not missing the way Athos, whilst still glaring, flinched as the limb most likely throbbed in pain. Part of Treville was honestly impressed that, even while furious, Athos had maintained enough sense to not injure his dominant hand, thus leaving him in trouble should a fight occur before the limb could heal.

"Who is it?" growled Athos, subconsciously moving his injured hand so it was supported by his uninjured one. When Treville failed to respond Athos felt his anger spike once more and he couldn't stop the fury that filled both his voice and expression.

"WHO. IS. IT!" he roared, not missing the unimpressed look on his Captain's face, something which only served to further ignite his anger, although Treville wisely spoke up before he could say anything else.

"I don't know," admitted the Captain with a touch of guilt and shame underlying his words. To him the men under his command were his to protect and to allow one of their own to betray them in such a way… to be so oblivious to not notice a traitor in their midst was like a slap in the face to the Captain, he felt like he had failed his men and the oath he gave them when he took the position as Captain.

As if sensing his Captain's turbulent emotions Athos felt his fury cool slightly, allowing him to relax his stance as he waited for the man to continue, something which thankfully did not take too long.

"I had begun to suspect possible involvement shortly before Henri's letter, detailing his own suspicions arrived but that brought its own problems and I've hardly had the time to investigate anyone since its arrival."

This made sense to Athos and further aided in his rational mind returning as he let out a sigh, a desperate thought entering his mind that he couldn't help but voice. "Are we sure they're the author and not merely another resource the man… or woman has? This author has displayed both an impressive reach and an impressive arsenal already. Is it possible they have one of us on the payroll?"

Nodding Treville crossed his arms in front of his chest, "It's entirely possible, although I'm not sure what is worse, the author actually being one of us or someone we trust with our lives having seen all the devastation the author created and yet still helping them willingly."

"It is possible they are helping under duress," offered Athos weakly, however even he didn't believe his own words, no matter how much he hoped they were true as it would at least make the betrayal somewhat more forgivable.

"As much as I would love to believe it," stated Treville softly, unknowingly agreeing with Athos's silent thoughts, "I find it unlikely that they wouldn't find an opportunity to either voice their problem or at least drop hints as to their situation. We've had no new recruits earn their pauldron since D'Artagnan so the men have served for years. None lack the brains to work out how to make the situation known without alerting whoever may be watching them."

It was after this that the true realization of what one of their own had quite likely done began to sink in for the pair and both fell silent as their minds struggled to fully process that information.

"We should handle this quietly," stated Athos after a few minutes, drawing Treville's attention back to him as the Captain waited quietly for his lieutenant to continue, which he did fairly promptly. "Regardless as to the level of their involvement, if one of our own is truly involved then making them aware of our suspicions could cause them to up the timeline of any other plans that may be in the works. If we handle it quietly, involving only those we know can be trusted we can hopefully lull whoever it is into a false sense of security… make them lower their guard…"

Treville nodded as he thought over Athos's suggestion, it was an approach he had considered himself, even though nearly every part of him wanted nothing more than to interrogate every single one of his men until he had the answers he sought.

"There are some we can clear already," agreed Treville, a flicker of pride appearing in his eyes as he saw Athos had quickly caught onto his thought process.

"Issac and Favier," nodded Athos, his heart aching at the grief the two men had recently endured. "Issac's love of his sister was well known and the grief was genuine for both. Favier would never have willingly let anyone hurt Ines or Issac."

Treville nodded in agreement, though there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes, "I am surprised you didn't immediately make the case for yourselves and the others."

Appearing thoroughly unamused Athos sent his Captain a look, "You wouldn't have had this conversation with me if you had even a flicker of doubt. Aramis almost died at the hands of the author which takes both him and Porthos out of the running and with his own recent run-in with the author notwithstanding, as much as he would like to believe otherwise D'Artagnan is not subtle enough to keep a secret of this magnitude from us."

Unable to stop himself Treville let out a small chuckle at the assessment before nodding in agreement, the pair then slipping into a hushed conversation, making the heartbreaking mental list of who in their regiment they felt they could trust without a speck of doubt.