Evening My Lovelies

I was going to combine this chapter with the next one but it would involve writing a lot of dialogue my lazy self can't be bothered to deal with tonight so a two-parter it is :D

Notes On Reviews:

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - That they do :) though I'm going to be mean and keep them guessing about what's been given to D'Art :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Bwhaha I know :D I wasn't going to have anything happen to the pup but then he was just lying there! I couldn't resist! :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysAramisRios: Thanks for the review - Aww thank you, that made me smile :D Oh if you think Corneau is smug just wait until you read this one lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

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xxx

Chapter Sixty-Six: Betrayal I

Hearing the pure anger and near overwhelming fear lining his brother's words prompted Athos to act, the musketeer abandoning all previous concerns over alarming the rest of his men as he drew his blade and pointed it, without even a moment of hesitation, right at Corneau, who looked more amused than anything else as he stared at the blade directed at him, silently confirming to the swordsman that he was the traitor they had been hunting for.

Unfortunately for the inseparables, Aramis's exclamation had drawn the attention of the majority of their regiment who, not understanding the reasoning behind their lieutenant drawing a blade at one of their own, leapt to Corneau's defence with their own exclamations of alarm, although thankfully none got close to the group because of an intervention from Favier and Issac, who upon realizing what was going on had moved to act as a barrier between the furious musketeers and the inseparables.

"ATHOS!" cried one of the men who tried to push his way forward, only to be forced back by Issac who quietly ordered the man to wait, only furthering the confusion felt by the rest of the regiment.

During this Athos kept his focus on Corneau, all but ignoring anything else, including the other musketeer's cry of his name. Instead, he tightened his grip on his blade as he took a single step forward, "Answer the question," he demanded, the tip of his blade now pressing lightly against the hollow of Corneau's throat, prompting more cries of outrage from their brethren.

With Corneau being handled by his brother Aramis had hastily shoved the now-empty vial into Porthos's hands before dropping to his knee's by D'Artagnan's side, ignoring the spike of pain that doing so caused him. With a growing sense of fear the marksman began examining his unconscious baby brother, nothing seemed out of place from when he had last checked over the boy but Aramis knew whatever Corneau had used simply hadn't had time to begin affecting the Gascon just yet.

"Athos!" bellowed an all too familiar voice and the authority behind it had the swordsman instinctively taking half a step back, allowing Treville, who was now watching them with a mixture of rage and guilt.

Knowing that he needed to speak up this time Athos straightened his posture and whilst keeping his focus entirely on the still smirking Corneau he spoke, "Captain… Meet our 'concerned friend'."

That one phrase was all the gathered musketeers needed to immediately silence their cries of outrage on Corneau's defence, horror, understanding and betrayal quickly growing on their faces as they came to the realization of what those words meant.

Anger quickly flooded the Captain's eyes as he took a step forward, it took all he had not to look down at D'Artagnan, knowing he had unknowingly left the vulnerable young man in the traitor's grasp, the man free to do whatever he wanted without causing suspicion.

"Corneau," breathed a voice which, for the first time since being outed, drew the traitor's attention.

With his smirk still firmly in place he nodded at the musketeer, "Henri…"

Disbelief and betrayal flooded the musketeer's face as he subconsciously took a step forward, "You? You did this?"

"I did," nodded Corneau unabashedly, ignoring the slight sting of pain he felt when the action caused the tip of Athos's blade, which was still resting against his throat, to ever so slightly pierce the skin, causing a tiny trail of blood to begin flowing down his neck.

While this was going on Gaspard had moved from Etienne's side, leaving the care of the injured man to Tristan as he instead rushed to D'Artagnan's side, settling down on the opposite side to Aramis who was looking increasingly concerned as he took in his brother's condition.

"What are we dealing with?" demanded Gaspard, knowing he would need to be firm with the worried man if they were to get any answers.

"I… I don't…"

Hearing his brother floundering as he tried to speak through the emotions he was now dealing with Porthos knelt down, passing the empty vial over to Gaspard, "We found this by the kid's side, we don't know what he forced him to take."

"I didn't force him to take anything," grinned Corneau, once again pulling everyone's attention back to him as he glanced over his shoulder to where Porthos and the others were now glaring daggers at him. With a nonchalance that didn't fit his current situation, the musketeer shrugged before turning back to Athos with a sick grin on his face.

"Honestly Athos I'm surprised at you," he mocked, his grin growing as he saw the effect his mocking words had on the overprotective swordsman. "Keeping secrets from your men," he spoke gesturing to the gathered musketeers, "That's one thing but keeping them from your own 'brothers'?… All I had to do was tell the pup that it was medicine and he drank it without question."

Guilt flooded Athos's system at that, he knew that had he warned D'Artagnan about a possible traitor in their ranks that the boy would never willingly take anything they had not authorized.

"Why?" he growled, a slightly broken tone to his voice that only served to grow Corneau's smile. "Why did you do it?"

"You'll have to be more specific," shrugged the traitor, a dark glint in his eyes, "I've done a lot."

Treville stepped up so he was now standing side by side with Athos, "Why betray your regiment?" he demanded, his expression cold and hard as he glared at the man who had caused his people such pain.

A glimmer of madness and anger flashed across Corneau's face at that as he took a step forward, apparently not caring that doing so caused Athos's blade to dig deeper into his flesh.

"You dare speak to me of betrayal!?" he bellowed, glaring daggers at Treville, who looked taken aback by the outburst, though he recovered quickly. "You betrayed me, first Captain," he spat, the disdain and venom he felt towards Treville surprising many. With an ever-darkening smirk, he added, "I'm simply returning the favour."