Morning My Lovelies

It's another chapter without our muskys I'm afraid but don't worry they'll be back in the next one, promise!

Notes On Reviews:

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha very true, poor Treville's going to need a LONG vacation once this is all over lol :D Oh, the plans I have for how this ends :D I'm really hoping you all like where I end up taking this whole thing :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - His actions will definitely have consequences, quite long reaching ones if I stick to the ideas I have planned :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - We'll be checking in with our lovely pup (and the other muskys) very soon, promise :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysAramisRios: Thanks for the review - Haha sounds about right :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Seventy-Four: Consequences

Treville was ashamed to say it had taken him longer than it likely should have to notice that not only were Favier and Issac gone from the camp but so was Corneau. Cursing not so quietly under his breath as he fought the urge to berate the man who had brought Corneau's disappearance to his notice for not keeping better watch on the prisoners he was tasked with guarding.

Instead Treville forced that urge, along with the sickening feeling of dread brewing in his gut down and turned to Henri, who had taken over as his lieutenant given how Athos was not going to be separated from D'Artagnan's side any time soon and Etienne was unconscious in critical condition, instructing the man through gritted teeth to start having the men prepare to make the rest of the journey to the Capital in the morning, the musketeer Captain wanting nothing more than to get his men back behind the safety of the garrison walls as soon as possible, before turning on his heels and heading over to where the prisoners had been sequestered in hopes of gaining some insight on what had happened there.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to come here," scoffed a voice and Treville turned to face the now smirking form of Ethan, the traitorous red guard looking very pleased with the situation even as he sat still heavily restrained. "Your men have been very naughty Treville," he mocked, taking great pleasure in the look that passed across the Captain's face.

Before Treville could say anything though Ethan nodded towards the woods behind them, "I'd hurry if I were you… Before your men do something even you can't save them from."

Treville didn't bother to waste another moment with the red guard, choosing instead to sprint into the woods, following the quickly obvious trail whilst praying he wasn't about to walk into the scene he feared he would, Issac's dark promise echoing around his head as he feet pounded the ground.

Deeper in the woods Favier slowly eased himself off of the ground with a grunt of pain, his cracked ribs protesting the tackle he had attempted and the manoeuvre had left him more than a little winded.

"Easy Fav," soothed Issac as he appeared in his brother's eye-line, the bloodstained musketeer gently helping his injured brother to sit up and rest against a nearby tree, watching as Favier's arm instinctively moved to wrap around his torso while his head shot towards Corneau sat, his heart sinking mere moments later when he spotted the dagger sticking out of his no longer rising chest.

"Is…"

"Don't Favier," snapped Issac, his eyes narrowing into a quick glare before he let out a soft sigh, "You and she may never forgive me but both she and I can rest now that her murder has faced justice and can no longer harm anyone else."

Favier didn't know what to say to this, especially when he heard the pain in his brother's voice. He knew the man had not slept a full night since Ines's death but what his brother had done…

"What have you done…" breathed a voice, shattering the silence which had settled between the pair, startling the two men and forcing them to their feet the moment they saw just who the voice belonged to.

When neither man replied the source of the voice stepped forward, "I won't ask again… What have you done?"

With zero guilt or shame on his face Issac took a step forward, "What needed to be done Captain," he stated firmly, not even feeling a smidgen of guilt when he saw the flicker of emotion pass his Captain's now emotionless face. "I did promise you that Corneau would not live to see Paris."

"You had no right to play judge, jury and executioner Issac," snapped Treville as he assessed the scene before him, his mind whirling with ideas on how he could protect his musketeer's rash and grief-driven actions.

"I had the only right!" shouted Issac, anger burning brightly in his eyes as he fought to keep it contained. "Corneau had my sister butchered, framed my friend for her death and attacked my brother! I had more than enough cause to see him pay for his crimes!"

"What do we do now?" interrupted Favier when he saw the Captain about to rebuke his brother's statement. Favier's voice was pained and it caused both men to look over to him in concern as he leaned heavily against the tree he had previously been resting against as his arm continued to stay wrapped around his torso.

Treville let out a long sigh, pushing aside his anger as he focused on the task at hand. "You," he ordered turning to Issac, who merely watched him with a raised eyebrow, "Are going to clean up, I wont have you returning to the camp covered in blood… the men have seen enough of that tonight."

A concerned look passed, briefly across Issac's face but he quickly hid it as he nodded once. Logically he knew his Captain had more than enough reason to be furious with him and that he would need to do whatever he could to get back into the man's good graces for some time now.

"You," continued Treville as he turned to Favier, concern glimmering in his eyes, "Are coming back to the camp with me. I don't know what you've done but I can tell Gaspard needs to look you over."

Favier looked ready to protest, not wanting to leave Issac's side but neither other man was willing to listen and when that quickly became clear he let out a reluctant sigh and nodded.

"As for him," sighed Treville as he looked over to the now-dead Corneau, "I'll send some men to bury him. There's no point bringing him back with us now and I refuse to give him the honour of being buried alongside our regiment's fallen... With luck the King not question the matter further when he learns of his death."

For the first time since his arrival then Issac saw the honest concern for him in his Captain's eyes and allowed his anger to fade as he voice became flooded with the respect he held for the man in front of him.

"I won't ask, nor expect you to lie for, or protect me Captain," he stated firmly, looking the man dead in the eye to allow him to see the truth in his words. "Should the King wish to punish me for what I did I'll accept whatever punishment he may see fit… I only ask that you try and spare Favier from his wrath as he had no idea what I planned to do and did everything in his power to stop me when he figured it out."

"Is…" breathed Favier, clear concern across his features as he thought of all the ways the King could hurt and punish his brother for taking the law into his own hands and killing Corneau.

Smiling Issac shook his head, "I've always known what the consequences of my decision could be Favier. Even so, there is nothing the King could do or order that would make me regret what I did here today." Turning to Treville who was once again watching with an emotionless mask he added, "Favier had nothing to do with what I did Captain, I swear."

Treville was silent for a few moment before he nodded. He had noticed the distinct lack of blood on Favier's clothing so had already assumed the man hadn't been as involved, if involved at all, in the whole plot as Issac had been and he wasn't about to see him punished for it if he could help it.

In truth, he was hoping the King's general lack of care for what happened with anything not directly impacting him would work in their favour and he would just accept that the traitor was dead and wouldn't push for more information on how said death occurred.

"Get cleaned up," he ordered gently whilst nodding to the bloodstained Issac before gesturing for Favier to follow him as he turned to walk back into camp.