Authors note: The chemistry is dodgy, (I'm dead proud of my F in Chemistry GCSE) I did some research and think the reactions would be as I have described… but it's probably not very accurate. And the medicine is just as speculative/guessed as well.

For those that need to know – it's d'Artagnan whump. They are all in it with added Treville and Constance.

'This is not the first time he has been late,' said Athos as he watched the gate.

'Doubt it'll be the last either,' remarked Porthos with a chuckle.

'Young love,' smiled Aramis, 'may she forever get her prisoners in trouble…'

All three Musketeers snapped to attention along with the other men as their Captain descended the steps. They listened for their assignments and tried not to react when it became obvious the Captain had spotted that they were missing their fourth. As the men were dismissed Treville glared at the three of them. The glare enough to have them remain where they were.

'We do not know where he is,' said Athos before the Captain could ask the question.

Treville looked at Aramis, his penetrating stare enough to have him confess what he knew.

'He stayed the night at the Palace.'

Porthos thumped him, Athos sighed, but the Captain looked pensive.

'He's stayed with Constance before and always been here on time. I think she makes sure of that, the risks to them both, if they are caught together, are too great.'

'Captain,' called Pierre from the gate, the young Musketeer was standing with a man dressed in the livery of the Palace.

Treville beckoned the man over. The messenger handed over the folded and sealed letter he was carrying.

'Are you expecting a reply?' asked Treville.

The man shook his head before saying, 'the Queen is expecting you to meet her as soon as possible. She said the note will explain.'

Treville nodded and indicated that the messenger could leave. Athos glanced at Aramis and Porthos, both of his brothers looked as concerned as he felt.

As Treville read the note from the Queen they watched his expression turn to one of concern.

'We need to go to the Palace immediately,' he said. 'D'Artagnan and Constance have been abducted.'

MMMM

Earlier…

Constance could not help a childish giggle when d'Artagnan suddenly stepped to the side, slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. He kissed her passionately, his hand sliding up her back and mussing her hair.

She pushed away from him and gave him her best mock annoyed look. He laughed and took her hand. They continued to quietly walk along the servant's corridor. They had only seen a couple of the youngest maids, hastening to clean the hearths in the main reception rooms before the Royal family and nobles rose from their beds. A sleepy stable boy had wandered passed at one point clutching a hunk of bread as he made his way back to the stables after a brief visit to the kitchens.

It was early, the daylight was enough to see by, but candles were still being used in the darker corners of the Palace. They reached the servant's entrance. D'Artagnan pushed the door open, Constance pulled the delicate shawl covering her bare arsm a little closer around her shoulders, she knew it would be warm enough not to need the clothing later in the day but the chill in the air at that moment made her glad she had grabbed it off the bed as they left her room.

'Will you be back here, after muster,' Constance asked as they made their way towards the gates.

D'Artagnan shook his head, 'not today, there are a couple of new cadets that need help with their riding – '

'So, you get to go out riding all day?'

D'Artagnan chuckled, 'much as I enjoy riding, I'll also be teaching – '

'You are very important now,' smiled Constance.

'I know. Not sure what they would do without me…'

Constance wondered what she would do without him. He had literally fallen into her life and not really gone away. His affection for her was genuine and she returned it. There was no love between her and her husband, their marriage had been a convenience and although Bonacieux was nothing but kind to her she did not love him.

They had reached the gate, one of the ones used by the servants when they needed to visit the city for supplies or, on occasion, by the King and Queen if they wanted to slip out of the Palace unnoticed. It was the only gate that was not routinely guarded, good sightlines to the next, permanently watched, gate meant there was no need.

D'Artagnan pulled the metal gate towards him, the well-oiled hinges did not betray them.

'When will I see you again?' asked Constance.

D'Artagnan still had hold of her hand, he bowed slightly pulling her hand towards him, he kissed her fingers, all the while looking up at her with a grin.

'Tonight?' he suggested.

'One day we'll get caught,' Constance said pragmatically.

'But not tonight,' replied d'Artagnan as he finally let her hand go.

The road that ran past the gate was wide, a buffer between the Palace grounds and the rest of the city. A cart had turned into the road as Constance was talking to her lover. She had not paid it any attention; the road was used frequently by traders moving about the city. Constance wanted to make the most of the last few moments with d'Artagnan. As the cart neared them it slowed down, stopping opposite them.

D'Artagnan turned towards the cart as the driver leaned forward fiddling with something at his feet. Constance knew something was wrong, but she was too slow to react. The men were on them before either of them could do anything. D'Artagnan had tried to reach for his gun but been struck by something, sending him crashing to his knees. Constance took a step towards him only to be grabbed from behind. Strong arms encircled her waist, trapping her arms at her sides. Her natural reaction was to struggle against the man that had grabbed her, but she could not free herself. She went to scream but found a big hand over her face smothering the scream.

Her struggles meant she was not really aware of what was happening to d'Artagnan, but she did hear him cry out once. She heard another man shout at them, followed by what she thought was someone being kicked, a cry of pain followed.

The man that was smothering her face grabbed her painfully around the jaw and forced her to look at him.

'You scream, he dies,' he said.

The man, his face covered with a black scarf, had piercing green eyes. She stared at him for a few seconds before he stepped slightly to the side so that she could see what was happening.

D'Artagnan was lying face down on the cobbles, he was struggling weakly as his arms were bound tightly behind him, a cloth had been pushed into his mouth gagging him. Her lover's doublet was twisted, and mud streaked where he had fought back, his weapons were being pulled from his belt. Constance could see that d'Artagnan was trying to push himself back up to his knees but one of the men holding him had a knee across his back keeping him where he was as the other man worked to restrain him.

All the attacking men were wearing dark clothes, all their faces were covered with scarves. She saw Jacque, the Queen's private secretary, lying a few yards away. The man, who she knew was loyal to the Queen, was covered in dirt where he had been beaten. He was watching what was happening but not trying to get back up, Constance hoped he had not been hurt too badly. Hoped the attackers would leave him alone and not assault him further.

D'Artagnan was pulled up by the two men that had tied his arms, he tried to pull free of the men holding him, but their grip was firm, and he was clearly disorientated from his beating. Constance watched as her lover was forced towards the cart and pushed up onto it, he was made to lie down. Constance could hear him complaining through the gag before he was punched by the man holding him down. D'Artagnan did not make any more noise. Constance was walked to the cart and pushed against the back of it, the men holding her pulled her arms behind her and wrapped a rough rope around them. She was bound tightly before being manhandled up beside her lover. She looked at d'Artagnan with concern, he was not unconscious but obviously disorientated from the last blow he received.

The whole attack had lasted a couple of minutes. As the cart moved away, Constance was forced to lie beside d'Artagnan, one of the men kept a restraining hand on her shoulder, his calloused fingers roughly pinning her down.

She had no idea what the men wanted or what was in store for them both.

MMMM