D'Artagnan lowered his gun and sighed with relief as Porthos pushed his way into the campsite. Athos scrambled up and crossed to him, helping the exhausted man to lower the still unconscious Aramis to the ground.

Porthos sat back panting, d'Artagnan crouched next to him, 'you alright?'

Porthos managed a nod, 'The farmers are still in the wood...I had to stop several times to...evade them...don't think they know where we are.'

Athos was busy checking Aramis over. He looked at Porthos, with a slight smile.

'He's still breathing steadily...if we can get the wound cleaned and stitched I think he might make it…'

The two men looked at each other for a few seconds, unspoken apologies passing between them.

'We can't risk a fire,' said Porthos looking back the way he had come, 'they'll see it...but you two need to get warmed up...we could all do with getting warmed up.'

D'Artagnan stood and hobbled to the edge of their campsite and peered into the woods.

'I can't see any sign of them,' he turned back to the others, 'should we move...can we move him?'

A crack from the other side of the clearing made them all look up, d'Artagnan and Athos drew their weapons.

'Please, monsieurs…'

An old man took a step forward, his arms out to the sides to show he was unarmed. D'Artagnan lowered his weapon slowly, Athos took a couple of steps forward.

'I can help you...you clearly need help,' the man said with a smile as he took a few more steps forward.

Athos was still aiming his gun vaguely in the man's direction.

'Who are you?'

The old man smiled again, 'I am not with the others. I am a farmer, but I am not part of that...mob.'

Athos lowered his gun but remained defensively stood shielding the others.

'My farm is not far from here, I have a cart, your injured friend there is in no state to ride...and I doubt you really want to carry him any further?'

Porthos looked confused.

'I saw you get taken earlier...I watched your return...I feel ashamed that my fellow farmers have treated you like this...you're only doing your job.'

D'Artagnan stepped forward, 'where is your cart?'

'I'll take you…'

D'Artagnan took a few steps towards their horses before Porthos stopped him.

'As you're already wearing his jacket, perhaps you might like to borrow 'is boots as well?'

D'Artagnan smiled as he watched Porthos pulling Aramis' boots off the still man.

'He ain't using them at the moment.'

Athos had crossed to the farmer and was talking to him quietly. Porthos handed the boots to d'Artagnan who sat on the ground to pull them on.

'Do you think he'll be alright?' he said looking at the pale man lying next to Porthos.

Porthos shook his head, 'I don't know.'

D'Artagnan squeezed Porthos shoulder, before standing up again. He crossed to the horses and untied his and Aramis' handing the reins to the farmer.

'I'll be as quick as I can,' he said as he urged his horse forward to follow the farmer.

MMMM

Athos moved to the edge of the camp and watched through the trees. The darkness almost complete, the full moon giving them enough light to guide their movements.

'I am sorry I asked you to leave him…'

'I know...and I didn't like disobeying you...I don't envy you the choices you 'ave to make sometimes.'

Athos huffed, 'I do not envy them myself at times.'

Athos turned to look at his two friends before speaking again, 'there will be no repercussions…'

Porthos nodded before returning his attention back to his friend as he groaned.

'Aramis?'

Athos knelt beside them watching as Aramis slowly opened his eyes, looking at them both.

'Are we still in the marsh?'

Porthos smiled, 'no...back at the camp.'

Aramis frowned, 'how…?'

'You have Porthos to thank for that...I was set to leave you behind,' said Athos rising and crossing to the horses to retrieve a water skin.

'Athos, don't blame yourself for that, you 'ad to,' admonished Porthos as he pulled Aramis up to sit, leaning the injured man against his chest.

Athos crouched in front of them both, he helped Aramis to drink a little water before speaking again.

'I should have been able to come up with another solution...rather than just abandoning him.'

'He is right here,' said Aramis quietly, reaching up to grasp Athos wrist, 'and you know it would have been the right thing to do. I was slowing you all down...I still don't know how you got me here.'

'Porthos carried you. D'Artagnan and I were forced to leave you.'

Aramis smiled, 'd'Artagnan's little adventure in the bog, you were both soaked.'

Athos managed a small smile.

MMMM

Aramis did not stay awake for long, Porthos remained where he was cradling his sleeping friend. Athos returned to watching out for the rebellious farmers.

The cart, driven by d'Artagnan, rumbled into view on the other side of the clearing.

'Yves is sorting out some food for us all,' he said as he climbed down from the small cart.

He helped Porthos to lift Aramis and carry him across to the cart. Porthos clambered onto the back of the cart with his friend while Athos mounted his horse and led Porthos'.

'It's only a small house, but he says we are welcome to stay as long as is necessary.'

The short journey passed without incident. The farmer was waiting for them when they arrived. He directed them to lay Aramis on his bed.

'Are you sure monsieur?' asked Athos.

'His need is greater than mine at the moment...and you need to change out of your wet clothes, both of you,' Yves said looking between Athos and d'Artagnan.

The old man nodded towards a small pile of clothing neatly arranged on a table, 'They are not much, but they will do whilst you wait for your own clothes to dry.'

The two soaked men quickly stripped off and changed into the old clothes. Porthos chuckled when they had finished.

'You both look quite the part now.'

As they had changed Porthos had stripped Aramis and with the farmers help cleaned the stab wound to his friend's leg.

'Are any of you field medics?' asked the farmer.

When Porthos nodded towards Aramis the farmer smiled.

'You really have not had any luck, have you? Fortunately, I am good with a needle myself, do you think your friend would mind?'

'He would not,' said Athos as he moved to the side of the bed.

The farmer busied himself preparing what he would need, as he did so he continued to talk to them, Porthos realised the man was keeping them distracted on purpose. Yves did not want them to dwell on what had happened.

'I used to have a farm hand, a young lad called Pierre. He managed to have an altercation with Phillip - the goat. The beast kicked him, caught him across the side. Nasty wound it was. I had to sew the lad up. Poor boy howled in pain, but bless him, he kept still for me. Broke my heart when I couldn't afford to keep him on anymore. I often wonder what happened to him.'

'He's a Musketeer,' said d'Artagnan after a moments surprised thought.

Porthos and Athos looked at him.

'Pierre's last name is Chevrier isn't it?' asked d'Artagnan as the others realised who their friend meant.

Yves nodded, 'really, a Musketeer?'

'Yes, he showed me the scar not long after he joined us, said the goat, Phillip, was a demonic creature.'

'That goat is still a demonic creature. I can't bring myself to sell him or slaughter him, so he just struts around like he owns the place. Although he's an old boy now.'

They lapsed into silence for a few minutes as Yves stitched the wound to Aramis' leg.

'Perhaps you would like to help me with the food young man, you can tell me how Pierre is getting on?' suggested Yves after he had dressed the wound.

D'Artagnan left the room with Yves. Porthos could hear them talking in the other room, the farmer laughing occasionally.

A shout from outside drew their attention.

MMMM

'Yves…' came a voice from outside.

Athos crossed to the window and peered out, he quickly ducked down indicating for Porthos to do the same.

'It's the farmers,' he whispered.

D'Artagnan appeared in the doorway, crouching down, looking out toward the main room. He glanced back to Athos.

'He's gone out to talk to them. He said to keep quiet, he'll get rid of them.'

The three men remained silently listening as the conversation between the farmers and Yves continued.

'Have you seen them?'

'No one has been here...now get off my farm, you know you're not welcome here.'

'You should be joining us, not turning us away,' one of the farmers called back to Yves.

'I told you before, I understand why you are protesting, but I don't agree with your methods.'

There was a pause before the farmer replied, 'well if you see any strangers...what was that?'

Athos looked around at Porthos who was struggling to keep a suddenly conscious Aramis quiet.

The marksman had come around as they listened to the conversation outside. Clearly confused and in pain he had groaned. Porthos had been given no choice but to clamp his hand over his friend's mouth to keep him from making any noise. Now the panicked, confused man, was struggling against Porthos, trying to prise the hand away from his face.

'I heard something…'

'I didn't hear anything,' replied Yves slightly louder.

D'Artagnan had joined Porthos in his attempt to get Aramis to understand that he was not being attacked. Aramis continued to struggle against them.

Athos looked back out of the window before turning back to them and whispering, 'hide...one of them is coming this way.'

Porthos' eyes widened for a second before he grabbed Aramis and bodily hauled him off the bed and out of sight onto the floor. He wrapped his arms and legs around the still struggling man. D'Artagnan dropped to the floor and slid under the bed. Athos pressed himself against the wall under the window.

Athos could still hear Aramis' faint protests, he hoped their friend would not inadvertently give them away.

'I can't see anyone,' said the man who had walked over to the house.

Yves said firmly, 'like I said, there is no one here, now get off my farm.'

They heard a few angry bleats and the sound of wood being knocked and cracked.

'Is that creature diseased?'

'That creature is annoyed that you are still on my land, clear off.'

'Get it away from me,' shouted one of the farmers as the goat broke free of his pen.

Athos took a chance and glanced back out of the window. Phillip had knocked down the inadequate fencing and charged at the farmers. One of the men was pressed against the trunk of a tree. The goat stared at him for a few seconds before bowing his head and charging full pelt at the man. Hitting him, hard, in the groin. The man howled in pain as Phillip turned and sauntered back to Yves apparently satisfied he had shown the intruders who was in charge.

Another of the farmers pulled the injured man up as they started to move off. The injured man was virtually being carried by two of the others.

Yves remained outside until the last of the farmers had disappeared from sight. Athos saw him breathe a sigh of relief before returning to the house. He shut the door and entered the bedroom.

'They've gone, I think Phillip scared them off.'

MMMM

Athos and d'Artagnan quickly moved to help Porthos who was still hanging onto a now weakly protesting Aramis. Athos put himself in Aramis eyeline.

'Calm down...the farmers were outside, we needed you to be quiet.'

Porthos slowly released his grip on his friend who was breathing hard. They helped to get him back onto the bed. Aramis looked at Porthos.

'Sorry...I...when you grabbed me…'

'Hey, don't worry about it,' said Porthos with a smile.

D'Artagnan helped Porthos to get Aramis comfortable whilst Athos described what he had seen from the window.

'Do you think they'll come back again?' asked d'Artagnan as he handed Aramis a bowl of soup that Yves had brought through to them.

Porthos looked towards the window for a few moments before replying.

'When I was hiding from them I overheard them speaking…' he said, 'they didn't seem too invested in finding us,' he paused.

'What?' asked d'Artagnan.

A small smile played across Porthos' lips, 'the farmer who was attacked by the goat...I recognised his voice, 'e was the one that was trying to take you away. I doubt he's gonna be all that interested for a bit from the sounds of things.'

D'Artagnan looked away for a second, 'good,' he said quietly before looking at Aramis, 'I'm sorry you were hurt because of me.'

Aramis smiled as he replied, 'any of us would have done the same thing.'

It was Porthos' turn to look away. Both Aramis and d'Artagnan noticed.

'And it's still not your fault I got hurt either,' said Aramis.

'If I hadn't made a nuisance of myself you might not have been…'

D'Artagnan thought for a moment, 'you do realise, Porthos, that the only reason I was knocked out was because I made a nuisance of myself as well. I fought back as well when they surrounded us.'

'He's right,' said Aramis glancing across at the big musketeer who seemed a little placated.

MMMM

Athos watched Porthos and d'Artagnan repairing the fencing around Phillip's pen for a few minutes before he turned to Aramis who was watching him.

'Don't apologise again Athos,' said Aramis, 'you had to think of the bigger picture.'

'I know, but it does not make it any easier. I was prepared to leave you to die.'

'Yes. And it would have been the correct thing to do. You and d'Artagnan needed to keep moving to keep warm. I'm just lucky we have the stubborn one to look out for me.'

Athos managed a smirk, 'he was adamant he was not going to leave you. He told me he would even ignore me if I ordered him to...I am not much of a leader if I cannot order my men around.'

Aramis smiled, 'but you both made the right decisions. And I am grateful. If he had listened to you I would have died and if you had stayed with him, and me, we all might have died.'

'I would like to go a week without making a single decision,' said Athos.

'Unfortunately,' replied Aramis, 'I doubt that will ever happen.'

The End.

Authors note: thanks for all the reviews.

Inspiration struck and I am already writing another, with a second one in the planning stages.