"You... You killed him?" Porthos asked, his eyebrows drawn into a frown. D'artagnan took a shaky breath in, glancing at the ground and trying to get his memories correct in his mind.
"It was an accident," D'artagnan began and Porthos leant back in his chair. "I was so angry, I couldn't control it. I remember telling myself to stop but... I just... I just kept beating him," D'artagnan said and dropped his head into his hands, tears welling up in his eyes.
Porthos moved from his chair to crouch in front of D'artagnan, a hand coming to rest on his brother's shoulder and give it a reassuring squeeze.
"What that man did was wrong, he would have been hung if he was caught. What's happened to Athos is not your fault, your actions back then and those mens actions now are completely different. You can't allow it to get to you because it will drive you into doing something you'll regret," Porthos said softly to him and D'artagnan dropped his hands, glancing up at Porthos with red eyes.
"I'm sorry," D'artagnan mumbled and Porthos shook his head.
"Let's get back to Athos, hopefully Aramis has been able to handle him while we were gone," Porthos said, drawing D'artagnan up to stand and giving him a hug of reassurance before moving out of the stables.
Athos was slowly but surely coming back around. He took in a steadying breath as his senses came back to him, the pain breaking through and causing a groan to escape his lips.
"Athos?" A voice suddenly asked from his left.
He focused on the hint of concern lanced within the tone, recognising it as Aramis. He felt relief flood over him from his brother's voice however he needed to process things, get events in his head sorted out right.
It took him time but he finally managed to open his eyes, blinking slightly to adjust to the brightness of his room.
"Hey, he's waking up," Aramis said again and Athos heard shuffling around him before his vision was swarmed with three concerned looking musketeers.
They all suddenly smiled down at him as he simply blinked up at them, trying to suppress the pain that was flaring through his body.
He needed wine and a lot of it.
"What..." Athos broke off, his voice rough. "What happened?" He asked after swallowing thickly, his throat dry and burning for some water. He glanced at Aramis, seeing the pain behind the soft smile on the marksman's face. Athos caught the glance Aramis gave to Porthos then to D'artagnan before his eyes landed back on Athos.
"You don't remember?" Aramis asked and Athos frowned slightly before waving for them to help him sit up.
It was a struggle but he eventually got up to sit, letting out a groan as he rested against the headboard.
"I remember... Tomás," Athos began, forcing himself to not crack from the haunting memories. "He was the leader," Athos said before closing his eyes briefly to get his head around things. "He wanted D'artagnan... Someone helped me out of that place, the next thing I know I'm... I'm in the garrison and it all goes black," Athos told them and he glanced over at D'artagnan who had his eyes fixed to the floor, face pale and looking drained.
"What happened?" Athos asked again, his voice stronger this time, and looked over at Aramis, knowing the marksman would tell him.
"You were slightly delusional, tried to shoot us. Treville stopped you of course, shot to the ribs... In the struggle to get you to stop, you accidentally shot me," Aramis told him. "No harm done though," he quickly added once he saw Athos' face drop and go paler than it already was.
"I shot you?" Athos asked after a few moments of silence. Aramis simply smiled at him, glad to have his brother back.
"It was quite a dramatic experience actually," Aramis replied with a smirk and Athos glanced down to the bed, a small frown on his face as he tried and failed to piece everything together.
"How are you feeling?" Porthos asked, coming to sit on the edge of the bed, facing him.
"I've been better," Athos said dryly as Aramis moved to get him a drink. "But I've also been worse," he added and Porthos smiled at him, relieved to see that his brother was on the rise again.
"Do you remember anything of what happened to you? Why Antonio wanted D'artagnan?" Aramis asked and Athos took the cup of water handed to him with shaking hands.
"No, all I found out was that they wanted D'artagnan... Said you're temper got you in trouble a few years back; made a lot of enemies apparently," Athos said, glancing to D'artagnan who was still looking at the ground.
The younger musketeer drew his eyes up from counting the floorboards to meet Athos' tired and pain filled eyes.
"We all knew his temper was no good," Aramis teased, trying to lightened the dull mood that hung over them all.
It sadly didn't work.
"I'm sorry," D'artagnan mumbled and Athos frowned at him.
"It's not your fault, D'artagnan," he replied and the Gascon shook his head.
"No it is, I was foolish and it nearly got you killed," he said and Porthos gripped his shoulder.
"Tell them," he said seriously and D'artagnan paused, taking a breath.
"It was a long time ago," he began but wondered off as he struggled to find the right words. He stood up and began to pace, knowing three sets of eyes were following him.
"D'artagnan," Athos warned, watching the boy carefully.
"I killed his brother," he finally said. "Out of self-defense, he was forcing himself onto my friend. I couldn't... I wouldn't allow him to get away with it," D'artagnan told them all and Aramis and Athos took a collective breath to digest what he had just said.
Thank you for the reviews, favourites and follows, it's great to know you guys are liking my story. Merry Christmas Eve to those who celebrate it, hope you have a great day tomorrow. I promise to get the next chapter up by the middle of next week... hopefully. Tell me what you thought of this chapter, thanks :)