Trying to beat my deadlines here for season 2 before my focused mind gets distracted by new plot line potentials! So here's another fast update! Hope you like it!
The hours seemed to drag by for Athos as he followed his woman obediently from one store to another.
Aramis would have been perfect for this task, not I Athos speculated, he's the one obsessed with women, clothing and aromas! Athos sighed in defeat, his only comfort being to check for the time.
Eventually, to Margaret's great dismay, the duty to escort her around town finally finished and Athos was free to return back to the garrison.
"Wait!" Margaret screeched, pulling on Athos' poncho for the hundredth time that day and forcing his tired body to comply.
His simmering pink eyes locked onto hers, the smallest revelations of fear and hatred peeking through for the first time that day.
"I have a present for you!" she exclaimed with glee, dragging him by the arm to her awaiting carriage, leaning inside to pull out a relatively small, satin brown box with an ugly green ribbon on it.
"Go on, take it" she demanded, frowning at his hesitancy to take it from her outstretched arms.
Slowly but surely, he responded, gripping the small box and feeling the slight weight inside.
"Now don't you open that until you return home, or else I'll have to purchase a new gift so you may be surprised" she warned, Athos nodding quickly in understanding.
No way in hell would he open this box if it meant she would not return.
"Thank you, Madame, you are most kind. Now if you'll excuse me, I must retire for the evening" Athos ground out and turned on his heel, preventing his from replying or wasting any more of his time.
He reached the garrison in minutes flat, more than eager to step inside its safe, impenetrable walls, free from mad woman of abusive power and seductive intentions.
At last! He was free! Athos almost cried in glee, instead, turning his efforts towards the bar. He was going to get well and truly drunk now, damn the hangover, he needed this.
Tossing the brown box idly on a free table, Athos ventured to the bar and purchased two bottles of wine before shuffling back to his seat and downing half of one before he remotely considered doing anything else.
"Athos? Is that you brother" a familiar young voice called from behind him, D'artagnan leading numerous sets of footsteps over to Athos' table, signalling the return of his brothers.
At first glance it was easy to see each man had endured a long day of heavy tasks, appearing tired and slightly groggy from their celebrations the night before causing them to nurse their lingering headaches with fingers to temples, an unhappy scowl turning to surprise as they fell heavily into their seats to stare in shock at Athos.
"Ah! It is you! My god man, I thought a jester had come to entertain us!" Aramis confided, surprise and glee lighting up his features as they all took a seat at the table.
"And I thought fancy pants over here was over doing the whole fashion thing" Porthos chuckled, eyeing Aramis offensive stance before turning back to take in Athos' style with wide eyes.
Athos glared at them each in turn, he felt proud for having survived this day, and it was a feat to be celebrated, not mocked. He refused to let them ruin the moment and so he ignored it when he felt D'artagnan picking curiously at the white cream covering his arm.
Frowning at Athos who refused to enlighten them or at least take the bait, Aramis drew his attention to the brown box on the table, lifting it to feel its weight before shaking it gently.
A small but noticeable squeal suddenly left the box at this moment, Aramis hastily dropping it back to the table in both fear and surprise, all eyes now drawn to the wrapped gift.
"Um…Athos…I don't mean to pry, brother, but… what's in the box?" D'artagnan questioned shakily, leaning away from the table slightly.
Athos narrowed his eyes at the box in question. "I don't know…" he answered honestly as he bravely reached out for the box and ever so slowly pulled at the ugly green bow that sealed it.
Porthos grasped his arm sudden, preventing him from acting further, "You sure you should be openin' it then?" he asked seriously, eyes darting from the box to Athos who continued to keep his eyes trained on it at all times.
"Well we can't exactly leave it here, now that we know it poses more of a live threat, now can we?" Athos stated, continuing to pull slowly.
The tense seconds crawled by as the brothers imagination ran away with them, drowning out the only fact they'd had thus far -of the strange noise- to replace it with lethal booby traps such as bombs, fire crackers, poisonous species and anything else they could think of that could fit into the small space.
Athos gently pried the lid off the box and four heads met in the centre of the table above the box, peering down and inside, one hand braced on the table, the other on the hilt of their swords.
Ready for anything.
Intrigued? Any idea's to what's in the box? Let me know with a review! Until next time!