Authors note: I know very little about horses and horse riding so please accept any inaccuracies in this chapter as poetic licence – thanks.

Chapter Seven

Feeling refreshed after their night in the tavern and then a full night's sleep whilst camping Athos was pleased to finally reach the village. They had watched the zealots leave from their room at the tavern. For a moment, they thought the zealots were going to travel in a different direction to the village but they had turned and headed west as expected. Athos had rolled his eyes when d'Artagnan had let out an audible sigh of relief.

'We still have two days of travel to do,' he had said to the musketeer, 'I want to be on the road in half an hour.'

D'Artagnan had replied, 'half an hour is quite the luxury after the few days we have had.'

Athos could not have agreed more. They were now at The Hare, a small tavern in the centre of the village. Unlike the town where they had stayed the night with the zealots, they would draw attention here. None the less Athos pushed the door open and entered the inn.

'Would you be Monsieur Athos?' asked the man at the bar.

Athos was taken aback, 'yes.'

'Monsieur Aramis has left you a message,' he handed over a piece of folded paper, then continued, 'there is a room prepared for you and your friend.'

'Thank you,' said d'Artagnan as Athos read the note from Aramis.

Once he had finished he handed the note to d'Artagnan to read.

'It seems our friend predicted our arrival. He says in his note that you have some good wines here? Whilst we await his return perhaps you could supply us with some. And a hot meal would be appreciated.'

'Of course, sirs, if you would take a seat I will have the wine brought over.'

As they settled themselves down to eat d'Artagnan said, 'I certainly did not expect to find Aramis here. I have to say I'm annoyed that Bardet didn't talk sooner, it would have saved us some sleepless nights…not to mention the red guard their lives,' he finished ruefully.

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A couple of hours earlier…

After hastily writing his message for the others and leaving it with Remy, Aramis took the reins of his horse from the stable boy and mounted up. He pushed the horse into a canter and left the village by the road the tavern keeper had directed him to.

Once he was out of the village he started to encourage the mare into a gallop but the horse refused. She began to slow down to a trot and finally a walk. The horse became skittish and uneasy, sidestepping and finally coming to a stubborn halt. Aramis tried to urge the creature on but she would not be moved.

Aramis dismounted and started checking the horse over for any injury she may have picked up on their short journey. There were no obvious injuries, he took the reins and walked the mare forward a few paces, she was still skittish. Aramis could not understand what the problem was.

He started to feel around the reins and tack, finally running his hand around the saddle. He fingers caught on something; a stone. He pulled it out and felt again, there were several small stones under the saddle. He had to loosen the saddle in order to find all the objects. This was clearly what was upsetting the horse.

A crunch on the gravel road behind him made him turn, in time to see a fist aimed squarely at his head. The punch was hard, not enough to knock him out but enough to send him reeling back into the horse, which, not taking kindly to being knocked about trotting off up the road. With nothing to lean on Aramis fell to the ground as his world continued to spin.

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The day before…

'I am pleased with your plan Ruiz,' said Pottier.

'Thank you, my Lord,' replied Ruiz with a small reverent bow, 'do you agree that I must be sure I am to kill the right man. I must see Aramis for myself before I kill him?'

'Yes, my son, it will be your redemption for you mistake, you should have killed them both when you had the chance, they are unbelievers. They fight for a King who does not revere the relics as we do.'

'I know that now, my Lord, I was weak.'

'Go and prepare yourself, it is no easy task to take a man's life, even when the cause is just.'

Ruiz left Pottier and returned to the chapel. He knelt in prayer. Praying for the soul of Aramis, who was soon to die and for that of the other musketeer, who should not have been left to die of his injuries. Ruiz wanted to make amends, he would ensure that Aramis' death was clean and quick.

MMMM

Porthos saw two men ahead, they were crouched over a third man lying on the road binding his arms behind his back, his legs were also bond. Porthos recognised Aramis instantly despite the gag and blindfold covering most of his face.

He urged his horse forward quickly closing the gap. Aramis was fighting against the ropes around his wrist and struggling to move away. He was shouting through the gag but what he was trying to communicate Porthos could not discern. As Porthos approached the two men rose, one of them kicked Aramis hard before he stepped around the bound man to face the approaching threat.

The men were too close to his helpless friend for Porthos to risk attacking them on horseback. He quickly dismounted and drew his gun firing at the closest of the two men. His aim was good, a hit to the chest, the man went down with little complaint. The second man was already advancing on Porthos, sword drawn.

Porthos easily parried the first swipe, and pushed forward to gain an advantage. He had already dropped his spent weapon and drawn his main gauche in order to deflect the enemies attempts to run him through. Porthos managed to nick the man's arm drawing blood and a small cry of pain. The man did not let the injury slow him for long, he lunged forward again, Porthos side stepped bringing his sword down in a fast strike across the man's chest. This time the man had been ready he pulled back just in time and used the momentum to force Porthos to take a step forward unbalancing the musketeer slightly.

Quickly regaining his footing Porthos had to employ his main gauche to fend off an attempt to slice his neck. This brought the man in close to Porthos who used the opportunity to smack him with the hilt of his sword. The man fell back a few steps, it was more than Porthos needed to step forward and push his sword deep into the man's chest. The enemy tried one last time to hurt Porthos raising his arm weakly, but the sword he held was already limply dangling from his hand. It clattered to the floor, followed by the now dead swordsman.

Porthos wasted no time in turning back towards his friend, who was still struggling against the ropes which were binding him.

MMMM

D'Artagnan was returning to the main room of the tavern, as he passed the kitchen he heard a woman talking to Remy. Their conversation was heated.

'What have you done?'

'I didn't know he was lying to me. You said that stranger wanted to know about anyone who was suspicious in the area. I asked Tom, and he said about the people up at the farm house.'

'And now you're telling me that there's no one up there anymore?'

'Yes, it was only when I was speaking to Marie that I found out the place is ruined and nobody is there. And now Tom has disappeared…Remy, what is it?'

'I told Monsieur Aramis about the farm house, he went up there today…he will be annoyed when he finds that no one is there. I don't want to lose their business…why would Tom lie?'

D'Artagnan coughed to let the couple know he was there, 'excuse me, but I couldn't help overhearing, are you saying that my friend went out this morning based on false information…given to you by the stable boy, who is now missing?'

Remy nodded, he and his wife looked worried. D'Artagnan tried to give them a reassuring smile but he was not sure he could. The turn of events was suspicious.

Athos looked up as d'Artagnan approached, 'we might need to go and check on Aramis.'

MMMM

Aramis was clearly panicking, he was pulling at the ropes around his wrists and breathing heavily. As Porthos approached, Aramis tried to move away shouting something unintelligible through the gag.

Porthos grabbed Aramis shoulders saying firmly, 'Aramis, calm down, it's me.'

Aramis continued to struggle making it difficult for Porthos to pull the blindfold off his friend. When he did manage to, he was met with wild unfocused eyes. Aramis had the same terrified look as he had when he had been under the influence of the drug that Briand had given him. Athos had described how the musketeer had looked confused and scared.

It took several goes to pull the gag from Aramis' mouth. Aramis gasped in air and continued to try to pull away from Porthos. Now free of the gag Porthos could understand what Aramis was saying.

'Unchain me, please, I have to help him.'

Porthos tried to keep his voice steady, 'Aramis, look at me, you are not chained up, it's rope. Let me untie it. Let me help you.'

'I need to help him, I'm not interested in you, I need to help Porthos.'

'Aramis. I am Porthos!'

Porthos realised Aramis was not hearing him, he was stuck in some sort of waking nightmare, remembering when he had been chained up. His friend was still struggling against the ropes, Porthos was not sure if untying him whilst he was in this state was such a good idea.

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