Chapter Four - 'No, stop!'

Porthos (with Aramis)

'No, stop!'

The man looked up; Aramis rushed forward.

'Get away from him,' he said as he pushed the man back.

'I was just helping,' replied the bewildered man.

'You were about to make it worse,' snapped Aramis, without looking up.

Aramis had his attention firmly on Porthos who was watching the exchange between his friend and the stall holder.

'Aramis,' said Porthos quietly, 'he didn't mean...any harm.'

Aramis looked at him for a few seconds before realising what Porthos meant. The stall holder had been about to move Porthos, had been about to straighten his arm which was clearly dislocated at the shoulder. But the stall holder would not have known that. Porthos was right, the man was only trying to help.

'Sorry,' said Aramis to the man, 'I just didn't want you to hurt him any more than he already is.'

The stall holder who had been looking quite annoyed, smiled, 'that's alright,' he said, 'it's a good job you were nearby then. Perhaps I could still help, without making it worse?'

Aramis looked at the man for a few seconds before returning the smile.

'Thank you, yes.'

Between them they pulled the injured man to his feet, Porthos cradled his dislocated arm across himself.

'How did you manage this anyway?' asked Aramis.

The stall holder replied before Porthos could speak, 'he was helping me. A couple of men stole from my stall-'

Porthos spoke at the same time as the man, 'no, stop,' but he was too late.

'-he was chasing after them-'

Porthos looked at the ground trying to hide his embarrassment.

'-when he slipped.'

There was a slight pause before Aramis responded. Porthos decided he wished the stall holder had moved his arm and caused him pain, he might have passed out and been spared what was about to happen.

'You slipped?' asked Aramis barely able to hide a smirk.

Porthos rolled his eyes and glanced at the stall holder, 'I'm not going to hear the end of this.'

The stall holder looked at Porthos with pity, 'sorry,' he said, 'I think I'll stop now, before I make it any worse.'

The End.