Authors note: I cheated a bit on the title – sorry.

Chapter Twelve - Electrocution (Lightning)

Porthos (with d'Artagnan, Athos and Aramis)

Skittish horses were the least of their problems. Porthos talked to his mount in as calm a voice as he could manage as another lightning bolt lit up the sky. The weather was awful, the rain had been pelting them both for what felt like hours. D'Artagnan looked how Porthos felt. Miserable.

The thunder and lightning just added to their issues. The usually calm horses did not like the flashes of light. Porthos had been in battles where the horses were better behaved, he guessed the sound of gunshots was not the same as the crack of lightning and almost constant rumbling of the thunder. There was also the atmosphere that the storm brought with it. A sort of oppressive suffocating blanket that had only lifted as the rain had begun to fall.

The one consolation was that they were nearly at the tavern. Nearly in a warm room with a roaring fire and a very accommodating serving girl who had spurned Aramis' advances the previous night in favour of Porthos. The thought made Porthos smile, although he suspected that Aramis and Athos would reach the tavern before them, Aramis was probably already working his charm on the young woman.

Another crack of lightning, the thunder booming at the same time, caused his horse to rear slightly. Porthos managed to remain mounted but the frightened animal was now very skittish. D'Artagnan was having his own battle a few yards away.

A second crack had Porthos looking upwards, the sound was not lightning. Too late he saw the large tree branch descending towards him. His horse panicked again and finally managed to dislodge his rider. The horse bolted forward leaving Porthos unable to escape the falling branch. He managed to cover his head with his arms but knew he was in trouble.

MMMM

'Porthos!' yelled d'Artagnan as he leapt off his horse which immediately took off after its stablemate towards the village.

The branch that had fallen had smaller stalks coming off it still covered with green leaves, d'Artagnan could not see Porthos. Expecting the worst, he rounded the smaller branches.

Breathing a sigh of relief, he knelt beside his brother.

Porthos was trying, with little hope, to push the large branch off his legs.

'That won't work,' said d'Artagnan loudly, knowing that his words would be whipped away by the wind if he did not speak up.

'Get it off me,' replied Porthos with a little more panic in his voice than d'Artagnan had expected.

'It's too heavy Porthos...'

'The ground is soft, I don't think I'm injured, it feels like I'm being pushed into the ground... I can't get free…'

Porthos again tried to push at the tree. D'Artagnan wondered why his friend was so panicked. He lay his hand over Porthos'.

'It's too heavy, Porthos calm down.'

As he spoke he realised that his brother was bleeding from a head wound. Porthos was probably confused and disorientated. Even as he worked out that Porthos must have been hit by one of the smaller branches, his brother started to close his eyes.

'No, stay awake. Porthos!'

Porthos roused slightly, 'sorry...I can't get free.'

'I know,' said d'Artagnan.

D'Artagnan considered his options. He knew he could not free Porthos on his own. He also knew he could not leave the trapped man. The storm was still raging but when it stopped there was the possibility of wolves finding him. And it would probably be in Porthos' interest to be kept awake. D'Artagnan had no choice, he pushed Porthos up to sit and sat behind him supporting him. It was not particularly comfortable for d'Artagnan but that did not matter.

'Talk to me Porthos,' said d'Artagnan, 'you need to keep awake.'

Porthos was quiet for a few seconds before he spoke, 'I hit my head, didn't I?'

'Yes, and you're stuck.'

'Sorry,' said Porthos.

D'Artagnan chuckled, 'it's hardly your fault is it?'

'How long do you think it will take the others to realise something has happened?'

D'Artagnan was wondering the same thing. He could feel Porthos shaking and knew he was going to suffer as well. They had already been soaked through before the accident. Now they were stuck in the pouring rain.

'The horses went in the right direction…' said d'Artagnan, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt.

MMMM

'Monsieur's,' called the tavern keeper as he hurried across the warm room towards them.

Aramis looked up from his dinner, Athos put down his wine.

'Two horses have just been found...I think they're your other men's,' said the tavern keeper, 'but there is no sign of the men. One of the horses, the saddle and bags are twisted, like the horse threw the rider…'

'Show us,' said Athos, rising from the table.

They followed the tavern keeper out to the stable. The storm that had been raging was starting to blow itself out, but the temperature was cold. They walked into the stable. Athos watched Aramis cross to the two horses which were being held by the stable boy who was stroking Porthos' horse.

'This one was agitated but he's calmed down now,' said the young lad.

'Where's your master?' said Aramis quietly to the horse.

'Saddle our mounts,' said Athos to the stable boy, before turning to Aramis, 'we will take the road they should have used, something has happened, the sooner we find them the better.'

Aramis nodded, 'I'll get my medical bag.'

They were on the road within minutes, the worry for their brothers focusing both of their minds.

It did not take the two Musketeers long to find Porthos and d'Artagnan. The large fallen tree branch was blocking the road. As the rain and wind had calmed down it was easier to pick their way around the smaller branches, bringing their brothers into view.

Porthos was obviously trapped by the fallen branch, his legs were under the tree limb. He was being supported by d'Artagnan who was sat behind Porthos, his arms wrapped around the older man. Both men were looking up at them.

'So pleased you could join us,' said Porthos, his voice a little slurred.

Aramis had dismounted and approached the pair; he knelt beside them and started to run his hands along Porthos' legs.

'I'm trapped under a bloody tree, even I can see what the problem is,' snapped Porthos.

'He also had a bang on the head…' said d'Artagnan, 'I've been keeping him awake.'

'Sorry,' Porthos looked at Aramis who smiled.

Athos crouched down beside d'Artagnan and slung his arm around the Musketeer offering him a little support. D'Artagnan nodded gratefully but did not say anything. Athos suspected he did not want Porthos to realise just how uncomfortable he was. Athos could feel d'Artagnan shivering, both men were soaked.

'Do you think your legs are broken?' asked Aramis.

'No,' replied Porthos blinking a few times, 'the ground is soft, I just can't get free.'

Athos looked at the heavy tree branch. He knew they would not be able to move it on their own. They would need to get help. Aramis turned to him.

'Take d'Artagnan back and get him warmed up, I'll stay with Porthos until you can bring some help.'

Athos nodded before rising and helping d'Artagnan to stand. The young man almost collapsed. Aramis helped Athos to steady him, d'Artagnan looked embarrassed.

'You've been stuck in the same position for some time in the cold and the rain, it's no wonder your exhausted,' said Aramis by way of reassurance.

Porthos had leaned back on his elbows watching the three men. Aramis turned to him.

'Don't go anywhere whilst I help d'Artagnan mount up.'

Porthos tilted his head at his friend in exasperation. Athos hid a smile as he helped d'Artagnan over to the two horses. He mounted up before leaning across to steady d'Artagnan as Aramis helped the cold Musketeer up on to his mare.

Athos pulled off his cloak and swung it over d'Artagnan before being forced to lean across and do it up when the younger man could not move his fingers with enough dexterity.

'I will be as quick as I can,' he said after taking the other horses reins not trusting d'Artagnan to be coordinated enough to manage on his own.

Aramis nodded before turning back to Porthos.

MMMM

As Athos led the shivering d'Artagnan away Aramis returned to Porthos' side. He pushed his brother up to sit and sat behind him, taking the spot that d'Artagnan had vacated. He was glad the rain had stopped. Porthos was not bothering to hide how cold he was.

'I think I might have said some mean things to d'Artagnan earlier,' said Porthos, as Aramis pulled his own cloak around them both.

'I'm sure he won't hold it against you,' replied Aramis as he looked around.

'If wolves come you should get away,' said Porthos, his tone serious.

'If wolves come I will shoot a couple of them and then the rest will go away,' replied Aramis absentmindedly.

'I'm serious, Aramis, don't put yourself in danger.'

Aramis looked back at his brother and sighed, of course, Porthos was right, but that did not mean that he had any intention of abandoning his friend.

'Help won't be long anyway, I doubt we'll be here long enough for wolves to sniff you out.'

Porthos scowled, 'so they aren't going to sniff you out?'

'No, wolves wouldn't want to eat me.'

'And why is that? What makes me more tempting...other than being trapped under a tree.'

'They wouldn't want to mess with perfection,' said Aramis with a grin.

Porthos laughed, 'thank you,' he said after a few moments.

'What for? Did you think Athos and I wouldn't come to look for you both?'

'No, thank you for lightening the mood.'

They sat in silence for a few seconds.

'Did you get the letter?' asked Aramis, realising that he needed to keep Porthos awake.

'What letter?'

'The one your assignment was about.'

Porthos shifted slightly and pulled the letter from his doublet. The paper was damp and torn.

'We'll have to try to dry it out,' he said as Aramis took the missive and tucked it away in his own doublet.

The noises of the wild creatures started to become clearer, as the local wildlife emerged after the storm. An owl hooted in the distance. They could hear rustling behind them. Aramis twisted around, spotting a couple of deer walking by.

'Not wolves,' he said by way of reassurance to Porthos.

'I was impressed with d'Artagnan,' said Porthos after another few seconds of listening to the sounds of the night.

'Why?'

'Him staying with me.'

'What did you expect him to do?' said Aramis. 'You really have a low opinion of yourself if you think that he would have left you and thought that we might not have come to look for you.'

Porthos smirked, 'at least you think the wolves will like me.'

Aramis huffed out a laugh, 'I'm starting to think I'll let them have you.'

The End.