Chapter Twenty Seven - 'I can't walk.'

Porthos (with d'Artagnan and Aramis)

'What did you do to annoy them so much?' asked d'Artagnan as he continued to struggle to undo the ropes around Porthos' knees.

'He answered them back,' replied Aramis before Porthos could speak, 'earned himself a smack on the face as well.'

'They were threatening you,' said Porthos indignantly.

'I can fight my own battles-'

'Not when you're unconscious,' Porthos said butting in.

'Well, they certainly punished you with these ropes. I wish we had a knife.'

'Ah-ha,' said Aramis triumphantly as the ropes keeping Porthos' arms behind his back finally loosened.

'Can you start work on his ankles?' asked d'Artagnan as he started to ease the rope around Porthos' knees loose.

As Porthos rubbed his wrists he said, 'how did you get free?'

'The man who was trying to escort me to their leader was...interested in me...I used it to my advantage...' replied d'Artagnan.

Porthos stared at the younger man, 'are you alright?'

D'Artagnan grinned, 'I am...but he isn't.'

Aramis chuckled, 'whatever works. You got free, that's the main thing.'

'I think I've got this one now,' said d'Artagnan after a few more seconds attacking the ropes binding Porthos.

'These as well,' said Aramis.

'Good, can we go now? The sooner we can get out of this place the better,' Porthos said as tried to move his legs to stand.

'What?'

Porthos furrowed his brow, 'I can't move my legs.'

Aramis rubbed his hands along Porthos' limbs before saying, 'the ropes were tight, Lemay once told me that if the blood is stopped from flowing it can cause problems.'

'My legs hurt,' said Porthos as the feeling began to return to his limbs.

'What do we do?' asked d'Artagnan looking at Aramis.

'I can't walk,' said Porthos before Aramis answered.

Aramis wrapped his hand around Porthos ankle, 'you can feel that?'

Porthos nodded, 'the sensation is coming back, just slowly and painfully.'

'This is your own fault, and I intend to make you pay for putting us in further danger,' said Aramis as he hooked his arm under Porthos' and nodded to d'Artagnan to do the same.

'But I was stopping them from hurting you…'

'And I am grateful for that...but I am not pleased that they turned their attention on you.'

'Next time I'll just let them hurt you then.'

'What were they going to do to him?' asked d'Artagnan as he pushed the door open and helped Porthos to shuffle out.

Porthos did not reply.

'Porthos?' said Aramis.

'They wanted to see if you would react to them slicing into you whilst you were unconscious.'

'Oh,' said Aramis.

D'Artagnan smiled, 'I think that was him apologising for having a go at you.'

The End.