The room was silent for a few minutes as the four men tried to process what Allard meant by that last comment. 'I don't understand.' Athos finally said, eyes creased in a frown. 'What the hell are you talking about?' He suddenly realised that the tone in the room had changed, and it had something to do with Allard knowing his and Aramis' names. The man ignored him and began to pace again, his face set in an angry expression. Athos looked across to Aramis- his stomach lurched a little as he saw that his friend couldn't look him in the eyes, and his face was as pale as fresh fallen snow.

'You think you have everything in order...' Allard was speaking, his voice brash in the cold silence of the room. D'Artagnan, a hand to his ribs, opened his mouth to speak, but was stopped by Aramis, who put a hand on his shoulder. 'The betrayal...' Allard added, now absurdly wringing his hands.

'Whats wrong?' Athos tried again, but once again he was ignored. He looked across to Porthos, hoping that his old acquaintance could get him to talk. The bigger man swallowed, but turned his head to the man pacing the room.

'Allard- tell us what's wrong, we might be able to help.'

Allard laughed at that, the sound grating; Aramis felt his stomach drop deeper into his body.

'I don't think you can help with this one.' Allard replied, his eyes flicking to Athos, as if studying him again, before turning to Aramis and doing the same.

'We can do this the easy way, gentlemen,' he said, voice forced with lightness, before it hardened again, 'or we can do it the hard way.'

Aramis didn't know what to do- he had always been careful. He knew what this man was capable of. He always knew the risks he took... how pathetically stupid of him to get caught by a bloody handkerchief of all things... He knew he couldn't let Athos take the fall. He opened his mouth, damning the consequences, but the door suddenly banged open, and the men were back.

His eyes widened and he had to hold back a cry as he saw the smaller figure being dragged behind them.

'Ah, there you are darling.' Allard muttered, voice laced with a venom, like thick, honied poison. The woman, her eyes wide, surveyed the room, panting a little with exertion as she tried to free herself from the strong grips of the men on either side of her. 'Not to worry, my love- I just have a couple of questions for you.' He added, cupping his hand around the back of her head, letting her hair feather in his fingers.

Gabrielle tried to pull back from her husband, but he was too strong. She looked across to the men, her eyes finally falling on Aramis. The musketeer's own eyes filled with tears as he saw her face was tear stained, a bruise blooming across her left eye, and a mark on her bottom lip. He tried to make his eyes speak for him, to let her know he was going to get her out of here, that this was all his fault...but she turned away before he could offer anything.

'What the hell is going on?!' Athos growled, now getting annoyed not knowing anything about what was happening. 'Speak plainly, damn you!'

'Who does this belong to?' Allard spoke, voice soft but deadly as the embroidered handkerchief was once again dangled from his fingers. Athos took a good look at it, really studying it for a good few seconds. Suddenly, inexplicably, and with a burgeoning mix of anger, shock and clarity, he understood it all perfectly. Oh, Aramis...

'I had all my life all in order.' Allard spoke to the room at large, not just to the musketeers, but also to his wife, who balked a little at his words. Everything planned. Mapped out. Accounted for.' He looked across to Athos, and then to Aramis. 'And then I come home from sorting out the last few...problems, that stood between myself and total power to find-' he cut himself off, as if composing himself. Allard, Athos now realised, was behind the killings of the gang leaders. That mission was now pushed to the back of his head. He had more important matters to think about.

'To find my wife was...consorting with others.' His eyes flashed dangerously at Gabrielle, who was still to utter a word. 'But my love for you runs deep, my darling.' He added, voice soft but hard. 'You have learned the error of your ways, I am sure.' He finished, before turning away from his wife without another word.

'But the same cannot be said for the man who did the consorting.' His voice was dripping once more as he looked across to the men in the room. 'Betrayal is something I have found hard to handle. Direct insult to me is harder to accept, still.'

Aramis felt his world implode in on itself- the sick feeling was threatening to become reality, but as he once again opened his mouth to confess, to save Athos from whatever was coming, Allard was speaking again.

'So..' He said, motioning to his friends to come closer. 'Untie the other two and let them go-' he muttered, turning to Porthos and d'Artagnan. '-I have no issue with them.'

'We're staying right here!' Porthos spat, dawning comprehension coming upon him also.

'Fine.' Allard growled, before taking two strips of cloth from his pocket. 'Gag them- we don't want anything...interrupting us.'

'If you come near me with that I'll rip your head off!' Porthos threw out, now struggling in his binds. Aramis would need him soon, he wagered, and being pinioned to a wall wasn't going to help.

'Maybe this will change your mind?' Allard muttered, before taking out his revolver and pressing it to Aramis' temple. 'I have no issue with you- but annoy me anymore and I will have now issue with killing you.' He growled, clicking the safety off the gun. Aramis closed his eyes at the cool touch, a faint emotion in him telling him that this was no less than he deserved for putting his friends through this.

'Alright, don't shoot!' Porthos spat, before allowing the gag to be tied around his mouth. D'Artagnan allowed the same to happen, his brown eyes boring into Aramis' as he too understood what was happening, and the mess their friend had got them into.

'Good choice.' Allard praised, before motioning Aramis and Athos. 'So.' He began, before coming up beside Gabrielle and putting a strong hand on her shoulder. 'You have a chance to make this right, my sweet.' She looked at him with wide eyes.

'Allard..' She began, but the hand tightened around the soft flesh of her shoulder and she fell silent.

'I have tried to be kind to you, haven't I?'

'Y-yes.'

'And you would never hurt me on purpose?'

'Never.'

'One of these men corrupted you- you, my sweet angel, have nothing to fear from me.' Allard sighed dangerously before continuing. 'But the man responsible...they have much to fear.'

'Allard, please...' Gabrielle cried, a tear streaking her pale face. Aramis bit back a similar emotion, but he couldn't speak without first guaranteeing her safety. He cared not for himself, never had done in times like this.

'Point him out- he is here in this room. Just point to him and you can go home.'

'Allard-'

'Point. Him. Out.' Allard whispered into her hair, making the woman shudder. 'I won't ask again.'

'I won't do it.' She finally said after a few heavy seconds of silence. Aramis almost stopped breathing.

'You...won't do it?' Allard repeated, eyes flashing. His grip tightened again, but he reigned himself in as his wife cried out in pain. He released her, pushing her away so she stumbled. 'I promised you no harm, my darling, and I will stick to that promise.' He turned to his men, who stepped forwards. 'Take her away.'

'Allard, please!'

'Go!' He yelled, turning away as his wife was grabbed. 'Wait-' he added, before stepping closer to Aramis. 'Maybe this will change your mind.' He added, before launching his arm back and punching Aramis in the face, smiling as he cried out and fell to the floor.

Gabrielle stifled a cry, but said nothing- to do so would condemn her musketeer. Athos, who had not been gagged, cried out in shock and anger as punches rained down on his friend- Aramis was a womaniser, yes, a lothario, a ladies man; it was an endearing yet frustrating part of his personality that everyone had learned to accept...but he didn't deserve this. 'Leave him alone!' He yelled, but it was as if Allard was in a trance. Aramis gasped out through a bloodied lip, his hands up in surrender as Allard still pummelled him. 'Please!' He cried out.

'Admit it!' Allard yelled, eyes fiery, before he turned to Gabrielle, who had tears now falling unchecked onto her cheeks, 'was it him!?' He screeched, a madness in his voice now. 'Tell me!'

Porthos growled out behind his gag, but as he strained against his bonds, intent on snapping the ropes that held him in place, one of the men aimed his gun in his face. 'Stay put, big'un.' He warned.

'Please...' Aramis garbled out again, blood dripping from a cut to his eye, his jaw already beginning to swell. 'Let me...explain...'

'Explain what?' These were the words Allard had been searching for. He grabbed him by his coat pulled Aramis closer to him, eyes flashing dangerously as Aramis tried to stop his head from lolling to one side as Allard brought his face close to his. 'Explain what?' He said again, mouth curling in fury.

'Wait!' Athos suddenly shouted out, his eyes wide in panic as Allard and Aramis both turned to him. 'I know you are being honourable, Aramis, doing this for me, but there is no need-' he turned to Allard, taking a deep breath as he did so. He couldn't let Aramis do this- he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he let his friend suffer for this...

'It was me.' He said finally, loud enough for everyone to hear. 'That handkerchief is mine.'

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