Chapter 2

For what seemed like a long time Aramis could hear nothing. He would have hoped to hear Constance speak in defiance or at least to hear the gun shots of his friends by now but only an eerie silence surrounded him. Until it didn't. In a matter of seconds he lost count of how many shots echoed through the room, his whole body was flooded with relief. Realistically he knew that this was Constance's rescue and not his but still his heart was filled with false hope that he would see Porthos' cheeky grin outside his cell. When the sounds died out and he was left in silence again his heart ached.

"Thank you my friends, at least I know that my selfish act has not killed an innocent friend" It was an odd statement to say, but at the moment Aramis did feel responsible for Constance's imprisonment and close encounter with death. After all it was his act with the queen that started the chain of events leading to Constance and the doctor's imprisonment and soon after the doctor's unfortunate departure from this world. Ever since he heard the news Aramis prayed for the doctor's soul and he was thankful he did not have to do the same for Constance. There was a chorus of shouts and footsteps growing louder, Aramis recognised one of the voices to be Rochefort, anger swelled in his whole body. The slight pain in his arm forgotten, replaced only with a fire that warmed his soul.

"Musketeer" the man said as he appeared at the bars of the cell, the way he said musketeer with such foul disrespected made Aramis want to punch him there and then.

"Were they the sounds of your prisoner escaping?" His eyes gleamed with mischief, even though he was well aware that Rochefort held all the power he still liked the way that the other man's face contorted when he stated the obvious.

"Your friends may have rescued the woman but they appear to have left you to the dogs"

"Oh now Rochefort, comparing yourself to a dog is unflattering and insulting" Aramis replied, he waited a few seconds then with a smile said "to the dogs of course." A satisfying look of hate spread across his enemy's face.

"Open the door!" the guard did as he was commanded, Aramis did not move, if he moved back it would seem as though he was scared of the man in front of him but he was not. He saw Rochefort for what he was, a pathetic man that hurt the woman he loved and he was going to pay for his behaviour one way or another.

Rochefort entered the cell, making it seem suddenly smaller. The eye patch across his eye was meant to make him seem intimidating but for Aramis it just reminded him of how strong his queen was, a strength that he now tried to maintain himself. Rochefort pulled a knife from his belt it gleamed in the sunlight that was seeping through the small window.

"Are you going to kill me while I have no way of defending myself? You must truly fear me." Aramis' remark resulted in Rochefort snarling at him then the knife disappeared into Aramis' stomach. He bite his tongue to stop the yell that threatened to escape his lips, he would not let the man have the satisfaction.

"Believe me Aramis, I have much more planned for you than a simple death." The knife slowly twisted in his gut, Aramis' gloved hands pulling against the chains to clutch the knife, trying desperately to take it out with a final twist the knife was removed. The blade slick with blood. Aramis' legs threatened to give out beneath him but he used the last of his strength to stay standing, his hands pressed into the seeping wound, pain pumping through his veins.

"Prepare him, I will be back in a little while" Rochefort disappeared out of the cell as the guards entered, unchaining Aramis. For a moment the thought that he was being set free popped into his head but as a gloved hand grabbed his head and smashed it into the wall his last thought was only of pain and mild curiosity as to what would happen to him.

….

He was awoken again by the feeling of someone slapping him, if he had not known any better he would have guessed it was Porthos slapping him awake from a nightmare, but he knew that it was a nightmare he was living, not dreaming.

"Oh good you are awake, for a moment I thought my guard had ruined the fun." A voice drooled the noise making Aramis' ears hurt. He opened his eyes to see that he was still in his cell but this time his arms were chained above his head, his musketeer uniform gone, leaving him in his shirt and trousers. Rochefort picked up his hat and admired it, waiting for the musketeer to fully regain consciousness.

"If you like it that much you can keep it." Aramis said, his voice slightly weak as his ears rang at the sound of his own voice.

"I have no desire for such trash." Rochefort said dropping the hat to the floor and kicking it out of the way. Aramis noticed then that Rochefort was in his shirt and trousers too, his sleeves rolled up and a knife in hand. He could hear Porthos' remark about how something questionable might happen between the two men and despite himself Aramis let a smile spread across his face. Rochefort's fist collided with his cheek, causing the ringing to intensify and the smile to disappear. Before he had fully recovered Aramis felt something cold at his throat, pinching slightly, before leaving a trail of fire on his skin as the blade made its way across his neck. He winced and desperately tried not to let out grunts of pain.

"Very good musketeer. You may be stronger than I first anticipated. I was strong at the beginning of my torture as well I look forward to seeing when you will break and believe me it will be well before I gave up." Rochefort wiped the blade clean with a white handkerchief, his eyes glossed over as if he was not fully in the moment.

"I would not count on that Rochefort, I am stronger than you know and I have nothing to lose or gain." Aramis replied, he saw the barrel of the gun level with his shoulder before he heard the shot, but it still wasn't enough time to full prepare himself, however.

Writer's ramblings

So cliff hanger... What I really love about fanfiction is that you don't have to stick to the plot of the show... you know you can change a whole scene, add characters in or even take characters out... *evil laughter!*

I don't own anything