Evening My Lovelies
Today's chapter is a little bit of a filler I'm afraid but I really wanted to delve into the minds of our muskys for a bit... that and I'm an evil person who likes to keep you all waiting to find out what's happening with D'Art :D
We will be seeing D'Art briefly tomorrow though so you have that to look forward to :D
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Yep, definitely not a good situation for our boys and things are only going to get worse before they get better unfortunately :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm glad you like what I decided to do. I wanted some angst for our boys with them being unable to reach him and D'Art having to handle the situation on his own for a while. Also thanks for sending that website to me :) I probably wont use it for this story as I have a fair few chapters already written and I am far to lazy to go and change it now lol but I'll look into it for my next story. I probably should have looked it up myself by now but apparently in my head our boys have super horses lol Thanks again! :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Worry not our boys will be riding out after the pup tomorrow I promise. I was just in an evil mood and wanted D'Art to suffer on his own for a while first :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hmmm if you're hating Louis now you'll hate him again tomorrow when he pops up again. Glad you liked the chapter though. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Yeah our boys definitely need to be riding out after our pup asap with what I have planned :) worry not they'll get to leave and head out after him tomorrow. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - Haha I know I'm evil :D and I'm still not going to let you know what's going on with him until tomorrow and even then I've been mean about it :D *cackles evilly* Louis's going to pop up tomorrow as well so I'm hoping you all like/hate (you know what i mean) him then too. Enjoy the new chapter! x
The dreamer (Guest): Thanks for the review - Wow thank you so much I'm really glad you think so highly of my work :D I hope this one measures up to my other works and you enjoy it just as much. If you like D'Art whump you'll enjoy this as I have quite a bit planned for our little pup :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
IsubiCraven: Thanks for the review - Glad you enjoyed it and the worry for D'Art's going to be building for a few more chapters yet I'm afraid so strap yourself in :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the reviews - (chapter1) Treville's definitely worried and D'Art's going to regret not waiting for his brothers (chapter2) Glad you liked the banter, I had a lot of fun writing that bit. Athos's reaction to the spy was fun to write too, especially with the mental image that came with it lol. (chapter3) Yeah Louis quite irritating, I feel like I should let him off as he's grieving but... yeah he's still annoying. I was tempted to have the Red guard comment so I could have Porthos retaliate but figured he probably wouldn't do anything in the middle of the street. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pheonixriv: Thanks for the review - Grieving Louis still annoying, even more so in tomorrows chapter. I'm glad to be back too, hope you like this story. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Having to wait a week is not going to be a good thing for poor little D'Art I can promise that :) We're getting a peek as to what's going on with him in tomorrows chapter... I have a feeling you might enjoy what I have planned/written for our Gascon later on :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Haha surely you know me well enough by know to know I wouldn't make it that easy for our boys :D Poor D'Art's going to have to suffer alone for a bit first :D I think the week long wait was the Cardinal influencing the King from beyond the grave just to piss off the musketeers lol. The angst is going to get worse over the next few chapters so be ready :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Hmmm I think I should fear for my life with this chapter now lol but yeah I enjoy torturing you all just as much as our muskys. Its an added bit of amusement for me to read the frustrated reviews from everyone wanting to know what's going on. :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - We'll be checking in (kinda) with D'Art tomorrow but it'll be a few chapters before our boys are all reunited... but it'll be worth it I promise! Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reading/reading
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Four: Those Left Behind
The days that followed the announcement of the Cardinal's death went by almost agonizingly slow for every member of the musketeer regiment.
None of the regiment had been particularly close or fond of the late Cardinal, mainly due to the man's insistence on making life as difficult as possible for any and every musketeer so his demise brought relief more than grief, but even the relief they felt at knowing he was gone could ease the growing tension building within the garrison.
As each day passed and no news of D'Artagnan arrived all of the men, not just the inseparables, grew increasingly worried. To the members of the regiment they were a brotherhood and it simply wasn't in them to sit by and do nothing while one of their own was potentially in trouble.
It especially didn't help when the one that was in trouble was D'Artagnan. During his early days with the regiment, before he was commissioned, the Gascon had gone out of his way to learn and do as much as would be permitted of him and as such he had endeared himself to most, if not all, of the regiment.
Outside of the inseparables Reynard was likely the most affected by the boy's disappearance. The senior musketeer had been the last one, beside the Captain, to speak to the boy. He had instantly been able to tell that the younger man was troubled, something that was proven further when he all but ran out of the Captain's office after their meeting. The more likely it became that something serious had befallen the younger man the more guilt the senior musketeer felt for not stopping the boy and enquiring what was wrong, or offering to accompany him to his village. He had no missions requiring his attention and he was sure the Captain would not object, but instead he had let himself push those thoughts out of his mind, letting the Gascon leave the garrison alone and unaided.
Blaise and Alain were another couple of musketeer feeling the strain brought on by the young man's disappearance. Out of all the men in the regiment Alain was the closest to D'Artagnan in age and this quickly led to the two men bonding and becoming quite close friends. Their relationship was helped greatly by the mischievous streak the two shared. It was rare that either acted on it though, both typically serious when it came to their work. When they did act on it however it was usually some grand scheme that had the entire garrison still laughing about it days later and Blaise, who was almost always on the receiving end of their pranks, still punishing them for it with grueling extra training and tasks.
For Alain, D'Artagnan's disappearance hadn't been worrying at first, the younger man quite optimistic by nature. Despite the Gascon's closeness with the inseparables he sometimes found it easier to unload his troubles to Alain first and as such the younger man knew just how much the King's insistent showing off of him was getting to the Gascon. D'Artagnan had tried to hide the worst of it from his brothers, not wanting them to think him weak and unable to handle such a seemingly easy task, but had confessed to Alain, after several bottles of cheap wine, how drained and uncomfortable he was with the King's latest obsession. It was because of this that Alain had held out hope that the delay in news was simply D'Artagnan's way of delaying his inevitable return.
However once it became known that over half of D'Artagnan's allotted leave time had passed without word, Alain's optimism began to crumble as worry for his friend took its place.
Blaise, despite being on the receiving end of nearly all Alain and D'Artagnan's pranks, also worried greatly for the boy. D'Artagnan was usually allowed to accompany the inseparables on missions even before he was commissioned but there were several occasions where his presence was forbidden and it was during these times that his training fell to the senior musketeer. At some point that training had also taken an almost babysitting role as, as Porthos had at one point stated, 'The whelp finds trouble like Aramis finds women.' Blaise was almost loathed to admit it; given how much trouble the Gascon and his own protégé Alain had caused him, but he had grown fond of the boy and to know he was most likely in trouble was not sitting well with him.
However no about of worried or concerned feelings from any of the men in the regiment could match that of those carried by the three senior members of the inseparables. The three men had been beyond angry at the order to remain in the city until the week was up and that anger had pushed Treville to force them to remain within the garrison gates after only a day and a half out of fear they would rush out of the city in search of D'Artagnan and despite how much he dearly wanted that to happen Treville couldn't even begin to gleam what sort of mood the King would be in when he inevitably learned about it, nor what the grieving King would do about it.
Porthos had been down right furious at the lockdown and frequently spent his time fighting any member of the regiment who was up to the challenge, though the number of volunteers diminished greatly after the musketeer managed to send Beaufort, Henri and Corbett to the infirmary.
Aramis had been calmer in his anger then his brother. The marksman had spent his time alternating between practicing his shooting, no doubt imagining the targets were what or whoever was keeping their little brother from them, and organizing his medical supplies. The latter was done fairly quickly but the anxious medic in him constantly went back to check he had ample amount of everything he could think of prepared and packed for their inevitable departure.
Athos's reaction to the news and lockdown had probably been the most surprising to those who didn't know him as well as his immediate brothers. Most of those in the regiment assumed that the man, who was well known to drown his sorrows in drink, would have retreated to the bottle as soon as the news was broken to him, sinking lower and lower into said bottle as the days progressed and new information remained absent.
To the surprise of them and to the expectations of Porthos and Aramis, Athos refused to touch a single drop of alcohol after having learnt of D'Artagnan's fate, choosing instead to spend his time pouring over maps of the Gascony region and checking over supplies.
Aramis and Porthos had expected this behavior from their friend, each knowing that Athos would not want to risk being even slightly inebriated when the time came to ride off after D'Artagnan, something that could happen at any time given that the three of there were more than willing to risk the King's wrath if word of D'Artagnan needing their assistance reached them.
"Really mon ami," tutted Aramis as he gently tilted Porthos's face to the side, carefully placing a cold cloth over his jaw where a dark bruise was already forming. "You can't keep doing this," scolded the medic lightly, pain and concern in his eyes as he watched his friend, "You getting beat up isn't helping anyone."
"Neither is you cleaning those blasted pistols for the tenth time today," snapped Porthos sharply, nodding to the collection of firearms on the table that the medic had indeed been obsessively cleaning before he caught sight of his brother getting punched in the face.
When Aramis flinched at the larger man's words Porthos felt his pain and irritation fade into a sickening feeling of guilt and remorse.
"Sorry 'Mis," mumbled the larger man, taking the hand not holding a compress to his face into his own and offering it a gentle squeeze.
"Don't be," shrugged Aramis with a slightly forced smile on his face, though he did squeeze Porthos in return so the musketeer decided to ignore it. "You have a point after all… I… I just can't stand sitting here doing nothing…"
"You could always spar with me," suggested Porthos with an almost hopeful smile. Despite their size difference the medic and he had many years of experience sparing with each other and so they constantly had to come up with new moves in order to get the upper hand whenever they fought. Porthos had no desire to hurt his friend but the fight might at least be more of a challenge than the recruits he had been forced to spar with lately, the latest one only managing to land a hit when the larger man had been distracted by Athos storming up into Treville's office.
Aramis let out an over dramatic gasp, "And risk you damaging this?" he teased gesturing to his face, "I think not mon ami."
Porthos chuckled, wincing slightly when the action aggravated his hurt jaw, he had to give the recruit props for that he thought, honestly surprised at how much strength the newbie had in him.
"What?" asked Aramis worriedly when he saw Porthos's relaxed expression turn sad.
The larger man shook his head, not up to explaining about how thinking of the promising the recruit held reminded him of D'Artagnan and their early days of training. Looking up at Treville's office he couldn't help but sigh. "What do you think that's about?"
Aramis snorted, his expression turning sad, "What else? D'Artagnan. We've got two days of this lock down left and D'Artagnan's ten-day leave ended yesterday."
"Captain aint gonna let us go."
Aramis shrugged, "Its why he's speaking to him." When Porthos looked confused he elaborated. "If, like I know we're all thinking, something has indeed befallen our troublesome pup then having someone to blame for our not being there will make it easier for him to handle."
Porthos frowned at the thought of D'Artagnan in danger; the kid had really grown on the three of them over the time they had known each other. Porthos particularly loved the fact that the boy was always willing to spar, eager, as he was to improve his skills and learn all he could. The larger musketeer had even taken to teaching the younger man how to pick both locks and pockets, it wasn't something the Gascon had ever thought to learn but both men could agree he did have a talent for it.
"Not the Captain's fault though."
Sighing Aramis glanced briefly at the closed door to Treville's office. "He knows… Still it's better than him taking all the blame himself."
"He's still gonna blame 'imself," grumbled Porthos, shaking the darker thoughts that were beginning to grow from his mind.
Aramis smiled sadly, "Would he be Athos if he didn't? Hopefully having someone else to blame will make it easier for us to bring him back from wherever he goes when we do leave."
The pair went silent at that, their eyes traveling to the Captain's office and their minds to the inevitable disappointment the conversation going on within was going to cause.
"ENOUGH ATHOS!" snapped Treville, finally having enough of Athos pestering him about going out after D'Artagnan. He was already feeling guilty enough at sending the boy out alone without his lieutenant adding to it.
The sudden death of the Cardinal was not helping matters either, the King was stuck in his grief and taking it out on anyone he came in contact with, namely Treville and a few of his other advisors. As such the musketeer Captain was beyond stressed and tired, having Athos storm into his office to once again demand permission to go out after their missing friend was the very last thing Treville needed right now.
"Captain –" protested Athos, his face a mixture of determination and desperation that developed more into the latter as Treville cut him off.
"I said enough. D'Artagnan is well trained, you know this better than anyone and as much as we all like to tease him the boy does have a smart head on his shoulders, again something else you can attest to, he can handle himself until I can let you go."
Athos glared, desperation pushing him to act out of character by snapping at his commanding officer. "Training and smarts aren't going to help him if he's gotten himself killed. He could be dying right now while we're sitting here doing nothing!"
"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT!" roared Treville as he all but jumped to his feet, anger burning in his eyes. "Do not think for one moment that I have not envisioned every scenario that could be playing out right at this very moment. I would like nothing more then to send the three of you out after him right this second but I can't and I know D'Artagnan wouldn't want you to take the risk."
Confusion flickered across Athos's face, "Risk?"
Treville sighed, sinking back into his chair. "The King is taking the Cardinal's death especially hard. His mood is erratic at best; yesterday he punished one of the servants for simply mentioning Richelieu's name. I dread to think what he would do if he found out men of his own regiment disregarded his orders in relation to the mourning period and left the city."
Looking up at the end of his speech Treville could tell Athos was fighting very hard not to retort back and for some reason that almost made the Captain want to smile. Unfortunately the reason why he was fighting came back in full force and the almost smile descended into a frown.
"The wait is almost over Athos and I give permission for the three of you to leave the second it is but I can't have you leaving a moment before… I'm sorry."