Evening My Lovelies :)
I quite like this chapter so I'm really hoping you all like it too. o
Notes On Reviews:
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Haha I kinda want to write them together just so I can write a scene of Aramis having to go to D'Art to ask permission to marry her lol :D I haven't quite decided what I'm doing with them yet, I think I'll just leave it and see what happens :) Glad you liked the whump, we've got plenty more on its way over the next few chapters :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the reviews - (chapter6) Thanks I'm glad your liking it. (chapter7) haha yep, tempt you with clues while D'Art gets worse and worse :D (chapter9) You're definitely right to be worried, especially with whats coming :D but I'm glad you like the whole backstory idea. (chapter10) We get a brief idea of why they did it today but I'll be giving a better explanation in a few chapters time so just hang on a bit and all questions will be answered :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Oh I'm all for it giving him some trouble for a while :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Haha yeah that's true though he's not happy with a lot of things at the moment. Love the song ideas although I'm now singing "Burn baby burn" in my head lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hmm but it would be fun to write... I'm leaning more towards just letting them flirt but I'm not sure, I think I'm just going to let whatever happens happen... Who knows maybe my mind will have another evil moment and kill her off or something then I wouldn't have to worry about it (probably not going to happen but best not rule anything out with me lol). I did say he would be in a bad way :D Luckily Aramis hasn't missed anything of importance, maybe the odd bruise or small cut from the fight but nothing life-threatening. Some things are going to happen in the next few chapters that are going to worsen his condition though :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the reviews - Yay you're back! I've missed your reviews :D though considering how easily i get distracted I'll let you off :D I'm glad you're still enjoying the story as well as not hating the OC's. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Ah a break would be too easy for our boy, I was feeling particularly evil so big nasty burn for him :D Yay I'm glad you like the cuteness of them, I wasn't planning on having an element like that it just sort of happened so I'm really happy it came across as cute :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Wow okay your review totally just made my day :D I'm sooo freaking happy you're loving the story as much as you seem to be. We've got a cute D'Art/Athos moment today which I'm hoping you like as well as what I guess could be called mental whump for our pup. I have no idea what I'm doing in terms of Corinne and Aramis so it'll be as surprise for all of us as to what happens. Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - His arm is going to cause him a lot of trouble and pain but it will be okay eventually. Aramis swearing in Spanish is always good :D I have him threatening in Spanish in a later chapter too ;D Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm so glad you're feeling better I know all too well how horrible migraines can be so it's a relief to know you're doing better :D Oh our boys are thick with guilt at the moment but worry for the pup is overriding it. Unfortunately for our boy his condition will be taking another turn for the worse soon :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Not sure what I'm doing with Corinne and Aramis so it's going to be a surprise for all of us how their relationship develops. Either way our pup will definitely be having words with our medic when he realizes what might be going on... I just love the idea of his protective side coming out :D Luckily for our pup he's unconscious so he's not feeling the complete extent of his injuries right now but that burn is going to be causing him a lot of pain for a while. I added that Aramis moment right at the last minute before publishing and I am sooo glad I did as I love it so I'm really happy you liked it too. Corinne tries to be strong but what happened is still affecting her, she just has her moments of fire :D I thinking she may channel Constance in a later chapter and slap someone, should be fun :D I have a feeling you might like our Athos/D'Art moment today (at least I hope you do) Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Eleven: Anger and Fear
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" screamed a woman, tears streaking down her face as she watched her teenage son struggle against his bindings and bruises to force himself up off the ground, his defiant eyes glaring at his captors the entire time, something that seemed to amuse the scarred man in front of him.
The older woman wasn't injury free herself and was sporting a black eye and busted lip. None of those seemed to even faze her though as she fought against the rope keeping her away from protecting her son.
"I'll leave him alone," spat the scarred man as he backhanded the boy so hard he fell to the ground once again. "When he answers my question. Where. Is. The. Musketeer?"
Where the spark of foolhardy, reckless bravery came from the older woman would never know as she watched with widening eyes as her son, instead of answering, spat a mouthful of blood at their captor's face.
However the flash of possibly misplaced pride instantly vanished when their captor forced her son onto his back, the man's hands wrapping tightly around the younger boy's throat.
"STOP!" screamed the woman, shaking violently as she could do nothing but watch as her son clawed at the grip around his throat, desperately trying to release the man's grip and allow air back into his burning lungs.
One of their captor's men seemed unwilling to let the younger boy suffocate and stepped up next to his boss.
"What?" snapped the scarred man, his grip loosening just enough to let the boy get a few frantic gasps of air before tightening again.
Seemingly un-phased by his boss's anger the second man merely bent so he could whisper the name Bordeaux into his boss's ear, the name making the scarred man sigh in frustration before completely releasing the grip he had on the now frantically gasping young boy.
"You're lucky I can't kill you boy," growled the scarred man, his deformed face morphing into a sinister smirk. "But trust me, once your new master has a hold of you, you'll be wishing I killed you here today."
"Now then," spoke the scarred man, his voice eerily calm as his men forced the young man back to his mother. With one the man picked something off of a table and threw it onto the floor.
"I know he helped defend the village," stated the scarred man as he all but glared at the leather pauldron. "Where. Is. He?"
"How are we supposed to know!" spat one of the other captured villagers, the actions of the teen having inspired the rebellious and brave nature in his friend, despite the frantic whispers to be silent coming from his family. When the scarred man stormed over to him the other teen swallowed down his fear and put every ounce of hate he had in him into the glare he sent his captor's way. "We've been in this camp since the attack, how the hell are we supposed to know where he went?"
The scarred man fought the urge to throttle the youth before him but the voice inside his head reminded him he'd get a lot less coin if the boy was injured. Instead he turned to his men, biting back a frustrated growl as he did so.
"I've sent some of the boy's out to search the forest surrounding the village," stated the man who had stepped in earlier. "… I've also sent the Roux brothers after our rat."
"Good," nodded the scarred man, a vicious smirk curling his lips. "That man promised me a young musketeer. I will only count his debt as paid when I have what I was promised."
Elsewhere Athos sat on guard by his injured brother's head. Aramis had, reluctantly, admitted there was very little else he could once the light began to dim and as such they had instead settled for setting up a watch schedule between them, none of them willing to put their brother or his family at risk.
Athos had agreed to first watch whilst insisting that Aramis, who was now beyond exhausted, took the final, shorter watch, ensuring the man would be well rested should his skills be needed come morning.
As it was Athos had found himself watching his little brother sleep more than he was watching out for danger.
When D'Artagnan let out a small, almost inaudible whimper of pain Athos's lips curved downwards into a frown as his hand moved to cup his protégé's cheek, the warmth of his skin worrying the elder swordsman more then he'd like to admit.
It hurt the older man that his little brother couldn't find a moment's respite from the pain of his injuries even when unconscious. He hated how useless he felt, unable to do anything to take away and protect him from the pain shooting through his body, instead he resigned himself for simply trying to ensure the injured boy knew that he was not alone, knowing from experience how worse injuries and sickness always seemed when you had to deal with them alone.
To the musketeer's surprise and relief it seemed like his efforts were well received as D'Artagnan weakly nuzzled against the palm of the hand still lightly resting on the boy's scalding cheek.
"You're not alone brother," whispered Athos gently, not wishing to wake his other brothers. "Rest, recover and when you are well we will see justice done. I give you my word."
D'Artagnan mumbled something unintelligible that made the frown lines on his mentor's face soften slightly as he watches his brother sleep. He tried to push aside the anger he felt when he watched his brother. He knew that anger was the last thing his brother needed from him right now, especially as the swordsman was angry at so many different things...
He was angry with the King for demanding D'Artagnan remain in Paris while the rest of the inseparables left for their mission. In his eyes, had D'Artagnan remained with them then they would have been around when word from the Gascon's uncle reached him. They would not have let their brother go alone and then he wouldn't have been so badly hurt trying to save his people.
The last piece of that thought sent a wave of guilt through the musketeer as he knew that had the attack happened and D'Artagnan not been there then the death toll of the village would be much higher than it was.
He was angry with Treville, furious with his Captain for not only sending D'Artagnan off without backup but also denying them the chance to ride out after them once they had returned to the city.
With a sigh the musketeer forced that anger down too. It made little sense to be angry with his Captain, Athos knew this but it was hard to remember when his little brother was so badly injured beside him. In his heart Athos knew that Treville would never have even entertained the idea of D'Artagnan riding out alone if he suspected trouble and that the only reason he didn't let them ride out, as much as he clearly wanted to, was to protect them from the King's grief-driven wrath.
He was angry with the Cardinal for dying when he did, which was stupid he knew, it wasn't like the man had asked to die when he did but the fact that his death was the reason they weren't there to protect their brother ignited the flames of anger in the musketeer.
But most of all he was furious with whoever ordered the attack on D'Artagnan's village in the first place. The people of Lupiac sought only to grow their crops and live their lives their lives in peace. They had done nothing, nor had anything to warrant an attack, especially one of this magnitude. Athos hoped that the remaining villagers, whose bodies they had not found, had managed to reach safety and had sent word of the attack to Paris, although there was a part of him that was becoming increasingly convinced there was something more at play and that their troubles were far from over.
He had little time ponder that slightly morose thought as a small terrified whimper escape from D'Artagnan's lips, his face scrunching up as he fought against the terrors of his mind.
NIGHTMARE
He could hear her, she was calling out for him, crying and begging her to save him but no matter how much he looked the frantic Gascon couldn't see her through the thick black smoke.
"CORINNE!" he bellowed, his voice slightly hoarse from yelling as his eyes rapidly scanned his surrounding, desperately trying to find his cousin.
"NOOO!" screamed the girl, terror clear as a bell in her voice. "LET ME GO!"
Frustrated and panicked D'Artagnan started running, he had no idea where she was and the crackle of the flames coupled with the screams of his dying neighbors and friends made it near impossible to hear where her screams were coming from.
He froze however, when a shrill, pained scream cut through the air. Feeling sick to his stomach
"CORINNE!" he screamed, tears streaming down his face as he rushed towards the sound, his heart clenching and his face paling when he saw the barely breathing girl crumpled on the ground. Her clothing torn and bloody as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"C-Charlie," breathed the young girl, her voice weak as blood began to pool around her body.
"I've got you Rin," cooed D'Artagnan gently as he put pressure on the free-flowing wound that was slowly killing his cousin.
Corinne opened her mouth to say something else but her body was wracked by a coughing fit so harsh it had her coughing up blood as her body gave in to the pain and extent of her injuries.
"NO!" screamed D'Artagnan as he collapsed against his cousin's now still chest.
"D'Artagnan"
The young musketeer's head shot up at the call of his name, his eyes going wide and his body shaking as he took in the horror surrounding him.
"D'Artagnan!"
D'Artagnan ignored the voice calling his name, too lost in the bloodshed around him. People he had known his entire life, who had helped him grow into the man he was today and had supported he and his father on the anniversary of his mother's death, lay on the ground, bloodied and dead.
"WAKE UP D'ARTAGNAN!"
It was the harshness of the last call of his name that had D'Artagnan's eyes snapping open, his chest heaving as he desperately tried to get air into his burning lungs.
"C-Corinne," gasped the Gascon, still lost in the horror of his dream it wasn't until he felt arms wrapping around his still shaking frame that he realized he wasn't alone.
"She's safe," reassured Athos, as he held his protégé close to his chest, knowing that, despite the pain it would cause to the boy's injuries, it would bring comfort to the traumatized young man, much like it had to Aramis after the massacre at Savoy all those years ago. "You got to her in time, she's alive and unharmed," continued the swordsman as he willed the shaking boy in his arms to calm. "She's just sleeping at the moment, over there, see?"
The calm tone of his mentor's voice seemed to have a calming effect on the younger man as he forced his body to relax and for his breathing to calm. Relaxation coming easier once he saw the peaceful, sleeping form of his cousin, unharmed just like Athos said.
"You're okay D'Artagnan," soothed Athos, smiling softly when he felt his brother's tremors still. "Go back to sleep, I'll wake you should anything another nightmare occur."