Evening My Lovelies
I seriously can't believe how well received this story seems! We're only 12 chapters in and I already have over 150 reviews! I know I say it in every AN but I just wanted to say thank you so much for supporting me, it means a lot! x
Notes On The Reviews:
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - I'm totally with you on the whole holding him and making him feel safe thing but I'm afraid for everything else my evil mind has other plans :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Hmmm I dunno I quite like Scarface :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - I'm glad you liked the D'Art/Athos moment. I couldn't resist the cuteness :D Ooooh with what's going to happen in 2 chapters time I think the hate-o-meter's going to be getting some good use :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - Hmmm depending on how you hug them you could probably do them both at the same time lol. Athos is definitely a right teddy bear underneath that stoic exterior. I LOVED writing the nightmare so I'm really happy you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hmmm you'll be finding more about the whole promise thing soon... I loved writing the nightmare and that our pup and Athos could have a comfort moment in the aftermath of it. Our baddies are definitely quite vicious and evil and it's only going to get worse. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I know I'm such an evil evil writer for putting the poor boy through so much pain... but on the plus side it leads to cute comfort moments :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - You're reviews always make me smile, I'm soooo happy you're enjoying it :D I don't know if you'll like this chapter as much as the last few but hopefully you'll still like it. I adore writing nightmare scenes and the comfort that follow. The nightmares are going to be haunting our pup for quite a while after all this. We do get a small D'Art/Athos moment at the beginning of this chapter hopefully you'll like this. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the reviews - (chapter10) I love protective D'Art and with Corinne he gets to be the protective big brother which is a lot of fun to write. I haven't been able to really exploit it too much so far given D'Art's health but we'll see more of it in later chapters. Angry Corinne was fun to write, she's suffering from everything that happened but she's still got a bit of fire in her. I'll admit I'm a bit jealous of my own character for getting an Aramis hug lol. (chapter11) Glad you enjoyed the nightmare, it was a lot of fun to write. You may be on to something about other musketeers :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - A musketeer would definitely fetch a good price :) I love writing the comfort moments between Athos/D'Art so I'm glad you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Lots and lots to deal with, glad you liked the Athos moment though I really enjoyed writing it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Hmmm I like what you're thinking :) Trouble is definitely coming our boy's way so be ready for that! The Aramis moment will be happening a bit tomorrow but more so the chapter after tomorrow. Poor Athos wants to be angry at someone but when D'Art's hurting all that anger gets pushed to the side in favor of comforting his brother :D We've got another small Athos/D'Art moment at the beginning which I'm hoping you'll like. Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you liked the comfort moment between the two. We've got another small moment today as well. We'll be seeing more of our baddies in the next few chapters so look forward to that. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the reviews - Oooh did you have a bit of a binge? Hope you enjoyed it :) (chapter8) Haha I know its such twist that he could be injured lol XD (chapter9) I'm so evil I know but you knew what you were getting into when we started this :D (chapter10) I know but that could be fun to write! I don't know what I'm doing with Corinne and Aramis, we'll have to wait and see. (chapter11) Thanks :) I'm glad you're enjoying it so far :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Twelve: Returning To Lupiac
When Aramis woke the next morning he was surprised, having expected Porthos to have woken him, not the first rays of the morning sun. Groaning as his stiff muscles protested against moving the medic forced himself to sit up, his eyes immediately searching for his patient and softening into a fond, yet slightly sad smile when he found him with his head resting in Athos's lap, the swordsman's hands running through the boy's hair.
"Did you sleep at all?" asked Aramis softly as he scooted closer to the pair, worry filling him when he noticed the tremors shaking his little brother's body, most likely from the pain of his injuries and fever.
Athos shook his head, his eyes locked on his brother's sleeping form, "He had a rough night, didn't want to leave him alone."
Sighing sadly Aramis placed his palm on D'Artagnan's clammy forehead, his eyes watching Athos's face. "Nightmares?"
The swordsman nodded, "Woke from them a couple of times. I was able to get him to calm without waking once though and he has been sleeping relatively peacefully for the last couple of hours."
"Good," smiled Aramis as he returned to his medical supplies, picking out the herbs he needed to make something to help with the fever that was ravaging his brother's body. Normally the medic hated using medicines for fevers, preferring to let the person's body break it on its own but D'Artagnan's fever had persisted for several long days now and was showing no signs of improvement if his temperature was still as high as it was currently. As he worked he quizzed Athos about D'Artagnan's condition and how he had seemed through the night, keeping his expression neutral as the answers showed no signs of improvement.
"You were supposed to wake me," grumbled Porthos as he interrupted the quietly chatting pair to resume his seat by D'Artagnan's side, the corners of his lips quirking upwards as he noticed the way his brother was nestled into Athos's lap.
"Take no offense mon ami," smiled Aramis as he nodded in greeting before returning to his work. "He didn't wake me either. Apparently our dear friend decided to go against his own orders and stay awake all night watching over our pup."
Porthos raised and eyebrow at this, "Don't expect 'ny sympathy if you pass out later on," teased the larger man with a small smirk.
"Of course not," nodded Athos with an answering smirk of his own.
For the next few minutes the group worked in silence, Aramis checking over D'Artagnan and reapplying salves and bandages. Athos keeping the boy as still and calm as he could whilst Porthos worked on making some food for the group, feeling slightly relieved that he had thought to buy a small sack of oats at the last village they stopped at, meaning he could, at least, make some porridge for the group.
"Are you up for travel?" Athos asked Porthos as they finished their meal, the two women in their group listening in with interest while Aramis remained focused on his work, not having even noticed the arrival of food several long minutes earlier.
Confusion flashed across the larger man's face but he trusted Athos would explain so he merely nodded. "What do you have in mind?"
"I want to go back to Lupiac," announced Athos. "We don't have anything suitable to move D'Artagnan with –"
"He's in no condition to be moved," interrupted Aramis, his eyes never leaving his work as he assessed D'Artagnan's more minor injuries.
Resisting the urge to glare at his brother Athos nodded stiffly before continuing. "We may not have that luxury. Besides… The people deserve better than being left for wild animals."
Tears filled Maria and Corinne's eyes at that, grateful smiles curling their lips upwards as they nodded at the man.
With a small sigh Aramis placed his supplies on the ground and turned to his brothers. "If you're sure about this I can handle D'Art on my own. There's little more that I can do for the moment apart from monitoring his condition anyway… and I'm sure it would be a balm to his heart to know his loved ones were shown some care after what's happened."
Athos nodded and turned to Porthos who smiled in agreement before moving to collect his things.
"I won't force you to witness the aftermath," said Athos gently as he looked to the two women, his eyes full of sympathy and kindness for what they had suffered. "But I also wont deny you should you wish to join us."
The two women shared a look before nodding at the musketeer.
"I would like to see my Mathis buried, not left out to rot," said Maria softly, her voice thick with emotion as her breath caught in her throat.
"I… I would like to see if there is anything I can salvage from our home," said Corinne quietly, her gaze drifting to D'Artagnan's trembling form. "Our home hadn't been touched by the flames when Charles got me out, there's a chance there might be things we can use there. At the very least I'd like to see if my uncle's pocket watch survived the raid, it's important to Charles."
Both Athos and Porthos nodded at the two women and instructed them to gather what they needed and that they would be leaving in the next five minutes.
"Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?" Porthos asked Aramis quietly as Athos gathered his weapons.
Aramis nodded, "As I said, there's not much I can do for him right now. With luck our young friend will simply sleep the entire time you're gone, lord knows he needs it."
Porthos nodded and was about to get up to leave when Aramis grabbed his arm, pulling him back to face him.
"See if you can find out who did this Porthos," growled the medic, fury burning in his eyes for what his youngest brother and his friends had endured. "There's a shot from my pistol waiting for them."
The dark look in Aramis's eyes was mirrored in Porthos's own. "Likewise 'Mis," nodded the larger man as he rose to his feet. "Keep our boy safe, he'll want a shot too," and with that the quartet left the cave, leaving an angry Aramis and unconscious D'Artagnan alone.
"If I may ask a question mademoiselle," said Athos as the quartet neared the burned out remains of the village. It took a few moments for Corinne to process that he was speaking to her but she quickly turned slightly in her saddle to face him, the two women sharing Aramis's horse for the time being.
"D'Artagnan," continued the swordsman, ignoring the worried feeling inside him at the mere mention of his little brother's name. "He was summoned back to Lupiac by your father, yet since our arrival no mention has been made of him. Might I ask of his whereabouts?"
Corinne sighed at this, doing her best to remain strong despite the clear worry in her eyes that had Athos almost regretting asking his question.
"I… I am assuming he is in the village sir," she admitted quietly, her heart clenching as the words left her mouth.
"You assume?"
"I… H-He wasn't in the house when I woke… I haven't seen him since I bade him goodnight… H-He's no fighter, he's a merchant..."
Understanding flooded Athos's eyes as he reached over to lightly squeeze the woman's shoulder.
Corinne opened her mouth to speak but all that came out was a pained cry when her eyes spotted the burned remains of their village.
"We can do this alone if you wish," offered Porthos gently as he saw the pain in both women's eyes.
"Mathis died to protect me," said Maria softly, her expression strong despite the grief in her eyes. "The least I can do for him is to ensure he is buried properly. I am coming."
Corinne nodded, albeit slightly shakily, "I'm coming too."
Porthos and Athos shared a look before nodding at the two women, "Then let's go."
Upon entering the village the quartet split into two groups, Corinne with Athos and Maria with Porthos.
Corinne led Athos to what remained of the D'Artagnan farm first, relief filling both of them when they found it to be largely untouched by the devastation that hit the rest of the village. The large farmhouse had suffered clear fire damage but the frame of the building seemed structurally sound and many of the belongings and fixtures remained.
"This… This wasn't like this before I left," breathed Corinne, confusion evident in her face as she took in the room they were standing in, one Athos had quickly deduced to belong to D'Artagnan. The room had remained untouched by fire but had clearly been ransacked at some point as drawers and cupboards where flung open and their contents thrown across the floor, several damaged beyond repair.
Athos took in the room with narrowed eyes, the rest of the house had not suffered this thorough a search, yet the bandits seemed determined to search his brother's room. This new information did little to settle the dark suspicion growing within his gut, one he refused to breathe a word of until he had undeniable proof, even to his brothers.
"Anything in particular missing?" asked the swordsman as he bent down to pick up a familiar leather jacket, his fingers tightening their grip on it when he thought of its owner.
For a moment Corinne was quiet as she scanned the room, the confusion growing as she did indeed notice several items missing.
"My uncle's pocket watch," she said absently as she continued scanning the room. "Charlie left it on the side there, he wanted me to take it to Gerald, our blacksmith in the morning to fix a broken link in the chain. That's all I know is missing," she added before noticing the jacket in the musketeer's hand, a frown coming to her face. "That and his pauldron. It was on that jacket last I saw."
Athos's own lips curled into a frown then, the suspicion he had growing again. "Let's go. We've got a lot to do."
The pair met up with Porthos and Maria some time later, the latter was kneeling in front of a freshly filled grave as she sobbed out a prayer for her late husband, the musketeer standing a few steps away in an attempt to give her space whilst also ensuring her safety, the very last thing he wanted to do was to have to tell D'Artagnan she had gotten hurt on his watch.
Nodding at his brother Porthos gestured to the wagon beside him. "We'll need to pad it with something if you even want to try and convince 'Mis to let you put the whelp in it but its serviceable for what we need."
Athos nodded, resolving to tell Porthos what he had learned at D'Artagnan's home when they were out of the open. "We should see to the villagers before heading back."
Despite the grim nature of the task the quartet all pitched in to help gather and bury the dead villagers, choosing to simply burn the small amount of dead bandits they found after conducting a thorough search of their belongings first.
"I know I've seen this somewhere before," grumbled Porthos as he stared at the sketch of the tattoo each of the bandits had borne.
"From the Court?" suggested Athos quietly, knowing his brother wouldn't want his past advertised to the two women riding behind them, not that he was ashamed of it but because they were dear to D'Artagnan and he didn't want their opinion of him to change after hearing about his past.
Porthos shook his head. "Nah, aint been to the Court in months, feels like I've seen this recently… Maybe on one of the Captain's documents?"
As the group entered the forest Athos pondered his brother's words. "If Treville had any indication of bandits in the area, especially as violent as these clearly were he would never have sent D'Artagnan off alone."
Porthos nodded in agreement. "Unless," he said quietly, his expression serious. "Unless they hadn't moved to this area until recently."
Just as Athos was about to respond the all too familiar sound of gunfire pierced the air.