Evening My Lovelies
We've reached 20 chapters! I've decided we haven't seen much of D'Art lately given his condition so I'm going to treat you all to a bit of him today :)
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - You might me on to something there :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Aramis is definitely not standing :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - That's a good question... I don't know myself quite yet, I'm just seeing where it goes :) Oooh I can't wait until D'Art finds out. I have a brilliant scene planned out in my head for it so if I can get it to transfer from brain to page properly it'll be a really good read (hopefully) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Glad you liked to see them again. Our boys are going to need the back up so I had to send them :) Our boys are coming to rescue, it'll be happening soon I promise! Remy's going to help more in coming chapters... though Aramis might not like what he does. I'm really looking forward to D'Art learning the truth about his uncle. Our boys are going to have a hard time handling it given how Antoine is connected to D'Art and Corinne and D'Arts not going to take the news well. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - I really like the names you're giving them :D Quentin deserves WAY more than a smack but I'm with you there. Our other boys are on the way but we've got a couple more chapters before that happens. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - I'm just happy you're still reading it. I have some Athos whump coming up in tomorrows chapter just for you :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - I have BIG plans for this story so I'm glad you seem to be enjoying it so far. Got some great emotional scenes planned for when D'Art learns the truth of his uncle. We get some more D'Art today, hopefully you'll like it :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
IsubiCraven: Thanks for the review - Ah but D'Art getting betrayed is going to lead to a great (hopefully anyways) series of scenes full of emotion and angst. We'll have to wait to see what's going on with Remy, I haven't firmly decided what's going to happen yet with regards to him. Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - If/when Aramis and Marshall meet trouble will definitely be happening. Glad you're enjoying the brotherhood moments, I need our boys to have backup for a coming chapter so help is on the way :D Aramis is definitely in trouble with his shoulder as we'll see in a coming chapter. Haha you know me so well :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
GoGirl212: Thanks for the review - You're right to have a bad feeling about Antoine, he's quite a jerk and we'll see more of it in later chapters. I'm glad for Remy too, I have no idea what's going on with him so it'll be a surprise for all of us :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - More baddies keep propping up thats for sure but don't rule Remy out just yet as I have no idea where I'm going with him. Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the reviews - Yeah don't worry the reviews came through fine though I am glad to hear you're enjoying it so far. Our boys are going to need the back up in a few chapters hence Henri and the others riding out. Poor Treville's probably going to be at his wits end by the time our boys all come back to Paris. Marshall's definitely bad news, especially where our inseparables are concerned. Remy... I'm still undecided about him, I'm kinda just letting my muse have fun with him and we'll see what happens later :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I know! Lots and lots to entertain you in that chapter. This one's focused more on Aramis and D'Art but will hopefully still be a good read. I'm glad to hear you're happy about seeing our other muskies again as our boys are going to need the back up for a coming chapter, especially after what's going to happen tomorrow :D Haha I thought you might like that line. Protective Aramis is practically swoon worthy and I love writing him! Marshall's bad news and I can't wait to develop his part of the story more, should be a lot of fun full of angst, whump and comfort moments. I have big plans for the whole betrayed by the uncle thing. D'Art's not going to take the news well and it's going to lead to some intense scenes between him and his brothers (providing i can write it well) I think Aramis is growing on our dear Remy :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Twenty: Harsh Truths
Come first light Quentin and his men had the camp packed up and on the move. To save time Aramis was forced into the wagon beside his brother, amused chuckles coming from the men when the medic tried to protest their rough treatment of the boy.
For several hours everything was going fairly well for the musketeer considering the situation he was in and the situation both he and his brother were soon to find themselves in if their brothers didn't find them soon. This all changed however when D'Artagnan began to show signs of waking.
"D'Art?" called Aramis softly, not wanting to alert the bandits surrounding them that the younger man was waking up.
"Come on D'Art," pleaded Aramis, "You've been sleeping so much lately I'm worried Porthos has been rubbing off on you," teased the medic, his lips curving up into a fond smile as he thought of his absent brother.
Though the comment seemed to do the trick as mere moments later D'Artagnan's eyelids fluttered open, his eyes looking clearer than they had the day before, though pain was still evident within them.
"Hey little brother," cooed Aramis as he placed his hand gently on his brother's forehead, sighing in relief when he noticed it was slightly cooler than before, not by much but it was a promising sign and the only piece of good news he had had in a long time.
"…'Mis?" groaned D'Artagnan weakly, quietly crying out in pain as he went to move his arm, only for it to ignite in pain.
"Easy D'Art, you're hurt my friend, you need to take it easy."
"W-What… Happened?" asked the Gascon quietly, his eyes widening in worry as he took in the pale, haggard appearance of his usually meticulously well-put together brother. The marksman's skin was worryingly pale with the exception of the dark rings around his eyes. The man's hair was a frazzled mess and his clothes were torn and stained with blood.
Aramis noticed the worry and instantly sent his brother a soft smile, not wanting him to worry about him right now. "What do you remember?" he asked gently, hating that he was about to make his brother relive the attack but needing to know he hadn't sustained any sort of memory damage as a result. The boy had spoken briefly about events surrounding the attack during his rare moments of consciousness but Aramis wanted to be sure.
"I... I got a letter from my uncle…" murmured D'Artagnan as his face scrunched up in confusion. It was beyond hard to think around the pounding in his head and the pain shooting through his body but he knew, for Aramis to be asking, it had to be important and far be it from him to let his brother down.
While D'Artagnan was organizing his thoughts he missed the pained looked that flashed across his brother's face. Aramis was almost certain that the man Quentin had mentioned, the only responsible for D'Artagnan and the village being targeted was his brother's uncle. Aramis had heard no other mention of any male relatives and it would explain the familiarity the medic had felt when the man was dragged into the camp. His stomach churned with the mere thought of what this revelation would do to his young friend and he knew, no matter how much he may deserve to know, that it was in the boy's best interest for it to be kept hidden from him until he was in a better physical and mental state.
"T-There was an attack," murmured D'Artagnan, his voice pulling Aramis away from his murderous thoughts that were, at this point in time, focused solely on his little brother's uncle.
Pure unadulterated grief settled on D'Artagnan's face then as his mind replayed details of the attack that had decimated his home.
Aramis was quick to realize his brother was getting lost in the memories when his breathing began to come out in short sharp bursts, tears welling up in his eyes despite not falling.
"Breathe D'Artagnan," instructed Aramis, his voice firm as he grasped his brother's less injured hand and placed it to his own chest. "Mimic my breathing, you can do it. Focus on me, just on me… That's it, breathe with me D'Art."
"A-All t-those p-people," sobbed D'Artagnan, his words coming out in short gasps as he tried to focus on his breathing. "Pépé…"
"Not now D'Art," ordered Aramis sternly, his worry for his brother skyrocketing as he continued to have trouble breathing. "You do nothing for them by passing out, now focus."
It took some time but eventually he was able to get his breathing to return to normal, though there was now a haunted look in his eyes that was like a kick to the stomach for Aramis. It was a familiar look as well; the medic had seen it in his own eyes for almost a year after the massacre of Savoy and every year since on the anniversary of the attack. He felt disgusted with himself for being the one to place that look in his brother's eyes and he resolved to do everything in his power to ensure it didn't stay there for even half as long as it did for him.
"A-Aramis…" murmured D'Artagnan a few minutes later when he felt more in control of himself. His head was swimming in memories of the attack and blurred memories of the days that followed. He struggled to really remember much of the days after but he definitely remembered Athos scolding him for worrying them and Porthos trying to get him to drink some weak broth. The fact neither man was there, especially considering the fact that Aramis appeared injured, had sent warning bells off in the still slightly out of it musketeer's mind.
"Yeah?" asked Aramis distractedly, his eyes focused on observing the bandits around them. He knew there was no one around him, with the exception of D'Artagnan, that he could truly trust and now, for the first time in a while, his brother was awake and Aramis was not about to risk getting the bandits attention if he could help it.
He had caught Remy's eyes at one point and it looked like the man was going to ride over when Quentin captured his attention once more. Aramis frowned, he still wasn't completely convinced Remy's actions came from a place of genuine concern but he still appreciated them immensely regardless.
"Where are 'Thos and Porthos?"
Aramis froze and D'Artagnan could see his friend visibly tense. The one question was something the medic had been dreading. Part of him was tempted to lie like he had before but then he remembered where they were headed. There was every chance one or both of them could be dead in a matter of days and he honestly didn't want one of the last conversations he had with his brother to be full of lies.
"Aramis?"
The medic sighed, "If I tell you what's going on you have to promise not to react," he said warningly, his eyes full of silent pleas for his brother to obey. "Promise me D'Art.
Despite his now flagging energy levels and the near overwhelming pain in his body D'Artagnan could see how serious his brother was and nodded weakly, barely biting back the hiss of pain the movement caused. "I promise."
With another sigh and a wary look at the area surrounding them Aramis launched into an explanation of what the boy had missed while unconscious, omitting his suspicions of the boy's uncle, his self-hatred growing with each line that left his mouth and the growing expression on his baby brother's face.
D'Artagnan opened his mouth to angrily snap at his brother for keeping this from him when the medic's hand slammed over his mouth with alarming speed.
"Shh!" hissed Aramis, his eyes apologetic and full of fear that instantly drove away some of the Gascon's anger at being lied to. "They don't know you're awake and it won't end well if they do. I know you're angry… Hell you have every right to never want to speak to me again after this but please; you've almost died on us once. I-I can't have that happen again."
D'Artagnan took in his brother's worried and almost desperate and nodded weakly, his short burst of anger having drained him more than he had expected.
"You should get some more rest," said Aramis soothing as he helped his brother drink a few mouthfuls of water. "Your fever's beginning to break but the travel coupled with your extensive injuries and infection have made your body weak."
D'Artagnan wanted to complain, to demand more answers from his brother, namely how he had been injured as the Gascon didn't remember his brother having that wound when he had first seen him in the cave, but unfortunately his body had other plans as within minutes he felt his eyelids begin to close as darkness overtook him once again.
Aramis let out a sigh as he watched his brother drift off once again. That had been a far more draining experience than he had anticipated and if he hadn't been so tired before he definitely would be now. He knew he couldn't keep his body awake for much longer, not without seriously endangering both himself and D'Artagnan so with another resigned sigh he forced his aching body to perform one final check over his now lightly snoring brother before curling up, protectively, around the boy.
Unfortunately for the senior musketeer it seemed fate had other plans then rest for him as not even an hour later saw the galloping arrival of another one of Quentin's men and the musketeer grumbled out some explicit Spanish curses as he strained to listen to the conversation going on between the new arrival and Quentin.
"It's them boss, they're following us."
That one statement sent a wave of hope through the exhausted musketeer and it was only the desire to remain inconspicuous that stopped him from verbally demanding more information from the man.
"You're sure?" growled Quentin, his eyes narrowing in frustration.
"Definitely boss," nodded the man, "It's the two from that tavern, they must have picked our trail as they're half a day behind us at best and-"
Quentin span on his heels to glare at the man, "And?"
Aramis waited with bated breath for the man to explain, his face breaking out into a beaming grin as he heard the man continue.
"They're not alone. Got two more of them with 'em."
Athos! Porthos! Exclaimed Aramis internally, although the joy he felt diminished greatly at Quentin's next words.
"Take some men and take care of it. If you can take them alive, do it. Marshall will pay for musketeers but if not do what ever is needed to ensure they don't follow us." The new bandit nodded, a dark smirk on his lips as he moved to collect some of the men while Quentin turned back to address the rest. "Pick up the pace I want to be there by nightfall!"