Evening My Lovelies
We're at over 350 reviews now! Love you all for that 3
Bit of a serious chapter for our boys today but they're together and that's all that matters :D
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Pretty much the theme for my stories :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Fair enough :D I'm just glad you take the time to read my work :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Glad you like the comparison, I thought it started quite a cute scene so I'm happy you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
GoGirl212: Thanks for the review - I loved writing that ending scene so I'm soooo glad you liked it :D They're heading off soon and they're currently safe as Quentin's tending to the wounds he got from Athos. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Haha cranky Athos is great, lots of fun to write. I have a plan for Quentin. He's busy tending to the wound Athos gave him at the moment so he wont be showing up for a bit but he'll be out for revenge when he returns :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Worry not, no tear-jerking scenes in this one. Yeah a lot of our boys are injured (I'm evil that way.) I think Issac's fun to whump because we can have brotherly moments between him and Favier. I'm afraid Quentin wont be back for a little bit but... he will be out for revenge when he returns :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha I really liked that bit so I'm glad to read you liked it. We've got some more comfort moments happening in the coming chapters. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm so happy they're all back together again :) I've missed our brotherly moments... I mean D'Art/Aramis moments are great but I've really missed our other boys too. Now? Now they rest/recover and prepare for Quentin's return mwhahaha :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
pheonixriv: Thanks for the review - I know :D I'm so glad they're all together so I can write cute moments like that again... I'll admit I kinda forgot about our captives so I've added a brief bit at the end of this chapter though they will be showing up again in a later chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - He really does need some rest but I fear he wont until all of his brothers are healing properly and they're all safe. I loved the breakdown scene although it did make me want to hug him :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - I'm so glad I've got Porthos back to watch over Aramis now. Our lovely medic's been needing that. They will start heading home soon but I can't promise it will be an uneventful journey :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Athos wont be leaving D'Art's side for a little while, don't worry :D I had planned to injure Athos worse then he was but I didn't think that would be fair to Aramis who's barely keeping himself together at the moment. He'll probably get whumped again in a later chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Haha I know right! Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the reunion, I'm so glad to have our boys together again so I can write cute brotherly moments again. Worry not there's no tear-jerking moments today so you should be safe waiting for your train :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Glad to hear you liked the bit of banter we had between Aramis and Porthos, we've got another bit today which I absolutely LOVE. I'm really really hoping you like. Having Porthos back is good as he can watch over Aramis, something the medic needs. I've missed all the brotherly moments so I may be going a bit overboard at the moment so forgive me :D Grumpy Athos is fun but his protective side will come out again in a coming chapter when our boys start heading for home. I'm so glad you liked the chapter :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-Six: Painful Truths
"We need to get back to the Captain," said Aramis, his voice taking on a hard edge that surprised the two men, even more so when they noticed their friend's eyes had not left the sleeping form of their little brother.
"Aramis?" Athos asked. He could feel his own eyes beginning to drop as the events of the last few days truly began to hit him but he fought off sleep, sensing something was deeply troubling his brother.
"I need him to send men out after someone."
"Quentin wont get away with what he's done, you know that 'Mis," said Porthos softly, his brows furrowing in confusion as Aramis shook his head.
"Not after him," stated the medic, the anger in his eyes only intensifying as D'Artagnan let out a small whimper in his sleep, though the anger nearly faded into fondness when he noticed Athos once again take the boy's hand in his own.
Looking back up at his brother the marksman continued, "I think we'd all like that pleasure ourselves… No I need his help to find Antoine."
Athos blinked, confusion flickering across his face as he tried to remember where he had heard that name. Porthos however, remembered first.
"Antoine? The man Issac and Favier mentioned was meeting with Quentin?"
Aramis sighed, his eyes drifting back to his sleeping little brother, ensuring the boy was truly asleep and so wouldn't hear his next words before turning his now hardened gaze back to his brothers.
"Antoine is… Antoine D'Artagnan, our pup's own uncle sold him and the village to pay off a debt."
Porthos was filled with pure rage as he listened to his brother explain what he knew of D'Artagnan's uncle. It was taking every single drop of control he had not to lash out at something or someone and as the only people around him at the moment were those he loved most dearly it became even more important for him to maintain control.
Anger was fairly rare for the larger man, at least the sort of anger he was currently experiencing but the knowledge that his brother, his little brother who had agonized over his momentary lack of faith in his innocence when he was arrested for murder after only knowing each other a couple of months so much that he had actually gotten on his knees to beg forgiveness from the larger man, had effectively been unknowingly sold into slavery to cover the debt of an uncle who they all knew he would have helped willingly had the man simply asked.
Slavery was a tense topic for the larger musketeer, his mother having spent some of her life as one. He himself had thankfully never had to feel the sting of a master's whip but the terrifying stories his mother had told him when he had asked had left him with horrific nightmares for weeks.
Slavery had left more than a physical mark on his mother, he knew the memories of her time as a slave haunted her sleep and had the otherwise proud woman shirking back and almost quivering in fear at outburst of anger.
The thought that anyone, especially one he himself held so dear, was almost subjected to a life of fear and pain that slavery would bring sickened him and it wasn't until he felt the stab of broken glass digging into his palm that the larger man realized that in his anger he had broken the goblet he had been holding.
"Porthos?" asked Aramis worriedly, moving to inspect the damage done to his brother's hand. His face was full of understanding and sympathy that Porthos couldn't take it.
"I'll be back," he muttered, waving off the medic's concern as he spun on his heels and stormed off into the forest, fully intent on finding someway to let out his anger that didn't put his brother's at risk.
"We knew he wouldn't react well," said Athos sleepily as he continued his personal battle against the call of sleep, his head turned towards the direction his brother had stormed off in, worry and exhaustion filling his eyes.
"He handled it better than I expected," nodded Aramis as he brushed the shards of broken glass out of the wagon before turning back to his brother. "He'll be gone a while, we should get some rest. I'm sure you'd prefer we head out as soon as possible."
"Only if you both are up for it," said Athos, not wanting to put either of his brothers through additional paid if they were not yet ready for the journey, despite how much he deeply wanted to get both men back to the safety of the garrison.
Aramis sighed tiredly, his good hand moving to rest lightly on his injured shoulder as the man struggled not to hiss in pain. "I'll be fine with a pain draught or two during the ride. Normally I would request a delay given D'Artagnan's condition but he seems to be improving and I don't like being out in the open like this with threats to his safety still about. We'd need to take it slow and avoid the back roads as much as possible but otherwise I think we'd be okay to leave fairly soon."
Athos nodded, his gaze flickering to the forest and then to D'Artagnan before his eyes fluttered closed, his hand still holding D'Artagnan's.
Aramis was a bit more reluctant to sleep but after informing the others that they were going to stay the night and requesting they seek out Porthos if he wasn't back within the hour, he too gave into the demands of his body and allowed himself to curl up by his brothers' sides, sending up a prayer for dreamless sleep.
It was in the early hours of the morning when Aramis next awoke and he couldn't stop the contented smile that grew on his face when he realized he had managed to sleep without a single nightmare. Part of him surmised that it was likely down to the comforting and reassuring presence of his brothers all being there, Porthos having returned within an hour of storming off.
Whether or not that thought was correct mattered little to the medic, as he was just relieved to have finally managed some sleep. He knew the journey home was going to be hard on all of them but especially D'Artagnan and he would need his energy if he were to keep the younger man's already weak condition from deteriorating further.
Looking over at his brothers Aramis couldn't help but chuckle at Athos. The man had clearly shifted sometime during the night as he was now lying largely on his side, facing the open part of the wagon as if readying himself to protect them during the night.
"Don't," murmured a voice, effectively stopping the medic from touching the sleeping swordsman, the man intending to move his leg into a more comfortable position. Turning his gaze towards the voice Aramis raised a worried yet questioning eyebrow to Porthos who was standing there with a tray of food.
"'Thos aint slept much since you guys disappeared, pretty sure this is the most he's slept in one go since then actually."
Aramis frowned, not liking that at all. He noticed when they reunited that both of his brothers were sporting dark circles under their eyes, much like he himself was, but he didn't know things had been that bad for his friend.
Noticing his friend's frown Porthos sighed before gently climbing into the wagon and sitting himself close enough to his brother to wrap his arm around the man's shoulders, being mindful of the medic's injury.
"'e'll be alright 'Mis, he just needs a few good nights rest like the rest of us."
Aramis sighed, "I hope you're right, though I'm worried about our journey back to Paris if this is the condition we are in already."
Grinning Porthos pointed over to the small group of musketeers all but one snoring away in front of a dwindling fire. "That's what they're here for."
Aramis felt his worries fade in response to his brother's confident attitude and his smile that was contagious enough to have him grinning back.
"I know I did not say so earlier," mumbled Aramis as he let his head rest lightly on the larger man's shoulder. "But I am really glad to see you."
Porthos's grin grew sly and Aramis already began regretting saying anything. "Aww 'Mis I knew you'd miss me."
"Where on earth did you get that idea?" teased Aramis as he helped himself to some of the food his brother had brought. "I merely said it was good to see you. A sentiment you might have shared had you spent heaven knows how long in my position. Some of those men had faces not even a mother could love."
Aramis's comments had Porthos bursting out in loud laughter, his chortles waking not on several members of Henri's group but also Athos who startled at the loud sound and instantly went on the defensive, having expected an attack, only to curse as pain shot through his knee and his arm.
"Sorry 'Thos," chuckled Porthos as he shifted away from Aramis to help his friend sit up before handing him a plate of food, his eyes daring the man to try and not eat it.
"I want to have a look at that arm again before we head out," announced Aramis once Athos had finished eating. "The blade didn't penetrate too deep thanks to your pauldron but with our luck it'll get infected if I don't check it regularly."
Athos nodded, a slight grimace as his body began to anticipate the pain that it would be enduring soon. The swordsman then noticed Aramis's hand moving to once again rest on his injured shoulder.
Seeing the look Athos was sending him, one mixed between worry and confusion, Aramis was quick to explain how he had come to get the wound, how it had worsened and its current state.
"Is that why you let him go?" asked Porthos, thinking back to the bandit his brother had allowed to leave during their ambush on the camp.
Aramis sighed in resignation as Athos's eyes narrowed, "Let who go?"
"'Mis here stopped me from shooting one of the bandits, then he told him to get out of here and let him walk away."
"WHAT!" roared Athos, his voice waking the remaining musketeers and making D'Artagnan stir, although he had yet to notice that.
"Enough alright," frowned Aramis as he glared at Porthos. "I owed him okay. Neither D'Art nor me would likely be alive if it wasn't for him. Murder seemed poor repayment for the help he gave us."
Both Porthos and Athos's eyes narrowed at this, though they did lose some of their anger as concern took its place.
"He gave me my supplies so I could treat D'Artagnan. He kept an eye on my wound when he could and helped treat it when I collapsed. D'Artagnan would have died without those supplies and while I doubt Quentin would have let me die so easily that infection, if left to get worse, could have had disastrous consequences."
Neither Porthos nor Athos seemed to know what to say to that so Aramis turned to D'Artagnan, picking up the cup of lukewarm broth as he moved.
"I'll check on your arm after I've seen to D'Artagnan," stated the medic coldly, a touch of hurt in his voice for how his brothers had seemingly assumed he didn't have a genuine reason for his actions.
Athos opened his mouth to say something, what he wasn't sure, but Blaise who had come over to inquire as to when they would be leaving interrupted him.
"As soon as Aramis has finished checking our injuries," stated Athos as he answered Blaise's question.
"I'll tell the others to start preparing then. Issac, Favier and Corbett left early this morning," added Blaise when he noticed Athos's curious look over to the other musketeer's makeshift camp. "They took the villagers back to Lupiac, to see what they can salvage of their lives. Our brothers are going to try and pick up Quentin's trail after that." explained Blaise before he returned to his own group, letting the inseparables have what privacy they could offer them for the examinations about to happen.