Evening My Lovelies
Today's chapter is a tiny bit shorter than usual but I'm far too tired to add anything else to it and it seemed like a good point to end.
Notes On Reviews:
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - I'm pretty sure "stubborn mules" can be applied to all of them lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Deana: Thanks for the review - Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I had no idea we were that close to it until your review... now I'm all giddy :D We kinda have some brotherly moments today but I'm planning on throwing a wrench into the works tomorrow :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm loving being able to write the banter now that our boys are back together so I'm glad you're enjoying reading it :D Quentin will be staying away for a bit longer yet but he will return eventually. Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Hmmm given the pace they're going they've got quite a journey, though I'll probably skip pass a good deal of it... Enjoy the new chapter! x
GoGirl212: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it, I really wanted to give Porthos a "mothering" moment :) He'll be watching Aramis a lot on the way home to make sure he's taking care of himself. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Porthos is quite the leader, he definitely deserves it. Aramis was a stupid fool but Porthos will be keeping an eye on him through the rest of the journey. Enjoy the new chapter! x
KarenF (Guest): Thanks for the review - I haven't written them yet but I know, roughly, what else I want to happen to our boys. I do love the idea of a not fully healed D'Art coming to his brothers rescue so we'll definitely be seeing it at some point :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha no it definitely wont make you look crazy as I'm in the same position... That's probably not a comforting thought lol :D D'Art will recover before the final chapter but he still has some whumpage to come :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - A stupid thought on Aramis's thought as if Porthos wouldn't notice :) He's going to be watching the man like a hawk from now on. Hmmm somethings going to happen? you might be right :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Porthos isn't going to be letting Aramis get away with not taking his medication again. I loved writing the moments between D'Art and Athos... though they may be diminishing slightly after tomorrow's chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Haha I know, Aramis was having a dumb moment and now will have to put up with a mothering Porthos for the rest of the journey home. D'Art and Athos have had some cute moments lately but I'm afraid after tomorrow they'll be on hold for a while. (I have something mean planned :) ) D'Art's doing better healing wise but I can't promise it's going to stay that way for long...Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
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xxx
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Admitting The Truth.
"Are you sure about this 'Thos?" asked Porthos with slight hesitation. Normally he would be all for helping his injured brother out but to him this just seemed more like a plan to spite Aramis's orders for him to remain on bed rest.
"I'll do it myself if you would rather not help," stated Athos dryly as he gently untangled himself from D'Artagnan's side, a faint, fond half smile tugging at his lips as he heard the boy weakly moan at the loss of warmth before falling back into slumber.
"Do it, I dare you. You'll only end up hurting yourself and then I'll never let out of the wagon the rest of the journey back," quipped Aramis over his shoulder before he returned to the salve he was creating for D'Artagnan's burn.
Porthos let out a chuckle at the face Athos instinctively pulled at Aramis's words before letting out a sigh. "Come on then. But if this goes horribly wrong don't blame me."
The next few minutes were excruciating for the swordsman as he, with the help of Porthos, moved to the edge of the wagon. Once he was up and supporting his weight on his good leg, using the railings of the wagon for additional support, Porthos placed the swordsman's arm over his shoulder, helping carry some of his weight as they walked, or in Athos's case hopped, over towards their other brother and friends.
The trip wasn't a long one but it was painful. Every hop sent stabs of pain through Athos's injured knee and it was only the knowing and expectant look on Aramis's face that had him vocalizing how much it truly hurt.
"You alright?" asked Porthos as he eased his brother onto the ground, his eyes filling with worry as he noticed the deepening lines of pain around his brother's eyes, evidence of the agony he was both feeling and hiding.
"…Just need a minute," answered Athos, his words as close as he would allow himself to come to admitting he was in a lot of pain.
"You're going to regret this come morning," stated Aramis with faint concern in his voice. He knew his brother would do whatever he wanted regardless but that did little to stop his worrying. With a sigh he handed over a goblet of water laced with pain draught he had quickly made up as Athos had been making his way over. "Drink," he instructed before returning his focus back to his work.
"Then I'll deal with it then," grumbled Athos as he sat, his back resting against the trunk of a tree, eyeing the goblet with poorly veiled distaste before downing the contents in one large gulp.
"…Speaking of things we have to deal with."
That ominous sentence got both the swordsman and medic's attention as they turned to face their brother, only to find him staring at a sleeping D'Artagnan with a heartbroken expression. Turning back to his brothers after letting out another sigh he elaborated. "When do we tell D'Artagnan the truth?"
Instantly both men's expressions changed to match Porthos's and neither could stop themselves looking over to their youngest.
"We should wait until he's in better health," stated Athos, only just managing to tear his attention away from his brother. "Who knows how he he's going to react. He could set his healing back days if we tell him now."
Porthos shook his head, "Don't seem right," he mumbled, his eyes filling with sadness for his brother's situation. "'e deserves to know the truth… feels like we're lying to 'im this way."
"We're protecting him," retorted Athos, "There's a difference."
"But…"
"We're reaching the village you sent his grandmother and cousin to," said Aramis softly as e started at them with sad, resigned eyes, remembering what the pair had told he when he had inquired as to the whereabouts of the two women earlier that day.
"I vote we tell him before we regroup there and they're reunited. Things are already going to be tense but Corinne deserves just as much of an explanation if not more. They're both going to need support none of us can give, not matter how much we wish to. Letting him know now will at least give it time to sink in for him so he can help her when we tell them. Out of the pair of them she's likely to take it the hardest."
"…Tell me what?" asked D'Artagnan's quietly, his voice cutting through the silence that had engulfed the group that started at his voice.
When none of them answered he asked again. "'Thos? 'Mis? P'thos? Tell me what?"
"Come on," sighed Aramis resignedly as he pushed himself up to his feet. "There's no backing out know. The least we can do is look him in the eye."
Both men helped Athos to his feet and the three of them slowly made it across the short distance to be by their brother's side.
"I'm not liking how serious you're all looking at me right now," joked D'Artagnan hesitantly as he tried to push himself up into a more seated position.
Seeing this and instantly wanting something to do Aramis grabbed a couple of the spare blankets they had and rolled them up enough to brace his brother's back before helping him into a position where he could rest against them.
"Are you okay? Any dizziness or dark spots in your vision?"
Part of D'Artagnan wanted to laugh at how much of a worried mother-hen his brother could be at times but then he was reminded, thanks to a sharp wave of pain, just how injured he was and then the worry became less amusing and more comforting.
"A little," admitted the Gascon quietly, shocking the medic slightly as he was speaking honestly about his health for once and not trying to minimize it for their benefit it seemed. "It's passing though," he added with a weak attempt at a smile. "I'll be okay."
The position he was in wasn't so much of a sitting position as that would be out of the question until his stab wound healed a bit more but it did allow him to look his brothers in the eye without them having to be leaning over him. Plus it was a welcome relief for his back that had been going stiff at being left in the same position for so long.
"So… Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?"
"That's because you wont I'm afraid mon ami," whispered Aramis softly as he brushed a stray lock of hair away from D'Artagnan's pale face.
D'Artagnan's expression hardened and he felt himself trying to sit straighter despite the screaming pain of his body.
"Tell me."
So they did. For the next several minutes the group explained what they had learnt about the reason behind the attack and what had happened to the people D'Artagnan had taken such comfort in thinking saved.
Learning the truth, that all he had done was delay their capture was like a punch to the stomach for the young man and the whole experience was made worse by the fact that all three of his brothers confirmed the attack was largely set up for him.
"W-Why?" breathed D'Artagnan as his brain struggled to comprehend what was being told to him. "T-There were plenty of other opportunities to get me… Why involve my home?"
The last part of his speech sound so lost and broken that Porthos, who was closets to the Gascon's less injured side, wrapped him up in as tight an embrace as he could. The group letting silence engulf them once again as D'Artagnan shook with silent sobs in Porthos's arms.
"I think they attacked the village to hide the fact it was mainly you they were after," stated Athos after a minute or two, his words attracting the renewed attention of his brothers who waited silently for him to continue.
"Attack and kidnap a musketeer on the road and Treville would not hesitate to send aid as soon as he learned of it and the men he sent would be completely motivated to find and save their missing comrade."
The other three men nodded at this, slight hints of confusion still on their faces as they waited for Athos to get to the point.
"But, if the musketeer had disappeared at the sight of a raid like what happened in Lupiac where the truth of what happened is unclear and the survivors are missing just like the musketeer, then the men the Captain would send out would have their attention split between searching for their comrade and seeking and helping the survivors, thus giving the group responsible for the attack time to not only get away but to also cover up who their intended target had been."
The three other inseparables blinked as Athos finished his explanation, the theory behind it making perfect sense to them even if it did nothing but increase the near crushing guilt weighing down on D'Artagnan's heart.
"H-How did they even know I was there?" mused the boy a minute or so after he had let Athos's words sink in. When his brothers' looked at him questioningly he elaborated, "I haven't been home to Lupiac in over a year, yet they managed to time their attack for my first night back."
All of his brothers had an odd look on their faces at that, one D'Artagnan would almost describe as a mix between pity and heartbreak and it set his nerves on edge.
"They… had an inside source," admitted Aramis with heavy reluctance, his heart breaking for his brother as he saw the mixture of emotions flash across his face; anger, confusion, betrayal, hurt and despair to name a few.
D'Artagnan swallowed, his voice gaining both strength and coldness and he spoke. "You mean someone sold me out? Someone willing put the lives of everyone else in the village at risk?"
The three other inseparables nodded and D'Artagnan found himself wishing he had the strength to punch something, but instead all he could do was to tighten his grip on the blanket covering him with his less injured hand.
"Who?" he growled, anger and betrayal winning over all the other emotions in D'Artagnan's eyes.
"Whelp," sighed Porthos, really not wanting to tell him despite his earlier words about how he needed to know.
"Who?"
With a collective sigh the three inseparables shared a look before Athos decided to take the burden and turned back to the fuming young Gascon.
"The person who sold you and your village out to Quentin was your Uncle. Antoine D'Artagnan."