Evening My Lovelies
I'm not overly sure on this chapter, it's a little bit of a filler but I needed something to happen before our boys could head back to Paris. Because of its filler-ish style I'm sorry if it's a bit boring.
Notes On Reviews:
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Haha yes she did, maybe she and Constance should meet up and compare slapping notes :D The rift is slowly beginning to heal but it's going to be a couple of chapters before D'Art really tries to fix things. Enjoy the new chapter! x
GoGirl212: Thanks for the review - Oh Corinne's definitely got some fire in her when someone pisses her off. I was going to have someone else slapped but... couldn't resist having it happen to our lovely medic. He's beginning to realize he's hurting his brothers more than he wanted to and that they might not be lying to him but we've got a chapter or two before he tries to fix things. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Deana: Thanks for the review - Haha I did feel a bit guilty for having him slapped but couldn't resist. Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - They will indeed... and they'll feel full of guilt for how they've acted. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - We'll see Maria's reaction today, she will be surprising our boys with her reaction :) D'Art's anger is beginning to die down a bit, still there but rational thought it beginning to get through. D'Art's going to have some serious grovelling to do when he comes to terms with the truth. Enjoy the new chapter! x
KarenF (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay glad you think so :) Yeah I felt a bit bad for having Aramis slapped but I just couldn't resist :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - D'Arts got some serious grovelling to do once he accepts the truth, though there is some hope coming through for our boys today. Blaise has a bit of a soft spot for D'Art so he couldn't help but jump in to help when he noticed how uncomfortable he was around the rest of the boys. Aramis left it to D'Art to tell Maria and Corinne because the pup was already furious with him and if he then told the women the truth it would only worsen the relationship between our pup and his brothers. On the plus note D'Art is beginning to see the truth of his brothers words, though it'll be a little while before he accepts the truth completely. Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Definitely not easy to hear but was better it come from D'Art then the other muskies. D'Art is beginning to see the truth but we've got a few chapters until he truly accepts what his brothers had told him. We'll get to see Maria's opinion today and its going to surprise our muskies. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Oh your reviews always make my day :D I'm sooooo happy you're loving this story so much :D We have some kinda cute moments today that are sooo close to our typical brotherly moments it was hard not to take that extra step to make it full on brotherly fluff. I'm sooo looking forward writing D'Art's apology, should be cute :D Haha I know, poor Aramis is always getting slapped, poor man. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Unfortunately not, although D'Art's anger is beginning to recede as his rational mind is pushing through. Athos's is going to snap a bit today (which was fun to write! :D) Both Corinne and D'Art will learn the truth soon enough. Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - D'Arts rational mind and loyalty to his brothers is beginning to win over his anger but we've got a little bit before he finally accepts the truth. Maria's opinions going to surprise our boys today but thankfully for Aramis, no more slaps :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - D'Art's dismissal definitely hurt Aramis more than he was willing to admit. Aramis knows that D'Arts hurting right now so he pushes his own hurt down to help him. Yay I'm so glad you liked the bit of lack of emotion in as he said Aramis's name. I LOVED writing that bit and really wanted to give Aramis a hug and let him know all will be okay soon enough. D'Arts been a little better towards his brothers today but we've still got a bit more before their lovely relationship can return to what it was. Hehe I loved the not so subtle threat from Aramis though I was tempted to have Athos actually threaten him but figured that wouldnt help his and D'art's relationship if he's threatening his friends. Yay I'm so glad you liked the D'Art and Corinne moment. We've got another one coming up in a later chapter once they both learn the truth behind Antoine's involvement. Hmm I'm thinking the talk isnt a exciting as you're expecting it to be unfortunately. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Thirty-Two: Talk
"What makes you think we want to hear anything that comes out of your mouths?" hissed Corinne as she wrenched her arm free of Porthos's grasp before moving back to D'Artagnan's side, not noticing her cousin watching the three men with an odd expression on his face.
The three inseparables however did notice and it sent a spark of hope through them that their brother might finally be seeing sense on the matter. They knew better than to push the matter right now though, and so settled for dealing with the other matters they had to discuss instead.
"We are not here to discuss your father," stated Athos, a pained tone to his voice as he struggled with the throbbing pain in his knee.
D'Artagnan watched his mentor with carefully disguised worry. He knew the man was injured but this was the first time he was lucid and calm enough to take into account just how injured he truly was.
The room they were currently in wasn't much; barely containing anything more than the bed he was lying in and the dresser beside him. The part of him that was screaming at him to believe his brothers and to make things right again was fighting to get control as the pain Athos was feeling became increasingly more pronounced.
Having decided he could not in good conscious let his mentor and… friend… stand like he was given his injury, the Gascon shuffled his legs slightly so there was an empty patch of bed near his feet before nodding at Porthos and then to it.
The beaming, thankful grin Porthos sent his way as he moved Athos over to the bed made guilt churn in D'Artagnan's stomach. None of his brothers were in perfect health and he had not handled the situation well by acting out like a child. He had made all of their lives that much harder as he sought to take his anger out on them for the suspicions he had asked them to voice.
"I'm sorry," blurted out D'Artagnan, the sickening feeling of guilt proving to be too much for the exhausted young man, especially when Athos looked at him with nothing but sympathy and understanding.
His words froze the room, everyone staring at him in shocked silence as he looked down at his lap, taking a few calming breaths before raising his heads to look his brothers in the eye for the first time since their accusations had been made.
Before any of them could respond he continued, knowing he would lose his nerve if he waited too long.
"I'm not saying I believe what you said because I don't. Uncle Antoine… couldn't do what you're suggesting he did, that's not the man I know and frankly I'm still furious that you could even think such a thing… But I am sorry for how I acted. I behaved more like a child having a tantrum than a musketeer and for that I am sorry."
While he had not expected tears or long conversations after he finished his apology he did expected something, some vocal response but instead the three men he called brothers merely nodded stiffly at him and offered slightly strained smiles.
"We should talk about our next step," said Athos as he swatted away Aramis's attempts at checking his knee now he was sitting down, though he did accept the pain draught that was all but thrown at him by the medic.
"What do you mean?" asked Maria as she tilted her head and looked curiously at the three men.
"We are sending Henri back to Paris later on today to bring word to Treville so he can organize a renewed man hunt for Quentin and appeal to the King to help the survivors," explained Aramis softly as he and Porthos settled themselves on the floor by Athos, the medic pressing a cool cloth to his reddened cheek.
"What about us?" asked D'Artagnan as he fought to keep his eyes open long enough to focus on the conversation at hand. He had used a lot of energy snubbing his brothers and comforting Corinne that now he was barley awake.
Porthos noticed this and smirked at the boy's efforts before continuing the explanation. "We're gonna stay here a few days. Let you, 'Mis and 'Thos get some proper rest in a bed before heading back. Blaise and Alain are sticking with us for added protection on the way home."
"You expect trouble on the roads?" questioned Maria nervously, she had seen enough blood and death to last her the rest of her lifetime now, the possibility of seeing more made her uneasy to say the least, though she relaxed when D'Artagnan took her hand into his own, offering a light yet very reassuring squeeze.
Aramis saw this and smiled reassuringly at the older woman as he shook his head. "We had no trouble when we passed through here last time so it's merely a precaution with both D'Artagnan and Athos unable to fight and me down an arm."
"I can fight," huffed an indignant Athos, his words echoed by D'Artagnan, making both men look to each other in slight surprise.
Aramis sighed, having expected this sort of response from them when the words left his mouth. "Athos you can't stand without aid let alone walk and D'Art… You can barely move without the pain proving too much and knocking you out. If either of you think we're letting you see combat you've got another thing coming."
"You're injured too!" protested D'Artagnan, though he knew his brother was right and that he was arguing more for augment's sake than anything else right now.
"Yes but I can walk unaided so once again I win."
"'Mis," sighed Porthos though the upward curve of his lips betrayed his amusement. "Focus."
"If I must mon ami," sighed Aramis dramatically before mirth vanished from his voice and his expression became more serious. "We need to know what the two of you plan to do," explained the medic as he nodded to the two women. "You are, of course, welcome to come with us to Paris or we can safely escort you to a village of your choosing on the way back."
"The man you're sending back to Paris tonight," started Corinne, her anger barely contained within her voice as she clenched her hands into fists. "What do you intend for him to tell your Captain?"
Athos sighed, "He has not been informed of your father's involvement if that's what you are asking, though we will be informing our Captain of that once we have arrived back in the city."
Corinne glared, fury burning in her eyes. "Then I'm coming too. I refuse to let you slander my father's good name on little more than a hunch, which, when is proven wrong, you're going to have to do some serious apologizing for."
"Corinne," sighed Maria sadly as she drew the younger woman into a one-armed hug.
"Do you think we make such accusations lightly?" snapped Athos, the pain and the situation finally becoming too much for the man. "D'Artagnan is our brother, we would die for him. Yourself and Antoine are the only blood family he has left. We would not dream of putting him through such pain if we weren't completely sure!"
As Athos ranted Aramis and Porthos watched their younger brother, the spark of hope within them growing as they saw the hesitation and desire to believe Athos on their youngest brother's face.
Despite the pain D'Artagnan's refusal to believe them had caused, each of the inseparables understood. They had thrown a lot of painful information at the boy that day and he hadn't been in the best mental state before then anyway. They each knew they would forgive their brother and be there for him when he finally gave into the truth they could see he was fighting but the pain his words and actions caused would be harder to forget.
"LIARS!" screamed Corinne, tears streaming down her face as she fled from the room, ignoring worried calls from D'Artagnan and Maria as she ran.
"No D'Artagnan," chided Aramis with a hint of regret in his voice as he placed a hand on his brother's wrist to stop him from moving. "You need to rest, you're in to condition to be running after her… Besides I've learned from experience that women generally like to be left alone when they run out of a room crying."
"You'll make sure she comes back?" asked D'Artagnan slightly breathless, his voice had an edge of pleading to it which the Gascon hated himself for, he was supposed to be angry with them, not pleading for their help.
Smiling softly at his brother Aramis brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes, "Of course. Rest up. We'll ensure they both stay safe… That you can believe of us."
"I would like to apologize on Corinne's behalf monsieur," sighed Maria softly once she and the trio of inseparables had left D'Artagnan alone to rest. "Her father is the only parent she has left and Charles... Charles trusts the bonds blood gives them too much to suspect otherwise."
Athos raised an eyebrow from where he was once again being held up by Porthos. "But you do?"
To their surprise and after a brief moment of hesitation Maria nodded. "I do not believe the ramifications of the attack were what Antoine had intended but the news he was behind it does not shock me as much as it should."
When she noticed the men were staring at her she continued to explain, hating the sense of betrayal she felt for voicing her own suspicions. "Charlie came to see me when he arrived in the village. He was looking for his uncle and mentioned that it was him who had summoned him back regarding an issue on the farm. The thing is Mathis, who had checked in on the farm whenever he could saw no reason for the summons to have gone out and Antoine hadn't been seen in the village all day."
"Was this unusual behavior for him?"
Maria shook her head, "No, at least not lately. The couple of weeks before Charles returned had Antoine leaving the village a lot more than usual. I remember someone asking him about it and he said it was for a new business opportunity that had arisen."
Porthos snorted at her tone of voice, "You don't sound like you like him very much."
"Antoine was older than Alexandre, Charles's father. The farm has been passed down through generations of Charles's family. Only when the time came for Antoine to inherit it both brothers learned of it being left to the younger D'Artagnan, Charles's father. Antoine never forgave his brother for that and regularly showed his displeasure by insulting Alexandre's wife and rejecting his son. Charles is my boy in every way that matters so no, I care not for the man who made him feel worthless for a great deal of his childhood."
The three men's eyes narrowed as they felt their own hatred for the man grow as Maria explained how he had acted towards their brother and his father during D'Artagnan's childhood.
"We should find Corinne," stated Aramis after a moment, having just realized how long they had been talking for. "And we need to write a letter to Treville, Henri will need to set out soon if he's to make any sort of leeway before it gets dark."
"See to your man monsieur, I'll find Corinne. I doubt she'll be overly receptive to any of you right now."
With a nod the group split up, each setting off to fulfill their own tasks while trying to distract themselves from the eventual heartbreak that was to happen when both D'Artagnan and Corinne accepted the truth.
Elsewhere a rather disheveled man sat in the darkest corner of a tavern known to be a hot-spot for gossip, one of his hands resting lightly on the handle of his tankard and the other fiddling aimlessly with the clasp of a silver pocket watch.
The man had been sitting there for some time, just listening to the different pieces of gossip floating around the tavern. After almost four hours of this he finally allowed himself a satisfied smirk as he realized news had not yet reached the city of Quentin's attack on Lupiac, nor the real reason behind it. There had been whispers of a village that had been ransacked by bandits but it appeared either the local authorities didn't know the truth or they were being very tight lipped about the whole thing… Either way worked in the man's favor and he allowed himself one more smirk before downing the rest of his ale, pocketing his watch and leaving the tavern.