Hi. Sorry this one took so long. Life etc. Also I struggled with this slightly as I knew what I wanted to write but I wasn't sure it was coming across ok. Thank you to everyone who still continues to read. :)
Hope you enjoy it. :)
Chapter Twenty-Three
As expected none of the musketeers slept well. Aramis was the first to rise as he made his way over to the infirmary to check on Joubert. Dr. Lemay had stayed the night and for now the brave musketeer was hanging on to his life. But only just.
Aramis sighed as he left the infirmary. Athos was right. This was going to be hard for him but he would have to keep his emotions in check especially with Rochefort accompanying them. Aramis made his way into the courtyard to find Athos sitting at their usual table with two bowls of porridge. Aramis sat opposite as Athos pushed one bowl towards his friend. Aramis stared at it for moment but was aware Athos' piercing glare was focused on him and started to eat.
'How are you feeling?' Athos broke the silence.
'Fine,' was Aramis' retort. Aramis could again feel Athos' glare and looked up. Athos clearly didn't believe him. 'Nervous,' he admitted. 'I didn't sleep well.'
'Neither did I,' Athos admitted as he tried to eat more of his porridge.
'Joubert survived the night,' Aramis quickly changed the subject. 'Dr. Lemay still says it's touch and go though.'
'Let's hope he pulls through.' They continued to eat in silence.
They became aware of footsteps as Porthos appeared looking slightly ragged, clearly he hadn't slept well either which was unusual for a man who could generally fall asleep anywhere and at any time.
'Morning,' he grumbled as he moved to get his own breakfast. He re-emerged a few minutes later with his own bowl of porridge but he was clearly struggling to eat it like the other two.
D'Artagnan trudged over and didn't bother to stifle his yawn and sat at the table with his own porridge stirring it absent-mindedly with no intention of eating.
'We need to be ready when Rochefort arrives,' Athos broke the uncomfortable silence. 'I don't want him spouting about how he was waiting for us.'
'Monsieur Athos,' Athos turned to see Jacques who tried to stifle his yawn but failed.
'Jacques,' Athos nodded.
'The horses are all saddled and ready for you,' Jacques replied.
'Thank you Jacques,' Athos managed a half-smile as the stable boy returned to the stables.
'Let's get all our stuff on the horses and find the other four,' Athos said getting up from his half-eaten breakfast. The other three quickly followed suit. They were too nervous to eat.
They went back to their rooms to retrieve their saddlebags which they had packed the night before. Aramis made a quick stop at the infirmary so top-up his medical supplies and found that Joubert's condition hadn't changed. He sighed and prayed silently for his brother to recover. When he reached the courtyard he found that everyone else was ready and they were now waiting for Rochefort and the Red Guard to arrive.
'Rochefort better hurry up or I suggest we leave without 'im,' Porthos muttered.
'Not sure that would go down well the King,' D'Artagnan flashed a cheeky grin towards his friend.
'I've got a cart ready that will follow half an hour behind us to retrieve our fallen comrades,' Athos said quietly.
'Good,' Aramis walked over a placed a hand on Athos' shoulder just to reassure him that he had done the right thing.
Gabriel, Allard, Petit and Durand were all stood by their horses looking nervous but Athos knew that he could trust these men to follow him. It was Rochefort and the Red Guards that worried him.
There was a noise at the gates as Rochefort and his three chosen Red Guards entered. The guards were pulling the reins of other horses that were carrying the tied prisoners. Athos had been expecting the prisoners to be transported in cart.
'Shall we go then,' Rochefort sneered. 'Oh, I thought it would be quicker with our prisoners riding on horseback rather than in a cart,' he had clearly understood Athos' surprise at the situation. Athos wasn't happy as the prisoners could possibly escape riding their own horses and they would have nothing to trade. On the other hand, it would be far quicker. Athos decided not to say anything and mounted his horse along with the other musketeers. They didn't have time to waste.
Queen Anne and Tréville woke as light shone into their cell. Both had managed a small amount of sleep with Tréville getting the most. He sat up and instantly felt his ribs and realised that his first instincts were correct that some of his ribs were definitely broken. He couldn't stop his gasp of pain.
'Captain?' Anne had woken earlier and had barely slept. 'Is there anything I can do?' She moved closer to him and helped him sit up for which he was grateful.
'No, Your Majesty. I'm afraid broken ribs aren't easy to sort out,' he huffed a laugh as he looked at her tired and drawn face. 'Did you get any sleep?'
'Not really,' she said quietly.
The door clunked open as Renard stood before them.
'Today's the day,' he smiled cheerfully but Anne could only glare in return. 'I'm sure you need to use the facilities so queen's first,' Renard bowed mockingly and Anne could feel her embarrassment rising but she also knew she couldn't hold it forever.
Once both Anne and Tréville were back in their cell Renard gave them a measly breakfast of an apple and some cheese each. Anne felt sick but she knew she needed to eat and once she had started eating she finished her portion quickly realising how little she had eaten recently. Tréville offered her his apple as well but she politely refused knowing that the injured man needed to keep his strength up.
'Who do you think will come for us?' Anne asked. She was resigned to the fact that her musketeers wouldn't be coming but she really had no idea what to expect.
Tréville was now sitting against the wall trying to take shallow breaths to ease the pain in his ribs.
'Honestly I don't know,' he admitted. 'My first choice can't come so maybe Gabriel will lead them.'
'But?'
'I think Rochefort may use this to bring the Red Guard into Louis' favour. The Musketeers haven't been...let's say...well received lately,' Tréville sighed heavily and Anne could see the anguish his statement had caused him.
'You don't believe in the Red Guard,' it was more of a statement than a question.
'They're fine soldiers...they're just not...the best,' he smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
Silence fell as they realised that this exchange, or whatever Renard had asked for, could go perilously wrong.
'You know I prayed that Athos, Aramis, Porthos and D'Artagnan would somehow find a way to be here. Wishful thinking I suppose,' Anne said quietly.
'Let us hope the Lord heard you.'
They had been riding for an hour but Rochefort was becoming increasingly annoyed at the presence of the musketeers. They were clearly making plans that would relegate him into a supporting role when he wanted to be the person Anne saw first when she was rescued. He needed her to see how brave he was to come and rescue her.
In the distance they could see the woods and knew they would soon be closing in on their destination.
'I think it would be best if I take care of Her Majesty when we rescue her,' he voiced his opinion loudly as the musketeers turned to him.
'An' why should you do that?' Porthos asked gruffly.
'Clearly fighting will not be my strong point and that would best be left to the soldiers. I could help move Her Majesty away from danger while you take on the brutes who have done this,' Rochefort smirked slightly as he realised that he had made a good argument.
'I will consider it,' Athos stated with no hint of emotion.
The musketeers moved further forwards and Aramis brought himself level with Athos.
'You're not serious?' Aramis hissed.
'Actually, he makes a good point,' Athos turned to Aramis who shocked by his friend's statement. 'It will make sure he is out of the way. Aramis remember this is not only about you. It will be safer for everyone if Her Majesty is removed from harm while we fight.'
Aramis sighed, 'I'm being selfish aren't I?'
'You want to protect the Queen so do it in the best way you can,' Athos made sure Aramis had eye-contact with him. 'Using your deadly aim,' Athos managed to quirk a small smile and Aramis huffed with laughter. The marksman also knew that they needed to appease Rochefort because the man had the ear of the King.
Porthos and D'Artagnan had overheard their comrades' conversation and quizzical looks passed between them. Why would Aramis be so worried about who took the Queen to safety? They both shrugged and approached.
'So you're going to let him have his way?' D'Artagnan asked.
'Yes. It may shut him up,' Athos replied.
'Keeps him outta the way,' Porthos agreed.
They continued in silence for a while as they came to the edge of the treeline.
'Everyone be vigilant,' Athos barked. 'We don't want to waste time fending off attacks.'
Everyone, even the Red Guards nodded in unison and they all stayed alert. The group travelled calmly for a while as they could hear the birds singing in the trees.
'Aramis, tell me you're not going to shoot any of those birds?' D'Artagnan smiled cheekily.
'Don't worry about the birds D'Artagnan, I'm not planning on shooting any of them,' he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. 'But I may shoot you if you continue to remind me of that incident.' Porthos roared with laughter as Athos snorted slightly while Aramis was grinning and raised his eyebrows as if to say 'really'. D'Artagnan shook his head grinning. He had managed to lift the mood slightly.
Rochefort who was riding behind them muttered, 'Pathetic,' but if anyone heard him they didn't acknowledge it. Rochefort knew they were coming up to the planned ambush sight and was relishing wiping the smirks of the musketeers' faces.
They travelled a bit longer but suddenly Aramis unintentionally pulled on Fidget's reins making the horse whinny in protest. The other musketeers turned to look at him and saw that all the colour had left his face.
'Aramis?' Porthos called with concern obvious in his voice.
Aramis pointed ahead, 'Crows,' he managed to croak out.
The others understood that Aramis was now regressing back to Savoy. Porthos moved back to ride alongside him and Aramis nodded that he was grateful. Rochefort watched on interestedly wondering what could have shaken a man that was normally affected by very little.
'If the bodies are close then they are either outside of the shack of the kidnappers turned back on themselves,' D'Artagnan said quietly to Athos as they soon rounded the corner and in the distance could see crows gnawing a lumps in the middle of the road and by the side of it.
Aramis swallowed harshly and started to breathe deeply to control the sickness that he now felt and try and ward of the reminders of the attack he survived alone. Porthos kept a constant eye on Aramis and was ready to catch him if need be.
As they approached the cawing of the crows became louder and the smell of blood filled their nostrils. Clearly some bodies had been moved out of the centre of the road but had been dumped out of the way with little respect. All the musketeers dismounted as did Rochefort. The Red Guards kept hold their prisoners' horses and remained mounted.
Aramis closed his eyes for a moment and was startled to see the forest in Savoy before him. A scene he thought he had managed to erase from his memory. Rochefort watched the marksman closely wondering what was going on in Aramis' head. The other musketeers seemed to understand. Actually only his three friends seemed to understand.
'Let's move the bodies onto the side of the road,' Athos said with a slight crack in his voice. The musketeers moved in unison including Aramis who was now praying under his breath with his hand clutched to his chest where his crucifix was lodged under his coat.
'Seriously, just leave them. That's what the clean-up crew is for,' Rochefort said loudly with irritation in his voice. Porthos started to charge towards Rochefort but Athos got there first and swung a right hook connecting with Rochefort's cheek bone and sending the Comte crashing to the ground.
'DON'T YOU DARE DISRESPECT OUR FALLEN BROTHERS!' Athos yelled with fury emanating from him and his icy blue eyes blazing with fire. 'YOU WILL NEVER COME CLOSE TO BEING THEIR EQUAL!'
Athos looked as if he may attack Rochefort again but Porthos and D'Artagnan moved in front of him to stop the swordsman. Athos gave Rochefort one more filthy look before he turned to start gently moving his fallen brothers' bodies off the road with the other musketeers.
Rochefort jumped to his feet and was about to start shouting when Aramis appeared in front of him shaking his head. The message was clear, 'Don't'.
Rochefort winced in pain and tried to calm his breaths as Aramis approached.
'Leave me alone!' the Comte spat at the marksman.
'Let me see,' Aramis replied calmly. 'We need to know if your cheekbone is fractured on not.' Rochefort looked at Aramis and could see no gloating in the man's eyes and sighed as he realised that Aramis was looking to help.
'Alright,' he said.
'This may hurt,' Aramis said as he started to press along Rochefort's cheekbone. Rochefort couldn't help but wince as the marksman pressed.
'It's not broken,' Aramis announced. 'But you will have a very pretty bruise,' Aramis smiled. 'If you're lucky, it will be almost as good as D'Artagnan's.' Aramis felt an elbow gently thrust into his ribs as D'Artagnan pulled level. The bruise around his eye still evident.
'The King will here of this,' Rochefort threatened.
'Bad move,' D'Artagnan said matter-of-factly.
'Unless you want to explain how you were disrespecting the King's own soldiers,' Aramis smirked. All Rochefort could do was growl.
Soon the fallen musketeers were laid out in respect at the side of the road and everyone knew they had to move on. Interestingly the prisoners had bowed their heads in respect as they passed rather than smile in victory. They were likely to be soldiers themselves to have reacted in such a way and Athos finally knew where he had seen them before. They had been with Vincent when Aramis had tricked them into thinking that baby Henry had died after Aramis fell from his horse and 'accidently' threw the baby in the water. Of course Henry was fine and Athos himself had been left holding the baby. Could Marie de Medici have been behind the Queen's kidnapping? Athos shook himself and tried to leave those thoughts behind. They still had an important job to do.
A horse suddenly bolted out of the trees and it was a familiar horse. Blaze. Tréville's stallion. Porthos quickly caught the animal's reins and soothed it. Other horses followed and were clearly the horses of the fallen musketeers. The horses were tied to the nearby trees as the following musketeers would be able to take them home to the garrison.
Porthos kept hold of Blaze's reins.
'He's coming with us,' he stated with an air of no argument.
'Why?' sneered Rochefort.
'Captain's horse,' was all that Porthos was willing to say.
They travelled for another mile before they saw the royal carriage stationed at the side of the road and they looked up and could see the shack. They had reached their destination.
Anne was bristling with nerves as she started to pace around the cell. She didn't want to wait anymore. Where were they?
'You Majesty,' Tréville said calmly. 'They will come and you will be out of here and safe.'
'You think you won't make it out of here?'
'I am dispensable. No doubt the King had instructed to save you as the top priority. As it should be.'
'I will do everything I can to make sure you are not left behind,' she knelt in front of Tréville, her eyes gleaming with tears. 'You have comforted me well, my friend.'
'I just wish I hadn't had to,' he smiled back with a genuine smile.
The door to the cell clanked open and Anne and Tréville turned to see Renard who announced, 'They're here.'
A/N: I was asked for a punch so I hope it was appropriate. :)