Evening My Lovelies
We get to see some Louis today, I've written him in several stories now but I always worry that he ends up a bit out of character. So apologies if he does.
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - :) I'm glad you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
CaroH: Thanks for the review - Your right to be worried about the pup but you'll see why in a few chapters time. In terms of Louis we'll see what he's up to today ... he's basically just being his usual ignorant and obnoxious self. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Troy08 (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yeah they might learn eventually that secret missions never end well. Treville is quite pissed at the King for keeping him out of the loop so he's quite determined to get answers from him today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
A reader (Guest): Thanks for the review - I think I'm just addicted to writing lol... but it's always nice knowing other people enjoy it too :) Glad you're enjoying it so far. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Treville's determined to get answers as he's quite pissed at being kept out of the loop. Our boys wont actually be riding out till tomorrow but yes they will be heading out to find our Gascon. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Sorry I'm meant to go back and change it, yeah he was just recovering from a cold, nothing too serious. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Ruth (Guest): Thanks for the review - No I completely agree with your comment about how I ended the last story, it wasn't until I went back to read it once I had published it that I realized how I had gotten so focused on punishing the traitor that I had completely skimmed over repairing D'Arts & Athos's relationship... which was a pretty key point of the story. All I can say for that is sorry! I'm hoping I've learnt from that and that we wont be seeing a repeat in this story but if it starts to seem like its going that way feel free to call me out on it. I absolutely welcome constructive criticism :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
pain in the mikta: Thanks for the reviews - Glad you seem to be enjoying it so far hopefully today will clear up the summoning. Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - Yeah we'll be seeing a delirious D'Art at some point in this story :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Jamepa (Guest): Thanks for the review - No problemo :) Glad you're enjoying it so far. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I have quite a bit planned for our boys which will lead to the need for forgiveness. Treville's out to get answers today and our boys will be off to the rescue tomorrow... though when do things ever go as planned :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Guest: Thanks for the review - No this is a completely new story not a follow on. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - When do secret solo missions ever end well lol :) I have a lot planned for our boys so I cant say if it's D'Art thats apologizing. Glad you like the chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As usual many many thanks to you lovely people who follow/favourite/review/read this story, love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Three: Mission Details
Louis was not a patient man, he was King of France after all and here he was waiting for the return of his newest musketeer. He brushed off his Queen's attempts to placate him, her assurances that the boy had simply been delayed by bad weather or some other such nonsense. The man was a musketeer for heavens sake! To dally with such an important mission because of a spot rain was not the attitude of his elite guard.
"Your Majesties" Treville said, bowing low as he and his men entered the throne room.
Treville had become well acquainted with measuring the mood of the flippant, childish King. As such it was not hard for him to discern the growing annoyance of the royal as he lounged on his throne, feet tapping distractingly on the cold tile floor.
This mood was not uncommon as the King regularly found himself annoyed or fed up with an number of things, but today Treville knew that the annoyance of his sovereign was because of D'Artagnan and the lad was far to proud to have earned his commission, only a couple of months ago, to risk it by angering the King. This could only mean something bad and unavoidable had befallen his newest musketeer.
The tension in the room could be cut with a knife as each of the musketeers forced themselves not to straight up demand information on whatever so called mission that the King had sent him on. The boy was their younger brother and they would protect him to death if required.
"Captain!" Louis summoned, rising from his chair and walking towards the Captain, "where in God's name is D'Artagnan? I gave him specific instructions that he was to report to me as soon as he returned and yet here we are almost two days passed the deadline and he has yet to show or send word!"
Grim looks passed between the inseparables as they took in the King's words… Missing. Their little brother was officially missing.
"He hasn't arrived at the garrison either has he?" Anne asked calmly as she gently interrupted her husband's rant, she had seen the devotion the Gascon had to his position, he had easily become one of the top in the regiment alongside the three men standing beside Treville, despite the relatively short amount of time he had been with them for. It wasn't like him to not show and the young Queen feared for his safety. Despite many seeing her as meek or quiet in nature, the young royal was extremely observant and had not missed the worried looks that passed between the tightknit group of men before her.
"He has not my Queen" Treville replied solemnly, "I was not aware of when he was expected back, let alone the nature of the boy's assignment"
"He was working for me on a confidential matter" Louis stubbornly replied, as if the vague answer should have been enough to placate the silently panicking Captain and his men.
Treville fought the urge to audibly sigh or huff in frustration at the King's words. It was at times like this the senior Captain really resented having such a self-absorbed, naive child as a King. He was about to open his mouth to question the royal further when another beat him to it.
"Your Highness, if I may" Athos approached, bowing low to the King as he spoke, the King could be remarkably stubborn when he wished and at the moment he was the only person who knew where their little brother had been sent, it would serve them well not to antagonize the man further. Once the King had nodded his agreement for the swordsman to continue, Athos resumed speaking "If D'Artagnan has been delayed it is because something has happened to him, we would greatly appreciate any information you can give us as to his last known location so we can find him and return him home."
Aramis and Porthos stood rigidly as they watched Athos implore the King to help, both men at this point would have been happy to resort to any means to get the information they needed to find their missing brother and knew that Athos was the same, but they wisely remembered just who held that information and resorted to watching Athos handle the situation.
King Louis silent debated the matter for several moments – although it felt like hours to the anxious men awaiting his decision. "Follow me" the King huffed resignedly, leading the group to a private room where they could talk without the risk of being overheard.
"Several days ago…" Louis began, slumping himself into a plush chair, acting every bit the petulant child he looked, "one of the servants stole some very important documents from my private office, upon discovering where the thief hailed from I dispatched D'Artagnan to retrieve the documents" he eyes narrowed "by any means necessary"
"The nature of the documents?" Treville asked before one of his men could demand a location, the document's content could aid in discerning just who would benefit from stopping… no! Simply detaining, it's return to the King and Paris.
"Many things regarding our standing in Spain… Names of agents… Their general descriptions… mission details and results, that sort of thing. Were they to fall into certain hands we would not only lose our best source of intelligence as to what the Spanish are planning but having definite proof of a French presence on their soil may anger them enough to decide retaliation is in order." the Cardinal spoke up for the first time in this discussion, he could care less what befell the boy, but these documents and their loss put France in a very precarious situation, their return or at the very least, confirmed destruction was key to the prevention of a war.
Athos cursed silently, of all the things their stubborn pup could have gotten himself entangled in, it HAD to be a potential war threat.
"The servants location?" he asked through gritted teeth as he willed himself to remain composed and calm – to let his emotions rule him at this moment would benefit nobody, especially D'Artagnan.
"The thief comes from Gascony" the Queen explained when it appeared that the King was far more interested in sulking the problem away then helping the musketeers find their missing brother and stopping an attack from Spain.
Though the young Queen did not miss the reaction of the three men and their Captain when she explained why their youngest member had been chosen for the task. "It was one of the main reasons my King saw fit to assign this delicate task to D'Artagnan. The young musketeer confirmed that he too hailed from the small town and that he knew the majority of its people. My King felt that it would be more beneficial to send someone the town's inhabitants were already friendly or at least acquainted with."
"But why alone?" Aramis asked, the question refusing to be denied asking any longer. It took his mind a second to realize that he had essentially cut off the Queen, although the young royal seemed unbothered by his interruption and did not comment on it.
"This is a matter of national security" the Cardinal sneered, taking great joy in the pain this situation was causing these particular musketeers "One man, especially one known to several in the area, is a lot less conspicuous than a contingent."
"Your Majesty" Athos implored, waiting for the King to acknowledge him once again before continuing "With your permission we will find who or what has detained D'Artagnan and what has become of the documents" he had phrased it to allow for the Kings permission, but he knew that he and his brothers would be riding out within the hour, regardless of the Kings decision.
"I want those documents returned" Louis ordered, nodding their heads in reply the musketeers were quick to leave and begin their preparations for the journey ahead.