Evening My Lovelies
Sorry this is a bit late (again) I hit a bit of a slump with this and ended up just staring at a blank screen for quite some time. So saying that, I shall apologize now if it's not very good.
I had several things planned for this chapter which I didnt get to include (thanks to stupid writers block) such as some whumpage for our favourite swordsman and the definite answer to D'Art's fate but I didnt have time to write them in so they'll be coming tomorrow :)
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Hmm at the moment he's not feeling overly forgiving but maybe after today's chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Oh Louis could probably be even more of a jerk if he really tried lol I'll be revealing what happened to Athos and why Ortiz was able to get the better of him tomorrow I promise - I have a whole idea planned for it but just didnt get a chance to write it thanks to some stupid writers block that stopped me when I started this chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - Hmmm maybe we should just leave you down there *passes blankets and pillows* :D Louis was being a jerk but he'll come around (hopefully) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - His stubbornness is going to help that's for sure. Louis being a jerk, especially to Aramis but he'll come around (hopefully) Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - Yeah Thierry's alive and present today as well :) You may tell me that a lot but I never get tired of hearing it :D Worry not i do know what I'm doing with D'Art, you'll learn his fate tomorrow. Yeah Queen Anne wasnt at the execution (not really her thing) I've tried to include a bit of Anne fussing as I quite liked the idea but I've not written much as I think she'd quickly realize it wasnt that serious of a wound. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Glad you thought so :) Haha I know I'm such a tease lol I could just picture Louis completely acting as if the slight graze was enough to be fatal so I couldnt not write it :D I adored writing the scene with D'Art so I'm really really happy you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Guest: Thanks for the review - Glad you're enjoying it so far. D'Art's in quite a dangerous position and you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out his fate. I dont want the story to end either :) We still have a decent amount of chapters left I think and maybe even some more if I can work out a way to extend the story further. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Ha I'm the same, slightly too addicted to fanfiction. I'm always like "I'll read one chapter then go do something else." then 5hours later I've not moved but I've read quite an impressive amount of fanfics lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x
AmazingWriter123: Thanks for the review - Welcome and thanks for joining us :) Don't worry the story isnt over yet. I've looked into when season 3 airs and it's just saying Spring 2016 so hopefully some time soon. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Hehe I do like to throw in the odd twist every now and then, plus it was too amusing an idea to have Louis freaking out over a small cut to not write it. Aramis was taking no crap from Louis when his brothers are at risk. D'Art's wound is really bad so our boys are working quite hard to treat it, needless to say that if he survives he'll be stuck on bed rest for quite a while. Glad you liked the chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always many thanks and much love to everyone who follows/favourites/reviews/reads this.
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Forty-Two: Ambush Aftermath
Treville was honestly sure he had never been prouder for the way his men valued brotherhood than he was when they finally made it back to the garrison.
Galen and Leroy had clearly made those who had remained behind aware of what happened as several men were standing by the garrison entrance, a stretcher primed and ready for use in their grasps.
The rest of the men had cleared the way from the entrance to the infirmary so that they could move D'Artagnan as smoothly as possible.
"Aramis," Treville called, pulling the medic's attention from where he was trying to tend to the boy as best as he could in their tiny wagon, "Go ahead," he ordered, nodding towards the infirmary as soon as they were close enough to the garrison. "Check you have everything, we'll bring him in on the stretcher.
Aramis looked hesitant to leave but a small moan of pain from the unconscious Gascon as one of the wheels of the wagon caught on a slight dip in the pavement, jarring the wagon enough to cause the boy some discomfort had the medic leaping out of the still moving wagon before racing towards the infirmary.
"We're back whelp," Porthos whispered, his thumb rubbing small circles in the young man's shoulder, "'Mis is going to fix you up so just hold on a bit longer okay? Don't you go leaving us."
"Captain!" Called one of the men standing on standby with the stretcher.
Treville offered the man no verbal response but did nod his thanks to the musketeer as the group moved forward to make it easier to move D'Artagnan onto the stretcher.
"Easy!" growled Athos when their movements pulled another feeble moan of pain from the young Gascon.
"Any movement we make is going to hurt him," Treville said calmly as they worked, "We don't have the luxury of finding any other option for him so you're going to have to bear with it."
Athos grumbled his acceptance and they moved as quickly as possible to get D'Artagnan on the stretcher.
"Lets go!" Athos growled once his brother was settled.
"Get him on the bed," Aramis ordered as soon as the group entered the infirmary. The medic himself was instructing Leroy as to what herbs he would need but was missing.
"I'll be quick," reassured the musketeer before rushing out of the room, his fist clutching the list Aramis had given him.
"What do you need?" Treville asked, coming to stand by Aramis's side as the medic began to remove the completely blood-soaked bandages from his little brother's chest.
"Space and quiet," snapped the marksman, his eyes never leaving his young charge.
Thankfully none of the men were surprised or offended by the medic's harsh tone, each of them knowing full well how the man got when one of them was injured. Instead they all nodded their acceptance and left after assuring the men that all they had to do was call and they would come to their aid.
"I should get back to the King," Treville stated, his voice clearly displaying how much he really did not wish to leave his injured man as well as his annoyance at knowing he had to.
Offering the men a strained smile he clamped a hand on Porthos's shoulder, "maybe I can persuade him not to actually take your commissions," he joked, having a sneaking suspicion that the King wouldn't really take their commissions, more due to the fact that they were arguably the best in the regiment and to do so would put his own safety at greater risk.
"Damn," muttered Aramis, his eyes never leaving the bloody mess that was his brother.
"What!?" both Porthos and Athos exclaimed as one, their fear practically tangible as they stared wide-eyed at their brother.
"It's as I feared, I can't stitch this…" Aramis sighed, resisting the urge to run his now bloody fingers through his hair. "We're going to need to cauterize it."
"Is he… strong enough for that?" Athos whispered, his worried eyes never leaving D'Artagnan's pale face.
"He'll have to be," Aramis said firmly as he moved to prepare everything he needed, "If we don't he'll die."
"Shit," cursed Porthos, barely suppressing the urge to flinch at the mere thought of what pain his brother would be in.
"Let me help," said a soft voice.
"Thierry?" Athos remarked, an eyebrow rose at the man being up and about, "Should you be up?"
"Probably not," shrugged the man as he slowly made his way over to the small group, pulling up a chair by the fire, "I can pass you the daggers whilst they hold him down," he added, looking towards Aramis, who nodded in acceptance to this idea.
"The wound needs cleaning first," Aramis stated, handing tweezers to both Porthos and Athos, "Move quickly but carefully," he added before the trio began work on clearing out pieces of D'Artagnan's clothing that had been pushed into the wound.
ROYAL PALACE
"Your Majesties," Treville said as he bowed low to the royal couple. All whilst trying not to sigh at the King who was now 'resting' in bed as if his wound had been life threatening.
"There. You. Are!" snapped King Louis as he glared at the musketeer Captain. He was very offended that the Captain had chosen to abandon him after he had been injured.
After getting injured in an elaborate break out operation and then being treated by that solider-turned-medic the King was on his last never… and that wasn't even counting the betrayal of the Captain.
In fact the only good thing he could think that had come out of the whole thing was that it gave him the opportunity to be fussed over by Anne. The pair of them had been distant of late but seeing him come back with bloodstained clothing had brought a look of fearful concern to her eyes that he was ashamed to admit he liked to see.
Anne had then insisted on fussing over him whilst they waited for the physician to arrive to check over the musketeer's work.
Annoyingly the physician had given the musketeer's work high praise and said that providing he didn't pull any of the stitches that his wound should heal with little, if any, scarring.
"How are you?" Treville asked, his whole body language screaming how little he could care at that moment… Something that Louis and a slightly distracted Anne seemed to miss.
"I was stabbed Treville!" snapped Louis, his anger making him blind to the eye roll the Captain was unable to contain. "I was stabbed and then you left… Why?"
"One of my most promising musketeers was dying that's why!" snapped Treville, his anger getting the best of him for a moment until he forced himself to at least try to calm down.
"What?" Gasped Anne, her hand flying to her mouth at Treville's declaration.
Sighing Treville explained, "D'Artagnan stepped in front of Ortiz's blade when he was about to kill Athos. We had to rush him back to the garrison for treatment. He's lost a lot of blood and is in critical condition at the moment."
Anne moved from her husband's bedside and gently squeezed on of Treville's hands, "Go Captain," she said with a soft smile, "You should be with your men, leave my husband to me."
Treville hesitated for a moment, waiting to see if King Louis would object but when no protest came he was quick to offer his heartfelt thanks to the Queen before moving to exit the room.
"Captain," Anne called softly, waiting until Treville turned to face her, "Should we be able to do anything, do not hesitate to ask."
Treville's eyes widened slightly before he responded in kind to the Queen's smile, thanking her, and Louis, again before leaving, practically jogging to reach his horse.
GARRISON INFIRMARY
"'Mis," Porthos called hesitantly, repeating the call when the medic didn't respond.
"What?" Aramis snapped as he let his attention drift from the daggers heating on the fire.
"Can we give 'im something? I think 'e's wakin'" Porthos asked, concerned as he watched the occasional twitch and moan that came from the boy.
"No," Aramis said sadly, not willing to risk giving the boy anything that would knock him out when he had already lost a great deal of blood.
Receiving the confirmation from Thierry that the daggers were hot enough Aramis turned his focus to his two brothers who moved, unasked, into their positions by D'Artagnan's head and feet.
"Ready?" Aramis asked, internally preparing himself for what was about to happen.
Neither musketeer responded with anything more than a curt nod but Aramis decided to take what he could get. Holding out a hand toward Thierry he said, "Dagger."
Athos didn't know what was worse as held down his unconscious, yet still screaming, little brother – the screams of pain, the stench of burnt flesh or the painful memories it brought back of his time in Lupiac.
"You good 'Thos?" Porthos asked, having noticed the paleness of his friend's features and knowing instantly from the haunted look in his eyes that he was back in the cell in Lupiac being stabbed and burned. He longed to reach over to his brother, to comfort him and ground him in the present, not that the present was much better than the past he was remembering. Unfortunately D'Artagnan took precedence at that moment and so he couldn't move, he needed to stop D'Artagnan from thrashing around too much and hurting himself or them.
The larger musketeer decided instead to keep up a steady stream of comforting words for the man, hoping that it might help bring Athos back to them.
It took several minutes, during which Aramis and Thierry kept up their rhythm of swapping out hot daggers with cooler ones, but eventually Porthos saw Athos's eyes clear and watched as the swordsman's grip on D'Artagnan's ankles lessened ever so slightly from the vice grip he had been using.
"I'm good," breathed Athos heavily, his eyes full of thanks to his friend who nodded in response.
"How are we doing Aramis?" Athos asked, his voice slowly starting to sound more like his usual self.
"About – " the medic started only to freeze when D'Artagnan's body went completely limp. "He's still alive," he reassured after a quick check of D'Artagnan's breathing and pulse, "We're just over half way," he added, answering the swordsman's question, though his answer made both musketeers pale slightly. "It's a very large wound," he offered lamely before returning to work.
"Any news?" Treville asked as he entered into the courtyard to see most of his regiment watching the infirmary door anxiously.
"None," sighed Etienne, resting his elbows on the table in front of him and his head in his hands. "He's stopped screaming though." He added, though part of him was unsure as to whether or not to be concerned about that.
"You don't want to do that," called Leroy as he noticed Treville about to make his way into the infirmary. At the Captain's raised eyebrow he elaborated, "It's very tense in there, you go in there and you'll get your head bitten off."
Treville hesitated for a moment before nodding and settling himself down on one of the benches. "What of the others?" he asked, his eyes roaming over his men, "any casualties or serious injuries from the ambush?"
"Thankfully no," smiled Etienne, "Several men needed stitch work but nothing that won't heal completely in a few weeks. I think the worst, besides D'Artagnan, was Antoine who got quite a nasty stab wound to the side that took some work to tend to."
Treville sighed in relief at the news that he had not lost any men in that ambush, now he could only hope that remained true as he watched the infirmary door for any signs of coming news.