Evening My Lovelies
WE DID IT! OVER 600 REVIEWS! *mega happy dance* I can't believe how many reviews this story has gotten, you guy are completely awesome for sticking with me and reviewing so often I hope you all know that! 3
Just a note - Anything in italics today is something I've brought over from yesterday's chapter, just in case it sounds familiar to you :)
URGENT! Do we want our boys (i.e. Athos and Porthos) to kill Ortiz or would we like him to make it to a proper execution?
Notes On Reviews:
A reader (Guest): Thanks for the review - You are indeed reviewer 600! Thank you so much for sticking we me :) I couldn't resist a bit of banter so I'm glad you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Deana: Thanks for the review - :D Glad you liked it. Aramis is trying to have hope but it's pretty hard for the man at the moment. I think he knows that he'll be more of a hindrance given his leg, if he tried to go searching for them, plus there are still plenty of injured people needing his help so he'll be stuck outside. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Bombadilo Baby: Thanks for the review - I know I'm so evil mwahaha I let things begin to look up for the boy and them drag them back down again :D We'll find out who's targeting D'Art today but worry not he'll not be running away again... If anything it's actually going to help him as bizarre as that sounds. 'Fraid I can't promise not to hurt Athos ... But I will promise not to kill him :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it. I do like letting you all think everything's going to be okay before throwing in a twist :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - I'm going to take that as you enjoyed it lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Yeah they kinda got Ortiz, we'll be looking more at that tomorrow. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I can't help it! D'Art's just too whumpable! Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - Hehe I'm glad you think so, Ortiz is definitely my top favourite villain that I've created so I'm glad you like (would that be the right word?) him. I didnt get a cookie but I did get half a tub of hagendaz icecream so I figure that'll count lol :) I'm quite enjoying D'Artagnan's nightmares and I have an idea for another one though he is beginning to do better now (or will be) so I'm not sure if I will actually write it, will have to wait and see. Glad your adjusting to being one of us adults :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
pheonixriv: Thanks for the review - Its fine lol It'll teach me to read the whole thing before worrying lol :) I can't believe i did that either! I have no idea where the idea for that came from. Hahaha Hoping you didnt get too many weird looks for your exclamation ^.^ You'll be finding out if your guess was correct straight away today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - That means my evil mind is doing its job right :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Teddy2104: Thanks for the review - Ortiz will be getting some pain tomorrow as well I promise :) The baddies dont go away because I keep adding new ones or bringing back existing ones lol Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Bless, poor Aramis is going to be feeling quite overworked by the time this is all over. You'll be finding out who's in D'Arts room straight away dont worry about that :) I know! I was feeling generous with my cliffies as well as being in a slightly evil mood :) Aramis's hope is faltering a bit but he'll have someone to remind him to stay strong so he'll be okay. To be honest I had forgotten about Queenie but I'll address her today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I have no idea how I'm doing it either but I do know that constantly getting lovely reviews from you and everyone else definitely helps so THANK YOU for sticking with me throughout this story :) Oh yeah our boy's protectiveness with regards to each other is at an all time high, or at least it will be once this is over. Glad you liked the line, just another stab in the gut for our Athos but I did enjoy writing it. Hehe I do really enjoy letting you all think that things are about to improve and get better before throwing another twist into the story :D I just loved writing Aramis yesterday and he has a bit today which amused me to write as well. You wont be waiting too long to find out who's got our pup. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks to you awesome people who follow/favourite/review/read this. Love you all
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Fifty-Nine: Trouble
"Hello brat…"
"Claude," growled D'Artagnan, eyes involuntarily widening in panic, as the dagger was pressed harder against his throat, a few drops of blood trickling down his neck.
"Bet you're right proud of yourself runt," snarled Claude, glaring daggers at the pinned Gascon as he spoke, "You got the Captain on your side and everyone pitying you."
"You think I want pity!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, his usual hot-headedness coming out as he addressed his attacker.
"I think," growled Claude, releasing his grip on D'Artagnan so he could backhand the young Gascon, hitting him with enough force to send the boy stumbling to the ground, gasping in pain as it caused his injuries to flare up. "The fact that I caught you so unawares is only more proof of what I've said all along. You. Don't. Belong. Here" Claude snarled, accentuating the last four words by punching the Gascon.
Lying on the floor D'Artagnan felt anger brewing within him. He was so sick of hearing he wasn't good enough, that he didn't belong. The fury he was feeling was strong enough to silence the traitorous part of his mind that was trying to agree with Claude's words.
"I… Don't… Care!" snarled D'Artagnan, using what remained of his strength to kick Claude in his shin.
"Argh!" cried Claude as his leg gave way under the impact, allowing D'Artagnan enough time to scramble back to his feet.
"If anyone doesn't belong here it's YOU!" exclaimed the Gascon as he tried to locate anything that could be used as a weapon whilst keeping his eyes on the suspended musketeer.
"You think killing me is going to get you back in the regiment!? All you're doing in forcing the Captain's hand, he'll have no choice but the strip your commission for this!"
Claude smirked and it sent shivers down D'Artagnan's spine. "It'll be a bit hard for him to do in his current state so I think I'll take my chances."
"What?" asked D'Artagnan, worry and panic lining his voice as he barely dodged Claude's attack.
"You didn't hear?" mocked Claude, "Guess they really don't trust you."
Grabbing a tray off of the side and raising it to cover his face just in time, D'Artagnan scowled, "what are you talking about?"
"Your Spanish stalker's attacked the palace, practically blew it up."
D'Artagnan felt his blood turn to ice as he processed that piece of information; his distracted state almost cost him as he just barely managed to dodge another attack from the suspended musketeer.
"Athos…" he whispered brokenly, feeling a few he hadn't felt since waking up to find his mentor and brother chained up in front of him, completely at Ortiz's mercy.
"That's right," jeered Claude, no longer bothering to attack properly as he was enjoying watching the boy's heart shatter right in front of him. "That drunkard went there as well."
"Shut up!" screamed D'Artagnan as he threw the tray in his hands at Claude's head, inwardly cheering as it clipped the man despite his attempt to dodge.
"Athos is worth a hundred of you and besides, you're hardly one to talk with drinking!" glared the Gascon, having noticed the distinctive smell of alcohol lingering on the suspended musketeer. The drink also explained how D'Artagnan was able to gain the upper hand he was slowly getting, as well as how he was able to dodge Claude's attacks so easily.
Apparently that wasn't the smartest thing to say as it enraged the drunk man enough that he launched himself at the surprised D'Artagnan, the force of the impact sending both men tumbling to the floor and gasping for air as breath was knocked from their lungs.
Claude recovered first and wasted no time in clamping his hands tightly around the Gascon's throat, gritting his teeth as D'Artagnan fought back against his hold with more force then he was expecting.
Eyes wide with panic as he struggled to get air into his lungs D'Artagnan scrambled to find anything to use as a way to get Claude off of him.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the thick book Athos had loaned him resting on the floor.
With tears prickling in the corner of his eyes from the inferno of pain in his chest D'Artagnan clawed the book until he had moved it close enough to him to get a decent grip on it. Feeling the effects of limited oxygen affecting him D'Artagnan put all his hope on his last move as he swung the book at Claude's head with as much force as he could muster, coughing and spluttering when the grip on his throat slacked as Claude fell unconscious the Gascon allowed himself to take a moment to pull himself together.
"D'Artagnan!" cried a worried voice and squinting through the tears built up in his eyes the Gascon could just make out a familiar form.
"T-Thierry?" he rasped, his voice weak and hoarse.
"Easy boy," soothed the older man, "don't try to talk, he did some right damage to your throat."
When D'Artagnan looked at him inquisitively Thierry shifted uncomfortably.
"I heard him attack you from my room, I would have intervened had you been in dire need of assistance."
At this D'Artagnan scowled and pointed at his throat, deciding to take the man's advice and not push his injured throat by talking.
"By the time I realized what he was doing you had already taken care of it, my apologies regardless though."
D'Artagnan scrutinized the man for a moment and after seeing genuine remorse and guilt in the man's eyes he nodded weakly to him, accepting his help to sit up.
"Damn boy," smirked Thierry as he observed the damage the Gascon had managed to do to Claude, "You've been spending too much time with Porthos to be able to throw a hit like that."
Despite knowing it was meant as a lighthearted tease to the larger musketeer's recent habit of punching whoever woke him up D'Artagnan felt himself beaming at the comment regardless, deciding to take the underlying compliment as it was.
"You doing better now?" Thierry asked, only to elaborate when D'Artagnan looked confusedly at him, "I didn't intervene as I could tell you needed to handle this on your own. You needed to be reminded that you could do this, to take care of yourself despite your injuries."
D'Artagnan blinked at the man, both humbled and grateful for what the man had done by letting him handle Claude on his own. It now felt like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, he hadn't needed anyone's protection, he had fought and subdued a threat to himself and potentially his brothers, without needing any assistance.
Realizing how liberated he felt by this one act he nodded enthusiastically at Thierry, hoping the musketeer could see the gratitude burning in his eyes… Judging by the chuckle Thierry released and how he moved to ruffle the Gascon's hair, D'Artagnan was sure he understood.
PALACE
"NO!" snapped the medic, "The fire's out now so grab some men and start moving debris, we're not leaving them in there regardless of what… condition they're in when we reach them."
Being jolted back into the waking world by a pained, yet clearly extremely furious exclamation from Aramis was not the most pleasant experience for Treville, though he couldn't deny the pride he felt for the man as he listened to him take charge of the situation and the men.
"Don't the pair of you be dead on me," whispered the Spaniard brokenly as he gripped his rosary tightly in his hands.
This made Treville's brows furrow, clearly more had happened then he could remember.
"Ar… Aramis" he croaked, wincing at the pain in his body though his voice was enough to pull Aramis from his worried thoughts and bring him back to the situation at hand.
"Captain!" exclaimed the medic, the relief he felt at seeing the Captain awake and somewhat lucid barely took the edge off of the worry and panic settling within the man's gut.
All thoughts of his brothers vanished from his mind temporarily though when he saw Treville attempting to move.
"Oi! What do you think you're doing? Do you have a death wish!?" snapped the medic as he placed his hands on Treville's shoulders to gently force him to lie back down. "You're seriously injured and need to stay lying down."
"Ar…Aramis" Treville said, his voice croaky as he tried to sound authoritive.
"No," growled the medic, his voice cold and hard, "I stood by when you returned to duty despite being nowhere near ready to and look what's happened! You've nearly died…AGAIN! Now you're going to listen to the medicial advice that's given to you and rest. We have more than enough to worry about right now without adding you to it because you want to be in charge!"
Treville blinked in surprise as Aramis ranted at him, by the end of things the medic's chest was heaving as he panted for breath.
Realizing what he had said and just who he had said it too Aramis was quick to attempt to apologize before Treville cut him off.
"Y-You're right." Nodded Treville as he struggled to fight against the injury induced fatigue.
"Oh," Aramis said sounding surprised
"W-What's going on? Where's the King? The Queen?"
"The Queen was in the Gardens with her ladies when the blasts went off so apart from a few small cuts from broken glass and being covered in dirt and dust from the explosions, she's okay and is currently moving between the sides of one of her ladies who had been hurt more seriously and the King." Aramis informed him, another small sense of relief hitting him as he reminded himself that Anne was okay.
"The King?" asked Treville worriedly
"Slight concussion and a couple of very minor scratches. He's still unconscious at the moment but we expect him to wake soon and he'll fine thanks to you."
Treville sighed in relief before noticing the worried look in Aramis's eyes that still had yet to fade.
"Athos?"
The silence that followed his question told Treville all he needed to know but he held out for a more in depth explanation from the distraught medic.
"Trapped," whispered Aramis, his voice cracking as if saying it aloud took away some of his hope. "From the looks of things he went after Ortiz," Treville nodded weakly at this, confirming the medic's assumptions, "Porthos was out looking for him as well but Ortiz's explosions have weakened a lot of the walls and beams and there was a collapse in the area they were last known to be in. I have men clearing the rubble as we speak but…"
Seeing the helpless heartbreak on the marksman's face Treville stretched out his hand, placing it gently on the man's leg and waiting until his touch brought Aramis's face to look at him. "They're strong Aramis. Don't doubt them now, we'll get them back."
UNDER THE RUBBLE
Coughing violently as he inhaled a mouthful of dust Athos cracked opened his eyes, only for them to widen as he saw how badly the ceiling had collapsed.
It took him a worryingly long amount of time to realize that he was both in pain and unable to get a full lungful of air. Twisting his body to investigate he was forced to bite back a scream as a shockwave of pain went surging through his body.
Breathing heavily, as much as he could, Athos resumed his investigation, panic brewing within him when he saw the large piece of rubble that was pressing against his chest, constricting his ability to breath as well as slowly crushing his ribs and his left arm.
It was during this investigation that the swordsman remembered he hadn't been alone when the ceiling fell. Cursing himself for forgetting he quickly spun his head as much as he could, searching for his brother and his prisoner.
Athos relaxed slightly at the sight of Ortiz unconscious several feet away, though the worry for his brother refused to abdicate, especially when he found him moments later.
"PORTHOS!"