Evening My Lovelies

I still can't get over the response so far for this story. We're only 5 chapters in and I almost have 50 reviews! You guys are beyond the best and as a thank you for that we get a more intense chapter today :D

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Just a bit, though at the moment they're channeling that worry into finding them. Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Yeah I don't see them getting a restful sleep either... probably not a good thing considering what I have planned :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it. I didnt want Athos and Porthos to suddenly be on the trail but good god was it difficult to work past the writers block to actually get them out of the garrison. I fell in love with papa bear Treville in the last story and couldnt resist bringing him back again :D We get to see a bit more of our boys today but I can't promise that'll bring any comfort :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - Glad you think so :) Our boys have a bit of information but not enough to know what they're up against :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the reviews - Oh that was nothing compared to the trouble our Gascon is going to find himself in during later chapters. Treville cares but he wasnt about to risk them... plus it means our other boys get to spend a bit longer in our baddies custody :) Unfortunately for our boys there's going to be lots of worrying moments for them as this story progresses. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Jmp (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hmmm out of the many questions you asked this chapter only answers two of them I'm afraid (gotta keep you coming back some how) We'll be learning the names of our baddy and mysterious woman (well nickname in her case) tomorrow but otherwise you've got a couple of chapters until we begin to clear things up. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - Yeah I dont think they'll be getting much either... Shame really, considering what I have planned they could really do with it :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm glad you're enjoying it so far :) As far as whumping D'Art goes, I've said in previous stories that D'Art wont be the most whumped one but then he somehow ends up that way so it'd be fair to assume he's going to end up fairly hurt here as well (he's just too whumpable) In fact, the first whumpage scene is him getting whumped so who knows... I have some evil plans for several of our other boys but that doesnt mean there's not enough evil in my mind left over for D'Art lol. Glad you've enjoyed the whumpage in my other stories as well :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Zoe (Guest): Thanks for the review - That's what I thought :D There's no way Treville wouldnt send them out after them but he needs to know they arent going to get themselves hurt by going in exhausted and unprepared. We get to see a bit more of our boys loyalty today so hopefully you'll like that too :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the reviews - In Aramis's defense he wasn't thinking clearly when he got caught and with D'Art, there was a fight (i just decided not to show it) but we'll be addressing it in a couple of chapters time. I'm sure Athos or Porthos will chastise the boy for not leaving clear instructions when they're back together again. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Our musketeers have definitely adopted the boy into their little family, even if they haven't outright said it to him yet :) Treville's back to being a watchful papa bear in this story (or at least in the beginning.) The Captain has a more prominent part to play in later chapters which I'm really looking forward to writing but at the moment I'm just enjoying his protectiveness of ensuring they dont hurt themselves by leaving exhausted and unprepared. I can't see our boys actually getting much in the way of sleep which is a shame as they'll need it for what I have planned :D We get to see our missing boys today and learn a little of their fate. Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks to everyone who follows/favourites/reviews/reads

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Five: Protectiveness

Waking up was not a pleasant experience, before he had even opened his eyes D'Artagnan could already feel the all too familiar pounding in his head that spoke to a concussion. Groaning in pain and not quite yet registering that he could not properly move his arms D'Artagnan forced his eyes to open into slits, allowing them a moment to adjust to the light.

It was at this point that it finally clicked in the young man's mind that he had no idea as to where he was or how he had gotten there... though the pounding of his head coupled with the stickiness he could feel almost certainly answered the latter part of his panicked thoughts.

Forcing himself not to give in to the panic welling up inside him as he pushed aside all memories of the similar situation he had ended up in during the whole Vadim affair, D'Artagnan focused his attention on recalling as much as he possibly could about what happened - a threatening letter, rushed packing, a worried old man, a hill and Aramis's soft smile as he promised to intervene should he spot any danger.

ARAMIS! His mind screamed, causing the young man to lurch forward as far as the chains he didn't realize were holding him would allow. Ignoring the cold bite of metal against his skin D'Artagnan's eyes searched wildly around the bare room for any signs of his brother's presence.

"Bout time you woke up," commented a voice that instantly grabbed the Gascon's attention. "I was beginning to worry we'd hit you too hard."

"W-Who are you?" croaked D'Artagnan wincing slightly at the harshness of his throat; clearly he had been unconscious for more than a little while, a fact that only heightened his worry for his absent friend.

"Not important," shrugged the man as he sauntered into the room and squatted down in front of the Gascon, a curious look growing on his face. "The question I want to know is who you are?" the man asked as he gripped D'Artagnan by the chin and tilted the boy's head so he could see the damage done to him during his capture. "You bear no markings of a musketeer yet you do not lack skill and so fiercely tried to defend one. We have no intention of hurting those uninvolved so I ask again; who are you and just what are you to the musketeer I have in my custody?"

'We?' contemplated D'Artagnan as he focused on keeping his face from betraying his surprise at the man's slip, that means more than one. This is going to make escaping more difficult.

D'Artagnan was pulled from his musing by the sharp sting of a slap on his cheek that had his head flinging to the side.

"I asked you a question boy!" snarled the man, clearly not liking being ignored

"Where's Aramis?" spat D'Artagnan, a few specks of blood landing on his captors cheek as he glared at him.

With an air of calm that set D'Artagnan on edge, the man pulled out a white handkerchief and wiped away the blood before standing up.

"Be difficult if you must," remarked the man dismissively as he moved to the door, stopping only when his hand was resting on the handle so he could look over his shoulder and add, "It matters not. I will get my answers one way or another be it from you, the musketeer currently in my custody or," at this he turned more so he could see the panic the young man wasn't able to hide enter his eyes, "- from the two musketeers that will soon be joining us." With a smug smirk at the fear in the Gascon's eyes the man left the room.

"You sure that's the place?" Porthos asked as he and Athos began the approach to the clearing. After they had located the note from D'Artagnan a search of Aramis's room turned up the threatening letter stating the desired meeting point that lured the two missing men from the garrison.

"Definitely," Athos nodded, his eyes scanning the area with a wariness that only comes from years of service. "Be on your guard."

Porthos held back a sarcastic comment at his brother's words knowing it was just due to the man's protective nature coming to the forefront now that two of theirs were missing.

"I can see why this place was picked," the larger man commented as he observed the location, "only one way for 'Mis to enter without risking an ambush in the woods and the open space meant that any reinforcements he might have brought with him would be too far away to react should anything happen."

"Look at this."

At Athos's call Porthos moved quickly to kneel by his brother, he could feel his brow furrow as he took in the bloodied and broken piece of jewelry in Athos's hand.

"From the woman mentioned in the letter?"

"Possibly," Athos replied absently as he brought the necklace closer for a better look, his own brows furrowing when he saw that engraved on the back of the pendant was a fleur de lis

"What do you make of this?" the swordsman asked as he passed the piece to his brother.

"'Mis likes his women sure but I've never seen him give them a piece like this."

"Maybe she's not his woman."

"She's obviously important to him otherwise they wouldn't have threatened him with her safety. Maybe she's a daughter of one of the retired men, could explain how 'Mis knows her and why she has something with the musketeer symbol on."

"Treville has ordered him to stay away from any of them but who can say if he abided by that. Either way we'll find out when we find them."

"True enough," sighed Porthos as he rose to his feet, "the fact that neither of them are here yet that is, is not a good sign though."

"It's getting late and whoever is involved in all of this cleared up their tracks well. There's a village an hour or two that way maybe we'll find more information there."

Porthos shrugged, trying desperately to clamp down on the growing worry eating at him, "A couple of musketeers in this area would definitely garner attention, people would remember them if they were there but we should check out that first," he said pointing at the hill, "No way the whelp would let 'Mis come here alone and that's the only place that would provide adequate cover for him."

Athos nodded, pocketing the broken necklace before gesturing for Porthos to lead the way.

"So do you feel like breaking this vow of silence yet?" queried a voice that drew a chained Aramis from his silent prayers. Opening his eyes the medic glared harshly at the man before closing them and returning to the unfinished prayers.

The man observed the Spaniard for a few moments before letting the smug smile he had worn as he left the younger man's room return.

"If you won't talk willingly I'll just have to get the information another way," he stated so casually one wouldn't think he was making threats about torture.

"Do your worst," spat Aramis as he glared at the man once again, "Musketeers don't break easily and certainly not to monsters like you."

"This is true," nodded the man with a smirk that both confused and worried the sharpshooter. "But then that boy with you," Aramis felt his heart stop, "He is no musketeer. I wonder how long it would take him to break."

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM!" roared Aramis as he flung himself at the man as far as his chains would allow, ignoring the pain it caused him.

"So you do care for him," smirked the man and Aramis cursed internally as he realized he had just handed the man another piece of leverage over him.

"Who is he to you?" the man mused, mostly to himself yet Aramis could not push down the fear gripping him.

He cursed his recklessness in ignoring D'Artagnan's wish to wait for the brothers before following the letter's instructions. Had Athos and Porthos been there the medic doubted D'Artagnan would have been overwhelmed meaning their current positions would be reversed and it would be them questioning the man rather then the situation they now found themselves in. Aramis knew his grief over Marsac coupled with the threatening letter had pushed him to act with more impulsiveness and recklessness then he normally would have done and whilst he would have no issue with that had it only affect him, he now had D'Artagnan in peril for his actions.

"A lover perhaps?" mused the man as he closely observed the medic's face for a reaction.

Aramis couldn't help himself and snorted, "Really?" he asked with barely hidden amusement, "that's the first thing that came to mind?"

"After the way he fought to reach you? Hardly a leap." Shrugged the man and he didn't fail to note the small look of pride that entered the musketeer's eyes.

"Ah," nodded the man, the pieces coming into place in his mind and he could see the wary curiosity on the chained musketeer's face. "A 'brother' then," he stated though he practically spat the word brother. "A recruit of sorts, not yet a full musketeer but clearly one in all but title and name as far as your concerned am I right?"

Aramis only response was to glare daggers at the man, causing him to chuckle darkly as he realized his assessment was correct.

"I wonder…"

"What now?" huffed Aramis as he tried to move into a slightly more comfortable position. He had no doubt things would get painful for him soon so he was fully intent on remaining as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.

"The boy is clearly important to you…"

"We've covered this," reminded the medic, his voice heavy with distain and hatred as he fought against the urge to spit in the man's face.

"Is he equally as important to the other two? Are they more important to you then him?"

Aramis felt his blood turn to ice and his heart stop, "O-Other two?"

The man nodded, his smirk returning, "the two musketeers who have been on our trail for a good few hours now." Seeing the flash of hope enter the musketeer's eyes at this piece of information the man couldn't help the sick pleasure he took in snuffing it out and replacing it with fear. "Don't worry about answering though, I'll be finding out for myself as soon as they join us. Shouldn't be long now."