Evening My Lovelies

Sorry this is slightly later than usual I got wrapped up in writing a later chapter and lost track of time.

Also if there's anything you would like to see happen to either our boys or our baddie let me know and I'll see what I can do, I always welcome ideas and suggestions :D

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Hope it was worth the wait :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the reviews - It's fine, I'm just glad you take the time to read it :D D'Art and his impulsiveness are back again today, much to Aramis's worry. I'm desperately trying to come up with a situation that'll allow me to give Marcel a feathered hat lol :D It's all I can picture now whenever I write him. If you liked that bit of banter you're going to love what I've included in tomorrows chapter, there's a slightly bizarre bit of banter for our boys then. I don't know what inspired the chair thing to be quite honest... and part of me feels I should be worried that my mind can just come up with that :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Bwhahaha! I would love it if it was XD You'll have to read to see who's going to end up in the chair. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - When is it ever that easy :) In Athos's defense the boy hasnt been with them long so he hasn't really learnt yet that the boy just attracts trouble XD Enjoy the new chapter! x

FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the Athos/Aramis moment, considering what's coming for the boys I felt they needed a brotherly moment. The hate-o-meters going to be getting quite a bit of use in the next several chapters :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - I'm afraid for what whumpage is in this chapter it might not be worth the wait :( but worry not it's going to last several chapters and get worse for him as it progresses :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Zoe (Guest): Thanks for the review - I did say Aramis is going to be swimming in guilt :) He's going to need some serious brotherly love when all this is over. Which is good as it means snuggly moments XD Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Oooh a long truncated review :) always love them :) I LOVE protective Athos moments but they're a bit hard to write when his relationship with D'Art is only in its early stages, hopefully what I've done works though :) The whole situation is beginning to affect them all making them all quite snappy and grouchy (as evidence today by Porthos) The talk between Athos and Aramis almost didnt happen. I added it just before I published the chapter yesterday, mainly as the word count was a bit low and I felt like Aramis would try to say something given what was about to happen. I'm SO glad I decided to include it, the response has been very good :) I really want to bring Viv in properly but she's having to stay out of things for the moment (I have plans for her later) Hmmm if you thought D'Art was being dangerous yesterday just wait to see what he's doing today :D I'm really happy you're enjoying the story so far. Hopefully this chapter is just a good a read :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - I agree, no matter how much Aramis may want to simply race back to Paris to get help for the others he's not going to ignore D'Art's injuries, especially as he blames himself for them. Glad you liked Athos/Aramis's moment, it was a spur of the minute thing to include but I'm really glad I put it in as its gone over really well. They'll be revisiting that talk later once they eventually get out of harms way. Marcel knows a bit about the massacre but not much, hence his desire to find out what really happened. Their plan was shaky at best so it could fall to bits at any minute... not good for our remaining boys. Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - You've read all my other stories and you're only just getting concerned now? I think it would be less worrying if the ideas came from research but nooooo it's all the work of my evil mind :D It's okay if you worry about me I worry too lol Enjoy the new chapter! x

Hugs, High Fives & Fist-Bumps to everyone who follows/favourites/reviews/reads this! Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Eleven: Stubbornness and Pain

"You will take this road back to Paris," instructed Marcel as he traced a route on the map

Aramis frowned as he observed the route, ensuring that he was standing in front of D'Artagnan as much as possible at all times. "That's a longer route," growled the medic, his voice full of barely contained rage. "I thought I told you I am not leaving them here for anytime longer than absolutely necessary."

"Then you should walk quickly," snarled Marcel, moving around the table to stand almost nose to nose with Aramis

"We're talking this route," snapped Aramis as he jammed his finger down on the map. "We left our horses near there, it will allow us to get to Paris and back quicker."

Anger growing at the medic's attitude Marcel whipped out his pistol, priming the firing mechanism and pointed it at D'Artagnan before either man had fully registered what was going on. "Do not disobey me!"

Both men froze a the sight of the firearm aimed at the young man, though to each of their surprise, D'Artagnan actually recovered first, moving as quick as he could to stand in front of Aramis, Marcel's pistol following him as he moved.

"Go ahead," he dared, hoping that all his new friend's advice about trusting his instincts weren't about to fail him now.

"D'Art!" hissed Aramis is terrified panic, his hands gripping the back of the boy's jacket in a desperate effort to move him, only the young Gascon remained defiant

"You got a death wish boy?" sneered Marcel as he glared at the defiant young man before him.

"Why do you want us to go that route?" D'Artagnan snapped before either man could add anything further. "You claimed to not want to resort to violence and that you only wanted justice for your family yet you fight us when we're willing to go the quicker route. Why?"

Aramis stared at the back of D'Artagnan's head, his eyes bright with pride. Oh if only Athos could have seen you just now mon jeune ami mused the marksman, It might have even had been enough to get you out of trouble after you stepped in front of this guy's gun.

It was a tense couple of moments as they waited to see how Marcel would react but eventually, to their great relief, he holstered the pistol. "You've got some guts kid," he remarked lightly as he stared at the Gascon, "Take care that attitude of yours doesn't get you into trouble some day." He added with a slightly threatening tone to his voice that had D'Artagnan's proverbial hackles rising again.

Turning his head slightly so he look at Aramis, Marcel added, "Take that route if you wish, just bring me the proof."

Aramis narrowed his eyes at their captor, too easy he decided, Marcel was determined enough to get us to take that path that he to threaten to shoot us and now because of a glare and a bark from our little pup he relents? What is he planning?

Not willing to waste any more time, especially as every minute they delayed was another minute their friends were in Marcel's hands, Aramis gripped D'Artagnan's good arm and began pulling them out of the room.

"I really don't like this Aramis," D'Artagnan whispered when they were far enough from the compound to ensure that Marcel hadn't followed them. "Something's up."

"Lets just get to the horses," mutter Aramis as he focused on using his keen eyesight to search for any pursuers. "The sooner we get there the sooner I can have a look at that arm and those ribs."

"What? No!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, nearly tripping over his own feet in his rush to turn to face his friend who was now looking at his with a surprised expression. "You can't!"

"That arm needs tending to and do you really want to be galloping across the countryside with unbound ribs?" chided Aramis, his expression softening slightly when he saw the worry and pain etched plainly on the young man's face.

"But..."

"Besides," the marksman said lightly as if D'Artagnan hadn't spoken, "I swore to Athos I would look at them at the first possible opportunity. You're not going to make me a liar are you?" It was a bit of a low blow and Aramis knew it, but he needed to check the boy over and it would go a lot quicker without him fighting him the entire way.

D'Artagnan mumbled something unintelligible, though the tone told Aramis he was probably cursing. Looking over at the boy the medic allowed his lips to quirk upwards into a soft smile as he noticed how suitably chastised he looked and Aramis knew he had won that debate.

Back in their cell both Athos and Porthos sat chained against opposite walls, both men glaring at the chair that sat innocently in the middle of the room, despite the promise of great pain it promise.

"So do you recon he knows who 'es putting in there or do we get to volunteer for the honor?" grumbled Porthos, his eyes never leaving the chair.

"Aramis will be quick," Athos said, his voice calm and collected despite having deflected answering the musketeer's question.

Porthos grunted in acknowledgement but said nothing else, too lost in his worry about his friends to conjure up a suitable conversation.

Silence reigned for several minutes before the larger musketeer was pulled from his worrying by the soft call of his name from the man across the room. Staring at his brother questioningly Porthos raised a single eyebrow at the man in a silent gesture for him to continue.

"If he does make us choose," Athos said, keeping his voice low enough that only Porthos could hear it. Though the swordsman didn't miss the subtle tensing of his brother's frame. "Let me do it."

Porthos's eyes widened in horror, "You can't seriously be asking me that 'Thos!"

"It's our best option," stated the musketeer with a determination in his voice that spoke to how he would not be swayed in this matter.

"How is letting you be tortured our best option?" Snarled Porthos, his worry and anger making him glare at his friend.

"Because you're better at hand to hand combat," remarked Athos calmly, his words causing Porthos to still and for the anger boiling inside of him to simmer down ever so slightly.

Seeing his friend was either willing to hear him out or was too stunned to reply Athos continued, ensuring all the while that his voice was kept low and inaudible to potential eavesdroppers. "If there is even the slimmest opportunity to escape we must take it and without weapons we'll be relying on our fists should any escape be noticed," Porthos nodded at this, feeling his body relax slightly as they took in the logic behind the man's words.

"And I'm better at hand to hand," murmured Porthos; unintentionally mimicking the words Athos had said not a few minutes earlier.

Athos nodded, "So if he lets us choose... Let me do it."

It was just over an hour later when Marcel returned to their cell, the smug smile he wore on his face was enough to put both musketeers on edge.

"Well gentlemen," remarked Marcel as he moved into the center of the room. "I know how much musketeers value brotherhood and honor. So I will allow you, should you be so inclined, to save your friend by volunteering yourself - "

"I'll do it," declared Athos before Marcel had even finished speaking.

"'Thos!" Porthos exclaimed, knowing it was part of the plan but being unable to stay silent at the fact that one of his dearest friends was about to undergo a lot of pain.

"Excellent," exclaimed Marcel but there was something in the way he said it that counteracted the smug look on his face. If Athos was being honest with himself he would have thought that their captor was either not happy with him volunteering or with the situation as a whole... which was an interesting notion for the swordsman to consider. If D'Artagnan was right and there is more than one person involved in this, maybe Marcel is just the mouthpiece for the other player, mused Athos. Marcel had seemed genuine when he had explained his reasons for wanting to know about Savoy but everything else the man did was a contradiction. One minute he's expressing a desire not to hurt anyone and the next he's savagely breaking D'Artagnan's arm. Something more was going on here then they were aware of and Athos couldn't help but be afraid for what that meant for his brother and protégé as they made their way back to Paris.

Before either musketeer could say or do anything Marcel moved to stand in front of Athos, a water skin held out in front of the man. "Drink," Marcel ordered shaking the canteen lightly as he spoke.

Athos's eyes narrowed but did as he was instructed when he saw a flash of irritation enter Marcel's steely gaze. He definitely didn't trust what the man was giving him but he couldn't risk him changing his mind and forcing whatever the concoction was on Porthos.

Within seconds of drinking the water Athos could feel himself becoming increasingly dizzy, his hand, that was now shaking lightly, moved to his face in an effort to combat the wave of lightheadedness now assaulting him.

"What the hell did you give him?!" roared Porthos as he was forced to watch with growing worry as the drugs in the water affected his friend.

Without turning back to look at the furious musketeer Marcel kept his focus on the now panting man before him. "It's just something to ensure he doesn't fight back when I move him. It'll wear off soon enough."

Athos's eyes attempted to narrow again as he glared at the man, a slurred and inaudible curse passed his lips as he sagged against the chains holding him, now feeling too weak to do anything but breathe.

Seeing this Marcel moved to unlock the cuffs keeping the musketeer chained and once the man was freed he threw one of his arms over his shoulder and carried the man to the chair, setting him down with a gentleness that surprised the still fuming Porthos.

"So what happens now?" growled Porthos, his eyes never leaving Athos's face.

"Now," sighed Marcel as he grabbed one of the cuffs, "you pray your friends move fast." With that he sharply tightened the mechanism on the cuff, Athos's pained screams piercing the air.