Evening My Lovelies
We're sooooooo close to 200 reviews!
Also would you guys like to see Porthos having a badass moment? I'm hoping the answer's yes as we're getting one tomorrow that I really like :D
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - I know, I'm so mean :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - We're back with D'Art and Aramis today, I haven't forgotten them :) We're also going to see a bit of Treville as well. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - He can try but our boys will be tough to break. Enjoy the new chapter! x
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Glad you're having fun hating our new baddie :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - You'll probably feel a little bit better for our boys in tomorrows chapter and we'll be checking in with D'Art and Aramis today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - Yeah probably not the best thing to rile up your captors, especially when they've already tortured the pair of you but oh well makes for entertaining reading. I'm really glad you think the Marcel/Daviau dynamic still fits in with what read so far :D To answer your question about Aramis rants I LOVE writing them. I have loads of fun writing them so I'd say (or at least hope) its as fun for me to write as it is for you to read. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Yeah our boys don't break easily :) I don't know if its more effective when coming from a posh mouth but it's definitely more fun :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Zoe (Guest): Thanks for the review - I thinks its just poor everyone at this point lol. Marcel might try for a change of heart at some point if the opportunity arises... is that something we'd want to see happen? Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Oh yeah Daviau's definitely a bad one :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - :( Your alternate reality idea was such a heartbreaking idea... and now my evil brain's tempted to write it! Would you like to see Marcel help out our boys? I have the perfect opportunity for him to do so but I dont know? Well you'll be glad to know we're back with our pup and Spaniard today :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Sixteen: TLC II
"D'Art!" called Aramis, worry colouring his voice as he stared helplessly at the unmoving form of his newest friend.
With a groan of pain Aramis forced himself up into a seated position, the new height allowing him a slightly better view of the Gascon.
"You're going to make me get up and come to you aren't you?" muttered the medic, more to himself then to the Gascon. Too worried about D'Artagnan to hide his own pain Aramis forced himself up onto his shaking legs with no small amount of groans and hisses of pain.
Once he was vertical and the dizzy spell that threatened to send him back to the ground had passed, or at least had passed to the point where he was somewhat confident he wouldn't fall flat on his ass, Aramis began making his way over to the Gascon, thankful that the boy wasn't too far away from him as his whole body was very weak from the blood loss.
When he was close enough the medic allowed his legs to give out and he sank to the floor, biting back a hiss of pain as his hand instinctively came up to rest against his wound.
"Come on D'Art," called Aramis softly as he gently rolled the Gascon onto his back, his eyes going wide in surprise as he saw the blood staining the young man's shirt.
"Of course you wouldn't mention anything about this yesterday," huffed the medic, a shaky hand coming up to run through his hair. "It would be far too simple for you to be honest and let me know when you're in pain for once wouldn't it.
Whilst settled in mid rant Aramis began pulling through what remained of his medical supplies, wincing slightly when he saw what little he had left.
"I mean, it's apparently perfectly fine for you to worry yourself to death over us but heaven forbid we try to do the same for you, you stubborn Gascon." Having prepared what he needed Aramis turned back to the unconscious boy, gently tapping his face as he continued to rant despite the fact the boy couldn't hear him. "Come on D'Art, you need to wake up so I can tell you off and know you've heard me. If you die without giving me that… I-I'll never forgive you."
"mmmm" moaned D'Artagnan weakly as he tried to move away from the hands now causing him pain.
"Easy D'Art," soothed the medic, a small amount of relief hitting him as he saw the Gascon's eyes open.
"…'Mis?"
"Yes my friend?" Aramis answered, his eyes never leaving the Gascon's chest as he examined the wound. Thankfully the gash didn't appear to be showing any signs of infection but was still slowly bleeding and Aramis knew that if he didn't stop it soon D'Artagnan would be in serious trouble.
"…Y're aw'ke?" came the mumbled response from the barely conscious Gascon. Had the situation not been as serious as it was Aramis might have laughed at the look of complete confusing now gracing his young friend's face.
"How astute of you."
D'Artagnan's face scrunched up then as if he was trying to decide how best to say whatever he was about to. Seeing this Aramis paused in his ministrations and watched the boy for a minute before returning to his work.
"…N't dead?" asked D'Artagnan, his voice sounding more vulnerable then Aramis had ever heard it. So much so that it made the medic pause, warmth filling his heart as he gently stroked the young man's cheek, all thoughts of ranting at the injured boy flying from his mind.
"Not dead," he confirmed softly, "I have my life thanks to you. Now, let me do the same for you."
D'Artagnan seemed to relax at his words, a small smile appearing on his face for a moment until a grimace took it's place as Aramis began to sew the wound closed.
Despite the pain his current position was causing him the medic kept hunched over the boy as he worked, only pausing to ensure the Gascon did not fall asleep again, choosing instead to keep him occupied by talking to him.
"You know Athos is going to tell you off for this right?"
D'Artagnan's face scrunched up again as he squirmed either against the idea or against the pain.
This time Aramis couldn't hold back a few chuckles, "Don't worry my friend he'll be telling me off as well."
"…Why?"
Grinning at the fact that D'Artagnan was still lucid enough to respond Aramis returned to his work, answering the boy's question as he did so. "We got hurt."
D'Artagnan huffed, feeling more like himself the more Aramis kept him talking, "…H'rdly our fault," he sulked. "Blame bandit-man."
Aramis snorted, "Bandit-man?"
Not seeming to understand why Aramis found it so funny D'Artagnan offered up a weak shrug before adding, "…It's 'is fault."
"That's very true," nodded Aramis, sitting back against his heels as he admired the quality of his work. He was quite proud that even in his weakened state he was able to give the boy neat stitches. It would be a poor replacement for the boy's own work if they had been anything less. "But," he added when the Gascon's attention was back on him, "When has that stopped our illustrious leader when he's worried."
"What?" Aramis asked gently when he saw D'Artagnan's frown at his words, though judging by the shaken head he got in response the boy was not willing to answer.
"Well," sighed Aramis, "I don't think either of us is in any condition to continue to Paris like this."
D'Artagnan's frame tensed, "We… have to," he said, trying to force himself up into a seating position, only to then be forced back down by Aramis.
"We're no good to either of them if we kill ourselves in the process," stated the medic, trying to keep the worry and guilt out of his voice. When D'Artagnan tried to sit up again he nearly growled at the stubborn fool. "Do you think I want to be stuck here?!" hissed the medic, "They're in this situation because of me so don't you think for one minute that I wouldn't be charging back to Paris if I could but as things stand we need rest and that's final so as much as it kills me to do it we're going to have to put off leaving for at least a few hours."
Thankfully it seemed D'Artagnan finally noticed the pain in his friend's face as he calmed down, nodding his acceptance to his friend's plan.
"H-How long?"
Aramis sighed, knowing the boy was as frustrated and annoyed by the whole situation as he was. "It's mid morning now, we get a few hours rest then hopefully we can be on our way by earlier afternoon and providing we don't run into anymore trouble we should hopefully be back in Paris by this evening."
D'Artagnan nodded, a small cheeky smile coming to his face as he added, "we don't have much in the way of luck it would seem."
Aramis grinned, "That my young Gascon friend is where you are wrong." When D'Artagnan responded with only a raised eyebrow he continued. "We were in an ambush where neither of us had weapons and you were down one arm and not only did we survive but we won. If that's not luck I don't know what is."
"Fair enough," chuckled D'Artagnan, grimacing as the action aggravated his wounds.
"Speaking of being down an arm," said Aramis gently, his trained eyes watching the boy's face for his reaction. True to his expectation the boy gripped his broken arm tighter to his body and tried to look unbothered by the pain it was causing him.
"I need to check it D'Art," insisted the medic, his voice soft but firm
"It's fine," grumbled the Gascon
Aramis scoffed, "I doubt that. I may not have seen the hit you took to it but I know it happened now let me look at it."
Grumbling under his breath D'Artagnan released his grip on his arm and held it out to his friend, hissing slightly at the pain it caused.
Sympathy filled Aramis's eyes as he gently took hold of the arm, "I'll be as quick as I can."
D'Artagnan nodded, in too much pain to speak without running the risk of crying out in pain. Scrunching his eyes shut he took as many deep breaths as his damaged ribs would allow while Aramis worked.
Unfortunately for the Gascon, despite the splints in place, the bone had shifted position during the ambush. This meant that Aramis had to force it back into place, something that was not a pleasant experience for either of them.
"Breathe D'Art," soothed Aramis once the boy's scream of pain had ended. The medic worked fast to reset the splint and wrap the arm, closing his ears to the whimpers of pain the boy couldn't contain.
Seeing the exhaustion now plaguing his young friend and feeling it himself, Aramis ran his hand soothingly through the Gascon's hair, "You've lost a fair amount of blood my friend. Get some rest, we're both going to need it soon."
PARIS
"Jacques!" bellowed Captain Treville as he entered the garrison, stopping only when the young stable-hand ran out to both greet him and take his horse.
"Captain?"
"Any sign of Athos or the others?" Treville asked as he dismounted. Musketeers were frequently coming and going from the garrison so Treville had learnt early on to ask such questions to those who were always there and would notice things like this. Plus the young teen had become fast friends with D'Artagnan and would notice straight away if the young man or his companions had returned.
"No sir," admitted Jacques dejectedly. "There was a man that came by earlier asking about Monsieur Aramis, though he left pretty quick when he was told he wasn't here."
Treville nodded sadly, his worry growing at the lack of news regarding his men. Then his mind caught up with the rest of Jacques's report. "Someone came for Aramis?"
"Yes sir."
"Have you seen him before?"
Jacques was silent for a moment while he thought about his answer, "No sir," he admitted finally. "I… I didn't trust him though." He added as a bit of an afterthought, quickly looking down at his feet as if expecting to be berated for his opinion.
Treville's eyes narrowed, Jacques, despite his young age, was quite a perceptive young man, a life on the streets had gifted him quite the ability to read people and to know who could be trust and who couldn't. He also showed enough promise that the Captain was considering training him for the regiment when he came of age. If the teen sensed something was off then Treville would at least question it.
"Why not?"
Jacques looked surprised to be asked his opinion; even though this wasn't the first time it had happened. "He… He seemed relieved when the musketeer on watch told him that Monsieur Aramis wasn't here."
Treville didn't like the sound of that, he knew he couldn't truly take the matter up with anyone as no one would take the word of a stable-boy and because he may have not explained the situation fully to the King when he had asked where the missing men were.
In all honesty Treville was surprised the King had noticed them at all, it definitely wasn't like the monarch to keep track of the men guarding him but Treville reasoned that both Porthos and Athos had been solely on palace duty for a few days straight by that point so the King would have gotten used to seeing them there.
When the King had asked as to their whereabouts Treville had stated they were on a personal mission and would be back soon. Whilst King Louis seemed placated by this answer Treville could tell Cardinal Richelieu was not. The man was paranoid and suspicious by nature and Treville knew it was only a matter of time before he learnt the truth. The Captain could only hope his men had returned before then. The regiment could really do without the King learning that one of the men had run off in a haze of grief and gotten himself and someone who was essentially a civilian into a dangerous situation.
"Sir?" Jacques said hesitantly, pulling the Captain from his thoughts.
"If that man comes by again I want to know right away is that understood?"
"Yes sir," nodded the youth.
Treville smiled, though it failed to reach his eyes, "Back to work then."
Once the young boy had returned the stables with his horse Treville headed up to his office, hoping the mind-numbing task of paperwork could distract him from the growing worry that something was seriously wrong with his men.