Evening My Lovelies :)
There's quite a bit happening today and we're flicking between our two groups quite often as well, I'm hoping the switches aren't too confusing but I'm going to apologize now if they are.
We're getting close to 300 reviews now :D I've just realized that this story could reach it by the end of the week the way you awesome guys review!
Notes On Reviews:
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - In Moreau's defense he has to be worried about the men he can currently treat rather than those who only might be injured and that he can't treat. Can't promise they'll stay that way but they'll definitely put up one hell of a fight. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - That's because D'Art has no sense of self-preservation so he has to push himself, even when sick, to worry about everyone else but himself :) Porthos still has some doubts and worries but the talk with Athos definitely helped, as will today's chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - I just end up glaring at the screen until an idea comes to me or I end up deleting what I have written and starting again but writers block has been a bit of a bitch these last couple of chapters but it seems to be getting better so lets hope I didn't just jinx it. D'Art's too stubborn to give in to illness... Ooooh yes our lovely medic is going to get quite the talking to when everything's over XD Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Yeah Athos is worrying as well but doesn't want Porthos or Vivienne to know that. Talking to Porthos help banish some of his worries as well. Porthos's group have the slight disadvantage of not really knowing where they are at the moment, they were just focused on getting out of Marcel & Daviau's clutches. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Haha yeah you know something's going to happen when things start going well. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Jasperslittlesister: Thanks for the review - I'm really glad you're enjoying it so far, thanks for the kind words. I do now have that idea of Aramis being chased by bandits stuck in my head, maybe I'll write a one shot thing of it... Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Well 2 of our boys are beginning on the road to recovery... Porthos's group on the other hand... Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - They may never blame each other but they will think the other blames them *sighs* Oh well leads to good angsty stuff and brotherly moments :D Aramis will be waking up today so worry not :) Athos is kinda pushing himself but its for Porthos so it's worth it. We'll be seeing what caused the snapped twig today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Thanks :) I'm liking the pairings as well, usually i have Athos/D'Art & Porthos/Aramis so it's quite nice to explore different parings and relationships. Well we all know what I'm like though you'll have to read and find out :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Couldn't leave you all wondering about our lovely medic :) Plus I'm having fun writing Treville at the moment :D I wasnt sure if I wanted D'Art to wake or not but I figured someone needed to try to tell Treville what was going on as Aramis let himself get too wrapped up with guilt about D'Art's condition to think of anything else. The fever's going to be causing a few problems for our lovely pup and is going to be almost as stubborn as he is so it'll take a bit until it starts to break. I'm really really tempted to have them arrive at the ambush site and seeing the dead bandits as well as some proof of our musky & pup having been there but we'll have to see how well that fits in with Treville's plans. We'll be learning what made the noise today so hopefully havent kept you in suspense for too long. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Cookies and Cakes With Cream for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Long Way Home V
"Who's there?" bellowed Porthos, his grip tightening on the blade in his hand.
"It's just me!" called a slightly out of breath Vivienne as she stumbled into the clearing with her arms full of firewood.
Releasing a breath he hadn't noticed he'd been holding Porthos allowed his arm to lower and his grip on the blade to loosen, "You alright?"
"Yeah," huffed Vivienne as she dropped the pile in front of the musketeer, "Sorry I didn't mean to make so much noise, guess I got more than I could carry."
"Do you know how to build a fire?" Athos asked after watching the woman struggle for a few moments, he knew that had Porthos not been using a couple of the pieces of wood as a splint for his wrist then one of them would definitely have had the fire going by now.
"Is it that obvious?" Vivienne asked with a small blush staining her cheeks. She was spared a brutally honest response from Athos as Porthos finished securing the bandage on his wrist just as he opened his mouth to respond, instead the musketeer merely offered a one-arm shrug as he gritted his teeth against the pain.
"You can clean up if you want Vivienne," Porthos offered as he took the twigs from her hand, "I've got this."
Instantly Vivienne's cheeks flamed red as she realized their group's proximity to the stream, immediately she decided against completely stripping off all of her clothes in order to wash.
Seeing her hesitation Athos spoke up, his eyes closed as his head leant back against the tree. "We are men of honor my lady," he reassured her, "we will not spy on you but those wounds on your back need cleaning. If you're still uncomfortable the bushes over there should offer you additional coverage."
Vivienne blushed again at begin caught out but before too long the desire to be clean overwhelmed her embarrassment. She had been in Marcel's clutches longer than all of them and had never been allowed to clean up during that time so her back was covered in dried blood while the rest of her body was covered in sweat.
With Vivienne off cleaning Porthos smirked as he got the fire going on the first try, instantly noticing the chill that had settled in his bones as it began to disappear thanks to the warmth of the fire.
"You should get some sleep 'Thos," suggested the larger musketeer gently, "Your body's been through a lot it needs rest."
"What about you?" Athos asked tiredly, his complete exhaustion clear in his voice.
"Bruises and small insignificant cuts," shrugged Porthos, biting back a wince as he did it with his recently reset shoulder. "'Sides don't think I could sleep just yet." He admitted quietly
At his words Athos forced his eyes to open a crack, "I will not believe the words of a criminal as to the fate of our friends, have faith in them brother, they'll be fine."
Porthos smiled fondly at his brother then, "Get some rest."
"Do you want to sleep? I can keep watch."
Vivienne's voice startled Porthos from his thoughts and the musketeer was surprised he had allowed himself to get so distracted that he didn't even notice when she joined him by the fire.
"I'm good for now," Porthos said with a small smile, "I'll wake you for watch I a couple of hours."
Eyeing him warily Vivienne eventually nodded, "Sooner if you need to sleep, you were carrying Athos for most of today, don't think I didn't notice you taking most of his weight."
Porthos chuckled lightly at her slight chiding tone, watching as she curled up by the fire, her eyes immediately closing and her breathing evening out.
"So you found them here?" Treville asked, placing a marker on the map in front of him when Issac and Favier confirmed his enquiry.
"There were tracks that showed they had ridden quite hard from this direction," Issac explained as he traced the route with his finger. "We got here," adding another marker to the map, "just before it started to get dark. Judging by the blood and scrunched up bandages inside the abandoned barn we found, I'm fairly confident that's where they treated their worst wounds."
Eyeing the map with intense focus Treville nodded, "Makes sense, the note Aramis received that started all this instructed him to meet the perpetrator here," he explained adding another marker to the map.
"We'll fan out on this route at first light," stated Favier as he traced the map with his finger much like Issac had moments earlier, "With luck we wont have any rain in the meantime so we can pick up their trail fairly easily."
"Are you and the others fit to ride out tomorrow I know you've pushed yourselves hard today I don't want any more of my men at risk when there are plenty of others who could follow this lead?" Treville asked, his voice stern but kind.
Issac and Favier shared a look before nodding, "We're good Captain, nothing a few hours of sleep can't cure."
With pride in his eyes for his men's dedication to each other Treville conceded, "fair enough, off to bed with you then."
Opening the door to leave the Captain's office both Favier and Issac almost walked straight into one of the new recruits, the young man's hand raised as he was about to nod.
"Lucas?"
"Sir," nodded the young recruit as he moved to stand inside the Captain's office.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Treville asked tiredly when he realized the young man wasn't going to explain why he was there.
Blinking owlishly a light blush grew on the recruit's cheeks upon realizing he had yet to say anything else, "Right… Umm Doctor Moreau told me to tell you that Aramis is beginning to wake up."
Treville's eyes widened in surprise, it had barely been a few hours since he had left both men asleep in the infirmary, and he really hadn't expected the marksman to awake yet. Then he remembered it was Aramis he was talking about and that man severely lacked the ability to rest when his brothers were in trouble. If he had to guess Treville would say that the musketeer's subconscious mind was reacting to the need to save his brothers and therefore forcing him to wake at the earliest possible moment.
"My thanks Lucas I'll finish up here and go speak to him."
Taking the dismissal for what it was the recruit nodded and left the Captain to his work.
"Easy monsieur," soothed Moreau as he placed a firm hand on Aramis's shoulder to prevent him from getting out of bed, the man had only been awake moments but was already trying to move.
"D'Artagnan?" rasped Aramis, the heel of his hand coming to press against his forehead as a raging headache assaulted him.
Seeing this Moreau passed the man a large goblet of water, something the musketeer attacked with a passion. "Resting peacefully at the moment," answered the doctor as he nodded to the sleeping Gascon. "His fever refuses to show any signs of breaking but it is early days at the moment. He woke up briefly not too long ago though, he was asking after you."
Aramis blinked in surprise, the water soothing his aching throat and helping to wake him up. Even with Treville's earlier words he had not truly believed the young Gascon would forgive him enough to ask after him.
Thinking of the Captain made Aramis realize he hadn't mentioned anything about Porthos or Athos yet.
"Treville! I need to see the Captain!" exclaimed the sharpshooter as he tried to swing his legs over the side of the bed only to then be stopped again when Moreau forced him back and handed him another goblet of water.
"The Captain is on his way, right now you need to regain some of the fluids you've lost so drink up and let me check you haven't pulled any of those new stitches from trying to move."
"Vivienne…" hissed Porthos quietly as he gently shook the young woman awake.
"P'thos?" Vivienne slurred tiredly as her hand came up to wipe away the sleep from her eyes.
"Your turn for watch," he explained softly, a small grin coming to his face as he watched her wake up fully. "We've only got a few hours till daybreak when we need to be heading off again so don't let us sleep too late. It's been fairly quiet save for a few animals but if you think you see something wake one of us up."
Vivienne nodded, taking the pistol and holding it tight in her hands while watching Porthos finally succumb to sleep. The musketeer had given her the easier watch but she was determined to complete it vigilantly regardless.
"How are you feeling Aramis?" asked Treville softly as he watched the sharpshooter fight to stay awake whilst glaring at the doctor who kept gently pushing him back down on the bed whenever he tried to move.
Pushing aside the Captain's question Aramis got straight down to business. "Athos and Porthos?"
Treville sighed, "No sign of them yet but I have men heading out at first light to follow the trail the pair of you left before they found you, with luck it should lead them to where they're being held."
"You have to let me go with them," demanded Aramis, his attitude causing Treville to frown at him.
"You're not exactly in peak travelling condition Aramis."
"But he's expecting me!"
This caused Treville to freeze, he had assumed that Aramis had managed to escape, bringing D'Artagnan with him and they had been injured in the escape but now it was beginning to sound like they had been let go.
"Explain," demanded the Captain and with no other prompting Aramis flew into the tale of what had happened to them over the last few days, pausing occasionally to drink more water or to let out large yawns as exhaustion hit him.
"Bloody Savoy," cursed Treville under his breath, running a hand through his hair as he tried to come up with a plan.
"In your professional opinion how likely is this Marcel to act on his torture threats?" Treville asked seriously
"He broke D'Art's arm with no warning because I wouldn't answer his question so I'd say pretty damn likely," snapped Aramis, a silent apology quickly appearing in his eyes as he realized whom he was taking his anger out on.
"I can get some documents together that'll suffice as proof for now," stated Treville, not missing the hopeful light that quickly entered his soldier's eyes. "But you are only going if Moreau thinks you can handle the ride. I'm not putting your health at further risk so get some sleep, the men aren't leaving until the morning and it'll take a few hours to get everything together but remember, if the doctor say's you can't ride you don't ride is that clear?"
Grinning widely Aramis nodded enthusiastically, "Yes sir!"
"Porthos!" hissed Vivienne under her breath as one hand shook the musketeer while the other gripped the pistol tightly, her eyes never leaving the tree line.
Years of military service had gifted the musketeers with the ability to wake up pretty quickly when needed so as soon as his mind registered the slightly panicked tone in Vivienne's voice his eyes shot open.
"I heard something and I don't think it was an animal," she explained upon noticing the questioning look in Porthos's eyes.
Porthos nodded, moving quietly to Athos's side, sword gripped securely in his hand as he woke his brother, repeating what Vivienne had just told him.
"PORTHOS!" screamed Vivienne as a shot pierced the air.