Evening My Lovelies
Okay I'm apologizing now for this chapter... I'm really not a fan of it so I completely understand if you guys hate it. It was such a difficult chapter to write and I think that's come across in the quality of it :(
On a plus note though we're getting to a reunion tomorrow... I have plans for that :)
Also several reviews didnt seem to be showing on here when I checked but worry not they're coming through to my email fine so I can still respond to them :)
Notes On Reviews:
Tidia: Thanks for the review - He has his reasons for helping and you may... or may not be right to be distrustful... You'll have to wait and see :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Rescue is kinda beginning to take shape. Favier and Treville are still in bad shape but neither have died yet which is a good thing :D Marcel has a part to play in a couple of chapters time so stay tuned for that :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Deana: Thanks for the review - I agree... Poor Aramis is in dire need of a hug right now. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - I'm leaning more to keeping Favier alive but who knows, my mind might decide to be evil and kill him off soon (unlikely) Ha! Yeah knowing me (and what i have planned :D) you're right to be thinking its all going to go downhill soon. Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Hmmm a wise move I think :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Marcel definitely has a plan, though it wont be put into effect for another few chapters yet, though I'm quite excited to write it. I'm really happy you enjoyed all the teasing, it was fun to write and I loved showing the camaraderie that exists between the entire regiment. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the reviews - I'm quite looking forward to when Aramis and D'Art reunite, I have a feeling D'Art's puppy-dog eyes will come out as he tries to appease his friends lol. D'Art's still a bit unsure as to whether Athos hates him or not as he's seeing the man's anger as a sign he hates in instead of it being the concern Athos felt... Hmmm With regards to Marcel you'll have to wait a bit to see if he's completely genuine with his attempts to help. I'm quite liking Henri at the moment, he's watching over our lovely medic when Athos and the others can't. Haha Yeah I hadn't even thought of that, the King's going to demand an explanation seeing as Treville kinda just disappeared. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the reviews - Haha very true, though i think Porthos would take it in stride whilst Athos would probably just glare at them until they went away lol. Don't worry about the short review, I'll take what I can get :) Marcel's plan will become known fairly soon so we'll have to wait to see if he's truly genuine or not them. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Hmmm let's see if I can actually answer any of your questions regarding Marcel without giving away what I have planned for him... Yes he was watching Athos's group when they left. He left on his own, though Daviau probably would have killed him or sent him away once he was conscious and lucid enough to realize that Marcel had let valuable prisoners escape. I allude, briefly, as to their relationship today but we'll go into it more when he puts his plan into effect. Daviau will be showing up again at some point, especially when he learns that Treville is not dead. I can't guarantee that Marcel has good intentions... He has a plan but whether it helps or hurts the musketeers and the reasons behind it you'll just have to wait and see. Glad you liked the little moments of levity :) Not entirely sure where the bucket idea came from but I've learnt not to question my muse when it comes up with ideas :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Enjoy!
xxx
P.S THIS IS IMPORTANT! Tomorrow's chapter is going to be an important one (at least to me anyway) so if it doesn't end up actually getting published tomorrow please don't panic. I just really want to get it right as it's been stuck in my head for weeks!
Chapter Thirty-Two: Lost and Found
"I'm… Marcel."
Those two simple words ignited an inferno of fury inside the two musketeers. Treville had ensured that every man following him on the rescue mission had been filled in on exactly what had happened to the captured musketeers and just who was responsible. As such it came as no surprise when Marcel saw the anger burning in the eyes of the men before him.
"This is your doing!" snarled Alain as he attempted to launch himself at Marcel only to he held back by an iron grip on his waist.
"What are you doing?" hissed the younger musketeer; shocked that Blaise would stop him from getting to the man who had hurt their brothers as much as he had.
"Stopping you before you get us killed," hissed Blaise, his voice loud enough that only Alain, who froze at his friend's words, could hear him. "What if he's like Daviau and has men in the trees? We need to stay focused on the mission, Athos and Porthos need us, we're no good to them if we're dead because of your temper."
Alain glared furiously at Marcel but relaxed enough for Blaise to feel somewhat confident in releasing his grip of the man's waist, trusting the younger man to follow orders.
"Why should we believe you're truly helping?" asked Blaise hesitantly, his eyes narrowing as they discretely checked out the surrounding area.
"Because you have no choice but to trust me, this area is full of Daviau's men and your missing 'brothers' are alone with only one blade and a few shots between them."
"And how'd you know that?" spat Alain, having to grip his hands into tight fists to stop himself from once again attempting to attack the man.
"How do you think they got free in the first place?" retorted Marcel, his tone suggesting he was getting fed up with all the questions though he hid it well.
"You?" snorted the pair, neither fully believing the man's innocent guy act.
"Why would you betray your friend to help out a couple of musketeers you helped capture?" Blaise asked hesitantly, something about the man before him was making him uncomfortable though he had no way of knowing if it was the man himself of the knowledge of what he had put his friend's through.
Marcel shuffled on the spot, clearly uncomfortable, "Daviau and myself are not friends, we merely… had a goal in common, or so I thought." The final part of that explanation was said quietly, almost to himself.
"You thought?" Alain asked as he watched the man suspiciously, he could tell that Blaise didn't fully trust him and that was more than enough to raise the younger man's preverbal hackles.
"I wanted answers!" exclaimed Marcel and it was one of the only things he had said over the last few minutes that both musketeer's believed to actually be completely true.
"And torturing musketeers… breaking the arm of a recruit? That was the best method you had at your disposal for getting them."
"I…" Marcel sighed, "I did not wish for the boy to become involved, he played no part in the incident I sought answers for but he refused to stand down, his stubbornness and blind loyalty to those within the compound is what led to his injury."
"Enough of this," snapped Blaise several minutes later after they had been listening to Marcel talk. The musketeer was now certain that the man was hiding something from them, something malicious, but he had very little time to worry about that right now. "If what you said about Daviau's men in the area then we should be heading towards Athos's group."
"I can take you there if you like," offered Marcel, sounding a bit too chipper for Blaise's liking.
"You've done enough," scowled the musketeer before he and Alain climbed back on to their horses and sped of down the path the tracks led them to.
"Aramis," called a voice pulling the musketeer out of the light sleep he had unintentionally slipped into. Wincing as he body protested the medic forced himself to stretch, his arm quickly falling back down as his hand flew to his healing wound on his chest. Blackness teased at the edges of the musketeer's vision but he fought it back as he focused on the concern in the voice as it repeated his name.
"…Henri?" he murmured, forcing himself to breathe through the pain while making a mental note to check the stitches as soon as possible.
"You look worse each time I see you," remarked the musketeer as he handed the medic a water skin and sat down beside him.
"You flatter me," deadpanned the musketeer, taking a long draw of the water and relishing in the relief the cool liquid gave him.
"I try," smirked Henri before a look of concern entered his eyes, "Seriously though, are you okay?"
"I'll be better when this is all over and we're all safely back in Paris."
Henri sighed, looking sadly at the still unconscious Captain, "Wont we all."
"Did you need something?" Aramis asked, feeling more like himself as the pain dulled to a manageable level
Nodding Henri turned so he was facing the marksman, "I wanted to know when you think they'll be safe to move." Aramis's face scrunched up in confusion so Henri was quick to continue explaining. "One of the boys found an old wagon in the stables. It needs a bit of work to get it safe for travel and I know we're all eager to get going as soon as possible so I was curious as to our time frame."
Aramis nodded, relief filling him at the prospect of getting their wounded friends and leader to better supplies. "A full day at least. Both of them lost a lot of blood and I don't want to risk moving them so soon, especially Favier. According to Issac it took a while for the bleeding to slow enough so he could stitch it up meaning he is highly critical at the moment, the longer we can leave them where they are the better their chances, the travel itself is going to be taxing on their bodies."
"Understood," nodded Henri as he moved to stand, "I'll let the boys know they can take their time to ensure it's completely fixed and to search the compound again for things we can use to pad out the base, see if we can't make it a bit comfier for our friends."
Alain's keen eyes spotted them first, the younger man had decided to climb one of the trees to get a clearer view of what they were walking into when he saw a familiar figure.
"I see them!" beamed Alain as he looked down at the waiting form of Blaise, who was currently trying not to smirk at the man's enthusiasm.
"You're sure?"
"Definitely," nodded the musketeer, the beaming grin still on his face, "We're not far."
"Well get down here and lets go, the longer we dally the more we're tempting fate to strike us."
Alain nodded enthusiastically before scrambling down a few branches so he was closer to the ground. Sending Blaise, who was staring at him with a raised eyebrow, a smirk the younger musketeer back flipped off of the branch, landing perfectly on his feet.
"Show off," grunted Blaise as he pulled Alain into a friendly headlock, dragging the protesting man towards their horses.
"ATHOS!" the pair called when they neared the area Alain had spotted them, neither man knew how much ammunition the group had left, if any, and weren't about to risk getting accidently shot by not identifying themselves first.
"Blaise?" came a surprised reply and the musketeer let his grin match Alain's as they entered the clearing.
At first they were shocked by the clear signs of battle that surrounded them but then that was replaced with relief at seeing not only Athos but Porthos as well, both awake and alive before them.
"You're alive," sighed Blaise, feeling a weight he hadn't been aware he had been carrying lift from his shoulders.
"How'd ya find us?" asked Porthos as he grinned at the two men.
"You left tracks," explained Alain when he noticed Blaise was too busy assessing the pair for injuries, "Aramis led us, the Captain and some others to the compound where you were held. When it became obvious you weren't there we went looking for a trail and it led us here."
"Where's 'Mis? The Captain?" inquired Porthos, surprised that Aramis hadn't been the one leading the search party for them.
Noticing the pained looks on both men's faces Athos limped forward, leaning against Porthos as he stared hard at the new arrivals, "What happened?"
Blaise sighed, trust Athos to get to the serious stuff straight away, "We were attacked."
Porthos's eyes widened in panic as he remembered the Gascon's explanation of Aramis's injuries. "'Mis!?"
"Is fine," Blaise reassured quickly. "Exhausted and no doubt quite sore but alive and mobile."
"Who?" Athos asked quietly, knowing that the only reason Aramis wouldn't be with Blaise's group searching for them would be because someone was seriously injured.
"…Favier," admitted Alain glumly, the concern he felt for the musketeer clear in his voice.
Blaise shuffled nervously for a moment before taking a deep breathe and adding, "… And the Captain."
"WHAT!" exclaimed both Athos and Porthos as one, though any further explanation on Blaise's or Alain's part was halted by a groan of pain behind them.
"Athos," said Vivienne quietly, "He's waking up."
Both Blaise and Alain turned their attention to the form on the ground they hadn't noticed in their elation at finding Porthos and Athos. Both their eyes widened an almost comical amount at the sight of D'Artagnan lying asleep on the ground by a dying fire, as a woman they could only assume was Aramis's kidnapped friend, tended to his fever.
"What is he doing here?!" exclaimed Blaise being the first to recover.
"Saving our lives," stated Athos with a tone that silenced any further comments. He and his brothers might be beyond furious with the boy for his actions but they would still defend them against anyone else, even those in their own regiment.
Ignoring the spluttering coming from the two musketeers Athos turned back and slowly moved to the boy's side, by the way his brows were furrowing Athos could tell that Vivienne was right and he was waking up.
"D'Artagnan," called the swordsman softly as he gently tapped the boy's face.
"…'Thos?" mumbled the Gascon sleepily as he struggled to open his eyes.
Smiling at the boy with a gentleness that would have surprised the musketeers had they not known the fondness the swordsman held for the Gascon, Athos gripped the boy's uninjured hand in his own, quietly explaining the situation to him while Alain and Blaise filled Porthos in on all that had happened.
"Crap," swore Porthos once they had finished explaining the situation to him. His heart broke for Issac, knowing full well just how close he and Favier were.
"How soon can you be moving?" Blaise asked seriously, his eyes back to assessing the men's injuries. The entire group looked beat to hell and in need of some serious rest but he knew they would rest better when reunited with Aramis and the others.
"'Thos and the whelp aren't in any condition to walk." Porthos explained, everyone ignoring the indignant exclamation of 'I'm fine' that came from D'Artagnan. "We had the whelp's horse, she could carry two but it'd be slow going."
Blaise nodded, "One of them can have mine, Alain can ride ahead so Aramis has time to prepare."
"Are you sure?" Alain asked, his voice thick with worry, "What if you get attacked?"
"That's another reason you're riding out ahead of us. Once you've informed Aramis grab a couple of the guys and make your way back to us, we'll meet in the middle and have extra protection for the rest of the journey."
Alain looked unhappy with the arrangement but complied with it regardless, jumping back on his horse and racing off in the direction they had come from.
"Come on whelp," teased Porthos as he moved to help the barely conscious Gascon to his feet, the fever was draining all of the young man's energy and whilst he was trying to fight it Porthos was willing to admit that he was beginning to fear for the boy.