Evening My Lovelies
Oooh we're soooo close to both having 500 reviews and 30K views! (I love you all you know that right :D You're the best!)
As for today's chapter, it originally started as a fillery chapter but kinda changed nearer the end so stick with it :)
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Gotta love the fluff :) Things are getting a bit emotional today so should be good :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - I really REALLY want to leading you into a false sense of security (my evil mind practically demands it) but we'll have to see how my muse takes it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - How annoying that the mobile app isn't sending reviews through :( I feel really bad at not responding now, trust me had they come through I definitely would have responded! I love getting reviews from you all! Enjoy the new chapter! x
Guest: Thanks for the review - Haha guess you wanted Issac to collapse (which sounds a bit mean but who am I to judge lol) Your welcome for the collapse. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha I know I never let him off easy :) Treville has his smart moments :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
AllForOne (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad it made you laugh :) I never know if the humorous conversations I plan in my head translate well when I try to write them so to hear they made you laugh is a relief for me :) I haven't quite decided if the trip is going to be an uneventful one or not yet... it's definitely going to be an awkward one with both Viv and Aramis there but they will all be traveling as one group, Treville's a bit too paranoid to split up the group at the moment. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - :D I'm glad you enjoyed it, scenes that are supposed to be funny always leave me a bit unsure as I'm never fully confident the idea in my head translates properly but seeing as how you found it funny means it clearly worked :D Hmm yeah out of all of them Porthos would be the only one I would consider allowing on a horse. D'Art and Athos definitely wont be riding (possibilities for more snuggly moments perhaps :D) Aramis will probably try to ride but will be forced to remain in a wagon but Treville outranks them all so it'll be interesting to see how that goes. Yay I'm really glad you found him fascinating, I wanted to try creating a baddie with a motive that went beyond simply being a crazy evil-minded asshole. Marcel will be absent for a little while longer as we need to deal with Durand and Vivienne first. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hehe Glad you liked it, I didn't want it to cause too much of a panic in the camp as it was more because of exhaustion then anything else but as long as you liked it :D I feel your hug in spirit lol You've been really lovely with all your reviews having him collapse (which i was debating on happening anyway) was the least I can do as a thank you :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Aramis will be learning about Vivienne today ... and it's not gonna be pretty. D'Arts doing better now and will be popping back up again today and worry not Aramis has been watching over him... mainly as he's having trouble sleeping (which is briefly explained) but he's being watched over nevertheless. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - I can't guarantee how long it will be going on for but there are still several things I want to do and can possible extend the story further if my mind decides to go truly evil :D Yeah I realized I had kinda pushed aside the severity of Athos's wounds having read your review. So thank you for that :D Always welcome constructive thoughts and comments. Athos doesnt really have much to do in this chapter but I'll be keeping that comment in mind when he next appears. Thanks again :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - I figured with all our boys have been though ... and might go through if i decide to be evil, they need a couple of rest chapters. As for my new story I'm super excited to start work on it, I have a whole load of plot notes written for it already and have started planning what whumpage I want to happen (if you have any requests I'm all ears). I'm also going to write a one-shot piece about the Vadim incident/episode as the idea to do so has been stuck in my head for months. As that's a one-shot it'll probably go up first to tide you all over while I work on the new piece once this story's done. Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Yeah they're stubborn but would they be the boys we know and love if they weren't? I haven't decided whether Treville might just pull rank and ride anyway but I do have a possible funny conversation regarding that which I might write. We're a good chapter or so away from them leaving so I have time yet to decide. Aramis is going to learn about Viv today and we'll be having his confrontation with her tomorrow. I'll admit I'm a bit nervous about writing it as I have this whole emotional scene all planned out in my head but I don't know if I can do it justice :/ Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Our boys definitely deserved a lighter chapter considering everything they've been through and everything poor Aramis is about to go through with regards to Viv. I'm not quite sure where Corbett's challenge to Treville came from but the idea wouldn't leave my head so I had to include it, glad you liked it though :) Treville was in full papa-bear mode yesterday (which I loved!) got him more into serious-Captain mode today unfortunately as he has to deliver the bad news of Viv's betrayal to Aramis. I just couldn't resist the head slap :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Forty-Three: Harsh Truths
Thankfully for the exhausted musketeers the remainder of the night passed without incident and many were able to catch up on some very much needed rest.
Unfortunately though the following morning's arrival heralded a conversation that Treville was not looking forward to having. Part of him knew he could order either Porthos or Athos to initiate the conversation but after everything that had been done to them Treville didn't want to add more pain onto their shoulders by asking them to do this.
Groaning both at the thought of what was to come and the pain from his throbbing wound Treville knew he would need to rise soon. His body was crying out for more rest, the sun had only just risen above the tree line but the pain from his wound would not let him rest.
To his surprise and slight displeasure Treville awoke to find that the only other person awake who wasn't on watch was Aramis. The musketeer seemed to be in the middle of creating several draughts, though if he had to guess Treville would have said that the medic's own wound was paining him given the way Aramis's hand would move to lightly rest against it whenever not in use.
"Captain," blinked Aramis in surprise as Treville sat himself down next to him, "Didn't expect you to be up this early is everything okay? Is it your wound? I really should check it for any signs of infection, with everything that's happened lately it slipped my mind."
Treville's lips quirked upwards in amusement at the medic's rambling, raising his hand to silence him Treville responded, "I could ask you the same thing," Aramis watched as compassion and worry filtered into the Captain's eyes. "You weren't in the best shape when all of this started and since the ambush you've barely slept. If anyone was going to sleep through the day I would have expected it to be you."
Aramis chuckled, though it was without any real mirth. "Gun shot wound is not really concussive to sleep," he admitted, surprising Treville with his honesty. "Besides," he added softly as he stared down at his sleeping brothers, "Someone's got to watch over them."
Treville frowned slightly at that statement, it seemed the marksman had been up for a lot longer then he thought, "the coughing fit passed?" he asked watching as D'Artagnan lay sleeping, snuggled up tight against Porthos's chest.
The two musketeers watched with barely concealed amusement when Porthos shifted in his sleep, drawing the Gascon even closer to him, the boy now practically lying on top of him, seeming perfectly content and relaxed about the whole arrangement.
"Yeah," sighed Aramis tiredly, "Was already beginning to calm down before you woke up. We thought he was going to pass out at one stage he was coughing so much, barely had any time to breathe."
"But he's doing better now?"
This time a bright grin lit up the sharpshooter's face, "Yeah. Whatever was in that vial it worked, fever's broken and slowly decreasing back to normal, coughing has stopped and even his infection from that stab wound has cleared… Though that was probably not due to the antidote."
"His ribs? I remember you being worried about them last night."
Aramis cringed, "not much I could do about them but thankfully all that coughing didn't shift them into anything they shouldn't be. I can't imagine the pain he must have been in. Broken ribs are painful enough but add in a coughing fit like he had and I'm honestly surprised he hadn't passed out part way through from the pain. He fell asleep pretty quickly once he finished that tea you made him," chuckling Aramis added, "pretty sure he was out before we'd even finished helping him lay back down."
"It helped?"
Aramis nodded, his attention diverting back to the draughts he had just finished making as he began to spoon them into vials. "His throat's going to be incredibly sore for some time but the look of relief he had on his face after finishing that drink I'd say it helped."
Treville sighed in relief. "That's good."
"…Thank you for that Captain."
This time it was Treville's turn to blink in surprise, though he covered up his surprise quickly and offered the medic a small smile. "I take care of my men Aramis and as far as anyone here is concerned D'Artagnan is one of us."
"… So what has you up this early anyway?" Aramis asked, trying to fight the beaming grin that appeared thanks to Treville's acknowledgement of the Gascon's place within the regiment. All they had to do now was find someway of getting the King to see their friend's skill and loyalty so they could make the whole thing official.
"Bad thoughts and sore wounds," admitted the Captain, a small grimace coming to his face as his injury throbbed.
Aramis frowned, "Here let me take a look. You shouldn't really be up and moving yet anyway so it's probably just tenderness from all the drama of the last few days."
Under normal circumstances Treville knew he would be protesting the marksman's fretting but with the only alternative being a rather awkward conversation that was bound to be painful for the pair of them the Captain found himself willing to endure any amount of the man's mother-hen tendencies if it meant he could put that off for a few minutes more.
Aramis noticed the strange compliance from his Captain and knew that there was something more going on then he knew and he actually found himself hoping that it was just that the man was in more pain then he was letting on.
Once Treville was lying on the ground Aramis's deft fingers made swift work untying the sodden bandage covering his wound.
"No wonder its sore," clucked Aramis disapprovingly, "You've torn about half the stitches."
"Says the man who ripped all of his," retorted Treville, the pain of having his injury poked and prodded by the medic making him grouchier then normal.
"Mine wasn't as bad as yours," stated Aramis as he began pulling out the stitches so he could replace them.
"Not from what both D'Artagnan and Doctor Moreau tell me," hissed Treville, fighting the urge to squirm away from the medic's hands as he worked. "Moreau said you could easily have bled to death had D'Artagnan not been there to stitch you up."
Aramis merely grunted in response to this, knowing he was beat, but Treville did catch him sending the still sleeping Gascon a fond look that was full of pride.
"The wound's clear from infection, which considering how neglected I let it get is –"
"Is not your fault," interrupted Treville, he knew the medic was already carrying an insane amount of guilt on his shoulders, which he was only going to be adding to when they had their conversation, he didn't want him carrying this as well. "I could have gotten Moreau to check it when he arrived but I didn't, that's on me not you."
"Still…"
"Still not your fault Aramis now shut up and stitch," he scolded light heartedly, quickly grimacing as the medic did just that.
It was some time later that Aramis finished re-stitching the Captain's wounds and the pair had settled into an easy conversation. By the time either of them really noticed how long they had been sitting there the sun was already high in the sky. Most of the musketeers were still sleeping and despite wanting to set off as soon as possible Treville had no qualms with sacrificing a day if it meant his exhausted men could get the rest they needed. With Corbett and the men that had accompanied him taking on watch duty they had the time and security to allow the men some time to heal before they left.
"Captain?" said Aramis, his tone confused and slightly worried as he began looking around the camp. When Treville's attention was back on him he asked, "Have you seen Vivienne? I can't see her anywhere."
Treville's insides churned at that one sentence, there was no backing out of this now, now he had to tell him.
"About that…"
"Yeah?" Aramis asked, the worry in his face only growing with every second Treville drew it out.
"There's a matter I need to discuss with you… regarding Mademoiselle Vivienne." Treville stated, trying to keep his voice as neutral as possible, which was quite a hard thing to do when the woman in question had almost killed one of his best soldiers.
"Okay…"
Treville sighed, running his hand over his face, out of the corner of his eye he could tell Porthos was beginning to wake and part of him wanted the larger musketeer there for this conversation, but then he was reminded of how well he knew Aramis. The medic, whilst happy to rely on his brothers for almost anything, often needed a moment alone to process news like what he was about to get.
"It… would be better if we spoke in private."
Porthos woke up to the sight of Aramis and Treville walking off to the end of camp. Aramis looked confused while Treville looked resigned and sad, that look alone told Porthos exactly what the pair had left to talk about. He would give anything to spare Aramis from what he was about to learn but he also knew it would not be fair to keep the information from him. If anything the main two people who deserved to know the truth behind the shooting were Athos, who had been shot and Aramis, who had been the intended victim.
"What's going on Captain?" Aramis asked bluntly, he was not fond of his Captain's hesitance to speak, it was something that only came out when the conversation topic was particularly bad, which did not bode well for his old friend.
Treville sighed; he knew there would be no easy way to do this and so steeled himself for what was to come. "The shooter, the one who nearly killed Athos."
Aramis's eyes narrowed at the Captain's words, particularly the emphasis the man put on the words 'nearly killed' … as if Aramis didn't know that! He had been the one to try everything to save him… Had been the one forced to hold the burning blade on one of his best friend's skin and hold it there to save his life.
"What about them?" he spat, worry now entering his mind as he wondered if that was why Vivienne wasn't in the camp… had the shooter killed her like they had tried to kill Athos.
"You're aware that you were the target?" Treville asked, his voice as neutral yet kind as he could make it given the subject of their conversation.
The anger in Aramis's eyes faded to guilt as he nodded sadly. He hadn't stopped seeing Athos's panicked look as he threw himself at the medic to save his life every single time he closed his eyes. It was one of the reasons he was having trouble sleeping.
"What does the shooter have to do with Vivienne? Did they… Did they kill her?"
A brief flash of anger crossed Treville face at the mention of Vivienne's name but it passed too quickly for Aramis to question. He could tell whatever the Captain was about to tell him was big… big and bad.
"The shooter," said Treville, his eyes full of sympathy as he looked at the medic, knowing full well how much this news was about to hurt him. "… Aramis the shooter was Vivienne."
"LIAR!" screamed Aramis as he jumped to his feet, pain and disbelief burning brightly in his eyes.
The sound of Aramis's exclamation started several of the men in the camp, however having instantly seen the pain in the medic's eyes as Treville was calmly talking to him they knew better then to interrupt.
"W's goin' on?" D'Artagnan asked sleepily, his words were barely audible thanks to the extreme hoarseness of his throat, something D'Artagnan was painfully reminded of when he spoke. His body was still extremely weak from the poison and with only having one good hand it was a bit of trouble but he did try to sit himself up. A flaming blush quickly settling on the Gascon's face as the young man realized how snuggled up to Porthos he was, the musketeer in question didn't seem to either mind or notice however as he sat watching the medic and the Captain with sad eyes.
"…P'thos?"
"Captain's telling 'Mis how the person who shot Athos in their attempt to kill him was Vivienne." Sighed Porthos sadly, his eyes never leaving the shaking form of his best friend.
"WHAT!?" exclaimed D'Artagnan, though it came out as more like a loud whisper thanks to the painful damage to his throat, as he forced himself up into a sitting position, ignoring how his body both screamed out in pain and shook from the effort as he did so. "How? … Why!?"
Wanting to smile at the outrage he found in D'Artagnan's eyes, further proof he was one of them he mused, Porthos pulled the Gascon closer to him, knowing the boy's body wasn't really strong enough to maintain a sitting position for long.
Without acknowledging the Gascon's embarrassed squeak of protest Porthos allowed them a moment to get settled before he quietly explained all that he knew. His eyes never leaving Aramis's form the entire time he spoke.