Evening My Lovelies
OMG OMG OMG We're only 5 reviews away from 700 reviews!
I also found out today that this story is the 2nd highest reviewed musketeer fic on this site! How awesome is that! I would be jealous if I wasn't a big fan of the number one fic. I also realized I had 3 stories in the top 10 reviewed stories which just made me love you lovely readers all the more :D
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Yeah that wasn't the most pleasant thing for Aramis to experience... though I'm sure he'd welcome any comforting you want ot give ;) Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Hehe that was a favourite line of mine as well :D and who cares if you look a bit nuts, being nuts makes life interesting lol :D D'Art's been the one being cared for quite a bit in this story so I wanted to go back to him being the one doing the caring... plus the mental image was really cute :) Our boys are never truly safe when I'm around lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Its definitely campfire worthy... maybe I'll reference it in my next story :D Think Treville was more surprised that the others were content to sit back and let the pup work more than anything. Our boys are going to have to practically buy the poor doc a brewery after all this with the amount of drinks they owe him now lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - Thanks I'm glad you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - I know right! The mental image was too cute to resist, I had to write it :D Treville's definitely regretting letting his guard down now. Enjoy the new chapter! x
AllForOne (Guest): Thanks for the review - I know! so close and yet still so far! :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - As for the men that had been left at the garrison... you'll have to wait and see what's become of them :D Aramis is definitely going to be glad he got the rest he managed, he's going to need it. That bit of banter was a favourite of mine so I'm really happy to see it so enjoyed by everyone! Banters always fun to write so I'm glad you enjoyed it and in all fairness you've all gotten off pretty easily in terms of cliffys for a while so I had to write one :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Haha I feel like once this is over Moreau should just throw all his tools to the ground and be like "Screw this I'm done!" and then storm out of the garrison while everyone else is just confused lol. I don't think D'Art will ever learn to do that, he's far too headstrong and stubborn for that. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Worry not I'm not intending on too much Treville whumpage (I have other plans mwhaha) In regards of Athos ... it should be happening in the next chapter or two. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - True, maybe Treville can include it in the new training plan... It can be right up there next to water safety and the new buddy system lol. I'm excited for Marcel's plan so unfortunately we are indeed jumping right in. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I know! It's all thanks to lovely readers such as yourself so thank you so much for your continued support, it really means a lot to me! I am slightly worried about my next story now though. I seem to be on a trend of getting more and more reviews with each new story and that ends up setting the bar pretty high for the next one (though to be honest I'm ecstatic with any amount I get) I feel like Aramis would relax with a woman, Athos with wine, D'Art with being around friends but Porthos would need a slightly more violent outlet to relax, especially with all the stress and worry he was feeling at that time. Glad you thought it stuck with character though, I was a little worried. Haha the belt scene seems to be a hit with everyone which I'm sooo happy about as its pretty much my favourite bit of banter in the chapter, though I'm glad I live alone as I'm pretty sure I laughed when the idea came into my head, which to anyone else could look slightly freaky lol. I loved having D'Art take back up the role of Aramis's protector/carer like he was at the beginning of the story... He's usually the damsel in my stories (and such a cute one at that) so it was nice switching it up a bit. Yep paperwork and a death threat, just another day in the life of Captain Treville lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading. Love you all, you guys are awesome!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Fifty-Nine: Trouble Brewing
"Marcel I assume?" asked Treville as he continued to slowly reach for his own pistol, which he had placed on the side of the desk when he had sat down.
"Don't," warned the man, his eye cold and hard as he grabbed Treville's pistol from the desk.
"So what's the plan here?" Treville asked, barely able to keep his voice emotionless, as he wanted nothing more than to punch the smug grin off of the man's face.
"Well Captain," smirked the man as he slowly moved to lock the office door, his eyes never leaving the Captain's as he moved. "That completely depends on you now doesn't it."
"Does it?"
"Despite what you might think of me, I am not a heartless man Captain," glared the man.
"The torture my men suffered under your 'care' says otherwise Marcel," remarked Treville, thankful that he was still sitting down and so his hands could be hidden by the desk and that Marcel would not see just how tight he had to clench them at the thought of what his men had endured.
Marcel shrugged, apparently not bothered by the accusation. "The young boy can hardly be counted as one of your men, my sources state he's not even an official recruit."
Treville worked hard then to keep the surprise from showing on his face. Marcel's words were not wrong but it was the fact that he had learnt that, which was surprising. Most people assumed D'Artagnan was, at the very least, a recruit given how the time he spent training with the men at the garrison as well as going out on missions with the inseparables, but the truth of the matter was that D'Artagnan's recruitment had never officially been registered. The fact that Marcel had learnt this was slightly disturbing.
"As for the men actually under your command," continued Marcel, seemingly ignorant of or choosing to ignore the Captain's surprise at his last statement. "You would do well to remember that the only reason they didn't suffer more was because they had my help… As I said, I'm not a heartless man."
"And what does that have to do with me?" queried Treville, internally fuming as he couldn't refute the man's words as he had been, according to both Athos and Porthos, instrumental in the group's escape from the compound.
"It means," smirked Marcel as he learned against the desk, his pistol still pointed directly at Treville's heart. "That I'm going to give you a chance to save what remains of those under your command."
Treville felt his heart stop at Marcel's words, gone were all thoughts at remaining as emotionless as possible as fury grew on his face.
"What?" he growled, the pistol pointing at his chest being the only thing preventing him from attacking the smug looking man in front of him.
"A couple of experienced men, a handful of recruits and a few members of staff," listed Marcel, "that is all the King left at the garrison before he left for his hunt. Not exactly hard to overpower." As he said this he caught a look on Treville's face that had his smirk growing. "Oh Captain. Please tell me you didn't think your own men would leave the garrison completely empty?"
The condescending tone in Marcel's voice only made the urge to hit him that much stronger, though the guilt at how easily he had shrugged off the garrison's sparseness earlier overwhelmed it.
Serge and Jacques, the two members of staff that were the most likely to have been in the garrison at the time regularly had to go out into the city as part of their jobs so their absence had hardly seemed questionable at the time of their return to the garrison.
With the musketeers and recruits that remained, Treville could admit it had been harder to ignore their absence but with so many members gone it had made sense to him that maybe the rest were out handling smaller missions or patrol duties.
"So, my men are what? Leverage?" snarled Treville, no longer caring about the pistol pointing at him as he moved to his feet, fully intent on launching himself at the man before a throwing dagger was thrown his way, skimming close enough to his cheek to lightly draw blood before embedding itself in the wall behind him.
"I have no qualms about killing you Captain," spat Marcel as he lowered his throwing arm. "As for your men, leverage is exactly what they are… well most of them anyway."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Monsieur D'Artagnan!" snapped Moreau as he turned his heated glare back on the now sheepish looking Gascon. "Try and get out of that bed one more time before I say you can and I'll have someone tie you to it!"
Porthos, who was currently being examined by the doctor, was barely able to hold back a snort of laughter at the boy's horrified expression, both of them knowing that in Moreau's current mood that the threat was a legitimate one.
Not wanting to risk the doctor's ire anymore D'Artagnan swung his legs back up onto the mattress, scowling as he did so.
"Moreau let me help!" pleaded Aramis from his own bed, the marksman looking much better given his rest during the last leg of their journey home but everyone could see the medic in him was antsy and desperate to be doing someone.
"And risk you popping that knee out again? I think not."
"Then I'll stay sitting!" exclaimed Aramis, hope growing within him when Moreau didn't immediately shut him down. "My arms aren't injured, just sore. I can focus on making draughts and poultices while you examine everyone."
Moreau was silent for a few moments as he considered the medic's proposal, what he was suggesting would definitely take a large portion of the work away from him and given how often the two of them had worked together in the past, he knew the man had the skills needed to properly complete the task he was proposing.
"Very well," sighed Moreau, his hand coming up to rub away some of the sleep in his eyes. "Issac," he called, summoning the musketeer who had decided to remain by Favier's side in the infirmary despite numerous assurances that the man was recovering remarkably well considering. "Help Aramis over to the desk," turning back to Aramis, who was now beaming at being allowed to help he added, "Start with pain draughts, I grabbed most of my supply when we left to join you and what I have left here wont last long."
Aramis nodded as he slung his hand over Issac's shoulder, accepting the man's help in reaching his destination while putting as little pressure as possible on his sore knee.
"So how am I looking doc?" Porthos asked with a small grin at his brother's joy. Truthfully he was glad his examination was now over, an irritated Moreau was a focused Moreau and the doctor had been ruthless with his examination of him and now his whole body was crying out for rest and relief.
Moreau glared at the man's overly chipper tone but his expression quickly softened when he noted the lines of pain around his eyes that spoke of it being a front to appear better then he was.
"Three cracked ribs," he listed as he moved to get some bandages to wrap the musketeer's chest, "most of the rest are badly bruised and will no doubt give you some pain while breathing for a few weeks."
"Joy," sulked Porthos, all earlier mirth now gone as he grunted in pain while Moreau worked to wrap his chest.
"You've gone quite a few small cuts scattered about, none of them look deep enough to require anything more than a clean, which we've already done so wipe that scowl off your face."
Aramis snickered at the sight of Porthos being scolded like a child; the act did wonders for the pain in his heart that had been growing with every injury the doctor listed.
"That all?" Porthos asked, squirming uncomfortably at the feeling of having his chest bound.
"Well apart from your skin being about five different colours now thanks to the many bruises you've accumulated during this journey yes that's it."
"I'll make some of my bruise balm for you when I'm done with pain draughts my friend," offered Aramis, smirking slightly at the slightly disgusted look on Porthos's face at the thought of the pungent balm.
Smiling fondly at the men's bickering D'Artagnan's attention switched to his mentor, who had been silently starting at the infirmary door since they had arrived.
"Athos?" he asked quietly, his voice barely audible over the now full on bickering going on between Aramis and Porthos.
At the sound of his name Athos forced his mind to focus on who had interrupted him, sending the boy a questioning look he waited to hear why he had been called.
"Is something wrong?" the Gascon asked hesitantly, he didn't want his questions to spur his mentor to do something that could injure him further, especially after learning from Moreau of exactly how serious his condition was, but he knew that if anything was actually wrong that the person who would know would be Athos.
Athos was silent for a moment as he tried to decide whether or not to say anything. The Gascon was notoriously stubborn and would most likely keep up this line of questioning until he received the answers he sought but Athos had already seen the boy hurt more times then he would like and was in no hurry to create the temptation for the headstrong youth's trouble magnet ways.
After a while he knew he had to tell him, D'Artagnan was no child despite how much they teased him of being one. The Gascon had a surprisingly smart head on his shoulders when he decided to use it and the swordsman knew he needed someone to tell him if his thoughts were merely created out of the paranoia recent events had created.
"Something… doesn't seem right," he murmured, his gaze returning to the infirmary door as if he expected someone to break though it at any minute.
"How so?" D'Artagnan asked, his tone serious as he used his good hand to push himself up into a proper seated position on his bed, still not willing to risk Moreau's wrath by turning so his feet were on the floor so he could face his mentor.
Athos noted this and couldn't help the slight upward tug at the corners of his mouth before he glanced over at the doctor, who had now moved on from Porthos, who had been sent right to an empty bed to rest, and was now checking over Henri.
"The garrison was too quiet," Athos explained quietly, trying to decide the best way to explain his thoughts.
"The guard said most of the men were taken by the King for his hunt," reminded D'Artagnan, though Athos did notice that the boy wasn't outright dismissing his concerns, only choosing to remind him of the facts they were aware of.
Nodding Athos continued his explanation, "Still, some men should have been here, not even Serge or Jacques came out to greet us."
D'Artagnan nodded slowly, thinking over what Athos was saying. "No one was on guard at the gates either…"
"Exactly," nodded Athos, "Even with depleted numbers there should always be at least one person on watch at the gates, it's one of the main things Treville insists on."
"So what exactly are you saying?" interrupted Favier who had been listening in on their conversation as soon as he realized what it was about.
To his credit Athos didn't outwardly show the surprise he felt at Favier's interruption, choosing instead to merely send the man a questioning look, to which Favier responded with a small smirk and a shrug.
Sighing Athos pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ignore the shakiness of his hands as he did so. "I'm saying," he said, ensuring this time that his voice was quiet enough so as to not alert the rest of the room to their conversation. "That there's something going on here we're not aware of."