Evening (or very early morning as it's 3am here) My Lovelies
Sorry bout the slightly later update, had some computer problems that delayed my starting work on this chapter...And then when I did start I hit a spot of writers block... I swear this chapter didn't want to make it easy for me *sigh* :(
... BUT it's done now so yay for that :)
On An AMAZING note ... over 800 reviews!
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - :D I did like that line. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - No mistiness today (i think) But I'm really happy that you enjoyed the chapter. I was a bit worried I wouldn't be able to write the grief properly or that the boys would seem really out of character, which really would have sucked as I really liked that chapter. Glad you're up for some more whumpage :) I'm kinda making that up as I go as I didn't plan to include any more so it'll be a surprise for all of us as to what's going to happen lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - haha Yeah I realized it was probably a dumb question to ask. Glad you liked the chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I figured the whumpage question would probably be a dumb one to ask lol :) I don't have anything in particular planned as I hadn't intended to write any more so we'll just have to see what evil things my mind can create on the fly :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Gotta love the brotherly love :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - I think Athos would have crawled out if he knew Aramis needed him... though that would probably hurt him even more than walking...Poor Aramis isn't handling it well, though he's doing a bit better today after having a good cry yesterday ... though that's not to say it wont get worse again later. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - That's what I thought! Glad you thought it was appropriate too. I know :) I think I've done pretty much everything in this story so we might have to revisit some ideas for some more whumpage. I'm a great lover of D'Art whump so it's quite possible that we'll see a bit more of that but I haven't quite decided yet... Porthos is remarkably healthy (in comparison) right now... might need to even that up a bit. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you loved it :D I was nervous I wouldn't be able to write the grief realistically so your review was a relief. Aramis is fairly injured but not really able to register it quite yet... though i do love your idea ;) I think that chapter and the one before were definitely the best ones I've written in a while... which I don't really think this chapter lives up to but hopefully you'll still like it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the reviews - Emotionally Aramis is doing a bit better today after his big cry yesterday but I very much doubt it'll stay that way for long :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Guest: Thanks for the review - Glad you're enjoying it. As for the D'Art whump... knowing me I probably will :) Is there anything in particular you want to see happen to him? I always welcome ideas and/or suggestions. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Thanks :) I hadn't even realized I had reached 800 until your review came in. I knew I was close but it didnt really register how close until you mentioned it :D I seriously can't believe it's doing as well as it is. The pressure is really on for my next story now so each new story I've written has surpassed the previous in terms of reviews... though to be honest I'm ecstatic with whatever I get. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Wow I'm ecstatic you think so :D I really am quite proud of how the last couple of chapters turned out so to hear that other people also thought highly of them too really makes me smile :D Personally I don't think this chapter is quite up to the standard of the last 2 (stupid writers block) but hopefully you'll enjoy it all the same. Hmm I'm loving the idea of some bad dreams coming Aramis's way :) I think neither Athos nor D'Art would be content just sitting there and doing nothing while Aramis cried his heart out in Porthos's arms and I figured what better way for them to spend the time then by doing that... Plus I figured it would probably help Aramis not to see her all fearful and bloody. I seriously can't get over the fact I have over 800 reviews! Thank you so much for your continued support of this story, it really means a lot :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading. You guys are awesome!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Sixty-Eight: Lost In Grief II
The quartet lost track of how long they had been sitting out in the courtyard, allowing Aramis the time needed to say goodbye to the woman who had bled out in his arms.
As time passed however the rest of the quartet began to grow even more worried for their grieving friend. The man had been growing progressively paler and his tremors had grown in intensity. They knew they needed to get him into the infirmary to have him checked over but none of them wanted to rush their friend when he had suffered so.
"…T…Thank you," whispered Aramis brokenly, the first thing he had said since he had said a prayer for Vivienne. He wasn't entirely sure which of his friends he was thanking, nor what he was thanking them for. All he knew was that, much like what had happened after Savoy and then recently again with the death of Marsac, they had stopped him from losing himself in his grief and pain.
"We got ya 'Mis," said Porthos softly as he took the medic's hand in his own, frowning slightly at the shaking he could feel. "Why don't we get you back in the infirmary, that guy got a couple of hits in and you saw how Moreau went off on Athos when he tried to hide injuries, best to get in the good books of the person about to poke you with needles right?"
The comment about Athos getting scolded by the typically peaceful doctor had the corners of Aramis's lips twitching… not quite a smile but close enough, given the circumstances, for Porthos to count it as a win.
"I'll speak to Treville about sending out someone to handle her," said Athos reassuringly as he noticed the medic's hesitance.
With a weak nod to the arrangement Aramis began the rather unsteady task at getting up onto his feet.
"You good there 'Mis?" asked Porthos worriedly as he reached out to steady his friend, his eyes scanning over the man for signs of any injuries he had missed before, only to curse as he realized he had no way of telling what blood on his clothes belonged to him or to Vivienne.
"…I'm fine," muttered Aramis as he pushed Porthos's hand away, feeling unworthy of the comfort his friend was giving him right now. It was a feeling he knew all of his friends would dismiss and even the rational part of his mind said it was unwarranted… unfortunately for him though; the rational part of his mind wasn't in complete control at the moment.
Both Athos, who was being helped up and steadied by D'Artagnan, and the Gascon shared Porthos's worried look but decided that their friend needed to do this right now, they had seen him broken and weak, no doubt the man wanted to regain some of his pride by at least walking around the corner unaided.
Things seemed to be going well to begin with, they were all standing and had managed to start walking without crying out and collapsing from the pain but that's as much as their luck allowed.
After talking no more than a dozen steps it became abundantly clear that Aramis was in trouble but before any of his friends could react the medic had passed out, crumbling to the floor.
"ARAMIS!" the three of them exclaimed as one. Porthos, being the closest to the man, just managed to catch the marksman before he could hit the ground.
"Shit," swore the larger man as he felt the heat rising off of his friend's skin, "'e's burning up 'Thos."
Athos clenched his jaw, determination setting in on his face. "We need to get him to the infirmary. You'll have to carry him."
Without another word Porthos, with a little help from a worrying D'Artagnan, gathered his sick friend up into his arms and moved as quickly as he dared to the infirmary.
The atmosphere in the infirmary was solemn, each musketeer knew what was going on outside, what one of their own was suffering through and that knowledge was manifesting itself as silence amongst the conscious men.
Treville was with an unconscious Jacques, watching over the boy as Moreau, who had woken some time earlier, checked him over. Both the Captain and physician knew he would find nothing wrong with the medic's work but both needed something other then the grieving man outside to focus on. Plus Jacques had risked his life trying to send them a warning, watching over him as he healed seemed like the least they could do.
The silence was then abruptly broken when Porthos all but kicked the infirmary door down as he stormed into the room, carrying an unconscious Aramis in his arms.
"Over here," ordered Moreau, moving to an unoccupied bed near Jacques, quickly gathering up some supplies as Porthos gently placed his brother on the bed.
"When did he pass out?" Moreau asked as he began to remove the medic's shirt, his eyes immediately focusing on the injuries he found there.
"What happened?" asked Treville at the same time, moving instinctively to help Athos to a chair, watching with a small fond smile as D'Artagnan grabbed one of the pain draughts Aramis had made earlier and practically forced the vial into his mentor's hand.
"Few minutes ago," explained Porthos, his worried eyes never leaving Aramis's face as Moreau worked to clean the dried blood off of the medic's chest so he could the extent of the man's injuries.
"He's been shaky and pale for a little while though," added D'Artagnan as he grabbed on of the damp cloths, folding it before placing in gently on his friend's burning forehead.
"Not surprising," mused Moreau as he tentatively examined the stab wound the man had suffered during his earlier fight. "No doubt this has been steadily bleeding for some time."
All three men blanched then, guilt filling them as the thought that they had caused this by not insisting the medic got his injuries seen to earlier settled within them.
"It… It didn't look like it was bothering him," mumbled D'Artagnan, his voice thick with guilt. "Should have said something."
"Is he going to be alright?" asked Porthos, placing his hand on D'Artagnan shoulder as he spoke, offering the boy a reassuring squeeze.
The question went unanswered at Moreau became engrossed in his work, his entire focus on addressing each of Aramis's wounds.
The three men shared a look, each trying not to outwardly show their worry for their friend.
Porthos was alternating between holding Aramis's hand and replacing the cool cloth on his forehead.
D'Artagnan had moved to sit on the opposite side of the bed so he was in between Jacques and Aramis, his worried gaze flickering between them both.
Athos was trying his hardest not to glare at his Captain like he really wanted to. Since sitting down the man had been trying to examine his injury, to check the stiches were holding and that the splint on his foot had done the job and his bone remained in place.
Any other time and the swordsman might have born the examination with more patience then he was currently, but at the moment all he wanted to do was watch over his friend… Not be poked and prodded by his Captain.
After a few minutes Treville gave up trying to get Athos to be co-operative and moved instead to where a small group of his men were sitting, each of them looking up at him expectantly when he arrived.
"How's he doing?" asked Corbett, looking over the Captain's shoulder to where Aramis was being worked on.
"He's in bad shape but Moreau isn't panicking," shrugged Treville, hating that he didn't have anything more concrete to tell his men.
The group nodded, the worried looks not completely passing from their faces, though they made an effort to do so when they turned back to the Captain.
"What do you need sir?" Blaise asked, knowing that the Captain wouldn't have left Aramis's side unless he needed to.
"I need you and Alain to move Vivienne's and that man's body from the courtyard," Treville said quietly, "Then go into the city and speak to Francis about him sending around one of his boys to collect them. Aramis will probably want to sort out a burial for Vivienne but Francis is free to handle the man as he does with any other criminal."
Both Blaise and Alain nodded, grabbing their jackets from the back of their chairs before heading out.
"And us sir?" Corbett asked, gesturing to himself and Reynard, both men looking curiously at the Captain.
"I need you to go to my office. We've left Marcel unguarded for too long what with all the excitement we've had going on. If you think he's not going to put up too much resistance then you can take him to the Bastille but I don't want any more of my men injured so he can remain in our custody for the time being if needs must."
Corbett and Reynard nodded before following the other two musketeers out of the room.
Unfortunately for the two men, the path to the Captain's office took them through the courtyard. By the time they arrived both Alain and Blaise were in the process of moving the bodies but the large bloodstain on the floor only reminded them of what had happened.
"Come on," said Reynard, pulling gently on Corbett's arm as they made their way to the stairs that led to the Captain's office.
As they were walking along the balcony to the office both men noticed that the door was cracked open. Sharing a glance the musketeers silently drew their blades from their sheathes, lightening their steps as they stealthily approached the room.
The men shared another concerned look when they noticed the dried blood on the door as well as the railing opposite. With a sinking feeling settling within their guts the men opened the door, weapons brandished ready for an attack.
"Crap," swore Corbett as he sheathed his blade and knelt down to pick up a piece of bloodstained fabric that had once been part of Marcel's restraints. "The Captain's not going to like this."
"Should have used something like ropes or chains," remarked Reynard absently, seemingly having forgotten where they were until a cheeky grin grew on Corbett's face, the man unable to reframe from commenting.
"I think I'd be more concerned for the Captain if he kept such things in his office… Unless you know something I don't?"
Reynard's face flushed at the lighthearted teasing from his friend, though he refused to retort back as it would only encourage him.
"What do we do now?" he asked instead, scowling slightly at the smug smirk on his friend's face as he avoided the previous question.
"We report back," said Corbett, rising to his feet with an exaggerated sigh, "the Captain's really not going to like this."