Updated: Monday 11th/9/2023

Chapter 4: Musketeers Arrive

D'Artagnan sighs as he watches over the Inn he had been staying in for several months. He had only been able to manage the stairs a couple of weeks ago. His leg still giving him trouble. But at least he could feel the whole leg…well most of the time. Phillipe and Helena had been impressed by his progress and said they couldn't not see him making a full recovery one day. Phillipe had given his dozens of different exercises to help strengthen his leg. That made him feel a lot of pain and be exhausted by the end of it. But he could see small improvements even now. But sometimes he also had setbacks.

But he had finally again a couple of weeks ago no longer needed someone in his rooms at all times. He would just have help from Phillipe, Helena and the Innkeeper in the Mornings and Afternoons.

But being alone made his nightmares of his captivity worse and he remembers the pleading in his dreams for his Brothers.

Oh, how much D'Artagnan wanted to go home. But he knew if he was to travel alone at this stage of his recovery, he probably wouldn't make it there alive. He could ride a horse for short periods of time at the moment with a slightly different saddle that a local Blacksmith helped design.

But there was no way he could defend himself at the moment. So, returning to Paris was still being put on hold unless his second message to Treville got through. Which he didn't think it did. He had been here 3 and a half months and no one had come for him. Something smelled off to him and he didn't know what.

As he knew if his Brothers saw that letter there would be no stopping them from coming to his aid and storming this Inn in order to find him. So, for them not to show up after the first message was worrying AND alarming.

He often wondered how his Brothers were. It had been over 7 and a half months since he 'disappear' or to them 'killed' and he was worrying just how bad they had taken everything.

Sometimes the thoughts of what could have happened to his Brothers nearly sent him hobbling to his horse and taking off to Paris right then and there. But he had to remind himself if he did that and got killed and his Brothers found out things would be ten times worse.

So as much as he hated it D'Artagnan had to play the waiting game. To heal enough so he could make the journey to Paris alone.

He winced as he stretched himself out. As sitting still so long was making him uncomfortable. His healed bones had taken to aching in cold weather or when he didn't move them enough.

He was going to make his way slowly back to his room when his eyes were drawn to 4 figures coming into the Inn. It took a minute for his eyes to stop at the distinct pauldron on the shoulders of the four men. He studied them closer and realised he knew the four of them.

Musketeers.

Not his Brothers. But his Brothers-in-Arms.

He wondered what they were doing here. He doubted it had something to do with him. As these four wouldn't be those he would have picked to come and get him. So D'Artagnan believed they were on their way or coming back from a mission.

Either way this might be what he needed to get back to Paris. Earlier then he had planned. That is if these four were willing to help him get back home.

Also, D'Artagnan realised these four at the very least, might be able to tell him what had happened with his Brothers.

He waited for them to take seats before he heaved himself up with the use of the fine walking stick that Helena had made for him. To help support his still slowly healing leg. (Which according to Phillipe he would be stuck with for a few more months. Much to his horror/disappointment).

D'Artagnan slowly made his way to the Musketeers table getting closer he was able to recognise the men better. Jean, Pierre, Roul and Piers. D'Artagnan could admit he didn't know the men well. But then again compared to the Inseparables he didn't get paired up with any others besides his Brothers.
"Can I join you?" D'Artagnan asks after he finally reaches their table.

All four Musketeers heads jump out to stare at him and D'Artagnan makes sure to give them a good view of his face. When he does, he sees the realization, recognition and disbelief come into their eyes and faces.

"D'Artagnan?" Pierre asks nearly in a whispers as he takes in the 'supposed' to be dead Musketeer.

"In the flesh", D'Artagnan says with a smile, "Do you mind if I sit? As I shouldn't be standing long"

"Ye…yeh sure", Jean stutters holding out a chair to the Musketeer who was meant to be dead.

D'Artagnan basically falls into it with a sigh and a wince.

"You look like hell", Roul tells him honestly.

Because he really DID look like he had been to hell and back. And the four musketeers could clearly tell the young Gascon was in pain and he looked way too thin. They could just make out dark circles under his eyes. An obviously sign of not sleeping or being ill for a long time. And he also was too skinny to be healthy.

D'Artagnan lets out a small laugh at Roul's word.

"I bet I do", he tells them.

"What happened?" Pierre asks.

"You're meant to be dead", Jean adds.

"First can you tell me how Athos, Porthos and Aramis are?" D'Artagnan asks them.

The Four Musketeers give each other looks. They hated they would have to be the barer of news on the Inseparables. Well, it isn't like they expected this bombshell. Seeing D'Artagnan alive and…well…well not exactly well. But better then dead.

And the Four knew when the Inseparables found out there was going to be hell to pay for the people who did this to D'Artagnan. As they could clearly tell that the young man had many still healing injuries if judging by the cane, he was using is anything to go by and the way he sat stiffly with a slightly shaking hand.

"To tell you the truth your Brothers aren't doing so well right now", Jean tells the young man honestly.

Piers snorts, "That is the understatement of the century"

"Tell me more", D'Artagnan pleads to them.

"Aramis is sleeping his way through Paris and is taking his anger out on the shooting range. Porthos is gambling more and picking fights", Roul tells him.

"And Athos?" D'Artagnan asks worriedly.

"Drinking himself into a coma. Aramis and Porthos are also doing their fair share of drinking themselves senseless too", Jean states bluntly earning a shove from Pierre.

That had D'Artagnan worried. All their behaviours had him deeply concerned.

"Oh, and they are picking more and more fights with the Red Guards and even fellow Musketeers", Roul tells him.

"Fights that they ALWAYS win", Piers adds.

"Anyone who says something bad about you normally ends up being challenged by Athos, Porthos and Aramis. And let me tell you if you think the wine to have dulled Athos senses then you and everyone else is dead wrong", Jean tells him.

"Yeah, no matter how drunk Athos gets it doesn't dimmish is ways with a sword", D'Artagnan mutters knowing from experience.

"It is lucky nobody has been hurt yet!" Roul exclaims, "I believe the Captain is not going to put up with it much longer!"

"And Athos is even more silent and each of them are picking fights with the others. Everyone thinks this is the end of the Inseparables", Jean tells him.

Pierre shoves him again.

"They had a few fights with the Captain about continuing to search for you and some say they draw their weapons on the Captain", Roul adds.

"They are basically drowning in guilt thinking it is their fault that you 'died'. No matter what anyone says they can't seem to get past it", Jean adds, "But they should! It was only supposed to be an easy message deliver. That didn't need more then one person. Who knew this was going to happen? Come on they need to get over it!"

Pierre shoves him again, "Shut up", he hisses at him.

D'Artagnan didn't like this. He didn't like this at all and he believed he needed to be in Paris sooner rather then later. But with his leg…But now that he had Four seasoned Musketeers here maybe he could finally make that long journey home before his Brothers killed themselves.

"How much time do you need before you all are ready to depart for Paris?" D'Artagnan asks them thoughtfully.

He knew Phillipe and Helena probably wouldn't like him leaving now. But he had little choice if he was going to stop his Brothers from doing something foolish. No matter how uncomfortable this trip home would make him he needed to do it. Something was telling him that he needed to get to Paris as soon as he could. And he couldn't make the trip alone.

The Four Musketeers look at him not knowing what to do. They knew if they let anything happen to the already injured man that their heads would roll when the Inseparables found out and find out they would. But if they succeed in bring D'Artagnan home safety then that would hopefully calm things at the Garrison and make the Inseparables believe they owed them a debt.

So, they had two choices they could choose from but first they needed to know more about D'Artagnan's situation.

"First, we need to know about you. What happened?" Pierre asks him.

D'Artagnan sighs this wasn't really something he wanted to go into details with them over. But he could give them what he was willing to share.

"I was…kidnapped. I don't remember that. But lets just say they kept me for a while and injured me pretty badly. I escaped and again I don't remember how. Myself and the Doctor and his Wife here believe I was drugged for some of my stay with those bastards. I am still healing now from the stuff they did", D'Artagnan tells them honestly, "I…I wouldn't be able to make the journey to Paris alone in the current state I am in. But if I had you lot backing me, I should be alright to make the journey especially when my Brothers lives are on the line"

"Are you sure you can make the journey?" Jean asks him.

"As long as we take breaks and I am not walking much I will hopefully will be able to make it. But it won't be without difficulty", D'Artagnan admits, "I might need help as we go. But I need to do this. I sent messages to Paris. But I have heard nothing. So, I am taking that as a sign something is wrong and that somehow my messages are not getting through"

"You have sent messages?" Pierre asks him.

"Yes. And I believe if my Brothers got either one of those, they would have stormed this Inn looking for me by now", D'Artagnan admits.

"Yes, they would have. There would have been no stopping them", Piers agrees.

Something was defiantly fishy about this.

"So will you help me get back to Paris?" D'Artagnan asks them.

"We will rest for the next two nights and then we will head for Paris", Pierre decides.

D'Artagnan gives them a tired smile and raises his drink to them.

"Thank you. I am sure this trip back will be difficult on me. But I am willing to do anything to get back to Paris. I have been away, way too long!"

~~Author's Note: What Do You Think? Please Review:)~~