FicWad

Arabella POV
I woke up feeling dizzy and disorientated i opened my eyes squinting at the bright sunlight to see about Ten people all looking down at me “The girls awake” a young women said turning to a tallish man stood behind her. I widened my eyes in terror looking around trying to recognise my surroundings. The lady who spoke before walked towards me laying a comforting hand on my shoulder but i flinched away “It’s ok were not going to hurt you” she said calmly trying to relax me but it didn’t work as i frantically looked around for an escape my eyes freezing when i spotted Athos in the far corner tied to a chair with his eyes closed and head rolled back. My breath started to quicken as i could feel the tears building up in my eyes as i opened my mouth an let out a blood curdling scream “AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH-“ a man who had been stood among the other people jumped forwarrd quickley muffling my screams by placing his giant hand over my mouth “It’s ok he’s ok he’s just asleep” the man said frantically as i was still and pulling at the ropes tied around my ankles and wrists despratley wanting to run over to my brother to make sure he’s ok “were not going to hurt you” the same girl repeated what she had said earlier. My screams were obiously loud because suddenly the room fell silent when nothing could be heard but my frantic breathing and small grunts coming from Athos as he started to come round “ATHOS” I screamed making him instantly come out of his trance “Bella” he said as loud as he could with a dry throat “were are we?” I struggled even more against the chair i was tied to despratley sobbing trying to get over to my brother “Please let me go” i sobbed hysterically. I saw a man nod and come back with a small knife cutting the ropes and allowing me to run over the my brother throw my arms around his neck “what is the meaning of this?” Athos asked furiously as i kept my face hide in the crook of his neck trying to calm my breathing. “So you don’t recognise us?” The women asked with her arms crossed across her chest “Should i?” My brother asked “My name is Adele and this is my father James…We’ve been writing to you for help for months you didn’t reply what else were we supposed to do?” She questioned taking a step closer not giving my brother time to answer before speaking again “This is your family land and we need your help to protect it”. “Protect it from what?” Athos asked “The Baron Renard… he comes and burns all of our crops kills all of our live stock he knows that no nobel family is here he wants the land for himself and without your family protection he can take it”. Athos sighed “I refuse to help you while I’m tied to this chair?” He said as the father and daughter looked at each other silently debating wether to untie him, The man nodded and the girl cam forward with the same small knife and cut the bindings one by one allowing him to finally wrap his arms around me in a protective hug and giving me a kiss on the temple “Are you ok?” he whispered with his lips still close to my head, I nodded “Yes” he nodded back relieved and looked up at the village people “God damn you if you’ve brought us were i think you have” Athos said with a dry voice. He placed me on the floor and stood up slightly swaying from side to side but quickley caught his balance firmly grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the door pushing past the people who were looking at him stunned. He pulled me outside both of us squinting at the sun and cursed letting go of my arm and turning furiously towards the people who had followed us out of the barn we were in “WE LEFT THIS LIFE” he boomed making me slightly jump and turned walking over to a well and scooping some water up in to the cup that was next to the well and holding it infront of me indicating for me to drink which i did without protest. “Athos were are we?” i asked between gulps of water, He glanced down at me but ignored my question looking back up at the desprate people “Let Baron Renard have the land i don’t want it anymore its his i don’t care…But we are going home” he said then turning and taking my now empty cup and getting a drink for himself “What, why?” i asked shocked that my brother was just going to leave the deffensles people to fend for themselves. He glanced down at me again before washing his face in the water “Because i said so Arabella thats why now just do as your told and go and find a horse so we can go home” he said sharply wetting his hair with his head rested against the well “No why do we have to go home Why can’t we help them Wh-“ he cut me off “Ask me why one more time” he challenged me narrowing his eyes “Why” i said again but this time a little bit less confidently feeling a nervous knot mix in my stomach under my older brothers gaze “Y N Z” I said nervously deciding it be best if i just kept quiet. Before Athos had time to answer 10 horses came storming in to the village “Renard” Adele said with pure hatred as she walked towards the horses James not far behind her. “Stay here” Athos instructed me walking towards the men and standing next to Adele. An elderly man who was running for protection fell in front of who i can only guess is Renard’s horse and he started whipping him “THATS ENOUGH” Athos yelled walking over to Renard and pulling him off his horse over his shoulder turning around as he landed with a bang on the floor taking a few seconds to recover before standing up and coming face to face with Athos “DONT TOUCH ME PESANT” He bellowed. Just then and older man rode in “What is going on here?” he asked “Your son needs to learn some manners” Athos said not taking his eyes from the boys face even when he cracked his whip against the floor “STOP THAT and open your eyes boy” the man said getting off his horse “Do you not recognise a man of nobel barring this is the Comte De La Fare” he said taking his hat off. Athos looked over at the man “Your boys behaviour is a disgrace” My brother said “Well perhaps if you had shown a little more interest in the past few years i would not have had to intervene” He said full of himself. “You have no right to abuse your power” my brother replied “my right , my dear Comte is that of any concerned neighbour your estate has gone to rack and ruin these people are thieves and paresites i was only attempting to assert some order”. he said turning back to Athos “I’m sure we can sort this out like honourable men” my brother comppramised “Nothing would please me more” the man replied. I followed Adele Thomas my brother and the two men in to the village inn were i sat at the table in the far corner while Adele served everyone wine bringing me over a cup of water “Your very kind my dear” Renard said in a sickly sweet tone “and very pretty normal i find the pesant class as ugly as gargoyles” He laughed “but every now and then one discovers a rose amongst the thorns”. “Shall we get to buisness i am anxious to get back to Paris” My brother said as politely as he could “what are your plans for the estate?” the man asked “The estate is of no more concern to me or the rest of my family we have renounced our title” my brother informed the man who raised his eyebrows in shock “One canot renounce what has been given by god”. Athos looked up at the man bitterly taking a gulp of his drink “God had no part in this” “I’ve never heard of such a thing what about you and your brothers position? Your responsability to the social order? This land is a sacred trust it is your birthright your family name” the man asked still in shock. Athos sighed ‘I am not asking for your approval i am still the legall land oner” My brother said hoping to put an end to the convocation “now i must have your undertaking that my tennants will be left in peace”. The man got up from his seat sighing “well perhaps you care more for such low people now you are one of them yourself…however i promise you they will be treated as they deserve” he said holding his hand out for my brother to shake witch he did.

Me and Athos walked out of the in and back over to were the people were still gathered when a voice spoke “if you aren’t the Comte anymore your the same as them so you must kneel in the presents of your betters” Renard spoke. Athos turned and looked at him “You gave me your word” he said to which the man laughed i don’t negotiate with peasants…I SAID KNEEL” he bellowed and Athos pushed me behind him as four men came towards us but Athos tried to fight them off but was punched to the ground “NOOOOO”i screamed and tried to run forward but Adele and Thomas stopped me grabbing each of my arms as we watched as soldiers kicked him. Renard walked up to Athos and turned towards the village people “THE COMTE DE LA FARE IS NO MORE THIS MAN IS A VAGRANT AND AN IMPOSTER THE PUNISHMENT FOR SUCH A CRIME MUST BE EXEMPLARY”. I watched as Renards men pulled him off the ground and over to a tree and hung him from his hands in the blazing sun “NOOOOO GET OFF HIM LEAVE HIM ALONE YOU COWARD” I screamed as Regard walked towards him whip ready “I SAID LEAVE HIM ALONE” I screamed running over to the boy and tackling him to the floor but with my small weight he got up easily and started whipping me but suddenly stopped when there was a gunshot that shot Athos down from the tree and he fell to the floor. “SOLDIERS ARE COMING” a man yelled as i ran to Athos side to make sure he was ok. “WITHDRAW” Renard shouted as his men ran to there horses “WE’LL BE BACK”. “Bring the girl” i heard Regard say as Adele was pulled up by two men and dragged to a horse “NOOOOOOOOO” Her father shouted trying to help her but being restrained by two other villagers. They rode away in a rush with a screaming Adele on the back just as the rest of my brothers rode in.
I ran over to D’artagnan throwing my arms around his neck in a giant hug doing the same to Aramis and Porthos after he had untied the roped from Athos wrists. Before anyone said anything Aramis noticed the man who had been whipped earlier who was lying on the floor and he instantly when over to him “Bella get me some water and some fresh wash clothes” he instructed and i did that going to the well to get the water and James giving me some wash clothes witch he helped me take back to Aramis Who winked at me and turned to the injured man “This might sting a little” He said to the man who found it easier to bite down on an apple “What will they do with my daughter” James asked no one in particular “Don’t worry we’ll find her” Aramis assured as we all tried not to overhear Athos and D’artagnan’s convocation “Athos you know this title docent mean anything to any of us and if it makes you happy…. the only thing this title means to any of us is the long dark memories of our childhood and we promised ourselves that when Mother and Father passed away we would not let Arabella have the same childhood or lack of as we did but think about these people they live on our land they need our help” D’artagnan said to Athos who sighed “We have nothing to offer them” Athos said walking away but was stopped by Porthos “If i didn’t know any better i’d say that sounded pretty cowardly” Athos didn’t look Porthos in the eye “Get out of my way” “Because the Athos i know always fights against injustice wherever he finds it” Porthos said making Athos quickly look over at me “Not here…Not this time” He said simply to which Porthos silently stepped to one side allowing Athos to pass and D’artagnan followed him “I thought our parents influence over us was done?Let this happen and they become there victims too” D’artagnan said putting one hand on his horse “Athos these people have no other protection” He said as he walked away from him stopping halfway “Only us” Aramis finished. “This is not your fight” Athos said simply “Were family so it is now” Porthos said walking over “and i like it here” Aramis said smiling to which Athos rolled his eyes and turned in the other direction taking a horse with him and leaving the village “Athos” I said making way to run after him but Aramis put a hand on my shoulder smiling down at me “I know your worried but just give him time I’m sure he’ll come back” he sad giving my shoulder a squeeze and winking at me. I flinched trying to hold back the whimper when he tapped my back making him look down at me “Are you alright?” he asked worried i plastered a fake smile on my face knowing my brothers have enough on there plate right now “Yes I’m fine” i replied a little to quickly making him frown “then why did you flinch when i touched your back?” he asked raising an eyebrow “I didn’t” i said innocently “Don’t lie Bella especially about injuries” he half scolded me “I’m not” I lied not looking at his face “Arabella” he said sternly raising his voice bending down to my level and making me look at him as i shifted under his gaze. I whined “ok fine that man Renard hit me” i confessed still not looking him in the eye. Aramid sighed “Arabella” he scolded “why didn’t you tell us sooner” he asked angrily “I’m fine it docent even hurt” i lied. He shook his head “right D’ARTAGNAN get me some more water and wash clothes” he instructed “and you go and wait for me in there” “No i’m fine you don’t need to look at it it docent even hurt that much” i lied and Aramis shook his head “I’m not arguing with you about this Bella so do as your told and wait in there” He instructed me again “No please you don’t need to it docent hurt” i whined “Now Arabella” he said sternly “Nooooo” i whined trying to run away only to be picked up kicking and screaming “Porthos some help” Aramis yelled across the square. Porthos walked over “what in gods name is going on” Porthos asked taking me from Aramis and following him to the barn “Bella was hit but it appears she’s not going to play along and let me fix her back…D’ARTAGNAN hurry up” Aramis bellowed “Put her down there” Aramis instructed to Porthos who put me down on my stomach just as D’artagnan walked in the room with the water and washcloths “This is going to be much easier if you play along” Aramis said as Porthos pinned me down as i struggled and thrashed around “Bella keep still i don’t want to hurt you more than i need to” Aramis said trying to open the top half of my dress but failing miserably “ARABELLA thats enough” Athos voice boomed from the door making me freeze as he walked over to me helping Porthos hold me down “Hold still” he warned allowing Aramis to open the top half of my dress and clean the wounds on my back. “This might sting a little” Aramis said as he started gently dapping the cold wet washcloth on my back making me whimper relaxing a little when i feel Athos hand soothingly playing with my hair brushing it from my now tear stained face. It lasted for about another two minutes before my cries were starting to get louder “Alright nearly done sweetheart, you’ve done really well” Aramis praised as he started to fasten the back of my dress back up. “Alright well done can you sit up for me” Aramis said carefully helping me in to a sitting position “Here drink this” Athos said placing a cup to my lips and helping me drink because I’m still shaky. The difference between me and the other man was ALOT of wine.