"Do me a favour , Larrey," He grumbles through his sickness , "pass on a message to Murat."
He hands the surgeon a note before relaxing back in the stretcher , his red eyes showing his tired state
"I want to be out with honest happiness." He groans , watching as Larrey passes the note off to a messenger and rolls over
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Murat - P.O.V.
"Marshal Joachim!" The messager runs in as Joachim begins writing his love letter to his wife - Caroline, "It's a letter , from Marshal Lannes"
He sighs , standing up and grabbing the letter with the rolling of his eyes , "The bastard is probably saying his final goodbyes before he's out of a job."
He grins , sitting back to read the letter while the messenger walks out:
"To Marshal Joachim Murat"
"I shall be out of the surgeon's care within a few days with all but my legs intact,"
Joachim chuckles as he continues on
"And with this set straight, I must give you my truth."
"Despite you being the vainest of the vain and quick for a tantrum , you have truly been able to make me smile."
He sits back , puzzled on whether to take offence or be flattered
"For all your charm and charismatic appeal around women over the base of years , it's seems recently you have shown me how true you can be and I'll never forget your blazing victory at Abukir (That should be mine had I of not been shot(¬､¬) )"
"I suppose in many ways , I think of you in the same regard as the Emperor , and I hope you take this the right ; I... Love... You... With all my heart"
"Your brother in arms -Marshal Jean Lannes , Duc de Montabello"
He sits the letter down on his desk , shocked and speechless, reading over the same words again And again and again and again How could he be such a fool ? He was writing through the sickness , and they had no love except for the occasional saving of crossfire.
But the more he thought about it , the more obvious it seemed.
Jean was always quick to defend Joachim in a serious argument and was quick to notice a grudge against him. He'd been more protective recently and yet so vulnerable around him.
"H-how could you love me?" He scoffs , flicking the paper away before turning to an unfinished letter to Caroline
"...and yet you burn all our letters and find Junot as great as I?" He sighs , leaning his head on the table, watching a candle burn."The wick of a candle beats as hard as I around you, and yet you blow me out. "
He chuckles , "Maybe in more ways than one." He groans , taking off his furred coat and riding boots , still looking over at the letters
"He thinks of you as a friend , Joachim , nothing more!" He whispers to himself before Bessieres walks in.
"Hey , Joachim , everything okay?" He chuckles before spotting Jean's letter , "Ah , I see , Le Roland has written to you?"
Joachim nods as Bessieres sits next to him , "He writes that he loves me with all his heart , and yet , we haven't spoken until the Tabour Bridge incident."
Bessieres sits back , trying to hide his rage with a smirk as he speaks. "The marshal speaks lies , I say , lies!"
Joachim stands up as he goes to a divider to change ,"The marshal loses his ability to walk - gaining an infection and flu - he's using it to drop everyone's guard just for him , you can't afford that!"
"But he sounds honest about it , he sounds like how me and Caroline would write to one another." Joachim responds , pulling on some loose clothing as Bessieres rolls his eyes
"Murat , he'll use you like a pawn!" He shouts , trying to reason with him , "He's Bonaparte's best man and can use that to drag you under if you make a bad choice , it's a trick I tell you - a use of deception within loving words!"
Murat nods , walking back to his bed. "I'll write to him tomorrow morning . The marshal should be awake by then . Thank you, Jean,"
Bessieres smiles, getting up with slight difficulty ,"Hey Joachim , don't try fucking him" He teases as Joachim rolls his eyes , pulling the covers over himself
~31st May 1809~
"Joachim , MURAT!" Bessieres hits Joachim's stomach making him wake up.
"Jean , what th-!" He's pulled out of bed as he spots the other generals and marshals running to the medical tents , Napoleon leading the crowd
"What the fuck is going on?!" Joachim shouts at Bessieres , pulling his cavalry suit on
"Marshal Lannes is dead!" "Marshal Lannes is dead!"
..."Jean...Lannes...is what?"
Joachim looks around , feeling a sense of fear
"Just this morning , Larrey felt his pulse , he's dead!" Bessieres jumps , running off to the surgeon's tent as Joachim follows by.
"He can't be dead , even he said he'd be better by the start of next month,"
"Well , oh god bless his soul , and may his widowed wife be blessed by our noble savior" Bessieres sighs , praying as Joachim runs into the tent , making it to the front of the crowd
"...Jean Lannes..."
He looks over the silent body as Napoleon holds his hand in grief , tears flowing out of the Emperor
Joachim breathes heavily , looking around before walking out and sitting outside
