The Missing Musketeer

Chapter 4

Katiana's POV

After I was introduced to the 'Three Musketeers',I was left with Hadren,the person I thought was nicest in the group,he said he was going to check the wounds he had stitched up before focusing on the minor ones. I felt safe around him ,he was my favourite after all. It made me ask,"Monsieur do you have a child?"

I don't know why,but he chuckled,however he did reply,"Yes,his name is Aramis,I teach him this trade of healing others,because as you can see,it comes into handy when others,like my fellow companions,get hurt,by their own clumsiness,Horthos especially." I giggled along to his chuckle,I could tell by first glance that Horthos was clumsy,but very strong,I knew that,because although he hugged me gently because of my wounds, but it was like I was being slowly suffocated.

He took the medicines he needed out before anything and paused seconds he was about to start and said something that warmed my heart,

"I may need to lift your shirt at some point,Katiana,but I will warn you before I do it,also,the healing medicines,could hurt when I apply them,so I would like you to know that." He actually cared. That never happened with me. But then my conscience  decided to stop me from crying by asking,

"When we arrive in France,who will I stay with? I am predicting you don't all live in the same home,do you?" I then realised that because they were so close they were,they could actually live together,but that doubt was put to rest,when he said,"Darling,I would think,choices like that are decided by Carlos,and no,of course we don't live together,but our sons are stuck together like me and my other friends,"
As he applying the water to a cloth before cleaning the cuts that had blood that had slightly crusted and dried up.

It was quiet,so I began humming the lullaby that my mother always used to
sing  to me at night,I sometimes use it to sing me to sleep,because it was so hard to get over the pain.

He had finished with my arms,so he began on my legs,gently wiping away the curated blood from my gashes and scars,I noticed that he stared in disbelief,shock and disgust for a few seconds. I couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed at myself and how's I let myself get tortured for this long,all because he was my father.

He medicated the wounds before saying,"Katiana,I need you to lift your shirt now,I firstly need to tend to your back,so I will give you a cloth to cover your front while I do your back ,is that ok with you?"

I hesitated,just because he has helped me,doesn't mean they will once again put me through a life of pain!
However,as always,my heart let me trust them,and what my heart does,I follow.So I replied with a nod,He gave her a small smile,before handing me a folded quilt before standing up,and turning to the opposite direction of me.

I was unsure whether I should show my pain and scars that had once been,and will forever be a reminder of my suffering,and so I knew,that deep down,showing people would relinquish the fact that pain and fear is inflicted to everyone in a physical or mental way.

After I knew that the quilt  was securely on my chest and there were no gaps.
Although truthfully I would never believe Hadren to ever do that,to me or to any female character at that matter.

After several silent seconds my voice rang out as I said,"Done,"
I was facing the opposite direction that Hadren was in,so as I heard him gasp,I wallowed deeper into my self pity and depression. I could tell he was staring at them.The scars,the burns,all the other merciless forms of torture he used on me,just to make him feel better

Hadren was probably thinking that I was,weak,pathetic,stupid,worthless and that I was something that didn't deserve to be treated well in life,however when I heard him say,How could you so-called 'father' do this to you? And not care? It's as if it happened for years," I winced as I heard the realisation hit him like a tone of bricks,he whispered,"It did happen for years,didn't it?"

I turned towards him ,tears brimming and emotions exploding as I meekly  nodded my head. He went to me and hugged me gently,like He would to a wounded animal or child as I  cried into his chest,he rubbed my head,instead of my back,for obvious reasons.I was grateful for Hadren being kind like this,hugging me with the fatherly care I was neglected from for 10 years.

I soon started to feel confident with all the love,and care I could feel melt into me.
However I knew that getting into another topic related to me or my father would set my hiccups,into another stream of tears on Hadren's already soaked chest.

So I said,"Can you continue healing me now?"
After Hadren gathered back his senses,he continued with healing my wounds,as I pondered,
Would my father care?'
'Would he came after me?'
'Have I gotten these Three Musketeers in danger?'

He took out his other methods of medication before coming back to heal the rest of my back,my whimpers and cries ignored fully,until he had finished. I winced as he finished the rest of his final touches.

Before moving onto my stomach he asked me,
"Are you sure,that there's no cuts? On that part of your body?"
As he gestured,blushing slightly,while I giggled,before saying,"No Monsieur,none,my father was ruthless,but he did not cause harm to those parts of my body,which was my proof that he still had a shrapnel of a heart left."

He smiled lightly,at my positive sort of attitude before giving me,the clothes Horthos had previously given before saying,"I will go out the room,so once your done come downstairs,and before you question about your dress,it is not easy to wear it while riding a horse,"

I giggled again lightly before shooing him away with a bright smile,to which he kindly returned,before heading out.

I was shocked at the fact that Horthos managed to get my clothes that fit me!
It was a perfect fit! I stared at myself in the mirror by the door and contemplated my luck and my future.