CHAPTER TEN:
MORE THAN LIFE
The victory fanfare was a marching band of drums, flutes, and trumpets.
The musicians led the small promenade towards the royal box, followed by the tournament victor and two rows of royal guards, all marching in synchronization.
Marinette's heart skipped a beat as her eyes once again found Adrien, and the red rose he bore proudly on his chest. She formed the plan in her head: get the Golden Arrow, slip away during the celebration, find Adrien, and declare her love for him. With any luck, they would both be running off together into Sherwood Forest before the sun was down.
As the evening sun cast its coppery-golden light upon Stonefield, the people of Nottingham – rich and poor alike – awaited the crowning of their new archery champion.
Marinette approached the steps of the royal box, glancing quickly at Alya before affixing a calm gaze on Princess Chloe.
Her Highness stood from her throne and raised her royal voice. "Squire Locksley of Devonshire, I commend thee! For your exceptional performance here today, you shall get exactly what is coming to you." She chuckled a bit before adding, "Our humble congratulations!"
Marinette made her face all giddy-like and snatched up Chloe's hand to shake it. "Aww, thank you, Your Magnificence!" she said in her male accent. "Meetin' ya face ta face with yer Royal Mightiness is a real treat...!"
The princess's face contorted, and she snatched her hand away briskly. "Release the royal fingers!" she hissed like a menacing lioness.
In the corner of both her eyes, Marinette caught Adrien and Alya smirking.
Chloe regained her composure and snapped her fingers.
Two guards sprang forward. One carried the Golden Arrow on its pillow. The other beheld a broad sword with a crown pommel and a golden hilt – a royal sword for a princess to knight her champion.
Chloe lifted the sword up with both hands and pointed it to the sky. A gleam of sunlight glinted along the blade like fire, making Marinette slightly nervous.
"Kneel," the princess said coolly.
Ladybug would never kneel or grovel at the feet of an unworthy ruler like Princess Chloe of England. But here, she was not Ladybug – she was Squire Locksley of Devonshire. And a squire would never shy away from a beautiful princess.
So Marinette got down on one knee and bowed her head low.
She heard footsteps on wood, and then felt metal tapping her on one shoulder.
"On behalf of the royal family," Princess Chloe announced, "and all the people gathered here on this glorious occasion, I hereby name you the winner."
There was a long pause, and suddenly, Marinette felt a bloodless shiver in her gut. Her senses went on high alert, and she couldn't help but notice a series of shadows along the ground behind her... or the faint tremble of concerned whispers from the crowd.
Get out of there, her outlaw instincts warned her. Move now!
But it was too late.
Just as Marinette jerked away, something cold slipped under her tunic and down her spine, and there was a loud tear along her back.
Marinette gasped and leapt to her feet just as her grubby shirt fell to the ground – split in two by Chloe's sword – revealing the blunette in her slim leathers and white uniform. In addition, her hat and wig slipped off in her haste to squirm away. Lastly, her moustache betrayed her and fell clean off her sweaty face.
Midnight-blue ponytails sprang out, and the audience let out a profound gasp.
Adrien started up from his seat, his green eyes going pupil-less and his face turning pale with terror.
Nino inhaled sharply, a hand flying to his mouth as he surveyed the sneering guards.
Alya, bless her heart, had the wisdom to squint with a queer frown at Marinette like a flabbergasted noblewoman.
Princess Chloe, on the other hand, was grinning maniacally at her newfound triumph. "Oh, my!" she cackled. "Perhaps I should have dubbed you as the loser, Squire Locksley. Or should I say... Ladybug!"
Four years of hatred finally poured out of Marinette's heart, and it shone on her face like a mask of white fury.
This was the princess who forced her people into poverty while she lay back in luxury; the tyrant who allowed innocents to suffer and die of starvation and disease, just like Marinette's father had.
Ladybug may not have her red hood now, but she wouldn't cower in the presence of this false queen. She came here for love. She was willing to fight for it; die for it.
I am not going to hide anymore.
Marinette ripped her eyepatch off, as well as her bulky gloves. Then, she straightened up to her fullest height to glare right into the princess's cold, frosted eyes.
All around her, there were plenty of exclamations to go around:
"Merciful heavens – that's Ladybug! The outlaw!"
"Look! It's Ladybug!"
"She was the squire all along!"
"What's Ladybug doing here?!"
"Oh, no! They've got her!"
Marinette quickly snapped around to take in her surroundings... only to find herself surrounded by five royal guards towering over her like nightmarish villains. Among them was Sheriff Roger, his face purple with rage at the revelation before him: he had been tricked and humiliated once again by his archenemy.
Ladybug had nowhere to run. So she drew her knife and crouched low.
But then she made the mistake of looking over at Adrien, and Chloe noticed.
"Wretched, promiscuous little beast," the princess snarled in a stormy tone. "You should have stayed in your forest hole." She jabbed a finger in Marinette's direction. "Seize her!"
"No!" Adrien cried, bounding over the railing in one swoop.
Marinette should have focused on the guards closing in on her. She should have put all her efforts into defending herself against her enemies.
But the moment she heard Adrien's voice, something broke inside her... and she lost all sense of thought save for one: to keep the guards away from Adrien.
Marinette sprang into action, putting herself between Adrien and the soldiers. She slashed at their swords with a furious cry, and a couple of the men staggered back.
But they were too strong and too many, and the outlaw only had one weapon. One hand slipped through her defence grabbed her shoulder, and then another snatched her wrist in a painful grip. Then Marinette was heaved into the air while an arm hooked around her neck.
Adrien! Where is he?!
Marinette tried to squirm free, but all she could see was the pastel-blue sky and the flurry of blue-and-yellow uniforms.
Her feet touched earth again, but then her arms were wrenched behind her and tied together with a rope that burned her skin as it tightened. Then, someone shoved her, and she landed on her stomach with a coughing moan. A bit of dirt got in her mouth.
She heard a cacophony of shouts and cries – fear, outrage, and a hint of cruel laughter. Marinette couldn't make out Adrien's voice from any of it. Had he been restrained too? Dear God, please, let him be spared! the blunette pleaded in her mind.
Finally, she was lifted back onto her feet, but now her hands were bound and two guards had both her arms in their suffocating grasp. Marinette spat out dirt and looked over to see Sheriff Roger grinning mad beside her.
She looked around quickly, and her heart sank when she saw Adrien being shepherded against the railing of the royal box by two soldiers with spears. The lordling tried to shove his way through, but even he wasn't strong enough to fight two burly men. All Adrien could do was reach helplessly between the crossed spears towards Marinette.
So close, yet so far away... Marinette swallowed a sob back down her throat.
Meanwhile, the entire crowd had lost its voice. All of Nottingham stared at the scene of their captured hero with ash-ridden faces and gaping, wordless mouths.
Princess Chloe addressed her prisoner with a sadistic, triumphant sneer. "Ladybug of the Red Hood, formerly known as Marinette the baker's daughter," she declared, "you have been found guilty of high treason to the crown! Henceforth, I hereby sentence you to sudden, instant, and even immediate... death!"
More gasps, along with a few bouts of weeping.
"Chloe, please!"
Marinette stiffened at that voice.
His voice – so broken and young and terrified, yet bold and absolute.
Marinette looked at Adrien, who was now gazing up at his cruel cousin with green eyes that could cut through flesh and stone.
"Don't do this," Adrien pleaded again, his breathing ragged as he spoke. "Spare her life! If you ever cared for me at all, you will show her mercy!"
The onlookers whispered to each other with intrigue and confusion.
Chloe glanced at her cousin with a raised eyebrow, but her dark grin never left her. "Mercy?" she repeated with a snort. "To a criminal who humiliated and stole from England's future queen? My dear, sweet, emotional Adrikins... Why should I show this insect any mercy?"
Adrien looked over at Marinette, his face softening with a kind of warmth that burned even in the darkest, coldest winter. Then, he answered loud and clear, "Because I love her."
This time, no one could hold back their shock.
Not Nino, whose face went from surprise to delight at his best friend's declaration.
Not Chloe, whose smile flattened in a second and whose eyes widened with jealous rage.
Not Marinette, whose legs suddenly turned to water yet she somehow managed to stay standing.
Did he... Did he just say that? In front of Chloe? In front of all of Nottingham?
Marinette wondered if this was all a dream. A second later, she knew in her heart that she was wide awake, and that this place and this moment was real. The honest green eyes of her beloved were proof of that.
He loves me.
Even though she had just been given a death sentence, Marinette had never been so happy in all her life.
Princess Chloe looked back and forth between her cousin and her prisoner, her cheeks a rather heavy shade of red. "Love her?!" she blurted out, making even her own guards wince.
Adrien nodded staunchly. "Yes," he stated. "I've loved her since we were children. I've continued to love her even when I was in London. And I love her still." He glared at Chloe now. "And I would rather die than be parted from her again."
Several people inhaled deeply, most notably the women. Even Alix and her mother Nadja were staring at the lordling with great awe.
Marinette squirmed. "Adrien, no..." she said.
"Quiet, you," Sheriff Roger growled.
Chloe cast the blunette a callous frown before turning back to her cousin. "Is that so?" she asked with a voice thicker than molasses. "Well, so you say... but does this prisoner return your feelings?" She beckoned to Marinette. "Does she think your... love is worth dying for?"
Adrien met Marinette's eyes again. He said nothing, because he was waiting for her to speak; to finally will the truth into being.
Well, better late than never, Marinette thought with an awkward smile. If her true love could be brave enough to present his heart out to the public, so could she.
"Adrien..." Marinette began, making sure he heard each syllable. "I love you more than anything. More than gold, more than freedom... more than life itself." She smiled brave and true for him. "And I have no regrets, even now."
Adrien let out a shuddering breath that almost sounded like the beginnings of a joyous laugh. He smiled at Marinette, his eyes glistening.
A great sigh of "Awww..." resounded from the audience.
Then... Chloe laughed.
It was a low, cold, obnoxious cackle, like that of an old hag from a children's book. The princess's lips were pulled back from her teeth, her chin was raised to the sky, and her shoulders shook with each crack of her voice.
Everyone in Stonefield stared at their young ruler with looks of apprehension... except Nino, who narrowed his brown eyes at Chloe with contempt.
Then, the princess finally stopped and shook her head with a nasal sigh. "How romantic," she mused. "The outlaw and the queen's cousin – a real fairytale come to life."
Marinette blinked at her incredulously. "Queen?" she said.
Chloe ignored her and addressed Adrien with a feigned pout. "Unfortunately, my silly, misguided cousin, your pleas have not fallen upon this heart of stone." She pointed at her chest, and then up at her crown as she raised her royal voice once more. "Justice shall be done here today! The traitor to the crown must die!"
Incredulity shifted into anger, and Marinette scowled and thrashed in her bonds. "Justice?" she shouted with all her valour. "You want justice done, Chloe? Look to your subjects! How many more women and children must starve before your greed is finally sated?"
Chloe's face fell flat with appall. Apparently, she wasn't expecting a verbal comeback.
But Marinette wasn't finished. "How many more winters do you think Nottingham will last without the money to pay for kindling and medicine?" The blunette wrestled against the soldiers' grip. "What would your brother, King Felix, say if he could see you now – ruling over a decaying city with such ignorance and neglect?"
Loud murmurs echoed across the field, and Marinette looked to see the townsfolk glaring with newfound resolution at their princess. The last four years of scrimping and living off scraps were finally showing on their weary faces.
All the while, Adrien watched Marinette with a surprised expression that slowly molded into mischievous pride.
Marinette gave Chloe a bone-chilling look, her eyes as hard and sharp as diamonds. "You are the traitor to the crown, Chloe! That crown belongs to King Felix!"
Chloe gasped with jaw-dropping fury.
Then, Marinette lifted her head to the heavens and proclaimed with all her heart, "Long live King Felix!"
Immediately after, the townsfolk joined their heroine in a unified, angry chorus: "Long live King Felix! Long live King Felix!"
Princess Chloe's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for water. "Silence!" she yelled. "Stop this at once!"
But the chorus only rose louder, joined by all the devoted people of Nottingham: Alix, Nadja, Manon, Friar Fu, Nathaniel a'Dale, Otis the Blacksmith, Juleka, Rose, Kim, Max...
Then Nino. Then Adrien.
"LONG LIVE KING FELIX! LONG LIVE KING FELIX!"
Many of the nobility hastened out of their seats and backed away, quivering from the peasant army before them.
Only when Princess Chloe crawled onto her throne, stood up on her seat, and screamed, "ENOUGH!!!" did the chorus finally die down.
Marinette grinned. She may die today, but tomorrow, Chloe's reign would be short-lived. The people would rise against her, and King Felix would one day return and set things right again.
Keep your chin up. Someday, there will be happiness again in Nottingham.
Marinette just wished she could be alive to see it.
Chloe seethed through clenched teeth at her sneering prisoner. "I am queen of this land! Queen, I tell you!" she shouted, her voice raspy and high-pitched. "OFF WITH HER HEAD!"
Somewhere offside, a drum started to play: Tap, tap, drum roll... Tap, tap, drum roll...
A morbid silence fell over the people, who covered their mouths as a massive, masked brute strode out towards Chloe's prisoner. He was carrying a large axe.
"NO!" Adrien broke the spell of silence and struggled harder against his restrainers. "Chloe, don't do this! I beg you! Take me instead!"
The princess once again ignored her cousin's pleas, and she sank back onto her throne with a razor-sharp sneer.
Tap, tap, drum roll... Tap, tap, drum roll...
Marinette heard a few more cries of despair from the crowd, and she looked over at them to see a few familiar faces staring at her.
Nadja held a crying Manon close. "Look away, sweetie... Just look away..." she cooed as tears cascaded down her cheeks.
Alix was shaking her head in disbelief and trying to rush to Ladybug's rescue. But Kim held her back, begging her not to not be stupid and get herself killed. Around them, Rose cried into Juleka's arms, and Max turned away with a pained expression.
Tap, tap, drum roll... Tap, tap, drum roll...
Friar Fu and Nathaniel exchanged a horrified glance, but neither of them could figure out what to do.
Tap, tap, drum roll... Tap, tap, drum roll...
The executioner arrived, his shadow falling over Marinette.
The drum roll went on longer, and longer...
Sheriff Roger forced Marinette to her knees, and he held her by the shoulders as she leaned forward.
Marinette steadied her breaths. Don't be afraid, she thought. She then looked up at Adrien one last time.
Two tears fell from both his eyes, but the lordling never once ceased his struggling. His determination to save her was as clear as the raindrops on the red rose he gave her four years ago when they parted.
We will see each other again, he had promised.
And they did. That was enough for her.
Marinette bore him a courageous smile and said, "I love you, Kitty."
Adrien hitched a small gasp. "Milady..."
The young outlaw lowered her head, closed her eyes, and imagined soft grass under a starry sky...
"STOP!"
The drumming skittered to a halt, and Marinette's eyes flew open with shock.
What did Chloe just say?!
Oh, yes... I bet you're all wondering right now: Where was Alya through all this?
Was she just sitting in the royal box doing nothing while her best friend was about to be executed? Absolutely not.
While everyone was focused on Princess Chloe and Marinette, Alya used this opportunity to slip behind the blue overhanging curtains behind the throne, tear off her black wig, and pull out the knife she concealed underneath her magenta dress.
Then, as the drum rolled and the crowd hushed with dread, Alya reached between the curtains and yanked on the back of Chloe's collar. Then, she pressed the tip of her knife to the princess's back and...
Well, you get the idea. Great! Now you're all caught up.
"Executioner, stop!" Chloe rasped, her blue eyes wide with terror. "Stop! Hold your axe! Back away!"
The tall brute blinked several times, but nonetheless did as he was ordered and stepped away from the kneeling Marinette.
Hundreds of astounded eyes fell upon Chloe at that moment: Ladybug, Sir Adrien, the Sheriff, the guards, and the peasants. Everyone was wondering wordlessly why their ruler had suddenly changed her mind.
The answer was Alya, who remained concealed behind the curtains as she growled into Chloe's ear, "Okay, Blondie... Now tell them to untie my friend, or I'll..." She finished the sentence with a tiny poke of the knife in her victim's back.
Chloe squeaked like a mouse in a trap. Then, she cleared her throat and yelled hastily, "Sheriff! Release my friend! I-I-I mean release the prisoner!"
The townsfolk gasped with delight. The nobles exchanged outrageous glances.
Sheriff Roger looked like he was having trouble trying to speak, his mouth quivering like a baby being denied a special toy. In this case, it was a soldier being denied the victory of his enemy's demise.
"U-U-Un... Untie the prisoner?!" Roger blubbered.
Nino glared at him over the heads of Adrien and the royal guards. "You heard what she said, Bushel Britches!" he spat.
A few people in the crowd chuckled.
Through the tiny split in the curtains, Alya saw Marinette smiling, as though she knew the secret to Chloe's benevolent act of mercy. Not far from her, Adrien was glancing between his cousin and his beloved in sheer disbelief.
Roger was still white in the face and sputtering like an idiot, "B-B-But... Your Highness! She's...!"
"Nah-uh! Don't question me, Sheriff!" Chloe hollered, scowling through her terror. "I make the rules around here, and since I am the head woman –!"
Alya tugged a bit at the princess's collar with impatience.
Chloe let out a small "Gak!" and then hissed under her breath. "Ow! Not so hard, you mean thing!"
Alya grinned, and nudged her knife a little closer.
The princess lost control at that moment. "Let her go already!" she practically sang. "For heaven sakes – let them both go!"
Adrien gasped, and a broad smile lit his face as the two men holding him finally pulled away and lifted their spears.
At the same time, Marinette was helped back to her feet by her perplexed captors, who then make quick word of her bound hands and walked away. Marinette smiled big as she rubbed her sore wrists.
Then, Alix broke the silence with a fist to the air and a triumphant cheer. "Yeeeee-hee! Love conquers all!"
The people of Nottingham erupted into cheers of profound relief and joy, waving their flags for their heroine. Children danced, women cried, and men raised their pitchforks and canes in triumph. Among them, Friar Fu thanked the heavens for this wonderful miracle.
Adrien barely heard their applause over the pulse of his own thunderous heartbeat. And the moment Marinette looked up at him and beamed, he stopped caring entirely.
He rushed forward and took her in his arms, pulling her so close against him like he was afraid she would be snatched away by the slightest breeze. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and he felt her kiss his cheek with rose-petal softness.
She's all right, Adrien assured himself. She's safe. And we love each other.
To hell with noble duty. To hell with restrictions of marriage. To hell with Chloe and Adrien's father and anyone else who dared to stand between him and his lady.
Adrien was back where he belonged – in the arms of his childhood sweetheart.
He must have been crying, or breathing in a way that sounded as such, because then Marinette was telling him, "It's all right. It's over. I'm here, Adrien. I'm here."
Adrien smiled and nestled his cheek in her midnight-blue hair. "And I'm never leaving you again, Milady," he vowed with all his heart.
They both continued to stand there in silence, savouring every second and heartbeat of this moment.
Sadly, the lovers' reunion was short-lived.
Because Sheriff Roger knew that something funny was going on here. Princess Chloe wouldn't just order Ladybug to be executed and then have a sudden change of heart. The princess had no heart!
So while everyone else was cheering for the lordling and his lady rogue, the Sheriff slipped around the royal box.
Lo and behold, he found a young, auburn-haired woman in a fancy dress pressed against the curtains.
Wait a minute... That was the princess's guest! The Duchess of Chutman or something-or-other.
Wait a minute... Roger knew her!
The auburn hair, the bronze skin, the foxy sneer... It was Rena Rouge, Ladybug's partner!
She was holding a knife with one hand, and grasping onto the back of Princess Chloe's dress with the other.
"Now, PC," Rena Rouge purred, "kindly tell Sir Adrien to kiss Ladybug, or I've just found myself a new pincushion."
Sheriff Roger snarled and drew his sword. "Why, you...!" he shouted.
The outlaw gasped and snapped around just as the Sheriff swung his weapon at her.
But she was quicker. Letting go of Princess Chloe, Rena Rouge sank low and ducked under the blade.
Then, before Roger could strike again, Rena rose back up swiftly and punched him in the chin, sending the fat Sheriff sprawling onto the ground.
Clutching his sore jaw, Roger scrambled up into a sitting position and yelled in a bellowing baritone, "Run, princess!"
"Aw, great," Alya groaned, her shoulders slumping as she realized she just lost her hostage.
Princess Chloe gasped and reached for her neck, realizing that she was free of the conniving imposter.
But by then, everyone had heard the Sheriff's warning, and a hushed tremour filled the air.
Chloe stood from her throne and looked at Adrien and Ladybug, who were now starting to realize what was going on.
Her "darling" cousin immediately stepped in front of his blue-haired beloved, who saw the rising flames dancing in Chloe's eyes and grasped Adrien's shoulder as though to protect him.
Well... nobody was going to protect her. Not Adrikins! Not Rena Rouge! Nobody!
"Kill her!" Princess Chloe raged to her bug-eyed guards. "Don't stand there, you incompetent ingrates! KILL HER!"