The Coming Storm

Rain soaked Paris streets and avenues, causing many to make their way indoors while Sabine and Tom kept their fires burning, and pastries cooking. Across the street a woman stood in the downpour with a hooded cloak protecting her clothes from the streams of water. She watched as the woman helped another customer, a gracious smile on her face before her head lifted to see the cloaked figure. Taking a step toward the bakery, the woman heard the mud squelch against her boot while other shop owners called out their wares to the small number of people out on the streets. The aroma seemed to fill her as she closed her eyes, entering the bakery.

"What can we get you today?" Sabine asked, looking at the woman that had just entered.

Reaching up from under her cloak, she unclasped the garment. "I could use something to warm me from the cold day outside." she said with a smile. "I could also eat a couple of croissants, and I really need a hug from my friend." Nadja smiled at Sabine whose eyes widened, her jaw dropping.

"Gladly!" tears threatened to spill out as Sabine rushed forward and embraced her best friend. "I've missed you, Nadja. How have you been?"

She gave a soft laugh. "I've been well." she shook her head. "I met your daughter a couple of weeks ago..."

"Yes, she told me," Sabine's smile faltered as she pulled back from the hug, "but why haven't you visited since then?"

"I..." Nadja shook her head, "There was just too much on my plate at the time, and I needed to get everything sorted." Looking at Sabine, she smiled sadly. "It's so good to see you, Sabine. You have no idea how much I've needed to see yours and Tom's happy faces." Tom placed a hot coffee on the counter, along with a couple of croissants as she looked at him with an appreciative smile. "Thank you. Both of you have been so wonderful, I couldn't ask for better friends."

When her lip started to quiver Sabine took her shoulders in her hands. "Nadja, what's wrong?"

Collapsing onto a seat, tears started to flow down her cheeks. "It's Alec... he..." she dropped her head into her hands crying in earnest, "he's dead!" she all but wailed as her shoulders shook. "King and Queen Bourgeois accused him of treason, and had him executed on the spot! No trial or chance for anyone to hear the truth... just accusation and his head was removed!"

Wrapping her up in a hug, she crushed the woman into her. "I'm so sorry, Nadja." she whispered to her. Looking around, she blinked, "Where is Manon?"

"She... cried herself to sleep... so I left her with a friend..." she shook her head. "I... I had to tell her..." Nadja tried to get herself under control, but she was failing utterly. "Alec... he and I... we never... we didn't marry, but..."

"He was Manon's father, wasn't he?" Sabine breathed. Nadja nodded with sadness and shame on her face. "I... we wanted to, but we were so busy... and now..."

"Now you'll never get the chance." Crushing the woman into her body, she felt her friend's last defense crumble as she all but collapsed into wracking sobs. Tom's large hands rubbed at Nadja's back in a comforting way as his daughter entered from the back.

"Papa, I managed to finish stocking the ingre..." Marinette stopped in mid-sentence at the sight of her parents comforting a crying Nadja, "Mama... what happened?"

"It was Manon's father..." Sabine choked. Wiping away a tear, she shook her head. Marinette looked at how Nadja cried, her heart going out to the woman. An uncomfortable feeling overcame her, so the young woman quietly walked over to lightly rub their guest's back, only to see her mother's friend look up at her with a stricken expression. "I'm sorry, I just... I needed to talk to someone..." she hiccuped as she tried to wipe her tears away.

"What happened?" she asked, but it was Sabine who answered.

"Alec was executed for treason. The king accused him, and the execution happened the same day without a trial."

The news caused her to stagger. "What?!" she shook her head. "I... I can't..." she shook her head with her hand over her heart. "Manon... is she..?"

"She cried her eyes out, and is now being looked after by a friend..." Tom added.

Marinette shook her head. 'I can't believe it! This is like the stories papa used to tell me about Lord Darkblade!' she shivered at the thought of a return to such a governing body. 'Executions without trial. Military rule. Starvation. Death.' Each word pierced her soul even as she remembered what Adrien and Baron Agreste had said about the continuation of the hundred years war. Her mind was shaken by the distinct possibilities of their king returning to the dark times of old while fighting a war against their foes to the North.

It took several minutes before Nadja was able to calm herself. "Sabine, I'm sorry..."

"Nonsense. You have nothing to apologize for, Nadja. You're my friend, and I'm here for both you and Manon, no matter what." Sabine countered, not letting her get started again.

A small nod came from Nadja, a smile breaking through the sorrow. "Thank you. I needed this more than you will ever know." Several minutes later, she managed to start eating and drinking her food, and started to pay, only for Tom to shake his head.

"You're almost family, so your money is no good here."

That caused her chin to shudder as her lip quivered. "You are a good man, Tom Dupain. Don't ever let anyone else tell you differently." After eating a little, and drinking her hot coffee, she sat back with a deep breath and an exhale. "Marinette, thank you for finding me that day. I didn't even know if Sabine and Tom would want to see me, but now... I'm so thankful that we met." Gently reaching out, the woman took hold of her hands. "Please take this one piece of advice. Never trust the Bourgeois family. We did, and now I'm a widow, and my daughter is dealing with the loss of a father."

Giving a nod, she looked at the woman. "After meeting their daughter, I'm more inclined to believe you, but... I want to give everyone a chance before I judge them too harshly."

Nadja nodded. "I understand." Reaching out, she lightly placed a hand on her shoulder. "You have a good heart, Marinette, just like your family. Just... don't let that lead you to a decision where you can be fooled. Okay?" The young woman nodded.

"Mama, I'm going to head out to see Adrien." Walking over to the door, she pulled one of the cloaks down, wrapping it around her neck. "I think he needs to hear about this too."

Sabine nodded. "Okay, honey, just be careful. There have been a lot of unusual incidents lately, and I don't want you possibly getting hurt."

"I'll be careful." Marinette said with a smile. With that, she lifted the hood over her head, and went out into the storm. Lightning crashed above her, illuminating the gloomy streets, while water all but poured off her hood and shoulders. Had she not been wearing the cloak, the young woman would have been soaked to the bone within a few minutes. Short boots splashed against puddles as she moved quickly toward the Agreste Mansion.

oOo

Within the Agreste Mansion, Adrien was finishing up with his lessons when he heard Nathalie knock on his door. "Come in." he called out absentmindedly as Plagg flew into his desk. Entering his room with a tray of hot tea, cheese, and some hot stew, she smiled at him.

"How goes the studying?" she asked as she set the tray on the corner of his desk.

"Very well. I've learned everything I need about the socioeconomic merits and flaws of the feudal system that encompasses Japan, their primary exports and imports, as well as historic battles and figures in their past." Adrien reached up, massaging his shoulder, only for Nathalie to step behind him and lightly help with her strong hands. "Ugh... a little too much..." he groaned.

"Then I'll let Marinette do this for you." she kissed the top of his head. "Your father needs to know if you're expecting your intended to remain for dinner."

Adrien smiled "Doesn't she always?" he asked, causing Nathalie to chuckle.

"Yes, but I think he's planning something."

"Oh? Like what?"

"I don't know, he just wanted to make sure she would be here, and I promised that I would ask about her."

Nodding, he sighed. "I believe she's supposed to eat dinner with us tonight."

"Good. Now eat your lunch, and I'll be back when she arrives." Nathalie turned, and it was only now that he noticed she was wearing a black dress with a red bodice.

"Um... what's the occasion?" he asked, causing her to turn and look at him, a smile quirking up her lips. She never answered, just left his room, closing the door behind her.

"What is she so happy about?" Plagg wondered aloud. Scooping up some cheese the little creature ate with a soft purr.

For several seconds, Adrien just sat there, shaking his head. "I have no idea." With that, he started to eat his food, and drink his tea. Plagg just floated there, eating the cheese, his ears and tail twitching ever so slightly as he tried to determine whether this "new Nathalie" was an improvement over the original. Eating the last of the cheese, he decided to let it all slide simply because his Chosen seemed happy.

Floating there, he watched as the young man practically devoured his lunch. "Want me to investigate?" Plagg asked, floating over his head.

"No. I'm sure whatever it is she'll tell us before too long." Adrien countered. A few minutes after he finished his lunch, another knock to come to his door. He was just setting aside his bowl when he called out "Come in." Plagg flew off into his little alcove. The door opened to reveal Marinette and Nathalie, the former with her boots removed, and her skirts moist at the bottoms. Walking over, the pair embraced as the latter female looked on with a motherly smile. "I didn't expect to see you so soon." he hugged her, giving his lady a tender kiss on the lips. She responded in kind, but he could tell just from the way her lips trembled that something was wrong.

Breaking apart, he watched her eyes close, and her head press itself into his shoulder. "Someone came to the bakery today, and... they said that... King and Queen Bourgeois executed someone without trial."

"That's not possible." Adrien countered.

Looking up, she saw the sincerity in his eyes. "Adrien... it was Nadja. She stood right there and told my mama and papa that Manon's father was killed by the Bourgeois without trial." she shivered as he shook his head.

"Come over and sit down, Marinette." Nathalie urged. When the young woman did as instructed the trio sat in the small sitting area situated just a little ways away from Adrien's room. "You are sure Ms. Chamak said that. There was no debate on her words?"

"None, and from the way she was crying, it sounded like it happened very recently." Marinette offered.

Adrien looked at Nathalie, who was looking at him. "Did you hear a name?" he asked.

"Yes, she said his name was Alec. Do you know about him?" The dark look the woman gave caused Marinette's breath to catch.

"Oh yeah, I know all about him." she reached forward, and gently took Marinette's hands. She could feel they were cold from the day, but that didn't matter much to Nathalie. "Now, what I'm going to tell you doesn't leave this room." she then looked at Adrien. "Either of you." At the serious look on Nathalie's face, the two teenagers nodded. "Okay..." she shook her head, "Alec isn't dead, but he has been imprisoned for inciting people to rebel against the crown."

"What?!" both teens nearly shouted. "How long has he been imprisoned?" "Why was he trying to rebel against the king?" "When was this?"

Holding up her hands, Nathalie spoke softly. "Stop both of you." When they finally quieted, she started to speak again. "This happened a little over a year ago." She then looked at Marinette, "Do you remember when a group of peasants revolted a year and a half ago?"

Marinette nodded. "They started in Mrs. Rossi's district, and it continued for three months, but was broken up when the group started becoming violent. Are you saying he was a revolutionary?"

"No." Nathalie countered "He was in charge of the revolutionaries. Since then he has been held in prison without reprieve."

Looking at the two women, Adrien blinked. "Why didn't I hear anything about this?"

"You were dealing with your own problems." Nathalie informed him. "Remember, that was when Emilie was bedridden, and you sat by her bedside. Everything going on outside these walls would have been more of a distraction, and your father refused to let you leave while everything was getting dangerous out there."

Nodding, he sighed. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

"You're telling me that this all happened over a year ago," Marinette looked straight at Nathalie, "and Alec hasn't been executed without trial?"

"Alec has been tried, and he not only was found guilty, he admitted to organizing the revolt, setting fire to several buildings, and assaulting members of the constabulary." Nathalie admitted.

"... but... why would she lie about that?" Marinette asked.

"It's possible that she didn't know, that someone who was a member of the group told her a lie, or that she's been lying to us ever since we met her." Nathalie suggested.

Shaking her head, Marinette sighed. "I'm not going to call someone a liar without full proof that they have..."

"What did she say about Manon's father?" Adrien asked.

Looking at him she recalled their conversation with the woman in question. "She said he works with her... but how could he work with her if he's been imprisoned for over a year?" Marinette shook her head. "None of this makes sense."

Adrien nodded. "We're not being given all of the information."

Nathalie stood, helping Marinette up to her feet. "You'll have time to ask all the questions you want tonight at dinner."

"I will?" Marinette asked, a hint of confusion on her face.

"Yes, you will." the ghost of a smile graced Nathalie's face as she let go of the girl's hands. "We have a small surprise for you both. Until then, however, both of you talk of happier subjects, and Marinette I will help you get ready for dinner after you both have had a couple of hours to talk."

"Thank you." Marinette smiled at Nathalie while Adrien went to his room. Returning with the tea cup, now filled with the steaming liquid. Offering it to his betrothed, he sat with the two women, the trio talking about everything that had gone on in the past twenty-four hours, although both tried to weasel information out of the older woman about what she meant. To their chagrin, their chaperon was tight lipped about dinner.

When their two hours were up, Marinette was urged by Nathalie into the room designated as her temporary residence while needing to change. Once she was dressed in the same outfit she wore for the ball, the older woman brushed and styled her hair into a french braid that slid down the back of her head to her shoulders. A little make-up tastefully done, and the young woman shivered at the beauty looking back at her in the mirror. "I still can't believe that's me." she breathed.

"Believe it, Marinette. You're a lovely young woman." Nathalie admitted.

Smiling up at her, she blushed. "Thank you for everything, Nathalie." The two women held each other in an embrace for several seconds, before the older one ushered her out.

"Go. Drop Adrien's jaw, and show our guests just how much of a lady you really are." she gave a wink at the young woman as she left the room.

Marinette walked out to see Adrien once more in his formal attire, his emerald orbs wide as she descended the stairs. Chewing on her lower lip, she smiled as she took his hand in hers. "Do you know who our guest is going to be tonight?" she asked softly as the pair descended the steps toward the front doors.

"Father has been decidedly tight-lipped about it, but they must be important if he wanted both of us in attendance." Adrien answered as the double doors started to open.

Gabriel walked up beside his son only seconds before Sabrina stepped forward. "Their royal highness's, King, Queen, and Princess Bourgeois!"