CHAPTER ELEVEN:
THE BATTLE OF STONEFIELD
"Don't stand there, you incompetent ingrates! KILL HER!" Princess Chloe shrieked.
Like the string of a bow snapping back from a draw, Marinette spun into a defensive crouch to face the royal guards.
At the same time, Adrien swerved around to defend his lady, drawing both of his daggers just as the soldiers lifted their own blades and charged.
Three of the men reached Adrien first, and the lordling held them back with a flurry of spinning wrists and swift jabs.
"Mari!"
Marinette looked to see Alya rushing around the corner of the royal box.
The fiery outlaw held up a sword in her hand – the Sheriff of Nottingham's sword – and tossed it over to her friend.
Marinette caught it by the hilt with ease. She lifted it and whacked one soldier away before parrying with another. Then, she spun the man's sword out of the way and sent him back with a hard kick to his gut.
Suddenly, the blue-haired archer heard Nino cry, "Look out!"
Marinette spun around just as Princess Chloe brought the royal tourney sword down towards her with both hands, her evil grin almost blazing in the reddish light of the falling sun.
But Ladybug wasn't just good with a bow. Being acquainted with a lord's son for eight years had earned her some knowledge and skill in swordsmanship as well.
So when Marinette's and Chloe's blade's collided, the duel was short and sweet. The blunette whacked the tourney sword away with one strike.
Chloe's triumphant sneer shattered into a gape of helpless terror, and the princess reeled back like a cat would before a vicious dog. "Don't hurt me!" she begged. "No, no, don't hurt me! Oh, HELP!"
And with that, Chloe scurried through the blue curtains of the royal box, tripping over her own dress in the process.
Marinette rolled her eyes with a smirk and returned to the second wave of troops barrelling towards her.
As much as she feared getting her dress dirty, Princess Chloe feared for her own life even more.
So when she tumbled out of the royal box, she crawled hastily along the ground before rising back up and breaking into a run, hiking her skirts up as she did so.
The princess noticed several of the nobility also fleeing the scene of the fighting. Most of them were trying to slip away discreetly, whilst others trampled over each other screaming bloody murder. Chloe let them be.
Finally, she spotted a large keg of ale. It wasn't exactly a perfect place to hide, but it would have to do.
Chloe curled up behind the barrel, and she carefully peered over to see how the battle was going.
Big surprise: it was going badly for the soldiers.
Chloe diverted her furious gaze towards Ladybug.
The slippery pastry-girl looked so smug and proud of herself dancing around with the guards like a court fool. Even when facing death, Ladybug fought with a grin on her lips and defiance in her eyes.
All the while, the people of Nottingham cheered for the blue-haired brigand. Chloe's people, cheering for a thief who took away everything from her – her gold, her handsome lordling, and her glory!
The princess threw her arms into the air in frustration. "Kill her!" she yelled before taking shelter behind the barrel.
With the princess out of the way, Nino took this opportunity to leap out of the royal box and join the fight.
The only problem was... he was weaponless.
Thankfully, something glimmered in the grass in front of him, striking the dark attendant's brown eyes like the glare of the sun: the Golden Arrow!
Nino grinned and scooped it up just as he heard a sharp voice:
"Get your paws off me, you scoundrel!"
Nino looked to see Rena Rouge, Ladybug's partner, having an arm-wrestle match with a beefy-looking soldier.
Even in that ridiculous magenta dress – which was now torn slightly on the bottom and missing its collar – the girl fought and clawed at her smug handler like a wild cat. For a moment, those amber eyes struck Nino like the arrow in his hand, and her contorted expression was enough to send a tendril of jittery warmth through the young man's blood.
That tendril quickly turned into a blaze, and Nino gritted his teeth as he came upon the big guard from behind and got him in full headlock.
"I'll teach you to man-handle a lady!" Nino spat in his opponent's ear while the latter tried to throw him off.
Nino simply dug his feet into the ground, pivoted, and hurled the soldier over his back and onto the ground, knocking the man unconscious.
But before the attendant could so much as straighten up, he felt something pointy nudge into the skin between his shoulder blades. Nino stiffened.
"Don't move, traitor," a gruff voice snarled like an angry wolf.
Nino cursed silently and raised his hands.
Then... a piercing howl made him jump, and the sword at his back vanished.
Curious, Nino spun around and saw a bewildering sight.
The soldier who threatened him had dropped his weapon and was now fleeing down the field... with his hands covering his buttocks.
A twinkling giggle made Nino turn again, and he was frozen in place once more by the fiery eyes of Rena Rouge.
"Who're you calling a lady, Turtle Boy?" she asked with a smirk, twirling the Golden Arrow in her hand.
Wait... the Golden Arrow?
"Hey... Wha... How did you..?" Nino stuttered, wondering if he had dropped the arrow during his scuffle with the first guard.
Rena winked at him – a challenge. "Thief, remember? Now stop gaping like a fish and pick up that sword. Our friends need help."
And with that, the redheaded outlaw swept past the astounded manservant and charged once more into the fray of clashes and clangs.
Nino watched her go for a moment, blinking. "Turtle Boy?" he repeated. His lip curled up softly. "Oh, I can do better than that."
He scooped up the runaway soldier's blade and spotted Sheriff Roger chasing after Ladybug. So Nino chased after Roger.
Marinette knew she was in trouble the moment Sheriff Roger's infuriated eyes fell upon her like a cougar on the hunt.
And she still had his sword.
Purple-faced, Roger unkindly snatched a sword and shield away from a nearby guard and ran at the blunette with a hardened yell.
Marinette braced herself and blocked his attack. But he was heavier, and his blow caused her knees to give way and make her stumble.
The Sheriff used that advantage to shield-bash the outlaw, slamming her right in the chest.
Marinette fell back a few feet and collided with a concession stand, losing her sword in the process. Marinette winced from the pain shooting up her back, and she shook her head from the disorientation of the bash.
But when she looked up, her blue eyes flew open.
Roger, grinning maniacally, drew his sword back and thrust it towards the outlaw's heart.
Marinette moved, and the blade just barely grazed her shoulder, leaving a small tear in the white fabric of her sleeve. It was lined with a thin trace of blood.
Trying not to shudder, Marinette scowled up at the Sheriff as he pulled his sword free to strike again.
"Now I've got –" Roger began.
WHAM!
A green-clad figure collided with the Sheriff and pinned him to the ground, wrestling his shield out of his hand.
It was Nino, Adrien's attendant.
The young man looked over his shoulder at Marinette. "Go! I've got this!" he said while Roger's limbs flailed out underneath him like a spider.
Marinette nodded and rose to her feet, looking around for the sword she lost.
Only then did she catch sight of Adrien on the field, and the blunette froze.
Her beloved was surrounded by four armed guards, and he had already lost one of his daggers. Despite the sweat gleaming on his brow, Adrien gave his opponents a hard, gnashed smile and kept fighting.
But Marinette knew his strength and stamina wouldn't last. She needed an escape plan.
But to do that, she needed to retrieve something from Nathaniel first.
It was time for Ladybug to show her true colours.
Adrien ducked and rolled out of the way of two swords, scooping up a fallen halberd as he came back up.
He blocked another blow, but the soldier's blade knocked the axe of the halberd right off, leaving Adrien's weapon as nothing but a metal staff.
The lordling blinked for a moment. Then, grinning mischievously, he spun his staff in broad circles and crouched before his bemused attackers.
"Shall we dance, gentlemen?" Adrien asked.
The guards struck, and the black-garbed rogue swerved and twisted around of the way like an acrobat.
Sadly, what Adrien had in agility, he lacked in strength. The soldiers were all muscle and armour, and they kept knocking the lordling to the ground more than once.
"Well..." Adrien huffed at one point as he scrambled back to his feet, "you guys are certainly more than I can shake a stick at."
One of the guards chuckled cruelly before addressing his companions. "Take him alive. The princess will want to interrogate him."
Adrien frowned playfully. "No wonder nobody likes you guys. You are terrible at making friends."
The guards drew closer, until...
Something slammed into Adrien from the side and carried him up into the air.
The lordling let out a long cry of surprise as he went arching up towards the golden overhang of the royal box. When he landed, Adrien could almost see over the treetops of Sherwood Forest.
Heart hammering, Adrien pivoted to see his rescuer... and smiled at her.
Marinette smiled back, her face flush with adrenaline. She had a rope gripped firmly in one hand while she held onto Adrien with the other. On her back was her cherry-wood bow and quiver of red-fletched arrows... and underneath those, billowing in the breeze, was her trademark red cloak, spots and all.
"You sure know how to sweep a man off his feet, Milady," Adrien told his beloved with a sly smirk.
"Somebody's got to be here to save your tail, Kitty," she teased him back.
Suddenly, an arrow came whistling past the blunette's ear.
Another one skidded past Adrien's feet, and the lordling glared down at the two royal archers taking aim at him and Marinette.
But that wasn't all: four more soldiers had gathered below the overhang and were waving their swords and pikes in an effort to reach the lordling and his lady.
Why do the bad guys always have to ruin the moment? Adrien thought with a grumble, whacking away a blade with his staff.
Marinette wordlessly drew forth her bow and nocked an arrow. It went flying in a heartbeat and struck one archer in the shoulder.
The man screamed in pain, and his partner went pale in the face as he saw Ladybug reach for another arrow. Then, he dropped his bow and scurried away with his wounded friend.
But the guards below had better luck.
One sword missed Adrien, but slashed through the canopy curtain at his feet. Gravity and the combined weight of the two lovers did the rest.
Adrien gasped as he fell through the growing tear... and landed right on Chloe's cushioned throne with an "Oof!"
Then, he heard Marinette squeal before she fell right onto the lordling's lap.
She looked up at him abashedly, and that's when Adrien realized with a pounding flutter in his stomach that this was the first time in four years they've been this close.
Then, without even thinking about the nearby soldiers or the fight or the watchful crowd, Adrien looked into his lady's bluebell eyes and said, "Will you marry me?"
The way her eyes lit up at that moment, like two stars appearing through a sky of black clouds, and the way her mouth rose high on both ends... It was enough to assure Adrien of her answer.
But she still managed to say, "I thought you'd never ask," before rolling off Adrien and kicking a soldier away as he came at her.
Once she was off, Adrien rose from the throne and used it as a support as he parried with another soldier and flung him away with a fierce shove.
"Although...!" Marinette called to Adrien as she pulled the third guard into a headlock with her bow. "... you could've chosen a more romantic setting!" She rammed the soldier into the railing, and he fell forward in a mess of broken wood.
Adrien looked over his shoulder with a feline grin as he duelled the last guard. "You don't think this is romantic?" he asked before returning his attention to his opponent. "Ladybug and her Cat Noir, fighting side by side, defying death and danger... I can't think of anything better!"
Adrien met the soldier in the middle. Then, he bashed him in the nose with his forehead before knocking the man through the far-left railing.
Like the other one, it too broke off and fell with the guard in a crumpled heap.
At that moment, two more soldiers came around the corner and assessed the damage before drawing their swords.
"Adrien, over here!" Marinette cried.
The lordling saw her crouched behind the right side of the throne.
But the blunette wasn't hiding, as others might have assumed. Her hands were braced against the armrest, and her shoulders were squared.
Grinning, Adrien rushed over and kneeled beside his lady. Then, with both hands, he gripped the bottom of the throne.
A nod from Marinette, and they both heaved the heavy thing up, tipping it onto its side until the far left legs slipped down the small steps.
Adrien and Marinette let go just as the throne fell through the smashed railing... and landed on top of the two unwitting soldiers with a hard CRASH!
Despite the mess they both made, Adrien was beaming like an artist finishing his masterpiece.
And when Marinette turned to face him, and he saw her smiling at him like the giddy seven-year-old girl who had come crashing into his courtyard, Adrien lost all sense of time and space.
The light of the setting sun turned Marinette's porcelain face sunset-copper as she took Adrien's hand in his. "You know what? I can't think of anything better either," she stated with that warrior spirit he knew and loved. "Yes, I will marry you, Sir Adrien. We may spend the rest of our lives defying death and danger, but my answer will always be yes."
Adrien's smile grew, and all the doubt he ever had faded like the last traces of winter melting before the spring sun.
Then, without a word, the lordling and his lady closed the gap between them – his hand on her waist, hers on his cheek, their lips meeting.
Little by little, the townsfolk noticed the heartwarming sight, and their hurrahs were like a symphony of victory on a battlefield. A fitting description, given the circumstances.
Adrien barely heard them. All his senses were honed only on the beautiful girl in his arms. The more he kissed her, the more his veins sparked like fireworks and filled his very core with light.
Marinette pulled him closer, her fingers soft but unyielding, breathless with each kiss.
Their hearts beat entwined, and though the moment lasted only a few seconds, it felt like an eternity for them.
Until the sounds of the battle roused the lovers and forced them to break off the kiss. Even so, their smiles held.
"Shall we, Milady?" Adrien asked, offering his hand with a gentlemanly bow.
Marinette clasped it firmly. "Let's go, Cat Noir," she said with a suave wink.
Together, they ran back out into the open to meet Chloe's troops head on.
Princess Chloe couldn't believe what she was seeing!
Four young shenanigans against a whole squadron of heavily-armed, well-trained soldiers?! And they were winning?!
It was embarrassing – utterly embarrassing!
And when the princess heard the sudden applause of the crowd and saw her cousin kissing that snivelling, thieving, polka-dotted ragamuffin... Chloe's anger rose so high, the veins in her scleras thickened and turned her eyes red.
Now Ladybrat and her traitorous cohorts were fleeing down the field, heading straight for the safety of the evergreen trees of Sherwood.
"Stop them!" Chloe shouted to her remaining, stumbling guards.
Just then, something sharp poked her from behind, and the princess yelped with fright.
A slick, feminine voice mocked, "How's that for a stinger, Queen Bee?"
Chloe snapped around to meet her assailant.
Lady Alyanne... no, Rena Rouge gave the princess a grin worthy of the fox she was. Then, with the Golden Arrow in hand, the outlaw zipped away and raced after her friends.
Chloe steamed. This humiliation was the last straw!
"Seize the fox girl!" The princess commanded, pointing at Rena Rouge.
The moment she saw the group of weaponless guards charging down the field towards her, Alya squared her shoulders, lifted her skirt, and rushed out to meet them with a piercing look that said "Challenge accepted".
The first guard missed her completely, because Alya made a sharp turn to the side.
The second tried to tackle her, but the red-haired thief fell back and slid right underneath the soldier before hopping back up and taking off along the grass.
The third guard was big and bulky, but all Alya had to do was grab his helmet and yank it down, and the guard fell flat on his stomach, allowing Alya to leap right over him.
All the while, the crowd egged her on. They whistled, guffawed, and cheered each time a soldier fell.
Among the spectators was old Otis the Blacksmith, who lifted his crutch above him like a trophy and cheered for his brave, elusive daughter.
Alya grinned as she tripped up the last guard and let out a triumphant whoop.
The shade of Sherwood Forest greeted her, and Alya gasped for breath as she came up to Marinette, Adrien, and Nino.
The three of them smiled before whipping around and slipping through the thick maze of trees and bushes.
But Alya remained.
With a confidant smile, Rena Rouge turned to the distant, watchful crowd, pounded a fist to the sunset sky, and bellowed, "Long live King Felix! Yeeeheee!"
The townsfolk repeated the gesture, their far-off roar washing over Alya like a gust of wind.
Suddenly, tiny dots suddenly appeared against the backdrop of orange and gold.
But before Alya could react, a hand gripped her shoulder and yanked her backwards.
Thud-Tha-Tha-Tha-Thud-Thud! The arrows struck the grass and neighbouring trees where the feisty redhead had been standing. They stood out of the scenery like needles in a pincushion.
Alya's back collided with something... rather, someone. She blinked at the arrows for a minute before looking behind her at her rescuer.
Nino's lopsided grin was almost incredulous. "Are you ever not trying to get trouble?" he asked.
Now don't get me wrong: Rena Rouge is no damsel in distress, waiting to be rescued by a charming hero.
That being said, Nino had saved her life, even if she could've leapt out of the range of the arrows herself. And the dark-skinned attendant did look rather charming, even with the dopey-eyed look.
Alya gave him a cool smile as she stood up and brushed herself off. "Don't look at me, Turtle Boy. You signed up for this too."
To her surprise – and intrigue – Nino just smiled warmly and put a fist upon his chest like a true knight. "Carapace," he said, his brown eyes carrying traces of that compassionate valour Alya saw in them earlier. "I prefer Carapace. But you can call me Nino."
As he held out his hand like they were old friends, Alya found herself wishing she wasn't wearing this hideous dress anymore.
Charming and a gentleman, the outlaw thought with a smile. Maybe Mari's not the only lucky one.
She took Nino's hand and shook it. "Alya," she told him.
A distant call from Marinette made them both turn. Then, with nothing but a solid glance at each other, Rena Rouge and Carapace ran into the woods after their friends.
No! No, no, no, NO!
How could this have happened? The plan had been perfect! Ladybug had been at Chloe's mercy; an inch away from the justice she deserved! Where did it all go wrong?!
Now, Stonefield was nothing but a layout of groaning soldiers and smashed boxes. The golden overhang of the royal box lost its weakened supports and crashed to the ground in a twisted heap of metal and fabric. The nobility had all fled during the fighting, and the peasants were now filing away like ants, murmuring with delight and laughter.
And where was Princess Chloe of England? Why, still hiding behind her unscathed barrel of ale, of course. Only now, she rose up and glared down at her grass-stained, gold gown – evidence of her cowardice.
Chloe ran her fingers through her blonde hair and let out a frustrated, cat-like snarl. "Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!" She raised her voice and looked around. "Sabrina! You're never around when I need you!"
A soft, singsong voice echoed close by – very close. "Coming... coming..."
Chloe stiffened with confusion... and looked down at the barrel beside her.
The voice was coming from inside the closed contraption, and there was a lot of giggling too.
When Chloe put her ear to the side of the barrel and listened, she knew there could be no doubt as to who was inside. With a sniff and a frown, the princess twisted the lid off and opened the barrel.
A head of cropped, sunset-coloured hair popped out, complete with glazed-over teal eyes and a giddy smile.
Having grown up among the royal court, Princess Chloe knew the side effects of drinking too much ale. Or in this case, breathing in its fermented fumes.
"Oh! There you are, dear!" Sabrina gasped with delight before giggling like an excited little girl.
Chloe's gaze narrowed like obsidian glass at her hazy handmaiden. Only her mother, Queen Audrey, had ever called her "dear".
"Hey, hey... PC!" Sabrina continued, looking proud of herself. "You're not going to believe this... but the Squire Locksley fellow is actually Ladybug!"
Chloe dug her fingernails into her palms so much, they hurt. But she gave Sabrina a honeyed smile. "No... really?" she asked with a feigned tone of surprise.
The redheaded maidservant nodded confidently.
That's when Chloe lifted the lid of the barrel on top of Sabrina's head... and shoved her back down inside. Then, the princess pushed against the barrel until it fell onto its side. Finally, she gave it a push.
Sabrina's echoing shriek sounded as the barrel rolled softly along the grass.
"Get out of that, if you can!" Chloe shouted after her irritably.
With that settled, the princess stormed off to find Sheriff Roger. There were a few new warrants and reward posters she needed written and nailed up on Nottingham's walls by sunrise tomorrow.
Ladybug may have beaten her little tournament, but the real game was far from over!