"What is going on?" Nino asked as somehow the 2 young men found themselves captured, they had been tied to a tree after they were found among the group only after they were brought to their hideout in the forest hidden behind a waterfall, their weapons had been taken. Each one of the men were digging through the bags of gold and happily dancing around with mugs of beer with shouts of happiness and merriment.
"I'm not sure," Adrien said to his friend as he looked around his hood still on his head that hid his hair while the black paint hid his handsome features.
"You two are very brave to be hitting the Palace of all places for a raid." A man said coming up to them and looking down with a smile. This man was tall and muscular much taller then Adrien who was 6'2 by himself but this man was almost 7 and a half ft tall. He wore a dark purple almost black dirty shirt with black pants and black leather boots, his hair was fluffy black curls with 3 cowlicks sticking out on top of his head and down by his cheeks while his toothy smile and sharp canines held mischievousness.
Behind him stood a younger man with flowing brown hair and a mischievous smile, he wore black and white clothes that were dirtied from his time in the forest and his dirty blonde hair fluttered in the wind of the forest while it was obvious that it held tangles and a few stains of dirt.
"It wasn't intentional," Adrien said pulling at the ropes that held him and Nino tied to the tree.
"Really? So what pray tell made you come to the palace anyway?" The tall man said with a chuckle while crossing his arms and standing tall above them almost dominatingly.
"That would be our business," Nino said with a challenging voice.
"Really? Well, any business of Royal business is our business." The younger man replied almost incredulously treating the painted man like a simpleton.
"Let's take him to the river." The younger man shouted making the rest of the men laugh and shout in agreeing with happiness.
"Well, stranger if you have secrets that you can't share then its best that you keep our secret to yourself so let's see how well you can keep it." The tall man said reaching for Nino but instead got his hand kicked by a black leather boot.
"If you want to challenge someone then you can challenge me and keep my companion out of it, he is only doing what he is told on my orders," Adrien said easily standing up and brushing off the ropes and dirt from his outfit, making the tall man look down at the man who was hidden behind a black hood and black face paint while his green eyes held a wildness about them, Nino stood up right after Adrien and also brushed himself of the ropes and dirt while the men around them looked at them in surprise.
"Challenge accepted." The tall man said with an easy air and booming laughter. Adrien and Nino looked at each other and they knew what each other was thinking. The men all laughed as Adrien was led down to the river and by river they meant a very wide, deep, rushing river full of rapids.
Adrien grunted as the tall man pushed him out onto a slippery rock wall, he took a minute to get his footing past the rushing waters over his boots and the slime underfoot that would easily cause him his death, he turned slowly toward the tall man who stood and held himself well and still with that challenging smile of his with a wicked glint in his eye.
"Now we fight. Whoever is left standing wins and is free to go." The tall man said looking around making the Merry men all laugh, Nino was being held by one of them with only a single rope around his wrists, which he could actually easily get out of it but he chose not too.
"Have at thee," Adrien shouted as he rushed at him when he was turned away, effectively knocking both of them into the rushing water, making the Merry men all look in shock and Nino lightly chuckled.
"GAH. I can't swim." The tall man shouted as Adrien held him around the waist as they were being gushed by fast cold water.
"Do you yield?" Adrien shouted as he held onto a rock and the man with ease.
"Yes, Please. I can't swim." He shouted again flailing around like a fish out of water but was actually quite the opposite but it made Adrien grasp him firmly.
"Good then stand up because these waters are shallow enough," Adrien said pushing the man by his shoulders making the tall man stand up in shock as he looked down at himself in embarrassment. The Merry Men were all laughing just as the hooded stranger wiped his face as he stood and after standing he moved his hands to brush through his hair making his hood fall.
"Prince Adrien?" He heard making him look at his opponent who was staring at him wide-eyed, Adrien saw his reflection in a part of the water that was still enough for him to see that the ash on his face was gone leaving a clean face and his hood was down showing his sunshine hair.
He looked around as his name and title were whispered around the river and all of the Merry Men were all staring at him some of them with malice and others with wonder but all eyes were on him. He stood tall and proud in the water, sparkles of water droplets highlighted his hair as they shone in his blonde hair while it spiked around him, he was handsome, tall, and graceful and everyone looked at him with awe.
~o0o~
Adrien was using a long stick to pick at the fire that was roasting the wild boar rotating above it, his bow and arrows leaning on a tree nearby along with the sword and shield. Nino was sitting with the other men as they all were slowly munching on raw vegetables and fruits waiting on the main course to finish eating it was almost comical as he was squished between the men almost fighting for food.
"How are you alive?" The tall man said coming up to Adrien making the young Prince look up at him as he sat next to him with a plate of produce.
"I never died. I was just a prisoner of war until I escaped with the help of Nino over there." Adrien explained standing dusting off his hands and looking around at the many men who all were nearby to listen in, Nino stopped mid-chew to watched the Prince tell his story and especially at the point he was talking about him.
"Look, I know I have no right to be a Prince considering what my father has been doing, I had no idea that he would get this... mad with grief. He lost part of himself when my mother died but now he lost himself entirely because he truly believes that he has lost me too. So I promise I will fix him," he said proudly and princely but none of the men were really moved.
"And what about the people?" The young dirty man said who held malice in his eyes, making Adrien look at him.
"Are you going to help them too? Or do you just care about your father?" The tall man said questioning.
"Has something happened?" Adrien said with great concern looking around at the men. They all looked at each other before looking at him not really saying anything.
"Your Highness?" The Tall Man said making Adrien look at him with concern and attention.
"When word got to us about your death, your father began taxing the kingdom into poverty. To fuel the war further and further." He explained walking around the fire and Adrien.
"He even issued a draft for young able-bodied men and even boys to go and fight in the war in revenge for your death. At least we were able to save as many of them as we could," He finished making the Merry men all look dejected as the tall man raised his arms pointing to the men around the fire.
"Is that why your all living out here? To avoid taxes and the war?" Adrien asked in a tone not of accusation but of deep consideration and concern and seeing how horrible his coat lapels were.
"Yes. We all have families who need our strength for work otherwise they would starve." The tall man said as he stood right in front of Adrien, while Nino watched and ate silently.
"How do you get money and food?" Adrien asked as he ripped off the lapels of his shoulders from the ruined black coat he wore.
"We steal from passing nobles and pass it out to our families and those who need it." The Young man said still with Malice and accusation in his eyes.
"That's very good. So you are helping in the best way that you can. Right?" Adrien said with a smile looking around at all of them.
"It should be. But the more we steal the more the King Taxes us and we lose more and there are only so many of us that can continue to steal and redistribute before the next noble comes along and they are getting smarter having more soldiers to fight against us. So the fight is getting harder and harder." One of the men said, he had thick black hair with teal blue tips and smoldering eyes of burning lust.
"Then we keep fighting. I can help. We can fight back harder and faster before my father can even distribute the next tax." Adrien said with determination, but all of the men looked at each other like they knew something he didn't and it made Adrien concerned and confused.
"Is that not enough of motivation?" Adrien asked looking between the stoic Nino and the worried Tall man.
"You'll have to forgive them. They are worried that if you knew an even more horrible truth about King Gabriel that you might not have enough fight to help us," he explained crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at the sunlight Prince.
"Why wouldn't I? I love my people and they need my help." He said in defense but they all whispered to each other in secrets making Adrien feel left out and a little stupid.
"We don't doubt that, but there is someone you love the most in this world that may hinder your choices and actions," The tall man said kicking up dirt a little.
"What is your name?" Adrien said as he followed the tall man.
"Plagg Little, sir." He said looking at Adrien without an inch of care and his overpowering demeanor.
"Well, Little Plagg..." Adrien said in a jokingly smiling manner while Plagg grimaced slightly but with a fellow smile.
"...Who is this person that I love more?" Adrien asked he felt like he should know but his mind wasn't connecting the dots just yet. The men all stopped and watched waiting to see what would happen next.
"She who has been locked inside his castle since your funeral. She who is intended to Marry the King 2 months after her 18th birthday in 1 year and will be forced to give him royal children." Plagg said loudly as the men all watched Adrien as his face showed that he had connected the dots and his happy-go-lucky princely attitude was morphing into a pure unadulterated rage.
"Princess Marinette." Plagg finally said finally and suddenly all of them instantly got scared backing away and gasping in fear while Nino and Plagg both stood still but with wide eyes in shock at the smoldering rage of fire that blazed within the animalistic green eyes of Prince Adrien, he was clenching his fists bulging his muscles and popping the veins in his arms while a deep growl sounded from his throat right out of his diaphragm, he resembled a monster and it terrified most of them.
The Next Morning.
"Inconceivable." Lady Alya raged as she stomped around Marinette's bedchambers. Marinette sat on the window seat and was gazing out of the stained glass window at the hills of Sherwood Forest, she was dressed in a red and black polka-dotted gown with a much better-fitted corset, Alya had fixed her hair taking her hair down from the curly updo and gently combing out the tangles and curls making a waterfall of black waves cascading around her while the top part of her hair had been twisted back into a small bun. at the crown of her head allowing a gold and ruby tiara to settle in front of it. Tikki had fixed up her makeup giving her a red smokey eye with a black wing and mascara. Marinette's eyes were shining with hope as her tears had dried up and she was trying to focus her emotions, but her ladies were having a field day.
"If I ever see that rogue, he who disgraced my Lady's innocence with his filthy hands, I will kill him slowly and brutally," Alya said graphically and with anger as her orange and white gown swooshed the floor as she paced a rut into the floor while her heels clacked in anger.
Tikki had fixed the pink clothing that was cut from Marinette, the corset just needed new strings while the other clothes had to be washed, she scoffed in slight humor as she was putting away the pink clothes with care along with the tools they used to freshen up the Princess.
"Lady Alya, if you were ever to meet such a rogue you wouldn't be strong enough to fight him anyway," Tikki said with a giggle Alya matched it with a blushing giggle and Marinette did a light giggle.
"Besides Alya, even if you were able to catch him and hurt him then I would have to hurt you," Marinette said with a serious face and a sincere smile while looking at her ladies who looked back at her with confused and concerned expressions making both of them come up to her.
"What do you mean Princess? He almost raped you." Tikki said as she came up to her Princess and knelt on the deep violet pillow below the windowsill which Marinette was sitting on and set her hands in Marinette's lap, Marinette grasped her ladies hands and held them tightly while smiling before looking up at Alya who stood a step away.
"Come Alya," Marinette said holding her hand out making the said woman come to also kneel next to Tikki and also placed her hands on the lap of Marinette who grasped her hands as well and held them tightly. Tikki and Alya watched her take a deep breath and sighed as her heart was settling from her recent trauma which made her ladies question her sanity because their princess seemed almost at peace and happiness which they have not experienced in years.
"Do you both remember..." Marinette began with a smile but she was cut off when her door was opened abruptly and they all turned in surprise at the intruder and it was none other than King Gabriel who entered, his evil regality radiated throughout the room making it difficult to breathe. Marinette was quick to stand then gracefully pass her ladies then kneel before her Uncle in submission just as Alya and Tikki followed suit.
"Your Grace to what do I owe the honor of your visit this night?" Marinette said with her calm graceful princess demeanor.
"You may rise, I heard you were attacked during the raid." He accused in a cold voice while holding his hands behind his back looking down at the 3 women as Marinette stood slowly but with a bow of her head to with respect to her Uncle which lead her ladies to do the same.
"Yes Sire, I was." She said with her mouth in a straight line showing no fear and no remorse but still holding respect for him.
"Were you raped?" He accused with an evil glint glowering down at her but she held her ground.
"No, sir. He only ripped my corset because it was..." She replied almost sadly, but it went unnoticed by the King.
"The details don' matter but I would like to be sure. Therefore I have called for a priest to check your virginity he will be here in a week's hence." He said in a harsh and stern tone telling everyone that there was no room for argument as Marinette's spirit fell but she still held her regal air.
"Yes, Your Majesty." She said bowing in submission as he only hummed at her then turned and left just as powerfully as he came taking the thick air with him and letting the ladies of the room breathe a sigh of relief and relaxation.
Marinette looked at the closed door for only a moment then sighed in exasperation and with her eyes closed before turning and returned to her seat by the window, her ladies knelt back down on the pillows as she sat and got comfortable in the well-cushioned window seat. They were all forlorn and quiet for only a moment before Marinette took a deep breath and continued with her story.
"Do you both remember Prince Adrien?" She whispered making both of the Ladies lookup with sullen eyes that turned into surprise.
"Of course. You both were perfect for each other." Tikki said with sad eyes and a loving smile.
"Amen to that. Everyone looked forward to your wedding, they saw how much you loved each other. Why bring him up now? Especially when you were just attacked." Alya said feeling pity for her mistress.
"Because I wish that rogue had taken my virginity," Marinette said with a blushing and laughing smile making both of her ladies think her mad.
"My Lady, Are you feeling alright?" Tikki asked pressing her hand to Marinette's bang covered forehead feeling normal warmth before Marinette smiled taking Tikki's hand in hers and grasping it with a smile.
"I'm fine." She said laughing as she leaned against the cushion covered rock wall and watching the sunrise.
"Then why would you say such a thing? I mean I get that King Gabriel is much older than you and can be very trying at times, but to lose your purity to such a filthy rogue of a man..." Alya said a little accusatory while Marinette just watched outside and a smile barely listening to her lady.
"Because that Black Cat of a rogue..." She said with a bright smile and on the verge of tears making her Ladies come closer in concern as Marinette looked down at them and they saw the hope and love in her eyes as her face practically glowed with admiration.
"Was Adrien." She said affirmingly as the water fell slowly and very small tears.
"Marinette," Tikki said sadly gripping her princess's hands and holding them tightly.
"Adrien is dead." Alya continued with sad features trying to help console her friend and Lady patting Marinette's lap with affection and consolidation.
Marinette lightly laughed then wiped her tears before shaking her head and looking back out of the window, Alya and Tikki both looked at each other with questioning eyes in fear that their princess had gone mad and imagining a rogue as her savior because reality had become too dark and bleak. This was common when you think about it because when life becomes so unhappy doesn't anyone wish for a way out and sometimes blend imagination with reality.
Both Alya and Tikki shared the same thought pattern of this matter and then began to lose hope for the wellbeing of Marinette. But Princess Marinette was dreaming happily until she saw a commodity in her line of vision, and focusing on it she looked in that direction because over on a hill settled in Sherwood forest a figure had caught her attention. She sat up straighter and opened her window letting the cool morning air breeze into her room and startling her ladies from their depressing thoughts.
From where she was he was the size of a beetle, he stood in the orange background of sunrise and she saw that he wore a sleeveless black coat with pointy coat tails flying in the wind, bands wrapped around his bare muscular arms, black leather cuffs on his forearms, tall black leather boots that held his black pants, a bow in one hand, a quiver of shiny silver arrows on his back, a black hood over his head and black paint over his eyes while his gold hair was peaking out and his green eyes glowed with intensity as he stared right at her.
She gasped and sat up straight as she watched him prep an arrow in his bow and aim it right at her.
"Alya, Tikki. Whatever you do. DO NOT SCREAM." Marinette said as she stayed still and watched with admiration as he released his bow with all princely grace and setting the arrow flying in her direction.
"What do you mean..." Alya asked with concern right before the arrow whizzed in between them all, Marinette looked with wide eyes as it made an impact on the stone of her wall opposite from her window and they all looked at the very familiar looking black and silver then instantly noticed that a note had been tied around it along with a bright red rose. While the suddenness of it had caused fear to strike in Tikki and Alya and they both were trying to catch their breaths and slow there racing hearts, Marinette, however, was quick to cover their mouths before they could scream and look at them with wide eyes begging them to keep calm.
Marinette returned to the mirror and looked at the figure with a happy smile as he lowered his bow and smiled back at her. Alya and Tikki both followed to the window and looked in his direction and they all saw the black-clad figure looking roguish and dark but mysterious and handsome, Alya and Tikki recognized him immediately.
"Adrien," Marinette said with a smile as Tikki and Alya stared in shock before Marinette picked up her skirt and rushed to the arrow as Alya and Tikki both looked at each other with widened and surprised eyes, Marinette pulled the arrow from the wall and removed the parchment with the rose, she took a quick inhale of the rose then gently opened the note with excitement.
"Princess who is locked in the tower..." Marinette began walking towards her curious and attentive ladies as the words blurred in her head to the deep and melodious voice of Adrien.
~o0o~
"The man who holds you captive won't keep you for long. For you are mine and mine alone. I swear on my bow that will set you free..." Adrien thought as he watched the Merry Men live their rogue lives of drinking, playing games, and planning the next attack in the darkness of the night as the firelight danced along the trees.
"We shall be together once again. I promise that someday you will wear my ring and hold my name. I have missed you, my Princess..." he continued in his head before writing it down on the parchment paper as he watched the men drink drowning in their sorrows.
~o0o~
"I love you, forever and always," Marinette finished as both Tikki and Alya were crying in happiness as Marinette was smiling with sincere happiness with great love that hasn't been seen in years as she smelled the sweet aroma of the rose once more.
Marinette was quick to look back out of the window and see that he was still there before she quickly took a paper and wrote her own letter she was graceful with her calligraphy while her years of pain, loneliness, and love all fell out of her heart and onto the paper with speed and a smile, she was quick to pull her favorite handkerchief from her wrist, then as gently as she could she removed her hidden red bow from the wall behind her wardrobe, the bow had a matching quiver and arrows but she had no need of them right now.
She tied her own letter on the black and silver arrow with the handkerchief then with great care she prepped her bow, the same one that he gifted to her when they were teenagers lost in love and he had taught her how to shoot while he trained under his Royal tutors.
She aimed at his direction as he fisted and lightly punched the tree next to him to show her where to aim, she released the bowstring with an exhale releasing the arrow and it went flying with great speed, she watched with a smile as it hit the tree with skill right to his head but he did not flinch an inch, she handed the bow to Alya for her to put it back as she watched him put the arrow in his quiver he pulled the handkerchief to his face and inhaled her sweet scent while clutching the letter.
He walked down from the hill and out of sight as she watched and clutched the rose to her smelling its aroma.
"He is alive," Alya said in happiness for her mistress as she came up to the window and set her hand on Marinette's back as Tikki did the same.
"And he will set us free, we will be together again," Marinette said in happiness standing bac up as she held open her arms and allowed her ladies to be pulled into a comforting and happy hug.
~o0o~
Outside of Marinette's room, the 2 guards that stood at attention stared at each other and had the same look as they had heard everything that just happened, both silently agreeing with a nod of what to do next.
~o0o~
"Was that wise Malik?" Nino asked as Adrien looked at the pink handkerchief that was hand embroidered by his Princess with their initials, he sniffed it again smelling her lemon soap and lavender perfume before tucking it in his shirt next to his heart.
"She needs to know that I haven't forgotten her and that I will set her free because if I know my princess especially after seeing me yesterday she has been depressed since my funeral and she needs to have hope again. She knows to hide the letter and the rose." Adrien said as they entered behind the waterfall and through the winding cave system to the deep and tall open hidden grove that allowed the inhabitants to see the sky full of colors and light, the Grove had tall hills all around with only one way in and one way out, and with its large size, it was the perfect location to build a new village that they called the Sherwood Grove.
"When I was training to be a Prince and warrior, I used what I had learned and taught her as a way to spend time with her. Turns out she was a way better fighter than me." He laughed as a group of children ran past them laughing and playing, making him dodge them and laugh happily. Adrien saw people pulling piles of lumber up to the treetops as they were building ramps, bridges, and houses up in the tress, others were bringing in animals to settle in the newly made gates, as women were seeding the freshly tilled land for fresh fruit and vegetables.
"We even had this game we would play when we were kids where we would dress up, I would be a cat and she would be a ladybug then we would go around chasing servants like they were bad guys." He laughed as they continued walking around the camp as some men were taking their latest hoard to the treasury for counting and disbursal.
"I see she is very important to you," Nino said as they gently placed the load on tables with the rest of the treasure as the counters took it with a quick "Thank you, your highness." and both of them nodded their heads with a smile before leaving and headed back to the courtyard which was the main center of the new town. It had already been laid over with wood and a fountain had been built in the center letting anyone who needed water fill their jugs, it had fresh water poured from an irrigation system hung from the trees that was built all of the way from the waterfall then put through a filtration system of rocks that clean the water enough for drinking.
"Indeed she is," Adrien said as they settled in the Courtyard sitting area as he got comfortable after removing his hood and opening the letter she had sent.
"Dear Roguish Archer. Thine eyes hold the love of my childhood..." Adrien said as Marinette's bell of a voice began to ring in his ears while he continued.
~o0o~
Marinette laid on the bed as the shield was placed over her hips, King Gabriel stood behind her head and watched with glaring eyes as Alya and Tikki both took her hands for reassurance.
'I had felt lost for so long after I had to watch an empty hearse carry your spirit away from me...' She thought as the old man of a Priest came up to her legs with clean hands and a straight face.
"Just relax your Highness and it will be over." He said as he placed his hands under her skirt.
"Yah." She squealed as she felt his finger probe her entrance before dipping inside as he used holy oil to avoid friction, she turned to the side letting a few tears of pain leak from her sapphire eyes and Tikki saw them matching her pain and gently squeezing her hand.
'My heart aches for your touch, your voice, and your presence in my life...' She thought as he removed his hand and let another priest came up with a holy water dish and towel for him to clean his hand.
"My examination is complete and stands that she is indeed still a virgin, Your majesty," The priest said after his hands were cleaned before he spoke towards King Gabriel.
"Thank you." King Gabriel said before looking at his guards.
"Execute him." The King said, making his guards arrest the priest.
"What Your majesty? I have done what you asked." The priest said in fear as he was being dragged away.
"You have also touched my Fiance, now be gone." King Gabriel said before coming to stand next to Marinette as Alya and Tikki helped her to sit up they stayed silent and unchallenging towards the King but said silent prayers for the priest as he was taken to his death. As King Gabriel came close to Marinette she looked up at him with a bow of her head.
"I will only have pure untainted children. If it was found that your no longer a virgin then You have died today. Remember that." Gabriel stood stoic and evil as he threatened his niece/Fiance with glaring evil eyes.
"Yes, Uncle." She submitted with a nod of her head and he 'Hmmphed' then walked out of the room without another word.
Marinette let tears fall from her eyes as Tikki and Alya held her close in a comforting and fearful hug.
~o0o~
'...I can't wait to be with you again my Black Knight. with all my heart. LadyBug.' Adrien finished with a smile as he laid on the ground next to his newly built hut in the trees and stared at the stars as he read the letter for the thousandth time, his happiness was brimming as he stood up and finally went to bed.