6 Months later
"Please, Sire," Marinette begged kneeling before his throne, wearing a simple but lovely dark pink gown underneath her dark red velvet cloak with gold trim.
"Why should I?" He asked quite bored chewing on grapes as his mistress laid at his feet, she wore a collar around her neck but nothing more and after seeing her in many questionable actions and positions Marinette had learned to ignore her presence.
"Have I not given you everything here in the palace?" He questioned unmovingly before sipping his wine.
"You have Sire. But I grow weary being inside for so long. All I ask is a day in town to go shopping. See the people outside of Church." She said in submission and with all the characteristics of a spoiled but kind ditsy Princess.
Tikki and Alya kneeled behind her quiet and unmoving, they knew of her acting skills so they weren't buying her act for a moment but they knew the King might, as he does every time.
"I will take guards with us for protection, please Sire," Marinette begged as her Uncle thought and pondered deeply with a hum of consideration.
"And what if this Cat Noir should attack?" He questioned evilly trying to frighten her.
"Then I will fight if I have too." She said seductively changing her mood raising her dress enough so he can glimpse her lower leg that held a dagger. he shuddered at the sight and especially at her voice.
"After all it was our beloved Adrien who taught me to fight growing up. God rest his soul." She said holding a hand to her heart.
"And if you remember dear Uncle I had become a better fighter then him." She said innocently with a bit of seduction which her smile grew when Gabriel's smile grew in the fondness of the Memory as he eyed the black-haired pink Princess.
"I remember it well. Alright, child." He said sipping from his goblet, before standing and stood before her and raising her delicate chin with his calloused hand.
"But be back before dark and take precautions. You two as well. If I hear that one hair has been misplaced on her I will have you both executed." he said looking at Tikki and Alya who both bowed their heads in agreement.
"Yes, Your grace." They said at the same time.
~o0o~
Marinette and her ladies were ushered into a carriage and it was drawn by horses out of the palace gates, they all smiled happily as they watched the world pass them by.
"Are you sure Marinette?" Tikki said with worry clasping her dark red cloak around her neck and pulled her hair from it.
"Everything will be alright," Marinette said as she fiddled with her gown skirt with nervousness and excitement.
Marinette had the carriage stop right before town and she dismounted wanting to walk into town on her own feet, she smiled as she walked through the town, the townspeople all called at her wanting to hug her and shake her hand even children were enraptured gathering around her with bouquets of flowers and fruit. Marinette gathered the flowers herself while 2 servants held baskets that were growing full of fruit, bread, pastries, and vegetables.
She walked with a spring in her step and a smile on her face as she ate a shiny red apple while Alya had an orange and Tikki enjoyed some cookies which she shared with the others since she had never been much of a fruit fan.
"Delicious." She exclaimed as children came up to her and hugged her.
"Princess Marinette, Are you going to marry Cat Noir?" A small boy asked with his siblings and friends nearby.
"Oh my."She said grasping her cheeks in embarrassment.
"Don't let the guards or the King you say that dear one. We might both get into trouble." She said quietly making the boy clasp his hand over his mouth as Marinette noticed the guards were too far away.
"Yes, dear boy. Cat Noir will free us all." She said in a whisper making the boy happy and jump into a great hug with her, the ladies giggled happily as the children walked with them asking simple questions of royal life which she gave no harmful answers but talking about the paradise of her childhood.
After the children left for their homes the women continued on their way.
"Princess it looks like the sun is going down we should head back to the palace." one of the guardsmen said making them all look at the sky to see it starting to turn orange and quite quickly.
"Oh dear. it's going down quite fast," Marinette exclaimed rather worriedly her timid and frightened Princess act taking over and causing panic in the guardsmen.
"How long will it take us to get back to the palace?" She questioned the guardsmen as the carriage rolled up.
"About an hour Princess." He replied.
"Oh dear. We would get back after dark." She replied holding her face as it turned red with fear.
"Isn't today the Winter Solstice? Its the shortest day of the year. I had forgotten that." She exclaimed growing in fear. Both Alya and Tikki looked at her like she was crazy, but the guardsmen were matching her fear with sympathy.
"I'm too afraid of the dark I need to be in a well-guarded house now. I can't be out when it's dark." She ranted on in fear as the guardsmen all looked at her scared as well while she clung onto Tikki and shook with fear while tears fell from her eyes until she got an idea.
"Tikki, doesn't your family own a mansion nearby?" Marinette said holding her lady's hand with hopeful eyes.
"Yes but..." She tried but was interrupted.
"Great. We shall spend the night at Tikki's family house and you gentlemen can guard us for the night then we will return to the palace in the morning." Marinette said mounting the carriage as the sun continued to fall and the sky began turning purple.
"But Princess. The King would be most unhappy." The Guardsmen said as Tikki and Alya mounted the carriage behind her.
"I will handle him tomorrow, but I am scared I need to be in a house right now," Marinette said putting on the spoiled Princess act with a harumph and a crossing of her arms.
"Yes, your highness," he said dejectedly making the carriage lurch to movement.
"Marinette what are you doing?" Alya whispered.
"Just trust me." She said with a smile the fearing baby princess act gone.
Within a few minutes they arrived at the large and empty house just on the edge of Sherwood Forest and Marinette got out and was walking directly towards the house quite quickly.
"Princess we can't stay here we are too close to the forest." one of the guardsmen said following her as Alya and Tikki followed quickly.
The house was vacant of servants but she didn't care as she pushed the door open just as darkness was falling and she entered the empty house letting Tikki and Alya follow before she turned towards the men at the door.
"I don't care. I'm scared and I don't want to be in a carriage for the next hour. I am tired and wish to go to bed immediately." She said slamming the door in the guardsman's face.
Marinette turned seeing the darkened house with dust and sheet-covered furniture. She held her finger to her lips before she pulled off her heels motioning for them to do the same then quickly grasping their hands and they began running through the house. It was a quick and quiet getaway as the 3 ladies slipped on the hoods of their cloaks and dashed out of the house from the back before the guardsmen took their posts. Then without anyone noticing they disappeared in the darkness of the forest.
~o0o~
"Dark Night." One of the village idiots said looking around at the other village idiot, they sat hidden in tress as they watched the night sky.
"Indeed." The other one said looking around quite bored until a distant noise caught their attention.
A rustle of fabric, leaves, and light feminine footsteps caught their attention making them jump quietly and look in that direction to see 3 elegant cloaks hiding womanly figures headed their way.
"Here we go. You get that side I will take this side." One said to the other making him nod.
The 3 figures closed in as Marinette shivered from the cold looking around for any signs of a hidden village.
"A donation if you please." She heard as 2 dark figures jumped out pointing their bows and arrows at them effectively scaring Tikki and Alya and grasping each other in fear while Marinette stood there unmoved and well-hidden underneath her hood.
"Donation? For what?" She asked innocently.
"Passage through Sherwood." One of them said as he pointed his bow and arrow at her.
"Very well. Come and get it." Marinette said.
"You go." One of them said holding up their weapon.
"No, you go." The other said.
"Are you both afraid of 3 weak women? Do you not want your donation?" Marinette challenged as the fearful eyes of Alya and Tikki told the idiots that they had nothing to fear. They both looked at each other with an easy smile as they approached happily and without fear, when they got close enough Marinette was quick to punch one then grasp the other by his neck and held a black dagger with emeralds on the hilt to his neck.
"How dare you attempt to rob us." She sneered into his ear.
"Sorry Miss. 'Tis our job." He said lightly choking as fear ran through his body.
"Your job?" She said incredulously.
"That's right miss." He said as the other was flexing his shaken jaw before Tikki held her own dagger at him to keep his distance while Alya stood next to Marinette holding her own weapon at the ready to fight when needed.
"Who is your employer?" She questioned holding him tighter and careful not to put too much pressure on his neck with the dagger.
"Cat Noir, Miss." He said wanting to live not knowing that his answer made her heart flutter. She released him and watched his eyes grow in surprise first at his release then more when she removed her hood.
"I demand to see him at once." She said making both of them look at her in shock as Tikki and Alya stood next to her in defense.
~o0o~
"NO." He shouted as Marinette continued down the rocky path in between the hills, she didn't need them to show her the way anymore as there was a path to follow and she was determined to continue.
"Stop her." One of the idiots said following behind the ladies.
"I'm trying to stop her." The other one shouted as Tikki and Alya followed behind her and blocked them from her.
"You can't go down there he is busy," One shouted.
"Princess, be careful," Alya said as Marinette held her skirt walking along as it began to get steep.
"He's not expecting you." The first one said in distress.
"What a peculiar place," Tikki said looking around at the hills lined with small torches for light but not enough to give away the location in the dark.
"OH, my," Marinette said as she stopped in shock and stared. There below in a small lake of crystal clear water was none other than Adrien, he was swimming naked and Marinette could see every beautiful curve of his body.
"Princess? Oh, dear." Alya said turning away as the village idiots turned Alya and Tikki away while Marinette watched. He climbed out swishing his hair and began getting dressed slowly and without realizing that he was being watched.
"You could have said." Alya accused looking at the idiots.
"Princess, don't look," Tikki said avoiding turning around, while Marinette watched in awe at the beautiful man before her.
"ADRIEN. YOU'VE GOT VISITORS." One of the idiots shouted making Marinette come out of her stupor and clear her throat. Adrien heard the voice but was undeterred.
"Take them to the village I will be right there." He shouted back not really knowing who was there but finishing getting dressed.
The idiots grabbed Marinette but Alya and Tikki stepped in roughly.
"Don't touch her." They said slapping away their hands before they lead all 3 of them away.
Marinette ran through the scene in her mind's eye remembering every detail putting her hood back on to hide her blushing face, as the idiots lead them past a waterfall and through a cave system that leads to a hidden grove forest.
"Princess, you must stop thinking about that. It's not decent." Tikki said holding her arm close to her as Marinette was smiling.
Marinette came out of her stupor when they arrived at the village and she was awestruck, ramps and hanging bridges flying houses hanging from the tress, farmlands growing food, and large gated pens filled with animals.
"Wow." She exclaimed.
"And who do we have here?" She heard making her look to find a very tall and brooding man.
"Lovely playthings you've brought us," Plagg said as he trotted around them making more men come up to venture gazes. Tikki and Alya stood at attention and stepped closer to Marinette keeping her in between them.
They couldn't blame them for their actions since no one really knew what Princess Marinette looked like, all they knew was that she was a virginal Princess with fair skin, blue eyes, and dark hair. But in the torchlight her skin looked darker, her eyes looked grey, and her hair looked brown especially hidden beneath her hood.
"Hello, beautiful," Wayhem said coming close to Marinette making her look at him from under her hood with watchful eyes as Tikki and Ayla held her in between them.
"I hear we have lady visitors." They all heard and the men opened up a space in the crowd as he came through, making Marinette see him with his shaggy wet hair, white shirt, black pants, and black boots, his eyes looking at all three of them, but barely saw her underneath her hood and in between Alya and Tikki.
"Indeed sir they just wandered in." Little Plagg said.
"Well you 3 have wandered into the wrong village ladies," Adrien said happily as he got closer and had his cocky smile looking over the fine regal ladies that stood before him.
Marinette stepped out from between Alya and Tikki then removed her cloak's hood letting it fall to reveal her smiling face the glowed in the torchlight, and her simple but princess-like dress appear, Alya and Tikki smiled as they watched removing their hoods as Marinette did hers.
Collective gasps rang out as they all saw the true beauties reveal themselves but they were all silenced when they all saw their leader, Adrien's smile fell and his eyes got big and wide at seeing her again, she was here and right in front of him. No guards, no King, nothing to keep them apart, he dropped first his smile then his bow and quiver as he ran and quite quickly.
It felt like a thousand steps to Marinette as she ran up to him and he quickened his steps, she picked up her skirt as she ran the 10 steps he opened his arms wide and she raised hers just as they collided, he took her in his arms as he welcomed her into an embrace that has been long awaiting. They hugged each other close with tears and laughter.
"Adrien." She said happily as tears began flowing down her face while Adrien picked her up and swung her around to release the momentum they built up making her giggle happily and held on for dear life never wanting to let him go.
"Marinette." He said holding her precious body close to his, happy to finally have her in his arms once again close and without complication.
"OoohhhhhHHHH." The men all whooped as they saw the reunion.
Adrien pushed her away just an inch to grasp her face in his hands and began rubbing away her tears as she giggled happily.
"You're so beautiful." He said as she laughed before he pulled her in for a deep and hungry kiss. it was not sloppy or ugly but loving, and jealous worthy making the collective murmurs go around the camp at their actions.
They released each other and stared with laughter and happiness. She gasped in surprise as he turned her around quickly before kneeling and wrapped his muscular arm around her legs hauling her up to sit on top his shoulder.
"Men, meet my future wife Princess Marinette," Adrien shouted making them all shout and holler in happiness as they all came up to shake her hand while Adrien walked her through the camp with Alya and Tikki following behind while they were being guarded by Plagg and Nino.
Word spread quickly throughout the camp as they settled at the campfire for dinner.
Adrien now sporting his sleeveless black vest over the white shirt and his arm cuffs over the long sleeves of the shirt, he sat next to Marinette on a log in front of the fire as they shared roasted wild boar, while he had his arm wrapped around her, while many women and children brought her flowers and well wishes.
"I've missed you." She said again.
"How many times are you going to tell me that?" He asked holding her close.
"Until you stop holding me so tightly." She said making him hug her closer.
"You guys are almost sickening," Plagg said looking back at them before his eyes flew back to the firey headed goddess who looked at him with matching bedroom eyes, which Marinette noticed with a smile, not just them but also the painted man who stared at her other Lady-in-waiting who also had painted skin.
Marinette whispered in Adrien's ear and he whispered back with matching sneakiness.
"Little Plagg is it?" Marinette asked looking at the large man.
"Yes, Ma'am." He said with a nod of his head.
"Well Little Plagg meet my Lady-in-waiting Tikki Coccinelle," Marinette said pointing her lady who was busy taking off her cloak and revealing her tall goddess-like body that glowed in the firelight. Plaggs stood happily.
"Tikki meet my Left-hand man Plagg Little but we call him Little Plagg," Adrien said with a smile as Tikki smiled seductively while Plagg smiled and blushed behind his black beard, they went up to each other just as the band began playing music.
"M'lady." He said nodding his head making the red-clad woman take the hand of the handsome filthy rogue as he lead her around the campfire in a dance.
"And Nino of the Moors?" Marinette said making the painted man look at her from up in the tree.
"Malika." He said with a smile and nod of his head towards her.
"This is my Lady-in-waiting who had a Moorish Mother, Lady Alya Cesaire," Marinette said pointing to the orange-clad foxy woman, who looked up at the man in the tree she didn't notice until he was pointed out to her before he jumped down from the tree next to her, but she was unafraid of this wild man, which made him smile.
"Thaelab." He said with a smile and a blush as Alya stood and curtsied with grace before he motioned for her to sit allowing him to sit next to her.
"Hello Marinette." The Princess heard making her turn to find Friar Fu coming into the firelight as some men were rolling out barrels of beer and wine.
"Friar Fu." She lightly hollered before she knelt down and took the small man in her arms.
"I'm glad you are safe, my child." He said standing away making her sit back in Adrien's grasp as Friar Fu sat next to her.
"It's good to see you here." She said with a smile.
"Indeed, he has been a great addition to our cause. Ministering to us all and making the best beer, wine, and teas for us all good Christian's" Adrien said as he took a mug of beer and drank as his men all agreed with shouts of praise and toast while drinking from their own mugs.
"I'm very glad. I was told that you had passed away because of a Cat noir ambush." She stated making them all laugh.
"But I knew better." She exclaimed with happiness as the laughter continued.
"How did you escape the palace?" He asked making them all look up with questioning glances.
"I asked if I could have a day shopping in the town and the idea was to stay out as long as possible then pretend to be afraid of the dark to ride in a carriage for too long to get back so we would spend the night in Tikki's family home that is right on the edge of Sherwood forest, and I knew that eventually, we would run into your men." She explained.
"And what would happened if you had come across someone else?" He asked accusingly giving her an evil glare.
"Cat Noir you know damn well I have always been a better fighter than you," Marinette said pushing him away lightly and unphased making the men laugh as Adrien blushed.
"Ladybug we haven't fought in years, so how do you know that I haven't gotten better than you in the crusades?" Adrien asked mockingly as she took a drink of wine before she quickly tossed off her cloak and stood grasping his sword, knocked him to his feet making him reach for his sword before failing as he is forced to kneel with his own sword to his neck, and staring up at the Princess who smiled down at her kitty with an overpowering demeanor.
"Because I have been training too." She mocked as he gasped in shock.
"Still better." She said happily removing his sword and letting him stand, she plunged the sword into the dirt before he lunged at her but she was quick to spin away and slap his butt with the edge of the sword and not the sharp side.
"Ow." He exclaimed rolling on the dirt rubbing his butt with a childish grimace making his men and Marinette laugh.
"Ok. I yield," he said in defeat as he saw his sword pointed at his chest once again by a smiling raven-haired LadyBug Princess before him.
"Good Kitty." She said helping him up before scratching his chin and making him smile.
"Hey, Princess? You hiring outlaws?" They heard making them all laugh.
"You ladies can take my house. It is the biggest, then tomorrow my men will escort you out of Sherwood forest and back to England." Adrien said as he noticed everyone was getting tired going to kick ash to the fire.
"No please," Marinette said grasping his coat and pressing herself against him as he walked towards his bow and quiver but then became shocked at her actions.
"I have been away from you long enough don't leave me now." She cried into his chest like a whimpering Princess.
"It's only for now. I want you to be safe. I will go get you when the war is won." He said hugging her as Plagg, Nino, Alya, and Tikki all looked at them then at each other in longing.
"NO, please. We are stronger together you know that." She begged while looking up with watery blue eyes.
"I know but..." he said holding her close.
"No buts. I am safer here right next to you and you are safer right next to me. I can't leave you again. I don't want too." She said burying her wet face in his chest. He held her close relishing the comfort of her closeness.
"Come with me." He said leading her towards a large tree after she grabbed her cloak. He continued to hold her close as he kicked the anchor, Marinette gazed as the people quickly became ants while Adrien still held her close while holding the rope and the weight distributed hauling them up into the treehouses. They stopped at the platform of a rather large treehouse and Adrien stood on it easily then helped her to upon it. The platform was made from flattened wood branches tied together like a raft.
He distanced himself as Marinette was taking in the sights before ducking and brushing a curtain aside and disappearing into the darkened treehouse, Marinette looked at the outside of the treehouse seeing that it was also made with flattened wood and tied together with a roof of bundled hay.
She then followed him by brushing the curtain aside and entering the darkroom not fearing the dark that only lasted a moment as Adrien lit a candle illuminating the room, she looked around as Adrien placed his bow and arrow on a table made from flattened wood and branches for legs that held the candle and books, he took off his coat and laid it on the table as Marinette saw the only other furniture was a large bed made from sheep's wool and covered by a large black bear's hide, a pillow made also with sheep's wool and covered partly by the bears hide while a large black cloak of velvet acted as a blanket.
Adrien kicked off his boots and let himself relax in only his white undershirt and black pants, his blonde hair was still lightly dampened and it hung in his face as his head leaned forward looking down at the perfect woman before him, he grasped her hand and gently pulled her towards the bed as he sat. Marinette took this as her cue and kicked off her own shoes while laying her cloak on the table with his coat delicately while holding up her skirt than with grace as she climbed on his bed.
She laid back against the pillow as he leaned over her but kept his body on her side gently pulling her close as he laid the large black cloak over them for warmth. They smiled and cuddled each other as the candle flickered and they were lost in their own world.
"Marinette?" He said brushing his hand along her hair, as she hummed in response to her world coming back to reality.
"This is no life for a Princess." He said holding her as close as he could after his smile faded looking at her and her own smile faded coming back into fighting mode.
"Do you think I care? I have never cared about the jewelry or the clothes or any of the fancy things." She said pushing him away and sitting up making him look at her fully.
"Marinette." He said a little sternly also sitting up to hold her hands.
"I know what I want and I don't want to be your stepmother." She said making him shake his head in disgust as his eyes widened at the realization.
"You won't Marry him. I promise." He said brushing her face with his clean but calloused hands.
"Then why won't you let me stay with you?" She asked lightly drawing forward to sit in between his legs and putting their foreheads together.
"Because I don't want to lose you. If my father finds you here he will kill us both." He said gently as his thumb grazed her cheek while their eyes searched the others.
They stayed silent as the felt the close proximity, slowly he laid her back down and he followed leaning over her gently rubbing his nose against hers affectionately, before kissing her romantically and in remembrance of their long lost childhood as they had many years to make up for lost time.
"Has he not suspected at all? The word has spread that your a virgin." He said quickly pushing himself from her and wondering the obvious with a joking smile making her giggle with a blush and holding her face.
"Because if I remember correctly you had already given me your virginity." he laughed at her blush while she hid behind her hands and giggled with embarrassment, as he leaned over her and lightly pumped himself as they remembered that long-ago night of sad passion.
"...Before I left for the crusades." He continued in between laughter. She looked at him with shining eyes making him stop ad caress her face with love and affection.
"The Priests don't want to see me executed and those who are impartial can be bought for the right price." She said taking his face in his hands as he smiled. They just stared at each other, but suddenly new tears began to trickle down Marinettes face as she smiled and looked over his handsome features.
"What's wrong?" He asked gently wiping them away and searched answers in her eyes with great concern.
"I've just missed you so much." She said wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down making him hold her close.
"I have missed you too." He replied falling on his side gently getting comfortable in her embrace.
"Thinking of you kept me going. Through the war and in prison. I couldn't leave you alone in this world." he said still holding her waist and brushing her face with his gentle fingers.
"I thought you were dead." She said solemnly and with guilt.
"I had given up on all hope. Especially when your father said I was to live with him until I became of age so I would marry him." She explained with a low frown and pleading eyes.
"Then the palace I had visited my entire childhood that held so many beautiful memories of you and I growing up together, it had become a prison for me and my Ladies. Barely a day we would get to go outside, breathe fresh air, feel the sunlight, and or really see the sky. It has been maddening and at times I gave up on it all..." Marinette explained with guilt-ridden eyes and shaky breath as Adrien just let her vent while he comforted her.
"I would be able to find a dagger or knights poison." She explained letting her eyes shake with high emotion as his eyes grew in fear as he realized what she was talking about.
"I just wanted to be with you. But Alya and Tikki would find me and help me before I could finish myself. Sometimes Uncle Gabriel would find out and have me put under watch by a doctor. I would have my wrists tied down for my own protection until I could prove that I wasn't going to harm myself again." She said as he held her closer while she let her secrets and emotions out.
"But no more. I haven't tried in years, though at times I did wish to be with you I gave up on trying. And now I no longer wish to die but I still want to be with you and I will fight and pray every day until we get there." She said with happiness filling her soul.
"I'm glad you didn't kill yourself Marinette," he said pressing his forehead against hers and rubbing their noses together.
"I would be lost to the world if I had come back and found you gone." He said rubbing a knuckle along her chin gently, making her plump lips reach up towards him.
"I'm glad I didn't as well. I would haunt those halls if I got to Heaven and found you still alive." She threatened with a sincere smile and a voice that held only Jest.
"Very Morbid of you, Cousin." He said throwing back her jesting tone and they both laughed.
Their laughter was loud and ringing. Emotions all laid out on the table and reuniting themselves. They finally calmed after a while and just stared, eyes searching each other. Adrien used his knuckle once more to brush her chin upwards as she opened her mouth to breathe heavily he opened his own mouth before he pressed his soft familiar lips against hers. Both of them immediately felt their souls intertwining once more as the love of the other filled them, their clothed bodies pressed against each other in a close embrace as their lips danced the familiar loving dance, tongues grazing each other gently.