AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH WE ARE FINALLY ON OUR FIRST CHAPTER!

Anyways! This chapter is merely an introduction chapter which kind of gives us and idea of who is who and what they're feeling in the moments before they meet.

part 1-A tailor, a king, a baker, and prince

In the capitol of the Kingdom of Acacia, Etoile, there lived a young maiden twenty-one years of age. Many knew her as Maria the tailor. Maria was rather tall woman with long brown hair that was always neatly braided and framed her face giving people a lovely view of deep blue eyes. She always had polite smile on her face and it was agreed amongst many that she was perhaps fairer than most of the noble women who passed the village. She was always accompanied by her adopted sister Marinette, who was also known to be fair with her dark hair that seemed to be almost blue and her kind smile that could warm even the most desolate of souls.

Many who knew them could agree that while both were quite pretty to look at neither would speak much except for the general pleasantries. The two really only became social with the return of their brother. Sir Aaron, the Pride of the Immigrants in all of Acacia, was perhaps the only person who could make the girls shine brighter.

Maria stood at the edge of the city. The forest was green signaling what should have been the spring. Now it was just the month were the world became warmer. She leaned on a nearby tree as she looked down the winding forest paths.

Every day she would stand there and await her brother who had left in company of the king. He would leave for months at a time to tour their small country to ensure that all went well. She did not know much about the king except that he was a cold and just man. She knew that in her girlhood, when spring lived in the hearts of all those in the land, he had been kind and all would cry his name in joy… but with the death of the Queen, everyone became muted.

Of course, she expected this. Death had seized them all in the ugliest of ways. She had seen her brothers, all children under the age of twelve, die slowly and painfully because of the plague. Many believed that a practitioner of the dark arts had sent it. The queen's death ending the plague only sealed the thought. Maria remembered when the people began to fear any magic users in the kingdom.

That fear had been quickly destroyed by the king himself. Even in his grief the man still commanded the respect and awe of his people. Her brother often told her that both he and the prince entered a cold state that would make anyone weep.

Her mind drifted to her brother. Many called him the Pride of the Immigrants. And he was. Etoile's immigrant districted had been compromised of many of mixed descent and it was rare for anyone to rise up in status, and he had done that. Of course, she always knew he would. Aaron to her was the person who shined like the sun. Even as children, they had always known he was destined for greatness.

She gave a sad sigh and decided it was best to head back to her home. She still had a few dresses to sew and some flowers to deliver.

King Gabriel Agreste was tired. There was never a day he was not. He always had to be on top of things which would result in him spending nights by light of candles reading scrolls after scrolls over and over again. He stopped trusting the nobility after the plague. They had become separate to the common folk leaving him in the middle.

He and his men had stopped in a clearing next to the river. He stared into the water. The months were getting warmer. It would have been spring, but spring was gone. It had died with his queen.

His eyes drifted to his son. The boy was fifteen years old now. He was much like his mother, he noted. He looked away before anyone had noticed. It had been difficult to speak to his son after the death of his wife. He had failed them both in the end.

He looked back into the water. The water was nice and clear but it was dark blue he did not know to exist. It was beautiful and entrancing and incredibly calming. It gave him a calm he had not felt in a while.

"My Lord." He heard the prince call him.

"Yes." He replied.

"Do you wish to leave at this time?" Adrien asked.

Gabriel looked to him and then to the water again.

"We should rest a bit longer. I am sure you are still sore from the ride." He replied quietly.

"I am." He heard the boy say.

"Then this rest should do you good." He mumbled in response.

"I thought kings didn't mumble." He heard the prince say with a snicker.

"I am no ordinary king," He responded. He looked to his son, and to his surprise the boy was smiling. "Is there a maiden on your mind?"

"None, I am simply pleasantly surprised, my lord." The prince said.

"And what pleasant surprises have you received on this kind day?" He asked.

"Merely those of idle conversation." The prince said giving a small nod.

"Idle conversation can be nice." He said with agreement.

The quietness was broken by the loud yells of the men. The king sighed. There would be hell to pay for having to hear of this insolence.

Prince Adrien had not expected for his father to make idle chat with him. It had been strange for him but also it brought him great joy. He figured his father had always hated him for living while his mother had died. He had always felt weak when he remembered those dark days.

Of course, those quiet moments had been stolen by the rowdiness of their party. He sighed as he stalked behind his father to see what the commotions had been about. To his surprise, Sir Orion was being held back by Sir Leon while Duke Philippe stood between them and Sir Aaron. He wondered what occurred to create such a ruckus.

"What quarrels happen here?" The king barked.

"Forgive us, King," Sir Aaron said. "It seems that I have merely made a mistake that these nobler sirs seem to find unforgiveable."

"And what mistake is this?" Adrien asked moving to stand at his father's side.

"I have made the mistake of giving my oath to the goddess who shines her light upon us that I would allow my sisters to choose their husbands." Sir Aaron said with an amused smirk.

That was the first he had heard of Sir Aaron's sisters. He knew not much of the man except that his father trusted the man as much as Duke Philippe.

"And why would such an oath begin quarrels?" the king asked.

Adrien looked to his father was surprised to see a glint of curiosity in his eyes. He turned to the four men who were surrounded by a few others to hear the response.

"I merely asked for the maid Maria's hand and he said no," Sir Orion said. "And then the sodomite attacked me."

Adrien rolled his eyes. He looked to his father who looked just as un-amused.

"I highly doubt that. Your wording and tone suggests another attacker," The king said. "Keep your quarrels to yourself. If the man has made an oath to our goddess, then he is bound by it. If you do not like it, feel free to take a sword and tell her yourself."

Adrien had to hold back a snicker at his father's rather obvious cruel comment. Of course, to question the will of the goddess and those who made oaths to her was basically suicide, so such a response would be expected of the king. He looked to the others who were also trying to hold back the snickers.

"We will leave in a bit, so make your peace." The king said before walking away.

Adrien stood there wondering whether or not to follow him. They had managed to have a conversation and he was not sure if he could push for a second. But then, why would his father want to talk to his weakling of son?

Marinette sighed as she pulled her hair back and began to braid it. She had far too many orders of bread to fill but it was expected. They all told her spring had returned to them for a moment in that and who was she to deny the people that.

She looked to the window to see Maria walking back from the woods. She sighed knowing that it meant that Aaron would be coming home later than usual. She frowned and went back to baking. She hoped he would be home soon. She missed her adoptive brother.

She went back to kneading the bread hoping to keep her mind from thinking of tragedy. Had it really been four years since the death of her parents? Probably, but somehow it felt like a life time ago. She could remember when she lived in a different house with her mother and father. It was on that day, that very day four years ago, that she became orphan.

She tried to keep herself from weeping but she could not help it. Had it truly been so long since she had been spared the pain of dying and left only with the pain of living.

"Marinette?" she heard.

She looked to her side to see Maria looking at her with concern. She let out her tears and ran to her adoptive sister. She jumped and embraced her let out loud sobs.

"I know, my dear sister," She heard Maria whisper. "I know."

"Why did it have to happen?" She asked softly between sobs. "What did we do wrong to displease the goddess? Were too cruel? Too kind? Why were we wrought with a horrid plague?"

Marinette knew the answers. The plague was not the work of the heavens. No, it was too spiteful to be the work of the heavens. She hugged Maria harder as she calmed down. Hugging the older girl had always helped. Maria was always calming and it was as though she were a child in her mother's arms.

Maria had not told her to let go which she would always be grateful for.

The two girls pushed away when they heard the sounds of the church bells ringing.

Their brother was home.

It was on this day that fate turned her wheels and the goddess Cora took pity upon the people of her kingdom.

Yes on this day a simple glance between a king and a peasant and a small moment of kindness between a prince and young maiden would seal the fate of all who lived there.

So a few notes about their religion:

There religion is a monotheistic religion which is based on the Worship of the Goddess Cora. Her religion is one of being honor bound. Aaron's oath was made to her which makes him honor bound. to break your oath is actually punishable by death.(I made this up to fit the story as to why Aaron does not agree to take anyone's request for marriage)

I'm trying to go for a fairy tale vibe so the openings will be in third person omniscient when written.

Please leave any reviews/thoughts/suggestions and if you wish to talk to me I'm always down. I'm a loser with way too much time on their hands :D