Chapter 2

"Marinette, what's wrong?" Alya asked, stepping close to her friend and glaring daggers at D'Argencourt. "Is this guy bothering you?"

"Bon sang." D'Argencourt sighed. "Mademoiselle, your friend has received the marriage gems, as she calls them, and therefore gained the title of Madame La Coccinelle and is legally wed to Monseigneur Le Marquis De Vanily, who wears the ring of Le Chat Noir. I am here to escort her to him."

"But... I can't be married to the Marquis, I don't even know who he is and he lives hours away in a huge castle and I've never even seen a castle and I'll be so absorbed in looking at everything that I'll trip and fall right on him and he'll hate me and have me locked in a dungeon with rats and-"

"Marinette! Breathe, okay, just breathe." Alya broke in. "That's not going to happen, okay?"

"Madame," D'Argencourt said, his countenance softening as bowed toward her, placing a gentle hand on her elbow, "your friend is most correct. Monsieur Le Chat Noir is a kind and gentle soul. What's more, you will not be alone; you are permitted to bring with you a maid and a guard."

"That's us!" Alya interjected quickly, gesturing between herself and Nino.

"Uh..." Nino began before an elbow in his gut stopped him.

"I'm her maid and Nino here will be her guard."

"Tres bien." D'Argencourt said, snapping his fingers. A guard behind him quickly passed him a box just like the girls had received. "This is the armlet of Le Tortue, the protector of Madame La Coccinelle. You must guard it with every care, for it will grant you complete access to La Madame."

"Right," Nino said, taking the emerald band and sliding it up his arm, under his sleeve. "No problem, I'll just... guard, and... stuff."

D'Argencourt sighed again. "Collect you things and escort the mademoiselle to the east gate of the city. My men are waiting there, show them the armlet and they will accommodate you. Madame, if I may escort you, I imagine you'll want to see your family and collect your things before we go."

"Yes, I... um, I want to see my parents." Marinette stuttered dazedly. "They'll be home by now. They're bakers."

Alya watched her friend slowly walk off, pale and staring. D'Argencourt's hand was on her elbow still, steering her around people and tables.

"Let's go." Alya said, shaking herself. "We need to find our parents too before we meet them."

"You know our moms are going to kill us, right?" Nino asked, following her at a quick pace.

"I am not letting Mari go to the castle alone!" She replied. "They'll understand."

"Kim!" D'Argencourt called as his party approached the guards left with the horses and carriage. "Is everything ready? I would prefer if we were a half hour gone."

"Yes sir, just need to stow Madame and her bags." Kim said.

"Excellente. Madame, if you-" D'Argencourt looked up at a sudden clattering of hooves. A small girl in a bright pink dress which bunched scandalously around her knees as she sat astride a large roan horse reined in furiously, circling the group as she called out.

"D'Argencourt! Le Pont Andre III is gone, Le Paon sent le démon du festin to destroy it."

"Mince! Is it still out?"

"No, he called it back, but you won't be able to cross there, I had to come over Le Pont Neuf."

"We'll never make it in time with the carriage. Madame," D'Argencourt said, turning to Marinette, "can you ride?"

"Um... I used to ride the ox that pulled the flour cart." She answered.

"Zut! Max!" D'Argencourt called, a small man on a large dappled horse breaking ranks. "You'll take Madame La Coccinelle. Kim, choose five men to escort the mademoiselle in the carriage."

Marinette jumped as she felt a heavy cloak settle on her shoulders.

"If I may, Madame?" D'Argencourt asked as he pinned his cloak around her. "It will be a cold ride."

He guided her gently toward the waiting horseman who had slid back on the saddle, which looked like little more than a leather-covered pad to Marinette, leaving room for her in front of him.

"I am Monsieur Le Pégase, Chat Noir's messenger. You may call me Max if you like." Max said as D'Argencourt reformed the ranks of guards to surround them.

"Hello, Max, I'm Marinette. It's nice to meet you." She replied stiffly. Talking with her parents – longer than Monsieur D'Argencourt had liked – had calmed her greatly as they promised both to follow her to Versailles and that the marquis absolutely would not lock her in a rat infested dungeon. The count had seconded their assertion and assured her the marquis was a fine gentleman and would take excellent care of her. Of course, she was still extremely apprehensive, but Max's friendly greeting helped maintain her slim hold on calm.

"It's nice to meet you, too. And this is my friend, Markov. He's the fastest horse in the Dukedom." Max replied proudly.

"Um, nice to meet you, Markov." Marinette said, patting the horse's should awkwardly. "I, uh, don't know much about horses, but shouldn't you have reins?"

"Oh, Markov is extremely intelligent, he can understand vocal commands and I can also direct him with my legs. It is often useful to have your hands free while riding."

"I suppose it would be." Marinette replied, swaying slightly as the reformed group began walking their horses through the gate.

"We will speed up soon," Max warned her, "would you like me to hold onto you?"

"Um, I guess that might be a good idea." Marinette blushed lightly, imagining the inevitable fall due to her infamous clumsiness and subsequent trampling by the horses following them.

"Alright," Max said, grasping each forearm firmly, "just inform me if your position is uncomfortable. The horses need to be walked regularly so they don't tire before we reach Versailles, you may always change your position then."

Max had hardly finished speaking when the horses sped up, the gentle sway giving way to a seat-breaking trot and then a soothing roll as the familiar fields of La Ville de Francois-Dupont dwindled behind her.