It was early in the morning when Adrien woke up and went for a stretch outside of his tent. Visions of the fight with Roth kept plaguing his mind. His failure to protect Marinette weighed heavily on his heart. Plagg too had been restless most of the night, although he wouldn't say why, and it was making Adrien nervous. Kwami's were more perceptive than humans he had begun to realise.

He threw some more wood onto the dying campfire and sat down on a log. The morning fog was still clinging around the campsite and a cold chill blew down from the snow capped mountains. The sound of soft snoring could be heard coming from Nino's tent. At least someone was getting some sleep.

Absentmindedly stoking the fire with a long stick, Adrien hadn't noticed Félix was awake until he sat beside him.

"You should keep a watch on that left flank of yours cousin, you wouldn't want that to become your weak spot."

"I think it's too late for that." Adrien said half heartedly. "To be honest, there is some damage there from when my eyes were injured." He conceded. "I've noticed it before. I didn't tell Marinette because I didn't want her to worry, but I'm pretty sure that was why Roth got the better of me."

Félix placed a supportive hand on Adrien's shoulder. "I know you're replaying that fight over and over again in your head. Don't be so hard on yourself. You were up against it regardless, yet you stood your ground."

"I still lost her." Adrien lamented.

"You haven't lost her. We will get her back." Félix insisted. "You're not alone now. We are a team of Miraculous holders - well, except the girl with your friend Nino but she's a good cook so I'll give her a pass."

Félix was pleased that at least cracked a small smile from his cousin. The two sat talking quietly until a red blur suddenly crashed into Adrien and almost knocked him off the log he was sitting on.

"SugarCube!" Plagg exclaimed, flying out of Adrien's coat. "I thought I sensed you closed by. What are you doing here without your holder?"

Duusu also flew out from Felix's coat, helping Plagg to hold up the exhausted Kwami.

"Where's Marinette?" Adrien asked anxiously. "Why did you leave her?"

"She told me to come." Tikki puffed, dropping the earrings into Adrien's hand. By now the commotion had attracted the attention of the others in the camp along with their kwami's and everyone began to gather around and listen to what Tikki had to tell them. She explained as best as she could what her and Marinette had overheard about the trap waiting for them.

"It's not much to go on." Luka pointed out, rubbing the stubble on his chin. "We don't know where they are planning to ambush us or how many of 'them' there are."

"What about Marinette though?" Adrien asked Tikki. "Why didn't she just transform and escape?"

"She's gone to find where they are holding Master Fu." Tikki explained. "She figured her best chance of that was to go to the Capital and inside the Palace. She wants him to release the full power of the Miraculous. It might be the only way to stop Barbot once and for all."

"That's risky." Alix said, folding her arms. "We don't know what Miraculous Barbot might have access to in the Miracle Box, or what he plans to do with it."

"What if she's changing sides?" Volpina suddenly said. "She was technically engaged to Barbot, right? If the powers of the Miraculous are released..."

"I don't believe that." Luka said emphatically.

"There's a lot of power there." Volpina shrugged. "How do you know this wasn't all just some charade to get back to her betrothed?"

Chloé frowned at this strange line of discussion. Was Lila on their side or not? She firmly believed from her own conversation with Adrien last night this wasn't just some passing fling or that Marinette had been somehow just using him. She might not know Marinette personally yet, but she could she their love reflected in Adrien's eyes when he spoke of her. That was enough convincing for her.

Luka shook his head adamantly.

"You didn't see her the way I did." Luka explained, softly. "You didn't see them together, the way she put herself on the line to save us... to save him."

Adrien clasped his hands together and leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees as he gazed into the fire. "I trust her." He said simply before looking at Félix. "We can't keep going the way we are. Someone is going to get killed. We need a different plan."

Félix and Luka shared a concerned glance before Luka closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "We need to split up." Luka finally said, reading what Adrien was getting at.

"Hold on." Félix protested "If we split up we weaken our defenses."

"That's right." Kagami chimed in. "Stronger together, right?"

"I vote to stay together as well." Chloè added, looking for support from Volpina. Lila was choosing not to give an opinion.

Adrien gripped the Ladybug earrings tighter in his hand. "No, I agree with Luka. We will split into two teams, one approaching by land, the other by sea and reconvene in the Capital. At least that way we have a chance of some of us making it." He opened his palm and looked at Tikki. "Can I wear these along with my own Miraculous?"

"Yes, of course." Tikki answered. "In fact..."

"I'll go wherever you need me, as long as I can stay with Alya." Nino interjected, accidentally cutting Tikki off.

Luka placed his hand on Felix's shoulder. "With your blessing, I'd like to take Kagami back to The Liberty. My sister has many treatments that will heal that wound of hers more quickly." He then looked over to Alix, but she shook her head.

"I'm fine." Alix insisted, placing a hat over her bandaged head. "I'm getting Master Fu out, so I go with the Prince and she comes with us." She added, pointing suspiciously at Volpina.

Félix stood up and walked over to Kagami, taking her hands in his. "I'm not leaving you." He said with conviction. Kagami smiled at him softly, reaching up and caressing his cheek.

"You need to stay with your cousin." She insisted. "He's going to need you to watch his back. I'll be fine with the Captain and I will be back by your side before you know it."

"What about us?" Alya asked, anxious to be of help. "I know I don't have a Miraculous, but I'm a crack shot with a musket."

Adrien put on the Ladybug earrings and stood up, looking out over the horizon. The clock tower of the Capital was just visible in the distance. In the end he decided that Luka should take Kagami, Nino, Alya and Chloè with him to the Liberty as one team while Félix, Alix and Volpina would come with him. Alix gave Luka directions to the safe house with plans to rendezvous there with Max and the resistance.

Feeling restless, Adrien helped the others pack up the campsite and load up the horses. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Félix and Kagami find a quiet place to say goodbye. He turned his head away from their tender kisses, not only to give them privacy, but also because it hurt to see them. God he missed Marinette. Since the day she had come to his bedside in that field hospital she had been by his side. Through his blindness, to learning to walk again, from holding his hand to finding a home in his heart, they had been together. Being separated from her had been the most excruciating torture.

As he mounted his horse and waved off his friends, Adrien made a vow when this was all over he would never be separated from Marinette's side ever again.

~~~~~

Juleka quietly went about her designated tasks in the kitchen, peeling potatoes while Rose collected the breakfast trays. The remaining servants in the Palace were run off their legs with the skeletal staff that was left behind. The kitchen boys scurried in wheeling coal to the fireplace before gathering up the peelings to spread in the vegetable garden.

"There's something brewing." One of them said to the other. "Better watch yourself today. The whole castle is on high alert."

The feeling of something coming was almost palpable. Juleka had felt it from the moment she had got up that morning. News had already spread about the mysterious Miraculous holders that had confronted Bob Roth and his men, but also the news that Barbot's betrothed had been captured and was on her way there.

Ironically, Marinette's capture had been a lucky break for them. Most of the guards that had been monitoring the "guests" had been reassigned to other duties - although nobody seemed to have known what these duties were. This was where Roarr came in. The benefit of having a tiny magical creature that could faze through walls was that Juleka could send him off to gather intel while she could stay in plain sight, completely innocent.

According to Roarr, most of the soldiers were being deployed into the city, although the safe house seemed to have remained undiscovered for now. There was also a second unit of men that were marching out of the city. No doubt to confront the Prince. Time was getting away.

Mrs Mandeleive stomped her way back into the kitchen with Rose scurrying behind her. The kitchen boys took that as their cue to hastily leave before they could get themselves roped into another chore.

"Rose, I need you to go to the market. Someone let the piglets out and now my whole supply of herbs in the garden has been uprooted." Juleka looked over at Rose who gave her a sly wink. "Jules, you have to take over your cousin's duties while she is gone, there's no upstairs maids available. I hope you are as capable as Rose assures me you are." The cook barked gruffly. "Take this pot of tea to Lady Lee in her chamber, then I need you to help prepare the dining hall. There is a special dinner tonight apparently. Some more notice could have been useful."

Juleka collected the serving tray and made her way towards Zoè's chamber. The once heavily guarded corridor was now eerily empty. Knocking, Juleka entered the room.

"Lady Zoé?" Juleka asked, finding a blonde girl sitting with a red head male on a settee.

"Yes, are you the one Rose told us about this morning?"

Juleka nodded her head, placing the tray on a small table. "I am Captain Luka's sister, Juleka. I believe you helped my brother and Prince Adrien." Juleka hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "Rose told me about who you are and your connection to the Prince."

Zoè lowered her eyes. "I fear Barbot was planning on using my connection to the Prince as some sort of bait, but I hear now that they have caught Marinette." A tear escaped her eyes, trickling down her cheek. "If Bardot hurts her..."

"We won't let that happen." Juleka said with confidence. "But I need your help. Where are they holding the man they call Fu?"

Zoè felt a little confused at how much Juleka seemed to have known. "Do you have a Kwami too?"

Juleka held up her wrist, showing her Miraculous. "My brother and I had carried these our whole lives, never knowing what they really were. I sent Roarr to go spy around the castle and find out what he could."

"And I have!" A small voice declared as he fazed through the wall. "I even found Master Fu."

"Where is he?" Zoè asked anxiously. "Is he alright? Did you speak to him?"

"He is on the lower level of the dungeons. He... he doesn't look well. Not at all. Unfortunately I couldn't speak to him and he didn't see me."

Nathaniel could see that Zoè was visibly upset and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Juleka held her hand out for the Kwami to land on. "Is there any way we can get down there?"

"It's heavily guarded and well fortified." Roarr said regretfully. "It would be almost impossible. We would need Trixx to use illusion, or Queen Bee with venom to try and get past them."

Zoè shook her head. "Nathalie gave Lila and Chloè those, but they went to find the Prince."

"And it would also mean Master Fu would have to release the full power of the Miracle Box." Nathaniel added. Just then the sound of horses approached towards the palace doors. Zoè, Nathaniel and Juleka all moved closer to the balcony to see over. A dark haired woman was roughly dragged out of a carriage by a burly looking man and ruffly pulled towards the great doors.

"It's Marinette." Zoè gasped. "Why are they treating her like that?"

Juleka pursed her lips. She was certain that if Marinette was here, her brother and the Prince couldn't be far behind. "You two stay put." She said, trying to sound assertive. She wasn't one to normally take charge in a crisis, that was always Luka's job, but right now her brother wasn't here, and all she had to go on was her own wits - and maybe just a little bit of luck. "I'm due to help prepare the great hall. I'll try to eavesdrop and see what I can find out."

"Be careful." Zoè cautioned. "Bardot is suspicious of everyone, especially new faces."

Julaka went down to the other end of the hall towards where Nathalie's chambers were. Her door was still guarded. She avoided making eye contact with the soldier and quickly moved down the staircase towards the great hall. The butler, Jean Paul, was directing staff in setting the table. A fine lace tablecloth had been spread on the table along with shining silverware. Along the long table were great bowls of fruit along with tall vases of white lilies. The man was clearly a perfectionist, hovering over the staff and criticising anything that didn't meet his strict approval.

"Make sure every one of those spoons are so shiny you can see your own reflection." He ordered. "And these floral accents have to be placed just so in the bunting." Juleka dutifully sat down at the dining table and began to rub the spoons with a polishing cloth. This could take hours!

"I need to get into the Throne Room." She whispered to Roarr. The little Kwami nodded, looking around trying to get an idea what to do. Moments later a steward came in.

"His majesty wishes for his finest cognac to be brought to him. Immediately."

Jean Paul grumbled under his breath. "I have better things to be doing besides standing around and serving..." SMASH!!!

The butler turned around in horror to find one of the large vases of lilies shattered all over the floor. Juleka saw a quick blur duck under the table. She looked down to find Roarr looking up at her and giving a wink.

"No no no no!" Jean Paul panicked, hovering over the mess. "My beautiful floral arrangement. I have to fix this post haste!" He looked around before his eyes landed on Juleka.

"You, girl." He said, pointing a finger at her. "Take this tray to the King in the Throne Roomright now. Quickly girl, don't keep him waiting."

Juleka picked up the silver tray and carried the carafe and glasses to the Throne Room. She tried hard not to look around too much at the vast, largely empty space. She had been there once when she was younger, the room crowded with everyone trying to see Queen Emilie, but she could have sworn there had been more things in there. Large ornate vases, portraits in gold gilded frames, ornamental swords with jeweled hilts... where are they now? Has Bardot been selling them?

Juleka's thoughts were snapped back to the present when Bardot swept into the room, his long black cloak billowing behind him like a storm cloud. His entourage followed him, still primping and styling him.

"Pour me a drink." He demanded as he passed before flopping onto the throne. One of his valet's opened a safe, taking out the King's crown and placing it on his brow.

Trying not to look nervous, Juleka poured the drink and deliver it to Bardot with a curtsy. "Wait." He ordered before she could leave. He threw the amber liquid down his throat in one swift gulp then handed the glass back to her. She retreated quickly, taking her place back up next to the drinks and watched Bardot unobserved.

A few minutes passed and Bardot kept up a steady rhythm tapping his fingers on the throne's armrest in time to the large grandfather clock. Rick rock, tick tock, tick tock. "Where is she?" He scowled, sending his valet scrambling to find out.

Rick tick, tick tock, tick tock. Minutes continued to tick by before the large wooden doors opened. A large burly man that Juleka later learned was Bob Roth came waltzing in with an arrogant air and behind him two soldiers held an arm each of a woman, her hands bound behind her back and the skirt of her dress torn. Far from downtrodden though, the woman glared at Bardot with defiance.

"Marinette my dear." He cooed as he stood up and approached her. "You have no idea how worried I have been about you."

Marinette didn't respond but turned her head away from him. Undeterred, he reached out towards her and she tried to jerk her head back away from him. The two soldiers hardened their grip on her so she couldn't back away. Bardot swept her hair back from one ear. "Interesting." He commented as he saw her bare earlobe. "Where are the Ladybug earrings?"

Marinette remained silent. Bardot simply laughed at her. "So the silent treatment is it? Not that it matters. It's obvious you left the earrings with that fool of a Prince. No matter. I shall have both your earrings and his ring shortly."

A side door opened up and Nathalie came in with an escort. She looked weary.

"Ah, Nathalie... I don't believe you have met my bride."

Nathalie met Marinette's pleading gaze and she hoped that Adrien had told something of her that the girl would trust her.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance." Nathalie said in a measured way. "Although I wish it could have been under more pleasant circumstances."

Bardot began to laugh. "Oh do lighten up Nathalie. What could be more joyous than a wedding? With my Queen by my side I will crush what is left of this fruitless little rebellion and DuPont will fall into obedience behind its new King."

"Never." Marinette snarled in defiance, turning to lock her angry eyes on him. "I will never be your Queen. I would rather die first. I have a husband and only he is the true heir of DuPont. Only he can unite our country and put an end to this war."

"Oh you dear, sweet, naive child. Your little Prince and his hopeless band of followers are walking straight into my trap. He will be dead by nightfall and you will be my wife. I will have everything I ever wanted. Untie her. This is no way to treat my fiancée."

The two soldiers united Marinette's bonds and she began to rub her aching wrists. Bardot suddenly grabbed Marinette's arm and anger flared in his eyes when he saw a rather large bruise on her upper arm.

"What is this?" He demanded, glaring at Bob Roth. "I said you were not to harm her."

"I wasn't trying too." Bob scoffed dismissively. "But she was being uncooperative and..." Whack!

The sound of Bardot's hand making contact with a shocked Bardot's face reverberated throughout the throne room. "I said there wasn't to be a mark on her. Your halfwit of a son almost had her incinerated and you blemish her skin with your brutish hands."

No one in the room was making eye contact with anyone, visibly confused at Bardot's unhinged behaviour.

Bardot ordered Roth out of his sight, the later almost vibrating with simmering anger and muttering "You'll be sorry." Under his breath.

"Take her Nathalie." Bardot sighed, rubbing his temples. "Get her ready for tonight. Make her into the beautiful Queen I deserve. And you... girl over there."

Juleka practically froze, pointing to herself.

"Yes, you... what's your name?"

"Um... Jules."

"Go get Lady Zoè and take her to Lady Sancour's chamber. My bride needs a Lady in Waiting and she would be more suitable to play the part."

There was something very underhanded in the way Bardot spoke. Now she knew why they were preparing the Great Hall. Bardot was planing on the Prince meeting his demise today and making Marinette his legal wife. Marrying the widow of the legitimate Prince, making Marinette a Princess of DuPont will in turn legitimise Bardot's own claim to the throne. It would be disastrous.

Juleka curtsied and quickly walked out of the throne room and followed Nathalie and Marinette up the staircase, the stoic exterior of the latter visibly starting to crumble.

"It will all be alright." Nathalie said, trying to comfort her. "You are among friends here. I hope you know that."

"Yes." Marinette said tearfully. "Adrien told me about you. You were close friends with his mother."

Juleka was about to approach Marinette and introduce herself when they heard a large boom outside. Marinette ran up the stairs and pushed open the glass doors that lead out onto one of the many palace balconies. In the distance they could see the smoke of cannon fire rising in the distance and the distinct sound of a military horn sounding the charge.

"He's here." Marinette exclaimed. "Adrien is here. He's come for me."

"We need to get to Master Fu." Nathalie said gravely. "If the Prince is going to have any chance, we have to release the full..." Nathalie then realised that Juleka was still standing there.

"I'm an ally and a Miraculous holder." She said quickly, holding out her hand with the panjas. Nathalie's eyes widened in recognition of the Tiger Miraculous. "My name is Juleka Couffaine."

"Couffaine." Marinette repeated in amazement. "Do you mean as in Captain Luka?"

"He is my brother. I couldn't continue to sit by and do nothing which is why I snuck into this palace. I'm here to help you. Let me go and get Zoè and Nathaniel and we will make a plan."