Marinette didn't know what time it was when she began to stir. The lantern inside the wagon was almost burnt out and there wasn't a sound except for what was left of the fire crackling outside.

She didn't remember when she fell asleep. Chat had been restless for a long time, murmuring things she couldn't understand, and all she could do was stroke his hair and quietly sing to him. It broke her heart listening to him, lost in his nightmares, and she wished she could do more to help.

At first when she opened her eyes Marinette became aware of how stiff she felt from sleeping in the wagon on her back. She was also cold from losing her blanket. She then became aware of the hand that was holding onto hers. Sitting up a little, she could see Chat seemed to have been more peaceful than he had been earlier. Marinette touched his cheek with the back of her other hand and let out a sigh of relief. The fever had finally broken.

"Your hand is cold." Chat suddenly said, causing Marinette to jump.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't." Chat replied, giving her hand a light squeeze. "I've been awake for a while I think. Thank you for staying with me."

"You're welcome." Marinette said, wetting the face cloth and patting his forehead with it to freshen him up. "I'm just glad your fever has broken."

Chat lifted his hand and touched the bandage on his eyes. "Will I be able to see again?"

"The surgeon at the field hospital believed the burns were superficial enough to fully heal, but it will take time. Don't try to force it."

Chat nodded slowly. Getting up on his elbows, Marinette helped him to sit up. He grimaced at the movement of his leg. Marinette explained to him that the wound was healing, but his knee may not work the same as it used to.

"I believe I have you to thank for saving my leg." Chat said, looking for her hand. Marinette put her hand in his. "I remember your voice, telling the doctor you would stay with me. And you did."

Marinette placed her hand over his. "I did what I had to do. You don't have to thank me for that. Do you remember anything else from the last few days?" She asked him.

"A little." Chat said, turning his hand over to hold hers. "It's mostly just sounds... voices. Your voice mostly. It sounds so familiar and comforting."

He gave her hand another light squeeze and she was glad he couldn't see the way her cheeks flushed. Marinette reminded herself not to read too much into it though. Chat had just gone through a traumatic event and if her presence had in some way given him comfort, then that's what she would continue to do.

"I do have some questions if you don't mind answering them."

"Of course if I can."

"May I know the name of my guardian Angel?"

Oh the way this man made her heart skip a beat without even trying, it was hardly fair. "Marinette." She said softly. "My name is Marinette, but I'd hardly say I'm a guardian Angel."

"Well I think you are." Chat said, holding Marinette's hand between both of his. "I don't know how I can ever repay you for your kindness towards me, but thank you Marinette."

"You don't have to repay me." Marinette replied earnestly. "It was my duty to care for the hero of DuPont."

Chat asked her about his injuries and why they had to leave the field hospital. Marinette answered them as best as she could. Chat pursed his lips at the mention of XY.

"I have no doubts that the traitor mentioned in the documents is the one paying XY to look for me. Why I'm not sure though. Was he looking for Chat Noir or... someone else?"

"Mylène said they were looking for Chat Noir, but the Captain did say XY knew you, the real you."

"You could say that." Chat let out a long sigh mixed with a groan. "Xavier Yves had a lot of ambition, but didn't have the skill to match. I outschooled him in swordsmanship and he was completely outclassed by Luka as a SharpShooter. Xavier desperately wanted to be named Captain and he was angry that he missed out on the promotion. His jealousy was so bad he attacked Luka one night when he was out patrolling in the snow, leaving him for dead. If Nino and I hadn't been sneaking back from the tavern late that night, I'd hate to think what might have happened to him. Xavier was thrown out for misconduct after that, selling his services as a mercenary under the name XY."

Chat ran his fingers through his hair, noticing how much shorter it was. "Do I have you to thank for the new haircut?" He asked with a curious quirk of his lips.

Marinette wasn't sure if he was annoyed about it or not. "I'm so sorry." She blurted out in a panic. "But you were running a fever and I didn't have any more meadowsweet and I needed to get your temperature down and I didn't know how and you were so hot... I mean hot to the touch, not hot as in... oh god I meant touch as in touching your face, not in a creepy way... ugh." She cried, holding her head in her hands. "Why am I always so embarrassing?"

Chat let out a hearty laugh. He couldn't help it, her rambling was almost adorable and he wished so much that he knew what she looked like. "It's okay Marinette, I'm not upset about it. You did what you needed to do and I'm grateful. I mean it's only hair, it will grow back." His smile was still playing on his lips. "You know you really do sound so familiar. Are you sure we haven't met before?"

Marinette didn't know how to answer. She didn't want to lie to him, but she also didn't want him figuring out that she was the Ladybug he remembered from the masquerade. She was no longer that naive and innocent girl he had met that night. She was promised to another man now, and he to a princess. What good would it do either of them if he knew who she was now?

She was spared from answering when Luka climbed into the wagon. He had been walking the early morning patrol around the campsite and had heard the voices in the wagon.

"Chat, you're awake. Thank god." He exclaimed, hugging Chat tight. Marinette understood now why Luka had been so worried about him. Chat had saved his life and clearly Luka felt he owed him a debt for that.

"How are you feeling? I was so worried."

Chat never got a chance to answer when they heard the noise of an approaching horse break the silence outside. Luka drew his musket and carefully poked the muzzle out the corner of the wagon. Nino, who was also awake, grabbed his own musket and ran behind the wagon, crouching down and looking around the wheel. Ivan stood his ground with his arms folded in front of Mylène and Alya.

"Who goes there?" He called in a gruff voice into the pre-dawn light.

The hoof steps stopped and there was a beat of silence. "Good one Ivan, you're scaring the rabbits away."

"Alix?"

"Who else would it be, you big dummy? You were supposed to arrive yesterday so Fu sent me out to look for you."

Marinette crawled over to where Luka was and pulled the curtain back enough to see a short girl with pink hair jump down from a dapple horse and give Ivan a hug.

"Alix, it's good to see you." Mylène called, joining her husband. "It's alright everyone. Alix is a friend."

Marinette asked Chat if he would be alright for a moment and she let Luka help her now, joining Alya and Nino. Alix wasn't like any girl Marinette had met before. She wore pants, which was highly unusual, and carried herself with complete confidence with a musket slung over her shoulder and three dead rabbits hanging from her horse.

"Quite the party you're having here." Alix said, surveying all the strangers. "What's the occasion?"

"We have Chat Noir with us." Mylène said and Alix nodded with little surprise. "There are men looking for him but he is injured so we are taking him to Fu where he can recover in safety."

Alix rubbed her chin in contemplation. "Well, you better get a move on then. I just saw Bourgeois troops are closing in and the border has been cut off."

Luka and Nino gave each other a concerned look. Luka then addressed Alix. "Do you know how many troops?"

"At least a battalion from what I could see yesterday. Once they take the road, no one will be going anywhere without passes."

"Where can we get passes?"

"I can get you some, but it will take a few days and maybe not all at once. Large groups moving are considered highly suspicious, it's better to go alone or in pairs. I'll see what I can do for you. Don't worry, you'll be safe at Fu's place but I suggest you should get a move on before troops start marching through here. I'll take you."

The camp was quickly packed up and the campfire covered over to conceal where they had been. The ever growing group was once again moving on the road. Alya opted to ride on top of the wagon with Ivan and Mylène while Luka and Nino rode horseback with Alix trailing behind the wagon, leaving Marinette alone with Chat Noir.

Although Chat's fever had broken, he was still quite weak and the swaying of the wagon soon had him falling asleep again. Marinette watched over him as he slept, her heart betraying what her head said was impossible. The Prince had to marry Princess Kagami for the sake of the kingdom, she had heard as much for herself that night at the masquerade, and yet she couldn't help thinking what could have been if things had been different.

Still, she held his hand as he slept, her thumb rubbing over the ring he wore with the unusual cat paw print engraved on it. She wondered if the ring was a family heirloom like her ladybug earrings were. Subconsciously she touched her ears where she normally wore them. She had taken them off when she started working at the field hospital as she didn't want to draw attention to herself.

Leaving Chat for a moment, Marinette got out her luggage and found the hidden pocket with a small box containing the earrings. She tried to remember the stories her mother had told her, but as a child she was less interested in her mother's fairy tales than she was in her horse riding or in playing with Alya. Closing her eyes she tried to remember. Bonds of fate, jewels of great powers, Yin and Yang becoming one...Now she didn't have her mother to ask and somehow she felt it was important. Carefully she put the earrings back into their box and fastened them into her bag. Maybe Fei knew something, if she had the chance to ask her.

By the time Chat had woken up again, they were traveling through the forest that surrounded Fu's house. Marinette poked her head out of the wagon and could see that they were surrounded by a canopy of trees. The high sun flickered through the leaves and it somehow felt cooler than earlier. Winter was approaching, yet there was something almost unworldly in the air, something Marinette couldn't put a finger on.

"Where are we?" Chat asked sleepily, sitting himself up.

"In a forest." Marinette replied. "I think we are close to our destination. How are you feeling?"

"Surprisingly refreshed." Chat answered. "But a little cold."

Marinette got an extra blanket and wrapped it around Chat's shoulders. His shirt was torn along the seam of his arm and his pants leg was still shredded from where the surgeon had cut it open. If only she had fabric and thread!

A little way ahead the trees began to part to a clearing where a small cottage sat alongside a pond of ducks and a creek tricking nearby. It was quite picturesque and so peaceful. As they approached the cottage a peacock called and spread its vast feathers, strutting proudly and completely unbothered by the intrusion.

The front door opened and a short Chinese man in a red jacket with a beard greeted the visitors. "Welcome everyone." Fu said with a pleasant smile. "I am so pleased you have all made it to us safe and sound."

"Hey Master, I caught us some dinner." Alix said, handing over the rabbits. "Though Ivan here scared off the last one I was going to get."

"Master?" Marinette whispered as she came to stand next to Mylène.

"Wang Fu is very old and very wise. We call him Master out of respect." Mylène said. "Alix has lived here for several months now. He taught her everything she knows about hunting and making medicines."

Luka and Nino helped Chat Noir out of the wagon, draping an arm over each of their shoulders and holding him as he hobbled forward.

"Ah, this must be the great Chat Noir. I have heard many stories about you young man. O see that the meadowsweet I sent helped you. Come, I have a place ready for you."

Luka and Nino helped Chat through the door and Marinette followed. He sent the meadowsweet? She wondered to herself. But how could he possibly know she would need it?

The house seemed bigger on the inside. The kitchen was covered in pots and pans with something bubbling on the stove. All around were symbols and chats. Some Marinette recognised such as the Chinese Zodiac and the phases of the moon, others though she was less sure of or didn't recognise at all.

Fu led them to where they took Chat Noir into a small but tidy bedroom. Next to the main bed, there was a smaller bed also set up that Fu indicated to Marinette. "I have also prepared a place for you. I am sure as his nurse you will want to stay close by."

Marinette nodded with a grateful smile, placing her bag next to the bed.

Fu smiled with a contented countinance. "I'm afraid I don't have many rooms, but the rest of you are welcome to bunk down around the sitting room until Alix can arrange for you suitable documents. I have plenty of blankets and a fireplace to keep you comfortable. I do hope you will all join me for dinner tonight."

Luka and Nino thanked Fu for his hospitality and left to claim places in the other room. Fu then turned back to Marinette.

"If you need anything for Chat Noir, Lady Cheng, do not hesitate to ask."

Marinette looked at him in bewilderment before looking at an equally surprised Alya. Few people outside of her mother's family, or Alya, knew Cheng was even part of her name. Her grandfather always insisted she be known as Dupain only. "But... how did you know my name? Do I know you?"

"All in good time my dear, all in good time." Fu smiled cryptically. "There is much you do not know, but too much salt at once can ruin the broth. I will tell you more when you are ready to know it." With that, Fu took his leave.

"Isn't it supposed to be too many cooks ruin the broth?" Alya asked with folded arms, but Marinette didn't hear her. She slunk down onto the small bed, her mind reeling.

"I don't understand." She said in a low voice. "How did he know who I was...and the meadowsweet? How did he know to send it?"

"I don't know." Alya said, equally confused. "Do you think he's some kind of spy?"

"No, not a spy... something else." Marinette pondered. "If anything he just seems like a kind old medicine man."

"Sure." Alya said with concern. "A kind old man who knew you were a Cheng and to send an obscure herb that helps with a fever."

"Marinette." Chat suddenly called out in a panic. "Marinette, are you still here?"

"I'm here Chat." She said, rushing over to him and holding his outstretched hand. "Is your knee hurting? Do you need more laudanum?"

"No, I just... I just don't want to be alone. Can you stay with me?"

Marinette looked over to Alya and the latter indicated she would go, slipping out of the room.

"Of course I'll stay with you Kitty."

Chat chuckled. "Kitty? Where did that come from?"

Marinette's face flushed. She hadn't meant to say that out loud. "Well...um... Chat Noir is a bit of a mouthful to say all the time. I mean Kitty seems simpler don't you think?" She flubbed hoping to  play it off as more of a joke. "If you don't mind of course. I wouldn't want to offend you."

"I don't mind." Chat smiled, clearly amused. "As long as it's only you saying it. If Luka or Nino start calling me Kitty, I'm going to hunt them down, even if I can't see where they are."

~~~~~

King Gabriel drummed his fingers on his desk over the paper that made up his agreement with Queen Tsurugi. They had decided that Adrien should marry Kagami before his 21st birthday, an event that was rapidly approaching. Now not only was Kagami already at the palace to prepare for her nuptials, but Adrien picked this as the right time to completely drop off the map. It was frustrating to say the least.

"How is Princess Kagami?"

"Tired from her long journey." Nathalie replied. "Lord Barbot arranged for his niece Lady Lila to be her lady in waiting. It seemed appropriate since she didn't bring one of her own and Lila is around the Princess's age, so I approved."

Gabriel hummed in acknowledgment before standing up and walking over to the large windows that overlooked the lake. "Did I do the right thing with making this agreement, Nathalie?"

His assistant looked up from her writing bureau and slid her glass back up the bridge of her nose. "If you are asking if Emilie would have approved, I think you already know the answer to that, but we needed an alliance with a strong partner." Nathalie said matter of fact. "Of course Adrien was never going to like it, but you are doing what you believe is best for the Kingdom. Unless you wanted to take up the Bourgeois offer and have Adrien marry Lady Chloé."

Gabriel huffed, clasping his hands behind his back. "That was never an option." He said, in irritation. "And Audrey knew that perfectly well. She was taunting me to reveal some well kept truths that I have zero plans to ever see the light of day, war or not."

Nathalie looked at him curiously. She rarely had seen him get his back up so defensively. Nathalie had worked for Gabriel ever since his marriage to Emilie, and apart from the brief time she had traveled with Emilie to her father's funeral soon after their marriage, she had been forever in his direct service. The only thing that ever seemed to have made Gabriel clam up was mentioning the Bourgeois. She had the feeling there was more to that story than she knew about, but now clearly was not the time to ask.

"They believe they have a claim to the kingdom. It's convoluted I'll grant you, but I guess there must be some legitimacy to it. Perhaps it might have been a prudent compromise to spare the grief of war on the people."

"That had nothing to do with it". Gabriel huffed. "There is no claim, only some old border issues that have no credibility. I've had it thoroughly investigated with the best people in the business. No Nathalie, this war has no true basis except pettiness and can only end in the surrender of the House of Bourgeois. My alliance with Tsurugi will see to that and once Kagami produces a male heir, the Bourgeois claims will have no grounds left. Only a legitimate male heir can inherit, which thankfully Lady Chloé is not."

A knock came to the study door and Nathalie opened it to find a contemptuous Félix on the other side.

"The Duke of Fathom is here to see you." She said, opening the door for Felix to enter.

"Félix." Gabriel said dryly, clasping his hands behind his back. "What brings you here?"

"You know exactly why I'm here. Give me back my family's estate."

"That is not going to happen." Gabriel replied in his usual monotone. "The De Vanily estate belongs to the Duke of De Vanily, which is Adrien. Whether you like the fact or not, Adrien's mother was born 10 minutes before yours was which makes her the older sister and therefore the estate and title are his now. This is why you live here with me until you come of age."

Félix curled his hands into fists at his sides. "And then what? Adrien is already the Prince of DuPont, he doesn't need a Dukedom as well. All I got from my father is a pile of debts hidden by a title. Mother had to sell the Fathom estate to clear those debts and now I have nothing left. The De Vanily estate was my home, it's where I grew up with my mother. Adrien won't ever live there because he has to stay here to become King. Why are you keeping it from me? You are robbing me of any standing in society and relegating me to nothing more than one of your servants in this prison."

"Your father gambling away his fortune is not my problem Félix, and I only allowed Amelie to live at De Vanily for what was her natural life. None of us expected her to die so young. As tragic as that is, however, as the cousin of the future king I couldn't very well allow you to fall into the poor house which is why you live here with me. Now I'm sure I can find some respectable maiden of standing somewhere for you in time, but for now it's Adrien's marriage I am concerned about. Princess Kagami arrived this morning and I do not want you interfering in something that does not concern you. Stay well away from her Félix, do you understand me?"

Félix glared back at Gabriel. "I have no interest in your chess game with the Bourgeois and Tsurugi, and I have even less interest in your precious princess. I do however care about how this affects Adrien and him being used as a pawn to make alliances and produce heirs. You are making all these arrangements but you don't even know where he is, do you?"

Gabriel gave Félix an incredulous look. "I have every reason to believe you are the one that encouraged him. You filled his head with ideas and helped him sneak away."

"I didn't need to encourage him. Leaving was completely his own idea. I just helped him out."

Gabriel looked down his nose, over his glasses. "Well Lord Barbot has already organised men to bring Adrien home. He intends to enlist the help of Chat Noir to find him."

Félix scoffed. "I would hardly put my faith into someone who hides behind a mask. I hear he's even been seen wearing cat ears."

Gabriel gritted his teeth. "Nevertheless, I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before they find where Adrien is hiding. In the meantime, try and not scare the Princess away with that temper of yours. I say again, it is best that you stay away from her. This alliance means everything to this Kingdom and I'm sure you don't want to jeopardise your cousin's future."

Félix gave Gabriel one last glare before turning on his heel and leaving the room, slamming the door behind him. Deep inside him he had nothing but despise for his uncle. When his mother died, all Félix wanted to do was just stay where he was in England and live his life as he chose, instead Gabriel came in, took it all from him on the premise of looking after Félix and then gave the lot to his cousin.

When Félix arrived at the palace two years ago he told Gabriel exactly what he thought of him, disregarding the room full of people at his superficial masquerade. He'd drunk enough that he  might have even hit him had Adrien not intervened when he did.

Later, Adrien confided to him his father's plans for marriage to Kagami, a marriage he didn't want. When war broke out, Félix helped Adrien sneak out of the palace to join his friends on the war front and completely delight in just how enraged Gabriel was about it. In a way Félix was proud of Adrien taking off like he did. The boy had finally grown a backbone, and Félix made sure everyone knew that the brave Prince of DuPont had gone to serve his people at the front so Gabriel couldn't force him back.

Still, there was a level of resentment there. Félix was a year older than Adrien, but felt like he was being treated like his younger brother because Adrien was the heir. Félix didn't really blame Adrien, afterall it wasn't like he asked for any of this, but he had never stood up to his father before either.

Absorbed  in his own thoughts, Félix stopped at one of the windows and looked out over the gardens. Below he saw the figure of a woman he had never seen before with dark hair in a blue dress and a wide hat. She sat down on a bench, a book and a pencil in her hand, taking in the last of the day's warmth from the sun. He assumed she must have been Princess Kagami.

"So how did your meeting go?" He heard a familiar voice behind him. Turning, he found Lila approaching him.

"About as well as I thought it would. I told you there was no use in asking again. He's too pig headed to budge at all and seems hell bent on keeping me from being my own person. I mean it's not like I'm in line for his throne or something. I just want what should be rightfully mine." He balled up his fist. "I hate him. I hate him more than anyone."

Lila reached out and took his fist between her hands. "You have every right to feel angry. Gabriel has treated you wrongly. Even that Princess has more rights than you do."

Félix then gave a small chuckle. "By the way, I hear you're the new babysitter for the Princess, or should I say Princess-sitter."

Lila rolled her eyes at him. "I guess it could be worse. When Uncle Théo said he had a job for me, I thought it was going to be something more exciting."

"Exciting? In this place? I think you had your hopes up."

Lila smirked, walking her fingers along his arm. "You're plenty exciting enough. I could always come with you when you go back to England."

Félix looked away from her over to where the Princess was still sitting. "I'm not going anywhere until I get my family home back. I don't care what I have to do. Gabriel can't keep my birthright from me just because Adrien is his heir. I will find a way, I swear."

Lila slid her arm around his back. "I understand how hard it has been for you. I've been there too. I lost my birthright as well until Uncle Théo brought me here as a little girl and took me in." She looked up at him through her eyelashes, her olive eyes intently looking up into his emerald ones. "You know, I'm always here for you, Félix, anyway that I can be. "

"Yes I just bet you would." Félix said warily. "Still, you're pretty much the only friend I have here since Adrien took off."

Lila smiled at him coyly. "Just a friend, Félix? I thought I might be worth a little more to you than that?"

Félix curled his finger under her chin, looking her face over. "You know in the wrong hands you could be very dangerous Lila. But tell me, what's the Princess like?"

Lila looked down at Kagami and shrugged a little. "Cagey I guess. She's not exactly the friendly type. I hear her mother pretty much kept her locked up in the palace until she bundled her off here. Rumour has it her mother was annoyed she wasn't born a boy and had her trained in Fencing, riding, archery... trying to toughen her up. Hardly bride material if you ask me. Why? What are you thinking?"

"Nothing in particular yet. Just wondering. She doesn't sound at all like someone Adrien would want to marry."

Lila raised her eyebrow with a smirk. "Then maybe you should go talk to her."

Félix gave her an amused side eye. "Uncle Gabriel said I should stay away from her. He seems worried that I'll scare her away."

"And now wouldn't that be a shame?"

Félix looked back at her. She folded her arms and raised an amused eyebrow at him. "And what would happen to dear Uncle Gabriel if his precious alliance with Tsurugi fell through because Kagami left or maybe, fell in love with someone else who broke her heart."

Félix's emerald eyes flashed with mischief. "I'm listening."

"What if I told you that there is someone else who could be King. Someone who would gladly help you get your birthright returned to you."

Félix was skeptical. He knew he wasn't in line for the throne of DuPont, but if something happened to Gabriel and Adrien, he really had no idea what would happen after that.

"And who would that be?"

"I can't say just yet. But plans are in place and I can promise you, even Gabriel won't be able to deny it. In fact, he will sign everything over without question."

"I don't care about Gabriel." Félix snarled with disdain. "But I don't want anything happening to Adrien. He's nothing like his father and doesn't deserve what's happening to him."

Lila reached up and cupped his cheek. "Nothing will happen to Adrien, I give you my word. Then you can be with who you chose and not someone that your Uncle chooses for you."

Félix looked back out the window at the demure Kagami. It wouldn't be that hard to make someone so cut off from the world fall in love with him and then send her packing back to her mother, the deal with Gabriel well and truly off. With Gabriel in disgrace, Félix could finally get what he wanted.

"If I don't know who this next Kong is, then how can I be sure they will keep up their end of the bargain?"

Lila raised up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek, lingering just slightly longer than was necessary. "Félix, we've known each other most of our lives. Don't you trust me?"

"No, not really." He said, tapping her on the nose. "But let's do it anyway."

Looking back out the window they saw Kagami stand up and walk back towards the palace.

"So aren't you going to go talk to her?"

"Not yet." Félix said, watching her as she disappeared. "Give me a few days to observe her first, then I'll make a move."