#choosing fate

[boldlyanxious]

Choosing Fate

Part 1

Masterlist

“We have found her.”

The guard said nothing else but he and another brought in a girl with her hands bound. It appeared as if she had been struggling but she had given up. He couldn’t see her face because it was covered by her hood. Whether she had preferred to keep it up or if the guards had pulled it over her face to keep her from being able to attempt escape, he didn’t know. He pulled the hood down and he was not disappointed by her defiant scowl but he was angered that her face was marked with a cut on one cheek.

The guards had already been wordlessly dismissed and he didn’t bother to call them back. They could be called to account for their actions at any time. He turned to face her. Her hair was loose and wild. He suspected that was because of the struggle to find her. He had seen pictures and heard descriptions but once the word got out that he was searching for her she had run. She likely had help and all those who had helped hide her from him would be dealt with. He tilted her face up to his, holding her chin in his hand. She tried to pull away but he tightened his grip. Her blue eyes glinted with malice.

“You are Marinette?” he asked. “The daughter of the bakers from Anat.”

She didn’t look away from him. Her eyes bored into him but she refused to answer. He barely moved, just a slight gesture, but the guard on the wall reacted. There had been a child approaching with a pitcher. The pitcher fell with a shattering sound as the guard lifted him and drew his sword. There was barely a sound that came from the child after the initial surprise. That showed her that he meant business. They called him the Demon and she had heard that he was ruthless. She tore her eyes away from the child and looked back at the demon’s face before making a decision.

“I am.”

Her voice was surly but she had given him the information he needed. He still had to be absolutely certain.

“You were born when the algol star was dim on a night without a moon?”

She glanced back at the child again. The guard didn’t even reaffirm the threat. He just waited for the signal so she spoke before it was given.

“I was.”

“How lucky for you. We are to be married.”

—

No one reacted to her protests. They had to have heard her but the only thing that happened was the guard put the child down and instead took her down a hallway and locked her in a cell. It was cozy for a cell but even though the bed was soft, the window was high and narrow and the door was locked from the outside. She could hear occasional noises from elsewhere in the fortress but even though she could look out the small barred window on the door and see a guard stationed nearby, there was no sound in this hallway.

The days dragged on. She had no clue what was happening outside the fortress. She had pieced together that she had been brought to Nanda Parbat, the home of a man only known as the demon. Her village lived in the shadow of the fortress but they had always lived in harmony. She was certain that there were agreements made with the mayor to make the peace possible but she had never considered what they might be. She was unnoticed by most, living out her ordinary life until she learned someone was searching for her.

Usually she only left the cell for meal times and a daily walk with the demon. She started every morning with a bath in the cell and maids would bring her fresh robes that were ornately sewn with intricate patterns. They would do her hair and pin it in place before he arrived to walk her to breakfast. Over breakfast he would casually talk about the state of his domain or the political relations with the villages nearby, including her own. Initially she refused to eat, sitting stoically until he was finished but if she were given the opportunity to escape she would need to keep up her strength.

After breakfast they would stroll through the gardens. She had remained silent as he gave an account of his life until one day he took her to a new area and began showing her his animals. The first were peacocks because he thought they she would find them fascinating. She had and that was when she spoke. But only about the animals, at first. As time dragged on she spoke more and opened up a bit, hoping to eventually convince him to let her go.

She didn't know what he did after breakfast but she had a rotating cast of young girls who came to clean or play games with her. Their names were foreign sounding to her and it has taken her awhile to learn them all and tell them apart. But the routine was comforting and at least she often had company.

She didn't know when the supposed marriage would take place. It hadn't been mentioned since the first week. She used to be under guard every time she was out of the cell and there was always one stationed. Everything had been relaxed since then and they had developed a routine. She still missed her life outside but she was growing used to it here. She didn’t even mind the company of the demon. He was not kind or warm but it was more that he was reserved and hid his true feelings much of the time. She wondered whether that came from his position or if that had developed under his upbringing.

—

Damian didn’t think she had noticed his distraction. She had a distraction of her own in the form of the kitten he had brought her. The guards gave daily reports and one of them had said she seemed listless after her young visitors left in the afternoon. Some days he was able to make it back to her to visit in the afternoon or evening but not always. He didn’t want her to be lonely. She had recently been given access to books and writing and drawing supplies but a kitten would be someone she could love. He was altering the course of her entire life for his own purpose and he thought the least he could do was make sure she was happy here.

Upon first meeting the kitten, she told him how it reminded her of a kitten one of her friends had given her. Her eyes lit up as she talked about Adrien and how his father had found out he was keeping the kitten and made him get rid of it. She didn’t talk about him the way she did the rest of her friends. He would need to find out more about him. He couldn’t have any potential rivals. They were nearing the time of the wedding and it would not do for her to hope someone might prevent their union. So he found Adrien and invited him for a visit. His father certainly wielded influence, especially in Anat, where Marinette’s family was from but Damian had more power and would crush them if there was opposition.

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Choosing Fate

Part 7 (part 6)

masterlist

She was planning to spend the day with Damian because she had finished the outfit she had been working on. Not only that, she had made one for her to coordinate. She felt so brazen, feeling proud of how good it looked. But it was truly breath-taking. She wrapped it carefully, using the extra cloth to tie it as a hint to what he would find inside. Her excitement was making her jittery. She had to work hard to quiet her steps in order to surprise him.

She was far into the labyrinth of stone carvings, nearly as far as the place where they had attempted the ritual when she found him. She saw him first, laying back against a smooth stone while looking over his research materials. He was facing away from her, but she had gotten to know him well enough that she could picture the look of concentration on his face.

She thought he must have heard her because he put the materials aside. But he didn’t look back at her. She followed the direction of his gaze and saw that he was looking at her. Before them was her likeness, cast in stone. He had carefully carved every detail of her to appear just as life-like as the one of his father. Suddenly, she understood what he was researching without her, and she felt sick.

She covered her mouth to muffle her gasp as she ran through the gardens back to the fortress as quickly as possible. She knew there was no possibility of escape from Nanda Parbat, but she had to get out. She found her guard and told him she needed to go to the market. He didn’t show any surprise, just nodded and turned to prepare for departure.

—

Damian thought he heard something while he was researching. He would have preferred looking it over with Marinette. Her fresh perspective always gave him something new to think about. She was busy working on her sewing so he wandered outside and ended up in front of the statue of her. He had finally finished it and he was pleased with how it turned out. He was still trying to find the right time to show it to her.

He walked around to the path and didn’t see anything that would have made a noise. He found a scrap of fabric that he was fairly certain matched the fabric of Marinette’s current sewing project. He suspected her kitten had gotten out again and had been playing with a scrap of fabric. He checked the nearby bushes and didn’t see him.

He looked around and made a clicking noise, trying to find him. He wandered around for a few minutes and then returned to the statue to collect his research materials. He would have to find something to entice the cat. He entered the fortress and the guards were shouting. He saw the kitten running to hide from the commotion as he rushed in to find out what was going on.

—

Marinette walked through the market as if she had purpose. She hadn’t decided what the purpose was yet. She was having a hard time maintaining appearances with those who approached her to tell her about their wares or even their children. The children were a nice distraction, they always had questions and looked at her with awe. She didn’t feel like she could blame them, she had felt the same way as a child when she had seen people wearing clothing like her own. Thinking of that now, it could very well have been Damian’s parents she had seen. Long before fate had struck them in order to reach her.

They were nearing the end of the market. She would have to decide what her plan was, the guards did seem distracted now, so it might be the only opportunity she could ever have for escape. But even if she did escape, where could she go? She would never be able to see her parents again. They were benefiting greatly from her position and that would change if she managed to escape or even if she attempted and failed. Instead she walked forward to one of her favorite stalls. It had provided several of the embellishments that she had used for Damian’s robes. It was a clear choice for where she had to go suddenly after having decided to remain in the fortress earlier in the day.

She picked up a few of the offerings out on the table before the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. She looked around her swiftly, as there was some sort of commotion in the market area. Her guards started shoving people back and the crowd seemed agitated. With a push they broke through the line and moved past. Marinette was knocked down in the bustle. A small hand pulled her robes and she turned to follow a child and hide under a table. Several others were there and someone passed down a jug which she drank from gratefully.

She climbed out as she heard the guard call for her. Whatever had energized the crowd had moved past and what was left standing in the market was all that remained along with a few other stragglers starting to peek out.

The guard grabbed her and moved her along, directly to the fortress. Normally they would trail around and see the sights but he wasn’t even giving her, or even the rest of the guards a chance to keep up with him. When she stumbled, he scooped her up and kept moving at an even faster pace. Her heart was racing and she didn’t even know why. It felt like she was absorbing his agitation.

He didn’t stop when they got within the fortress walls. He carried her into the heart of the fortress and up the stairs to a tower she had never been to.

“Remain here,” was all he said before he put her down and left.

She expected to calm down when she was alone for a while but that didn’t happen. Not knowing was getting to her. She could feel her skin heating and she started sweating. She sat on the dais and used a pillow to fan herself. That wasn’t doing it. She pushed herself back up and paced back and forth around the small space.

The additional movement wasn’t helping the heat. It must be trapped this high up in the tower. She listened but she couldn’t hear anything from where she was. There was no food or water here. She checked all the rooms, but they weren’t stocked with anything. Several of the small rooms were covered with dust.

It was becoming too much so she ignored what the guard had told her. Perhaps she just wasn’t used to being alone after the last year of having someone always with her. The heat was so overpowering she was beginning to feel faint and sick to her stomach. Before she could change her mind she rushed down the stairs. It was a poor decision. She moved quickly down the flights of spiral stairs. She was just past halfway down when she was suddenly dizzy. Not just a little dizzy. As soon as she noticed the feeling and stopped, the feeling overpowered her. Her eyes blurred and she sat down right where she was. Her vision swirled and she held her head.

She barely had the forethought to lean to her left so when she collapsed she wouldn’t tumble over the side of the stairs.

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[boldlyanxious]

Choosing Fate

Final (part 7)

masterlist

She looked so small and helpless when they brought her in.

Her chest barely rose and fell but he couldn’t think of that now. He sent the guards out and the maids started undressing her as soon as their backs were turned. He looked away as they put her in the cool water for the sake of her modesty.

Riders were being sent with all haste to every medic in the surrounding villages who had any experience with poisoning.

“To her parents as well?” her lead guard had asked.

Damian nodded. He didn’t like to think of the reason for sending for them. The thought that she might never wake cut deep. He had stolen her life and could be the reason for her death. There was no reason anyone would want to hurt her. She was innocent of everything. But he had many enemies. Any of them could have gone through her in order to hurt him.

He was surprised at how much it did hurt him to think of, not just because of his regret over stealing her life, but he had come enjoy being around her more than any other person.

“Mix the fahm nabati into water and bring it quickly,” he commanded to a maid.

The maids bathing her had wrapped a sheet around her and he was grateful. He didn’t wish to expose her to every guard and medic who would arrive. Time was of the essence. He sat by her head and dampened a cloth to cool her head and neck. The water was warming quickly from the heat pouring off her body. When it no longer felt cooler than her, he lifted her from the water and onto his lap.

Her eyes opened and focused on him briefly. There was the barest trace of a smile before her eyes looked panicked. She moved around wildly and he tipped her forward. She heaved and made a strangled noise.

He pulled another cool cloth from a bucket and used it to cool her face. He was relieved when the maid he sent rushed back in with a pitcher. He poured the mixed fahm nabati into a small bowl and put it up to her lips. She attempted to drink but then pitched backwards, spilling it down both of them. He poured more in and held her head still.

“Drink for me Marinette,” he said, “It should help.”

She made a face but got some down. It wasn’t as much as he hoped but she was fading out of consciousness again. He motioned to the maid. She reached down to take Marinette from him.

“Clean her up and dry her off. Dress her in loose clothing,” he commanded.

He then went to his own chambers.

“Fresh linens on the bed quickly,” he said. “And then bring a bucket of cool water and clean cloths.”

They all worked quickly and as soon as the bedding was fresh, Marinette was brought to his bed. If any of them questioned her being brought to his bed instead of her own, they didn’t say it. They worked to help her as quickly as they could. He piled pillows under her and used a damp cloth to blot her brow.

It was not very long until he was notified that her parents had been brought.

“Send them right in,” Damian said. “Get them anything they request.”

Tom and Sabine looked nervously around as they were brought into his personal chambers but as soon as they saw their daughter they rushed forward, forgetting the awkwardness.

“What happened?” Sabine asked. “They didn’t tell us why we were brought here.”

“There was a disturbance in the market today. She was only separated from the guards for a few minutes, but we believe she was poisoned.”

“Who would do such a thing?” Tom said.

“It was surely someone with a grudge against me. Your daughter is beloved by all the people. I’ve heard of many who travel to the market just to see her or speak to her.” He went quiet for a moment. “I’ve done all I know how to do to help her. I have sent for every healer I know. I’m afraid now we must all wait and see what happens.”

They all turned as Marinette stirred, “m-am-an” she groaned, before closing her eyes again.

Sabine made a choked sound and bit her lip. Rather than crying, she took a fresh cloth and took over for Damian.

Damian stood and left, hoping he could find someone to punish for Marinette’s suffering.

—

Damian turned at a small cry.

The kitten he had gotten for Marinette was getting bigger but sounded so mournful. He probably was missing her. He had complete faith that the maids had been feeding the animal but they probably avoided letting him into Damian’s room. He scooped up the cat and carried him to his bed. He didn’t even make it all the way over there before the animal had spotted Marinette lying there and vaulted away.

He curled up right next to her before Damian had taken the few steps to be by her side. She shifted in her sleep and her hand moved up in an attempt to pet him, but lay still against his fur. She had not awakened for more than a few minutes at a time and never when Damian was by her side. Her parents had told her what was happening and he merely hoped that they didn’t tell her to blame him.

He blamed himself but he didn’t want her to look at him with accusation in her eyes when he finally saw them again. The healers believed that the danger was passed by now, as long as she eventually awoke for more than a brief moment.

There was a rich soup kept hot by her side for whomever was in the room to push on her when she woke and fresh water and linens to keep her cool and clean. Damian adjusted her covers and wiped her brow again. Then, he sat holding her hand and petting the kitten, wishing for her to open her eyes.

—

Marinette was surprised that her parents were by her side when she woke up. She was trying to ignore the kitten playing with her feet but eventually the movement pulled her from her slumber. It was her Papa that was there playing with the kitten and she was not in her own bed but in Damian’s. She pushed herself up quickly and immediately regretted it.

“Not so fast,” her Maman cautioned.

With a little help, they sat her up in the bed and helped her reach the soup. She felt fairly drained but also restless. Her parents were trying to talk her out of getting up and moving around so quickly when Damian entered.

“She will be okay with me,” he stated, holding out his arm for her. “If she is suddenly too tired, I will assist her.”

Marinette smiled brightly at that. She didn’t remember being in the room too long, but she could definitely feel it in her body. Her mother stopped her to help her change into fresh robes and that did wonders for her. Then, Damian led her directly to the garden.

“You have been very unwell and I was greatly concerned,” Damian said as he turned to her.

“I’m sure it would be hard to explain what happened to me. That might damage your position,” Marinette looked down when she spoke. She didn’t want to see the understanding in his eyes.

“I was not worried about myself for even a second, except for wondering what I would ever do without you,” Marinette sucked in her breath as he took hold of her chin and tilted it up. She could feel his breath on her lips as he whispered, “don't hold your breath. My heart might stop if you ever stop breathing again. “

She tried to take a shaky breath, but as his lips gently brushed against hers she couldn't form the thought to keep breathing. Her foot moved on its own to push her forward into his arms and her eyes closed. It wasn't just her weakness from the sickness that had her clinging to him.

His arms held her up as he trailed his kissed from her mouth down to her neck. She pulled him back up until their mouths met, as if his breath could help her catch hers. She had never felt like this before. She wondered if she had been poisoned again, but instead of feeling weak and detached she felt every part of her body and every part of his as if they were one.

He lifted her and carried her with him. His hand was buried in her hair and she doubted he could see where they were going and more than he could. He must have known where he was going though because a moment later he sat down and held her against his chest.

When they pulled away for air, both of them were breathing heavily. She could feel the heat in her cheeks on realizing that she was straddling his lap. He was sitting on the bench in front of the bat statue they had failed to reanimate one year ago this night.

She knew that there was no way that the demon star would be peaking exactly a year to the day. So he hadn't brought her here for a second attempt. One look in his eyes and she knew what he was thinking.

His pupils were larger than ever but soft as he gazed at her, unashamed. The only light was from the moon and reflected in their eyes. He leaned closer to her and kissed her softly once again. She knew that she felt the same, but when he whispered it, her mouth went dry.

“Marinette, I love you. I never thought I would, or even could. I stole you for my own purpose and I will always regret the life you will not have. But here, now in this moment, I love you and promise to treasure you from this day until my last day.”

Marinette put her hand on his cheek and leaned down to initiate a kiss. When she pulled back, just far enough to speak, she responded, “Do not regret for my sake. I was terrified when we met, but you have done no wrong to me. I love you too. From this day until my last day, I am yours and you are mine.”

She leaned down and kissed him again. They would have and could have stayed in each other's arms for hours, but they were interrupted.

There was a loud sound of an explosion, sparks flew nearby, and a cloud of dust covered them. Damian covered them with his cloak. Then, when the dust cleared, a man stood there.

He was tall, as tall as Damian and with the same dark hair. He looked around at them, seemed to come to a realization and then collapsed.

“Father!” Damian shouted as he rushed over.

He helped him up and they all walked back to the fortress together. They didn't think about why or how in this moment, but when they told the story to their children and their children's children, they would explain that their love had broken the spell.

when darkness meets the light

the demon star shines bright

a lucky inclination

as midnight calls

unbind the gorgons curse

[boldlyanxious]

Choosing Fate

Part 2 (prev)

Masterlist

It was later than usual today. She had been up and dressed and eventually someone brought her a tray to break her fast. She didn’t expect to be told why there was a change in the routine. Whenever she asked anything Damian didn’t want to talk about, he just didn’t respond. That always led to her not responding either so on those days their walks would be surly and short. Instead of coming for her himself as he had done the past few weeks, she was brought out by a guard. Nothing could have prepared her for what she found when she arrived. The table was set for luncheon. Damian was on the other side of the room talking with someone. It wasn’t until he turned towards her that she recognized the other man.

Adrien.

She had been in love with him for years. Not that it mattered. There was no way that his father would allow him to become connected with someone like her. She had heard the man scold his son for spending time with her. But he always came back. He was kind to her. He would bring her things he thought she would like and take the time to talk with her even knowing his father would be frustrated by it.

She had been enamored with him from the moment they met. She had been pushed into the mud by some bigger kids who were listening to Chloe. Her parents were rich, her father was the mayor, and she was snotty. She loved to go around picking on everyone else, frequently that was Marinette. She thought Adrien was there with them to laugh at her but he stayed when they left and helped her up. He wrapped his cloak around her and helped her home. She had never returned it to him, to this day it might be in a trunk at her parents’ home where she left it.

“Ah, here she is,” Damian said, gesturing towards her, “Marinette, my bride to be.”

Adrien coughed and took a drink but then he smiled. It was the smile he reserved for only her. When he was truly happy, not the face he showed his father when he gave him an opportunity for improvement. She broke a little inside thinking that he might be truly happy about her marrying another.

“Congratulations,” he said. “I hadn’t heard. You must tell me when this is to occur so we can send a gift to help you celebrate this joyous occasion.”

Damian reached out for her and she continued walking towards them. She pushed her breath out slowly to keep her face neutral. It was inevitable that if Damian were married everyone would hear about it. It was just how it was done so everyone could pay their respects. But when she was all alone in the cell and dreamed of escape, she remembered all the fantastical stories that she had read. True love would save her from her fate and in her dreams, Adrien would find a way to help her escape and they would be married. His father would be pleased and her parents would be there with her.

None of that could show on her face now. She was completely at his mercy and she didn’t want to anger him. Especially now that she knew that every word she had told him was a clue for how he could control her. Then he provided the timing and it made everything feel so much more desperate.

“The wedding is in a fortnight at dusk. I expect your invitation will be delivered before you arrive home.”

—

Marinette had gone silent with him. It was disappointing because he felt like they had been making progress before then. Now she didn’t react to his presence at all and only responded when he demanded it. He took her to see the statue in the garden. It was the first one there and the reason the gardens had been put there in the first place. He knew she had never been out this way. No one but him was allowed beyond the outer wall he had built around it.

“You are unhappy,” he said.

She glared at him. He gestured at the statue before them. It was the furthest away from the compound. A man with the wings of a bat. He appeared to be screaming, his hands raised to his shoulders with fingers spread and forming a claw shape.

“All the other statues around here, I carved myself as they pleased me. It takes a lot of skill to find the art in the uncut stone. I can see what it is before I ever chisel anything away.”

She looked away from the statue to look at him but still didn’t speak.

“This one was not carved from stone. He was a man with a hood like a bat and he was cursed by being turned to stone.”

“Very believable. Did he sell you some beans that grew a tree that would take you to a magical land?”

He looked at her and his surprise at her response was momentarily clear on his face. She had broken her silence. He suspected she knew what he was getting at.

“I think you know what happened, but I don’t think you know that it is reversible.”

She watched him but maintained her silence once again.

“You have doubts, but I know this all to be true because I saw it happen,” she had been looking down, avoiding him and the statue but she looked back up at him. “The man was my father and he was cursed by a monster.”

“Medusa wasn’t a monster and Perseus wasn’t a hero,” she defended. “She wasn’t all that different from me.”

“You mean she was also a Ladybug?”

She looked away suddenly, unable to meet his eyes.

“I don’t know what you mean by that. What I know is that she was wronged by men and then beheaded for trying to protect herself.”

He walked up to her and put his hand on her cheek, turning her to face him. He rarely touched her except for having his arm out when they took walks. Recently she had been refusing to take it.

“You were born at the right day and time. You know the story, even if you refuse to acknowledge it. The ability is within you and you will help me reverse the curse.”

He turned and walked away from her, not even leading her back to her cell.

(next)

[boldlyanxious]

Choosing Fate

Part 4 (part 3)

Masterlist

Damian was certain that he had all the elements in place. He had been working non-stop since he discovered it was possible to reverse the curse. He glanced down at Marinette, she was looking at the binding still tying their arms, sealing their fates together. He allowed her a moment to come to terms with her new life. Because of his station, the marriage had been public so there was no way to take back everything that had happened. That they were now bound for life had not been her choice. He could only do his best to ensure that she had the best life possible given the circumstances.

She looked up at him with wide eyes. He was struck by how beautiful she was. She should have been able to find someone to love and have children with but because of the timing of her birth, fate had chosen them to be bound. He reached for her hand and led her away. The time was approaching, and they would need to be in place. She was quiet as she followed along. Initially, he thought she was just too shy to speak much but he had learned that her quiet was because she was nervous or upset. At this moment, it was likely both emotions competing, but she followed along with him. He had allowed her no other options.

He led her back to the statue. He had left it hours earlier after making sure it was set up how they needed it. It was covered with moon flowers and cistus. The moon flowers had not fully opened yet which was good. He left their arms bound but he moved around to light the candles and she followed along as well as she was able. He had to climb on the bench in front of the statue for the last few he lit. He reached up with his free arm but still his other arm stretched out to where he was tethered to her. She was pulling back on it until he felt the weight release.

He looked down and realized that what had happened was she climbed up with him to take the pressure off. He stepped off the bench and it pulled at her. She was so close to him. He reached forward and lifted her down, watching her the entire time. It was time to explain to her what he was expecting tonight. He pulled out the small teapot and prepared the single cup. He motioned for her to sit and he sat at the same time.

“The binding stays on through the night,” he said. “It is almost time.”

“I understand,” she turned her head down and didn't continue meeting his eyes.

“The timing will be precise. I will need you to do as instructed even if you don't understand the reasons.”

“Will I survive it?” she asked.

Damian turned back to her, suddenly. He knew she was apprehensive but he hadn’t considered that she thought she might be sacrificed.

“The story you told of Perseus was true. But he took Medusa’s head and found it was still able to curse others. He chose to do this to those who spoke out against his deeds, like my father.”

She nodded along and he busied himself with making the tea as he continued explaining.

“It is the binding and the changing star that we are utilizing. You will not be harmed,” he cupped her cheek to have her meet his eyes. “You are my wife and from now on, you should fear nothing, including me.”

She watched him as he poured the hot liquid. He looked up and the moon flowers were fully in bloom and the moon was at its peak. The bright star would be shining in a moment.

“Drink this and then I will drink from the same cup.”

She took the cup and inhaled the peony scent before sipping carefully. When she had drunk half, she passed it back to him and he drank it as well.

“Now I’m going to kiss you.”

—

Marinette was trying to calm herself. It took everything in her not to push away and run. With them bound together that would not be successful anyway. She had worked herself up worrying about everything that might happen. The only conclusion that she had been able to come to was that she was to be used as a sacrifice. It didn’t completely make sense because then why would he have bothered marrying her and binding them together publicly.

The tea helped calm her. It was fragrant and warm. Here with him in the quiet, it was actually nice. The binding was awkward and would make for an uncomfortable night but nothing so far worried her. Until he said he would kiss her. It made sense. They had married. But since she had thought he would sacrifice her, she hadn’t thought about any of the other obligations of marriage.

“What?” she asked, bewildered.

He moved slowly forward. She froze in place as he moved closer. His hand cupped her cheek again and their lips met. The sky brightened with the star right over where they sat. She slid her eyes closed as he tilted his head to the side to get a better angle. She tentatively moved her lips against his, matching the softness of his touch. He moved away slowly and she struggled to keep her breaths even. Watching his green eyes when they opened, she wondered if he had felt something when they kissed. Perhaps it was to do with the ritual they were performing.

She couldn’t think much about anything since their hand fast binding was still on. She didn’t know how to read him and he didn’t speak. He went about doing all the things that were needed and she chose not to break the silence. She took the flat bread and fruit he offered and when he moved to lay down on a pallet ready near the statue, she laid next to him. She found she couldn’t sleep. Her mind was racing but she was frozen beside him as his breaths came steadily. She could almost see the light of dawn when she managed to sleep.

She was fairly certain that she woke immediately after. But he was sitting up gently brushing hair back from her face. He stopped as soon as she opened her eyes and she wondered what he had been planning. He had promised that she was safe, but she looked at the statue still standing over them unchanged. He seemed to believe that they were completing a ritual to bring it to life. She thought that seemed ridiculous but she could do little else but comply with his wishes. He had a sour look when he saw it was still there, casting its shadow over where they had slept.

He focused on their arms and removing them from the binding without undoing the knot. It was bad luck for the knot to be undone. She wondered if the knot undoing would mean they were not bound. He could have easily cut through it with the dagger he kept on him and that would have cut through the knot. But instead he pulled it tight against his own arm and carefully removed hers. He didn’t speak. She wished it had worked. He was clearly disappointed, and he likely thought it was her fault.

She wondered what he had heard to make him believe the curse could be lifted. She had been watching him remove the binding so closely but still she didn’t realize when he had finished. She looked up when his hand brushed her hair away from her face. He pulled it back almost immediately as if he had not expected to reach out to her. Her face froze in a silent gasp and he continued to watch her. A bird screeched overhead and they both moved again. He collected the items they had and she walked beside him back to the fortress.

Now her forever home.

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[boldlyanxious]

Choosing Fate

Part 5 (part 4)

Masterlist

When they got back to the fortress, Damian allowed the maids to attend to his wife. He was in a foul mood at the failure and he didn’t want to scare her. He would have to go back over everything he had found out about the curse in order to find a way to make it work. He had spent the past few years doing little but finding out every bit of information he could about it. He had thought choosing one who was born when the demon star wasn’t bright would be the way.

He knew his grandfather had been very happy when he was born at the brightest moment of the star’s cycle. He and his mother had both been born when it was bright just like his grandfather. His father had been selected based on the same criteria. It had not been a great match initially but eventually his parents had come to love each other. That had led to his father being cursed when he went off to save his wife. She hadn’t been saved and Damian was left alone to find a way to recover his father.

He wondered whether love could happen like that again. He had never considered what would happen to his bride after the ritual. Everything he was doing was to break the curse; his future beyond that had never been a consideration. It had been clear when she was telling stories that she was in love with another. There was no evidence that this affection was returned but still, hearing it had made Damian feel something unpleasant. He was protective over what was his and he hadn’t wanted anything to interfere with the ritual. Perhaps it would have been better if it had since it had ultimately failed.

He changed and made himself presentable before rejoining Marinette for breakfast. He would focus on his research later. She had been accommodating to all of his demands but he hoped she would like the surprise he had arranged for breakfast. He was still nursing his disappointment that his father was not joining them. He took a moment to try clearing his head so he could present himself as a groom. He knew people feared him and that was never a concern, but he didn’t wish for Marinette to live in fear.

—

Marinette was led to a new room for her morning bath. Many of the things that had been in her cell had been moved here. It was ornately decorated and had large windows with a balcony covered with flowers. There was clothing hanging to one side and a mirror and a vanity with a variety of bottles. But there were no clothes that looked like they might be for Damian. It was a relief that the rooms and beds appeared separate.

The maid helped her dress. It was a very fine dress, nearly as fancy as her wedding gown. The beads were sewn into a trailing pattern all over and her hair was pinned up with coordinating jewels placed around that made her look like a princess. When she was ushered out to the sitting room she saw Damian waiting for her. His clothing was a perfect match to hers and he held out his arm to lead her to breakfast.

They walked without speaking towards the dining area. She was taking an extra step for every two of his to keep his pace. He didn’t smile and she tried not to think about what that meant. He didn’t usually smile but his mouth was set firm. She worried what might happen now. He had promised that she was safe but that was when he thought they had married for a purpose. Now that the ritual had failed, she wasn’t sure if that would hold true.

Perhaps it was as she had always believed and there would be no way to break the curse, but he didn’t seem prepared to give up. Other things that he might try could put her at risk whether by a sacrifice or by needing to find a different wife to be the catalyst. In her own mind,  she still knew that if sacrificing her was the cost to get his father back, Damian would pay it without hesitation. No matter his claims of her safety. 

There were whispered voices echoing when they approached the dining room and Marinette was overjoyed to see her parents there. They had brought a selection of pastries from the bakery but she ignored the food to rush over and hug them. Their smiles were a bit forced and she wondered what they had heard about the marriage. It would have to be whatever rumors were spread and their official invitation, assuming they were invited and not just hauled in to witness it. She certainly had not been able to tell them anything.

They knew she had been running away, and then it was announced that she would be married to the Demon. But still they did not see her until the wedding and even then, they did not get close to her. That is not how weddings were typically done. Her family should have been involved in the planning and helped her get ready for her day. They were at the wedding, but the guards had not let them close to her.

“Maman, Papa. I’m so happy you are here,” she said as they all hugged.

Her husband stood back, watching the reunion. His face didn’t look angry but that is only because Marinette had gotten to know him some. Her parents tensed and her father gripped at the back of her dress and looked around. Her mother stepped in front of her as if guarding. She could tell that they wanted to take her and run. They were worried about what would happen to her but she knew that even though the guards stood still without even looking their way, they would do anything to stop her from being taken and she would prevent any intervention to protect them.

She moved forward and reached for her husband to introduce him before they all sat down to eat. It was awkward and stilted. Her parents were clearly nervous for her and none of them felt like they could speak freely. She barely ate as she was trying to keep the conversation going. It was a struggle to maintain anything as her days had been very limited. Her parents felt like she was a prisoner facing death at any moment and it had definitely felt that way for most of her time here. Even now, she had a worry in the pit of her stomach that she wasn’t fully safe.

After they ate, they all went for a walk outside the fortress before sending her parents off. They didn't venture close to the statue that remained. As far as Marinette could tell,  no one ever went there without Damian. He guarded it very closely. There were plenty of gardens around with sweet smelling flowers and decorative bushes. The paths wound all around the fortress like a maze with short stone walls, fountains, and many other beautiful life-like looking statues of animals. Marinette knew that Damian had expertly carved every one of them, but he did not mention it or speak much at all while they walked.

Far too soon for her tastes, they were sending her parents on their way. As good as it had felt to see them, it barely felt like she had because they had not been able to speak freely. Their smiles were tense and she was feeling worn out from forcing her smile and conversation. Damian walked off as soon as the carriage pulled away but Marinette watched it disappear into the distance, wishing she could have gone with them.

She waited until she could barely hear his footsteps before wiping the tears from her cheeks. She hadn’t wanted him to see her crying. For now it was important to maintain her stoic resolve in front of him. If only she could go back to her simple little life in Anat, things could be much simpler. She was dressed finely and had access to everything she could ever need, but the walls around the fortress felt very real. They prevented her from returning to her simple life.

—

Damian was not sure what to do with his new wife now that his plan had failed. He could not send her back home because he was now responsible for her. He wanted her to be happy and have a life but he would always shadow over her. He had responsibilities and a notable station. That had left him with enemies. Allowing her to go back to her parents or any part of her life in Anat would open both of them to unknown danger.

He did everything he could to provide anything she showed interest in. Her parents visited regularly and she had access to fabric and painting supplies. She seemed to enjoy visiting the kingdom and would speak to all the people in the markets. She spent hours there every week and on days she didn’t go, she would ride into the countryside and paint. There was quite a collection of them growing.

On days with poorer weather or when the guards had other responsibilities, she would remain in the palace. She was an accomplished seamstress for her station before arriving, but she had been making progress learning how to sew the more intricate patterns and finer cloths that would suit their stations. He enjoyed hearing her sing or hum along while she sewed or focused on the beading. He could hear it outside through the open window near where he was working on his newest stone creation.

He had captured her beauty. He hadn’t decided how to have her hands or robes. So it stood out as a bust from the stone. Typically he could just see how it would look as he carved, but he really wanted to get this right. The issue was the eyes. Her eyes should be warm, soft, and full of happiness. That was the look he wished to capture but they looked as they had when they sent her parents away after their breakfast. Her eyes liquid with unshed tears and full of heartbreak. He couldn’t leave her that way forever, cast in stone.

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[boldlyanxious]

Choosing Fate

Part 3 (prev)

Masterlist

She was counting down the days with dread. They no longer allowed her out for meals. She was in her cell at all times with visits from only the young girls. The Demon had not been back since he left her in the garden. She had wandered around for hours and never found an exit from the gardens. Eventually the guards found her when she got closer to the house and led her back to the cell. Tomorrow was the day that he had told Adrien they were to be married. She had no idea what to expect. She lay awake listening to the sounds within the fortress dreading the morning.

She woke to discover that she had eventually fallen asleep when the women came with her bath. The process took longer today. There were scented oils added to the water and her hair was intricately arranged with a highly decorated hair piece that matched the gown they brought in. They kept trying to get her to eat but she just felt sick.

Everything in her life that had seemed too bad to manage, she had survived somehow but she didn’t know how to live with this. Once they were wed, the only way out was by one of their lives ending.

She suspected it would be hers.

Probably before nightfall, he was called the Demon for a reason. He was ruthless and always got what he wanted, no matter the cost. Now, what he wanted was her, but it was clear he had a specific reason. She had entertained the thought that there might be more to his desire for her since he had been spending time with her initially. But that ended as soon as he learned what he wanted: that no one else spoke for her.

Her life would end as soon as he got whatever it was that caused him to search for her in the first place. She would no longer be of any use to him after. Her life had actually ended as soon as he began searching for her. Every decision had been taken from her since that moment.

She thought back to her first night here. He had been so formidable, but then, after she had been put into the cell, he had come to her. He did not speak or make any explanation. He had merely gotten to work taking care of the cut on her cheek. He cleaned it carefully and covered it with a salve. His fingers had a far lighter touch than she could have ever predicted. Her wrists had been left bound until then and he had cut the binding and put the salve on her wrists as well. The skin had bruised around it, but it barely stung when he cleaned it and covered it with a cloth. She stayed still as he worked and they both remained silent.

She was pulled out of her thoughts as all of the little girls who had been visiting came to see her. She was still in a robe over the garments that were to go under the gown that had been brought in. The dresses of the girls matched it and they had flowers woven into their hair. They were all so excited that it was infectious. She tried to eat with them since they were encouraging her. But she still felt queasy at the thought of what the day would bring.

Her trepidation aside, the time still moved quickly. The girls were ushered out to walk ahead of her dropping petals that she would follow to her fate. It was time for her to put on the gown. The weight of it pressing on her like all of the thoughts running through her head.

A few weeks ago, the prospect of marriage had excited her. She did wish to marry. But she had thought that the process would go much differently for her. She expected a man who would be sweet and kind. Her parents would be there the whole time and help her prepare. Now, the guests were happily chatting as she prepared for her bridal execution. Her happiness was not guaranteed from being married; neither was her life.

She breathed deeply to keep the tears from falling. She could not show any emotion; the risk was too great. There were people waiting and watching as she approached. She could not focus on the crowd so she focused on putting one foot in front of the other until she stood directly in front of the Demon.

His face was emotionless as the one she presented. His attire was just as fine as her gown, dark black with emerald green accents. His back was fiercely straight making it feel even more formal. The priest stepped forward and began speaking. She looked around at those gathered while he spoke, the words passing right through her. She nearly jumped when the man repeated words to her.

“Your hand,” he commanded tersely.

She glanced back to see Damian’s hand out on a green cord the priest held. She lifted her hand but hesitated before placing it on his. This was her final moment to stop this. His eyes caught her uncertainty and he glanced away. She followed his gaze and saw the girls in their fine dresses all standing in a row.

Behind each of them was a guard at the ready, with a hand resting on a sword at their waists. Tears pricked her eyes again when she looked at the crowd to see what she assumed were their families there. They were nervously watching their own child and praying that she would accept her fate so their own child would be safe.

Her hand shook as she lifted it the rest of the way and placed it on his. The bindings were moved over it as the priest said the words to bind them together. She struggled to breathe. The gown felt even heavier, and she thought she would have collapsed if it were not for his arm beneath hers. After the pronouncement was made, they remained there as one by one those in attendance came to offer praise and fealty to them.

She saw her parents there in the crowd, as they were being led out. It was the only way she even knew they were alive. The mayor from Anat was there and he and his daughter bowed low before them. She could see Chloe’s eyes burn with hatred at that. Gabriel was next with Adrien beside him. He offered her a genuine smile. She nodded as she had with every other guest that had approached. They didn't seem to need her to speak, which was just as well. She wasn't sure her voice would add anything here.

The room had emptied.

It hadn’t quite sunk in yet that it was done. She wanted it all to be a bad dream, but she couldn’t wake herself up. He still didn't look at her or speak to her. With the symbolic binding still on their arms, she followed along with him as he walked away from the altar in silence.

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[boldlyanxious]

Choosing Fate

Part 6 (part 5)

masterlist

Damian had told her that it was good for morale for her to be seen about in the markets and towns surrounding Nanda Parbat regularly. That was very nice to hear, like she was making a difference. At first she had just started going to have something to do during the day. Damian was always busy. She didn’t want to just sit around waiting for him. She didn’t like to walk around the fortress gardens at first. It made her panic when she got close to the statue of the bat man.

She felt very odd about buying things at first. It wasn’t until she went back to the same stall several times to see the same item that the guards just bought it for her. They were clearly telling Damian all about her time out, whether for her safety or to make sure she had no escape, she wasn’t sure. But he had told her she was free to buy anything that pleased her from the markets. He had given her a limit but it was far more than she could ever consider spending.

At first, it was just the guards buying the things she liked. But as it became clear that they would buy anything she looked at too long, she started making the purchases herself to limit it. The various items were initially just for her to use during her free time. Paints and cloth, and all the accompanying items that she would use with them. She devoted a lot of her time to her creative interests. It kept her happy and Damian seemed to like to look at the things she made.

It wasn’t until she had a pile of things with nothing to go with it that she thought she might just be buying things for the sake of buying them. She paused her spending spree until the day that she found the cloth. It was perfect. Heavy and dark green with a gold sheen to it. It was the most expensive material she had ever bought. Still, she bought it all. As soon as she saw it, she knew what everything was for. She would just need to talk to Damian about getting his measurements.

He was still very reserved but they spoke every day. She had even started sitting in on days when people came to Nanda Parbat to make pleas to him or have him settle disputes. This was for things that were too great to be handled by the governors or magistrates of the towns or for things involving disputes between towns. She mostly just listened at first but she started telling him in private ways she might have approached it differently.

It was a surprise to her that he valued her input. He explained that she had insight that he did not as she was raised in different conditions. It was fine for him to hear about the conditions others lived in but until she started telling stories from growing up in Anat, he had no way to visualize it. His own upbringing was vastly different and even though his father had not been raised within the fortress as he had been, he had still been part of an influential family in his own town of Gotham. Power and wealth were had by both.

Marinette’s family was not poor, but also not wealthy. They had enough or the ability to have their needs met most of the time. It sometimes required careful planning and any sort of emergency would put them back. There were those who would seek to take what they had in order to better themselves. Marinette hadn’t known it at the time, but there were others who had sought to marry her. There had been attempts to make things difficult for the business in order to make the offers more appealing. Her parents took care of it the best way they knew how in order for her to find a match that would make her happy rather than increase their own station.

—

It was a quiet evening for them. They tended to end up in the same room at some point, but Marinette had stayed in her rooms. She seemed jumpy at dinner, but she stayed quiet. He wondered if she was just restless after several days of heavy rain. She really enjoyed getting out of the fortress, but it was difficult to manage with so much rain. It was unlikely that many people would be out in the markets. Those who had to leave their dwellings would move quickly with their heads turned down in order to keep the rain off their faces.

He looked over as she entered the room. The light of the fire before him cast a glow on her. The wavering shadows added to the uncertainty on her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Instead, she shook her head and turned away. He was up in an instant to follow her.

He did not know what could possibly be bothering her this much, but he would set it right. She seemed content with her life after their rocky start and he would keep it that way. No one would do anything to cause her harm. He trusted all the guards and servants that they had around, but it would not be unheard of for other people to be in areas of the fortress where she might venture. He could even be wrong about his trust in people. He valued those who worked for him and tried to know them well and be sure to meet their needs. Doing so would ensure that others would be unable to offer them any price to betray him.

Perhaps someone had found a crack where he felt safe.

Marinette startled violently when he spoke behind her. He had said her name softly, but he never ventured into her space without her permission. But with her behaving as she was, it was more important for him to get to the bottom of what had happened over respecting her space.

“Marinette, what troubles you,” he said softly.

“OH!” she gasped loudly. “It’s nothing. I don’t need anything; I don’t want to bother you.”

He walked over to her as she turned away, he turned her chin and spoke sternly to her, “Tell me. I will not allow you to be mistreated. I understand you may hesitate to speak up, but I will not allow anyone to scorn you.”

Her eyes went big, and looked suddenly very wet as he spoke to her. He relaxed his grip on her chin and cupped her cheek. His thumb gently brushed away an errant tear she hadn’t managed to stop from falling. She bit her lip and her eyelids fluttered up and down to bat away the tears attempting to fall.

He pulled her against his chest and held her there, but she used a hand to push him back. She stepped away and made a sound like she was going to speak, but she was wringing her hands. He grasped her hands and led her to the settee and motioned for her to sit. He still held her hands gently as he waited for her to tell him what was bothering her.

“I swear nothing is wrong and no one has hurt me,” she took a deep breath and continued sheepishly, “I found this amazing fabric and I want to make you robes, if that is okay, but I would need to measure you. If you want. I don’t have to.”

Her eyes turned down again and she nervously tugged at her hands but he held them fast. He moved his head down until their eyes could meet and then she looked back up at him.

“I would love for you to make something for me. It would be my most treasured possession.”

He stood and pulled her to her feet. She took another deep breath and then retrieved the supplies she needed in order to get accurate measurements.

The barrier between them seemed to dwindle after that evening. He would take her hand instead of offering his arm for their walks and they didn’t avoid contact as they had before. A few weeks later they began to sit next to each other frequently in the evenings rather than in their separate chairs. It was not infrequent that Marinette would fall asleep leaning against him, with the cat curled up on her lap, until he carried her to her own bed.

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