Thorns of Roses

Chapter 21 - Symphony In The Rain

That night darkness and sorrow possessed Paris. Gloomy clouds covered the stars in the sky, a cold but powerful wind blew across the streets, raining sounds echoed through the roads.

Drip-drop. Drip-drop.

The cobblestone sidewalks got filled with puddles within a short time. People started running to their homes or anywhere else where they could hide from the thunderstorm, and waited for this merciless weather to end.

Sometimes, blinding lights brightened the whole city followed by thunder - making it sound like earthquakes.

The streets were empty, lifeless. There was no one on the roads, even animals hid under the roofs. Everyone wanted to be protected by the storm.

Everyone.

Except for one person.

Quiet splashes sounded as she made her way to go back home. Her shoes were completely soaked by now, so she didn't even bother to avoid the puddles anymore, she just tapped through them. Her dress was covered by mud, its vibrant colors became dark when the rain reached them. Even her cape couldn't protect her from the cold anymore. Like a heavy shield, it was weighing down on her shoulders. Her watered hair stuck on her cheeks, covering her wet face completely. But it wasn't wet because of the rain..

But because of her tears.

Marinette had sat by the tower for at least an hour when Tikki finally could convince her to go back to the Palace. It was a hard task to talk some sense into her, to make her realize that this self-torture behavior was no use to anyone and that she should go home before she catch a cold.

Marinette nodded - reassuring her kwami that she understood and slowly started to walk back without saying a word to her.

Tikki had never seen her owner like this before. It made her distressed. Tikki - knowing the princess too well - could easily imagine the possibilities that Marinette would have done something careless to herself if she was alone. It was Tikki's responsibility to make sure her heartbroken owner got back home safely.

Tikki knew she had to be patient and understanding with Marinette. She knew Mari did all of this to make sure her position on the throne. But.. It felt so unfair. The kwami knew if Sabine wasn't gone, she would have never let this happen with her daughter.

But now, Marinette was alone. She was standing in front of her father's orders and the wrongful laws without any help or support. Still, she had always been smart and motivated enough to fulfill all of her father's wishes and be complied with his expectations of her. No matter how hard decisions she had had to make for them. Just like now.

Tikki was proud of her. Despite her young age and romantic, sometimes childish heart, Marinette was a responsible young woman who was able to make decisions for her people's interest by avoiding what her heart was saying to her.

She watched as Mari wiped her face with her hands for the hundredth time - to make her vision clear from crying.

Suddenly - by a heavy, thunder - the rain started to fall even harder than before. It was like the wind itself came to life - making the trees bowing, their branches cracking, and almost all of their leaves started to fall to the ground.

"Marinette, let's hurry! This storm is becoming worse and you're already soaked wet!" Tikki said concerned.

Wrapping her drenched cape around her, Mari nodded and started running in the Palace's direction.

It didn't take much time when she spotted the Palace lights. Just crossing some streets and she would be there.

However, the moment she turned right in the corner, her drenched shoes flipped in the puddles - making her fall to the ground.