All For Love

Chapter 17

A/N Finally, here is the next chapter for you all. Thank you for your patience 💜

Bob Roth slid off his horse and readjusted his belt as he strode confidently up to the house. Drawing out his long sword he raised the butt of it up to the door and banged so heavily against it Adrien almost feared the roof might cave in.

"Don't make this more difficult than it has to be." Roth bellowed out. "We know you are in there Agreste. The new King wants the girl alive, so just come on out and let's get this over with."

Adrien and Alix looked at each other, both trying to think of a plan. Getting impatient, Roth banged on the door again.

"You hear me Agreste?" Roth called out.

"I hear you." Adrien called back reluctantly. "What guarantees are you going to give me that you won't kill us?"

"None." Came the abrupt response. "Bardot wants the girl, you not so much, just the ring on your finger to add to his collection of royal jewels. Besides, your cousin killed my son so watching you die would give me great pleasure."

"Your cousin?" Alix queried with concern.

Adrien shook his head. "Félix didn't know XY very well. If he killed him, I'm sure he had his reasons. Knowing XY I could believe that."

The house shook violently once again as Roth banged on the door. "I'm not going to wait all day, Agreste! If you don't open this door I'll light a fire under your arse and smoke you out."

Alix screwed up her nose. "What is it with men and wanting to light fires!"

Adrien looked back over at his sleeping wife, the noise not having roused her at all. "I'll have to go out there and stall him."

"You can't do that! What if it's a trap?" Alix said, grabbing his arm.

"We're already in a trap." Adrien pointed out. "We need to surrender or fight, either way we can't stay here and wait for them to burn us out."

Taking out his rapier, Adrien could feel his heart slamming against his chest. Roth wasn't a General for no reason and was rightly feared by many of the soldiers. He had a reputation for ruthlessness, but Adrien had made up his mind. He would defend his wife with his last breath if he had to.

"Alix, watch over Marinette." He said, taking a deep breath and preparing himself.

"Maybe you should transform first?" She suggested. Plagg poked his head out and agreed but Adrien shook his head.

"I don't think Roth knows I'm Chat Noir, and I can't risk outing myself to him, or compromising Marinette. You should transform though. They wouldn't know about you."

Alix called on Fluff and transformed into Bunnyx. Adrien was somewhat surprised to find Alix's weapon of choice was an umbrella. "Don't say anything Catboy." She warned, holding up a finger to him. "At least I don't purr in my sleep."

Adrien gave her a somewhat amused grin. "I was just going to compliment you on your lovely fluffy tail."

Alix narrowed her eyes at him before he turned and opened the door, coming face to face with his new nemesis. Adrien was fairly tall, but Roth's girth seemed to have filled the entire doorway. Roth smirked when he saw the Prince. "Good choice, your highness." Roth said contemptuously, giving an exaggerated bow. "Now hand over your weapon and that ring and come quietly."

"Why does Barbot want my ring?" Adrien asked, hoping to stall Roth from entering.

"How the hell should I know?" Roth scoffed. "The ring is passed on to the heir apparent, right? I guess he figured it makes his accession to the throne more legitimate. Either way I don't particularly care. Now just hurry up and hand the wench over."