Midnight Tresses

Chapter 7

The next day Adrien could hardly wait for the afternoon to arrive and when it did come he got on his horse and made his way toward the woods. On his way there he saw a bush of gorgeous red roses, he chose the prettiest rose and cut it with his dagger then continued to the woods. When he reached the tower, he hid the horse where it couldn't be seen, then he called:

"Marinette! Let down your hair!"

Marinette was both upset and happy when she heard his voice. Perhaps if she didn't respond he would leave even though she really did like talking to him but she didn't want him to get hurt.

"Marinette if you don't let down that magnificent hair I will just stay here til you do!" He called.

Marinette sighed at his persistence then threw down her braid. Adrien held the rose in his mouth by gently biting down on the stem and climbed her hair as gently as possible just as he had done yesterday.

"Good afternoon my princess." He said entering her window. "You look as beautiful as I remember."

Marinette blushed.

"I brought you this." He said handing her the rose. "It was the prettiest one I could find but it hardly compares to your beauty."

"You're funny, tell me why do you come? It's dangerous."

"I live for danger princess."

"Well as long as you're here we might as well talk."

"Of course, what would you like to talk about?"

"Tell me about your kingdom and the people who live there, it's been so long since I last saw it and I've forgotten what it looked like."

So it was that every afternoon as soon as Anansi was gone Adrien would come, visit, and tell Marinette everything about the kingdom. He told her about the castle, about the kind and happy villagers, about his friend Nino, his father, Nathalie and all the other servants. Marinette listened to every word and she tried to picture his words in her mind. His visits made her very happy and Anansi noticed her unusual joy so to keep her from suspicion, Marinette told her it was because she had a new idea for a gown which technically wasn't a lie because she did. To seal the deal she asked Anansi to spin her red and pink fabric for the gown and when Anansi visited her she worked on it.

"Your kingdom sounds so wonderful." She said to Adrien one day. "I wish I could see it."

"Maybe you can."

"What do you mean?"

"Why don't you come visit my kingdom tomorrow afternoon."

"You mean leave? I've...I've never done that before and if I did how would I get down?"

"I'll bring a rope ladder."

"I don't know. Mother would never allow it."

"Then don't tell her. Leave in the afternoon and then come back at night. What your mother doesn't know can't hurt her right?"

"No but...To be honest I'm kind of afraid. It's been so long since I've been outside. Mother's always said that the world is a dangerous place."

"She's right the world can be very dangerous but also very beautiful and exciting. But you'll never know about the wonders of the world unless you explore it." Adrien said. "But I understand if you're not ready yet so I won't push but I'll still bring the ladder in case you change your mind."

"Marinette!" They heard Anansi call. "Let down your hair!"

"Oh no Mother!" Marinette gasped. "Hide."