DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything in association with "A Little White Horse" or "Secret of Moonacre". No copyright infringement intended.
I closed my eyes as a lone tear broke from my eye onto my cheek. I wiped it awak with a flick of my finger. My governess, Ms Heliotrope, gave me a tiny pat on the shoulder. Although light, it felt like a million tons.
"We lay to rest Colonel George Herbert Merryweather... Ashes to ashes..." the priest said.
I sniffed, inaudible to anyone else but my tiny two-year-old sister, Annabelle, who hugged my leg. "Dust to dust..." the priest continued.
I gently scooped up my sister and carried her in my arms.
"Maria, let me take her..." Ms Heliotrope whispered.
I shook my head no. She nodded and turned back to the tombstone, and looked down at the black polished surface of the coffin in the dark ground. I dropped a red rose in the hole, and felt my heart sink as it landed with a thud. Annabelle buried her face in my neck and I felt hot tears trickling down my body. "Papa," she said. "...You also taketh away, Eliza Jane Merryweather." the priest said.
I looked beside my father`s tombstone and stared at the aging cement of my mother`s and walked over to it. My mother`s coffin, instead of being underground, it stayed above the ground. I gently lay my other rose on it. I turned my head, feeling eyes boring into me. A man, or boy, was looking at me. His eyes were sharp under a black bowler hat. A red band was covering some of the rest of his face. He was leaning against a column, just staring at me, as if wanting to strike at me. I walked back to where Ms Heliotrope was standing, and turned back to the columns. He was gone.
I walked with Ms Heliotrope and Annabelle to the lawyer`s office. I quickly straightened my dress.
The lawyer welcomed us in and gestured for us to sit. I gingerly put Annabelle on my lap. After reading the will, he looked at us from under his reading glasses. "This being the last will and testament of Colonel George Herbert Merryweather of London." he said, setting the paper down.
"He...he... lost it all?" Ms Heliotrope stammered.
"Hmmm." he nodded.
"Including the house?" she added bitterly.
"No..." I interjected. "No, Papa can`t have been in London... Why, he wrote to me and said he was coming home, he wouldn`t arrive, and not..." My voice cracked as my eyes filled with tears.
"Ahh, well." the lawyer continued. He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a large looking leather-bound book. "Your father did leaveyou this book..." he handed it to me. I quickly, but carefully, gave Annabelle to Ms Heliotrope and claimed the book. "...as your inheritance," he continued. I slowly read the faded golden inscription.
"'The Ancient Chronicles Of Moonacre Valley'?" I whispered to myself.
I sat on my bed in my London home. Ms Heliotrope went and sat with me after setting Annabelle to bed. "I know it is hard..." she started quietly. "But, you know, I`m sure... Your father did... did love you... he just um... And... and.. you know, everybody does have to go out on their own at some point in their... lives..." she stammered.
"Miss Heliotrope, I`m fine!" I said before I could stop myself. She looked at me questioningly, yet frightened at my harsh tone. "Really." I lowered my voice to a softer tone.
"Yes..." she whispered. She stood up and went out the door. Before closing it, she nodded, shivering and shut it completely. I wanted to go and apologize, but I decided I`ve had enough stress for one day. I reached for the book Papa left to me and opened it gently.
"Once upon a perfect time," I read. "Many hundreds of years ago, when the old magic still clung to Moonacre Valley, there was a young woman whose skin gleamed as pale as the stars, and whose heart was as pure as the moonlight. Such was her bravery and goodness she was beloved by nature as if she were its own daughter."
An illustration showed a beautiful woman in a black dress, walking down the shore. I could`ve sworn it moved. "One fateful night, the moon blessed her with an extraordinary gift that would change the magic of the valley forever!" I continued. "The Moon Pearls."
I continued on reading.
"From that day forth, she was known as the Moon Princess. Two ancient families lived in harmony at the edge of the valley, sharing nature`s bounty."
"Daughter to the De Noir clan, the Mooon Princess was deeply in love and was to be married to Sir Wrolf Merryweather. Her father, Sir William De Noir, blessed the union by presenting the couple with a rare black lion. In turn, Sir Wrolf gave his bride a unicorn, lured from the wild, white horses of the sea. Her heart overflowing with happiness, the Moon Princess revealed the magical power to both families."
"Legend told of their unique powers. So strong the pearls would grant every wish, both good and evil." Another illustration showed the Moon Princess' beautiful face, and yet, somehow angry. I closed the book in a hurry and got ready for bed.
I hope I`m ready for this, I told myself.
