Three Little Words.
Three little words was all it took too watch my world crumble and the walls I had broken down be rebuilt. Three stupid heart breaking words.
I am sixteen years of age for crying out loud, I should in no way what so ever be feeling heart ache, especially when my heart is breaking over my best friend. It has been two years since I saved Moonacre Valley, with Robin De Noir, from its dreadfull curse. Two Years since I realised I was the new Moon Princess too the Valley. A lot had happened in those two years, I assure you.
Uncle and Loveday finally married. It was a beautiful reception too, held in the Merriweather manor gardens. A few short months later Miss Hellitrobe married Digweed, Moonacre Valley's finest cook and grounds man of Merriweather Manor. Loveday had reunited with her Father, Monsieur De Noir and Brother Robin, which leads me to my situation. The Situation which has me seated in the De Noir Castle Dining hall with the De Noir clan, minus Robin, Loveday, Uncle and myself.
I can hear silverwear against plates and the tinking of glass against glass followed by a small toast's of approval. Everything around me is oblivious. The conversations, the soft chatter between my Uncle and Loveday, Monsieur De Noir's over power voice echoing around the hall. I feel like i'm in another dimension. The only sound I am hearing is the soft thumping of my heart beat, which is rapidly increasing every second while a lump slowly forms in my throat.
I honestly don't know how I feel. Shocked, I know I feel shocked. Yet I can't quit grasp my other feelings. Loveday is talking animatedly beside me, I can hear her asking me questions and all I can manage is a simple nod. I am not even sure what she is talking about, everything around me seems black and soundless. I put my fingers to my throat just too check if my pulse is still there.
thump, thump, thump.
I can feel it, but barely. Is this what it feels like to be heartbroken. To feel cold, when seated directly behind a fire place. To feel alone when surrounded by a large room of people. If this is what heart ache felt like I never would of got myself caught up with Robin after I saved the Valley. I would of walked away and never befriended him after that day. If I knew what I knew know I wouldn't of even talked to him or asked for his assistance, I would of let the Valley plunge into the ocean.
No. I a stupid fourteen year old niave girl at the time had to befriend the bird boy with the feathers around his neck. I had to spend each waking moment travelling along side of him in the Forest, letting him show me different parts of the Valley. I had to invite him to my fifteenth and sixteenth birthday parties for the sake of him being so genuine. Why couldn't I just of ignored him? Sure his Sister was my Uncle's wife but why did I so foolishly have to be his friend. Yet most importantly, each day I spent with the bird boy I started to like him as more than just friends, until eventually i fell in love.
I can't explain how I feel, not properly anyway. Great. I can feel the tears welling in my eyes now, the tears I was so desperately trying to push away and not let seep through my newly built wall. I turn to Loveday who has that fire in her eyes that expresses her deepest sympathy for me. Reaching across the table she places her hand over mine. I pull my hand away. I knew it was rude to decline her offer to console me, due to she may be the only one in the room noticing I am on the Brink of tears, yet I don't want Sympathy. All I want to do is turn and leave this place before Robin comes and confirms my aching heart. Sending it the deepest part of hell he can find. All I want to do is curl up in a ball. Three Little Words, brought me, Maria Merriweather, Saviour of Moonacre Valley, to her knee's as a crumbled heap on the floor. I was not sure how long my brave face would last but I hoped it held well enough until I got home.
Loveday is starring at me with concern. I know all she wants to do is scoop me up and hug me in her arms. I will not let her. Even after I do leave here tonight after our meal, I shall go to my room and cry. Unwilling to let anyone see me in such a state I might starve, resulting in my skin dispatching from my body until I am no longer. I can just picture Misses Hellitrobe banging on my door expecting me to let her in. I will ignore her like I always do when I get a little upset of my own Mother and Father no longer being with us, in times of great need or Celebrations. The only difference, I figure, with My Parents and Robin, is he is still with us to share these greats things, his heart still beats and his legs still carry him a far distance. My Parents I assume would hover over me, watching my every move.
I was too engorged in my own thoughs to realise that the Doors to the hall had opened and the loud boisturus noise I had been shutting out was silenced all by its self.
breath Maria, breath.
Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. That's what I kept telling myself anyway. I waited a little while, trying to find what Courage was possilby still left somewhere inside of my shacking body to turn around and face him. The boy who had shattered my still half beating heart. Taken a deep breath I crained my neck to the door and the brave face I had found crumbled upon seeing the boy I loved.
Robin De Noir, stood hunched over, panting heavily as if he had just been running. His black bowler hat sitting atop his soft brown curls caught my attention first. His eyes were swimming over the current occupants in the room, I knew who and what he was looking for and I just continued to stare at him. He is looking for me. I wish I hadn't turned to see him, I wish I just had excused myself from the table and ran far away from the dreadfull place with all its memories. Yet I stood my ground, with a aching heart and watched as his normal placid face twisted into a sorrowfull, pained one and watched me with eyes of regret. Robin knew I knew. He knew I knew that three little words his Father had told everyone over Dinner was slowly eating me inside. I can't stare at him any longer.
Pushing my chair away from the table it scraps against the wood bringing everyone out of their trance. Suddenly the hall erupts with shouts of congratulations and praises of grattitude. Monsieur De Noir had a proud, pridefull smile playing at his lips. I stop and listen as he taps his fork against his galss and calls for silence, giving a well rehearsed speech to the people of the hall. I stay seated, my glass untouched as everyone else raise's their glasses in approval and re-peats congratulation's after he finishes. I push my chair out a little further, planning my exit swiftly, but my chair scraps too loudly and above all the clatter and talk everyone snaps their head toward me followed with silence.
Gasp's flew and hands covered mouths as everyone stared at me. Some in Sadness and understanding, other's in utter confusion. I couldn't even muster the courage to apologize to Monsieur De Noir as he frowns in confusion at the tears slowly cascading down my face. I open my mouth to say something, anything but nothing comes. I must look like a fish out of water gasping for air. I open my mouth one last time as I hear the soft smacking of Robin's soft footsteps against the floor making his way toward me.
"I'm sorry Master De Noir. Please Excuse me."
Biting my lip I turned away from the table, toward the other door in the room which Robin had not barged from. I can hear him shouting my name, his angelic voice ricashading off everything within the hall. I want to stop and turn around and listen to his explanantion but I can't. My feet wont let me turn around, they just keep walking towards the exit. I knew he was only an arms length away from touching me at the table, His scent of Oak wood and the fainstest hint of freshly trimmed pine nestles drifted past my noise alerting me to how close he had been to catching me if I had fell.
It was heartbreaking to walk away from my best friend. The boy I fell hopelessly in love with, the boy who I hoped one day to love me back. I shut the door behind me as Robin screamed my name once more before letting out a cry of frustration. Leaning against the door I let the tears flow more freely and rapidly. Millions of small water droplets hit the floor beneath me. The sound of Robin, Loveday and Monsieur De Noirall shouting was distant beyond the door. It was the only sound that was reaching me. Robin had been growing frustrated when he was shouting for me and I did not turn. I had heard him move forward to ran after me but someone had stopped him. I presummed it was Lovday or Uncle. I was truely heartbroken.
The shouting was growing louder as I realised that the three De Noirs where moving the argument my way. With tears still streaming down my face and my heart heavy in my chest, my eyes swollen and my vision blurred, I began to run. With those three words echoing clearly in my mind I began sprinting, forgetting about the tears and the anger, sadness and regret of falling for Robin De Noir. Screaming for the guards to open the gates, I jogged into the darkness and headed for the direction of home, I knew Wrolfe would be waiting for me just on the border of the forest and I would climb ontop of the great lion and he would whisk me home, leaving Robin and De Noir Castle far behind, almost like a memory. With Monsiuer De Noir's words of sadness breaking my heart every step I ran, I ran straight out the Castle gates and towards the red beady eyes that saught me out instantly. Whispering the three soft words in Wrofles ear as he carried my teary body home.
Robin is Engaged.