"Well, there we are then. Nothing to be done."
Chapter 1: Overview
M:
I stood between all who I had come to know in my short stay at Moonacre. Uncle Benjamin, Miss Heliotrope, Loveday, Digweed, Marmaduke, Coeur de Noir, and of course, Robin.
In front of me stood the magnificent two animals, pure and loyal, the ones that had helped me through everything. The majestic unicorn and the rare black lion, also known as my dear dog Wrolf. I was content and satisfied. Maybe a little mystified about why I was revived and just a tad… dizzy?
My knees buckled and the smile disappeared from my face as I faded into unconsciousness. Not before I felt strong hands pick me up and cradle me close. Uncle Benjamin. I nestled in close and dreamt of the stars and the moon.
R:
I don't know why I did that. I mean, I was standing close to her so I naturally followed instinct, but now what? I gazed down at the sleeping form in my arms before muttering confusedly to the elders. "Mr. Merryweather. Uh. Can you… I don't know what… What should I do?"
I looked over at Uncle Benjamin, and groaned. They were kissing again. I mean okay they were in love, but what do I do with Princess? I can't just carry her around all day. I have things to do! Okay, not really but come on, my hands will be tired! Okay, not really to that either. I'm quite the muscular fellow. However, I can't just keep looking at her milky white skin, her copper curls, her luscious lips. Wait. Stop. I didn't mean that. I was just repeating what others said. Okay. Yeah.
I cleared my throat. Once. Twice. Three times. "Maybe I should just toss her over again." Well that got their attentions. Loveday looked a little miffed and Benjamin just looked amused.
"Oh well, follow me. I would carry her but I rather carry," he hoisted Loveday up who squealed, "this one right here." Oh great. I was left carrying the girl.
I looked imploringly at my father but he was turning away muttering something about work and informing others that there would be truce between the families before any other de Noirs tried to kill the Merryweathers. Digweed and the governess had already left. Swell. I followed after Loveday and her fiance, staring down at the innocent girl I was carrying, with the two faithful animals trailing behind.
I deposited Maria on her bed, and stole away to the de Noir fortress for a night of sleep. Not before one last lingering look at the person sleeping on the bed.
M:
I woke to a pounding headache, remnants of my death last night I suppose. I smiled as I turned over and noticed Marmaduke's biscuits waiting for me as usual. However, they were a bit cold, meaning I had woken up late! I quickly rushed around, getting ready, before rushing down the stairs and into the dining room. Everyone present was just finishing up when I burst through the doors. "Oh no! Why didn't any of you wake me? I missed breakfast!"
Uncle, Loveday, and Miss Heliotrope all laughed. "Come now. If we can't let the Moon Princess sleep after she has saved the whole valley, then what are we useful for?" Uncle chuckled out loud. "And on the contrary, you can have breakfast with Digweed, Marmaduke, and Miss Heliotrope. Loveday and I need to go to town to prepare for the wedding!"
I stared up at them in shock. The wedding. Already. "How many days have I been asleep? One? Two? A month?"
"Oh come on Maria. Don't you think Benjamin and I have waited long enough? The wedding is in a week and we need to prepare for everything. You have to come dress shopping with me!"
Oh. Dress shopping. That's nice, I thought. Loveday always had a better sense in fashion than I did though. Anyways, I was excited to hear that the wedding was so soon. Even though I had only met the couple not long ago, I wished them to be together.
"Anyways, thanks Uncle. For carrying me back to my bed." I said before shoveling forks of food into my mouth, watching from the corner of my eye as Digweed settled himself by Miss Heliotrope and Marmaduke appeared in the seat next to mine. Then I noticed Uncle and Loveday sharing an amused look. "What?"
"I didn't carry you Maria. Robin did."
I almost choked and dropped my spoon but regained myself. Huh? Robin?
"That kid was very befuddled with what exactly what he was doing carrying you, but nobody else would. We all were… preoccupied." Oh. I understood now. The couples… were thankful they hadn't died a horrible death. Oh well. Guess I'll have to thank Robin for carrying me and standing up for me against his father. I'll do it later I suppose.
"You know Maria. When you fell into that ocean, even Coeur was scared. He agreed to a truce. No more enmity between the clans. We will be allies and exist in harmony. The de Noirs will always have the forest and their village while we get the manor, the farming lands, and the town. However, there are no restrictions anymore. Those boundaries are just legal terms. Our pride disappeared with you down that cliff."
I smiled happily. Things would finally work out. Loveday would join us in the manor and soon I would have cousins! Now, I just needed to find something to do in my free time.
R:
Things between my father and I has always been icy, but he really seems to be trying since yesterday night. I just don't know what to think. Should I forgive him for all those hurtful words? The mean jabs in front of the clan. The angry words when it wasn't just me that had failed. All those combined, I was confused. To top it off, Maria. She kept entering my thoughts and I did not know what to think about that. Sure, she was pretty, and smart, but she would never even look twice at me. And she deserved someone that wasn't scarred, or had an evil past like mine.
M:
After the normal lessons with Miss Heliotrope in the morning, and lunch, I was free for the rest of the day. I wandered over to the stables, with Wrolf at my heels and gasped at the sight in front of me. The unicorn was in the green pastures, along with Periwinkle, and Thunderbolt, Uncle's steed. I was so excited, I almost stepped on a pile of dung. Gross.
I ran over to the unicorn and petted it softly, kissing it gently on the forehead by reaching on my tiptoes. After a gallop on Periwinkle throughout Merryweather lands, I really wanted to ride that unicorn but I was afraid she would run away if I tried to ride her, I went back into the manor, to the library. I found the dusty old book entitled The Ancient Chronicles of Moonacre Valley, still in the secret compartment where Uncle hid it, thinking he was so clever. The bookmark was still there, and the key was back in its place. Magic and all its mysteries. I flipped through and realized there was much more to the story than I had first realized. There were many tales of de Noirs and Merryweathers killing each other. Each time, a different girl trying to stop them, and never succeeding. Loveday's story was in there too, and in the end, the biggest surprise of all. A picture of me, with my story.
This was quite a mystery, one that could only be solved by reading more. I flipped to the beginning of the book and noticed a tiny handprint. I also noticed that the pearls in the book were glowing, just like every time I opened the book. As if by instinct, I put my handprint in the impression. At first my hand was too small, and then the impression shrunk to fit my hand! I quickly pulled away before anything else could happen. It was almost dinnertime and I had to leave. I knew the next time that I would return, I would clean the library and make it more hospitable before continuing my conquest.
R:
During dinnertime, father tried speaking to me about, well nothing. He tried to make trivial talk, but the connection between father and son was not there, no matter how much either one of us wished it were there.
There were a gaggle of girls, maybe eight to ten, that were standing in the shadows, whispering. The ones older than me stared at the men. The younger ones, and the ones my age, looked in my direction and then looked away, blushing. I have that impact on girls, except one I suppose. She was different.
Suddenly, father stood up and announced what would change my life. "In one month time, my son will be eighteen and I am happy to announce that once I am dead, he will get these lands and rule over them as chief. His lucky bride will be chietress!" I covered my head with my hands and watched through the slits as more girls looked at me with desire. Come on, I was the heir but knowing my father, he wouldn't be dying anytime soon anyways. I stood up and walked out, to clear my head.
M:
After dinner time, I went out with Wrolf for a walk in the forests to think and look up the sky. The sky that had been returned to its former glory. The stars twinkled and the moon bathed everything in its silvery glow. I soaked it all up, with my hands outstretched and let myself fall backwards into a patch of grass. Wrolf settled himself into my side, as I closed my eyes and smelled the fresh air.
"Princess."
My eyes flew open at that nickname. Only one person called me that, and of course people that hadn't met me yet, Robin. Robin was standing by my head, looking down at me with unreadable eyes. I closed my eyes again. "You're backwards."
He let out a soft chuckle before settling himself on my other side. Wrolf did not even bat an eyelash. With his knees pulled up to his chest, he asked, "What are you doing out here?"
"I could ask you the same," I muttered before pulling myself up and mimicking his pose. I sighed. "I was admiring the view and smelling the fresh air. Of course that was before you obstructed my field of vision."
"Your eyes were closed." He paused, slyly. "And I am the view." Cheeky bastard. So full of himself. And I had to thank him. Ugh. Let's get this over with alright.
"Look. Thanks for helping me find the necklace, and for carrying me when I fainted last night. I didn't know until Uncle told me this morning."
"Ah yes. Me as the knight in shining armor. Like always. I think that's what makes girls fall in love with me. Ah yes, it could be these amazing curls, or these captivating eyes. What do you think?"
R:
I heard something distinctly like "arrogant bastard and bad manners." I chuckled, surprising myself. A girl had never made me laugh before, other than my sister, and she had been exiled.
We fell silent, listening to the night sounds. Before long, we both stirred and got up.
"Better get back now." We both said at the same time. She blushed and turned away.
And with that we went our separate ways.
