Robin De Noir grinned. For the first time in his life, Moonacre valley was at peace. To his right stood the girl who he would be eternally grateful for – and he would make sure his father never forgot her sacrifice either.
"Shall we go home?" Loveday asked Maria, smiling around Sir Benjamin. Robin couldn't see the princess' expression, but her answer sent a troubled wave through his chest.
"That sounds like a perfect idea to me. After all this excitement I think we all need an early night!"
Was she going to just leave?
The slightly dim servant and the slightly distracted lady walked off first and Robin was sure he could see their fingers gently entwined. If his father's heavy hand hadn't been resting on his shoulder, the boy fleetingly thought he'd like to copy that idea. The party turned towards the way back into the forest and the princess' hand was less than half a meter from his.
"I never thought I'd hear myself say this – " His father muttered behind him. Robin jumped, hearing the voice low in his ear. "-But I'm proud of you, Robin."
"Proud?" He repeated incredulously. The man looked old, his eyes heavy with the strain of having to admit he had been wrong, as he nodded.
"You were right about her."
"Not all the time, father." Robin swallowed nervously. His palms were sweaty and he had no idea how to respond to this uncharacteristic softness. "Only from today."
"You were still brighter than me." Couer De Noir whispered, gently pushing his son forward. Robin stumbled and trailed after Maria nervously, trying to avoid glancing over his shoulder at his father.
There was a slight hold up at the front of the party, where Maria's companion had got herself lost. "Oh, I'm not entirely sure…" Robin could hear. To him, every tree in the forest was as unique as the members of his family. "This could be the way… Or maybe…"
"Why don't I lead?" Robin suggested, throwing his hands out at his sides exasperatedly. The lady and Sir Benjamin frowned at him.
"You?"
"Robin does know his way around these woods." Maria piped up. Robin looked at her briefly and saw that she was smiling. "I would never have found my way to the tree if it hadn't been for him."
"Lead the way, sir." Sir Benjamin waved Robin forward. He stumbled and trotted past the row of Merryweathers, feeling the blood rush into his cheeks.
"Don't be scared, Robin." Maria teased from near him. He jumped and saw that she'd followed him to the front of the party and was walking beside him. "If you go wrong, Wrolf will correct us."
As she said his name, the great black lion looked up at Robin with eyes full of judgement. After a moment, Wrolf trotted on ahead and Robin breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been accepted by the demon dog.
"Are you okay?" Maria asked, noticing the sigh. She was staring up at him and didn't notice the root that snaked under her feet.
She fell in slow motion, arms flying out at odd directions as her eyes widened in wonder. Acting quickly, Robin was able to catch her before she hit the floor and hurt herself.
"Steady, princess." He muttered, releasing her quickly. He could hear his father's eyes behind him. "Looking out for you all the time is exhausting enough without you throwing yourself at the floor like that."