A/N: What's up people? Sorry about the late update – I just started 10th grade and I'm crazy-busy! The teachers are piling on the projects right about now, and I've barely had time to think, let alone write. Anyways, hope you enjoy…

Maria POV

I woke up in the morning to the smell of warm cookies and a light kiss on my forehead, like usual. Marmaduke Scarlet still insists on having cookies, still warm from the oven, in my room every morning when I woke up. Loveday always brings them, and then wakes me up with a kiss on my forehead. I sat up and gave Loveday a hug, before turning to pick up a cookie and bite into it.

"Make sure you don't spoil your appetite, Maria! Why Marmaduke allows you to eat cookies before breakfast, I'll never know!" Loveday grumbled good-naturedly, before turning to my wardrobe and pulling out a dress for me to wear. It was my riding habit, which surprised me. I looked at Loveday again, and saw that she was wearing her habit as well.

"Loveday, why are you dressed in your habit? We don't usually ride until the afternoon." It was true, on Saturday, Loveday and I would always ride around the Valley, stopping in the village, and meeting up with Robin later by the forest.

"Remember how I told you a while ago about the Du Noir girl who went away to school in London four years ago, before you came to Moonacre? Well, she's coming home today, and we have to be there to welcome her." Loveday explained. "Now get up and get dressed. Breakfast's already on the table."

I dressed hurriedly and rushed downstairs. There weren't that many girls in the Valley, so I was really eager to meet the Du Noir girl. I hoped we could become friends. I ate breakfast in a huge hurry and then ran to the stables to saddle my horse. I wanted to get to Du Noir castle early to see Robin and ask him about the girl. Maybe he knew something else. I told Loveday where I was going, and then raced off. I reached the castle in record time. People were rushing this way and that, preparing for her arrival. It was only then that I realized that I had never thought to ask what her name was. I was thinking as I walked, and didn't even notice that I had banged into someone. I looked up to apologize and laughed.

"Robin! Watch where you're going!" I scolded him good-naturedly.

"Me?!" he said indignantly "You're the one who banged into me, princess! What were you thinking about anyways?"

"The Du Noir girl who's coming home today!" I replied. Robin looked confused for a moment before realization dawned on his face.

"Oh, you mean Rachael?"

"Is that her name? Did you know her when you were little? Is she nice? Will we be friends?" I asked him eagerly.

"Yeah, I knew her. I was constantly sneaking away into the forest to go and see Loveday, and her mother kept her inside, so we never really go to be that great friends, but we grew up together and we were the only kids our age. Actually, I think she's closer to your age than mine." Robin explained.

"Will she like me?" I asked him eagerly

"I'm sure she'll like you, princess! " Robin said, laughing. "Now, come on! Rachael doesn't come until noon, and it's only just after the 10th bell. We have two hours to ourselves."

"Good! But where are we going?"

"Just because we have to wait for Rachael, doesn't mean that we have to wait in the castle. I have something to show you." He said, grabbing my hand. When i didn't move, he started pulling me along." It's in the Forest, come on!"

"If this thing you want to show me is in the forest, then why haven't you shown me yet?"I asked, a bit miffed that had had something special hidden away in the forest for the past three or more years and hadn't yet felt the need to tell me. His next words shocked me.

"Because I just found it."

"That's not possible. You know everything about the forest." I exclaimed in disbelief.

"Apparently not."

"Well, are you going to tell me what it is, or just keep me in suspense?"

"Hmm..." Robin said. "Keep you in suspense."

"What!? Robin, tell me!"

"I don't think so Princess, you'll just have to wait and see."

20 minutes later, we still weren't there. We had been walking through the forest for what seemed like forever.

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"How about now?"

"No."

"Now?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"NO."

"Are we-" I broke off.

"Yes. We're here. "

"Its a hedge." I said, surprised. It was so tall that I couldn't see over top of it. In the middle of the hedge was a iron gate, with a heart in the centre. Half moons surrounded the heart, facing outwards. I had a feeling that I had seen that symbol before somewhere, but I couldn't think where so i cast the throught from my mind. I went to open the gate, only to find that it was locked.

"Robin! You brought me here to see a locked gate?"

"No, princess," Robin said, speaking as if i was a child "I brought you here to see what's beyond the gate."

"But it's locked! How are we getting inside?" I asked sceptically "There is no way that you are getting me to climb that hedge. Or the gate for that matter."

"You worry too much Maria. "He laughed "It just so happens that I have the key. It belonged to my mother. She gave it to Loveday before she died, but Loveday gave it to me to help me remember her. I could never figure out what it was for, until I came across this garden while i was wandering a few days ago."

"So open it!" I said excitedly, nearly jumping up and down. "I'm dying to know what's behind the hedge!"

"Alright, alright. Calm down. Geez." He handed me the key and I opened the gate. I walked inside and I stopped in shock.

"Oh Robin." I breathed. "It's beautiful." And it was.

A small field in the middle of the forest, covered in flowers and other plants. It was a garden, with its flowers spiralling in towards the centre where there was a gazebo, roses climbing up its sides. Behind the gazebo, I could see a willow tree, its leaves brushing the ground. The willow tree was on the edge of a pond, and there were waterlilies floating on the water. I walked around the curving path, trailing my fingers along the flowers I recognized. Lilies, Roses, marigolds, petunias, pansies, daisies, every kind of flowers you could imagine, in all the colours of the rainbow. I walked up to the gazebo and looked out at the pond. I heard Robin walk up the steps behind me, so I turned and wrapped my arms around him.

"Thank you." I said, and I reached up and kissed him.

"Your welcome." He replied, pulling me even closer.

We stayed like that for a while, enjoying the beautiful garden, until we had to leave to return to Du Noir castle. We walked in silence most of the time, holding hands as we wandered through the forest. When we reached the path up the castle I stopped, holding the key out to Robin.

"Keep it," he said. "Think of it as part of my birthday gift to you." He gave me a hug, then grabbed my hand and pulled me up the stairs into the castle. We entered the Great Hall juts as the doors on the opposite wall opened to reveal Coeur Du Noir.

"Presenting, straight from London, our returned Rachael Du Noir." He stepped aside, revealing the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. She was tall and thin with dark hair and pale skin. She smiled and I felt a rush of jealousy for her. In comparison to her, I felt hideous. Then, Rachael caught sight of Robin.

"Robin!" She exclaimed, "Is that you?" She crossed the room in three strides and threw herself into his arms, kissing him soundly.

A/N: OOHH! A cliffy! I'm evil. But don't worry, I'll probably have the next chapter up this weekend too because I have no school on Monday! Hope you liked it... R&R if you want.

Xox, Sunny