Maria let Robin drag her out of the dining hall, picking up her skirt so she didn't trip over them as they went. Robin led her around the castle explaining the decorations in each of the rooms if Maria asked. Maria stayed quiet for most of the tour until Robin led her to a tower to finish the tour.
The first thought Maria had when she stepped inside the room was that it was colorful. A large queen sized bed sat on the far wall below a window with bright green curtains. The bed sheets were a dark plum color that matched the painted walls of the room. The floor was a dark stone and a stone fireplace stood opposite the bed. There was a light yellow painted desk in the corner and beside it a deep red wardrobe. Maira stepped farther into the room, vaguely aware that Robin was leaning against the closed door. The room was beautiful but for some reason Maria felt like the room was empty; cold. She moved over to the bed and looked closely at the covers to find a thick layer of dust. She shot a look at Robin before moving over to the wardrobe. Slowly she reached out and opened it. Inside was a collection of odd looking but familiar dresses. Each one looked as if it had not been worn for several years, a few, Maria noted, seemed to have fallen prey to the moths. Maria turned to Robin finally realizing who's room this must be.
Robin nodded confirming her thought. He moved over to the wardrobe and looked in at all the dresses Loveday had left behind when her father had kicked her out. "She hasn't been here in years. Usually all the rooms here are maintained by the servants except for mine, my father's, and Loveday's. We take care of our own personal rooms. After Loveday left, some of the maids that had been fond of her had tried to keep her room clean just in case she ever came back but when my father found out, the maids were fired and the servants were forbidden to ever come near this tower." Robin reached out and shut the wardrobe doors with a soft 'click.' Then he turned to Maria and smiled.
"I have one more room to show you," he said, his grin turning into a smirk. "Though I'm afraid it's not as lovely as my sister's room." Robin went over to the door and opened it. Maria took one last look around the room before following Robin out of the lonely room. She followed him down the steps of the tower and down a hall to another set of steps that went to another tower. Robin looked back at her and shot her a grin before making his way up the steps until he reached a door similar to the one to Loveday's room. He pushed it open then stood to the side to let Maria move past him into the room.
It was dark at first and Maria had to let her eyes adjust to the darkness. Maria felt Robin move past her but her eyes still could not see so she listened as he made his way across the room. There was some shuffling and then the room was bathed in sunlight from a small window across the room. Maria blinked at the light and when she could finally see she looked around the room. It was similar to Loveday's except for three things. While Loveday's room had felt cold and lonely, this room felt warm and used. Where Loveday's room had been full of color, this one was dark with black and grey. And while Loveday's room had been dusty, it had been well organized and mostly clean. The room Maria now stood in was anything but organized and clean. There was a bed the same size as in Loveday's room but with black, unmade covers and it sat in the corner where the desk had been in Loveday's room and the desk where the bed had been. The desk was made of dark wood and the window hung above it. It was cluttered with papers, books, knives, etc. The wardrobe sat in the same place but was painted a dark brown. Maria looked around at the floor littered with trash and clothes everywhere.
Maria looked over at Robin who was standing by the window and raised her eyebrow. Robin chuckled. "Told you it wasn't as nice as my sister's," he said moving over to stand beside Maria as she continued to observe his bedroom.
Maria turned her head to look at him with a grin. "It's not even close to nice Robin," she giggled. "This room is a mess. I think you should rethink the whole cleaning your room yourself thing. This is a disaster."
"Oh hush," he said turning towards the door. "I'm rarely ever in here. Usually I'm out in the forest with the guys or on my own checking traps. I don't really come in here until i go to sleep."
"I can see why. This room would scare anyone into having nightmares," Maria muttered with a smile as she followed Robin out of the room. She hadn't meant for him to hear that but he had and he stopped in his tracks and looked back at her.
"What was that Princess," Robin teased smirking at her.
Maria felt herself blush. "Nothing Bird Boy," Maria said sliding past him. She shot a grin over her shoulder before grabbing his prized hat from his head, picking up her skirts, and bolting down the stairs.
"Wha- Hold it Princess," Robin called after her, laughing as he ran after her. Maria jumped the last few steps as she neared the bottom of the tower steps and made a right, heading down the hallway that she remembered led to the main hall. All the while she could hear Robin's quick footsteps behind her. She chanced a glance back and squealed when she saw how close he was. She ran down another flight of stairs before bursting through the doors of the main hall. Just as she made it into the hall she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist and then she was lifted from the ground and spun around. she squealed and giggled as Robin spun her. When he finally set her down again she was too dizzy to try and run again and was holding onto Robin's arm for support.
"Give me my hat back you little minx," Robin said with a large grin plastered on his face.
Maria shook her head and let go of his arm now over the dizziness. She took a few steps away from him before placing his pression hat on top of her curly red hair. Robin raised an eyebrow and took a step closer but Maria only moved back farther out of his reach.
"Maria," Robin said in a warning tone though the grin was still firmly set on his face.
"Bird Boy," Maria mocked taking another step back. Robin jumped forward but Maria dodged him and headed towards what she hoped was the dining hall. She heard Robin close behind her and ran faster. She ran into, thankfully, the dining hall and straight over to the table where Loveday and Coir De Noir sat chatting with each other. Loveday looked up when she heard Maria running. She looked confused for a second before her eyes landed on the hat sitting atop Maria's head. Robin's hat.
Maria ran around the table to Loveday and hid behind her giggling when Coir gave her an amused look from across the table.
"Princess," Robin said as he slowed to a stop beside his father's chair. "Just hand over the hat and I'll let you go.
"Nope," Maria giggled popping the 'p.' She shoved the hat farther onto her head and grinned at him.
"Princess," he warned still grinning. "Give it up. You can't escape me."
"Sorry Bird Boy," Maria laughed. "Not gonna happen." She giggled and stuck her tongue out at him.
"You are playing a very dangerous game her Maria," he said edging his way around his father's chair. "That is my hat. My head is getting cold without it." His hair was curling up where his hat had been and Maria had to admit that he looked rather incomplete without the object. But in a cute way.
All Maria did was shake her head as she started backing away from the table. suddenly she turned on her heel and made a dash for the doors across the hall. She didn't even make it halfway before Robin grabbed her around the waist and started carrying her back over to the table, kicking and giggling.
"That was quite mischievous behavior," Robin said snatching his hat off Maria's head and finally setting her down.
All Maria did was stick her tongue out at him and scramble over to Loveday when he tried to grab her again. Loveday looked very amused at what had just happened. She looked over at her father then to her brother with a smile plastered to her face.
"That was quite the show," she chuckled looking between Maria and Robin.
"I doubt I've ever seen you chase someone to get your hat back," Coir said with a laugh.
"That's because no one's ever stolen it from me before," Robin said shooting Maria a playful glare. Maria only shrugged and shot him an innocent smile as if she had no idea what he was talking about. Robin shook his head but grinned at her.
"Did you show her around," Loveday asked after a moment of silence.
Robin nodded.
"That's good." Loveday stood up and turned to Maria. "I think it's about time we head back home," she said. "It'll be dark soon." Robin felt his smile disappear at his sister's words. He didn't want Maria to leave. He looked at her and saw that her smile was gone to.
"Do we have to go so soon," she asked sounding disappointed.
Loveday smiled sadly at Maria and nodded. "We've been gone for over three hours. Your uncle will be worried if we don't get back soon. We can't navigate the forest in the dark and could get lost."
That gave Robin an idea. He walked over to the two women and looked up at his sister.
"Is Maria busy tomorrow," he asked. "I was thinking I might show her around the forest." He glanced at his father. "You know, now that it's safe for her to go into without having to worry about getting kidnapped and all."
Maria seemed to brighten at the thought. She turned to Loveday. "Mrs. Heliatrope gave me the week off from my studies," she said. She stared up at Robin's sister and pleaded with her eyes.
Loveday looked between Maria and Robin and then over to her father before focusing back on Maria with a small smile. "Benjamin won't be too kean on the idea but I think it's a lovely idea. I'll get Benjamin to agree so I guess it will be okay."
Maria's face brightened and she hugged Loveday. "Thank you Loveday," she said after releasing her.
Loveday smiled again. "Of course now we better head out before it gets dark."
Robin and Coir De Noir led Loveday and Maria outside to the carriage that would take them back to Moonacre Manor. Loveday said her goodbyes and gave her father and brother a hug before climbing into the carriage. Coir bid Maria a goodnight and then stepped aside so Robin could say goodbye to.
Robin looked down at Maria and smiled softly. "Well looks like I'll see you tomorrow Princess," he said.
Maria nodded. She felt like she needed to say or do something before she left but before she think of what to do Robin wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a tight hug. Maria's arms immediately went around his neck as she hugged him back.
"I had fun today," he said then he dropped his voice to a whisper that only Maria could hear. "You looked extremely cute in my hat."
Maria gave an involuntary shiver as she felt his hot breath against her ear. SHe felt her face heat up at his comment. Robin pulled back from the hug and smiled down at her.
"Goodnight Princess," he said softly.
"Goodnight Robin," Maria said quietly with the blush still on her cheeks. She turned and got into the carriage. She shared one last look with him before the carriage pulled away from De Noir castle and headed for home. The only thought on her mind was that she couldn't wait for tomorrow.