Chapter Four

Her stomach was full and the package was sent. She had been given a small tour of the place with her sister and Miss Heliotrope and they were now going over lessons while she was sitting in his study reading up on the family history.

It was after lunch when she had finished reading all there was about the family and she was quite happy to know about it but one question was still not answered.

"Uncle," said Emily as she walked over to her uncle at his desk who was working on some papers.

"Yes?" he asked sighing at being bothered while doing work.

"These historical records are quite informative but there is one question that remains unanswered. How did the rift with the De Noirs begin?" He paused writing and looked up at her.

"Don't you think you've had enough history for one day?"

"One can never have too much history. Please uncle, I've been wanting to know this since we were attacked yesterday."

"If you must know," he said hestitantly before reaching into his desk and pulling out the book father had left them, "this will tell you."

Emily looked at the book then at her uncle.

"What sort of trick is this?" she asked bewildered.

"It is not trick, you wanted to know how it began and this book will tell you."

"This is the second time someone told me out family history comes from this book. This is a book of fairy tales and magic. It is pure fiction."

"It is the truth."

"If it was truth then it would be nonfiction, but this is fiction, uncle, if you will not tell me, I will find out on my own," she said before getting up and leaving the study.

She made her way up to her room and sighed as she made her way out to the balcony and sat down. There was a gentle breeze around her that played with her hair. She relaxed before letting her mind wander over the forest.

There was a knock on her door and she turned to see Digweed walk in holding a tray with tea and some biscuits.

"Your afternoon tea, miss," he said walking out onto the balcony and setting the tray on the small table out there.

"Thank you so much Digweed," she said smiling at him and sitting up.

"Would that be all miss?" he asked.

"Yes, the package got sent off rightly, correct?"

"Of course."

"Thank you," she said smiling. He nodded and left the room. She poured some tea for herself and got up and leaned against the railing with her tea and munching on a biscuit. She glanced out over the trees and let her mind go again.

She thought about the De Noirs in who lived in the forest and the Merryweathers who lived in the valley. Clearly the feud wasn't over land since they seemed to like where they resided and because there weren't constant wars over land mentioned in the history books she read that day. This is what made this situation odd. Most quarrels between families, and countries, were about land. The next commonality would be someone killed someone, but all members of both families were accounted for in obituaries that were kept with the history.

"What is it?" she asked herself before taking a sip of tea. She took another bite of cookie before her mind began to wander and flashes of that De Noir boy that was at the funeral and attacked them came before her eyes.

"Oh, no," said Emily shaking her head to try and rid herself of him. That's when an idea came to her.

"He is a De Noir, he must know why our families are fighting," she said, "I must find him. Or maybe, since he attacked us, he will come to us." She nodded to herself determined of her plan before walking into her room. It was much too late to go out now it would have to wait till tomorrow. In the meantime she grabbed a book and finished her tea while enjoying a little light reading about astronomy.

Little did she know that just down below in the forest someone was looking up at her. He had come to see if there was chance of grabbing the younger girl but something kept making him stop and look at the older one. He first saw her on the balcony deep in thought before she went and fetched a book, he admired the way she was devoted to her studies until it began to grow dark and he retired back to his home to tell his father of his findings, which was none so the dread was in the pit of his stomach as he made the trek back home.

Dinner was very silent, except for a few mutterings from Miss Heliotrope about different things being delicious. Then everyone went to retire to bed. Emily wrote a few things about the family history out before heading to bed in hopes that the morrow would bring her answers to her questions.

The next morning she awoke with the sun once more. This time she nibbled on her biscuit and got ready for the day immediately. She changed into a chocolate brown dress that had maroon and gold accents along with low heel boots. She French braided her hair into one long braid that ended with several ribbons of many different colours. Once deemed well enough to go out she headed down to the dining room where she greeted Digwed.

"Same as yesterday then miss?" he asked placing some tea in front of her.

"I think toast today instead of porridge." He nodded and loaded some bread in the slots of the toaster before placing it into the small oven. Soon Benjamin and Miss Heliotrope joined her and all as silent again. That is until they heard the soft tinkling of piano keys being played. Emily looked at her uncle as he paused in buttering his toast. He immediately stood and briskly left the room. Emily, wanting to know where the piano was for she was quite fond of playing it, followed him.

They came to a small room where a teal and highly decorated piano was sitting front and centre and her sister was playing. This was odd to Emily for Maria was not a very good piano player at home. She knew how, yes, but playing a song of this calibre was unheard of.

They stood there for a few moments before, with eyes still fixed on Maria, their uncle called out, "Digweed. Fetch me my whip!" The music stopped and he turned around and left. Maria looked at her sister and they followed him. Miss Heliotrope followed Digweed out and soon they were in front of the manor. Benjamin was holding his whip for a horse and was petting a large chestnut horse.

"You weren't expecting me to…" said Maria frightened by the horse.

"You can't ride," he said with mockery. Emily merely watched Digweed bring out a small powdered horse and large black beauty.

"Sir Benjamin," said Miss Heliotrope for she always has something to say, "it is a widely known fact that a lady should never sit upon a horse. I mean they're unstable, and vicious, and creatures- creatures, and OH!" she exclaimed as Digweed brought the horses up. Emily immediately walked over to the black horse and extended her hand to it in the same fashion that she did with Wrolf. The horse nuzzled her hand and she began to pet it.

"Come, Maria," said Benjamin as Miss Heliotrope ran inside after stepping in some horse droppings, "every Merryweather can ride, it is in the blood." He nodded towards Emily who had swung up and was now sitting perched on top of the horse.

"This is Periwinkle, she's a little feisty but she'll do the trick," he replied, "and you Emily, have Ebony, he's getting old so please treat him kindly." Emily nodded and patted the side of Ebony's neck as Maria got atop Periwinkle.

They began at a trot and made their way through the entire Moonacre Valley. There were small towns and the people waved and greeted them with respect as they passed by. Emily was enjoying herself greatly, having never been on a horse but always wanting to, but she was very watchful for anything or anyone that would have answers for her.

"It's getting late, we should head back," said Benjamin as they just left a small village.

"Uncle, I'm really enjoying this. Could I stay out a little longer?" she asked.

"As long as you stay within Moonacre valley. Remember, I can only vouch for your safety if you don't go in the forest," he said.

"I will be home before long, and Periwinkle will take good care of me," she said.

"And I, for I wish to remain out a little longer as well. I shall keep her safe, Uncle," said Emily nodding to him. He nodded back and turned his horse before heading back towards the manor.

The two sisters and their horses carried on, trotting next to the forest but not going inside.

Emily so wished they would go a bit faster, but her sister seemed pleseant at this slow trot so Emily had to make due.

They were going along, at said slow pace, when they heard a high pitched screech of some sort. They both stopped and looked towards the forest.

"What do you suppose that is?" asked Maria looking at her sister.

"Sounds almost like a bird, but it isn't chirpy enough. My guess a rabbit," she said before taking another listen. Maria then got down from the horse and patted the side of her neck.

"Stay here," she said to Periwinkle before stepping into the forest.

"Maria, what part of 'don't go into the forest' do you not understand?" called Emily as Maria walked further into the forest. She listened and heard the screeching stop.

"I guess all of it," said Emily before she climbed down off of Ebony and sat down on a nearby stump and took out her notebook and quill. She started sketching the two horses when she heard loud dog barks. She paused and stood up and looked to the forest.

"Maria," she called out, gently though, she didn't want anyone other then Maria to know she was there. Sighing she petted Ebony before heading into the forest. She couldn't hear anything anymore except the birds in the trees and other forest creatures.

In the distance she heard some horses before they were led away. She didn't see hide nor hair of her sister and she was going deeper and deeper into the forest.

She was about to turn back and start her search again when she saw a rabbit hop by. It was unlike any rabbit she had seen, must only be one that lived in this area. She crouched down and began to sketch it as it munched a nearby plant until it perked up at the sound of breaking twigs behind Emily. She looked behind her and waited. Another twig broke.

"Maria? Stop playing games, we should be heading home now," she said. There was a loud crunch to her right and she turned to look and saw the rabbit hop away as a figure emerged. Emily stood up and came face to face with the same boy that she had seen in the past, only this time he did not have the strip of fabric across his nose.

"Another Merryweather, in these woods? It is my lucky day," he asked stepping closer. His throat didn't seem like it wanted to talk but he shook of whatever feeling that came over him and took in her appearance.

"So it is safe to assume you are a De Noir?" she asked standing her ground he dared to take a step closer.

"Yes, so then can you assume what I am to do?" he asked stopping but a foot away from her.

"That I cannot. I've been trying to figure it out. Why are our two families fighting? What started it all?" she asked keeping her face emotionless yet inside she just wanted to stare at this boy all day. He was of her age, if not slightly older, wearing black leather pants, a low cut black shirt, and a jacket with feathers and buckles over it. On his head perched a bowler hat with feathers as well. Truly a man one with the forest.

"You don't know?" he laughed before growing serious and bringing his face an inch away from hers. "Is this some trick, because it won't work on me. I know you Merryweathers are a tricky bunch and I will not fall into your trap."

"This is no trap, I merely want to know what is going on here. Why did you attack our carriage? Why are our families fighting? What would you want with us?" she asked staring him dead in the eye.

"You really don't know," he said stepping back, "I can see it in your eyes. You really don't know why at any moment I will just capture you and take you away to my clan."

"If that is your goal, then why haven't you done so?" she asked crossing her arms.

"Oi, Robin! Where did you go?" came a shout. Robin looked in that direction before looking at Emily.

"Robin!" came another shout. Robin then turned to Emily and grabbed her shoulders.

"You must go. Now!" he harshly whispered to her.

"What? You just said you were going to capture me."

"Just go!" He shoved her towards the way she came. She walked to some bushes and hid while three other similarly dressed boys met up with Robin in the clearing. They walked away talking about capturing the Merryweather girl and how they scared her earlier.

"Maria," she said to herself, thankful that she hadn't been captured. She quickly made her way out of the forest and found Ebony waiting for her but Periwinkle was gone. The sun was setting now and she quickly got on Ebony and found her way back to the manor. She brought Ebony to the stables and made sure she was all set before proceeding into the manor where she saw her Uncle sitting by the fireplace in the foyer. He stood up when she entered and had a serious face.

"Where were you? Why did your sister come back alone?" he asked.

"Maria decided to save a rabbit in the forest. She was gone a while and I went in when I heard a dog barking. I was searching for her when I saw it grew dark. I noticed Periwinkle was gone and came home as soon as possible," she explained.

"Well at least you are safe. I suppose you are quite old enough to take care of yourself," he said before turning around and facing the fire.

"I am sorry to have worried you Uncle," she said before heading up the stairs. She made her way to the tower and knocked on the door urgently.

"Maria, open up," she said. The door opened and Emily made her way inside. She glanced around the stunning room before turning to her sister.

"Where did you go?" she asked getting to business.

"Into the forest. I was saving Serena when those De Noir boys attacked me. Wrolf came and saved me and I went home as fast as possible. I noticed you weren't by the horses but I figured you were smart enough to figure out how to get back," she said with a little bit of mockery while petting the rabbit in her arms. Emily sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Next time you should have waited for me. Wrolf most likely scared those boys out of their skins and would not bother you again as long as he was around," said Emily now moving to cross her arms.

"Those boys? You act like you are older then them, if you haven't forgotten, you are the same age as them," replied Maria.

"That I may be but it doesn't change the fact that I am smarter then them, or at least than Robin," she said shifting on her feet.

"Oh, on first names terms are we?" asked Maria smiling at her sister.

"Well I couldn't very well refer to him as a De Noir because they all are. Anyway, I just wanted to see you were all right and to scold you about leaving me out there. Luckily I had my wit about me when they tried to kidnap me as well I was able to get away," said Emily purposefully leaving out the bit where Robin let her go and rather forcefully shoved her in the direction of home.

"Good night, sister," said Maria in a sing songy voice that Emily did not like. Clearly her sister had been hinting at something but she did not know what.

"Good night Maria," she said before leaving the room and heading to her own.

A/n: So there was a considerable amount of Robin I this and next chapter it will pretty much just be Emily and Robin. I have four other stories that I've been working on but right now my focus is on this one so chapters might be coming out fairly fast.

Thank you for reading and reviews and most appreciated.

-Charlotte