Thanks to: Scarlet Stormdreamer (for Reviewing, Favoriting the story AND me!), ashlieluu (for Favoriting the story), Region and District (for Reviewing and Favoriting to story)!
You guys are the best. I'm sorry I didn't get this chapter out earlier; I wanted to edit this one more than I have the other ones and I was preoccupied with the end of semester just around the corner! Thanks to everyone for waiting!
I have one more comment, to my reviewers; I don't know what it is but I am always really touched when people write me reviews. I have never though I am that great of a writer, my real life friend and F.F friend Thisby Solo has always been the better writer, so that's so much everyone!
Enjoy!
I don't think the village has ever seen father angrier than he was when he got back to the castle after searching for the Moon Princess. I was locked in the tower I called my room for a day or two with half a meal a day, and only then it was the old leftovers of what had been eaten for dinner.
It gave me a lot of time to think, being locked up like a prisoner. I though a lot about finding the Moon Princess, plans, strategies, etc. I also thought about how my life would be different if my mum were alive and if Loveday hadn't run off with that Merryweather man.
I came to the conclusion that life would be better if I had a mum, and an older sister. I probably wouldn't be locked away in my room with no meals right now if they were here.
I only have faint memories of Loveday and none of my mum. Loveday was quite a bit older than me, and acted sort of like mum would have. Our mother had died shortly after I was born, and before I was even old enough to walk Loveday eloped with Sir. Benjamin. Rumor had it that they ended up not being married, that the filthy Merryweather broke her heart and she was never seen again.
That was just another of the many reasons to hate the Merryweathers.
It was the first day I was aloud to leave my room. I headed down to dinner, thoughts of capturing the Merryweather milling around in my mind.
I took a seat next to father, he hardly noticed me because of the beautiful, giggly woman sitting in his lap. That was another thing that would be different if I had a mum, my father might have more self respect and not hang around with these wretches.
I leaned over to table to speak over the loud laughter of the dining hall.
"Father, I've prepared a plan to snatch the girl from under the Merryweather roof." I said urgently, hopping he would listen to my idea.
Father's eyes burned, he leaned forward, "Don't go near Moonacre, that house is damned!" he ended the scolding loudly and banged his fist on the table.
He turned to talk to his right hand man, also my uncle twice or three times removed, "word is she's about to meet her downfall."
I heard screams coming from the hall above us. Out of the darkness marched two guards and in between them, a struggling girl in a blue gown.
"Let go of me!" She hissed as they led her down the rotting wooden stairs.
Father smiled, he stood and walked over to meet her, "how kind of you to join us, Moon Princess"
The hall roared with the laughter of half drunken men all of whom want the girl killed immediately. The girl wrenched her arm out of one of the guard's grip. She opened her fist, lying on her palm was a small golden key.
Father reached and lightly took the key; the guard roughly grabbed her wrist once more.
Father was looking at the girl disdainfully. "Oh, oh what is this?" He turned to face us laughing, "She has brought us the lost key gentlemen." He turned back to the girl, "because the terrible De Noirs have had the Moon Pearls hidden up here all the time, haven't we?"
The girl glared up at him, "well its true isn't it! Your ancestor stole them!" she shouted.
Father's eyes turned cold. I knew she should not have said that, father was very… touchy… about the family name.
"My ancestor?" he snarled, "Well perhaps 'Princess', I should introduce you."
He marched over to the little pedestal were we kept the coffin of Sir. William. The guard gave her a shove and stood her at the bottom of the stairs. I walked up to the guard and shoved him out of the way taking her upper arm tightly.
"Maria Merryweather; the last moon princess, Sir. William; the very first Coeur De Noir." Father raised his arm presenting the coffin to the girl. I yanked her arm down, forcing her into a bow; she was of course, a proper young lady. Father reached up and gently took down the golden box we all so well knew.
The Merryweather, Maira, I suppose was her given name, gasped, "The pearl casket."
Father smiled cruelly, "and you so very kindly brought us the key." He lifted the key to the hole, "Oh-" He dropped the key and it fell between the cracks. Her eyes widened as he opened the empty box.
The girl's mouth dropped finally she yelled, "You've hidden them!"
Father gave a harsh laugh that didn't reach his hateful eyes, "They were never there girl. Your filthy Merryweather family took them before he-" he pointed toward the coffin, "-picked up the box. They stole the pearls but soon the final moon will rise, and the thieving Merryweathers will be punished and now that we have you here there's nothing anyone can do to stop it. At last, the entire valley will be ours and the De Noirs will finally feast upon revenge!"
In the last few sentences I started losing focus, I, as well as everyone else, had heard the speech millions of times. Father gave the same lecture nearly every day.
My eyes wandered Maria Merryweather's face. I came to wonder how father knew her first name, I sure didn't. Up close she really was a pretty girl. Her red hair was curly, like mine, her eyelashes were long, and her eyes, even though currently inflicted with apprehension, were beautiful if not a bit creepy. Her dress was light blue, the traditional Merryweather color. I couldn't believe that she hadn't even tried to blend in when she decided it was a good idea to put herself in enemy hands.
When my father finished his rant everyone but the Moon Princess yelled and cheered.
Father told me and my gang to walk little miss Merryweather down to the dungeons. I gladly agreed. I walked the girl down the dark hall, my hand still gripped tightly around her arm. Actually I was holding her so tightly I could feel her rushing heart beat through the thin fabric of her dress.
When we reached the wider part of the hall I gave her a push. She turned on me, anger etched into every beautiful– I mean, typical girl like– feature of her face. "Leave me alone you oaf!" she yelled.
I smirked and took a step closer to her, knowing it would infuriate her even more, "You know for someone in your predicament I have to admire your spirit."
Her mouth twisted angrily, she kicked me in the shin, hard. Once again, the small Merryweather girl had caused me pain, and this time I would do something about it. Behind me, the other boys laughed, I even heard Fredrick's voice laugh: "She's a feisty one, isn't she Robin?" more laughter.
Once I felt I could put weight on my leg again I grabbed her hard enough to make her yelp. "Witch!" I screamed. The boys laughed some more, I really, really wished that they would shut up.
When we came into the dungeon the guard acted like her was awake, yeah right, like I didn't know that they were no good slackers. "Hey! Lock her in!" I ordered him.
I gave her another push, making her stumble past the prison bars. The guard rushed forward and locked the door. She turned as we started leaving. Tears gathered in her eyes, and she bit her lip to keep them back. The heart cut out in the metal outlined her face perfectly but I had to ignore it.
Jac laughed, "Welcome to your new home!", "Make friends with the cockroaches!" Fredrick added, "Sweet dreams!" Francis yelled over his shoulder. I walked backward as I gave her a small contemptuous wave. Goodbye Maria Merryweather!
When we were almost out the door I yelled, "Guard watch her, she's slippery!" Might as well warn them, but partially knowing the Moon Princess she would find some sneaky, sly way of escaping.
Hey everyone! Hehe, I'm writing a lot in my memos today, I must be coming out of my antisocial standard! LOL. Any way, did you know that De Noir, means "of Black" in French? Cool right? And Coeur De Noir means "Black Heart"? I was so excited when I found that out!
Anywho… remember to R & R!
LURV,
Marauderfox