In complete shock, I threw the mangled page down and twisted my hair. Hobbits? Elves? What dark magic is this? Things such as this do not exist, but then again, I use to think that curses weren't real either.
I grabbed the secret page and shoved the rest of the mistreated book under a nearby chair with my foot. Surely no one would miss the silly old book. Examining the room being sure to leave it as it was, I turned on my heel to go find Robin.
But when my hand went for the door, I remembered that Robin didn't want to see me. I clenched my teeth and whispered under my breath "Master de Noir is going to receive a surprise visit from an old friend." and with that, stormed down the corridor to the back door.

ROBIN POV

"No Rowena, leave me alone, I will not tell you again!" I yelled through the door throwing a stray pillow at it. Didn't they just understand I wanted to be alone?

"But Master Robin, your father told me not to take no for an answer, he commands you let me bring you food." I could tell by the edge in her voice she was getting annoyed.
I sighed. "You can tell my blasted father that I refuse, and will take no food." I responded in a hushed tone. I heard her footsteps walk away from my room and grinned in victory.
I walked back to my bed and reached for the locket that rested loosely underneath my shirt. I studied the beautiful face staring back at me. Her violet eyes were enchanting, and I could literally feel them looking into my soul. How I wish I could have met her, this beautiful creature that is my mother.

"But I killed her." I grimaced now clutching the open locket in my fist. "I killed her!" I choked between sobs. My father knew I had killed her, and took his anger out on me as a child, and I deserved it.
I would have killed me if I were him. I know I would do the same if anyone dared kill the love of my life, my Maria. Maria probably loathed my guts for what I did to her. I embarrassed her in front of everyone in the de Noir clan, and then I scared the death out of her with my silly enchantment.

"I should just curl up and die." I thought. Die. Kill myself. I could do it, I thought as I lifted my head to the gleaming blade of my hunting knife as it rested on the top of my dresser. I felt as if my mind floated to the blade and jabbed itself with it, but only in my mind.

No, I couldn't do it. I'm too weak, too cowardly. Look at me now, covered in tears and self-pity. Snap out of it Robin, your mother is dead, you killed her, accept it.

A trumpet sounded and a great commotion roared from out my window. I arose to see what was going on, and wished I hadn't.

Short, broad animals stormed through the village with mangled beards and braids falling from their heads. They were men, ruff looking men grunting around with large axes in their oversized hands.

I ran to my dresser and grabbed my black bowler hat and leather jacket and took off down the castle stairs to learn more of our unexpected visitors. Shrieks of fear could be heard all down the hallways echoing off the Great Hall.

I ran turning the corners and ran smack into my men who seemed to know I was coming. "Look who finally decided to join the party!" taunted Finnick. I gave him a heart piercing glare and saw fear flow into his eyes. "What's going on?" I demanded.

The boys look around at each other then back to me, "Truth be told Robin, we don't know." replied Pascal with a sincere look about his face.

A loud shriek down below told us to make for there. Jasper threw us all swords from his full arms and we all grinned. "First time we get to use this aye?" joked Finnick. "And maybe the last."

We stormed down the hallway to defeat those gruesome creatures, those trolls, those, dwarfs.

MARIA POV

I could hear Uncle shouting downstairs loudly. I haven't heard him yell like this since I first arrived at Moonacre, and I had hoped it would have been the last.

But there was something out there; I could feel it, crawling under my skin and scratching at my chest.

I had just come upstairs to grab my cloak and a loud commotion had roared from below. I started to go back down to see what the matter was, but Loveday had stopped me dead in my tracks and hurried me back to my room.

She closed my balcony doors and locked every entrance. Not a speck of sunlight could be seen. "Maria please do not ask questions, I know as little as you do." She would say every time I would ask what was going on.

So here I remained a prisoner in my own room unable to see the light of day.

My heart began to grieve for Robin. Was he safe? What if he was right in the middle of the commotion trying his hardest to protect me?

I began to pace the floor nervously until I could take it no longer. I dashed to the hidden passage Loveday used to use and sealed the door behind me.

I could hear Loveday's screams and pleas for me to return, but I couldn't do it. Someone had to figure out what was going on around here, and that someone happened to be me.

I dashed down the crumbling stone corridor passing loose vines and scurrying rats. I could hear thumping from above, and yells of anguish. I closed my eyes and prayed my family was unharmed, including Robin.

Oh Robin, was the same thing happening at the De Noir castle? This thought made my pace hasten even more as I neared the end of the passage.

I felt around the old wall for the vine covered lever that had been placed there centuries before. When my hands grasped around the lever and pushed upward.

The stone started to move and gave way to Loveday's old cavern. It looked deserted and empty, but full of her animal friends still taking up residence.

I rest my gaze upon the old room and remembered the memories here, the conversations I had with the people I loved.

My head rested in his lap and I felt his rough fingers comb and twirl through my pale orange hair. It was a quite Sunday afternoon and the weather had begun to transform into a light autumn feel. We huddled together in Loveday's old refuge and listened to the chirping birds outside.

"Robin, you're not tangling my hair into rats' nests are you? What will Ms. Heliotrope think when I waltz inside the house with hair like a lion's mane?"

He gave out one of his signature chuckles released his hands from my mangled hair.

"Now I want to mess it up just to see the look on your ninny tutor's face. Ah Maria, you come up with some of the evilest plots, even if you don't realize it yourself."

I raised my head and gazed into his dark luxurious brown eyes. They were so inviting, so easy to get lost into.

"You little devil. Makes me want to go out and get a new best friend, your friend Finnick has seemed a bit lonely lately…"

He rolled his eyes then gently grabbed my arms and chuckled "Maria, promise me that we will always be for each other, have each other's back, no matter what."

"You know I'll always be here for you."

He slowly started to lean in toward me with his eyes on one thing. My lips.

I mimicked his advances and right when our lips were about to lock, Wrolf came bounding down the steps and leaped into between us. I could hear laughter from both him and me, but I could also feel the aggravation and disappointment.

"Get you own room Wrolf you slobbery mutt!" He joked.

A smiled filled my face when I thought of that day, but I soon jolted out of it and continued my mission. I then raced to the door of the cavern when oversized hands grabbed my mouth and arms.

I was taken.

-Thanks for reading and be sure to review! I do plan on finishing this story even if it takes the rest of my life!

-kt-