Robin still had a tight grip on my hand as we flew past the many trees. We could hear our pursuers were not to far behind us which only motivated us to run faster.
"Hurry! They're right behind us!" cried Robin as he glanced back over his shoulder. Letting go of my hand and pushing me forward. I had completely lost feeling in my left leg but I knew I had to keep going or something worse could happen.
We eventually made our way back to the tree and I quickly shoved Maria inside while Robin was keeping look out. "Robin," I called to him and he turned to face me, "in here!" I followed in after Maria and Robin wasn't far behind me.
We crept through the small tunnel that led to who-knows-where. Roots were coming from all sides and we would have to push them aside to see where we were going. At first it was quite crampt but then the tunnel opened up into a room with an old wooden door facing them.
"Áine, Robin. Look at this" said Maria pulling our attention to the door as she stepped up to a few moments of deliberation, Maria pushed the door wide open and it creaked loudly as it showed us the inside.
The room was rather large and the tree's roots were covering the walls around us. There was a large silver bed that looked like it hadn't been slept in in years. Actually the whole room looked as though no one had set foot her since the Moon Princess and Guardian were alive. There were several chests in the room that Maria began to search with Robin. I seemed to be the only one to notice two statues side by side. One sort of looked like the Moon Princess and the other, the Guardian. The Guardian's neck was bare except for a craving of the exact same necklace that I wore today. At closer inspection, I noticed that the dust that had built up over time was not as heavy around her neck as it was everywhere else. I reached up towards my choker and couldn't help but wonder if it had originally been here but someone had found it. If they had though, why couldn't they find the pearls?
Maria pulled a beautiful white dress from the large chest at the end of the bed, I looked over at it. "Its her's, it must be" remarked Maria. I nodded certainly, "its what she wore at the wedding of her and Sir Wrolf" I told them. Maria smiled down at it before handing it to Robin who was smiling at me. Robin placed it back inside the chest and shut it.
Together Maria and I wandered over to the dusty, old fireplace. "Where? Where did she put them?" Maria wondered aloud. "Maria?" I called, getting her attention, "this fireplace is like yours and mine, it might have a hidden passage." A smile lit up Maria's face as she search for the possible secret opening. After a few moments she noticed the unicorn head an pushed down on it and the inside of the fireplace moved aside opening into another tunnel.
Robin started to crawl inside but Maria and I hesitated for a moment. We both gave another sweep of the room with our eyes before mine settles back on the two statues. I hadn't really given much of my attention to the Moon Princess statue but now that I did I noticed there was something around her neck. It wasn't like how the other statue had it carved in, no this was actually there. I placed My hand on Maria's shoulder and pointed the statue out silently. She looked towards it and stared in awe.
We walked towards it very slowly. I heard Robin pull back out of the tunnel and I was certain he was watching us closely as we walked away from him. Maria reached out her hand and as her skin came in contact with magical pearls that dust disappeared and she shone a beautiful silvery blue colour, at that moment the pearls around my own neck that made up my choker gave off a beautiful golden, white light. My hand once again shot to my neck in amazement. "They must be connected" stated Maria as she looked from my necklace to the one in her hands. "But I thought there was only the Moon Pearls" I said. Robin had made his way over to us by now and was looking in shock and disbelief between Maria and I. "I guess," he said, "the Guardian was gifted with her own." I could see it in their eyes, both of them, and I was sure it was in mine aswell; hope and satisfaction. We could actually end the curse and save our valley.
I pulled my choker from my neck, suddenly began feeling very cold and shivered a little at the sudden temperature change. The pearls on my choker seemed to fall away leaving only the sun charm and two red and gold ribbons that the pearls had originally been laced onto. The pearls magically joined with the others in Maria's hand turning it into a beautiful mixture of silver and gold light. Maria proudly stretched out her hand to show both of us that magic of the moon and the sun. "The Pearls" said Robin finally, a proud tone in his voice. They were real we had done it!
But our victory was shortly lived as the sound of men making their way through the tunnel we had come through only minutes ago reached our ears. Robin quickly rushed to close and barricade the door and Maria and I made our way to the secret passage, hoping it would lead us to safety. "Robin, hurry!" I cried, the same time Maria said, "Robin, lets go!" As soon as Robin had joined us inside the passage, the door in the fireplace slide shut concealing us from sight just in time as seconds later the men broke through the door.
The tunnel was pitch black and we made our way along by moving our hands along the walls. "Its so dark in here" remarked Robin. "Pearls, show us the way" aid Maria but nothing happened, "Nothings happening!" cried Maria. I moved closer to her and placed my hands over hers which held the pearls, "lets do it together." I took in a deep breath and slowly let it out, as did Maria and the together we said, "Pearls, we need your power now. Show us the way." Right then and there, the pearls lit up the corridor allowing us to see further than before. I had to stifle a laugh as I heard Robin hit his head off the ceiling and cry out silently.
"Robin, shh" scolded Maria which once again caused me to stifle another laugh. Robin than proceed to give me a small playful shove but as of the wound in my leg it wasn't very smart and I almost cried out again. Seeing what he had done wrong, Robin quickly pulled me into his arms, "I'm sorry for what my father did and that I was unable to reach you in time" he said into my hair. I smiled up at him to show there was nothing for him to worry about.
He let go of me but not before asking, "are you sure you can walk?" I gave him a look that said quite clearly, 'are you kidding?!' I just shuck my head and said, "if I made it this far without help, I'm sure I'll be fine." He nodded and let me be and with Maria in the lead with the pearls we made our way through the maze of tunnels.
"We're lost," stated Robin after a little while of silence. I shuck my head fondly at him, "think positive Robin." Robin of course had to give back a witty response, "I'll think positive when there is something positive to think about." I rolled my eyes and replied, "Ah.. A battle of the wits, luckily for you I do not fight unarmed men." Maria laughed but it took several more moments for Robin to understand what I had just said before exclaiming, "HEY!" Which just cause Maria to laugh cheerfully at his embarrassment. Robin then said something that made my stomach drop, "my father found out about us." I gulped nervously, "He did?" I asked. But there was no answer. I didn't need one.
Maria was looking left and right into he tunnels looking for the right way out when suddenly she said, "Áine, look." And, so I did. There once again was our white horse and red and gold phoenix leading us to where we wished to go.
"Robin, look" Maria then said, who also looked in the same direction as us. "Don't you see," said Maria as she gazed over at her protector and I gazed at mine, "their showing us the way" I finished. "A phoenix.." said Robin in awe. "You can see him?" I asked amazed. He looked down at me in confusion at my question and nodded. "Áine," said Maria, "the only ones that can see the Guardian's protector is the one who gifted it to her and the Guardian and the Moon Princess themselves." I looked to her, surprised she even knew that. "Who did you say actually gave her the phoenix?" Maria asked me and then looked to Robin. "Thorn Do Noir" I answered her looking to Robin aswell as he grinned down at me, remembering the talk about Thorn and the Guardian when we had been captured. I blushed a bit before making my way towards the exit.
Maria smirked at Robin as she passed him who also blushed and quickly ran up to join me. We heard voices from the other side and froze to listen.
"Coeur De Noir!" The voice was most definitely my father. Maria and I shared a look of surprise.
"Merryweather!" came the reply most obviously Coeur. I glance up at Robin as I saw him tense and so I leaned against him and he placed both of his hands on my waist. Burrying his face into my hair at the croke of neck and I could feel his hot breath on my skin, leaving goosebumps and causing a shiver to go down my spine in result. I was almost certain he was smirking at the power he had over me.
"Good evening!" continued Coeur, "Your niece and your own daughter have failed!"
I then heard my father speak, "If you have harmed Maria or if you have harmed even a hair on my daughter's head I will.." but he didn't say anymore and at the sound of a struggle happening we took that as our que to intervene.
"Stop!" Maria cried as we ran out to see my father trying to strangle Robin's father and Marmaduke and Digweed panicking.
"Father! No!" I cried the same time Maria was saying, "No, Uncle, no!" We ran down the steps towards them and Robin exclaimed, "Father, we got them!"
"Look" exclaimed Maria as she out stretched her hand for them to see. I was at her side standing slightly behind her, my hand on her shoulder and Robin was holding my hand, luckily enough, my father hadn't noticed this yet. Coeur grabbed for the pearls, "Give me those pearls girl!" But Maria wrenched them out of his reach.
"Those damn pearls" stated my father, "they've brought us nothing but heartache and grief." I shuck my head at this, he was wrong. "No Uncle" said Maria catching their attention, "It is not the pearls that has caused that." My father looked at her coldly but I could tell he was just confused and worried for us, "Then what?" he asked us. I answered for her, "it was the greed in our hearts that causes this misery." They all stared at me in shock, especially my own father.
Suddenly another voice called out, "father!" A voice I knew well. We all looked up and saw Loveday was standing there looking down at us from the top of the stairs. She approached him and asked, "why is there so much hatred in your heart?" Coeur seemed at a lost for words as he set eyes on his daughter for the first time in years. "My daughter" was all he was able to say. But then all our attention was brought back to the approach of the moon.
Loveday then stepped closer to her father and said, "don't you want to be free of this darkness imprisoning you?"
Coeur De Noir than spun around and pointed straight at my father and stated loudly, "it is he! It is he!" Loveday didn't like this answer and so stood between them and grabbed her fathers hand, "Father!" and then turned to my father, "Benjamin." But he didn't give her his hand so I limped forward and forced his hand to join with Coeur's. Robin moved up behind me and this time wrapped his arm around my waist, once again this went unnoticed. Loveday took Maria's hand which held the pearls and placed it on top of theirs. The pearls didn't glow at first leaving everyone confused. I placed my hand on them aswell, causing them to glow, some silver and some gold. They weren't just the moon pearls, they were the Sun and Moon pearls so they need the Moon and Sun princesses to power them
"Look!" she said seriously, "The 5000th moon!" I felt the need to add to her statement, "The curse is coming true!" we all looked towards the moon that was growing closer and closer every second. "If you can sacrifice your pride, we can save our families" stated Maria. "We can save the valley" I said, causing my father to glance back at me, I noticed his eyes narrowed at Robin's arm around me but he dismissed it and looked back to Coeur and said, "You first." Coeur then quickly said, "no, no, after you!"
Seeing that it was hopeless, Maria pushed their hands away and said, "I have to do this myself." I pulled away from Robin and stepped up to Maria, "Not alone, I'm your Guardian of the sun, I will stand by your side, anyway the powers of the pearls only work when its both of us, they are a mixture of the sun and moon, it needs both of us." Maria smiled thankfully up at me, glad she wasn't alone anymore.
Together we walked up to the edge and stepped out onto the lone rock that stuck out over the sea. We took in a deep breath and once again similar to before, we both took hold of the pearls and reached high above our heads and said together in unison, "On the 5000th moon, we, Maria and Áine Merryweather, Moon Princess and Guardian of the Sun of Moonacre, do remove this curse that darkens this valley. Take back what is yours!" Together we throw the pearls out into the sea but they only flew back into our hands.
We shared a look of confusion which soon turned to determination. I took half the necklace in hand, as did Maria and we wrenched them apart, breaking them. Then after pulling them close to our chests we flung them out, they all scattered in the air but they once again returned this time clinging to our dresses. We tried desperately to brush them off, but they just.. wouldn't. I could see to look of defeat and confusion on Maria's face. I suddenly realised what we had to do.
"I guess.. a sacrifice must be made" I said. Maria looked up at me confusion sparkling in her eyes for only a moment longer before she understood. A tear ran down her face and several fell down mine aswell. I took Maria's hand and together we stepped up closer to the edge. We pulled our dresses around as they blew around in the strong winds. We turned back to look at everyone gathered behind us. They would be too far away to stop us once they realised what was happening. Maria didn't say anything and turned back.
I glanced to her, "aren't you going to say goodbye." She shuck her head, "I don't know what to say" she whispered for only me to hear. I squeezed her hand before looking back. "Daddy" I called. My father seemed surprised, I hadn't called him that in many years, "yes, Little Flame?" he asked smiling slightly. I could see in his eyes, he didn't know what was going on. No one did. "I love you," I said. He nodded again, his smile growing a little, "I know that and I love you." I couldn't stop the tears from falling as I then looked to Robin. His eyes showed so much love and confusion, aswell as hope. Hope that would be crushed soon and replaced by heartbreak.
"Robin!" I cried. The others there seemed slightly surprised at my addressing him. I could tell by the surprise in his father's eyes that he believed my love for Robin wasn't real. "I never said it but.. I love you." I smile lit up his face, "You never had to say it, I already knew. I love you aswell." At that moment I knew I was ready.
Looking to Maria I asked, "ready?" She nodded sadly, "you?" I sighed but gave a small nod of my head before together we turned towards the sea and slowly took a step forward.
There was a moment where we stood in the air, frozen in time. The crashing waves below us dark and threatening. Then we fell, plummeting towards them. The sound of not only Robin and my father calling out for us as we disappeared from their sight over the edge but Coeur De Noir, Loveday, Marmaduke and Digweed. They were most likely all running towards the edge and watching as we fell, helpless to stop us. I couldn't find the strength to look up.
It felt like hours as we hit the water and it felt like millions of knives piercing our skin with the cold. My eyes meet Maria's through the currents of the waters around us. We both smiled as we knew what we had done was right. It needed to be done. It was us or everyone. We brushed the pearls from our dresses, keeping ourselves below the water. We tried to hold on long enough to reach the surface but it was no use. Finally we had to let go and we opened our mouths the water flowed in and we couldn't stop it. We would try to breathe, to find air to survive but it was only water. We were drowning.
I felt myself being dragged down to the bottom and so was Maria, my vision began to darken and fade as I slipped closer and closer to unconsciousness and death, and as I did I noticed Maria closing her eyes. It was a peaceful way to die, at least once you had accepted it and stopped fighting the inevitable. I spotted the pearls also making their way to the bottom of the ocean. Each one hit the sand and gave off a small ray of light as it did for the last time, one by one they fell. Maria and I along with them.
Then all I knew was black.
On the cliff, they all stood in grief. Coeur looked down at the sorrow that covered his son's face. He was crushed and broken, looked as if he had aged ten years and dying from the inside out. His daughter was crying into the chest of Sir Benjamin. Tears also trailed down the man's face for his lost niece and only child. Digweed and Marmaduke stood on either side of the group, unable to say anything. The sweet girl they had known for only a few short days was gone. The girl they had watched grow from a small baby up to a beautiful young woman, was gone. Coeur had to admit, the girls were brave. The oldest, the Guardian, had stood up to him and protected her cousin even when it endangered her life. She had also showed love and affection to his son, when he had not. She had been brave enough and smart enough to disguise herself and walk freely through his streets and ride through his wasn't hard to figure out that girl he had so very much liked that had visited Robin about a year ago at the Keep was her, Áine Merryweather.
Robin stared down at the waves, hoping to see a just a glimpse of either his friend or his love. But he saw neither. He had lost them. They were gone forever. He had seen the tears running down Áine's face but he hadn't understood why they were there, until know, when tears of his own tumbled down his own cheeks. He had wished for so much, he had believed that their troubles would be over. He had wished to marry her, to have a future and a joy filled life. But that was torn away from them and he was alone. No one would be able to ever understand how he felt.
Then suddenly there was a loud crash as the moon met the sea and a bright light erupted around them. It moved across the forest and valley, restoring everything to its former glory.
A monstrous wave grew from the sea and began to approach them. Along with that a great fire grew from the sky and was coming towards them, the water below not stopping it in anyway. The people standing on the cliff watched in shock and fear as the flames and the wave grew closer and larger. Then what appeared to be horses broke from the giant wave and raced each other out of the water. One appeared faster than the others, a horn was protruding from it's head, it wasn't a horse, but a unicorn. On it's back it carried something. Someone.
From the flames that were approaching from above, large birds appeared but one stood apart from the others. It was larger, strong and faster. Its golden feathers sticking out among the many scarlet flames and birds that surrounded it. Also, like the unicorn, on its back was a person.
And just as the water and fire were to hit them and they all prepared for it, it was as though the water and fire clashed together cancelling each other out. Everyone looked up from where they had crouched in fear of the impact of the wave and fire. There in front of them was a large and beautiful, gleaming white unicorn. On its back was Maria. They stared in shock as then a large majestic scarlet and gold bird flew down and landed next to the unicorn and on its back lay Áine.
Both girls appeared to be in sleep and were oblivious to what was happening around them. Everyone got to there feet slowly and approach them.
Ever so slowly, the two girls awoke, "Áine!", cried Robin in relief. "Maria!" said Loveday, happily. Maria and Áine looked around, taking in the surroundings in confusion for a moment before finally realising that they were alive. Áine beamed over at her cousin who gladly returned her smile.
Benjamin quickly made his way over with Loveday close behind him. He pulled Áine off of the phoenix and tackled her into a hug, "oh my daughter, my sweet daughter" he cried, tears falling from his eyes. Áine laughed at him and wiped away his tears before once again hugging him tight. Loveday was looking at the phoenix and unicorn in fascination as this happen and once Benjamin had let go of her she moved forward and embraced the young Guardian, while Benjamin moved over to greet Maria.
Áine stroked her phoenix as Maria did the same with her unicorn. they smiled at each other before Áine smirked and nudged her head in Robin's direction. Getting the same idea Maria followed her over. Everyone was smiling widely at them. They stopped in front of the dark haired nineteen year old. "Were you scared, Robin?" Áine asked him teasingly. "No," he said but it was easy to tell he was lying, "anyone could have done that!" Loveday gasped playful and then hit him over the back of the head almost knocking off his hat, while Áine and Maria laughed.
Coeur watched his daughter and son fondly as the mocked each other. He couldn't help but notice the gaze filled of nothing but love directed at the young Guardian from his son. Loveday wrapped Áine and Maria in a tight hug once again before saying, "you are the true Moon and Sun Princesses." The three of them smiled at each other before a large roar was heard from behind them and they all spun to see a large black lion standing there.
"Cats teeth" muttered Sir Benjamin, using one of his family curse words. Digweed the felt the need to state the obvious as he then said, "that would be a black lion then, sir."
"Its alright, Uncle," said Maria causing everyone but Áine to look at her in surprise. "Its just Wrolf," finished Áine as the lion walked towards them. Áine ran her hand along the lion's back and it rub its head against her side, immediately she felt the dull pain that had faded slightly, in her thigh, disappear completely, before going up to stand on the other side of the phoenix as the unicorn stood to it's right.
Benjamin then turned to Loveday and tried to correct his past mistakes, "please forgive my stubborn pride." He glanced over Loveday's shoulder and met eyes with his daughter and she nodded, urging him to continue. He got down on one knee, "Loveday.." But he was unable to say anything else. As the man from before who had kidnapped Robin appeared, "stop right there! I will finish them now!" he cried aiming his gun at Maria who stood in between Marmaduke and Robin. "No, stop Dulac!" yelled Coeur. His cry was need as at that moment Miss Heliotrope appeared and started to hit him repeatedly with what appeared to be an umbrella. Áine shared an amused look with Robin and he wrapped his arm around once again glad to have her back in his arms. Neither noticed the fond look being sent their way by Coeur who also stood next to them. Looking them over now, he had to say, they did look good together.
"That will be the search party then, sir!" exclaimed Digweed cheerfully. Miss Heliotrope than ran down the stairs crying out, "Maria! Maria, I'm here! I've come to save you!" Maria hugged Miss Heliotrope happily as she proclaimed, "all is well." Coeur De Noir wrapped his arm around his son who still had a tight hold on Áine and smiled at them and they returned it happily and Sir Benjamin kissed Loveday for the first time in many years.
Then once Benjamin and her separated he got back down on his knee and at that moment Miss Heliotrope noticed and said, "ohh.. Is there.. to be a wedding?" Áine and Robin smiled at each other and then at Maria who was also looking over at them. Coeur was looking down at the two with his eyebrows raised and a slight grin on his face.
Digweed then approached Miss Heliotrope and pointed to himself and said, "oh, ma'am." After a few moments and a bit of stuttering Miss Heliotrope and Digweed took hold of each other's hands slightly hesitantly. Áine and Maria giggled to each other and Robin shuck his head as he picked up and spun Áine around and planted a kiss on her lips. All there seemed quite surprised at this gesture. Sir Benjamin narrowed his eyes, while Loveday and Maria shared a devious smile. Coeur looked as though he had no eyebrows as they had shot up his forehead in shock, who knew his son could be so confident and bold.
Robin wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and picked her up off her feet as her arms went around his neck, returning the kiss passionately. Their lips moved in perfect sync as fireworks and explosions went off inside them. Her hands became laced in his hair, careful not to knock of his hat as she did. To them this was heaven.
Robin spun them around happily and continued to kiss her. Finally he set her back down on her feet, both of them a little dizzy and out of breath. The leaned their foreheads together smiling widely. The two lovers looked up to see everyone watching them, including Wrolf, the unicorn and the phoenix. Áine scratched the back of her head and Robin nervously rubbed the back of his neck when he noticed the glare being sent his way by Áine's father.
When everyone once again was smiling cheerfully, Robin stood behind Áine and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his chin on her head as Sir Benjamin said, "There we are then, nothing to be done." Áine and Maria shared a knowing smile as everyone gazed off at the now normal sized moon. Live was back to the way it was. Sort of.
With that over everyone returned to Moonacre manor. It was good as new. The grounds were bright and colourful. Digweed couldn't stop smiling at the sight of it.
Maria, Áine and Robin rushed in ahead of the others. Áine brought them up to the room that had once belonged to the Guardian. It no longer looked depressed and old. It was alive and shining from the littlest thing. Áine beamed as she found the door was wide open already for them. She dashed up the stairs with the other two following after her. There as expected was the book of the Guardian. Flipping through it they found it full with the story and many beautiful pictures. They discovered that the Guardian had also been gifted with pearls. The ending for the Guardian, Thorn, the Moon Princess and Sir Wrolf were not written and they could only guess. Though the Guardian and Thorn, aswell as the Moon Princess and Sir Wrolf, were ripped apart. Aurora apparently was broken hearted from losing her love and from what they could tell, both her and the Moon Princess disappeared. But on the last page in large, curvy writing it stated, "but one day, they will return. They're story will be completed. There love will surpass the moon and the sun and live an immortal life. When they return, all will be put right and all will finally be at peace."
Maria went down to join the others while Áine and Robin stayed a moment longer looking around the room, "we have quite a bit a head of us I'm sure," exclaimed Áine as she leaned back into her lover's chest. He smiled down at her, "we'll get through it, I know we can." They shared a simple kiss, not filled with its usual passionate hunger, it was completely filled with Robin's love for her and her's for him They had only pulled away for a few moments to let their foreheads rest together in comfort, before Maria came dashing back in, "Uhh.. Robin" she said nervously. "Yes" replied Robin sounding slightly frightened. "Uncle wishes to speak with you." Robin's face changed immediately and went deathly and pale and by his expression he looked as if he was walking to his death.
Maria and Áine shared a look and Maria said, "Poor Robin." Áine nodded and said, "yep." As soon as their eyes met again the two burst out laughing, no longer being able to contain it. Then together the two cousins, now practically sisters left the room to celebrate with their family and friends.
Sorry for it taking so long. I wrote these chapters ages ago but I guess I thought you all wouldn't like them. Please tell me what you think. It isn't over I'll write an Epilogue and then The 'Guardian of the Sun' is complete. I think I might cry, I love this story, I'm constantly reading it on my Kindle. Yes, all the stories I write and my favourite ones I have read here on the website I put on my Kindle so I can read them wherever I am. It is very handy, I advise you do it.
Love,
Áine
