Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the book or the movie but I enjoyed the movie too much I couldn't hold back showing some type of appreciation for it.
Loyalty:
"It's through the clearing and over the next hill. We're not far now," Robin announced.
Though he wasn't even sure if Maria heard him as she scurried ahead, calling out to her demon dog that had sprinted off after something.
Robin's head snapped over his shoulder, eyes narrowing. What was that? He could have sworn he heard something. His eyes slowly scanned out over the forest, checking for pursuers. But he was checking in the wrong direction.
A hand clamped over his mouth, dragging him behind a tree so fast he could barely even think to struggle.
Maria's cries for Wrolf quieted. And then she called out his name. "Robin?"
Oh gad's teeth, Maria!
His eyes were wide as he felt a cool bite of metal rest against his neck. Dulac! How could his own kinsmen hold him at knifepoint? His back pressed into the bark that tried to scrap at his skin through his leather jacket, but his own safety failed to be his first priority. Oh gad's teeth, Maria.
Robin couldn't even fight; unable to move for fear he would end his own life. He refused to die.
"Wrolf?" her call was quieter this time. For a moment he hoped she had moved after that infernal beast. But then her footsteps sounded closer, moving towards him. Towards his captor.
Maria!
He tried to cry out but the leather-covered hand over his mouth muffled his attempt to warn her. And then that creature let out a wounded cry.
"Wrolf?" She sounded so uncertain, so alone.
Robin could have slumped in relief - if it hadn't meant the knife would have been buried deep in his throat - at the sound of her footsteps running off after that beast. But then another leather-clad clans member burst from the bushes, and the two carried him off. It wasn't far. But his heart leapt to his throat, choking him at the sight of the demon dog trapped in a pit.
"Wrolf," the cry left his mouth to pass as a whisper on the still air. If Wrolf was here, where was Maria? He almost threw up, he might have if he hadn't been shoved forward, force to put one foot in front of the other.
Next thing he knew he was pinned against a tree like a common prisoner, Father looking at him with contempt. If he hadn't felt sick to his stomach before he most certainly did now. "Oh, well this is pretty." Robin almost would have rather have Dulac pressing a knife to his throat than to see Father sneer at him so. But he didn't understand!
"Father, let me explain."
"Is it not enough for one member of my family to betray me?"
Robin's jaw quivered, protests piling upon his tongue but none found voice. He could only shake his head, hating how weak he felt, but he was helpless. Weak. Unable to do anything else.
Father continued, "Now I find that her brother is a traitor, too."
Robin's eyes burned and jaw clenched tight, he shook his head again. He was no traitor! What he did, he did for the lives of his people! Father, oh Father, don't look like that.
"I will take care of this princess," Father spat, "myself – once and for all!"