Here you go! I'm so sorry for falling behind...my internet has been terrible!
Chapter 13
-Deal?-
Maria and Henry were nearing Moonacre Manor and Henry quickly changed himself back into Robin. Maria shook her head and frowned when she saw that he was once again Robin.
"Henry?" Maria said.
"Its Robin from now on okay?" Henry replied.
"Ugh fine! Robin?" Maria repeated.
"What?" Henry asked.
"Why are you using me to get to the throne?" Maria asked.
"Because you are the only thing Robin would trade the throne for. If I have you I have Robin, and if I have Robin then I have the throne. Its really not all that complicated," Henry replied.
"But when Robin comes back he will tell everyone that you are an imposter and then you will most likely be put to death so..." Maria stated.
"No...that wont happen because when he does try that, you will say that I am the real Robin and then I will decide his punishment," Henry said.
"I will not!" Maria snapped.
"Do you want Robin alive? Or shall I find him and kill him now?" Henry smirked.
"So you wont kill him? Wait, you cant exile him either! You promised!" Maria cried.
"Oh princess...I promise a lot of things, but keeping those promises is a different story," Henry replied. Maria saw the manor come into view and she made a quick decision. Suddenly Maria darted for the doors of the manor and Henry took a moment to realize what she was doing. Maria reached the door a few steps ahead of Henry and swung it open, but she wasn't expecting what she saw.
"Surprise!" A giant group of people yelled. Maria froze and before she could say anything, Henry was standing right behind her. Maria opened her mouth to tell everyone what had happen, but Loveday had beat her to it.
"Maria, Robin, you are just on time! Maria, I planned this huge birthday celebration for you! Robin, I need you to go help Benjamin in the dinning hall while Miss Heliotrope and I assist Maria while she dresses. Alright? Okay! Come along Maria!" Loveday said as she began to pull Maria up the stairs, but Maria resisted for a moment.
"Wait! Um...can I talk to...er, Robin for a moment please. Just a quick word?" Loveday released Maria and she ran back down the small amount of stairs and pulled Henry into the hall outside of the foyer.
"Princess...I swear if you say a word about any of this I will kill Robin and maybe even your uncle," Henry threatened.
"I'm not going to say anything, but with that comes a price," Maria said.
"Like what?" Henry asked.
"Try your very best to act like Robin and not like the giant oaf you are?"Maria said.
"I guess its doable...," Henry replied.
"That's not it. Another thing is to stay inside the manor," Maria stated.
"Also doable," Henry replied. "Anything else?"
"Yes...when Robin does show up...let me talk to him. Just one conversation?" Maria begged.
"That is going to take a bit of persuasion," Henry said.
"What do you want?" Maria asked cautiously.
"As you know...I am going to exile him, but only for two years," Henry replied.
"Two years? Henry...please don't!" Maria said.
"Shhh! Its not that long. In those two years, you will pretend like everything is normal and we are as happy as two love struck mares hopping along in the forest. We will get married and you will rule the De Noir throne with me until those two years are up. By that time...you will have a choice. Either you can stay with me and all of your family and friends or when Robin returns you can leave Moonacre and live elsewhere together?" Henry said.
"And what if I don't agree to this?" Maria asked.
"Then you don't get your little conversation with Robin and instead of two years it'll be forever...how's that for blackmail?" Henry snapped. Maria sighed and looked around at her surroundings as if she was going to see Robin come to her rescue, but he wasn't.
"Fine...deal," Maria finally said as she dropped her head. Henry smiled and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Its okay Maria...lets just go do what we were told and move on for the moment alright?" Henry replied. Maria gasped quietly when she heard her real name come from Henry and at that very moment he seemed sincere. Maria nodded and went out the door with Henry following quietly.
Well there you go! I will probably update tonight so stay tuned!