Chapter 21

"Aye love birds!" Called one of the boys, "We've got to get going now!" Robin took my hand and led me out of the room and helped me onto Periwinkle, "Princess," He said before bowing his head slightly and walking off to mount his horse. Maria snickered and shook her head.

When all of us were mounted and ready we set off through the forest. I still wore the ring, mentally vowing never to take it off until this was all settled. I clicked my teeth and Periwinkle raced past Robin's horse.

"Princess ya really think that little pony could beat this steed?" He said clicking his teeth as well, having out horses meet. I chuckled and looked over at him, "Why of course. She may be small but she tough, just like her rider!" I clicked my teeth once more and Periwinkle raced off in front of all of them, running free through the forest.

"Maria, do you even know where you are going?" Ryder called out from behind me, now all their horses closed in on Periwinkle and I. I rolled my eyes and huffed, "No, but I've got my instincts." I said and slowed Periwinkle down to line her up with the boys' horses, "Speaking of, which way are we going?"

Zane brought out the book and flipped the pages, "Hmm, it's pretty hard to tell, but if I'm correct, which is most of the time," I rolled my eyes, "We are going in the right direction." I looked over at him, "So straight?" I asked, not being the best with directions. Zane gave me an annoyed look and snorted, "Yes, Maria, straight."

"Perfect!" I said and clicked my teeth, sending Periwinkle racing again. I laughed, for once on this trip I felt free and not scared and just plain happy. I noticed Robin soon caught up with me and our horses began racing through the woods.

"You'll never catch me!" I shouted playfully and took off in front of Robin and his steed. I laughed and soon found myself in a clearing of a cliff. "Whoa," I muttered to myself and looked over at the edge. "Be careful over here!" I called to the boys who I heard coming.

I dismounted Periwinkle and walked over to the edge. Under the edge lay a lake and across the cliff, miles across, the other side of the mountain. "Boys…why do I get the feeling we aren't supposed to go straight anymore?" I said and turned to the boys, who were dismounting their horses.

"Zane," I said placing a hand on my hip, "Please don't tell me we are lost." I turned to him and the others made their way over to me and checked the edge. Zane scratched his head and went for the book.

"No, that's actually in the book, Maria, come and look." Zane said and I walked over to him and took a look into the book. "See?" He said pointing to the painting of the cliff. I sighed and looked up at him, "Well how do we cross it?"

"We don't." Robin said making his way to me, "We go around it." I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow at him, "Robin, please that's ridiculous. Going around it would take at least a day, and we don't have very much time on our hands. There's got to be some way across it." Robin opened his mouth to speak when Pierce interrupted him, "There is…" Everyone looked at the twin to see him pointing into the distance.

We all walked over to the edge to see a bridge going from our side of the mountain to the next. Robin stared down at me, "Oh no, no, no, Maria, we are not crossing that thing and you are definitely not crossing that bridge." I groaned and looked up at him, "Robin please, it's the only way across!"

"No it's not, we can go around it." He said crossing his arms and looking down toughly at me. "Robin…" I crossed my arms just as he did, "C'mon we have to cross it, my Uncle is in a torture dungeon, waiting endlessly for me to come rescue him, and I am not wasting my time going around a bloody mountain side. I'm going across that bridge with or without you." I snapped and turned on my heels to Periwinkle.

Robin rolled his eyes, "Oh no you're not." He said stepping in front of me, and blocked me from Periwinkle. "Robin please you're acting like a child." I said when I tried to step to the side, and he moved with me not allowing me to get to the horse. "Am I?" He said quickly, not looking me in the eye.

"Mommy and daddy are fighting again…" I heard Styles mumble to Pierce and I turned to them, "Come on boys! You can't honestly agree with Robin, going around the mountain will only delay us even more, am I not going to risk that." I said to the others and Robin walked around in front of me, "And I am not going to risk that bloody bridge Maria. No is no and that's final."

I raised my eyebrows at him and quickly jumped on Periwinkle, clicked my teeth, and sent us off towards the bridge. "Maria!" I heard them call after me but I still charged for the bridge.

Soon, I made it to the passage and looked at it. "C'mon, Periwinkle, you're going to have to trust me here." I whispered to the grey horse and she neighed, slowly taking a step onto the wooden panel. "Maria!" Robin shouted loudly and startled me, "Would you mind not yelling at me?!" I said loudly.

"Maria at least get off the bloody horse!" He called out to me and I sighed, knowing he was right, at least about Periwinkle. "Back up girl…" I muttered to Periwinkle and she followed the orders. Robin walked over to me and Periwinkle and held out his arms to help me down. I rolled my eyes and allowed him to help me off the horse. Suddenly Robin flipped me over his back and held on to my legs.

"Grab the horse," He ordered Styles, "We are going around it." I gasped and punched Robin's back, "Put me down right now De Noir!" I shouted and kicked. "And I'm the one acting like a child?" He said shaking his head.

"Robin De Noir, put me down this instant! Don't you touch that horse Styles!" I shouted and Styles quickly backed away from Periwinkle. Robin began to walk in the opposite direction. An idea sparked and suddenly I winced in pain, "Ow! Robin you're hurting me please!" I begged and he quickly put me down with wide eyes.

I hoped back, out of his reach and placed my hands on my hips, "Ha!" I gloated and he narrowed his eyes at me, "Maria…" He growled and charged at me again. I backed up and suddenly Zane got between us, "Alright that's enough." He said putting his foot down.

Both Robin and I crossed our arms at the same time and glared at each other. "Those in favor of crossing the bridge raise your hand," Zane said and Styles, Pierce, and I raised out hands. Zane shook his head and sighed, "Those opposed…" Ryder, Robin, and Zane's hands went into the air. I sighed in frustration and Zane mumbled, "Forgot there was six of us for a moment…"

"Boys please, hear me out. When my father died I was taken in by a man, I had never even met before. At first he was rude, sadistic, and just plain mean. Then soon, when I left the house, he went looking for me and I learned he did in fact care about my well-being. After I returned the pearls he mustered up his own pride to make amends with your father," I said looking at Robin with sincere eyes, "And then he was taken from me, his fiancé, and everyone who ever cared about him. That is why I am even out here, why we are out here. For that man, because the monster that has him is torturing him and I've practically seen it with my own eyes."

My voice cracked and I was on the verge of tears but I swallowed them back and finished, "That man is my uncle, and I don't want him enduring that pain any longer, taking that damn bridge will get us over the valley faster, therefore allowing us to get to him faster," I looked at Robin with begging eyes, "Please Robin…"

Robin sighed and he rubbed his temples, "Ugh, fine Maria we'll take the bridge, but if the slightest thing goes wrong, you promise to obey my orders?" He said slowly stepping towards me. I nodded and he held my face in his hands and kissed my forehead, "C'mon," He whispered and took my hand, leading me back to the bridge. "Get the horses," Robin said to the twins and they ran off to grab their steeds.

A/N: Hey guys! I know most of you probably hate my guts for being such a sucky updater but nonetheless here is Chapter 21! I kind of went on a wee bit of a writing hiatus...not really sure why I just really wasn't inspired to write and this idea struck my head so I headed to my computer! Thanks for reading guys I adore all of you and your reviews! xoxo