Chapter 37

Maria's pov

I've been lying about my room all day simply daydreaming about what it will be like to be married to Robin. I am still in utter disbelief that this is truly happening. I am still nervous that perhaps Lord De Noir was putting on another front. For how could he easily move from one extreme to another? The man must be mad. How else could one explain his absurd behaviour. What if he treats me poorly at the castle? What if he has allowed his son to marry me but he ostracizes us for it? I wasn't quite ready to trust him, although I had no other choice.

Lord De Noir had agreed to a brilliant plan. He was to keep our secret. He was to allow Robin to take me as his wife and do our best to hide this pregnancy and somehow make it work whilst keeping appearances impeccable.

Now our next challenge was going to be convincing my family, inconspiculoulsy so, to allow for a rather short engagement. I was already into my third month so it was going to be quite a challenge to not raise suspicions when a baby arrives much less than nine months after our wedding. But we had decided we'll figure it out as we go along.

It was late into the afternoon and the sun was beginning to set in the short winter day. I lay back onto my bed with a sigh. Trying to will away the stresses that burdened me. I watched the clouds as they drifted by on my enchanted ceiling. The stars were twinkling. I counted them again. Forty. There were only forty stars today. I sat up abruptly. Last time I had counted forty-five stars. That was five days ago.

"Five less stars, five days later...That's one shooting star per day." I spoke aloud to myself as I theorized. "Could it be...?" I gasp as the realisation hits me. The number of stars directly correlates with the number of days remaining in the calendar year. It was the twenty-first of November and there were exactly forty days left in the year. "Surely the significance of this means..."

Quickly I dash out of my room and came bustling down the stairs, calling to the members of my family when I didn't find them straight away. I heard a noise coming from the piano room and skidded to a stop in the entryway.

"It's the final moon of the year!" I blurt out, breathing heavily and looking rather disheveled. Uncle, Loveday and Miss Heliotrope all look up me with concerned expressions.

"I've discovered how long we have before the moon destroys us all. We have until the final moon of the year. It's in the stars. I can't believe I didn't see it before. But I see it now!" I ramble on still breathing heavily.

"Are you certain of this?" Uncle Benjamin inquired skeptically.

"Yes. Yes, most definitely! The stars on my ceiling are enchanted. Each day there is one less star. I just realised that the number of stars correlates to the number of days remaining in our calendar year! It's the anwer we've been looking for. There are forty stars left and there are forty days left in the year. What else would be it's purpose, the ceiling, the shooting stars? " I insist. "Come, we must inform the De Noirs!" I manage between breaths.

"Well we can't just storm the castle!" Uncle shouted.

"Honestly Benjamin, this isn't a siege. We have a rather urgent matter to discuss. And straightaway! We've all been working hard to figure this out and we finally have something." Loveday stresses.

"Perhaps we could send Digweed ahead and announce our intentions?" I offer.

"No, no. That'll be a two hour round trip. That shan't be necessary at all. Evening is drawing near, by the time we reach the castle they will most likely be settling in for supper." Loveday argued. "I presume this matter constitutes our interruption rather sufficiently. Don't you?"

"Very well then. Digweed if you would, please..." Uncle agrees gesturing toward Digweed to hitch the carriage.

"Straightaway, Sir!" Digweed ducks into a slight bow and shuffle out of the room quickly.

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We arrive at the castle after dark. A guard at the front gates leads us up suspiciously to the front doors and raps on it. A butler appears looking down his nose at us.
"Lord De Noir was not expecting company this evening. " He began in a deep, slow voice.

"Mr. Bagsley, it is I, Loveday. Please we have an urgent matter to discuss with my father..." Loveday pleaded with her former butler.

"Loveday! Why, didn't you say so? Of course. Of course. Do please come in." He steps aside and gestures for us to wait in the parlour.

After a time he finally returns and with a slight bow anounces, "Right this way." We follow through a large heavy looking door and down a corridor. We finally arrive in the dining hall. I shudder as awful memories of my previous venture here flood over me. The dining hall is full and loud. Much different than when it was just Lord De Noir and Robin sat at the table that day. It reminds me more of when I had been caught sneaking into the castle over the summer, the day Robin tossed me into the dungeons himself.

Lord De Noir gets up to greet us as we enter the massive room. Robin follows after and stands by his father's side. He smirks down at me, amused by my sudden presence here. A hush falls over the room as the clan begin to realize who we are.

"To what do we owe this great pleasure, my daughter?" Lord De Noir beams at Loveday. I notice Loveday shifting uncomfortably. It's been many years since she has returned to the castle since her banishment.

"Please forgive our intrusion, father. But we have an urgent matter to discuss pertaining to the curse."

"Come, let us speak privately in my study. Shall we?" Lord De Noir gestures toward the doors and a footman opens them quickly. We follow down a dark corridor lit by the flickering lights of torches hung along the stone walls. My mind flashes back to my night spent freezing on the floor of the dungeons not long ago. I shudder.

I purposely fall back in the procession as we wind through the castle so that I am conveniently walking beside Robin. We share a grin at eachother and I fight the urge to keep my hands to myself. It's been five days since I'd seen Robin last and I was aching with desire for him. I feel him take my hand in his and he rubs his thumb over my knuckles. I bit my lip in a failed effort to hide my blush.

We finally reach Lord De Noir's elaborate study and I am immediately astounded by the intricate carvings on the massive solid wood double doors. I reach out and trace along the design with my fingers.

"It's our family crest." Robin states, coming up and standing behind me closely, noticing my intrigue.

"It's beautiful." I whisper and he smiles at me and places his hand on the small of my back and guides me further into the room. My eyes are then drawn to the extensive near floor to ceiling windows on the far wall before me, behind Lord De Noir's large wooden desk. The windows are beautifully divided into diamond shaped panes and adorned with thick crimson red drapes.

"So go on, what was so important that you felt the need to barge in here uninvited?" Lord De Noir chuckled. He was in unusually high spirits.

"Maria believes that she has discovered when the final moon will be." Loveday begins. His eyes widen and he's turns to me expectantly.

"We have until the final moon of this very year. The thirty-first of December, essentially." I say, stepping forward confidently.

"Hmm..." Lord De Noir ponders, scratching at his chin and rocking back on his heels. "And can we be certain?" He asks after a pause. I fought back a giggle, thinking how Robin rather takes after his father's mannerisms in the slightest. Robin gave me a sidelong glance, his brow arched at me as I feigned a cough to hide my urge to laugh. I quickly composed myself. Feeling guilty for taking light in the seriousness.

"Yes, very much so." I urge.

"Well that's splendid indeed. Now, since we know that the engagement alone did not break the curse, we shall arrange the wedding for sooner rather than later and do away with this blasted curse once and for all." He pauses and paces about the floor whilst we all look on eargerly.

"Let's see...with Christmas right around the corner, what say you, in a fortnight?" Lord De Noir stopped before Uncle, awaiting his response.

"I-I...couldn't agree more." Uncle stumbled over his words and looked to Loveday in astonishment. Then everyone turned and looked to Robin and I. Uncle and Loveday appeared apprehensive as if this were yet indeed an arranged marriage and they felt it wasn't right to push Robin and I into something so suddenly.

If only they truly knew how nearly perfectly this was all to our immediate benefit. Robin and I merely nodded in acceptance and I felt him squeeze my hand. I reached over and placed my other hand on his arm and gave him a squeeze in my excitement. This truly cannot be happening? I was afraid to blink, as if doing so would cause this all to vanish before my eyes and I'd wake up and find myself in my bed, merely dreaming.

"Then it is settled." Lord De Noir stated with a wave of his hand. As simply as that. Robin and I were to be married. And in a fortnight. My stomach flipped and I steadied myself against the strength of Robin's arm as I swooned over the thought. He looked down at me quizzically and I gave him a weak smile that prompted him to press his lips against my temple. The sweet gesture warmed me.

"Please, we'd love for you to join us back in the dining hall. Let's share the good news with the clan, shall we?" Lord De Noir led the way back down into the dining hall. I grew nervous as we approached. I knew how difficult it had been for Robin's father to accept me, to come to this point we were at, so I feared the feelings of the clansmembers as well.

We emerged back into the dining hall and once again a hush fell over the large room. Uncle with Loveday at his side, and I, hand in hand with Robin trailed in after Lord De Noir. All eyes were on us as we followed up a few short steps onto a platform so we were raised above the crowd.

Whispers began as eyes flickered to Loveday, who had been estranged for many years, who had been banished on a bitter note and most likely bad-mouthed since her departure and then over to myself and the proximity of which I kept with Robin.

There were sneers and sniggering and the hiss of someone spitting out "Merryweathers" distastefully off their tongues. But the crowd was divided. There were not only scowls but also faces that held looks of hope and curiosity. And some of which were drawn and forelorn, their concern eminent as fears of the curse plagued us all.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to formally announce the betrothal of Lady Maria Merryweather to my only son and heir, Master Robin De Noir. " Lord De Noir anounced in his booming voice as we stood on a platform in the dining hall. I hung nervously by Robin's side, not making eye contact with the sea of faces before me.

There was a gasp and a hushed whisper of voices over the crowd that was respectfully replaced by applause. There were even a few whistles amongst the crowd that I assume came from Robin's friends. Then Disembodied voices begun to shout their disapproval.

"Oi! What are you on about? We're all doomed by the moon and you're bothering with an engagement?"

"-Our days are numbered. Surely this is frivolous?"

"-Here, here! I thought she was the last moon princess? Have you lost your magic then?"

"-They're probably going to run off and leave us all behind to die!"

"Silence! If you could hold your disrespectful tongues and allow the princess to speak, perhaps you can put your feelings aside. Maria?" Lord De Noir gestures for me to share my knowledge.

I step out from the safety of Robin's side and I stick my chin out and straighten my shoulders remaining poised and exuding strength and spoke with eloquence.

"Your concerns are pertinent. I can assure you as the last Moon Princess, I have taken it as my duty to once again break this curse. Upon recent discovery, it is now known the number of our days." I pause and let my words settle, "We have until the final moon of this very year." There's another gasp and more whispering and I dare myself to scan the crowd.

"So now we know of the number of our days, but how will that small knowledge save us?" A middle-aged man asks with a scowl. I look to Robin and he gives me an encouraging nod.

"Because it has been foretold by an ancient prophecy that the Union of your heir and I shall break the curse." I conveyed such strength and confidence to my words that a loud cacophony of shouts and applause rang out from the crowd. That was all the had wanted to hear. That we could put an end to this. That the curse would be broken and that they would live.

Clansmembers clamoured in toward Robin, patting him on the back and taking my hand to kiss it, congratulating and thanking us. I looked to Robin and also Loveday and Uncle incredulously. All these years of fearing and loathing one another and a curse had brought us all together? I shook my head and scoffed to myself.

"What are you waiting for then Robin? Go on, take her tonight!" Laughed a young man who received encouraging pats on his back by his friends at his quip. Robin just shook his head with a smirk at their antics.

Immediately drinks were poured and music began. Robin grinned at me widely. I could see he was more than pleased that I had been hastily accepted by his people. I knew that must have been a great strife weighing on his shoulders.

He led me over to the long table that ran nearly wall to wall through the middle of the room and we both sat upon the bench. Lord De Noir gave his son a pat on the back and a nod in my direction approvingly. I saw in his eyes that he no longer despised me. He appeared proud instead. Impressed by the ease in which I could take on such a role at the castle and by his son's side.

"So this turned into a bit of an engagement party then, huh? Who would have thought..?" Robin leant over and spoke in my ear over the noise of the music and chatter.

"Right you are!" I beamed at him and pondered over how quickly things have changed. He placed two fingers gently on my chin and turned my face towards his and kissed me. Again we heard a whistle and broke apart with a blush. I saw Robin glower but then smirk playfully at a young man across and down to the right of the table. He chuckled and held my hand in his lap.

"I couldn't have wished for this to have gone better than it already has." He grinned at me before turning his attention to the plate that was placed before him.

We had stayed for dinner at the castle. It was a surprisingly pleasant evening. Robin kept leaning over and whispering things to me that made me giggle and blush. He couldn't keep his hands off of me and I kept pushing him away in fear that my Uncle or Loveday would notice. "I wish you could stay here with me tonight." He breathed against my ear as he slid his finger down along my spine. I shivered at the sensation and shook my head at his mischievousness.

"Me too. It's going to be the longest two weeks we've ever had to endure, won't it?" I asked rhettorically, leaning in so he could hear me. He ducked down and caught my mouth for another kiss. I blushed yet again.

"Robin!" Loveday scolded at her brother's behaviour. He smiled smuggly at her and shrugged. Thankfully Uncle hadn't noticed for he was much too deep in coversation with Lord De Noir.

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Not long after supper, Uncle stood and announced that we should make our leave and return home.

"I will meet you in the parlour. I have something I need to do." Robin whispered to quickly and stood and left.

Lord De Noir led Uncle, Loveday and I out through to the main entrance of the castle and began their farewells. Robin appeared shortly after and slightly out of breath. He motioned for me to follow him and we disappeared around the corridor to the left of the parlour.

"I have something for you." He breathed, his eyes twinkling mischievously. He pulled his hand from his pocket and slipped something over my finger. I looked down to see a ring shimmering in the light that blazed off the end of a torch above our heads.

"It's beautiful..." I whispered. The gold band appeared to be in the design of a snake that curled around my finger. A single pearl was set a the top and encircled by small blue stones that I believed would have been sapphires. And around the sapphires were slightly larger clear stones that glittered beautifully in the light. Diamonds, they most definitely were. I had never seen a more beautiful ring. I was speechless.

"It was my mother's." Robin said just barely above a whisper and I tore my eyes from the brilliance that glittered before me and looked into his face.

"Robin...I couldn't...surely your father would-"

"No matter. It's been mine to give. It's been passed down through generations. It belongs with the Lady of the Castle."

We stared into eachother's eyes as the realisation came of who we really were. Of who I was to become. To hold such a title. And then his lips came crashing down against mine and I was pressed to the wall in his embrace. The need, the desire for eachother burned through us and a moan escaped my lips. My hands were in his hair and his were on my waist, squeezing me tightly against him.

We were interrupted by shuffling of boots against stone and we slowly pulled apart not taking our eyes from eachother. Robin took my hand and led me back to the parlour.

Uncle raised his brow at our flushed appearance and Robin's mussed hair. I fought back a chuckle. And blushed profusely.

"Very well. We shall be seeing eachother again soon." Uncle nodded in the direction of Lord De Noir. "Robin." He nodded.

"Goodnight Sir. Sister." Robin nodded toward Uncle and Loveday.

"Goodnight dear brother, father." Loveday gave a small curtsy and turned to link her arm with Uncle's and the Butler opened the door as the footman escorted them out.

"Goodnight Lord De Noir." I curtsied to Robin's father. He bid farewell and turned and disappeared down a corridor. The Butler give a slight cough in the awkward silence that persued as Robin and I stared at one another. He closed the gap between us. Both of us weary of making contact again, lest we would again find oursleves unable to let go.

I opted intsead to lean forward and press my lips against his cheek, "Goodnight Robin." He squeezed my hand, "I'll see you again, very soon."