Chapter 38

..."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."...

Maria's pov

We were married in the Castle on what could presumably be considered; The coldest day of the year. Thankfully the bulk of the guests had not to travel far at all. I believed only the inhabitants of Moonacre Manor and I to have been the only ones who had come from an hour's ride away. Most of the guests were from the clan. With only a few from the villiage outside of Moonacre Manor. As I hadn't many acquaintances of my own.

And thankfully, Uncle, Loveday, Miss Heliotrope, Digweed, Marmaduke and Sarah and I had all arrived before the snow had begun to fall from the darkened sky and the wind had picked up violently because a fearful storm was well on it's way.

A spring wedding would have been lovely. Perhaps even a sultry and romantic late summer evening affair in the gardens as Loveday and Uncle had so enjoyed. Right beautiful wedding that was. But no, I didn't mind that my wedding was to be held in the dark and drafty main hall of the De Noir Castle in the dead of winter.

And if I look on it optimistically, the orange and yellow flickering glow of the torches and candles that brought light to the space indeed offered a romantic and soft feel.
But mostly I didn't mind at all for I was marrying Robin today and nothing could have bothered me. I would have married him in the stables if it meant I could sleep in his arms tonight and every night thereafter.

Robin and I had only seen eachother once in the past two weeks. He had come to surprise me one afternoon by making a visit at the Manor. It was eight days before our wedding and the excited tension between us was electrifying. We held hands in the piano room trying ever so hard to not be made a spectacle of in front of Miss Heliotrope and Loveday as we discussed the final details of the event.

Coming to a close on our discussion, Loveday gave me a knowing look and managed to persuade Miss Helioptrope to accompany her to the kitchens. Loveday took full advantage over Miss Heliotrope's weakness for Marmaduke's exceptional culinary talents. I fought back a laugh at Loveday's cleverness.

As soon as the doors closed behind them, leaving Robin and I to ourselves, we were in eachother's arms in instant. Robin's lips met mine fervently and my hands were already tangled in his loose curls, pulling him closer into me. A soft moan escaped my lips and Robin took my parting as an invitation and slipped his tongue over my lips and across mine. I moaned again and my breathing quickened. I ached and burned and pulsed for him, to have all of him. It had been so long since he had touched me in that way. And eight days felt a lifetime away to wait.

Robin's hands slid down to my hips and he pulled me against him tightly as he broke away and brushed his mouth against my neck. His breath sent shivers down my spine, "Maria...It is torture not being able to touch you, again." He brought his lips back to mine and kissed me forcefully, urgently, with a deep hunger. That caused me to fall back onto the settee and a groan rumbled up from his chest as he followed on top of me. His tongue was over mine again and then I teased him by slipping mine into his mouth and running it along his lip.

"I want you...ever so badly, Maria." He panted into my ear. "Please tell me to stop, for I can not stop myself." For a long moment I debated his words and let his hands wander over my body. Caressing me and exciting me. Fueling the ache in me. Finally I pressed my hands against his strong chest, "Robin, we must stop..." I said, although rather regretfully, as the throbbing pulse burned in me and I longed to place Robin's hand there and let him bring such pleasures I'd so blush to recall.

Robin closed his eyes and blew out a long shaky breath and he sat up. I pulled myself up and scooted beside him and he turned to me and pressed his lips against mine ever so softly, "I love you, Maria. Soon." He said. I placed my hand in his and he brought it to his mouth and kissed the back of my hand.

"I love you, too. Soon." I agreed with a nod. Soon. Soon we'd belong to eachother and no one would be in our way. Nothing would be in our way. I'd be his and he'd be mine. He could touch me anywhere, fulfill my desires, make me to cry out in pleasure in the quiet of the night. And I him. Soon. I told myself as the fire burned in me for him. And I fought to will it away. Fought to make myself wait. Eight more days. Soon.

And eight days later I found myself stood outside the main entrance to the De Noir Castle, having just stepped out of the carriage behind Loveday. Sir Benjamin and Miss Heliotrope, and Marmaduke and Sarah followed after. And Digweed handed the reins to a coachman who would take the horse and carriage down to the stables. Digweed and Sarah pulled my trunk from the rear of the carriage and Loveday held my gown as the coachman took his post. I watched as he slapped the reins and made a noise that signaled the horse to move and trotted off down the hill towards the stables. In which I assumed where the stables, I pondered as the realisation came to me that I had yet to tour the grounds or much of the Castle for that matter.

This is my new home. I thought to myself as I stood before the soaring stone walls, frozen. The wind howled and whipped flurries of snow harshly against my face but I continued to stand there. Frozen in time. So much has changed. And so much has changed in such a small amount of time.

The flags bearing the family crest snapped loudly as another gust blew violently over the valley. It carried the freshly fallen snow with it and blanketed everything in a white mist. Uncle came rushing to my side with his arm up shielding his face. I blinked, coming back from my trance to find everyone rushing hurriedly, struggling against the wind to make their way up to the entrance of the Castle. I found myself especially calm, eerily so. As if I were merely observing from a distance. Looking at the world through a glass.

"Quickly, Maria!" Uncle shouted out me above the noise of the storm. His strong arm wrapped around my shoulders and his cloak flew open and whipped around my back. He ushered me up the the snow covered steps and gave me a stern look once we reached the door.

Mr. Bagsley, the butler, greeted us and a footman took our cloaks and led us to a drawing room. We where then immediately greeted by Lord De Noir and his manservant, Tobias. Tobias was a long and thin older man with silver hair tied at the nape of his neck by a small black ribbon. He was quiet and had kind eyes. And he gave me a timid smile from across the room.

The men accepted an invitation by Lord De Noir to his study for drinks and most likely cigars. I crinkled my nose at the thought and hoped that Robin wouldn't be paretaking. I didn't care for the smell of cigars. And they left us woman hastily to ready ourselves in the drawing room. I had not seen Robin yet and I most definitely would not be seeing him until the ceremony began. My stomach did a nervous flip. I was in such a state. Nervous and excited and nervous again. I paced about the large room pretending to admire the beautiful heavy wooden furnishings and the deep red and gold oriental rug that covered the floor between each settee.

Loveday padded over to me quietly and gave me a reassuring squeeze and smile. She caught me fiddling with a loose thread on the sleeve of my dress. She pulled me beside the fire and out of earshot of Miss Heliotrope and Sarah who had fallen into conversation of nothing in particular.

"Now it's perfectly alright to be nervous about...er...tonight, dear." She began, trying to portray a motherly warmth. My eyes grew wide at the realisation of what was to come. I was not prepared to have a lecture on intimancy. Miss Heliotrope typically thrust a book into my hands whenever uncomfortable topics had arisen. I've never had a conversation as I believed Loveday is intending to attempt with me now.

"It will all come naturally to you both...eventually, if not straightaway. But honesty is key, my dear, never be afraid to speak your mind. It will help tremendously. A man does not understand hints. He will very much appreciate being told what you like and what you do not like." I stared back at her, speechless, reading between the lines of her cryptic words. "And if you ever have any...um...questions...I am always here for you."

She squeezed my shoulders as I blushed horrifically and tried to manage an appreciative smile. But it was the thought of everyone knowing that overwhelmed me. How could I look at anyone, anyone at all today with them knowing the activities that Robin and I would soon be partaking? I put my face in my hands as the embarrassing emotions washed over me. Why did this realisation have to come to me now?

"Has Maria gone 'round the twist, then?" I heard Sarah mutter to Loveday who had joined them on the other side of the room. "Mmm." Loveday nodded with a smirk, trying to not give in to a gossiping tongue. They knew I could hear them yet they spoke as if I were not there.

"What ever have you said to the poor girl?" Miss Heliotrope admonished. "Come, Maria. No reason to fret, my dear. Here have some tea and then it'll be time to get you into your dress." I slumped down into the settee beside Miss Heliotrope and composed myself. I took a deep breath and willed the fears away. I refused to let such petty thoughts ruin a day such as this. I took a sip of my tea and put on a pleasant smile. I became excited again. In less than an hour I would be in Robin's arms again.

"Well I do ever hope my dear brother will be wearing his dagger tonight, for I have never seen so many blasted buttons on a dress before! This shall not be easy to remove!" Loveday teased, giving Miss Heliotrope quite a shock. She had sucked in her breath so harshly at Loveday's unabashed comment that she made a rather loud unladylike sound.

"Loveday, must you always tease?" I giggled and turned away from the prude Miss Heliotrope as she blushed and became speechless. "Besides, I will be given a Lady's Maid, no dagger shall be needed." I chuckled again, "I will be meeting her tonight, actually..."

"There. Done...Oh Maria, you took postively stunning!" Loveday clasped her hands together after the final button and lacing some ribbons and stepped back to take me all in.

"Stunning indeed, Maria! Just lovely!" Miss Heliotrope concurred as her eyes misted.

"Yes, Miss. Beautiful! Come, have a look-see." Sarah urged gesturing toward the tall mirror in the corner of the room. Slowly I stood before the mirror and stopped before my reflection. The dress was beautiful. I ran my hands over the delicate ivory lace and ruffled up the skirts and gave a slight twirl, catching a glimpse at the magnificantly intricate detailing of the low cut back. There were quite a few buttons indeed. Beautiful pearl buttons that started at the middle of my back and continued all the way down along the entire length of the train.

Across my lower back were pale blue satin ribbons that crossed over eachother and ended in a bow. The dress was a soft pale blue silk with a delicate layer of ivory lace over top. I did not wear a veil for the ceremony was not taking place in a church making it unecessary. My hair was curled and fell about my shoulders in perfectly formed ringlets. The front was plaited on each side, above my temple, and pinned at the back. Sarah stepped forward and draped a long ivory colored silk cloak over my shoulders and moved quickly to tie it at the hollow of my throat.

"It is time, Maria. It is time to break the curse once more. And it is time to be taken as Robin's wife." Loveday whispered to me. She took my hand in hers and squeezed it, encouraging me. I smiled at her and she grinned widely. A footman opened the doors to the main hall and I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Uncle was there and hooked my arm in his and I steadied myself by his strength. He gave me a nod and we stepped into the room which was filled nearly wall to wall with a sea of unfamiliar faces.

My eyes immediately fell to Robin and I no longer saw anyone else. No longer intimidated by all the faces there to watch me. To watch Robin and I make our vows to eachother. To witness firsthand, the curse finally coming to an end. I no longer felt that burden. The burden of being the Last Moon Princess. All I saw was Robin.

Robin stood at the far end of the extensive room and he smiled when our eyes met. Playfully, but not his usual smirk. Something more sincere. Something deeper, from love but backed with joy, excitement and a secret that only we knew. I bit my lip and felt myself blush. My heart fluttered as the excitement bubbled up into my chest.

Uncle led me down the path that was made into an aisle by the separation of the guests standing on either side of the room. There were not any chairs nor any decorations. But the guests were well dressed, bringing many colors and beauty to the ceremony. I didn't need flowers nor satin sashes nor arches and any of the sort. I just needed him.

Uncle and I reached the end of the room and my knees grew weak at how handsome I found Robin. He was in tails. Something I never expected to ever see him in. They were black with a crisp white shirt beneath it and black trousers. His hair hung in loose curls and fell into his eyes in the slightest. Uncle leant down and placed a kiss on my forehead and then placed my hands into Robin's. Robin smirked down at me and I fought the urge to jump into his arms.

The minister spoke but I was lost in Robin's eyes. "You're beautiful." He whispered to me ever so quietly. My stomach flipped at his tender adoration. And our eyes never left eachother. Our vows were made and the minister made the anouncement that Robin and I had been waiting so eagerly for. He took a step closer, closing the gap between us and slipped his warm hands around my waist. My hands floated up to his face and he paused and looked into my eyes, "You're so beautiful. I love you," and his lips came crashing down onto mine. I was his. And he was mine. I leant up onto my toes and deepened the kiss.

And we felt it.

Behind my closed eyes I saw a great light break across the room, flooding in from the windows and blinding us and a shock shook the ground. There were loud gasps and people ducked and shielded their eyes from the glare as the room was lit up as if were day. And in a flash it was gone. Several people dashed to the windows and a cheer rang throughout the crowd.

We did it. We broke the curse. The balance had been restored.

Robin turned to me awestruck, "This was all meant to be, wasn't it?" He asked. I simply nodded my head as the realisation came to me. It was all meant to be. Robin and I never would have been standing here if none of the events had so occured. They had to occur to make this come to pass. Robin took my face in his hands gently and brought me to him, pressing his lips against mine. I slid my hands around his back and leant into him, kissing him back. We pulled away at the sound of whistling and cheering and we turned toward the crowd with a blush as they clapped and cheered for us. And offered their grattitude for saving them and saving the entire valley once more.