Author's Note: I'm so sorry that it's been a little while since I posted a chapter. I'm back at college now so I don't have as much time to write, but I'll do my best to keep updating as regularly as I can. Thank you for all the lovely comments-they are so encouraging and mean a lot! I hope you all enjoy the next chapter! :)

Maria wondered if she would ever enter Moonacre Manor without being bombarded by questions and chastisements. Robin had barely closed the door before the pair were accosted by Sir Benjamin and Miss Heliotrope. Over the clamor of words, Maria managed to hear Loveday attempt to soothe her uncle.

"Give them a chance to explain, Benjamin."

"I'm sorry, Uncle," Maria said, "Robin and I originally went for a walk to clear our heads. Unfortunately, though, they just ended up getting more crowded."

"What do you mean?" responded Loveday.

"And what do you mean by scaring us all and disappearing after what happened with your eyes last night?" Miss Heliotrope added.

"I'm very sorry, I didn't want to make you all worry more. We thought it would just be a quick walk…but then a few events happened that made it last far longer." Sir Benjamin, Loveday, and Miss Heliotrope listened expectantly. Maria caught Robin's eye and he spoke slowly,

"An arrow was shot at us…we don't know who shot it." Luckily, Benjamin managed to catch Miss Heliotrope before she collapsed to the ground. Digweed, who had been standing a short distance away, hurried to help and the men carried her over to a chair. Miss Heliotrope's eyes fluttered open as she came to.

"Sh-shot at!? But the feud is over!" Miss Heliotrope stammered.

"Like Robin said, we don't know who shot the arrow, so we shouldn't jump to conclusions yet," said Maria, kneeling beside her. Maria was about to continue her story and tell the others about Safiyya, but hesitated when she saw Robin's expression. He gave a barely visible shake of the head and Maria didn't say anything more.

"Even though you don't know who shot the arrow, it still means that there is a dangerous person roaming about. Where did this happen?" asked Benjamin.

"The forest," Maria replied sheepishly. A flush rose to Sir Benjamin's cheeks but a tap on the arm by Loveday kept him from completely losing his temper.

"Of course it was in the wretched forest," he spat, "Robin," Robin met his gaze, "The de Noirs know the forest. I think it is time that we met with your father and established some form of patrol through the forest to find the culprit."

"With all due respect, sir, I agree that the forest should be searched as soon as possible, but I don't know yet if the de Noirs will do so at the word of a Merryweather." Silence filled the room as the unfortunate truth in Robin's words sank in. "Let me return to my father," he continued, "By now I'm sure he has told the others about what happened with the moonpearls. I will return here when I can to tell you more about what the de Noir response has been¾good or bad. Then we can figure out what to do next." Sir Benjamin nodded and said,

"Then I hope your trip is safe and speedy."

"Thank you, sir."

"I'll show you out," Maria said, turning to Robin. The duo walked back to the main door and exited outside. Once the door closed, Maria whirled around to face Robin and said,

"Why didn't you want me to tell them about how I saw the arrow before it was there? Or about Safiyya?"

"They've been through a lot in the past few days, Maria. The fact that an arrow was shot at us just added to the amount of things they already have to worry about. And they know that something is wrong with your sight so, at least for now, I don't think they need to know that there's more to it than just being able to see in the dark. And Safiyya? I don't even know where we'd start."

"They know that magic has returned to the valley. Just a day ago this manor was falling apart and now it's absolutely spectacular." Maria replied gesturing to her surroundings.

"That's true, but I'd rather wait to tell them until we know more. That way they can focus on easing tension between the clans and we can learn more about the magical creatures returning to Moonacre Valley and about your new abilities."

"Alright, fair enough, but then if it's just the two of us who are going to have to figure out the whole magical part out then I'm coming with you to visit your father."

"Maria, it's too soon."

"Maybe if all of us were coming, but it's just me, and I'm with you."

"And if you disappear with me one more time, I'm not sure if your uncle of Miss Heliotrope will be the first to strangle me."

"Loveday won't let that happen."

"I mean she is my sister so I'd hope not." Maria rolled her eyes and put her hand on the door handle.

"Get ready to run."

"What? Prin-" Maria flung open the door and shouted,

"I'm going to the de Noir castle with Robin! I'll be back soon!" she slammed the door shut and took off at a sprint and a bewildered Robin had no choice but to follow. Maria glanced back when they reached the edge of the grounds to see Loveday holding her uncle from chasing after the pair and Miss Heliotrope fuming beside them. Maria wouldn't be surprised if they started locking her in her room from now on. In all honesty, she couldn't blame them. Once they were out of sight of the manor Maria slowed to a walk and Robin did the same. Maria appreciated the fact that Robin was also panting slightly.

"I think we've done enough sprinting for today, princess, " he said, trying to hide the fact that he was winded.

"I can't help that I gotten good at it," Maria said with a smirk, "So what's the quickest way home, de Noir?" Robin looked around for a moment then started walking towards the forest. Maria wasn't too enthusiastic about returning to the forest but knew it was the quickest way. To her surprise, after only a few twists and turns through the trees, an overgrown path lay sprawled out in front of them. Sensing her astonishment Robin said,

"It actually leads directly to the de Noir castle, but only Loveday and I know about it. She showed it to me once back when she first started seeing your uncle. Of course, I didn't know that's what she was using it for at the time."

"How come you never told anyone? Especially when you easily could've beaten me back to Moonacre Manor when I escaped from the dungeons." Robin shifted his weight and looked down at the leaf-strewn ground.

"I don't know, maybe I wanted to give you a sporting chance."

"A sporting chance?"

"I mean I know our guards aren't the most clever people, but you did still manage to trick them and escape so I figured you deserved a level playing field."

"How thoughtful of you, de Noir."

"Don't let it go to your head Merryweather." Maria laughed and said,

"I'll do my best." Robin rolled his eyes and started down the path as Maria followed. Soon the path began to climb upwards and Maria could feel the perspiration dripping down her face. Light eventually began to seep through the thick foliage and Maria sensed that they were reaching the end of the path. Robin held up his hand to stop her and poked his head through a break in the trees. He turned back and said,

"So some of the reason why no one has found this path is because there's a river here and the current gets pretty strong at this spot. There are branches that hang over the river that you can use to crawl or climb across. And if you don't feel like going that way then we can walk down a ways to where the current isn't as strong and wade across. But admittedly, that does kind of defeat the purpose of taking this shortcut and you'll get wet." Maria poked her head through the branches and saw the river and the winding tree branches above. She wasn't too keen on relying on tree branches again after that one had broken earlier, but these seemed far sturdier and if Loveday could do this then so could she. Maria pulled her head back, took a deep breath, looked at Robin and said,

"Let's do this." Robin nodded and Maria couldn't help but wonder if he knew that she would decide to go across. Then again she did jump off a cliff into the ocean so it was a reasonable assumption.

"I'll go first so you can see how I get across. It's better to go quick because your arms and legs get tired very quickly. If you don't think you can make it all the way across go back and we'll go another way. Ready?" Maria nodded. Robin turned and began climbing up a tree. He reached a high branch that reached over the river and he wrapped his arms and legs firmly around the branch and began to inch his way across the river. It probably didn't last more than a minute before he safely reached the other side, but it felt significantly longer to Maria, especially when she realized that she had been holding her breath. Robin signaled to her that it was safe to cross. Maria reached out to grab the tree and pulled herself up. Luckily there were plenty of branches so it felt as though she were climbing stairs rather than tree. She reached the branch that Robin had used to cross the river and she wrapped her arms and legs around it just as he had and slowly inched her way across. About half way across, the fatigue in her arms and legs began to show and her brow began to sweat from concentrating so intensely. Even from the ground Robin sensed her feelings,

"You're almost there, Maria. I know you can do it." Maria closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them and resumed her journey across the river. She had almost reached the end when a sudden chilling sensation made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She jerked her head to the side to see what danger might be nearby, when the sudden movement caused her to lose her grip and her exhausted muscles couldn't recover and she fell with a loud splash into the river. Water surrounded Maria from all sides. She forced her legs to kick upwards and she broke the surface, coughing and gasping for air. She could hear Robin screaming her name, but the current was pulling her away from the sound of his voice. She let the current take her and focused her efforts on keeping her head above water. She caught a glimpse of the shore and slowly tried to lean her body in that direction. She rounded a bend and the river opened up into a muddy bank. Using the last of her strength, Maria kicked and managed to claw her way up onto the bank. She lay on her side gasping for breath, coughing up water, and feeling as though she would never be able to move again. A voice nearby said,

"Why, it's a pleasure to see you again, Miss Merryweather."