Chapter 7

Author's Note: Hello again! Thank you so much for all the comments! I honestly get so excited (embarrassingly so haha) when I get a notification that someone has reviewed/followed/favorited my story. It is very humbling and I thank you for continuing to read and enjoy my story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Also I'm so sorry for the awkward Robyn/Robin discrepancy in the previous chapter (I have another story where the character's name is spelled Robyn but for Secret of Moonacre it is Robin). I will be more aware during my editing process for future chapters (I knew at some point I was going to have an annoying error somewhere in this learning process haha). I go back to college in a couple weeks so I don't know when I'll get the chance to post again, but rest assured it's not my style to leave work unfinished. Well this note is getting far too long, so happy reading and let me know what you think! :)

Maria felt as though her entire body was enveloped by warmth. Robin gently reached his free hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Her eyelids fluttered open as their lips parted. Robin had the most gleeful smile on his face, and Maria sensed that her own smile mirrored his. They held eye contact and Maria couldn't help but admire the handsome shade of brown in his eyes that so fittingly matched his hair. Both of them stood there for some time, neither of them knowing quite what to say, but being perfectly content in the moment. Finally, Robin spoke,

"Well, that's not exactly how I expected this tour to end."

"I concur," Maria said, brushing her hair over her shoulder as she blushed. "At least now I know for certain that you were jealous of Richard." Robin rolled his eyes and said,

"Jealous of Richard? I think not."

"Mmhmm, whatever you say de Noir. I think you're developing a little soft spot." Robin rolled his eyes again but did not disagree.

"I do have a favor to ask, though," Robin took a breath as Maria waited for him to continue, "I'd really appreciate if we didn't tell anyone about what happened. At least not while everything is so volatile. And I hate to say it, but this gives Dulac even more reason to despise you and your family. We can't risk him getting word of…us." The word "us" hung strangely in the air, and despite the severity of Robin's statement, Maria liked how it sounded. The feeling disappeared quickly, though, as the reality of the situation erupted out of her muddled thoughts. She bit her lip as she knew that, unfortunately, Robin was right.

"I see what you mean…and for our safety, as well as our families, I won't say anything."

"Thank you, Maria," Robin said bending to give her a kiss on the cheek and a subsequent smile.

"You're welcome Robin. In any case, I don't know how your father would feel knowing that both of his children ended up having romantic relationships with Merryweathers," Maria said, laughing. Robin joined in her laughter saying,

"I agree. And for my own sake, and especially that of my neck, I'm glad we won't be telling your uncle anytime soon."

"Ah yes, I don't think he'd be too happy about my fraternizing with a common thief," Maria said with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Common? I've spent years honing my skills, thank you very much Miss Merryweather." Their merriment continued on and neither could remember the last time they had felt so elated. Robyn, still smiling, glanced around and said,

"Man, if David knew about this he'd-" abruptly Robin stopped taking and almost immediately a somber mood seeped into the room. Maria saw Robin clench his jaw and stare at the ground as he closed himself off. She gently reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"David was the friend Richard mentioned right? Dulac's brother?" Robin's eyes met Maria's and she could see they had gone bitter. "By blood only. It doesn't matter now though. Blood is thickest, after all." Maria moved closer, taking his arm.

"You and I both know that true-we've proved it. Please tell me?" Robin looked as though he wasn't going to continue, but, somewhat to Maria's surprise, his jaw unclenched ever so slightly and he spoke,

"David is-was-my oldest friend. His parent died when he and Dulac were very young. Their father was very close to my father, and he decided to take them in to honor his departed friend. Dulac was Loveday's age and David was mine so it worked out pretty nicely. They'd play various childhood games together as would David and I. Sometimes the four of us would even play together. Our favorite game was hide and go seek." Robyn smiled faintly as the memories before his face turned grim once more, "Childhood, unfortunately, does not last and everything becomes a lot more complicated. We all began to train rather than play. As we got older, Dulac's feelings for Loveday also became more romantic in nature. She didn't reciprocate though as she could only see him as a friend and brother. Of course, my father didn't really care about that. He knew that Dulac was interested in one day asking for Loveday's hand in marriage and, as far as he was concerned, it was the perfect match. After all, he'd basically been grooming Dulac to take his place when he was gone."

"Over you? His actual son?" Maria couldn't help but interject in disbelief. Robin merely gave a small nod and continued.

"When Loveday discovered that she was promised to Dulac she tried to run away. I was the only one she told. But then…she came back happier than I'd seen her since we were small children. Now I realize that this is when she first met and fell in love with your uncle. My sister's smart though, she knew she had to wait until he proposed to finally leave. At the time I just thought she'd changed her mind and I didn't give it much thought. When she left for good, though, and we found out she was marrying a Merryweather through word of mouth, the only person possibly more angry than my father was Dulac. Of course he'd been raised to hate the Merryweathers same as the rest of us, but now the hate had reached a personal level. When we ran into him that night at the cliff, I thought for sure he would do something impulsive when he saw Loveday. Luckily I think his anger over the moonpearls temporarily clouded his feelings for my sister. I can't say the same if they end up meeting again."

"And what was David doing throughout all of this?" Robin shrugged.

"For the most part he was just a friend who was present through all these experiences. I think people underestimate the value in that sometimes. I can tell you he's not at all like his brother. Sure, they're both skilled fighters, but that's about where the similarities end. Dulac was ruthlessly ambitious, but David was content with whatever role he was given. That's incredibly rare here. He was also surprisingly kind, even though he learned to hide it well and never let it affect his ability to follow orders. Still, the most he is capable of is strong dislike, not hate and it was for that reason that I was surprised he went with Dulac. But then again maybe he'd changed more than I realized." Robin finished, resuming his gaze at the ground. Maria squeezed his arm and said,

"Thank you, Robin." Robyn glanced up and managed a weak smile before shaking his head and clearing his thoughts.

"I suppose it's time we go meet my father-we've had ample time to conclude our tour."

"You're actually letting me come with you?" Maria said in mild disbelief.

"I meant what I said in my apology, and the fact that we kissed doesn't change that," he replied. He smiled and then led the way out the door and locked it once the pair were outside. Maria hoped she'd come back soon as it did remind her so much of her room at Moonacre Manor. Robin led the way back to the main dining hall and this time Robin and Maria's arms occasionally grazed one another's as they walked in contrast to the noticeable gap between them when they'd left. Not much else had changed since they'd left except, Maria noticed, that a woman now sat in the place that she had occupied earlier. The figure turned and Maria was overjoyed to see that it was Loveday. Maria hurried up to Loveday and flung her arms around her in a grand hug. It seemed like it had been so long since they last saw each other, though in reality it hadn't been long at all.

"I'm glad to see you're not in harm's way, Maria. You've worried your uncle, Miss Heliotrope, and I half to death for the dozenth time in less than a week."

"I'm so terribly sorry, Loveday," Maria said with remorse, "but I knew Uncle wouldn't let me come here alone so I knew I'd have to go with Robin."

"More like conveniently force him to," Loveday said with a knowing smile. Maria shrugged sheepishly. Coeur de Noir had been watching the interaction unfold from the end of the table and decided to enter during the lull in the conversation,

"I'm afraid Loveday has grave news," he announced somberly. Robin and Maria immediately stared at Loveday with apprehension. She sighed deeply then spoke,

"One of the villages on Merryweather lands was pillaged and plundered last night, leaving many injured and some dead. And it's not exactly a game of chess to figure out who the culprit is."

"Dulac," Robin spat. Loveday nodded.

"But they're innocent," said Maria. Loveday was about to speak, but Coeur de Noir interrupted saying,

"While our feud was long and gruesome, both the de Noirs and the Merryweathers did our best to keep innocent people from being caught in the crossfire. Now it appears Dulac wants to rile them up and make them turn on both families."

"A clever plan," Robin said bitterly.

"We can stop him, though. Capture him and his men before they harm any other villages," Maria said earnestly. Coeur de Noir smiled sadly.

"I'm afraid we're already several steps behind him. We'd sent scouts out to attempt to uncover Dulac and his men's whereabouts, but Henry informed me this morning that they had stumbled across a village-similarly destroyed as the one Loveday mentioned-but on de Noir lands." Maria felt her stomach churn. "The people are angry and we must be ready when their wrath boils over."

"If they are told the truth, though, if we tell them the feud is over-that we're being set up-then we can put a stop to this."

"It's hard to reason with a person who has had everything dear to them destroyed." Maria tried to swallow the growing lump in her throat but it refused to give up its grasp. Suddenly an idea sparked in her head and the fiery red head said,

"They might not be willing to listen, but it's hard to ignore what can be seen with the eyes. If we capture Dulac-de Noirs and Merryweather's together-and show our shared victory throughout all the villages, then there will at least be justice for those who've been lost."

"Merely capture?" Coeur de Noir asked. Maria didn't like the expression on his face. "It's not a bad idea, save that one detail. They won't merely want him captured." Maria found it was becoming more and more difficult to breathe. Apparently, both of the the de Noir siblings were especially attuned to her senses as Loveday interrupted saying,

"I think we've discussed battle strategy enough for now. In any case, most of this plan depends upon us first locating Dulac and the scouts are already out trying to do that very thing and we can't do anything before they find him. It's nearly time for dinner and I'm sure everyone is famished." As if on cue, Maria felt her stomach rumble in spite of the fact that the conversation still made her feel queasy. She quickly sat next to Loveday and Robin moved to the opposite side of the table to sit across from them. Maria could see the concern etched in his face every time he looked at her. She gave him a weak smile, but could tell it did nothing to reassure him. Hoping a little conversation would keep her mind occupied, Maria turned to Loveday and said,

"I'm surprised my uncle let you come,"

"Well, as you can imagine, he tried his hardest to dissuade me. But when news of the village arrived at the Manor and your exact whereabouts were still unknown, we decided it was best for me to see if you had arrived safely, as I'd be least likely to incite anger here. That and I actually know how to get here."

"Yes, I remember," Maria said. Robin, who had been casually listening, looked confused. "That day that I first came here with the key…it was Loveday who brought me to the castle," Maria explained.

"She did?" said Robin, surprised.

"Well, kind of," Maria said glancing sideways at Loveday.

"I left her alone…which was not what I should've done. I'm lucky Maria was resourceful enough to escape from here otherwise this whole valley might no longer exist."

"And it was because of me that you couldn't bear to accompany her to your home," Coeur de Noir added. Loveday could not meet her father's eyes.

"But you came after me this time," Maria said reassuringly, trying to break the awkwardness that had descended upon the table. Loveday looked at her, grateful. Maria smiled back. Suddenly the sound of frantic footsteps could be heard and the group glanced up to see Henry practically tumbling down the entryway stairs. His hat was tipped askew on his head and his eyes were frantic. He raced up to Coeur de Noir and, breathless, said,

"Sir, you need to see what's outside."