A Moonacre Fanfiction Peace on Earth

Maria began to pad quickly down the stairs, but she hadn't gotten very far before she felt arms close round about her.

"And just where do you think you're going in those bare feet, young lady?" Robin scolded in her ear.

"I don't want to be the cause of your strained muscles," Maria wriggled in vain.

"You don't seem to have much faith in me," he grunted, sweeping her up bridal-style.

"Well, if you wake up tomorrow unable to move your arms, mark it down to your unsolicited show of bravado. I wash my hands of the whole affair."

"Very well," he chuckled, lightly stepping down the stairs. "And what do we have planned for tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, tomorrow," Maria swished the word around in her mouth. "Tomorrow—tomorrow we bake. The cranberry bread." She nodded resolutely. "Then I'll work on the baby blanket."

"You want me to help you bake?"

"That's why I said 'we'."

"I'm not much good at cooking."

"I'll order you around. You'll be marvelous."

"How can a fellow refuse such an offer?"

"It wasn't an offer; it was a demand."

"Well in that case, I'm left with no choice."

"I'm glad you see it my way." She kissed his cheek.

"Will I get some of the batter?"

"Perhaps if you're a very good little boy."

"I will be."

"No you won't."

"You know me too well," he grinned. "Is the ball still going on?"

"I imagine so. I hope so; otherwise you'll have to walk home alone. And it wouldn't look very good: you and I emerging from who knows where, dusty and happy."

"What are you implying?"

"It's not what I'm implying, it's what others would insinuate."

"Well, I have a spotless reputation, I don't know about you."

"Do you indeed?"

"No," he admitted, "but anyway, I think I still hear music. No one will have noticed we've gone."

"I hope so," Maria sighed, leaning back into his shoulder, his feathers tickling her chin. They had only just begun to court. Rumors would not do. But music was beginning to float up the stairwell; Robin's hunter senses had proven themselves once more.

Presently they reached the ground floor. Robin set Maria down and she retrieved her shoes, stepping into them with pinched lips and toes.

"I do wish I could wear boots like you," she grumbled.

"I'd offer mine, but I don't think my feet would fit in your shoes." Robin tried to sound regretful.

"You wouldn't last a day in these shoes. No man would." Maria tossed her head. A slight cloud of dust issued up from her movement. "Heavens, I'd better freshen up." She glanced up at him. "You too; there's a restroom around the corner here." Robin followed her into a small bathroom. Maria found a cloth, rinsed it in the basin, and scrubbed her face. Then she handed it to Robin for him to do the same. Her blue taffeta gown was not besmirched, thank goodness. Gowns…Lillian.

"Robin, I have to get something for Lillian!" Maria exclaimed. "I completely forgot. How could I have forgotten her?"

"We could give her my father."

"Robin!" she scolded him, rolling her eyes. "I'm being serious."

"So am I."

"We don't have much grounds for suggesting such things. We only know that he likes her, and she might like him. Nothing beyond that. But I do need to think of something for her, I can't have her feeling left out—"

"Calm down. We'll make her fruitcake too."

"Cranberry bread."

"Is there a difference?"

"Oh Robin, don't ever ask Marmaduke that. Yes, there is a difference." She ran a hand over her hair. Mostly intact. Good. "Are you cleaned up?" She turned to inspect him. His skin glowed fresh and clean, and his dark curls bounced with renewed vigor. "You do clean up rather nicely," she admitted, nodded in approval.

"I could say the same for you."

"Thank you."

"I could, but I didn't."

"Oh, you—" she slapped him gently, but he caught her hand and kissed it with all the charm of a young gentleman. "We'd better get back to the dance," Maria said, thought at the moment she would rather do anything but that. Robin exhaled.

"You're right." He dropped her hand and gave as elaborate a bow as one could perform in so small a bathroom. "Shall we?"

"We shall indeed." They quit the bathroom and made their way back to the dance. Robin opened the door for her, and they were dazzled once more by the light and splendor of the ballroom. Thankfully the musicians were playing and couples were dancing, so Robin and Maria slipped in without drawing attention.

"Hungry?" Robin asked.

"Famished," Maria replied. She was, in fact, not very hungry at all, but the fact that Robin asked proved that he was hungry, and she wasn't going to make him feel awkward by eating alone. "I'll find us two seats if you'll find us some food."

"Done." Robin nodded in agreement as though it were a trade deal. They split up, and Maria skirted around the dance floor to the tables. She found Lillian seated alone at a table of four. Frowning, Maria drew near a chair.

"Are you saving these seats?" Maria asked, though her underlying question was, had everyone left sweet Lillian all alone with no one to talk to, and if so, why in the world had they done so?

"No; not all." So Maria sat down, wholly disappointed. But Lillian went on: "Coeur De Noir is returning shortly with refreshments, I hope." Maria's eyes lit up.

"I see." She smiled. "Robin is off on the same mission." She allowed a moment of appropriate silence before saying, "And are you enjoying the evening?"

"Very much so, yes," Lillian's eyes were dreamy, and Maria could easily guess the reason. But then it seemed difficult for Lillian to come back down to reality by herself, so Maria assisted.

"Have you done much dancing? You and Coeur De Noir were very good when you practiced together."

"Thank you; yes, we've done a good deal of dancing. Who would have thought that two old antiques like ourselves would have such fun?"

"You're hardly antiques," Maria laughed merrily. "If I were to wager, I'd bet that you were more graceful than half the young couples on the floor. Weren't you?" she directed this at Coeur De Noir, who had sat down.

"I don't know about me, but Lillian was downright stunning." He emphasized the last word with a little wag of the head. Lillian flushed very prettily, cheeks rosy next to her fern green dress. Maria indulged in a secret smile.

"I believe it."

"Say, where's my son gone off to? He hasn't left you, has he?" Coeur De Noir's heavy brows lowered.

"Oh, no, sir. He's getting refreshments. And as it turns out, he is a fine dancer." Coeur De Noir leaned forward in disbelief.

"My Robin? Balderdash."

"No, 'tis true. Loveday taught him."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

"Believe what, Father?" Robin asked, handing Maria a plate and glass before sinking into a chair.

"Maria here claims you can dance."

"Maria does not lie, Father."

"Indeed?"

"We should be happy to show you right now," Robin stood and offered Maria his hand. She glanced at him, then took it. "Watch and learn, Father." Robin winked, then escorted Maria out onto the floor, where another dance was going to start soon.

"Weren't you hungry?" Maria murmured up to him.

"Yes, but proving myself to my father is something I have rarely been able to do. Life at Moonacre was very different before you got here, you know."

"I know," she said soberly. Robin and his father had often been at odds. "Well then," she brightened up, "we shall show your father the best dancing he has ever seen."

"Yes?"

"Yes. I happen to have had over a dozen years of dance lessons, and if ever there was a reason for them, this is it."

"Let's do this, then." His dark eyes were already dancing.

A/N: Dear reader,

Thank you so much for continuing with me on this story! It has been about a year since the first chapter was published; I am hoping to finish it before 2018 is out! Your reviews are greatly appreciated, and your ideas for future plots, characters, settings, conflicts etc. are heartily welcomed. I will no longer waste your time, but I wish you a Merry Christmas and happy reading!

Your

Ponygirl7