A Moonacre Fanfiction Peace on Earth

"Welcome—" Lillian broke off as she opened the door. "Oh, Robin!"

Maria looked up quickly. Her heart leapt when she heard his name—but then she gasped. Blood streaked down the front of Robin's suit.

"Robin, what happened?" She stared.

"Stabbed—a dagger—" he grunted, "can I come in?" Maria blinked.

"Why yes, of course," Lillian ushered him in, guiding him to a chair. Maria closed the door, dazed. Through the blood pounding in her ears, she was barely able to hear Lillian talking to him.

"But how did it happen? And why are you still in these clothes? Does your father know? Maria, run and get Sir Benjamin and Loveday." Lillian turned back to Robin, but Maria didn't budge. Lillian glanced back. "Maria?" Maria looked up to meet her gaze and sucked in a breath.

"Yes. Uncle and Loveday. Yes, right away." She began to walk away, but the walk quickly turned into a run. She shed her house slippers and dashed down the corridor barefoot. "Uncle? Loveday? Uncle?!" She found Loveday in a parlor room.

"Dear child, what is it?" Loveday looked up from her embroidery.

"Robin's been stabbed—oh, please come!" Loveday's eyes widened. She bolted from her seat, spilling her work across the floor.

"Take me to him—" but Maria was already running. Loveday followed back to the entry room. Lillian had removed his suit coat, revealing his white shirt that was now drenched in blood. Maria stopped short. Loveday ran into her. "I'm sorry dear," Loveday sped around her. "Robin, dear Robin, what happened?" She immediately began to inspect the wound.

"Ambrose—we fought—didn't realize he had a knife, though." He winced at Loveday's cool fingers. "Didn't want an infection. I know you could help."

"Yes, well, it was right to come here," Loveday studied it. "Lillian, we have medical supplies in the bathroom—"

"Yes, of course." Lillian disappeared in a moment.

"Dagger's in my pocket," Robin fumbled around awkwardly with his other arm, finally emerging with the weapon. It glinted cruelly. Maria shuddered, feet glued to the floor. Her gaze wandered over Robin. He had a black eye too, and bloody scrapes on his neck and jaw.

"What's all the commotion—" Sir Benjamin jogged in, Wrolf trotting at his side. "What happened to you?" He gaped. "Loveday? What…?"

"He's been stabbed, darling," Loveday answered, her voice surprisingly calm. "But he won't die." Maria let out an inaudible whoosh of air.

"Is that the dagger?" Sir Benjamin stepped forward, taking it from Robin. "Stylish. Whose is it?"

"Ambrose. A young flirt with ambition," Loveday frowned as she worked. Lillian returned with a small medical kit. "Thank you," Loveday took it quickly. "I remember him vaguely. Very popular with the girls. Not so with the gentlemen." She cleaned the wound. Robin let out a long hiss of pain.

A knock sounded at the door. Lillian started at the sound, then went to open it.

"Good morning, Lillian!" Coeur De Noir's cheerful voice rang out. "Fine day, isn't it?"

"Not at the moment, no. Please come in," Lillian's voice was strained. Coeur De Noir stepped inside and surveyed the scene, eyes settling on Robin.

"Robin?" He saw the dagger in Sir Benjamin's hands. His caterpillar eyebrows lowered in anger. "Who did this to you?" His body trembled.

"Father, he will be fine, I am sure," Loveday placated him, not looking up from her work.

"He doesn't look fine!" Coeur De Noir bellowed. "A man doesn't get stabbed by accident! Where is the culprit?"

"Ambrose took off," Robin shook his head. "I don't remember where he was heading."

"Ambrose," Coeur De Noir muttered. He glanced around. "I'll be back."

"Father, wait," Robin said. "It was my fault; I threw the first punch, anyway. He's a coward." His expression soured. "I don't like him, but he was just scared. He didn't really intend to kill me or anything." Coeur De Noir took a long hard look at his son.

"Be that as it may," he inhaled deeply, "I will have no criminals roaming my—" his gaze flickered to Sir Benjamin, "—our woods. We'll find him." He turned fully to Sir Benjamin now. "I came by foot. May I borrow—"

"Take any horse in the stable," Sir Benjamin turned to the coat rack and grabbed his cloak. "In fact, I'll come with you. I need to do something. Come, Wrolf." The men swept out of the manor.

"I'm doing what I can," Loveday said, "but we're going to need a doctor. Where's Digweed?"

"I'll find him," Lillian volunteered. "Should he take a horse into town?"

"My confidence in his riding abilities are not as sure as his driving abilities," Loveday said, coaxing a painful chuckle from Robin. "Let him take the carriage. Your cousin will want to go with him anyway."

"Very good." Lillian turned on her heel and left.

"Loveday, what can I do?" Maria had been standing long enough.

"We need to move him to a bed. Do you think we can carry him?"

"I walked all the way here," Robin protested, "I'm not completely disabled."

"You be quiet and mind the doctor." Loveday patted his cheek as one would an endearing toddler. She looked up at Maria. "If we get on either side of him, I think we can make it to the guest bedroom."

"All right." Maria stepped to the other side of him.

"Now put your arms over our shoulders," Loveday instructed, "And we'll help you stand."

"I'm not a baby," he complained. Loveday glared at him. "All right, all right." He slung his good arm over Maria, and together they hoisted him up. For several painstaking minutes, they made their way down the hall to the guest bedroom next to Lillian's. At last, they laid him down gently on the bed and lifted his legs up, his boots soiling the sheets. Robin let out a shaky breath, head sinking into the down feather pillows. Loveday stroked his disheveled curls with sisterly tenderness.

"Are you hungry?"

"Starved," he groaned. "And cold. Lillian took my coat."

"Well, we had to look at your wound, didn't we? I'll find you some food," Loveday promised. "Maria, there should be more blankets in the cedar chest over there." She glided out of the room.

Maria retrieved several warm quilts from the chest. Her heart was pounding as she neared his bedside. They were going to have a conversation. It was unavoidable. Squaring her shoulders, she braced herself for the worst.

A/N: Dear readers,

I'm thrilled to be able to update so quickly! Thank you for your reviews, most recently from Immergladsss; you cannot know how encouraging your words are! I love hearing what you as the reader think. It really does improve my writing. Thank you.

Love always,

Ponygirl7