A Moonacre Fanfiction Peace on Earth

"Robin, Maria, the doctor is here! Right this way, sir," Loveday's bright voice echoed down the corridor. Maria took the seat beside Robin's bed at the sound of Loveday's voice. A portly middle aged man followed Loveday into Robin's chambers. He was about what one would expect from a small town doctor. Lillian, Digweed, and Miss Heliotrope trailed in behind him, faces flushed from their hurry. Maria stood in surprise, trying to ignore the unpleasant stench of sweat. One more warm body in the room and they could sufficiently qualify as a furnace. Maria glanced quickly at Robin, who winked. She smiled in gratitude and made her way out of the small, clammy room.

Maria's absent walking led her to the front entryway. She picked up Robin's coat, tossed over the back of a chair near the fire. It had dried now. She slipped it on, glorying in the warmth from the fire. Her fingers, sliding into the pockets, touched something cold and hard. She frowned. Her hand surfaced with a brooch. The brooch Maria had intended to give to Miss Heliotrope. Her frown cleared as she admired the tiny amethyst jewels. She held it up to the window, letting the light glint off it. Then a dark black form appeared in the corner of her view. She glanced up, squinting in the bright whiteness reflected by the snow. Wrolf bounded toward her, followed by a horse. Worry flickered across Maria's face. There had been two horses. She pulled on some boots sitting nearby and dashed out the door.

"Wrolf!" she caught him just as he leapt up on her. "Good boy, yes. But where is…" she nodded to Uncle Benjamin, who trotted up alongside her. "Yes?"

"We caught him—it wasn't very difficult," Uncle Benjamin allowed a smile, "and Coeur De Noir has taken him back to his village."

"What for?"

"I…trial, perhaps? I'm not sure."

"May I go?"

"To the De Noir Village? Well…how's Robin?"

"All right. The doctor is here now. Please, Uncle."

"Don't you think we ought to allow Coeur De Noir to deal with this?"

"I won't interfere, most likely."

"Most likely." He repeated drily. He scanned the perimeter of the yard as though it would yield a decision. Finally his gaze came to rest back on Maria. "All right. But be wise. And don't stay too long."

"Of course." She beamed up at him. He sighed and dismounted, patting the horse's neck. "He hasn't worked hard today. He's been wanting a good run."

"I'll let him," she grinned, adding after a look from her uncle, "only when the trail is sure."

"I'd hate to have him step false and hurt himself."

"Yes, Uncle. We'll be safe." She was already mounting.

"Are you warm enough?"

"Yes; I didn't think Robin would need his coat anytime soon. I'll be back before sundown, I promise." She shortened the stirrups.

"Very well. I'll come and get you if there's any change." Maria frowned questioningly. "In his condition. Robin's." Sir Benjamin clarified. She nodded, taking up the reins.

"All right." Her heels nudged her mount's sides, and they took off across the snowy white grounds. She alternated trotting and cantering when the trail looked all right. Most of the snow was still packed down.

As she approached the long straightaway through the woods, she clucked gently and nudged. The horse needed little encouragement, and he lengthened his stride into a gallop. The cold wind stung Maria's face, but it woke her up, too. Suddenly she felt very alive, invigorated. When at last she had to pull him down to a trot, they were both breathing hard, clouds of warm air floating up from their mouths. Finally they made their way up to the De Noir Village, passing through the gates. Maria dismounted and tied her horse up at the hitching post, where a young groom attended to him.

"Thank you," Maria said, "tell me, do you know—"

"Blimey, you're Maria!" The little boy peered up at her. "They're in the dungeons, I think. I heard what happened to Robin. Sorry. Say, did you really jump off a cliff?"

"Uh, thank you. Yes, I did." She turned to go, but he kept talking.

"Was it fun? I always wanted to fly. But I guess hitting the water wouldn't be fun. Or would it? Was it?"

"It was—um, well, I thought I'd die, you see."

"So then…it wasn't fun?"

"No, not really."

"I'm jealous of Robin."

"Beg your pardon, what?"

"I'm jealous. If you were younger, I'd get you, you see. But you're older, so he got you."

"I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"To marry!"

"Robin and I aren't married."

"Oh. Well, but you will. It's ineni—inevin—inveti—"

"Inevitable?"

"Yes, that's it."

"Well, I wouldn't say it's inevitable, but…but jealousy really isn't good, ah—what's your name?"

"Theodore De Noir. My dad was killed by a bear, I think. Some people call me Dora for short, 'cept that's my mom's name." Maria processed this.

"I see. Well, I'll call you Theodore. Theodore, jealousy really can't do anything good. It can only make you hate someone or something, and hate's not good, is it? And anyway, you wouldn't want to marry me, even if you were my age. You see, I'm terribly stubborn and I can be very irritable. No, I think you'll find a very nice girl your age to marry. Don't worry too much about it; you can't change anything by worrying. Isn't that right?"

"I guess."

"All right then. I'm off to the dungeons. Goodbye!"

"Bye!"

Maria walked briskly away. While Theodore was a cute child, she had more pressing matters to deal with. As she descended into the dungeons, flashbacks of her last time here assaulted her. She and Robin had been at odds. She'd been taunted, tossed into a cell. She shivered.

Voices echoed. She recognized Coeur De Noir's deep bark. Taking a deep breath, she plunged ahead into the darkness. She remembered what Robin had said. Ambrose was a cowardly, ambitious charmer. He had doubtless broken many hearts in this village. She quickened her angry pace. She would make Ambrose sorry he'd ever hurt a woman.

For as we all know, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

A/N: Dear readers,

Happy Easter! I'm reveling in a little spare time. This chapter was kind of an in-between, but it seemed necessary. What do you think of Theo? If you've read my other fanfics 'A Breach of Etiquette' and/or 'Building a Life', you'll recognize Theodore's parentage. Opinions on him, anyone? Do you enjoy little kids, or should we pull a Jane Austen and boot out most of the preteens? (No offense to Austen, I adore her.) Shoutout to Immergladsss for being so prompt and sweet in your reviewing! Ok, yes, yes, I'll wrap it up. Thanks for your time and reviews, you kindhearted gentlefolk!

Blessings,

Ponygirl7