A Moonacre Fanfiction Peace on Earth

Wrolf was the first to notice Maria's arrival. Rising from his place by the hearth, he leapt up into Maria's arms.

"Oh! Wrolf, no. Down. Yes, I love you. No, I'm cold." She waddled quickly to the fire.

"Uh…Maria?" Ambrose squeaked. Maria turned, aggravated. Then her lips quirked up in a smile. Wrolf had cornered Ambrose, growling low.

"Wrolf, it's okay. Let him be." Wrolf seemed hesitant, but he backed off and allowed Ambrose to join Maria to thaw by the fire.

"I heard voices—oh! Maria! Thank—" Sir Benjamin froze upon seeing Ambrose.

"Uncle, Ambrose helped me home. He is a guest here—"

"Maria, we locked him up at the De Noir—"

"I know, I was there," Maria snapped. Her frame relaxed. "I'm sorry. I'm very cold."

"Of course you are." Sir Benjamin helped her into a chair by the fireplace. He turned to glare at Ambrose. "You, sit." Ambrose sat. "Loveday? Darling, come down." Sir Benjamin kept his eyes on Ambrose until Loveday entered.

"Maria? Oh, my darling, are you all right? We were so—who is this?"

"Loveday, this is Ambrose, and he led me home. I was lost." Maria didn't feel much like talking, but she knew she had to explain things. "I was riding, but we were going too fast, and I couldn't see well because of the snow. I—I didn't see a low branch. Thankfully my feet slid out of the stirrups, so I wasn't dragged. Did—"

"Your horse arrived home, don't worry," Sir Benjamin said. "We knew something was wrong."

"Good, I'm glad. At any rate, I didn't know where I was, and I ran into Ambrose here, who had escaped from the De Noir dungeons. And he was kind enough to help me home." She paused before adding, "I could've died." Ambrose sought her gaze gratefully, but she didn't meet his. Though she knew it was right to show him kindness, she would rather at the moment exact revenge for what he did to Robin than be merciful.

"Well, I thank you for assisting my niece," Uncle Benjamin managed. "But I'm afraid we'll have to tie you up until—"

"Uncle," Maria broke in wearily, "he won't go anywhere. Especially not in this blizzard." Sir Benjamin took a long look out the window. Finally he sighed.

"Very well. But you will remain with me at all times. If you so much as duck out of my eyesight—"

"I get it, I understand," Ambrose held up his hands. "I'll be a good boy."

"Now that that's settled," Maria rose shakily, "how's Robin?"

"As well as can be expected," Loveday replied, "and the doctor left a little while ago. Digweed and Miss Heliotrope drove him back to town. I do hope they reached town safely. But you can see him now, if you wish. Lillian is with him now." Maria rose.

"I shall." She hobbled down the hallway, feet still half frozen. When she entered the guest room, Lillian bolted up from her chair.

"Dear, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

"Here, have a seat." Lillian guided Maria into the chair by the head of the bed. "You had us all very worried. Is everything all right with—at the De Noir village?"

"Yes, or as well as can be expected."

"Good, I'm glad. Can I get you anything?"

"Perhaps some hot cocoa?" Lillian left quickly on her mission. Maria sighed deeply.

"Don't do that," Robin said quietly.

"What?"

"Don't make me worry about you."

"Well, now you know how it feels," Maria cracked a smile. "You're still injured. Loveday said you're doing well?"

"I am," he confirmed. "What happened to you? Your horse came home without you."

"I hit a low branch. It was snowing so hard, I couldn't see."

"Where did it happen? I'll cut down the branch once I'm able."

"I don't know where it was."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know."

"Then how did you—"

"Let me explain," Maria interrupted him. She curled her feet up underneath her. "But you cannot get angry."

"Why—"

"Just don't. Because otherwise, I'll get angry too. Please listen." And she told him of the events at De Noir village and during the snowstorm. When she finished, Robin's mouth was set in a thin line.

"You mean the little rat is sitting right down the hall?"

"Robin, he helped me. I very easily could have died."

"But of all people, why did he—"

"Robin, please don't make this worse for me." She stood and began to pace. "Believe me, I don't like him any more than you do." Robin scoffed. Maria frowned. "It's true! Let's just forget about him, can't we? He'll serve his sentence." She neared his bedside to look him steadily in the eye. "We won't have to see him again unless we want to."

"It's awfully hard to forget about the guy who stabbed you."

"Well, I'll help you forget," Maria dropped a kiss on his lips. "Now do scoot over. I'm cold." He obliged, and she climbed in beside him. She let out a little sigh, ruffling his neck feathers. "I hope Miss Heliotrope and Digweed are all right. They drove the doctor back to town. Do you think they'll stay there?"

"Digweed has good sense. They'll be fine."

"I hope she won't worry about their reputation."

"What do you mean?" He asked. Maria propped her head up with her arm so she could look at Robin.

"She was already worried about the stir marrying him would cause. She's an educated gentlewoman. He's a servant. It doesn't…it doesn't look good."

"I don't understand."

"Me neither. But that is the way of the world. And she loves him enough—well, it's worth the risk, you see."

"I see." He twisted a finger around her unruly copper curls. She smiled.

"But if Miss Heliotrope and Digweed have to stay the night in town—even you must understand the problem there. Of course they will be married, but they are not wed yet."

"Outside the bounds of propriety, hm?" He twirled her hair.

"Precisely."

"And I don't suppose our current situation is breaking any of those rules of etiquette?" He grinned. She closed her eyes and leaned back into her pillow.

"Oh, we're probably breaking a thousand. But at the moment, I couldn't care in the slightest." Robin chuckled.

"When have you ever broken rules? I must be having a negative effect on you." She opened her eyes and slid them lazily over to meet his.

"Probably. Well, I'll just leave then." She did not move. "I'm walking away." A yawn escaped her little mouth. "Right now." She closed her eyes and snuggled closer to him. Yes, this was good. And she was tired.

Lillian walked in a few minutes later with the hot cocoa. Her eyes softened at the sweet sight. Then, quietly, she set the cocoa down on the table and slipped out unnoticed.

A/N: Dear readers,

Thank you for reading this! Thank you also for your patience. You are sweet and kind and funny and I am thankful today for you :) Also, please review!

Cheers!

Ponygirl7