Chapter Five ~ The De Noir Castle

It had been a few days now since I had met Jude. I hadn't seen her since that day. I pressed Robin to let me see her again, but he only told me it would be difficult considering that her mother wouldn't allow her in the forest. To this, I suggested me going to De Noir castle. Robin banished that idea in a flash without a reason. Which just made me more determined to see Jude again.

"Loveday," I began. Loveday and I were sitting out in the garden on one of the swing benches. Today was another beautiful sunny day. It would have been wasted to spend it inside.

"Yes, Maria?" Loveday smiled. I began to pick at the petals from the flower that I had just and so picked from Loveday's rose garden.

"How come Robin does not want me to go to the De Noir castle?" I watched as her smile turned down to a frown.

"What do you mean?" She enquired.

"I met Jude the other day," I began. Her face nodded with understanding. "I want to see her again, but Robin won't let me go up to the castle." Loveday's eyebrows creased together.

"I don't see why not." She muttered. "My brother is just being an arrogant fool. There is no problem with you going there at all. Father will not mind."

"Yes but Robin refuses to take me." Loveday didn't speak for a few moments then she smiled and took my hand.

"Looks like you and I are going on an outing up to De Noir castle then." She grinned.

"Will Uncle mind?" I asked.

"Of course not." She shook her head. "Now go get your coat and I'll inform Benjamin and Mrs Heliotrope where we're going."

I rushed to get my coat from my room and skipped down the staircase in a hurry. Loveday, Uncle and Mrs Heliotrope stood in the entrance hall. Loveday beamed up at me, whilst Uncle and Mrs Heliotrope looked slightly wary.

"We will be back for dinner." Loveday promised. I stood by her side, watching both my uncle and Mrs Heliotrope's faces.

"Are you sure this is wise?" Mrs Heliotrope stuttered. "She has not been up to De Noir castle since that day she ran away and that was almost a year ago!"

"Everything will be fine, Mrs Heliotrope." I sighed. Her lip began to stutter on the words that she was trying to say, but failing.

"Last time she was in that place, she was put in a dungeon." Uncle spoke, his eyes watching Loveday. She merely shrugged.

"I guarantee that won't happen again." She smiled. "Now stop you're worrying, Maria and I need to be on our way." She took my hand.

"But…" Mrs Heliotrope managed, though she saw Loveday's determination and her persistence disappeared. "I shall see you at dinner, Maria." I could tell she was still trying to work out whether or not the statement would be true. I rolled my eyes and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek then Loveday and I left.

I wasn't quite sure how to get to De Noir castle. I was too busy running last time to take in my surroundings. Loveday lead with no hesitation. She was a De Noir after all.

"So, are there any plans for new little Merryweather?" I asked as we were walking. Loveday smiled at this.

"I want a baby, though I'm not sure whether Benjamin is too happy with the idea." She replied. "Having women in his home is nearly enough to drive him mental, nether mind a screaming child." I laughed lightly at this.

"I'm sure he'll warm to the idea if it was reality." I pressed. "He's all words. If it came down to it, I bet he'll be a wonderful father." Loveday nodded in agreement.

"It's been so long since we got married and still I am not pregnant." She sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if we're doing something wrong." There was a short silence as what she said processed in my head. I frowned.

"Eww, Loveday please!" I cried. Loveday laughed and put an arm around my shoulders.

"Wait until you're in love, my child." She said softly. "Then you'll understand."

"Even when that day may come, that doesn't give you an excuse to talk about what you and Uncle get up to in your own private time." Loveday laughed again.

I began to recognise where we were. We were close to where Loveday previously lived before her and Uncle had gotten married. We passed the cave and Loveday came to a halt, staring down at the cavern smiling.

"To think, I used to live down there." She muttered. Soon enough, De Noir castle came into view. We walked up the slope towards the gates together. I was aware of looks we were receiving, well what I was receiving. Loveday was a regular visitor to these grounds, I however have only been here once and when I was here I defiantly was not welcome.

"Lady Merryweather," The guard at the gate exclaimed. It was odd to hear Loveday being addressed as 'Lady Merryweather' though it was her title. "Your father had not informed me of your visit." I glanced up at Loveday, unsure if this was such a good idea after all. I did not like the lingering eyes of the men, they were unsure if I was supposed to be here. Of course they couldn't do anything with Loveday here. I hoped not.

"Maria and I have come to surprise my brother." Loveday explained. "Is he in?"

"I'm not sure, m'lady." The guard said. "I think your father has sent him on patrol today, though I could be wrong." Patrol? What needed patrolling?

"Oh, well we'll wait inside then." Without a moments pause the guard opened the gate and stepped aside to let us past. Loveday nodded her thanks and guided me through the gate. I heard the gate being locked behind us. I glanced back over my shoulder to see the guard scrutinize me in an odd way. I quickly wiped my head back around and rushed to Loveday's side. I was suddenly very nervous.

We headed inside the castle through the main doors, unlike the one I used on my last visit and entered and very large entrance hall. It was much different to home's one. This one was huge and dark, a lot like the rest of the castle. The walls were all stone, with flamed torches hanging on the walls, crackling. Numerous tapestries hung on the stone walls, but otherwise they were bare.

Loveday lead me down a long corridor and into a room, which I recognised immediately. It was the great hall. The one Coeur de Noir and his minions were eating in when I turned up. The long table inhabited most of the room. I saw the various doors leading off, one of which was where Robin lead me down to the dungeons. The memories were all still fresh in my mind.

The room was pretty much empty apart from the small group gathered at the head of the table, who had not noticed our entrance. Sat down at the head was Coeur de Noir with a firm look placed on his face. Stood up in the place to his right was Robin, his arms were folded across his chest and he looked as though he was listening intently to what his father had to say. Filling up the other three occupied seats were Robin's, as Mrs Heliotrope would put it, gang of misfits. This was the first time I had seen them since I escaped from this place. The last figure of the group was Mr Gomez. He looked the most relaxed out of them all. He was leaning against the back of one of the chairs, his face slightly interested in the conversation, though he seemed to wish he was else where.

I glanced up at Loveday.

"We shouldn't be here." I muttered. She rolled her eyes.

"Don't be ridiculous." She sighed. She then turned back to the De Noir party and coughed loudly. The sound echoed around the hall, stopping Coeur de Noir mid-sentence. The six of them all turned in our direction.

"Dear daughter!" Coeur de Noir cried, standing up. His chair scraped loudly on the hard floor. He walked towards us, arms open. He hugged Loveday and then kissed her on both cheeks. He then smiled down at me, took my hand then kissed it lightly. "What do we owe the greatness of both your presence?" He asked.

"Just a visit." Loveday replied sweetly. "We weren't interrupting anything, were we?" She glanced back at the other men.

"Of course not!" Mr De Noir exclaimed. "Come join us." He headed swiftly back to his place at the head of the table. The other men glanced at each other, warily. There was no doubt about it, we must have walking in on a very important conversation. Loveday took my hand and lead me over, so we could stand next to the table.

"Of course, Maria hasn't seen the castle properly," Loveday began. "As last time she was here, she was rudely thrown into those filthy dungeons." Robin's friends sniggered at this. I sent them glares, though they didn't seem them.

"I doubt our humble home will be anything compared to your magnificent manor back at Moonacre though, I'm afraid." Mr De Noir chuckled.

"Maria can be the judge of that." Loveday smiled. "Now, we will carry on with our exploration and leave you gentlemen to carry on with your planning and scheming. Robin, you have no objection of us going into your room do you?" Robin frowned and opened his mouth to speak, though Loveday cut him off. "I didn't think so. Come along, Maria." Again there was sniggers from Robin's friends, though this time it was it was to his expense. The Great Robin De Noir had been silenced by his 'traitor' sister. I would have laughed along with them, though Loveday had already turned and was dragging me from the great hall and back into the corridor.

"Loveday, I'll kill you if you go into my room." Robin called.

"Of course you will, brother." Loveday laughed. I giggled at this and glanced over my shoulder. Robin was glaring into the back of Loveday's head. Though once he saw me watching him, his face softened and he smiled at me. I had no time to return it as Loveday pulled me around the corner and we were out of sight.

The rest of the castle Loveday showed me seemed much the same as the Great hall. Dark. It seemed as though the De Noir name had been incorporated in the home they lived in. I couldn't deny though that it was a magnificent building.

We headed up some stone steps and into a long corridor. We carried on right to the end and stopped at the end room.

"This is my room." Loveday announced before turning the handle and opening the old wooden door. Loveday's room seemed much lighter than the rest of the castle. The stone walls seemed lighter and the tapestries hanging from the walls seemed much more for a girl. I couldn't of imagined Loveday living in a place like this. She seemed so out of place in the De Noir household. Though it was a true fact she was a De Noir and had lived within these walls most of her life, until her father kicker her out for 'going against their family name' and falling for my uncle, a Merryweather.

As I was gazing around Loveday's room there was the sound of footsteps outside and seconds later a woman appeared at the door.

"Oh, I'm sorry, my lady." She said quickly, her face cringing in embarrassment. "I did not know you were visiting today." Loveday smiled at her fondly.

"There is no need to apologise, Mrs Harper." Loveday began. "I was just showing Maria around the castle." Mrs Harper turned to me and admired me in an odd way.

"Pardon me, Miss." She began nervously. "But are you Master Robin's Maria?"

"Yes she is." Loveday nodded, her eyes lingering on me, waiting for my reaction. Mrs Harper's words had stunned me.

Robin's Maria. The feeling that I felt as the words left Mrs Harper's mouth was unexplainable. A feeling of warmth and a familiar phrase came to mind as the only explanation to it. Butterflies in my stomach. I knew full well what this implied. I quickly dismissed the thoughts from my head. I would not let myself be overwhelmed with such childish dreams. But how could I get rid of this so easily? I spent so much of my time with the young De Noir. He was my best friend. I was dependant on him and I really couldn't remember my life before Moonacre when he was not there to tease me and make me laugh. It seemed impossible and unthinkable. But I was just a silly little girl. Robin was a De Noir, a handsome one at that, and probably had women, much older and much prettier than I, who were falling to their knees all wanting to court him. There was no point me even bothering. It was a childish thought.

"We have heard a lot of things about you, Miss Maria." Mrs Harper said, breaking me out my trail of thoughts. "So many wonderful things." She smiled at me warmly. "You are indeed a Moon Princess, are you not?" I could only nod at this.

"Maria's met your daughter, Mrs Harper." Loveday said suddenly. Both Mrs Harper and I turned to her, confused. "After she ran away and into the forest the other day. Maria found her." I then realised.

"You're Jude's mother?" I asked. Mrs Harper nodded. It was then I saw the resemblance.

Mrs Harper's skin was flawless and a deep brown, much like her daughters. She had the same loving eyes like Jude, that seemed to draw you in. Her hair was much darker than her daughters and was tied in a tight bun on her head, no hair was astray. Mrs Harper was a very slim woman and quite short. It seemed as though she was only a little bit taller than I was, and I was only a young girl of 14. The dress she was wearing was in the same sort of state as Jude's, all tattered and torn slightly. It only came across to me then that Mrs Harper was a servant to the De Noirs. This stuck me as odd as Robin or Loveday had not mentioned having any servants at all. Though neither of them had told me much about life in the De Noir castle anyway.

"I hope she was pleasant to you." Mrs Harper said softly, smiling.

"Oh yes." I nodded quickly. "She is a very nice girl, Mrs Harper. I was actually wondering if I could see her again some time today?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Maria. Jude's very busy today. Her and her brother have a lot of work to do. I don't think she'll be able to see you today."

"Oh okay, well thank you anyway Mrs Harper." I replied, slightly down. It seemed as though today's trip was wasted.

"I'll tell her you called by, shall I?" Mrs Harper suggested. I nodded and smiled my thanks at her."Should I leave you both in peace?" Mrs Harper asked, more to Loveday. Loveday shook her head.

"Not at all, we'll leave so you can work." She said quickly. "I think I'll show Maria a bit more of the castle." Mrs Harper nodded and stepped aside for us to pass. I smiled at her before we left, which she returned with the same warm smile from before. Once we had left the room, Mrs Harper closed it quietly. I looked up at Loveday, confused.

"What's Mrs Harper doing in your room anyway?" I asked.

"Cleaning it I think." Loveday muttered. She didn't say anything else on the matter, she just carried on down the corridor. She was about to head back down the steps when she paused and turned back around. She was smiling a devious smile. "I do believe I promised to show you my brother's room."

"Funny, I don't remember you promising me that." I raised an eyebrow. Loveday walked down the corridor and stopped halfway down at a door much like her own.

"No, but it will probably irritate Robin if we do." She turned the handle and grinned at me. Inside Robin's room was completely different to Loveday's. The general feel of the room was much darker, more masculine. Though the main thing that stood out was the state of it. Whilst Loveday's was perfect and tidy, Robin's was a mess. Things were scattered all over the place, things were broken on the floor. His bed was only just visible on the opposite end of the room from the door.

"Has he never heard of the word tidy?" I exclaimed. Loveday chuckled.

"Apparently not." She replied. "Mrs Harper refuses to clean it."

"I'm not surprised." I muttered. Loveday shut the door quickly.

"Let's not spend too long in there, we don't know quite what's within the mess."

"So is these all the bedrooms then?" I asked, glancing back up and down the corridor.

"No." Loveday replied. "This was supposed to be the children wing. We have mine and Robin's bedrooms, and the rest are rooms that we used for tutoring in."

"That's a lot of rooms just for tutoring." I pointed out. I counted about another five more doors. They couldn't all possibly be for tutoring just two children.

"Father demanded that we had several classrooms for our learning. Each of them were for one or a few subjects. It was all very confusing and pointless." I nodded in agreement.

"What about those steps?" I asked, pointing to the staircase that was next to the ones we had come up. They leaded up another floor. "Where do they go?" Loveday frowned for a few seconds before shuffling past me and heading up them. I followed closely.

The stair came out into a very large room which looked as though it hadn't been set foot in for a long time. Dust and cobwebs layered the walls and floor, giving the room a creepy feel to it. Though the feeling drifted away when I looked around. Around the room was various objects, which looked to be different musical instruments. The one that struck me the most was an old black piano that stood on a platform on it's own. I walked over to it and examined it. On the top was a lot of dust though when I lifted up the lid there seemed to be not dust at all. I sat down. I played a simple tune on it. The notes formed together perfectly and I smiled.

"This is where I learned piano." Loveday said, I couldn't see her as I had my back to her. "This room used to be so beautiful. Now look at it."

"How come it got like this?" I asked.

"After father kicked me out," Loveday began. "He must have just left it to rot."

"The piano doesn't seem that dusty though." I heard Loveday's footsteps as she walked over. She stood by me and stared down at it. After a while she smiled slightly.

"No it doesn't." She agreed. "It's as though someone has been playing it." There was a deadly silence between us which was broken by a distant shout. "Loveday!" It sounded like Mr De Noir. Loveday sighed.

"I better go see what he wants. Stay here, don't go wandering off or you'll just get lost." She grinned at me before leaving, her footsteps clicking on the steps.

I sat in silence for a few moments, gazing around the room. I could imagine this to be a grand room before it fell to ruin. Sighing I turned back to the keys and ran my fingers along them.

I couldn't remember how long I had known how to play piano for. It was something that just seemed to come natural to me. My father always thought it was a silly hobby and that I should get into more useful things, though Mrs Heliotrope would help me learn secretly whenever my father was out.

Memories of London were very hard to remember. It felt like another lifetime ago, like I had lived in Moonacre my entire life. There was an immense difference between London and Moonacre and by far I preferred Moonacre. Even though at the start I despised this place and wanted nothing more to return to my boring life back in London. Things had changed a lot.

I began to play the same tune as before. My fingers gliding absently over the keys like it was a simple exercise. It was to me.

Slow footsteps came up the steps behind me. Loveday was back already.

"That was quick." I pointed out. She didn't answer. I heard the footsteps walking up towards me and stop directly behind me. I didn't stop playing, I seemed too entwined with what melody my fingers were making. I didn't even bother to glance up at Loveday.

The silence between us seemed odd. Why wasn't she speaking?

"Loveday are you okay?" I stopped playing and swivelled around on the bench. No one was there. I frowned. "Loveday?" I glanced around the room to try and spot her green dress she was wearing. She would of stood out in a dark room like this. I stood up and moved away from the piano. She was probably hiding from me. "Ha ha Loveday very funny. You can come out now." Nothing. I sighed. If she was going to play this game then so be it.

I ventured into the room, manoeuvring myself around each instrument to make sure she wasn't crouched down some where. But everywhere I looked, I found nothing. A feeling of nervousness swept over me.

"You've had you're fun now, Loveday." I said, my voice obviously trembling slightly. I swallowed hard. "You can come out now." There was a long silence. Then the piano started playing. I had my back to it and the sound made me jump. Slowly I turned around, expecting either two things. Loveday or nothing.

It was neither.

(A/N) Phew this was a long chapter to write. I think a rest is in order!

I know I have said this before, but I'll say it again... PLEASE REVIEW! It doesn't take up alot of time or effort. A couple of moments to tell me whether you think this story is good or bad. Just so I know people are enjoying what I write and whether I should continue.

To all those who have reviewed, THANK YOU! Much love to you all, I can honestly say I love you all!

Anyway, that's all for now. Happy reading!

-jemlou-