Chapter Six ~ Unwelcome Guests

"Robin?" He didn't reply or look at me. Cautiously I walked over and stood by him. He was playing piano. It was no trick. "You play piano?" I asked, watching him play a slow song. My nervousness from before had vanished, now I was left with confusion.

"Don't sound so surprised." He muttered, a small smile on his face. His eyes remained on the keys.

"You never told me you played." He shrugged.

"You never asked." I processed all this before walking around and sitting on the bench next to him. Again there was silence. There was no need for words. I just watched as Robin played blissfully as if he had been playing his whole life. For all I knew he did. At the moment Robin didn't seem to be telling me much about anything, not just his apparent piano skills.

"How long for?" I asked finally. He frowned.

"How long what?"

"How long have you been playing?" I said patiently.

"Since I was about 7." He replied. I nodded.

"You're good." I muttered. He chuckled slightly before letting his fingers fall from the keys, adding more to the silence. "Shouldn't you be planning and scheming with the others?" I asked, repeating the phrases Loveday used before. I watched him. He wasn't looking at me, he was staring down at the keys of the piano, his eyes flickering over them.

"They can last without me." Robin said simply.

"What are you planning?" Silence. "I'm not allowed to know, am I?" Robin let out a slow exhale before taking off his hat.

"It's not that you're not allowed to know," He began, running a hand through his brown curls. "It's just best if you didn't."

"I get it, it's on a De Noir only need-to-know-how." I joked. "It's fine."

"No." He shook his head. "It's more so you don't worry yourself stupid." He finally looked up at me and smiled sadly. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Try me." Robin laughed.

"I'm sorry, princess." He sighed. "And we're not scheming. We're trying to resolve issues."

"Issues?"

"You're very persistent." Robin grinned. "But seriously, just forget everything I've said."

"Easier said than done." I sighed. Robin regarded me silently for a few moments before putting his hat back on.

"Why are you here anyway?" He asked pleasantly.

"Loveday wanted to show me the castle." I replied.

"No seriously, why you here." He pressed. I raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm not stupid, Maria." I laughed at this and received a glare from Robin.

"I wanted to see Jude again." I replied quietly, averting my eyes from him.

"So you trekked all the way here to see Jude?" He asked not convinced.

"It was Loveday's idea and plus it wasn't just Jude." I replied. "I've never seen your home before."

"I bet you regret coming now you've seen the state of it." Robin muttered.

"I like it." I insisted.

"Yes but you have an act for liking the wrong things."

"Like you." I glanced up at him, already feeling my face flush scarlet. He was still watching me, though a small smile graced his face.

"I don't know whether I should take that as I compliment or an insult." He said softly. I smiled and didn't say anything.

"Where did Loveday go?" I asked. He shrugged.

"Father wanted her. I didn't stick around."

"You came to find me?" I guessed, hiding the pleasure I got from this maybe fact.

"I was going to my room," Robin corrected. "When I heard the piano playing."

"Why were you going to your room?" I asked. His face creased as he tried to think of a substantial excuse before sighing.

"Fine. Loveday told me you were up here." He admitted. I grinned.

"Oh and your room is a state." I blurted out. Now he grinned.

"What did you expect?" He objected. "Roses and tulips in pretty little pots everywhere?"

"You're supposed to be a gentlemen now, you should have more care for your property!"

"You sound like Loveday." He muttered.

"Then maybe you should listen to us!" I cried before flicking him on the ear.

"Oww!" I giggled. The urge to mock Robin was just impossible to avoid.

"Also, why must you insist on wearing that hat and stupid feathered thing that's around you're neck?" I asked. I reached out to tug at one of the feathers.

"Because, princess," He began, taking my hand that was playing with his feather and holding it in both of his. "I can do what I like." He stared down at my hand in both his, turning it absently, tracing shapes with his fingers. His touch sent shivers through me and again I could feel myself blushing.

Being here with Robin reminded me of what Mrs Harper had said before. Robin's Maria. I wanted to ask him what he had told Mrs Harper about me, though I didn't want to ruin anything by making him awkward. At the moment, he seemed so comfortable, silently playing with my hand.

"I like your bracelet." He murmured suddenly. He was referring to the crystal bracelet on my wrist.

"It's Mrs Heliotrope's." I replied. He ran his finger along the crystals. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped as there was the sound of footsteps coming from the stairs. He silently removed his hands to straighten out his hat. I stared at him, feeling slightly hut by his hasty gesture. He must have sensed it, as he glanced back at me and gave me a soft apologetic smile.

I saw a figure of green out of the corner of my eye immerge from the staircase and I turned to Loveday. She watched us both, her face looked as though she was trying to work out something.

"Loveday?"

"You know, my father can be a large pain in the neck at times." She said grinning. I heard Robin chuckle quietly. "What did he call you for?" I asked.

"Nothing important, don't you worry." Her face didn't seem so convinced. "I think we better leave now, Maria. If we don't set off early we won't be back for dinner and Benjamin will just worry." I saw Robin stand up slowly out of the corner of my eye.

"And Mrs Heliotrope for that matter." I agreed.

"Will you be coming back with us Robin?" Loveday asked suddenly. "For dinner?"

"I think it's best not." Robin replied slowly. "I spend too much time at your house for my own good. Father will no sooner kick me out if I carry on." Loveday smiled.

"You're right." She nodded. "Come on then Maria, let's go be saying our goodbyes." She held out her hand for me to take and I got up and walked towards her, taking her hand when I reached her.

We headed back down the castle, along with Robin, and back to the Great Hall. Peeking in though, Mr De Noir was no where to be seen.

"He must be outside." Robin suggested. We trudged back out the castle and out into the grounds. Both Loveday and Robin came to a sudden halt when they spotted their father. I frowned at them both, in confusion.

"What's wrong?" I asked. Coeur de Noir was stood with a small group of people, some of them on horses, two of them stood by their horses, talking to Mr De Noir.

One of the men on the ground was quite an older gentlemen, maybe Mr De Noir's age, maybe older. His hair was thick and a mix between black and grey. Blue robes hung off his stoat round body, he was much shorter than Mr De Noir. His eyes were hard and black, piercing into Mr De Noir, though he didn't seem to notice and if he did he didn't care. The man looked all around rough and resembled something out of a story, a villain maybe, that Mrs Heliotrope would read to me when I was little.

The other was only young, he didn't look that much older than Robin. His hair was short and a mucky blonde colour. His robes were much the same as the other man's, blue. Though the younger man was much taller than the older one, and very thin. His eyes, unlike the other man, wouldn't remain in one place. His eyes gazed up at the castle and would flicker around, never keeping still.

"Who are they?" I asked, slightly annoyed that neither of them had answered me yet. It was Robin that answered me finally;

"That would be our Uncle and cousin Henry, princess."

(A/N) Wow Robin De Noir can play piano, who'd of thought it? Sorry if it's a little OOC I just thought it may be quite cool.

This one is the shortest chapter so far. Apologises for that. The next few are much much longer, I promise you!

Again, I leave you with the same approach, feel free to leave a comment on my story. Reviews are appreciated.

-jemlou-