Chapter Eight ~ Reading Shakespeare

The signs of winter were beginning to show down in the peaceful land of Moonacre. Warm, sunny summer days were chilling slightly as winter was fast approaching.

Loveday and Uncle were busy elsewhere inside the house and Mrs Heliotrope was spending time with Digweed in the village. I was currently sat in the grounds of Merryweather Manor, on my own, enjoying a quiet day.

Usually when I had an opportunity like this when I had nothing to do, I would go meet Robin. But I hadn't seen the De Noir boy since his relatives arrived.

That was almost two weeks ago now.

It was probably the longest I had gone without seeing him since I arrived in Moonacre and I had to say it was weird. Also it made me realise how much I was dependant on Robin's company to brighten my day. Pathetic it may be. I had to try tell myself that I was being stupid and that I was to go enjoy myself, without Robin's presence.

It was more difficult than I made it out to be.

The same feeling I felt when Mrs Harper said Robin's Maria washed over me again and I found myself blushing unintentionally.

"Pull yourself together, Maria." I muttered, picking a flower from Loveday's garden and twirling in between my fingers. I walked over and sat on the swing bench. I had to admit without Robin it was a lot quieter. I had too much time on my hands in which I could just sit and think. Which was a problem as I had an issue with over-thinking things.

Why hadn't Robin come to see me in two weeks? Two whole weeks. Had I done something wrong? I couldn't be sure. Maybe I had said something wrong when I spoke to his relatives? The only thing I could remember saying was that I was glad to meet them and goodbye. He told me he'd see me the next day. I waited all day long for him to show up and he didn't. There had to be something wrong. I was just going to have to wait until the De Noir graces me with himself.

With a sigh, I stood up and headed back inside to inform Uncle I was going for a walk. Him and Loveday were too busy being loved up that I wasn't sure they knew what I said. Thankfully, Marmaduke was just serving them coffee so he told me he'd inform them if they wondered where I was.

I headed straight into the forest, already planned my destination.

I found the clearing soon enough and wasn't surprised to find it empty. When Robin turned up I was going to be having some serious words with him about his lack of visits.

I perched down on the usual log and opened up the book I had brought with me from the library. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Not one of my personal favourites I had to say. But Mrs Heliotrope couldn't get enough of it and would constantly insist I read it. I had decided to take her up on her proposition.

Surprisingly, I found myself engrossed with the tale. I knew what the ending was, but I found myself secretly hoping it wouldn't be so and that the characters would live happily ever after like all my childhood fairy tales.

Though I was intrigued with the story, I had to admit the whole situation seemed rather far-fetched. The couple simply fell in love at first sight. I wasn't a believer of love at first sight. The whole concept seemed too odd to me. How could one fall in love just be merely looking at one and other?

I couldn't argue though. Shakespeare was famous and a complete genius. I was just a simple teenage girl living in an strange land of wonder, waiting to see what happened next.

Snap

My head looked away from the book and up in the direction of the noise.

"Jude?" She stood in front of me, a few feet away, watching as I read. She seemed quite fascinated in what I was doing.

"Hello Miss Maria." She smiled. I closed the book slowly and put it down on the ground next to me. "What were you reading?" Her eyes were on the book. I glanced down at it and back at her.

"Romeo and Juliet." I replied. "Have you read it?" She shook her head.

"I can't read." She said. I felt quite guilty with asking the question so I quickly changed the subject as her friendly eyes bored into me.

"Come sit down." I patted the log next to me. She happily obliged, skipping over. "So, tell me." I began. "Have you run away from home again?" Jude grinned at me but shook her head.

"No, I'm on a walk with Master Robin." She beamed up at me. Robin was here somewhere? I glanced around us but I couldn't see anyone.

"Where is he?" I asked, hopefully. She went embarrassed suddenly.

"I may have run away from him." She admitted, smiling. I smiled back. "He's not going to be happy with me."

"Don't worry, Jude." I sighed. "I'm not very happy with him at the moment so I won't let him say anything." Jude's face frowned in confusion.

"Why are you mad with Master Robin?" She asked. Maybe I was saying too much. I mean she was only a little girl and I didn't really know her.

"It doesn't matter, Jude." I reassured her.

"Is it because he's not come to visit you?" Jude began. "Because if it is, he was coming to see you today. That's why I'm here."

"What?" Jude couldn't reply as a figure appeared through the trees.

At first, Robin looked mad. Probably because Jude had ran away from him, but it seemed that when he spotted me his face softened and he looked slightly embarrassed. A weak smile appeared on his face.

"Maria." He said, walking over to us. I raised an eyebrow at him and said only one thing to him;

"Two weeks."

"I know and I'm sorry." Robin sighed and crouched down in front of me. "Father's had me running ragged trying to keep Uncle George and Cousin Henry happy. Seriously, I've only just and so managed to escape by leaving them in the capable hands of Luke." I frowned.

"Luke?"

"One of my friends." Robin explained. The name meant nothing to me.

"What have you been doing?" I asked, curious now.

"Nothing big. Mostly trips around the castle, exploring the forest, sword fighting. I've seriously had no time at all. I tried, princess. I really tried to come see you." His face was longing for me to forgive him, though I was more concerned in something else he had said.

"Wait a minute." I paused. "Sword fighting?" A sudden grin appeared on his face.

"I'm a De Noir, princess. It's a requirement in our family."

"He looks funny when he fights." Jude giggled suddenly. Robin glared at her playfully.

"I promise you that I tried." He said, turning back to me. "You don't know what my family is like. Cousin Henry had been demanding every waking moment I've had to spend with him. He says to it's 'catch up on lost times'." He grumbled something inaudible. "He's running out of things to do though thankfully. So now I can come and see you." He paused and smiled sadly at me. "That's if you still want me to." I frowned at him. I hated it when he used that voice and stared at me with those eyes. I couldn't stay mad at him when he did that. I sighed finally.

"So what are we going to do today?" I asked, smiling. Robin's smile turned into a grin. Suddenly he grabbed me, pulled me to my feet and hugged me, lifting me off the ground and spinning around. "Robin!" I squealed, laughing. I could hear Jude giggling somewhere, I couldn't pin point the exact spot as I was still spinning. Finally Robin stopped and dropped me. He had to grab hold of me to steady me until I had re-focused my eyes. "Oh I am so getting you back for that." I muttered, trying to walk back to the log, but failing as I was still dizzy. Robin laughed and caught me before I fell.

"I rather doubt that." Robin said, leading me back to the log. I saw Jude smiling at me when I sat down. "So, what are we going to do today?" Robin asked cheerfully, repeating what I had asked earlier, clasping his hands together. I was about to open my mouth when Jude spoke;

"I want to see Maria's house." She cried. Robin raised an eyebrow at me as an unspoken question and I shrugged.

"Okay, let's go to my house." I turned over my shoulder. "It's that way." Jude jumped up then and began to run in the direction I meant. I laughed at her eagerness and picked up my book from the floor. Robin held out a hand for me, though I was more than capable to stand myself up. The mocking grin on his face told me he thought otherwise. I took his offered hand anyway, smiling up at him. Then we followed Jude towards Merryweather Manor.

(A/N) Don't shoot me please! I know I promised you long chapters and this one again is far too short! Please please forgive me, I will try my very hardest to get them back up to their normal length! Again apologises!

As for the title of this chapter, well I really couldn't think of anything so... that is what I came up with!

Thank you to everyone who have reviewed/favourited (is that a word?) my story. It means alot to me! And I love you all very much! :)

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-jemlou-