Chapter Ten ~ An Unforgettable Dream

"Maria." A mere whisper in the wind. I lay on my back on, what felt like, a slushy ground. I didn't know where I was as I kept my eyes firmly closed. I listened intently to the noises around me.

The wind. It seemed to rustle against leaves, almost like whispers. Communicating amongst each other in blissful conversation. The trees were talking, so it seemed. Though I was certain someone had said my name.

A bitter cold seemed to tickle at my face. My nose felt numb and my lips were dry. I clenched my hands into fists, in doing so I seemed to grasp some of the slushy stuff that was on the ground beneath me. Whatever it was, it was cold.

Finally I opened my eyes.

Around me was a blanket of white. Snow had fallen upon Moonacre. Though I couldn't quite tell where I was. I was in the forest, as trees surrounded me. I knew that much.

I sat up and looked down at my hands. In them were clumps of white snow. I opened my fists up and let the slush fall back onto the ground. The world around me was beautiful, like a fairytale in a book. I adored snow and looked forward to the winter months when it was due to fall.

Winter must have come already.

But still this was all very confusing. One of the last things I remember doing was having dinner with Uncle, Loveday and Mrs Heliotrope then excusing myself to go bed. They thought I must have been ill as I wasn't talking much and the fact I desired to go to bed early. I wasn't ill though, I just had things on my mind.

Robin mostly.

I went to bed straight after I left the adults, and curled up beneath the blankets waiting for sleep to take over. I remember nothing of me leaving the manor and walking into the woods.

But how did I end up here?

I may have sleep walked, though I highly doubted it.

I stood up finally and looked around for the source of the whisper from before. Though no one was there. It would have been hard to hide within the trees as you would have stuck out in the white that coated the land. No movement. No noise. Nothing seemed to be there. But someone had said my name.

"Hello?" I finally called. My voice echoed into the wind.

"Maria?" The voice was much louder now. I spun around in every direction. It sounded too familiar to me.

"Who's there?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. Though nothing spoke this time. I was beginning to get worried. I was alone in the forest with no idea where I was. Someone was out there, but they weren't showing themselves. Also it didn't help with what I was wearing. My night clothes clung to me as the wind brushed against my body. If someone came now, I would look a fool stood here in my night dress.

"Maria." There it was again. I swallowed hard.

"You don't scare me." I said, an attempt of bravery. It seemed to have done the trick as I heard footsteps coming closer. I spun around to face whoever it was, only for my heart to skip a beat because of the figure in front of me.

"Maria." Robin said softly. He stood only a few feet away and his eyes bore into me. His face was unreadable.

"You shouldn't creep up on me like that, Robin." I sighed in relief. "You scared me." A smile appeared on his lips.

"I'm sorry." A pause. There was something odd about the way he was looking at me.

"Where are we?" I asked finally. He shrugged. "I thought you were the forest freak?" I teased. "Don't you know you're way around?"

"I do." Silence again.

"Are you okay?" I asked, a little confused.

"I'm fine." He replied, his smile widening. He took a step towards me. When he did, I took an unintentional step back. The movement seemed to amuse him more as he took a few more steps towards me. I took the same amount of steps back. A few steps forward. A few steps back. A few steps forward. A few steps back. Suddenly I found myself pressed up against a tree. "Am I scaring you?" Robin asked finally, an eyebrow raised.

"No." I lied. He smiled. With a steady hand he reached out and touched my face.

"So beautiful." He murmured softly. My heart froze as he said it. He dropped his hand away from my face and placed both his hands either side of my head against the bark of the tree. Our bodies were so close, my heart beat was rapid and I felt as if it was going to jump from my chest.

"Robin, maybe I should go home." I stuttered. "When they find my bed empty they'll probably throw a fit." I laughed nervously.

"They'll be fine." He reassured with a smile. Before I could speak he leaned forward and kissed my neck. I was certain now, heart stopped. His lips were soft against my skin as he trailed kisses up and down my collar bone to my cheek. Breathing was hard. I couldn't concentrate on anything with the jumble of thoughts in my head.

"We should…" I began. I swallowed hard. "I think…" No use. I heard Robin chuckle against my skin. He moved up so his lips were pressed against me ear.

"Don't fight it, princess." He whispered, ever so softly. Then he moved away from my ear and forced his lips upon mine. Any sane and responsible thought that was in my head vanished and I gave in, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer. Our lips seemed to move together and neither of us showed any sign of pulling away. His lips were soft as he kissed me passionately.

This wasn't happening.

A soft moan seemed to come out of my mouth and Robin chuckled against my lips. I had given in to Robin de Noir. But I didn't care. I didn't care one bit.

"Maria!" Robin's lips vanished from mine and my eyes snapped open. Light filled them, blinding me for a few short moments. When they had focused, I sat up and looked around.

I was in my room.

No forest. No snow. No Robin. No kiss.

It was all a dream.

My bedroom door burst open and Mrs Heliotrope squeezed herself through my tiny door. I would have thought the scene was funny if I wasn't still in shock after the intense dream I had just had.

"Maria." She cried. "Maria, dear. It's time to wake up. You've missed breakfast." I just stared her. The feeling of Robin's lips against mine still lingered in my head.

But it was all just a dream.

"Are you okay, Maria?" Mrs Heliotrope rushed over and put a hand on my forehead. I pushed it away.

"I'm fine, Mrs Heliotrope." I reassured her, once I found my voice. "I just slept in, that's all." Mrs Heliotrope studied me in silence before nodding.

"Yes, of course." She stuttered. She glanced back at the door and then back at me. "I'll leave you to get ready in peace. Don't worry, Marmaduke will prepare you some food when you come down."

"I wasn't worried." I grinned. She smiled back then left, taking hesitant steps. Once the door was shut my room fell silence once more.

I had just dreamed of kissing Robin. Not just a simple kiss, but a very intense one. This was all very weird and wrong. Just remembering the dream seemed to send my heart into a spasm.

Why was this?

I swallowed hard and got out of bed. Then I began to get ready, the dream still fresh in my head.

When I finally headed downstairs, Loveday, Uncle and Mrs Heliotrope were all sat in the main sitting room, talking. They all looked up on my entrance and fell silent.

"Look who's emerged." Uncle grinned. "We were beginning to think you were lost." I gave him a small smile. "Marmaduke said he's make you something to eat."

"Okay, thank you Uncle." I nodded. "I'll go to the kitchens now." I turned and left the room, heading in the direction of the kitchens. I wasn't hungry but I knew they'd only worry if I didn't eat.

"Maria." A voice behind me. I turned and saw Loveday following. Her face seemed concerned. "Are you okay, my dear?"

"I'm fine." I reassured. "I just slept in." She studied me.

"You can tell me, Maria." She said quietly. "I will not speak a word to your uncle." I didn't reply for a few moments. Loveday always knew when something was wrong. She was also very persistent. Finally I sighed and made my way into the nearest room. It was my old lesson room. Loveday shut the door to behind her, seeming to realise I didn't want anyone else to interrupt us.

"It's nothing big." I began. "I had a dream."

"A nightmare?" Loveday asked, concerned. I shook my head and laughed nervously.

"Quite the opposite really." I muttered. I sat down on one of the chairs. Loveday joined me, perching on the another. "I'm just a little overwhelmed and slightly confused with it."

"What happened in your dream?" I paused before telling her.

"I was in the forest on my own and it had snowed." I began. "I heard someone call my name and Robin appeared." Her eyes seemed to light up at the mention of her little brother's name. As if she knew the ending. "And well, somehow, we ended up…" Loveday raised an eyebrow. "Kissing." A grin broke out across Loveday's beautiful face.

"Well that is something." She chuckled. "Was it just a simple peck or a passionate kiss?" I frowned at her.

"Why does that matter?" I cried.

"Come on, tell me Maria."

"The second one." I replied after hesitation. Loveday positively squealed with excitement.

"I told you, you like my brother." She said, prodding me in the shoulder. I rubbed where she had pocked me and glared at her. It didn't feign her.

"This doesn't prove anything."

"Of course it does!" She cried. "You can not deny you feel something for Robin."

"Don't be absurd." I muttered. "I don't know how I feel for him."

"Well, I have some good news for you." She began. "We're having dinner with them tonight."

"They're coming here?" I asked hopefully. Loveday's face dropped slightly.

"Sadly, no." She sighed. "We're going up there. Dinner with Uncle George and Cousin Henry." She rolled her eyes. "This should be fun."

"Is it just you and Uncle going?" I asked innocently. She flicked me around the ear lightly.

"Don't be ridiculous!" She cried. "Not after what you've just told me. You're coming aswell. I wouldn't want to take any precious time with my brother away from you." She grinned down at me.

"And if I don't want to?"

"You have no choice."

"Is Mrs Heliotrope going too?"

"I believe so." She nodded. "Though she isn't very happy about it." Her grin appeared again. "You should tell him."

"Who?" I asked.

"Robin!"

"What am I telling him?"

"Don't play dumb, Maria. It's not becoming." She said. "Tell him about your dream."

"Why on earth would I do that?" I asked, astonished.

"Because then he'll have the guts to tell you how he feels back." She cried. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"I'm not going through this again, Loveday." I replied. "Robin does not feel any way like that about me. And I'm not telling him. It would just make things awkward."

"Then I'll tell him." Loveday shrugged.

"You'll do no such thing." I frowned.

"Maria!" Loveday groaned. Just then the door to the room burst open. I practically fell out of my seat in shock. Mrs Heliotrope stood at the door, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Sorry." She muttered quickly. She turned to me. "Maria, you're supposed to be getting some food from the kitchen." I stood up quickly, grateful that Mrs Heliotrope had provided some excuse for me to leave Loveday's persistence. I left in a hurry, leaving both the woman before either could say anything. I headed straight to the kitchen, suddenly feeling very hungry.

Digweed had prepared a carriage to take us to the De Noir's outside. Uncle and I stood by it, waiting for Loveday and Mrs Heliotrope to finished fussing inside the house.

"Will Wrolfe be coming with us?" I asked. Uncle shook his head.

"He'll be staying here." Uncle replied. "I think it would be slightly rude turning up to dinner with a huge black lion in tow." I laughed.

"I suppose you're right." I nodded. I stared at the carriage. It was the same one that transported Mrs Heliotrope and I to Moonacre after my father's death. I frowned at it. "Why don't we just walk to De Noir castle."

"Because, Maria dear." Loveday's voice said from behind me. I turned to the entrance of the house where both women had appeared. "That would be a foolish idea." Her and Uncle shared an odd look and nothing else was said on the matter. I stared in confusion. Was I missing something?

With all four of us inside the carriage, it seemed to of become smaller. I guessed it was the fact that there was an extra two people inside it since last time I was travelled in it.

The journey was long. It seemed extremely longer than when I walked to De Noir castle with Loveday.

Both Uncle and Loveday seemed quite tense aswell. Both looking and glancing out the window every so often. They shared the occasional glance with each, the same look on their faces from before. It all seemed very odd. I just assumed that they were both nervous about greeting Loveday's relatives and introducing Uncle to them. Whatever it was, something didn't feel right.

De Noir castle came into sight and soon enough, I could see the castle out of the windows in the carriage. We came to a halt and Digweed rushed to the door to open it for us. I climbed out first, standing aside for the others to follow.

Coeur de Noir stood, ready to greet us. Behind him stood Mr Cunningham, who's face was slightly tense as us Merryweathers climbed out the carriage, his son Henry stood by him, his face was unreadable. It seemed odd that Robin wasn't here to greet us but I assumed he must be inside.

"Maria, my dear." Mr De Noir greeted me. I smiled and held out my hand for him to kiss. "It's a pleasure to see you again and an honour to have you all dinning in our home this evening." I could only smile at this and Mr De Noir moved on to greet the rest of the Merryweather party. Once he had finished, Mr Cunningham stepped forward and stood by his brother-in-law.

"You must be my niece's new husband." He said to Uncle, his eyes narrow as he studied him. Uncle gave a wary glance at Loveday before he spoke.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Uncle said pleasantly, holding out his hand for Mr Cunningham. He stared down at my uncle's hand for a few moments before he took it and shook.

"You aswell." He muttered. He waved a hand behind him. "This is my son, Henry. Loveday's cousin." Henry stepped forward then to shake greet Uncle.

"I hope you're looking after my cousin." Henry said sternly, his face hard. Uncle looked shocked and opened his mouth to speak, though no words came out. Then a grin broke out across Henry's face. "I'm just joking. Nice to meet you." It took a few moments for Uncle to recover and when he did he laughed nervously, shaking Henry's hand. Loveday rolled her eyes at me, causing me to smile.

"And if I remember rightly," Mr Cunningham spoke suddenly, his eyes now on me. "You're Maria, am I correct?" I nodded, smiling slightly. He held out his hand, which I thought he meant to shake, though he kissed it instead. "It's good to see you again, my dear."

"No point standing out here." Mr De Noir said. "Let's go inside."

(A/N) Again, I don't think this is one of my best chapters, though I hope you'll forgive me for that!

Just incase you wanted to know, the rapid updates are because I've written quite a bit more of the story. I think I'm already on chapter 15 at the present moment in time. I've tried spreading them apart, so not to overwhelm you guys :D But I can't help myself! I'm sorry! :D

Oh and if you didn't already guess (and if you did, I don't mean to make you sound thick!) the dream at the beginning of this chapter is in italics. I just wanted to make sure it was clear enough for you all!

Anyway, your comments are very very appreciated. They keep me going!

Please Review.

-jemlou-