Robin's POV
Wiggins and I had been banished from the room we both shared with Maria. As I sat on the chair outside, I had my head in my hands and Wiggins sat on my foot. He always needed reassurance if he thought that Maria was in any kind of pain or trouble. I patted his silky head and he snuggled up closer to my leg. Daft dog.
I closed my eyes and let my head fall backwards until it touched the wall behind. My mind wandered through the events of the last couple of years until we had arrived here, like this.
My days had been filled with the joy and contentment that only true love could bring. Maria and I had never argued since that day when she had finally admitted that she loved me, which had then allowed me the opportunity to tell her exactly what she meant to me. I don't think my proposal of marriage was the most eloquent she received, I am sure that Adam was much more elegant, but mine succeeded where his failed.
Loveday had burst in to my room not long after Maria had agreed to become my wife and the news had consequently spread throughout the castle and to Moonacre almost immediately.
My recovery had been rapid after this and it wasn't long before Maria and I were back to our usual occupations, but this time with Wiggins in tow. He is devoted to Maria and in those early days he would cry if she left him for any time. I would have been a little jealous of the attention she gave him, if I hadn't known that she loved him all the more because he was a present from me.
We had managed to spend our winter afternoons together too, but this was often either at Moonacre or the castle because it was too cold to spend time in the den. When we did meet in the den, we usually had to cuddle up under a big fur in there, which was altogether too tempting until we were married.
Maria never ceased to amaze me. She was always curious, always eager to learn and try new things. I had to teach her how to use a bow and I was surprised at how quickly she became adept. She did not wish to kill animals; she just wanted to be able to fire arrows accurately at targets which I fashioned for her.
In return, she made me learn to play the piano a little, so that I could accompany her when she sat at the instrument. I wasn't very musical, but she didn't mind, we just liked to be close to one another.
It was a year after we met when she walked down the aisle to become my wife. It was an incredible day. Like Loveday and Benjamin before us, we got married in front of the whole village and my family in the pergola. Maria looked every inch the Moon Princess as she walked up the aisle with Lucy as her bridesmaid. Her dress was white silk and lace and it glowed softly in the sunlight. She was so beautiful, I was afraid to touch her in case she disappeared. I could hardly say my vows, my mouth had gone so dry with nerves, yet her clear, bright voice rang out so that everyone could hear when she promised to remain with me "until death do us part".
We had such a celebration for the wedding breakfast, Marmaduke must have been preparing for weeks! But then he had to make sure that it was a meal worthy of a princess. He is so proud of Maria and would do anything to make her smile.
We danced for even longer than at Loveday's wedding. I am sure Maria's shoes were almost worn completely away. I wanted to dance with my wife all evening, but I did take a turn around the floor with Lucy. I owed her a lot. If Maria hadn't been so jealous of Lucy, she might have never married me. I thanked her for this and she replied that she only had to look at the two of us to get her reward. She knew what we meant to each other and she could rejoice in our happiness.
We did leave Moonacre for a honeymoon, but we didn't go far. We made use of a little cottage that belonged to my father and was by the sea. Loveday arranged for someone to come in and cook and clean for us, but apart from this we saw no one else for a fortnight. We paddled in the sea and we ran on the beach. Maria collected shells and seaweed and we made elaborate pictures on the sand only for the sea to wash them away again every night. It was perfect and we were so much in love.
When we returned, we settled at Moonacre, although we did have rooms at the castle which we used frequently. Maria no longer had lessons with Miss Heliotrope, but I still had responsibilities at the castle and she likes to share those with me.
Another winter passed, but this time we were married and it didn't matter if we wanted to spend intimate afternoons in the den. So we often did. I wanted to be with her all of the time.
As Spring came round, she started to get sick. I had never seen Maria ill and it scared me at first, but in time it eased and all was well. Then she started to put on weight. She was clearly uncomfortable, but Maria never complained, she was always cheerful and determined to put me at ease. She spent much of her days sewing and knitting and I was fascinated by the skills she possessed. She really was perfect.
I was recalled to the present by sounds from within our chamber. Wiggins jumped up, his tail wagging. I got nervously to my feet as the door opened.
"It's over." The midwife looked at me and then smiled. "Would you like to come and meet your son?"
Maria was sitting in bed with a small red-faced bundle in her arms. I stood in the doorway enjoying the sight of my wife and our first-born. She looked up at me and smiled joyfully. She lifted him slightly so I could see him more clearly.
"So you want to hold him?" I did, but I was terrified. He was smaller than a rabbit. What if I should hurt him? I perched on the bed beside her and she placed him in my arms. Was there ever a more proud husband and father?
I leant over and kissed Maria. "Thank you, Princess. He is nearly as beautiful as you." She smiled at me and then gasped in surprise as she looked passed my shoulder.
"Wrolf!"
I turned to follow her gaze and caught a glimpse of an insubstantial black lion and white unicorn at the far side of the room. They held our eyes for a few seconds, nodded in approbation and then vanished. I looked back to Maria and saw that her face was filled with awe and delight. Our son gurgled happily in my arms and I knew that our lives were truely blessed.
