Chapter Three: You Were Saying?

Shout out to XxAkira-MariexX. Thanks for being my first review. J The next two are for you. One for being the fist review and the other for the complaint against cliffies.

Robin's Point of View.

Damn. I knew something was going to happen.

Robin looks up to the entrance to see who had ruined his little speech he had prepared for Maria. Immediately he knew something was wrong. No one recognized who it was at the door.

"Who are you?" demanded Lord De Noir.

"Where isssh sheee?" the cloaked being sounded like his words were strangling him.

"Who are you and what do you want?" demanded the Lord of the Castle, once again.

"I neeed that girrrrlllll." he drawled out his words.

Robin instinctively placed Maria behind his back. He had a feeling it had something to do with the Moon Princess. The man who was standing at the door disappeared in a flash and reappeared in front of Robin.

"Yooou can not keep heeerrrr from meeee boyyy."

"Really now, didn't you attend your lessons? Your speech is horrible." Robin remarked snidely.

"Give me that girrrrrrl!" Obviously, Robin's comment got to the figure.

"My father asked you a question. Who. Are. You." This time Robin did the growling.

There is no way he is going to get Maria. He will not touch her as long as I am alive.

"I havvvvve many namessss yet no naaaame. Give meee thaaaat girrrl."

This time instead of using words, Robin thrust his knife to the figures throat.

"You will not get her. Not while I am alive."

The figure growled his discontent and flashed himself to the stairs.

"Itssssh not over. I willllll geetttt herrrrrr."

A few moments of silence hung over the crowd. Everyone was waiting to see if his disappearance was just a show or if he was really gone. Robin held his protective stance over his Moon Princess.

"Back to the festivities!" shouted Lord De Noir.

Everyone slowly began chatting again as the band started back up. Robin turned to Maria.

"Are you alright?"

"I am fine Robin. Thank you."

"It's nothing, Princess."

"It is something Robin. You told him that you would protect me at all cost. That means a lot to me."

Robin just shrugged as he blushed from her words.

"Let's finish that dance, yeah?"

She giggled and followed her hero out onto the floor again. It made Robin feel better to have her in his arms. It calmed down his rage at the man who intended her harm.

It's hard to believe that not so long ago, I was the one who was hell-bent on kidnapping her and causing her harm. Now I am the one who is willing to give my life for her. What is it about her?

He was brought out of his thoughts when he noticed maria looking at him funny.

"What?"

"Didn't you hear a word I just said?"

"Sorry, Princess. I was lost in thought."

"About what? If you don't mind my asking, that is."

"Just thinking about the past. Not long ago, that was me. Here we are now, dancing in the very same castle you were imprisoned in."

She laughed at me? Doesn't she realize I am being serious?

"Sure all those things happened, and I was a prisoner for what, twenty minutes? Robin, you are my best friend. You saved my life countless times that night of the cliff. If it weren't for you being there for me and trying to get passed the whole enemies thing, no one in this castle or the valley would be alive to celebrate."

He just gave her a crooked smile.

"Just don't jump off any more cliffs."

It was her turn to smile.

"Oh! Before I forget, what were you saying earlier?"

"What do you mean?"

"Right before that man came in. We were discussing why you need my attention even though you already have a harem of admirers."

"Oh, that."

"Yes that. Finish what you were saying."

"I don't remember what I was going to say now."

"That's poppy cock and we both know it. Robin De Noir doesn't forget a thing"

He laughed at her. Just at that time, a couple were coming up and insisting that they switch partners. Unable to refuse, no matter how much he wanted too, Robin reluctantly agreed.

"Another moment, then, Princess."

"Of course, Sir De Noir. I will hold you to it"

I watched as Maria was whisked away by yet another 'gentleman'. Ha. The very thought of a true gentleman in the De Noir clan is laughable at best. The girl standing infornt of me is indeed pretty. She has long locks of silvery blonde hair. Her eyes are pretty. All in all, she is a looker, but nothing compared to the girl I was dancing with just a few moments ago.

"Robin, why do you ignore the girls of your own clan for the one who was once your enemy?" said the girl.

"She was never an enemy of mine. She wasn't raised on the hatreds of the past. She knew nothing of it until she came to her Uncle's house. She is the Moon Princess. She needs a protector."

"Why does it have to be you though? We have plenty of others who are capable of protecting her."

Sure. Protect her form the trouble of everyone but themselves. Rachel is really out doing herself this time.

"I am her protector because the moon saw it fit. Because I was there the night she jumped of the cliff to save all of our lives. If any of you had seen what I did, you would be the same."

Maybe not the same. I doubt that any of the men here could love her like I do. Whoa. I did not just say love. That is taking my feelings for her a little too much to the extreme.

"You are such a good man, Robin. You are willing to take on the protection of a Princess who can't do anything but hide behind you."

"Now Rachel," started Robin's father who had just come up behind her, "Maria is not as helpless as you believe. She truly has the spirit of a fighter and will not easily give up and let herself be thrown around. She may not have the skills of the De Noir women, but she is, in her own rights, a fighter. My son, I came to ask if I may cut in."

"Of course father."

Thank God. I thought I was really going to be stuck with her for the entire dance. Father seems to be reading my mind.

Robin walked off to the table filled with refreshments. There, he found himself a corner to brood in while he watched Maria being twirled around by a man named Jacob.

Maria's Point of View.

"My lady, I am glad that you graced me with a dance. I have been watching you all night. If it wasn't for my sister, Rachel, I may not have been able to confront you."

"I feel honored…." Maria said politely.

"Forgive my impertinence, my lady. I am Jacob De Noir. I am Robin's cousin on his father's side."

"Well, I feel honored, Jacob, that you have been wanting to dance with me."

"Who wouldn't want to dance with a real Moon Princess?"

"What do you mean?" Maria was getting a little angry with this De Noir man.

"Well, Loveday couldn't stop the curse. Obviously she isn't a true Moon Princess, merely an imitation. She could barely keep any man satisfied."

"Loveday," began Maria in a tone that could ice seem warm, "is an amazing woman. She gave up everything for this curse. I will not have you talk about her like so in front of me."He shrugged.

"Loveday was a failure as a De Noir Princess and she failed as the Moon Princess."

Now he really had her angered.

"Loveday did not fail at anything. She may not have been able to lift the curse, but it is she who was able to bring the families back together. I will remind you that the Moon Pearls were only the first half of the curse. Loveday lifted the second half a long time ago. As for her failing as a De Noir Princess, that was not her own doing but that of her father."

At this point Maria was shaking with fury.

How dare he! Loveday is one of my very best friends. She is not a failure at anything!

"Well, she isn't the only De Noir failure. My cousin couldn't even capture a female on her own. Robin is a disgrace to this clan. The only reason that he is even still here is because he is the Heir De Noir."

SLAP

The sound of Maria slapping the rude man in front of her echoed.

"You will not talk about my friends in such a manner."

She walked off to go find Robin.

"You will regret that, little witch." growled a furious Jacob.

"I highly doubt it."

After saying her piece she continued to saunter off to where Robin was brooding.

"Hello, my Princess."

"Sir De Noir."

"What's wrong, Maria?"

"You cousin is a jerk."

"That was a good hit by the way. I think with a few more lessons from me, you could have done some real damage to him. I am glad to see my tutorials are paying off."

He laughed and Maria smiled, immediately her anger started to fade.

"Oh Robin! He was being so horrible!"

"He didn't hurt you , did he?" Robin was on edge.

"No. He was just being horrible about you and Loveday. He was saying nasty things."

"My cousin is jealous. If it were not for Loveday and myself, he would be the next in line for the throne. When Loveday was banished, he tried to get me into trouble numerous times. I know Duloc doesn't like me, but he likes Jacob even less. There were many times that Duloc had prevented my father's anger."

"It seems, that Duloc may not be as big a jerk as he acts, then."

"Oh no. He is still the jerk he portrays himself, but he will not follow someone he doesn't think will be a good leader. He seems to think that I will make a better leader than Jacob."

"I'm glad for that."

"Yeah."

Maria tried to stifle a yawn.

"It may be time to start escorting you to your bedroom. Don't worry. Wrolf has followed us here. He is going to be staying with you of course."

Maria nodded. Robin took her hand and lead her to his father.

"Father, Maria is getting tired. I think her 'conversation' with Jacob wore her down."

"Very well then, son. You may both retire for the evening. Don't worry. I'll cover for you. This party will be ending soon anyway. Most of its guests are quite unable to stand."

Robin nodded and lead Maria to the Royal Wing.

"In this wing," Robin began, "is where all of the royal bedrooms are. My father's is at the very end of the hall. Loveday's old bedroom is three doors down from his, on the right. That is where she and your Uncle are staying. Mine is the seventh door on the left."

"Where will I be staying?"

"In the room across from mine." Robin said it a little tentatively.

"Alright."

He almost sighed in relief. He had been preparing that room for the princess since his father had received Loveday's letter stating that they would indeed be attending the party. That was over a month ago. They had soon passed the doors until they had gotten to where she would be sleeping.

"Here it is. Goodnight, Princess."

He leaned down to kiss Maria's brow. At the same time she was going to kiss his cheek. They met in the middle with an electrifying kiss. A simple brush of the lips set them both into flames. Maria blushed as Robin did.

"I'm across the hall if you need anything, Maria."

"Thank you. Goodnight Robin."

They smiled at each other and turned to enter their own respective rooms. He secretly wished he could have seen the look on her face when she saw the room.