The Troubles from Monsters and Men (The Secret of Moonacre Fanfiction)

A Caged Bird

The breezy sunlit Easter afternoon contrasted heavily with the tense mood of Moonacre Valley. The valley had by now heard of the robbery at the De Noir Castle and Coeur's ongoing battle with death. The Old Parson, Mrs. Heliotrope, and Sir Benjamin did what they could in quelling the people's curiosity and keeping the sheriffs away, simply dismissing their concerns by stating it was Charles' pitiful attempt to regain power.

Inside his bedroom, Coeur was in a fitful sleep induced by one of Marmaduke's many remedies. Robin was by his side.
Whether in his father's bedroom or office, he was never far. Loveday had spent the last few days at the castle, but Robin sent her away that morning to join Easter Mass with the rest of her family. Now alone, the numbness within Robin's heart grew heavier. The fog in his brain seemed to thicken. Clouded over, the hours passed in a blur.

Robin rubbed his chin. He paused and scrunched his nose, surprised by the scraggly beard growing on his face. After a long sigh, he called for Dulac and asked him to stay by his father. Robin pushed himself through the door and slogged towards his own room.

Upon entering, he was blinded by the light streaming through his window. He pushed it open, letting the soft airflow into his room. Off in the distance, the forest gently swayed with the wind. Freshly fallen leaves skittered about the floor. Robin stayed there looking out into the woods.

He knew he should shower and shave. The Merryweathers were bound to arrive any minute. He was far from presentable.

Yet his eyes refused to leave the forest.

Robin walked briskly out of his room. Through the bleak castle, each step drummed in his ears, challenging the fog in his head. He pushed open the main doors with all his strength. Wind and light poured around him. He took off into a run. His bath could wait.

Robin ran through the forest until he found a large, gnarled tree. Its trunk was twisted and rose high into a lush green canopy. He sat at its base and leaned back against the trunk. Robin closed his eyes and took in a large breath of air as the breeze ruffled his hair. He forgot his hat.

The fog in his head faded away. His heart throbbed. Robin's eyes began to sting, and he closed them shut as he felt a hot tear seep out from the corner. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and took in a shuddering breath. He knew he should be thankful it wasn't any worst. He knew his father would make it. There was no way a damned bullet could take that man down. Robin knew there was little chance he could've predicted what happened. He knew it wasn't his fault— it's what everyone else said as well... but none of that lessened the weight of guilt on his shoulders.

He let his head fall back with a thud against the tree. Robin lost himself in the sway of the canopy above him. His vision began to blur. As his vision tunneled, he noticed some orange specks... perhaps berries? But before he could make heads or tails of them, he fell asleep.

It was sometime later that a crunch alerted Robin awake. He sat up, eyes wide. Maria was standing across from him. She was dressed in her city attire. Wearing a sky-blue skirt with a white high-collared blouse, gloves, and a blue hat. Robin blinked, surely it was just his imagination. How on earth did she find him?

Maria offered a timid smile and a hesitant wave. Her eyes searched his bloodshot ones. "Are you alright? I didn't mean to startle you.".

Robin rose to his feet. "I-I'm fine." He shook himself. "When did you get here?"

"Not too long ago. You weren't at the castle."

"Right, let's head back. I've been gone for too long."

"Your father is well, Loveday's with him." Maria blocked his way. "You can rest."

"She's the one that should be resting, she's far into her pregnancy."