Love and secrets

Chapter 2

Robin smiled as hewalked along through the woods with his girlfriend, Maria. She was droning onabout some embroidery she wanted to do with pearls that her uncle wouldn't lether and how unfair it was. "It's so unfair!" Maria said "Does he not care thatI was the moon Princess? I saved the valley! I saved him and his beloved wife.Loveday? Seriously who names their kid that? No offense to your dad of course, butI found the pearls, I returned them to the sea and saved the valley! My uncledoesn't have the decency enough to let me embroider a snow-white linen dressthat I want so desperately. And it's not even the dress! He says I can have that.It's the pearls that I want to embroider on the dress. He says it's too muchmoney. Am I not worth it?" Robin looked over at Maria, she had stopped. "Well?"Maria asked. "What?" Robin answered. "Am I not worth it?" She said again. Beforehe could answer she cut in, "Oh this is unbelievable! Not even my own boyfriendthinks I'm worth it! You know Robin I seriously don't know why I'm still datingyou, you obviously don't appreciate me enough." Robbins' blood started to boil.Not appreciate her? He listened to everything she said, no matter how foolishit sounded. If she wanted him at a certain moment he would immediately go seeher, regardless of whether he was busy or not. She never did anything like thatfor him. Whenever he wanted her, she always said she was busy. He didn't knowwhy he was dating her either. Then he remembered the time they spent lookingfor the pearls. The best time he had ever spent with anyone. So he quicklyapologized, "Maria," he began "You're right, I don't appreciate you enough.Your uncle should let you embroider the dress with as many pearls as you want.""God that didn't sound like me! I sound so.... Sappy!" He grimaced to himself."Well I should hope so. You were almost as rude as that new uninvited girl thatdropped in last night." Maria complained. Robin's ears perked up, "Girl? Whatgirl?" "Oh just some girl that waltzed in last night with a sprained ankle inthe dirtiest green dress. Very bad taste." Maria answered him. "Was it her leftfoot with the sprain?" Robin asked "Why yes! How did you know?" "I was trackingher with the rest of my group last night. We lost her near Moonacre. Maby thatwas her." Robin explained quickly "Whatever for?" Maria asked. Robin hesitated,once he would have told her in a heartbeat but lately... He wasn't so sure hecould trust her. He thought about the words that his father Coeur De Noir hadtold him 9 days ago, "Son, soon I shall reach greatness! The object that I havebeen searching for all my life has been almost located! There is a girlsomewhere near here with the key to my success! A map. I must get that map!Spare no weapons or men, take the women if you must but bring me that map!" "Whateveris the object father?" Robin remembered asking "An amulet. An amulet sopowerful that it surpasses even the moon pearls! Once it is put on, it servesits master and only its master until he is dead. And even then it protects thebearer of it from unnatural death! Think of it son! I could rule the valley!Now go find it for me!" He decided to refrain from telling Maria so instead hesaid, "She is a niece of my father's. He wishes to speak to her but sherefuses. Let's trick her into coming to the De Noir's fortress." "I don't knowif I want to bother." Maria said. "I mean... What's in it for me?" "Revenge foryou?" Robin offered. Maria thought about it for a while. "All right, What do Ineed to do?"