The Secret of Moonacre - SECRECY

Chapter 7

I awoke and it was very early morning.

Oh dear, Uncle was going to be mad at me for not telling him or saying something about staying at the De Noir castle all night. I wouldn't be surprised if he banned me from leaving the manor for a week. He would be angry so quickly, but I was becoming a young lady now, there was nothing I could not handle.

"Robin!" I shouted punching him without realising I punched his wound, and he lets out a drowning groan. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!"

"I'm alive, don't worry. Did you sleep well?" He half smiled.

I cricked my neck "Yes thank you although I think I have the shape of your shoulder impaled on my cheek".

He cups my face and turns it to examine it "Looks beautiful to me"

I blushed then realised we needed to get to the manor "Robin, we slept here overnight, Uncle must think something terrible has happened!" I stood up and jumped over Robin onto the floor.

He groaned.

A deep yawning noise came from the dark end of the room and two red eyes appeared, blinking. I took a step back and the figure moves closer towards me as I prepared to grab something. It appeared into the light and I realised it was only Wrolf and he bent down for a stretch looking at me as if I was stupid. I agree with you Wrolf.

At least he knew I was safe and therefore Uncle would know too.

We quickly exited the castle and headed through the woods. It was risky but the only way we could get home quickly, I had Robin with me.

As we reached the edge of the forest, rocks and sticks began to shake beneath our feet. I couldn't think of an earthquake happening. It was rare for such occurrences to happen and I was fearing for my life.

It wasn't until I recognised a familiar sound of hoofbeats that I relaxed. Hundreds of armoured bay horses were bounding down the lane towards the manor. Knights were sat tall upon their steeds, steel masks covering their faces.

The knight at the front stood out from the rest. He sat upon his grey horse in the upmost class, looking down upon the ground ahead.

This amount of people could only mean trouble, we rarely had such a vast amount of visitors.

Robin pulled me in close as they began to canter in front of us. He too seemed as confused as myself.

The knight upon the grey pulled up in front of us, removing his mask. His eyes were as dark as the night sky, his features fearsome. My heart was beating out of control.

"Well well well" He said looking down on us. "What do we have here?"

"Who are you?" I asked. I showed no weakness.

"I am, young lady, Sir Duncan, lord of Moonacre" He turned his head away from us.

Duncan. I have to say I expected a little Weasley old man. He was fairly young, bold and very wealthy. What more could he want.

He cleared his throat. "And who are you?"

"I am Maria Merryweather"

"Maria..." Robin muttered into my ears telling me it was a bad idea.

"Oh. The Moon Princess of Moonacre. Well this is a shame, for such a pretty young lady. Guards, seize her" Duncan ordered and two men jumped down off their horses.

Robin shifted and stepped infront of me, protecting me. "I don't think so"

"Don't be so stupid. She's nothing but trouble that girl" Duncan grew angry.

"She's not as bad as you think" Robin pleaded. "Let us leave and we will be out of your way. We are leaving Moonacre, so don't waste your time" Robin said. I praised Robin for his cover, I hoped it would work.

I stayed quiet in fear I would say the wrong thing. The guards approached me and I scrambled back but, right on que, Wrolf bursted out of the forest with his big black mane flowing and his lion teeth bared. His huge paws were dug into the grounds and he let out a booming roar. The two guards were taken a back and fled back to their horses.

Wrolf moved forward to confront Duncan.

"Men, we proceed, we shall deal with these ameuters later" He kicked his horse and they cantered down the lane with Wrolf staring after them.

"Robin, we must go warn Uncle!" I exclaimed grabbing his arm and running through the field.

"Maria, wait" Robin pulled away "There's nothing we can do, your Uncle will sort it. We go to the Manor, get your things and we flee back to my castle"

"So we aren't leaving Moonacre?"

He shook his head and tried to drag me to the manor.

I stood my ground "But Robin, this valley is in danger and it is my absolute duty to save it!"

"No Maria it isn't. What if they were to get you and they did something to you? After what this 'Lord Duncan of Moonacre' said I am not taking any chances and you are sticking with me. There is nothing we can do Maria. This is business, not magic" He said harshly.

I couldn't let Moonacre go down. It was my home and I was going to make sure it stayed that way and there was something I could have done to help. I knew there was. Robin was only looking after my interests and I would for him too but he just didn't understand this time.

"Robin, I love you, I really do, but I have to do this do something"

"No Maria" Robin paused and scooped me up by my legs and heads for the manor "No you don't."