The return of the Dark

7

'Maria?'
I swallowed and turned around, trying to keep my innocent smile on my face and I hoped that my face wasn't burning deeply red. I clenched the letter in my hand and putted it behind my back.
Uncle Benjamin walked down the stairs while he kept looking at me. 'Where are you going?'
'I... er...' Stupid, stupid, stupid! I should've thought about this. I knew that this could happen. I needed to make something up and quick. I knew my Uncle would find out that I was hiding something if I kept quiet for too long. 'I was going to see Digweed.'
Not a lie. I was going to see Digweed. Uncle Benjamin nodded, still with a calculating gaze. Oh, he knew I was hiding something. He just didn't know what. Distract him.
'He needs to help me with something.' I smiled again, and this time the smile on my face felt a bit realer.
'With what?'
'I... was going to ask if I could go for a ride.' Good job, Maria.
'Is that so?'
'Yes. If that's okay, of course,' I added. The calculating gaze disappeared from his face and I needed to keep my sigh of relief inside my chest.
'As long as you don't go into the woods, it is fine.' I nodded and wanted to walk away - the letter was burning a hole in my hand.
'O, and Maria,' Uncle Benjamin said before I walked off the stairs. My heart pounded and I looked over my shoulder. 'Be at home at nine.'
I nodded and I needed to make sure I wasn't running off the stairs when I finally got the change to walk away.

* * *

When Uncle Benjamin was out of sight, I sighed of relief and lied a hand above my beating heart - it was going to fly out my chest.
I shook my head. I got away. Now I had to give the letter to Digweed. I could not bring the letter to Robin by myself.
I walked towards the stables. The smell of horses, hay and horse food came into my nose - something I never really smelled.
'Digweed?' I asked as I walked in. The stables were beautiful and cozy. Every horse had enough space and the sunlight gave everything a nice, gold yellow glow.
No response. At leat, not from him. A horse behind me made a noise and I turned around with a questioning look on my face. Then, my face lightened up. 'Periwinkle!'
    The little white horse looked at me with happy, twinkling brown eyes and I rubbed over her nose.
    'How are you doing?' I asked her softly, even if I knew that she wouldn't answer. Digweed was right.
    I was too big for Periwinkle. I wouldn't fit anymore if I would ride her. Ruth was now my new riding horse. 'You didn't change a bit!' I whispered.
    'Good afternoon, Mrs. Merryweather,' Digweeds voice came from behind me. I turned around.
'Hello, Digweed,' I said and looked at Periwinkle again. I had forgotten how soft her nose was.
    'Well, what brings you to the stables?' he asked me while he brushed a black leather saddle. I took a deep breath and felt the letter burn a hole in my dress.
    'I need you to deliver something,' I told him as I took the letter out, handing it over. With a frown in his forehead he looked at the name I had written on the blank paper. We both didn't say a thing for the next moments.
    Then he looked at me.
    'You're Uncle is not going to like this.' A warning. I nodded.  
    'I know that,' I said. 'But it is a party for me. And I want that the people I love are there. Robin is my best friend - it won't be a party without him.'
    Please, I begged in my head, in my heart. Please bring this to him.
    After a few seconds Digweed looked up again. I took a deep breath and I felt my cheeks burn.
    Please.
    A nod. I let my breath flew out my lungs in a sigh of relief. 'I will bring this to him, Mrs. Merryweather.'
    'Thank you.' My voice was nothing more than a gust of breath. With a pounding heart and a grin on my face, I walked outside the stables.