The return of the Dark

11

Robin didn't say a thing when we walked away from the room I was hiding. I didn't say a thing either.
    I expected to go back to the garden, but Robin leaded me to the piano room. I haven't been there a long time. As we walked in I looked around.
    The room was beautiful, once again after Loveday and Uncle Benjamin broke up. Red and pink flowers were everywhere and the room wasn't that cold anymore.
   "You wanted to dance without music?" I asked and raised a brow at him. Robin shook his head and I grinned.
Lucky for me he didn't seem upset — at least, I hoped he wasn't that upset. His entrance wasn't that loved by everyone. We actually made quite a scene. I was really embarrassed when I thought about it and I felt my cheeks burn slightly.
"Well, that doesn't bother me. You?" He looked at me and I shook my head.
"No," I said, "I could use some rest after that scene."
Robin sniffed. "You're right. It was a bit of a scene." My cheeks burned a bit hotter. Oh no, I made a complete fool of me and my family.
    My Uncle wouldn't forgive me that easily and I needed to find a way to prepare myself. But first, Robin would finally tell me what was going on between our families.
    Robin took my hand in his and lied his other arm around my waist. Slowly he leaded me as we danced. But we both stayed quiet.
    "Well, aren't you going to tell me?" I asked and I squeezed his strong shoulder. A watery smile was being forced upon his face. He looked at something behind me, and didn't look at me when he opened his mouth.
"I am," he said, "but it's not a nice thing." I frowned and sighed. Robin raised an eyebrow at me. "What?"
"Tell me. I'm done waiting," I growled and Robin grinned more sincerely.
"Alright. But I need to ask you first to be completely non judgmental, Princess," he said serious and slowly I nodded. Robin took a shaky deep breath, like he was preparing himself. Then he looked me dead into the eye.
"It's murder, Maria," he whispered, like he was scared someone would hear him. My heart skipped a beat and I got a cold feeling.
"Who's been murdered? And by who?" My voice was nothing more than a thin whisper. I didn't know if I actually wanted to know.
"Someone of the De Noirs... and the Merryweathers. On our former borders they were found, they just laid there, you know." Robin swallowed for a moment and his eyes drifted off into nothingness. "It didn't look like they fought, both stabbed into the back. You probably know what the deeper meaning is."
I nodded, still pale. Unable to understand why someone would do this.
"And the murderer?"
"That's just the problem," he said and shook his head. "We don't know. Both families blame each other, but I don't know what to think."
"So we're enemies again?" Slowly Robin nodded and his dark eyes were filled with sorrow.
"I ain't liking it. Everything was quite alright, until you left." A crooked smile crossed his face. "We've been missing you a lot. And the Valley notices it." Be sighed and I frowned, did not understand his meanings.
    "I don't understand," I said confused.
    "What is Moonacre Valley without its Moon Princess?" He still smiled, but his eyes did not join in. "It's okay, though. You're here now, and I cannot be happier. You're everything we all need right now after the whole... drama."
    "But it still isn't over." I started to worry. When I left everything was fine. Now I'm back everything is a disaster. And I had no idea how to solve it. I knew that Robin already would've tried to get our families talking.
    "No, it isn't." Robin's jaw clenched. "I don't know what to do. I don't know where to start either. Maybe our families are truly separated forever after this."
    I started to shake my head when his dropped. A beaten young man. I could not bear it.
    "We are not," I strictly told him. "I don't know what tomorrow is going to bring. My Uncle will lock me up or something. I don't know." I took a deep breath and Robin locked eyes with me again. "I won't let this rest. We need to restore this."
    He nodded and started to grow confident again.
    "But how?" He truly sounded clueless.
    "We'll see. I will deal with my Uncle's fierce tomorrow. I want to meet you at the old Tree where we found the Moon Pearls, if I get away." A lazy smile came across my face.
    "Okay," said Robin and let out a tensed sigh. "We'll see. I hope you survive your Uncle though."
    I chuckled and leaned against his breast — he was warm and smelled nice. "I hope so, too."