The Secret of Moonacre - SECRECY

Chapter 34

Alex slammed the chamber door open and both the drunk boys collapsed on to the bed in heaps of laughter.

I stood with a scowl on my face making them laugh even more "What exactly have you two been doing all day?" I demanded "Robin, you shouldn't have been drinking whilst you are recovering! It's completely irresponsible!"

"Boohoo. It's not as if anyone cares about me anyway" He retaliated.

"Don't be so stupid. I'm not even going to answer you, you are being ridiculous. If you want me to stick around you better clean your act up Robin" I cautioned. I knew he would want me to stick around so he would hopefully start to behave.

But, he just waved me off "No one is asking you to stick around" Even whilst being drunk, there was a slight seriousness to his tone and the arrow went straight to my heart, slicing it through the middle.

Alex started to laugh even more than before. "Ouuuchhh, that was an insult and a half"

"He's drunk, he didn't mean it" I quietly hoped he didn't because if he did, then I was lost.

"Just go Maria." Robin instructed.

For once, I did as I was told first time and left the room.

I wasn't going to run.

I wasn't going to sit down and stare out a window for days on end hoping something would change in Robin.

Because something had already changed and I didn't know what it was.

I walked casually down the stairs and straightened myself up as I reached the bottom.

"Where are you off to my dear?" Loveday asked me from the table.

"I'm just going to see Periwinkle for some fresh air. All I can smell is alcohol and it's on my chest. Please excuse me for a few minutes" I unlocked the door and jogged down the steps and the small incline to Periwinkle's temporary box. I could barely see infront of me due to the lack of light in the sky.

Half way there, I bumped into something hard yet squishy.

"I am so terribly sorry..." I looked into those familiar green eyes again. "Oh! It's you again!"

"We seem to have a habit of bumping into each other" John laughed.

"Indeed we do. What brings you here?" I asked him.

"I was actually hoping to check that Alex and Robin made it back in one piece. They had a hard time down in the bar" John said.

"You know them?"

"Yes, we are quite pally together" John admitted.

"Did anything happen there or did they just drink too much?" I asked.

"They drank a lot. I have to say, Robin must have downed at least six or seven bottles. I'm surprised he's still conscious" John laughed.

"I'm not sure if he's still even conscious now. He told me to leave our room so I didn't bother waiting around"

"You live with him?" John raised an eyebrow.

"Well not exactly live, we're together in a way. We just, uhm, I'm staying with him until the manor is sorted then I am to live back there. But I don't know if things will be the same now" I explained to John. I wasn't exactly sure why I was telling practically a stranger my life but he seemed interested.

"I see" A smirk grew across John's face. "Would you like to know what happened tonight?"

I was extremely curious. "Yes, yes I would. Every single little detail"

"Were you headed somewhere? We can talk along the way" John suggested.

"Just to the boxes" I told him. We followed the path to the stables and John started to explain.

"I was in the village about my daily business around noon this afternoon when I noticed Robin and Alex causing a little mayhem about the place. They were stealing fruit from market stalls and were in a hurry to get through the small crowded market place. You know how it is on market day" he paused and I nodded. "I followed them further into the village and they went into the bar so I followed them in there too. I sat far away in the corner, just out of sight and watched them drink drink after drink after drink until they were frolicking around the place. Robin became angry and tried to start a fight with the bar man who refused to serve him another drink in his current state. This was after say, a couple of hours, it was just getting dark. I had one drink to loosen up and went to go join them and they were talking about trying to split Robin from somebody, although I'm not quite sure who. I'd assumed his partner or something. It was quite a deep conversation for two drunk bodies I must admit. A young, blonde, I think it was, girl approached Robin and they started to talk together and Alex joined in too. It was rather funny at the time. Anyway, eventually, Robin became too loud and they were chucked out of the bar and I would have thought they came straight back here. That's just about what I remember"

I nodded taking it all in. It didn't quite make sense. Robin never started fights with anyone, he never stole things, and never talked to any other girls since he met me, that was for sure. But it sounded like John missed something out "Thank you John, that was helpful. Now I can actually talk to him without seeming unintelligent"

John laughed "It was a lot to take in, but I did expect more from Robin really, being heir to this castle" He waved his hands to the tall building.

"I did too to be honest. But things change, either for better or for worse" I added.

"That is very true. Hopefully for the better" John smiled.

"I should hope so" I looked up in to the night sky. I couldn't see anything wrong with John. He seemed like an honest, good intentions person, not a trouble maker.

"I should be getting back before Du" he coughed "David starts to get worried"

"Oh, yes of course don't let me keep you" We stopped walking when we reached the boxes. "Thank you again John for telling me this"

"It's not a problem. I'm glad I could help" As a sweet gesture, John picked my hand up and delicately kissed it and winked as we walked away, which took me completely by surprise.

I had regained my confidence after talking to somebody sober so I walked back up the path to the castle and up to my room. The table had been evactuated and I assumed everyone had gone back to bed for the evening.

Robin was sat in the chair with his feet on the windowsill, staring out into the night sky.

"Have you regained your self respect now Robin?" I wearily asked him.

He just grunted. "Who was that out there with you?"

"Nobody important. Just somebody asking for something from the village" I lied. I couldn't tell him it was John after Robin told me to stay away. But after the act this evening, why should I have listened to him?

"So it looks like I'm not the only one keeping secrets" He snapped.

My mouth almost dropped to the floor and I scowled at him for I knew that he was keeping something from me. Something he would black mail me into, and I knew I had the old, wreckless Robin back that didn't love me anymore. At least, it came across that way.

A/N ~ Not the best but hey ho, it's been a while. I've edited up to chap. 9 I think now. Shout outs next chap.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 6K I ALMOST CRIED OKAY, IT MEANS THAT MUCH, but 100th commenter and 200th voter gets a chapter dedication (possibly next chap. As I worked out how to do it!)