The return of the Dark

15

*cursing language*

The old room, made out of branches, moss and leaves, was still in the shape we once found it in. It was messy and smelled like rotten leaves and moist bark.
Again I felt this energy—ancient and knowing. Like the very first Moonprinces was watching us.
Robin had to bow his shoulders low so he could stand, still with a crooked neck watching his boots. With an apologising smile he sat down on the old bed.
Dust and crispy autumn leaves rose up into the air and I looked around once more.
There, also a horse head that you could use to get to the ancient amphitheater where I jumped into the sea to save everyone... it seemed like a lifetime ago and the thought alone made me shiver.
I went to sit down next to Robin and breathed in deeply, enjoyed the scent of this beautiful place.
"We're taking a very big risk by doing this," Robin warned me, the first words he spoke to me since we entered the Old Tree. I nodded.
"But I still don't understand why," I told him honestly. A crooked smile made his face light up. Automatically I smiled back at him. His eyes were full of mischief... but also sorrow.
"I told you about the murders," he started, ignoring my words. Again I nodded, knowing that the playful mood he was in completely forgotten.
"People from the Merryweathers and the De Noirs stabbed in the back." When I said the words out loud it felt like someone placed and ice cold hand in my neck.
"It happened not too long ago. I'd say a year, maybe a little more. Before that everything was fine. People missed you and somehow Moonacre wasn't the same." A sad expression took over his face, but quickly he covered it.
"To be honest, I was at Sir Benjamin's house almost three times a week. We could get along just fine. I loved seeing Loveday." A deep frown curved its way into his sun-kissed forehead.
"But then things started to get very... tensed. I ignored it, fool that I was. I thought things would be alright and it was nothing to be worried about." He shook his head and I wanted to comfort him, but I didn't know how. I could see he felt guilty for not noticing
"People started to fight. Bad people got into the woods and more and more victims started to appear. Me and my boys tried to keep the woods safe and I checked up on Loveday many times." He stared at something, but it looked like he wasn't here with his thoughts.
"I'm not sure if you want to know this," he then said and locked his eyes with mine.
I wanted to protest and already opened my mouth, but no sound came from it. I had the right to know. I needed to know. They couldn't expect me to live here with all this going on, like a girl that has to read books or do whatever.
I was the Moonprinces, I wanted to shout. I saved this valley, these families. I was part of one.
Robin could read the fuming anger of my face and gave me a soft push against my shoulder. "Okay, Princess. I guess I can't keep it a secret from you."
He took a deep breath and he shook his head. "One day I went to check on them again, because it was really bad. A lot of people that lived on the lands of the Merryweathers got a lot of problems. Sadly, I didn't have the recourses or the men to protect your Uncle's land and my father's."
He squeezed his hands together.
"I went over," he started softly, slowly, like he was scared someone would hear us. "And I went inside. Loveday wasn't there. Benjamin was. He told me..."
He also squeezed his nose bridge and I started to feel nervous. What did my Uncle do to him? I placed my hand on his shoulder, a way to comfort him. Or try, at least.
"He said that he didn't want a fucking De Noir bastard in his house, on his lands. I had to leave and not return. When I refused to leave before I saw my sister, he threw his whiskey glass at me."
I felt the blood drain from my face. My Uncle did what? Another heated ball of anger started to embody me.
"He hit my head and it cut open my cheek. Flabbergasted because of what happened, I just ran away like a fucking coward. I didn't even see Loveday. The days after that all the De Noirs were banned from his lands and the ones that did enter his lands—for whatever reasons, girlfriends, groceries, it doesn't matter—he sent his people after them or Odin."
He placed his head in his hands.
"My father started to fight back. He didn't like the way his people were treated. But his pride was in the way. I tried to ask him to talk to Benjamin, but he refused. He said that he wouldn't talk to a man that handled like that. He didn't understand that Sir Benjamin was afraid and angry because of what happened."
A joyless laugh escaped from his mouth and I wished I was there when this happened. I would've screamed at my Uncle for sure—to get punished later.
I would've went with Robin, to take care of his cut face and stop the bleeding. I would've tried to stop this useless fight between them.
"It was very easy to blame us. After centuries of blood feud it's the simplest way. I don't know if the De Noirs actually did anything wrong, but I didn't believe it. Soon after this happened the Merryweathers started to rob us too. Cause fights. Sometimes even rape the women."
I felt sick when I heard that. I felt sick after everything he told me so far.
"My father was outraging of anger. It was like the old times. Like nothing changed and you never even existed. And there was nothing I could do." With a fist he hit the bed and more dust rose up, made my eyes watery.
"I'm so sorry to hear that," I whispered, knowing there wasn't anything I could do or say to make him feel better.
This was so deep in his heart that it would take time to get close enough to help him.
"When the fight was at it's highest point, we found the two dead bodies. Two soldiers, stabbed in the back. Of course we blamed each other, because the men were from both our families. After that, the fight went on but it calmed after a couple of months. I guess we tried to ignore each other. It didn't feel good. It's still not good."
He sighed deeply.
"That old war between us started again and I tried everything to make it right. It never changed a thing. My father wants to see blood and Benjamin stays on his grounds. The tension between our families is worse than ever."
"So I made it worse?" I asked and guilt waved over me like the ocean. My heart clenched and I felt cold and shaky.
Robin looked confused. "What? Of course not! Why would you think that?"
"I went to see you! I invited you and your friends to my party! Of course I was wrong." Robin grabbed my hand when I looked down and refused to look into his warm brown eyes.
I was ashamed after my words—after I said them I felt like I said that he was the wrong choice. But he could never. Robin was always the right choice. From the start on.
"It's not your fault that you wanted to see me and the boys," he whispered and pulled me against him, while I still looked down at his bag hand covering mine. His hand was warm and big and felt rough against mine—years of training and hard work.
"I made things worse," I whispered in agony.
"Well, you might've caused some tension," he chuckled. I didn't join him. "But how could you know? No one told you, because everyone wanted to protect you. That is the one thing we had in common. The one agreement. It's only fair that you wanted us to be together, not knowing we grew apart with so much hate towards each other."
I knew he wanted to make me feel better. To let me know that I did nothing wrong. And he was right. I couldn't know. People wanted me to be happy when I got back.
"I guess you're right," I sighed and closed my eyes, breathed in deeply. I could smell Robin's scent; leaves, moss and rain. He smelled like the woods. He smelled like home.
"But what now?"
He seemed to think about my question for a minute. "I don't know," he whispered. "I tried so many times. Nothing helped."
I nodded. "Who was the murderer?" It took me some courage to ask. I felt his muscles get tensed and his hand became a bit sweaty.
"We don't know," he whispered back. "We blame each other, but I don't believe it. I would've found out."
"So no one is like... investigating?" He shook his head and his thick curls stroke over my forehead. It tickled.
"We gave up on that."
"We shouldn't."
"I know."
I went to sit upright, so sudden that Robin looked surprised for a moment. "Then we do it," I said. He blinked a couple of times
"Maria, that's madness," he said and the corner of his mouth twitched upwards. He tried not to smile.
"It's the best we can do."
"I'm not sure if it will change anything." I shook my head and grabbed his hands firmly.
"If we can prove none of our families did it and get the one that awakened this hatred, we can end this."
He looked at me and I didn't dare to look away from his eyes. They looked like melted dark chocolate. Robin thought.
"Okay," he said and if I didn't sit on the bed, I would've fallen off my feet. "But we have to be very, very careful. No one can know we're doing this. Even suspect it."
I nodded firmly. "Of course, I understand."
Robin smirked at me. "I've missed you Princess."