Moonacres Secrets

About 5 hours into our journey we stop at a gate with another carriage. I stick my head out of the window to see why we stopped, in the carriage in front of us another girl had her head and one of her shoulders out of the window. I guessed that was Maria since no on ever comes to Moonacre anymore. "Maria?!" I shout to her. She wipes her head to look at me, "Aliha?!" She calls out, "It is I!" I grin and she smiles. Thats when I notice some males on the roof or Maria's carriage, "Maria above you!" I warn her and she shouts, "Above you too!" At that moment a male with curly brown hair and a bandana across his nose grabs Maria and another male who I couldn't identify grabbed me. Maria screams and I grit my teeth. De Noirs, it had to be. I swiftly jab my elbow behind me making the guy retract and recoil. I take this chance to turn around and shove him off the carriage. Maria takes the needle of her embroidery and slices the males hand, he shouts in pain and recoils. Finally the carriage driver has returned and both of our carriages begin to go again. I couldn't believe they had the dignity to attack our carriages, what on earth did they want? Yes there was an ongoing feud between our families but that doesn't mean they have to full out attack us. "What do you think they wanted?" I ask Miss Roana. "I haven't the slightest idea, Aliha." She replies. We sigh and sit in silence until we arrive at Moonacre. 

"Father!" I shout as I see him through the window. He looks over at me and gives a nod. He always was a dour man... Well ever since the incident with Loveday. The carriage hauls to a stop and I quickly swing the door open then jump from the carriage. Maria was already out and I run over to my father. I give him a big hug and to my surprise he returns it. "Yes hello, Aliha." He greets me as we both pull from the hug. He then turns to Maria and.. Er.. Maybe her 'care taker'? "Welcome to Moonacre." He greets them. "Oh Sir Benjamin, what a journey we have had!" The older woman says in an exhausted matter, "not one hour from this very door we were accusted by a bunch of roughians-" though my father rudely interrupts her, "Madam, please, I will hear your fascinating stories some other time if I may," and with that he turns on his heels and heads inside. I roll my eyes, he really wasn't good at first impressions or introductions.. I walk over to the two with Miss Roana behind me, "he can be quite bitter at times but he gets better, I promise." I say with a small smile, "come along, we don't want to keep him waiting he will get grumpy." I giggle and Maria joins me. First Maria and the older women, who were hand and hand, entered and I followed. I smiled as I caught sight of Wrolf. I run over to him and kneel next to him, wrapping my arms around his neck I grin. Maria and the women looked like they had seen a ghost. The older women gasped as she saw Wrolf and I wasnt aware that Wrolf's eyes were blood red from the sight of the newcomers and he looked intimidating. 

"His name is Wrolf," my father explains, he seemed almost amused by the two ladies reactions. "There are those  who find him alarming. He can kill in an instant," I sigh knowing he was just trying to play with there emotions, scare them. I give my father a look and he sighed. "But your a Merryweather, he very probably won't harm you." He smirks a bit, I again roll my eyes but this time lightly glare at my father. Before he tries to scare them again I decide that I should show them their rooms. "Shouldnt we show them their rooms?" I ask. My father nods in agreement and we both begin to lead the two to their rooms. It was already getting dark! I didn't realize the carriage ride took so long! 

We both head upstairs and stop at the staircase that leads to the tower. My father points down the hall, "Miss Heliotrop your room is down the hall to the right." She begins to walk down the hall, "thank you Sir Benjamin," I smile, "Maria your room is up here, I know its a bit away from Miss Heliotrop (I finally figured out her name!) but im sure you'll find it suitable!" Maria looked skeptical but started to walk upstairs. I followed her and gestured towards the only door. "The doors quite small though the room is quite large and truly beautiful." I assure her. She nods gratefully and opens the door, she steps in and so do I. Her gaze trails along the entire room and its quite obvious that she is marveling at the beautiful paintings that decorate the walls. "What did I say? I wouldn't lie to you!" I grin. Maria smiles widely, "it truly is amazing!" Once Maria is doen looking at her room she sits on the bed and pats the bed beside her, gesturing for me to sit down. I happily oblige and sits next to her, "I know you'll like it here, its no city but there is always an adventure!" I explain throwing my hands up in excitement. Maria giggles, "It does seem quite interesting here." She says contently. "Well there are clothes in that chest so help yourself, "i do hope they fit you, they were mine but I honestly have way to many clothes and they just weren't my style. Though they would look much better on you." With that said Maria walks to the chest and kneels in front of it. She opens it and begins to go through it, after a bit she pulls out a very pretty white night gown. City people really were of higher standards. I bid her farewell and head to my room in the other tower. I change into a simple silk, pale pink shirt with matching pants. 

After that I make my way back to Maria's room and knock on the door, "its just me Aliha, can I come in?" I ask. "Yes its fine." Maria calls from behind the door. I open the door and spot Maria with the night gown on, sitting on the bed. She was brushing her ginger locks and she really was quite pretty. "I heard from Miss Roana that uncle left you a book?" She nods and picks it up from the bedside table. "Yes he did, it's right here. Its about Moonacre." She explains. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, "about Moonacre huh? May I see?" I ask, she nods and hands it to me. "The Tales of Moonacre.. How odd." I flip through the pages as Maria looks over my shoulder. My mouth drops open when the De Noirs were mentioned. "This is about our history..? The De Noirs and Merryweathers.. This is interesting." I think aloud, "oh, the males who attacked us on the carriage were De Noirs, im not sure why they attacked us though." Maira shrugs, "i do want to know though." I nod in agreement, "indeed. Well we should get to bed its going to be a long day tomorrow." Maria looks at me curiously, "couldnt we read the book for a bit? I really want to know what will happen." She says excitedly. "I suppose so." Maria and I lay on her bed with the book in both of our laps, we took turns reading till we both eventually fell asleep.