A/N For the purpose of this fanfic I am making maria a bit older than she is, i think about 14 maybe 15. I hope this does not annoy anyone. Also is it spelt 'De noir' or 'Du noir' because i have seen both but i don't know which is right? Or is something different completely?

Maria

It had been 3 months since the curse was broken and today is uncle and lovedays wedding. Loveday's dress is so beautiful, it is a long white grown with delicate stitches of silver sewn into it as little flowers and leaves. Loveday walks out from behind the screen where she was changing. She looks absolutely gorgeous in her dress.

"Oh Loveday" Exclaims Miss Heliotrope in delight. "You look absolutely stunning, Sir Benjamin will not be able to take his eyes of you."

"Thank you" She reply's with a kind smile. I turn to her and say

"You truly do look beautiful"

"Thank you Maria dear"

"Come and sit we must get your hair done" I say happily. She sits in front of the big vanity mirror as I pick up the brush. I start brushing her hair and humming slightly. Miss Heliotrope start talking about how excited she must be and all of that but my mind is else where. I can't seem to stop thinking about the curly haired bird boy. We have become good friends and see each other almost every day, but it wasn't a friendship that happened straight away. We just sort of slowly started seeing more and more of each other until we couldn't stop. We often go out into the woods when I haven't got my lessons. Miss Heliotrope thinks its awfully dreadful that I am spending so much time alone with a boy but we are such good friends that I do disagree. She doesn't seem to understand that I need to have freedom of my own, but I almost wasn't aloud to go out at all since uncle thought it would be too dangerous because even though the feud between the family's was over there are bound to be other people that would try and get to a moon princess, thats when Robin said he would stay with me so I wouldn't be alone. After that our friendship just got stronger. My thoughts drift further until I hear my name.

"Maria?"

"What?" I say confused to Miss Heliotrope.

"Loveday was speaking to you"

"Oh my apologies Loveday. My thoughts were elsewhere. May you pass me the flowers please?" She passed the flowers and I started weaving them into Loveday's hair.

"I said" started loveday "There will many young men wanting to dance with a beauty such as yourself"

I could feel heat in my cheeks for there was only one person I wished to dance with. "I-I doubt that"

"Of course they will, unless you have plans to dance with somebody all ready Maria"

"I don't know what your talking about" I say but my heats even more.

She turns in her seat and says "You have haven't you, I bet I could guess who it is. Is it R-"

"OK all done" I say quickly cutting her off.

"Oh Maria, I haven't seen you blush so much before" She says teasingly. Before I can speak there is a loud rumble of thunder outside. "Oh no, I was hoping it would be a nice day" She says.

"It will probably pass" I say trying to lift her spirits. But mine are not so happy. This past month I have felt uneasy about something, but I just don't know what. We have had rather a lot of storms and the moon doesn't seem to be shinning as bright. I am Snapped out of my thoughts by Loveday.

"Now Maria you must get changed too" I smile brightly.

My dress is long and a deep rich purple with gold satin shoes and golden thread woven into the delicate material. It truly was a magnificent dress. She let her hair down and walk out form behind the screen.

"Oh Maria, you look absolutely beautiful"

"Nothing compared to you" Loveday smiled. I looked outside and the storm seemed to have subsided.

"Maria I have something for you and I was saving it for your birthday next week but I want to give it to you know" She took from a draw a little box and handed it to me.

I opened it and saw the most beautiful silver ring with a stone that seemed to be glowing on it.

"Oh Loveday it beautiful" I say and hug her.

"As a moon princess you are supposed to receive this on your 16th birthday but I see no harm in giving it to you now"

"Thank you" I breath.

"That stone was a gift from the moon. No other stone like that will be found on Earth. Keep good care of that moonstone"

"Oh I will, I most certainly will" I say and slip it onto my finger. It fits perfectly.

We hear a knock at the door then Digweeds voice. "Its time" Lovedays face it lit up with excitement and joy.

"Lets go I say"

I walk down the isle behind Loveday. Uncle's face is full of joy and love. We reach the top of the the isle and I stand to the side and look around for Robin. He is sat in the front row of seats staring right at me a smile plastered on his face. He isn't wearing his hat and has got on a smart outfit that only he could pull of at a wedding. He wears his black trousers and a dark red top with a smart black jacket over the top. I knew no one would ever get him in a suit. But he does look look smart but in his scruffy way. His dark curls almost sweep in front of his face when he moves his head slightly but doesn't take his eyes of me. For most of the ceremony our eyes don't move from each other but I watch them take there vows, however I can feel his eyes on me. I see them kiss and join in on the cheers that erupt from everywhere.

"Princess" I hear from behind me and turn to face Robin.

"Robin" I say and hug him. "That was a beautiful ceremony, don't you think?"

He goes slightly pink and answers "Yes it was" We walk out to the garden where a massive tent has been but up for us to eat in. I am sat on the table next to Loveday and next to me is Robin. The dinner goes by in a blur but the food is fabulous. Marmaduke really outdid himself. Watching Loveday and Uncle dance was truly magical. After some time others started joining in and a boy of about 17 came up to me when Robin had gone to get a drink and asked me for a dance. I would of but I just didn't feel well. The unease from earlier returned stronger than ever.

"I must recline sorry" I said

"Come on princess just once dance" He said. Him calling me princess annoyed me a great deal.

"No" I said flatly.

"Why not?". I looked of at Robin and gave him a look that said 'help me' Then Robin walked up behind him and spoke.

"Ah my princess I do believe we were about to dance" He said. I gave him a look of thank you. "Oh my apology's Robin I-I did not realise she was... I mean that y-you were um"

Then he ran off.

"Who was he?" I asked

"Just a annoying boy who can't keep his nose out of other peoples business" I laughed and Robin took my hand.

"What are you doing?" I asked smiling.

"Well princess we were about to dance"

"I-I don't feel to well sorry" I said and ran out into the garden.

"Maria!" I could hear Robins voice calling me as he followed. "Maria stop!" He grabbed my arm and span me around so that we were almost an inch apart. I couldn't move his eyes were staring into mine. We are so close I can feel his breath on my face. Suddenly I feel a burning pain on my finger and drop to the ground.

"Maria, whats wrong?" I tug the ring of violently and chuck it on the wet grass. Robin is crouched down and eye level with me. "Whats going on you have been acting strange these past couple of days"

"Robin I think there is something wrong with the valley."

"What you just saved it how could there me something wrong with it"

"I-I don't know"

"What just happened" He said snatching up my hand and looking at my finger where there was a circle of red flesh where the ring had burned my skin. "What happened"

"The ring burnt me" I say pointing at it "It was a present from Loveday, she said it was for a moon princess a gift from the moon holding a moonstone in it." He bent and carefully touched it then picked it up once he knew it wouldn't burn him. He inspected it closely then said. "What does it say" I looked at him confused. Then I saw that on the inside of the ring were words. I took it from him and read.

"Only the purest and strongest magic"

"What's that supposed to mean"

Just then it started raining and piece of paper fluttered down and landed in my hands. On it was written.

'only the purest and strongest magic can break the dark curse set upon Moonacre'