Guardian Angel

Chapter One ~ Greetings

A delicate butterfly fluttered past me, blissfully going about it's life, as I lay comfortably on a bed of grass in the grounds of my uncle's home. Though I wasn't the outdoors kind of girl, the day would have gone by wasted if I had spent it indoors than outside in the glorious sunshine. As I watched the butterfly go I admired it's magical wings and envied it's beauty. It's colourful dots and swirls made it unique and I had to concentrate hard to grab all the detail. But it was gone as swiftly as it came, flying towards the forest and out of sight.

Watching the creature reminded me of my father. I remember asking him once; 'if you could be any animal, daddy, what would he be?' He replied; 'a lion because it is the most powerful and majestic of all creatures.' When he asked me the same question I replied with; 'a butterfly.' 'Why a butterfly? You do know that you'd have to live in a cocoon for ages? You won't be able to see anyone like me or Miss Heliotrope for a very long time.' he said. 'But then I'd get to fly and be very pretty.' He only smiled at me and kissed me lightly on my head.

I always wondered whether my father would be proud of me. Since his death and my move to Moonacre I had become a moon princess and saved the valley. Surely he would be proud, though I still wasn't certain. I'd like to think he was.

I heard a distant call of my name. I didn't bother looking up, I was too busy watching the white fluffy clouds drift by above me, making them into shapes and people, who were watching over me like guardian angels, keeping me safe. I had always wanted a guardian angel. Someone to take care of me. To love me. To keep me safe. I had numerous imaginary friends when I was little. All of them were what I imagined my guardian angel to be. Now I was older though, I realised it was very childish to have imaginary friends and my angels have gone, imbedded deep inside my mind for safe keeping. I could only wish now, for someone to come along and take the place of my imaginary friends. Someone real. Someone to become the guardian angel I've always wanted.

"Maria!" It was closer now. I lifted my head up and saw my uncle, Sir Benjamin Merryweather, walking towards me. I sat up and propped myself up on my arms. My uncle's face seemed to relax as he spotted me. Since the curse was broken, my uncle had become a lot more cheerful. Whether it was the fact the feud between our family and the De Noirs was over or his marriage to Loveday, who was infact a De Noir, that had brightened my uncle's mood would be a mystery. But I was more than happy as long as he remained that way.

"Maria, I've been calling you." He said once he had reached me.

"I know, uncle." I replied, smiling at him. "I was just admiring the sky." He raised an eyebrow at me before saying;

"Well, it's a good job Mrs Heliotrope hasn't seen you. She would not be happy with the state of your dress."

"She will be too busy with Digweed at the moment I should think." Months after the curse was lifted, Mrs Heliotrope had gotten married to Digweed, around the same time as Uncle and Loveday's. She had promised my uncle that their relationship would not get in the way of their work and would not annoy him, though uncle was more cheerful he still got annoyed by the likes of Mrs Heliotrope. I was happy for her, though I must admit it took my by surprise. She had also insisted on keeping her name 'Heliotrope' as I had grown up with it and she preferred it. So she only changed from 'miss' to 'mrs'. I also thought it may have something to do with Digweed's last name, which I hadn't a clue what was. It must have been to horrific and embarrassing for someone the likes of Mrs Heliotrope to label herself with.

"That is probably correct." He nodded. "But I think it's time to come inside. You need to be respectable for this evening." He turned on his heels and headed back to the house.

"What's happening tonight, Uncle?" I called after him. He turned back around and smiled knowingly.

"The De Noirs are coming round for dinner." With that he left. I paused for a few short moments before scrambling to my feet and running towards the house.

Once they were married, Loveday moved in with Uncle, though she still spent a lot of time in the De Noir castle with her father, Coeur de Noir, and her brother, Robin. At the present moment she was spending time with her family, tonight meant she was returning and the two De Noir men were visiting. It wasn't often that Loveday was gone for longer than a week with her family, though her visits were usually at least once every two months. It wasn't so bad though as we often saw the De Noirs, now the vengeance between the families was gone.

Mrs Heliotrope came up to help me get ready for dinner. She wasn't best pleased when she saw my dress, covered in mud and grass stains. She muttered to herself for ages, whilst she helped me into my new dress, about how she was 'getting sick of the countryside' and how 'this wouldn't happen in the city'. I had to constantly remind her it was just a dress.

"You know, Maria, I do wish I had hair like yours." She sighed as she ran a brush through it gently. She had insisted on doing my hair for me aswell as helping me into my dress. Which was a glistening teal colour that I hadn't worn before. It was silk and was occupied with a ribbon to go around my waist. It was simple but beautiful non the less. I could tell it was new and suspected Loveday was behind it, I was grateful anyway. When I tried to protest, Mrs Heliotrope only rambled on about inaudible things so I gave in, letting her help me get ready, shutting her up and saving my eardrums from bursting.

"Are you having dinner with us this evening, Mrs Heliotrope?" I asked, watching her in the mirror in front of me. She smiled.

"Yes, my dear." She beamed. "I wouldn't miss Marmaduke's cooking for the world." So that would make six in total, Mrs Heliotrope, Uncle, Loveday, Coeur de Noir, Robin and myself. It was rare that Coeur de Noir would come to these dinners, he would claim he was busy or was ill. Though we knew it was probably down to his hesitance of coming into a Merryweather home, still not used to this new situation. Robin however was the complete opposite. Never missing any planned occasion. Which I had to admit, I was secretly glad of.

"Is it supposed to be a special occasion?" I pondered.

"What do you mean, my dear?"

"Well, Coeur de Noir never usually comes to these dinners and you seem very forward into helping me prepare for it." A small smile fell on Mrs Heliotrope's lips.

"I just want you to look your best."

"Which I could have done myself." Her smiled widened and she met my gaze in the mirror. She placed her hands on my shoulders and kissed me on my head.

"It was times like this that I miss. The times when you weren't old enough to get ready by yourself and I would have to assist you. I had so much fun dressing you up and combing you hair." She smiled sadly and stroked my hair. "I just want to grab every moment that I can, my dear. Is that too much to ask?" I was stunned for a few moments, watching her face, so calm, so content. Finally, I shook my head.

"No it isn't. I apologise." I said quietly. "I like it when you brush my hair." I smiled back at her and she proceeded to comb my hair. Right then, I vowed I would never complain about any time I spent with Mrs Heliotrope. I had spent my whole life with her. I grew up with her. She was the closest thing I had to a mother and though she irritated me with her constant bickering and moaning about her indigestion, I loved her non the less.

Once Mrs Heliotrope had finished playing about with my hair she excused herself so she could go get herself ready. I sat in my room, staring into the mirror at Mrs Heliotrope's work. My hair was lose and hung down my shoulders in purposely placed curls which I could tell Mrs Heliotrope must have been proud of. I glanced down at my dressing table at a box which Mrs Heliotrope had left. It was a simple wooden box with worn out engravings on. I remembered what she had said before she had left to get ready; 'This will go lovely with your dress, keep it safe for me'. I picked it up cautiously and opened the lid. Inside was a silver bracelet with numerous tiny crystals on. I carefully lifted it out to examine it. Each crystal was a different colour and as I turned it, they reflected the light coming in from my small window sending rays of sparkles in all directions. I smiled. It was beautiful. Making sure I wouldn't break any of the delicate crystal work, I slipped the bracelet onto my wrist. 'Keep it safe for me'. It stuck in my mind. Why was this important to Mrs Heliotrope? Whatever it was, I was defiantly going to guard it with my life.

I left my room and headed down stairs. As I came down the main stairs, I heard the chatter of voices. I couldn't quite make out who they belonged to. One was defiantly female though. Finally I found the sources to the voices. My uncle and Loveday. They stood near the entrance of the house, beaming at each other, in mid embrace. Loveday looked radiant in a green dress which was arrayed with a lot of tassels and ribbons, her hair arranged in a high bun. As I reached the last step, they both turned in my direction and smiled at me. Loveday detached herself from Uncle and came towards me, arms out to hug me. Uncle quickly trudged out the entrance to the carriage waiting.

"How are you, Maria dear?" She asked, holding me tight and swaying slightly. I giggled lightly as her hold was practically squeezing the life out of me.

"I am very well, Loveday." I replied. She let go of me and held me at arms length.

"You look positively stunning."

"How was your stay with your family?" She shrugged indifferently.

"I've had to put up with the likes of men on my own for a long period of time, Maria." She told me, glancing over her shoulder at Uncle, who was coming back through the entrance, his hands full of Loveday's bags. "I am very glad to be back, I must say." I grinned at her. She turned to my uncle, who was next to her. "Take them up to our room, dear." Uncle stared at her, astounded. She smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek. "Please." He rolled his eyes at me and headed up the stairs. Over Loveday's shoulder I saw the figure of a man. Her father, Coeur de Noir. He was dressed in his usual black ropes and glanced around the entrance hall, admiring it.

"This place is so different to home." He muttered. Loveday turned to him.

"Father, you promised to be on your best behaviour this evening." She warned. He glanced at her and nodded.

"I know." He sighed. "You've been through this a number of times, my dear daughter." I giggled quietly.

"Yes and I shall carry on until it's drummed into that thick skull of yours." Before Mr De Noir could retaliate, another figure came bounding up the stairs, dressed in black leather and his trade mark black bowler hat with feathers, his brown curly locks peaked out from under it. A large grin was plastered on his face, somewhat smug and arrogant. His eyes were on me, making me feel slightly weird. I couldn't quite place these feelings I would have whenever Robin was around.

"Well hello there, princess." Robin said, his grin still full. "Fancy seeing you here."

"It's my house, Bird-boy." I shot back. His eyes narrowed and his smile dropped for a few seconds. But it perked back up just as instantly as it left. Then I noticed another person coming up the stairs. I frowned slightly. Who was it? They came into the light and was a man I had not seen before. He was much older than Robin, but maybe younger than his father. His hair was very short and black, which covered most of his head, only leaving a small bald patch on the top. He had a thin moustache on his upper lip, which made him look slightly foreign. He was wearing a tight red sleeveless shirt which were tucked into a pair of plain black pants. His eyes wandered around the room, much like Coeur de Noir's did, taking in the beauty of the house.

"Maria, this is a close family friend," Loveday said, breaking the silence. "Mr Gomez." The man named Mr Gomez broke away from his trail of wonder and smiled at me.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Merryweather." His voice has a tinge of an accent to it. He wasn't from around here.

"You to, Mr Gomez." I smiled back.

(A/N) Hello fellow Little White Horse readers :) First off, I'd like to thank you very much for checking out my story. It is much appreciated.

This is just something I thought of when watching Secret of Moonacre the other day. When I realised it was based off a book, I remembered that I actually had said book and just had to go read it! After doing this I fell in love with the whole Robin/Maria scenrio and story ideas just came to me. This is my itempt of one, though I truely doubt it will compare to many of the other amazing Robin/Maria stories on here.

My story is based around the film more than the book, and I hope all you Little White Horse fans will forgive me for this!

Anyway, please tell me what you think, good or bad, all reviews are welcomed with open arms! :)

-jemlou-