Disclaimer: I do not own Little white horse, or any of the Characters, except my original characters.

Chapter 1

Maria's POV

She felt dry leaves and grass underneath her, The musk smelling forest surrounded her.

Wait!

What was she doing in the forest, she had only just arrived at Moonacre that day. Oh no had the bandits from the carriage ride gotten her? She tried opening her eyes, but they were to heavy so she just lay there wondering and worring. Ms. Heliotrope must be in a tizzy, Maria thought.

The smells of the forest seemed so putrid to her, being a younger who lived most of her life in the city of London.

Not being able to open her eyes made her drowzy and she drifted off to sleep, not sure if she had ever been awake to begin with.

Robins POV:

He ran half blind through out the vast forest searching for Maria. She had disappeared two days ago without so much as a trace. Robin was worried sick. Not even Wrolf; the black lion that protected the Merryweather family, could pick up a scent as to where Maria might be. Robin ran wildly into a clearing and stopped to look around for any sign of Maria being there, seeing nothing he slumped to the ground starting to let hot tears fall. NO, no he Robin de Noir would not cry for the sake of some girl, but it wasn't just some girl, she was his best friend, and he loved her.

"Oh Princess where've you gone?"He lifted his knees up and put his head on his folded arms that rested on his knees. "Just give me a sign Maria, just a sign to say you're alive." He said quietly to himself.

There was a sudden shuffling that lasted a mere second and then stopped. Robin looked up quickly serching for what had made the sound, he got to is feet and searched the surrounding forest with his eyes. Another shuffle. Robin took off running in the direction of the sound.

"Maria please be okay."He muttered to himself. He stopped catching a piece of red out of the corner of his eye, he looked and saw a length of red cloth that belonged to Maria's Moon Princess gown, it disappeared behind a rock, out of view. He dashed around the rock and saw Maria lying there unconscious, shivering slightly, he rushed to her side and lifted her up and layed her head and chest on his lap. He held her head carefully, looking at her.

"Maria, Maria wake up."He said urgently.

Her eyes fluttered then closed again, but that was all Robin needed to know that she was okay, he pulled her to his chest and hugged her, he leaned in to kiss her, but just as his lips brushed hers she gasped and opened her eyes wide. Robin saw a strange look in her eyes thatwasn't quite her own. Then she did something completely unexpected to Robin.

She screamed and pushed him away scrambling backwards away from him.

"Get away from me." She shrieked

"Maria, it's me Robin."He said feeling confused and placing his hand over his chest on his black leather jacket. It was the hand that she had scarred years ago with her french needle. Maria looked at it with horror.

"You, it was you who attacked me yesterday."Robin was confused he hadn't even seen her yesterday.

"What do you mean, I haven't seen you for two days."He tried to explain, even with the utter shock he was feeling.

"You ruffian, get away."She jumped to her feet but was unsteady and she looked dizzy in her head. "Where. . ."She took a moment to breathe which looked like it took a lot of effort. "Am. I?"

"Maria what is going on?"

"How do you know my name?"She asked breathlessly.

"I think we're near the de. . ."He never finished the sentence because he had to catch Maria from falling into a thorn bush. She was unconscious again. Robin looked around for something that wasn't there. Help. No he had to do this for Maria, by himself.

He picked her up bridal style and started towards the de Noir castle which they were the closest to, he tried to run but couldn't without stumbling.

*Later

"Father!"Robin shouted when he burst through the door to the great hall, where Coeur de Noir was arranging search parties for Maria.

"You found her!"Sir de Noir said when he saw his son with a limp Moon Princess in his arms. "Take her to her room, I'll send for Loveday and her uncle."

Robin brought her to the one cheerful room in the Gothic black leather castle, he laid her in a golden chariot bed that felt like clouds, he knew because he often lay in it and thought of her.

her dress was torn in places and stained, Robin noted as he drew a thick blanket over her, he smiled at the thought of how horrified Ms. Heliotrope would be with the state of it. Her womanly curves stood out attractively and Robin had trouble keeping the temptation of running his dirty hands through her luscious golden red hair at bay, even her hair was as dirty as his hands if not more. She had cuts on her face and bruises on her hands, some green and yellow, other black an blue.

He was very worried about what had happened in the forest. He had been getting especially close to Maria, and she had finally been showing some reciprocation of feelings for Robin after two years, though he suspected she had liked him the whole time and just hid it well, and this happened whatever THIS was.

The doors burst open and Loveday and uncle Benjamin Merryweather came charging in, Sir de Noir behind them and Ms. Heliotrope bringing up the rear.

"She needs a doctor."Benjamin announced.

"I agree."Loveday said feeling Maria's forhead with the back of her hand. "She's burning up." Sir de Noir left the room, to call for the doctor Robin suspected.

"Oh my dear!"Ms. Heliotrope exclaimed then paled and fainted into the armchair.

"Oh."Loveday said and went to Ms. Heliotrope and woke her up with some smelling salts, when the woman awoke Loveday said. "I know this is difficult Ms. Heliotrope, but you must keep it together for Maria."

"Yes, Maria."Ms. Heliotrope mused coming to her senses.

"Robin, Benjamin you must leave the room for a moment."Both of them were about to put up an argument but Loveday wasn't finished. "She needs some fresh clothes on, we will let you back in as soon as possible." With that they were shooed out by Ms. Heliotrope.