Disclaimer: I do not own The Little White Horse or The Secret of Moonacre. I just kind of love them. I also do not own the Alice in Wonderland and Don Quixote references/quotes.

A/N: Halfway through this I started listening to 'Annabelle Lee' sung by Sarah Jarosz. It's really a great song to write by, so the horse race is really to that song, if you feel like listening to Poe's poem being sung while you read it.


A scream rips through the morning, causing Maria to sit up quickly in her bed, her eyes wide and terrified. Dark blue eyes searched the room for whoever was making the noise, realization soon dawning on her that she was the one who was screaming bloody murder. Helplessly she clutched her bed sheets, trying to stop herself from screaming, but unable to concentrate her mind through the haze of sleep. Fear clouded her mind, but not enough to ignore the opening of the door and the sound of her uncle's voice.

"Maria! Maria, please, calm down!" The loving arms of her uncle wrapped around her, his arms encircling her in a protective way as her screams turned from screams to sobs, her face buried in his shoulder. Her uncle shushed her, as he had become used to when she was younger, and spoke in a soft, soothing tone so unlike his usual stern demeanor. Eventually, she calmed, her mind finally clearing from its haze and her arms finding themselves wrapped around her father figure in both thanks and for protection.

"Maria?" Sir Benjamin tried, his voice still the hushed, soothing tone so as not to alarm her while pulling back from her slightly to speak to her face to face. Maria begrudgingly let her uncle go, trying to gather her wits about her while still wanting to be in the security of her uncle's arms.

"I'm sorry Uncle; I don't know what overcame me. I woke up screaming and I'm not sure as to why. I cannot remember the contents of my dream, but I still feel the terror that it brought forth in me." Maria spoke quietly, her hair shading her face as she brought her hands up to cover her eyes. Tears had fallen from her eyes unbidden while she had been screaming and she couldn't bear to have her uncle see her in such a state; he would just become more worried over her.

"Are you better now?" He questioned, his hands reaching up to pull her hands away from her face.

"Yes, I'll be fine." She smiled up at him before leaning forward and hugging him, then releasing him.

"Good. Please, try to find some rest." He spoke before kissing the top of her head in a rare show of affection before picking up his candle and retreat from the room.

"Is she alright?" Loveday's voice, muffled by the door that her uncle had just closed, was just in earshot of her.

"Yes, she'll be alright. She had a nightmare." Their voices seemed farther away as they spoke, signifying their return to their bedroom. A small smile formed on Maria's face before she lay back on her bed, closing her eyes as she did so, and tried to reign in her tumultuous emotions to try and once again sleep. Several minutes of tossing and turning occurred before Maria shot back up again, this time in a huff, and thrust the bed sheets off of her. Then she proceeded to make haste in the unpacking of all her necessities to dress, including a deep, crimson dress with lace trimmings and intricate patterns sown into the bodice and parts of the skirt. She soon was pulling off her night dress, pulling on the dress, and trying her best to tie her corset tight enough to contain her matured form. After several minutes of trying her best to out-do her younger days of being able to easily fashion her laces, she rolled her eyes and did as best she could. Then she proceeded to unpack her brush so that she could try to tame the tangled mass of fire that was her hair. After several tries, she once again capitulated and messily fashioned her hair into a bun. Then proceeded to pull on her black ladies boots, her fingerless gloves, and a wool cloak; her plan being to find Periwinkle and to go out for a ride, the woods looking relatively inviting this morn.

A sly smirk flew to Maria's face before she made her way out of her room and down the stairs, only to find two De Noir men guarding the entrance. A scowl formed on Maria's face before she heard the voices of Coeur De Noir and Sir Benjamin coming from the end of the hallway and rising in volume as they neared the foot of her tower.

"I'm still wary of him. He's not to be trusted, Merryweather." De Noir's voice seemed to be lower than that of his normal boisterous volume, but was still near enough to cause Maria to step farther back into her tower so as to hide from the two gentlemen.

"He's a helpful man, De Noir, and he's a knight, like myself. If the Queen's army can trust him, then we can trust him." Her uncle replied, his voice once again stern and annoyed, like it normally was.

"Then why are two of my men guarding Maria's tower? Do you fear he is unscrupulous?" At this they both halted in front of the two guards and turned to face one another.

"No, De Noir, I fear that the beast in the forest will slip by my black lion and will kill my niece. Do you know how I found her this morning? She was screaming bloody murder. Do you know what was also clear as day to me other than her screams? That same damnable howl that the beast emits; as soon as her screaming stopped, the howling stopped." Her uncle's voice had become a harsh whisper as he related his story to the head of the De Noir clan, but Maria heard it all the same. Quickly she covered her mouth after gasping loudly in shock, drawing the attention of all four men below, before she ran straight back up to her tower and into her bedroom, locking the door.

"Maria?" She heard her uncle call her name, but she was already pulling her blanket off her bed and over both her hair and her dress, silently thanking her aunt for buying her such a large and luxurious blanket. To add to her rouse she unlaced her boots, kicked them under the bed, then reached up and rubbed at her eyes to make them appear reddened.

"Maria?" A knock at her door and her uncle was once again calling upon her, causing her to pull the blanket closer to her and slowly unlock and pull the door open.

"Uncle?" She faked a hoarse, sleepy tone.

"Have I woken you up?" He inquired, to which she nodded.

"I apologize. Coeur De Noir and I thought we heard you in the hallway; it must have been the wind. Please, go back to sleep, I'm sorry to have disturbed you." At that he once again kissed her forehead and turned about, allowing her to shut her door and lock it. She stood stock still for several minutes, her ear pressed to the wood of the door, determining how far away he might be before she let her blanket fall in a pool at her feet and went to her knees to find the boots she had kicked under her bed. A grin of success grew on her face as she pulled the twin shoes out from under her bed and put them back on, making sure that the laces were extra tight. Then rushed over to the fireplace, pulled up her hood, and tripped the secret passageway.

"This is probably a foolhardy idea." She mused for a few minutes before all womanhood was tossed aside and she was once again a young girl, rushing through the passageway and out into nature.


The pounding of hooves, the mist of the morning, and the smell of rain assaulted Maria's senses as she rode Cesar, one of her uncle's latest additions to his barn, instead of Periwinkle. She was loathe to leave the little mare, but she knew her pony could no longer bear her weight, as she was no longer a small, thin girl of fourteen years. Now she rode upon the dark, chocolate gelding into the forest and under its familiar canopy. With practiced ease she pulled her hood up, over her fiery locks so that it would shade her face from any notice as she trotted on her horse down old paths she knew. A wild feeling flew through her, her woes of heartbreak from the city, the thoughts of her new acquaintance, and of any wild beast shrinking from her mind as the wild feeling grew.

Joyful laughter rumbled in her chest before it broke past the barrier of her lips and she was urging her steed on, allowing him more of the reins and a faster pace, her hood flying off her head and her cloak billowing behind her. So caught up was she that the sound of another set of hooves accompanying her own horse's did not catch her notice until the beast and its master was matching her stride for stride. Eyes the color of honey met hers, daring her as their owner grinned deviously before slapping the reins and kicking at its flanks, urging the great stallion to surge forward, ahead of her gelding. A grin spread onto her face, all thoughts of propriety thwarted by the thrill of the ride and race, her motions mimicking those of his so that her steed would change into a canter.

Laughter echoed through the forest as they raced, Cesar finally catching up to the black stallion and its rider, allowing the two supposed adults to race like children.

"Where shall we end our race, good sir?" Maria cried, taking the bit back from Cesar so that they both could slow to an easy gallop to converse at.

"I am not completely sure of the whole forest, Madam. Where should we stop our game? Or shall we only stop when our animals tire of their impetuous masters?" Rochester replied, the Scottish borough of his voice causing her ears to tingle.

"We shall go to the ocean! There, on the beach, we shall determine the faster steed!" Maria answered him, the infectious smile of the rider next to her catching.

"Then away with ye, fiery maiden!" Rochester replied, urging his horse to return to the canter he had easily switched into earlier. Giggling, Maria urged her horse to follow in the Stallion's wake, soon catching up to the beast once more. Then she shifted on her horse, bending forward more, clutching at his neck and letting loose the reigns as she lightly kicked his side. Cesar propelled forward, understanding his path as he surged down the trail to the beach, the stallion hot on his trail. Sand flew from beneath the horses' hooves as they flew across the inlet that was their beach, until they simultaneously slowed to a stop, Rochester the first to dismount his horse.

"Miss Merryweather." A hand was held out to her, Rochester appearing at her side like the perfect gentleman. Taking the proffered hand, Maria easily dismounted Cesar, her experience from having to figure out how to dismount Periwinkle without Robin's help for years coming into play.

"Sir Rochester." Maria replied in turn as she curtsied and he bowed, their smiles from earlier still ever present. Rochester, after taking back his hand, offered his arm to her, which she took as they started to walk along the shoreline. They spent several moments in silence, his gaze finding purchase on her as she blushed prettily at.

"Pray tell, Sir Rochester, is there something on my face?" She inquired lightly, her tone playful.

"No….that is to say…..If I'm not too bold, Miss Merryweather…you seem different from last night." Rochester spoke, his tone mimicking hers and causing her to glower at him while her lips stretched into a mischievous grin.

"Hmm…. I dare say! I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!" Animatedly Maria spoke, separating from her newfound acquaintance to step closer to the water so that it could tease the soles of her boots. Rochester let out a deep chuckle, his grin morphing into the same devilish one as before.

"The, pray tell, who or what would you be? Are you a nymph of the forest? Have you stolen Miss Merryweather's form? What sort of trickery are you, Madam?" He tried, playing a new game with her, just like she and Robin had done so earlier in their lives.

"I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, Sir, because I'm not myself you see." She called to him, twirling as she did so, her boots splashing the water coming in with the waves about her.

"I could ask the same of your, Sir. What devil are you to race me this morn? I am yet to be out in society, Sir, and it would be quite a scandal for you to be seen with me!" She called to him, her wild spirit not diminishing after their jaunt through the forest.

"I am no devil, Madam, I assure you. Just a knight wishing to fight windmills; it is a common practice, you see. Which reminds me, have you yet to see any? I haven't jousted in some time and my armor is growing dull." He called to her, following her at a distance as she danced with the tide.

"No, Sir, I have yet to find one. When I do, I shall call upon you at the earliest convenience." She called back impishly before twirled, her heart uplifted by the nature around her. It had been a good choice to return home and nurse the poor, broken organ, even though she knew that young Robin would have also returned home to Moonacre Valley. At the thought of him Maria's heart dropped and her light mood fell, her shoulders instantly slumping.

"Miss Merryweather?" Rochester's voice was so near she jumped, startled by the closeness until she realized she had involuntarily paused in her dance with the ocean and her dress was being soaked at the hem.

"I apologize, Sir, but I must return home. My Uncle will be angry with me for leaving without taking breakfast and without notifying him." She spoke, her head bowed as she quickly turned back towards her horse, who had taken to pawing at the sand beneath his hooves.

"Miss Merryweather, have I offended you?" Rochester spoke, his longer stride making it easy for him to catch up to her.

"No, Sir, you have been a gentleman to me. I thank you for your accompaniment here. Good day." She spoke so quickly and curtsied so fast Rochester barely had time to bow before she was off, to her horse, lifting her left foot into the stirrup and pulling herself up, onto the horse.

"Miss Merryweather!" He called after her, but she had quickly turned her steed and was trotting off, back into the mist that the forest was so thick with and leaving him behind to ponder the red headed sprite he had just encountered.


It had taken her little time to return Cesar to his stable in reality, but in Maria's mind there was little time to waste. It was still the early hours of the morning, but Maria knew that her uncle was worried about her and would constantly wish to check on her. She also knew that if she didn't answer her door a search party would be sent out immediately and she would be in major trouble. So she made haste, running towards the entrance to the secret passageway, her boots slick from the ocean's dance. Several times she slipped, having to catch herself on trees and sometimes in bramble bushes before she made it to the entryway, her cloak torn and the hem of her dress muddy.

Too long did it take her to make her way into her room and so, when she crawled through the small door, she knew her ruse was up as she was met with the hem of her aunt's beautiful blue dress. Cringing inwardly, Maria stood up to her full height and met her aunt eye to eye, noting that her uncle was thankfully not in the room.

"Maria, how kind of you to return." Loveday's voice was unusually stern, a tone she must have picked up from Sir Benjamin, as she stood in front of Maria with her arms crossed.

"Aunt, please, let me explain myself. I was just-."

"Out in the forest? Where that beast is?" Loveday's tone surprised Maria into anger.

"Pardon me, Aunt, but you were the one who told me the secret passageway still worked-."

"That was if you wished to speak with Robin and only Robin. He is my brother, he is family, and he can be trusted, unlike the man I saw you racing against when I saw you go into the stables earlier." Loveday's words struck a chord within Maria, her hackles rising at the mention of said 'brother'.

"To be trusted? Robin, to be trusted?" Maria's voice rose in volume, her tone indignant at the words her aunt spoke to her.

"Do you know how much your brother can be trusted? I'll inform you! He was in London when I was, Aunt. Yes, London! You seem surprised? As was I when I saw a childhood friend and once thought to be future love in the town at which my boarding school was located. I thought he must have come to visit me and my heart swelled. I didn't dare wonder why he hadn't written to me, informing me of his coming, because that wouldn't be right of me. I considered that he just forgot-." Maria started, her voice deep with controlled rage before she was unceremoniously cut off.

"Who forgot something?" The voice of Sir Benjamin froze both the women in place, neither having heard his approach.

"Uh….I…" Maria tried; her strength lost at the thought of how much trouble she would be in if she could not properly distract her uncle from her appearance.

"Maria forgot that this dress was ruined by mud on the way to the valley, so she's going to have to change, my love. Please, we must hurry her along; she is already late for breakfast." Loveday interjected, turning around abruptly and pushing her husband out of the door, following closely behind him, but sparing a glance back at Maria, the look in her eyes telling her they would finish their discussion later. Maria nodded involuntarily, unable to add onto the credibility of their charade, but going along with it by following and closing and locking the door behind them. Patiently she waited until their footsteps were far enough down the stairs of her tower so that she could slump against the doorframe and onto the floor.

"Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only knew how to begin!" Maria cried, dismayed at her being caught before she set about to pulling off her boots and changing her dress, not knowing how later in the day would go for her.


Breakfast had gone off without a hitch, but Maria was suspicious of the lack of Coeur De Noir and Robin, as she knew that at least the aforementioned De Noir had been spotted by her in the Manor just that morning. However, she had no time to ponder what was to come, as she was now employing all of the power of her mind to escape from her entourage's sight. Her entire remaining family, or at least what she considered her family, had thought to follow her about the grounds throughout the day, making subtle hints that she stay away from the tree line of the forest. It was only minutes ago that she had been able to say something noteworthy and have them discuss the matter animatedly while she slipped into the forest, the boots she now wore carrying her better than the wet one had beforehand.

"Oh how I missed the countryside." Maria spoke to herself in a whisper, not daring to speak louder for fear of being discovered. Each step she took seemed to free her again, like riding with Sir Rochester had that morning, before she had thought upon the childhood friend she used love so dearly and all of it had been for naught. Rolling her eyes, she shook away any unhappy thought and leafed through her vast knowledge of the land to find where she was. Too late, however, was she to notice that she was terribly close to the den of something she had little knowledge of. It was only when she tripped on a root of a tree and a small cry flew from her mouth did she hear the howl of the beast of the forest. To late was she to realize how close the monster was to her, its glowing yellow eyes closed as it reared its head to let loose the eerie noise.

Only when she turned around, was she then quite sure she should have stayed out of the forest…


A/N: I really want to sing the Cliffhanger song, but I shall refrain. Maria is actually more in character than she was last time, as she is acting like herself when she was younger...but I still want to make her more mature, while keeping that spirit. She has grown up, but for now, she doesn't feel that she needs to quite yet.

Anyways, please review kindly if at all.

Thank you for reading!

-Aimze