A/N: I promise to finish. It may take me a while, because of college, but I will do it.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Little White Horse and/or The Secret of Moonacre.
An entire day was passed inside her room, all mirrors taken away from it so that she would not once again feint. Sir Rochester was called away, though he seemed loathe to leave her, and he left about noon to attend to his business. Maria's uncle, Sir Benjamin, had left for the De Noir castle to inform Coeur De Noir of the recent developments pertaining to the beast's plague, all the while refusing to look at his niece. Thus, they all left Maria in her room to contemplate the new affliction by which she suffered. Tears leaked from her deep golden eyes, leaving trails of salt and water down her face as she sat, staring into the nothingness of her fire. Long since gone was the warm flame that burnt so brightly earlier in the morning when there was someone to stroke it and make its embers dance. Now it sat, ashen and cold, mirroring Maria nearly completely, except for the lack of the haunting hue of yellow her irises had become.
A twitch was all the movement Maria made other than her lungs expanding and then retracting as she breathed and the blink of her eyelids. Another twitch soon followed, as if she were breaking out of a trance slowly, until Maria was sitting up, her back ramrod straight as she moved. Throwing her legs over the side of the bed and almost robotically moving to stand, Maria pushed herself off the bed before making her way over to her trunk. Like an animated statue Maria moved, her actions stiff and swift, as if she was calculating each thing she die, yet not showing any interest. A sense of despondency surrounded her, filling her, but she seemed to not give any notion to the slight despair.
'That's right, my beauty, my darling maiden, come find me. Dress up in your find red dress and meet me.' A voice, so daring, so heavily accented, and so very familiar echoed through Maria's mind and she responded to it with a slight nod and faster movements. It took her half the time it usually would to dress herself in her evening dress, one usually reserved for balls, and even less to step into her boots and swiftly lace them to the top. Then, like a marionette a well controlled marionette, Maria braided her hair and wrapped it into a bun, tying it up with a deep red ribbon that matched her dress. Mere seconds after she was done with her hair she was out the door, taking a short amount of time to shut it, and she was on her way through the house, easily avoiding any inhabitants that were still in the house of the cursed woman.
'Yes, my darling, you are cursed.' The voice again, resounded in her mind, but not emotion or recognition appeared on Maria's face, her eyes remaining wide and childlike, but without the spark of life. The extent of her response was a single tear down her cheek as she moved, as if in a trance, towards the forest.
'Please, my princess, do not shed tears. Just come to me.' Maria complied with the voice, her legs moving on their own accord as she walked, her feet taking her away. So entranced by the presence in her mind, the one that spoke, that the sound of someone shouting her name was lost to her as she moved, like a fairytale figure moving through the forest, trying as it might to finish its tale.
"Maria! MARIA!" Arms were suddenly around her and pulling her backwards, startling her out of the trance she was in. Wildly Maria fought her capture, screaming out before she was quickly turned around and came face to face with the countenance of Rochester.
"Sir Rochester?" Maria's eyes, still wide from shock, were puzzled as she cocked her head to the side in befuddlement. Rochester's brow furrowed, his eyes reflecting some form of guilt in them, as he still held onto Maria, as if he were afraid that she would once again return to her trance-like state and continue farther away from him.
"Maria…." Maria's eyes closed and she shuddered slightly, her hands that were on Rochester's chest suddenly clenching around his coat's lapels.
"Miss Merryweather?" Rochester's formality brought her back from whatever had been plaguing her, leaving her to push away from him slightly, ducking away as she unclenched her hands from his coat, a blush staining her cheeks.
"I am sorry, Sir, I….I have not any idea who I am anymore. This….affliction, it is causing me to act not as I normally would." Maria's head hung, her eyes averted from the man before her, not wishing to look at what she would guess to be a repulsed face. She had acted so strangely, so out of propriety, and the thought that he would surely tell her uncle made her feel even more ashamed.
"Maria…" Again, Rochester called her by her Christian name, "I know…I know what it feels like. Do not be so embarrassed around me; I know what plagues you."
Turning quickly, Maria once again found purchase in Rochester's awaiting arms as she clutched at him, a stranger to her, yet the only one that could understand her. Tears fell from her eyes as her fingers dug into his coat once more, her face pressed into his chest, her tears forming a wet spot upon his breast pocket. Rochester's arms tightened around her and she felt soft lips upon the top of her head before his cheek came to rest in the spot.
"What is this, Rochester? Why us? Why are we so like this? What made us so desirable to this beast?" She questioned, her voice muffled slightly by the man's coat. Slowly Rochester moved away from her, backing up so that he could take her hands in his and find her gaze.
"Come, we must return you to your home, it is not safe here." He spoke, his voice the tone he seemed to only use when speaking to her.
"Sir-?" Maria was cut off as he turned quickly, his larger hand still enveloping one of hers as they began their trek back to Moonacre Manor. Their pace was brisk, Maria's slightly shorter legs trying their best to keep up with the larger stride of Rochester's.
"Sir, were my questions imprudent?" Maria questioned, a habit forming as she cocked her head to the side as she did so.
"No, madam, they were not. If I am to tell you all that I know, we must be in a safe place." Rochester spoke as they rushed out of the forest, now slowing to a much more suitable pace for a lady in a dress. Maria was at his side now, able to walk normally at the pace, though her hand still found purchase in his.
"I was only two-and-twenty when I was cursed by the beast." Maria just barely managed to hear him as they trekked towards the front doors of the manor, pausing at the landing to face each other.
"I have lived like this for ten years, Madam, and still I do not know all of the answers to your questions." With that he turned abruptly and rapped lightly on the door, which was soon opened so that they could be let through by her uncle.
"Maria, where have you been? Christopher, thank you for returning her; will you dine with us to-night?" Her uncle questioned both in turn, his usually commanding presence seeming to be less so. A slight tinge of guilt tugged at Maria's conscience at the sight of him, his countenance defeated and his face worn. A jolt of shock ran up her back as the gentle press of Rochester's hand to the small of her back became apparent, forcing her to stop pondering on her own feelings and move forward into the manor.
"Miss Merryweather was in need of accompaniment as she took a short walk through the gardens, so I chaperoned her. There is no need to burden yourself with my presence to-night-." Rochester started, trying to explain for the both of them.
"Please, Sir Rochester, will you join us?" Maria requested, the need to keep him there, with her, suddenly prevalent. A blush tinted her skin, the rosy color even easier to see because of her now un-naturally pale skin as she bowed her head in shame at her boldness.
"Maria!" Her uncle paused, one glance at her causing any ire in him to deflate, "You'll have to excuse her Christopher, she's not herself, as you know. However, it would do us great honor to have you. It would comfort Maria as well, it seems." One of her uncle's hands landing on her shoulder in a gesture of fatherly tenderness.
"I would be obliged to, then, Benjamin." Maria's ears perked, her hearing for some reason incredibly sensitive to Rochester's voice, and she looked up through her lashes to try and sneak a peak at him. Easily she was thwarted by her own hair, which she managed to curse thoroughly in her mind, before returning her gaze to her shoes, a frown adorning her face.
"Good, good. I shall go tell Marmaduke we shall have another for supper. Maria, please do not wonder off, child." At that her uncle was gone, off to talk to their lively cook, leaving them on the front landing.
"Maria?" Rochester questioned, a hand reaching out to lift her chin with his finger. Reluctantly Maria complied, her embarrassment evident as her gaze found the cravat he wore instead of his face.
"Sir, when did my Uncle and yourself become so well acquainted?" Maria tried for a subject change, trying to ignore the strange feeling of warmth he was emitting. The idea that the ailment was causing her to become feverish crossed Maria's mind temporarily before she mentally shook it away, knowing it was just her foolishness.
"We came to become much better acquainted when the beast's ailment took you; Maria, please, by God, look at me." At that Maria quickly looked up, finding Rochester's hungry eyes. Her own eyes grew wide and the blush returned to her, though this time it engulfed her whole body. Rochester's breath seemed to be heightened and his body looked as though it were tensing underneath the layers of gentleman's attire he wore. His lips parted, catching her attention momentarily before her gaze found his and she felt any control over herself leave her.
"Christopher?" His name slipped past her lips before she could even register it and said lips were suddenly locked with his, mouths open as their tongues clashed. A deep, guttural moan came from Rochester as her arms wrapped around him and his arms copied hers, his practically lifting her from the ground as he brought her up to meet him. The need to be close to him filled her, causing her body to press into him more, a gasp of surprise flying from her mouth as she felt the reaction their actions had caused him. Almost at the same time they let go of each other, their conscious selves returning as they both simultaneously backed away from each other, their gazes adverted.
"I apologize, Maria…I…" Rochester tried to speak, he the first to look up, Maria's gaze slowly rising to find his once more.
"No, sir, I think it is me who should apologize, I…." Their gazes locked once more and the feeling that she should be much closer to him returned.
"I think it is our affliction, Miss Merryweather." He returned to formality, causing her to look away from him in slight disappointment. Mentally Maria scolded herself, reminding herself of the illness and that she was just acting according to how the beast wanted her to.
"I believe you are right, Sir. I am sorry to have….been so overcome by it…" Maria trailed off, her gaze not finding his. They stood awkwardly for several moments, what had transpired hanging over them like death does to someone so close to its clutches.
"Miss Merryweather-." Rochester started but Maria silenced him with a quick curtsy and "Good day" before rushing into the manor, leaving him to stare after her, a longing look on his face. Seconds passed as he stood there, struck by what had transpired before he caught sight of his reflection in the window and turned very quickly towards his stallion, walking hastily to it as the image of a blonde man in the glass seared into his mind.
"Maria, please, you must come down to dinner. Robin and my father are here to see you, my darling. Plus, Sir Rochester has deigned to join us for dinner. I know you will feel at ease with him there, my darling. Please, come out of your room." Loveday's voice was muffled by the door, but still it carried to the corner that Maria inhabited. She sat upon the floor, surrounded by large blankets and pillows, a fortress of comfort to protect her from any that might enter.
'How foolish you had been, Maria. Acting like that around Sir Rochester! You act as though you were not taught how to be a lady at all! Still ever the lovesick child!' Maria scolded herself in her mind, pointedly ignoring the imploring words of her aunt to make her dine with their party. She had no inclination to see Robin, Coeur De Noir, and most especially Sir Rochester, or Christopher, as she had just learned his name was. The childish notion that she should refer to him as 'Topher' forever more nearly made her giggle, but she suppressed it, choosing to stay in the cloud of misery and embarrassment she had let herself be encompassed by.
"Maria, please, answer me so I may know you have not slipped through the passage and forsaken us all to live out in the wild with the beast!" Loveday's voice suddenly caught her attention and an indignant anger welled up inside of her. Hastily Maria shed herself of her soft fortress and stomped her way over to her doorway, pulling the door open quickly and causing her aunt to jump.
"Anything would be better than being stared at! I am a child! A child in all of their eyes! Even yours, I can tell! I wouldn't be a child in the beast's eyes!" Maria's golden eyes flashed with her anger, her pupils growing small and her words coming out in a deep womanly snarl.
"Maria, I only meant it as a joke, my darling! Please, settle yourself-!" Loveday tried to grasp Maria's arm, to comfort her in some way, as Rochester had told her earlier to do when Maria became angry and in the way that was typical of being the now raven haired woman's surrogate mother.
"No! I shall not! I am leaving!" With that Maria pushed past her aunt, her blood boiling and all the pent of aggression from the confusion of the last few days suddenly releasing itself in her fury. Forgoing any sort of way to keep herself warm and even forgetting her shoes, Maria flew down the stairs, not caring if anyone heard her, saw her, or even thought of her. With little thought to the dinner party, Maria stomped her way into the dinning room where the party was having supper, surprising them all as she made her way through, not caring that she walked over the table, instead of around it.
"Maria! What on earth are you doing?" Her uncle, his eyes wide as he immediately stood up as his niece stepped up, onto the table, and then walked on the table top so that she could hop off the other side.
"I'm leaving!" She answered, her voice an angry growl.
"Maria?" Both Coeur De Noir and Robin questioned at the same time, they too standing up to try and be of some use. No one moved, even as Maria's form disappeared from behind closed doors. Then, as if realizing himself, Rochester hastily stood up and also climbed over the table, boots and all, to follow the young woman.
"Rochester?" Loveday entered just as she saw Rochester climb over the table, not knowing that her niece had just done so prior to her coming.
"Christopher, where are you going?" Sir Benjamin seemed at a loss, as if he was, for once, unsure as to what was going on.
"I'm following her!" He called back as he started off, his voice muffled as the doors closed.
"Maria! Maria! Where on earth do you think you're going?" Rochester's voice called out to her from behind, but Maria ignored him, her actions not her own and her anger fueling whatever move her body felt like making. She couldn't even discern the difference between her footsteps and the ones she could tell were coming from her chaperone, as she decided he had apparently become.
"Tell me, Sir Rochester, when I am off doing something outrageous, do you track me down of your own accord or do you plan to spark these outings? Do you plot them, sir?" Maria turned about-face swiftly, nearly slamming right into Rochester's broad chest. He halted immediately, an eyebrow rising on his ruggedly handsome face.
"But of course, Miss Merryweather, I must plan these outings. You see, you are becoming somewhat of a shut in, my lady, and I just had to get you out of the house." A smirk grew on his face, one that was quickly mirrored by her lips. Her hands found their way onto her hips, a newfound feeling enveloping her. No longer did she feel as if she were to be embarrassed by the man before her; no, she felt as though they were intimately friends and they could easily joke. Maria would have been puzzled at this, but she could not bring herself to feel such a way.
"I knew it, Sir. You are trying to get me out so that my skin may become bright red and I shall feel miserable. I knew you were one to try and injure my poor, pale features. Have you no pity?" She cried, the smirk betraying her mirth before it dropped and her eyes, golden as they were, seemed to become like lava as she blushed prettily. Rochester had leaned forward, his strong hands taking her by the shoulders and pulling her closer to him, however minuscule.
"I could make your skin pink without the sun's help." As soon as he spoke the words Rochester quickly stumbled back, away from her a few paces, his eyes wide in trepidation.
"I….please, forgive me, Miss Merryweather." He tried to apologize, but Maria shook her head slowly, the shock to her system that his deep Scottish accented voice had brought about causing her reactions to be slightly slow.
"No, please, do not feel sorry….I know it is our affliction that makes us act so inappropriately around each other." Maria's eyes fell to her shoeless feet, an eyebrow rising slightly in question at her own antics before she let it fall and the shyness of before took over her. She didn't take care to notice that Rochester had moved towards her until the sight of his boots came into contact with the sight of her bare feet.
"Rochester-?" Maria tried to question him before a gasp flew from her lips and a hand was brought up to cover them in her fright.
"No, my Princess, I think not." The wild looking man from her dreams suddenly stood before her, bandages and all, and they were in the room only lit by one candle. Maria swallowed uneasily, her eyes wide with fear as she took an involuntary step backwards, away from him.
"I think we were always meant to be this way towards each other." At those words the beast, the man from her dreams, leaned forwards and kissed her.
A/N: Sorry it took so long. Thank you so much for the reviews. Sorry, it's a little shorter than the others.
Please review kindly, if at all!
-Aimze