A/N: Hello :) I wrote a story for the Little White Horse a long time ago and recently came across it. Rereading it I realised there are MANY things that need improving, and it's not even finished for starters! So I decided to repost it as a new story, using Maria instead of an OC because I've decided I love the character of Maria too much to leave her out. I hope you enjoy this newly edited version (a lot of things will change) and please leave a review if you fancy. Thanks for reading!

~ Prologue ~

"Father, I have bad news." Robin called out, bursting through the doors of the great hall. The sudden noise that he had walked in on died down almost instantly, and Robin's eyes widened when he realised he had interrupted dinner, he had expected his father to be alone with his advisors. Damn, he thought. Now he had to break the news in front of the entire clan.

William De Noir was the leader of the De Noir clan, and more commonly known as Coeur. He was a large yet short man whose eyes were as black as his charred heart. His hair and beard were dark and long and only added to the menacing look about him. "Speak, boy!" Coeur's voice rang throughout the hall, and regaining his composure Robin strode to the head of the table, where his father sat with a goblet of wine in his hand. He was drunk, Robin was sure.

Swallowing hard he readjusted his bowler hat. "Well… we," He gestured to the three boys who stood awkwardly behind him. "Were checking the traps nearest to the Merryweather property and overheard a commotion. Benjamin Merryweather was ranting about having to have women in the house again…" Robin coughed, noticing the tension his words had created so far. "His brother has died, and his daughter is to move to Moonacre Valley."

"A new Moon Princess…" He repeated, his hand clenched so tightly round the goblet that the delicate glass shattered, spilling wine all over his arm. He didn't seem to notice. A young servant scurried over, biting her lip with fear. She quickly cleared up the glass and dabbed gently at the wine with a cloth. The older man had clearly lost all sense of fun and humour.

Robin hesitated before continuing. "She shall arrive in two days." He finished, and took a step back, realising that his father was not happy. His face had reddened and screwed up in anger, and he slammed his fist down onto the table.

"What?!" He boomed, standing up so forcefully that his chair rocked and then fell to the ground with a crash. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" He grabbed Robin by the collar and glared down at him. "Why?!" He spat.

"Father this happened just over an hour ago." Robin replied, returning his father's glare. "The Merryweather manor is five miles away over different terrain, I'm not sure what more you expect." Behind him, Robin heard the sigh of one of his friends. Being smart to Coeur de Noir was not a smart thing to do, yet Robin made this mistake countless times despite each consequence.

Coeur laughed dryly, shaking his head. "What did I do to deserve a bugger like you as a son?" He said in a low voice, pushing the boy away from him and picking up the new wine glass that had been placed by his food. The chatter started up again.

Robin shrugged, readjusting his shirt and collar. "Like father, like son." He smirked and turned to walk away.

"Robin, wait." Coeur called. The boy turned back to face his father who downed the wine, thumped his glass onto the table and smacked his son across the face so hard that everyone fell silent for the second time. With that, Robin realised that he should probably leave and he stumbled out of the dining hall as it spun around him, closely followed by his friends.

An hour later Robin dropped the wet cloth back into the basin and stood up, wincing as his cheek ached as he frowned. The mirror that sat atop his dresser showed him exactly what he was expecting: A yellowish bruise that was forming on his cheekbone. No amount of cool water would stop it from coming up. Swearing under his breath Robin leant against the dresser and tried to bury the anger that was building up inside him. He had never seen eye to eye with his father, and their arguments usually resulted in them at each other's throats, literally. But despite the countless punches he'd received Robin could never find it within himself to hate Coeur, nor retaliate. It was the search for approval that caused this and he still hadn't found it. In his father's eyes he was a disappointment, and it aggravated him to no end.