The Beauty and the Raven

I – Diaval's introduction.

(Diaval)

I didn't expect to fall in love for those eyes, yet I did. All of a sudden, in the blink of an eye, before I could help, it had happened. It felt wrong, but at the same time, the absence of it made no sense, as it has always been there, waiting to wake up. Aurora... Some years ago, she was just a baby, who I used to babysit (commanded by Maleficent). I watched her growing up, I watched her curse being broken by Maleficent, and I watched the amazing, kind person she had become. And I fell in love with her, with the girl, with the princess, and with the queen. I fell for Aurora, with all her titles and qualities, but mainly for that naïve, sweet smile and for her eyes.

"Diaval, I was just looking for you, where have you been?" Maleficent asked as I landed on a branch "Into a man" she whispered, and once more I felt my body stretching out and extending, then my wings were now arms with hands and fingers, and my feathers were hair.

"I was flying around" I answered without emotions. "Everything seems to be alright in the Moors, you don't have to worry".

"I am not worried about the Moors now. As long as I am here, nothing or none will try to harm us. But I shall leave the Moors tomorrow for two days, and I hope you come with me"

"Why should you leave…? Oh, it is the Coronation Day, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. Our little Aurora has become of age, and of course she will be crowned properly with a big celebration" Maleficent said with a thin smile on her lips.

"I should not attend to it. You should, but I was not invited, I would go only to hold your cloak…"

"You were invited" she interrupted showing me a golden envelop with my name on it "By her. She made an invitation especially for you." I gently took it from her hands, and immediately recognized her handwriting. I left a smile scape and when I looked back to Maleficent she was staring at me with her green eyes, as she could see what was behind that smile.

"What?" I asked trying to hide my feelings and my smile.

"Nothing. I just found a little curious this silly smile on your face. Especially when the subject is my goddaughter… Is there anything I should know, Diaval?" She asked glancing at me, and now her eyes were shinning green and a very thin smoke came from her staff.

"No, there isn't" I pronounced firmly and the smoke and the shine in her eyes were gone.

"Good".