Having showed no interest in Maleficent, I happened across a Youtube clip of true love's kiss. Needless to say that I was intrigued at how they could turn Disney's most iconic villain and give her a proper background story. After reading a few synopses, I started writing my own version of the story in a few critical places.
Although the movie was certainly a gem thanks almost solely to Angelina Jolie's magic, the story had so much untapped potential. Had Stefan been a more complex character, they could have created something so much better than what it was. Now instead of Maleficent being the mistress of pure evil like in the animated movie, they simply switched roles and it became just another hero/villain story.
Given my history of rarely finishing long stories, I've decided to start doing a series of shorter story arcs. So for my first fantasy story, I've decided to make a four chapter segment where Queen Leila makes a desperate effort to find Aurora before death takes her. This will also further expand upon Maleficent's relationship with Aurora in a very special way.
Please read and review.
In the Dark
Time had slowed to a crawl, and Angus felt the need to crack the door open to have another look outside. Had the queen chosen to escape in her own carriage, he could have watched the dawn through glass windows. However she didn't wish to attract attention, and this enclosed box on wheels seemed the most appropriate means of achieving that.
Not wishing to disturb his queen, Angus stretched out his hand for the door and pushed it open just wide enough to glimpse through the narrow opening. It couldn't have been a more dreary night, as seemingly everything was against them. Apart from the faintest glow of a waning moon behind the clouds, it was pitch black outside. With no source of light beyond a few torches, they had to maintain a pace no greater than a casual walk. Given Leila's deteriorating condition, Angus knew this wasn't fast enough.
Disappointed only to see a few shadowy silhouettes dimly illuminated by the flickering of torches outside, Angus gritted his teeth. If only the sun would rise, the driver could see the road in front of them and they could make haste. Even a clear night with a partial moon would have greatly aided their journey.
For an early spring morning, the night air outside was terribly cold and the air within the enclosed carriage grew stale. Only a single candle now illuminated the inside of the carriage, and it was melted down almost to the base. Gesturing with his head to the enclosure hanging from the ceiling, he whispered to Leila's handmaiden. "Nadia?"
The young woman of only twenty years old obediently got up and leaned forward so he could whisper into her ear.
"Please replace that candle."
Nadia couldn't tell whether her queen was asleep or not, hesitant to respond. "We've only got one left. Are you sure...?"
It was then that Leila finally spoke up, not raising her head nor opening her eyes. "Save it for later, then. We may need it."
Startled, Nadia answered back. "Your Majesty, the doctor needs..."
She gently shook her head, now resting upon his lap. "None of this is helping. Just put it out."
The fourth person in the carriage was the King's physician, Anders, whom reluctantly accompanied Leila against her wishes. Leila didn't trust Anders and actually tried escaping without his notice, knowing that he would stop her. It actually seemed ironic that while Stefan may not have given a damn about her impending death, Anders wouldn't abandon his patient for anything... even if she were upon death's doorstep.
Unfortunately it wasn't altruism, but fear that compelled him to come along. Had Leila escaped while under his care, that alone would have been ample reason for execution by the king. At least now if she died, he could justify that the queen had explicitly acted against his advice.
Ever so often he would give Leila a dose of some wretched medicine and it only seemed to make her sicker. She welcomed the idea of extinguishing his only source of light so that he couldn't brew any more of it.
As darkness fell upon them, Leila shifted herself into a comfortable position in the hope that she could fall asleep. Angus welcomed having her head upon his lap, given how rarely Stefan was there to comfort his wife. While he may only have been her personal body guard, Angus had since become much more. He knew better than most how much Leila had sacrificed for the good of the kingdom and for her daughter.
When Leila said she wanted her daughter, Angus had volunteered to personally ride out and bring Aurora back to the castle. Unfortunately she didn't have the time to make that happen, which was why he supported her decision to leave. By going to the Aurora's hiding place, instead of bringing her home, it would cut the journey in half. And it also would have allowed her to avoid having to answer many questions.
Knowing that this was Leila's dying wish, Angus vowed to make it happen. It was a vow he intended to keep.
When she extended a hand out for his, Angus was horrified by how cold her flesh had become. And although she couldn't see him, he was careful not to reveal any fear in his gestures. Her condition was deteriorating rapidly, and the last thing he wanted was to make her any more fearful that she may never see her daughter again. Maybe she needed a distraction... "So when we find Aurora, how exactly are you going to introduce yourself? We've no idea what those pixies have told her."
She shook her head weakly. "How far away are we?"
Angus didn't really know anything for sure. All he did know for sure was that they weren't even halfway between the castle and the cottage, given that the carriage hadn't yet hit a single patch of rough terrain. That meant they weren't yet beyond civilization, where paved road became dirt trails. Feeling the need to keep her spirit up, Angus told a fib. "I'd say we're about halfway there."
"Liar." Leila lightly smiled.
He exhaled. "We've still not left the roads yet. The last several miles we'll be going into the wilderness... and that will be rough."
"Sounds like fun."
He shook his head, fearing for her health. "I've not traveled this route many times, and the night and fog is really slowing us down."
"Is that why we can't go any faster?"
"We're going as fast as we safely can. If we hit something and break a wheel..." He couldn't finish the sentence. "But once we've got some daylight, we'll make great haste the rest of the way."
She groaned in discontent. "We'd better. I'm getting worse, not better."
Angus smiled. "Well it may comfort you to know that I've dispatched riders to go on ahead of us. If we're lucky we won't even need to go beyond Brampton."
The queen raised her head nervously. "What was that?"
"I dispatched two riders to go on ahead of us and bring Aurora back to Brampton. If we're lucky, we'll rendezvous there by noon tomorrow."
"No, no... you weren't..." Leila grabbed him by the collar. "What were your exact instructions?! What are they going to tell my little girl?"
Angus suddenly realized his mistake. He was so concerned about getting Aurora and Leila back together that he didn't even consider the consequences. Nervously he tried to answer. "I told them to fetch Aurora and bring her to an inn in Brampton. That's all."
"That's all?"
Angus unfortunately wasn't a great liar, and his hesitation to respond only increased her anxiety. Tightening her grip, Leila sounded increasingly desperate. "Angus, I only wanted to see my daughter. I didn't even intend to reveal that I was her mother!"
"Leila..."
"No, there are too many secrets we needed to keep safe from her. Aurora is still too young and cannot be told anything until that demon's curse had passed." She released Angus and fell back onto the seat right next to him. "I know you were doing this for the best of reasons, but... my god. What am I to tell my little girl?"
Angus slowly extended his arm around Leila's opposite shoulder and drew her back down until her head was safely upon his lap again. "Have you considered that maybe Aurora would like to meet her mother? To know that she's always had someone thinking of her? Loving her? Missing her? Each day that she's been alive, she's always been in your thoughts."
Leila thought deeply about those words, but just couldn't bring herself to accept any of it. "No, we had sent her away. Not for her protection, but for ours."
"What do you mean?" Angus asked.
She sighed grimly. "I think deep down... both Stefan and I realized that the curse would never be broken. I've spent all these years keeping Aurora out of our thoughts and hearts... I only wonder whether she's ever thought of us." As tears began to pour from her eyes, Leila felt increasingly tired with each passing moment. "Before I die, I need to know what it feels like to be a mother. I need to know..."
"Sith..." He gently stroked her head. "You're in our hands now, and we won't rest until Aurora is safely in your arms again. Until then, rest is the best cure."
As Leila became silent and eventually fell asleep, Angus felt a growing anxiety swelling within his soul. He wanted nothing more than to hear her voice again, but couldn't dare disturb Leila. Despite the obvious signs of life, he was left wondering whether she would awaken again or not. Given how ill she had become, this may very well have been the last time she would ever close her eyes.
With at least another hour standing between them and the dawn, Queen Leila was left to sleep soundly. None of the others would find any rest that night.