I watched Maleficent for the first time in January and fell in love with it, it's such a brilliant movie. The one thing that annoyed me however, was the lack of conclusion for Maleficent and Diaval, who I felt would have made a perfect couple. Having read the fantastic fictions on here, I feel I have to contribute to the Maleval fandom - and so here we are for your enjoyment! Moonliteshdow

Anything For You

Diaval gazed into the water, his dark eyes glinting back from the pool surface.

He was confused.

Just hours ago had seen the coronation of their beloved hatchling, Aurora, as both Queen of the human realm and of the Moors. Maleficent had excused herself from the celebrations after a couple of hours, and he had of course, followed. Wherever his mistress went, Diaval would go too.

Maleficent had made a habit of changing the darkly clad Diaval into his original form whenever they travelled. Sometimes he wished that she wouldn't - he enjoyed walking by her side as a man. Today was no exception. He soared above, keeping a beady eye on the faerie. If he was a man, he would be sighing. He couldn't understand why, having just regained her wings, she didn't want to fly.

At length, she stopped at the surface of a still pool, and he landed on a nearby branch, wondering why they had stopped when they were still so far from her nest.

Without warning, Maleficent spread her wings, and turned her head to observe the sorely missed attachments, chin skimming her bare shoulder. She fluttered them gently, feeling the soft plumage with tentative fingers, as she bent over, watching her reflection in the pool.

Diaval almost fell from the tree, wings or no wings. She was beautiful.

He cawed gently, hopping forward onto a nearer branch before he really thought about what he was doing.

At this, she turned, cocking an eyebrow. He knew what was coming but had little time to prepare himself before he fell from the tree, a tangle of human legs and arms, his dark hair tousled with leaves and his black trousers covered with mud. Embarrassed at being caught staring, he brushed himself off, eyes on the floor as he muttered darkly, 'What did you do that for? I could have broken a wing...'

But his complaints quickly stumbled to a halt, breath hitching, as he caught her piercing gaze and swallowed. Why did he feel such a warm glow inside... and why was it magnified tenfold when she transformed him into a man?

'Arm,' Maleficent corrected.

'Fine, arm,' he chided back, 'and then where would you be without me?'

The faerie smiled, but then looked into the distance thoughtfully. 'Nowhere, my pretty man.'

Diaval's face dropped in shock. Did she just call him...? My, she must be in a good mood. At length he cleared his throat. 'Bird. I'm a bird.'

Maleficent smiled coyly, and moved away from the pool, continuing her walk and dragging her giant wings behind her as she left the clearing.

That had been half an hour ago now, and Diaval stared into the same pool, a myriad of feelings threatening to swallow him up. Being a man was more complex than being a raven, and it brought with it some terrible emotions he wished he had never had to experience... but several of these emotions, he was pretty sure he could no longer live without, and were the few that made his transformations worthwhile.

Diaval you see, had grown to know love in all its complexity.

He swallowed, choking back a moan as he remembered how his gut had flooded with warmth at Maleficent's words - he was a pretty man, now was he? Well he supposed he was a beautiful bird, so it stood to reason that his man form might be attractive, but he had never thought about it...

The "man" took off his shirt, staring into his reflection. He wanted to examine himself more closely. Prodding the deep scar in the centre of his pale chest, he tried to remember how he'd acquired it. He had so many scars from the long years...

'What are you doing?' asked a familiar silky voice. Maleficent! He thought she'd returned to her nest...

Diaval scrambled to his feet, feeling a fire blaze in his cheeks, for he had grown bashful over his years of servitude in clothing. His beady eyes darted across the ground, scanning for his shirt. For some reason, he couldn't see it. Had it fallen in the water?

'Diaval?' she asked softly, seeking his gaze.

He continued to avert his eyes, dark hair falling into his face, and a blessing too for it hid part of his blush.

'Look at me,' she commanded.

The pair knew, though it was unspoken, that Diaval was no longer a servant, but he could not help but obey his "mistress". She had an aura he couldn't resist, for reasons beyond ex servitude that he was only too aware of. He looked up to see her playful smile.

'That's better,' she said, raising an eyebrow, as though questioning why he had taken so long to obey.

'Maleficent,' he nodded in acknowledgement, awaiting any favours she would ask of him.

'What are you doing?' she asked again, her striking eyes lingering on his bare torso.

Diaval's heart skipped a beat as he noted the direction of her gaze. 'Uh...'

'Well?' she snapped.

'Uh...' he began again, quickly, 'I was appraising myself.'

Maleficent raised another eyebrow, her lips curving. 'Whatever for?'

How could he explain that it was her compliments that had driven him to examine his man body?

He cleared his throat, hair falling into his eyes again. 'I cannot say.'

'Really?' The faerie continued to observe him in amusement, but this changed suddenly to concern. 'Are you hurt?'

Diaval actually chuckled without humour. The joke being he was hurt, but it wasn't physical pain. He decided to be half honest, fixing her with his dark eyes and gesturing to the centre of his chest. 'I... have an ache.'

The faerie inched closer, not understanding the hidden meaning in his words. 'Poor Diaval, let me help.'

Her words were teasing, but there was affection behind them - he had grown used to reading her in their long years of companionship.

'Oh... no... I don't think you'd want... to...'

His sentence slowed to a stop, as the faerie came close and placed her warm hand against his chest... against his heart.

'Huh,' he exhaled in wonder, watching her every movement. The moment was so sensual he was forgetting to breathe. His hammering heart began to betray him as he melted under her scrutiny and touch, unable to tear his gaze away from her golden irises. Raven's were attracted to striking things, after all... and he was painfully attracted to Maleficent. He cocked his head and swallowed.

'Is that any better my friend?'

'Much better,' he admitted in a deeper voice than usual.

'Your pulse is racing,' she observed, absently. Then, suddenly, her lips parted, and she stepped back, removing her hand.

Oh dear. He had to correct this - if she suspected his feelings, she would never want to see him again...

'Forgive me.'

'Forgive you?' she whispered.

He bowed his head in shame. He loved her, and he knew she could not love him. He didn't want to hurt her, and he knew that in Maleficent's mind, falling for her was the worst thing he could do. Her intelligent gaze scanned his dark, passionate eyes... he could see her mind working, putting two and two together as she saw his flushed cheeks... and remembered his pounding pulse beneath her fingers.

'I... I must get some sleep,' she murmured, her eyes fearful, 'please go back and make sure our Beastie is safe tonight.'

And just like that, she turned and left the clearing again. Diaval watched her leave, his watery dark eyes shining and his lips parted in sorrow.

When he could be sure she was gone, he let out a faltering breath. 'Anything for you, Maleficent.'

To be continued! Let me know what you think :)