How do, folks. I finally saw Maleficent in January, and I loved it. This story is my contribution to the Maleval fandom, of which I'm an enthusiastic member. It's been years since I attempted any sort of fiction writing, and on that occasion I didn't finish the story because I ran out of ideas! Let's hope this story fares much better, and that you like it. The title is borrowed from the eponymous romantic duet from the film Moulin Rouge.
It was high summer. The Sun was shining, the air was warm, and the sky was a clear blue. Many brightly coloured flowers were blooming, and the trees were in full leaf. For the human kingdom, and for the neighbouring realm, the Moors, in which resided the magical Fair Folk, it was a time of peace and happiness. Contentment abounded in both lands, under the governance of their popular young Queen, Aurora.
A beautiful, happy young woman who loved the Moors and its inhabitants as much as she did her own people, her coronation two years earlier as Queen of both the human kingdom and the Moors had at last united the long divided realms, ending the threat of war between them and bringing much needed peace and security. She ruled with grace and kindness, in stark contrast to the cruel, paranoid father she had succeeded. To humans and Fair Folk alike, Aurora was a breath of fresh air in a once polluted world, and their love and gratitude knew no bounds.
In the clear skies above the two realms, two winged creatures were soaring, swooping and spinning through the warm summer air, clearly revelling in the gift of flight that Nature had bestowed upon them. One of them was a bird: a raven, his glossy black feathers glinting in the sunlight. The other was much bigger, and a different being altogether. The strongest, most powerful and most beautiful faerie in the Moors: Maleficent.
Tall and slender, with fair skin, angular cheekbones and long, dark hair from beneath which protruded two distinctive horns that curved elegantly upwards, she gazed serenely at the land below with vivid, luminous green eyes, as a gentle smile played upon her ruby red lips. Her slim figure was framed by mighty wings of dark brown feathers, with a span of more than double her height when fully extended for flight, as they were now.
Wings that had once been stolen by Aurora's father, Stefan, in an act of cruel betrayal and violation which had had a lasting effect on Maleficent, even after they had been restored to her, during a heated battle in Stefan's castle that had resulted in his death. It had been Aurora who had found and returned them; Aurora, whom Maleficent had grown to love like a daughter, and who had in turn come to regard the faerie as her 'Godmother'. At last reunited with her precious wings, after so many years without them, Maleficent savoured every wonderful moment spent in the air, and her sense of freedom and elation was almost overwhelming.
The raven flying happily alongside her, although occasionally struggling to keep up due to his much smaller size, was her long-time servant and companion, Diaval. Almost twenty years earlier, not long after the theft of her wings, Maleficent had saved him from certain death at the hands of an irate farmer and his dogs, and in return, he had pledged himself to her service. There he remained, as loyal and caring now as he had been then, taking on any form into which his mistress chose to transform him, although she mostly allowed him to remain in the natural raven form that he preferred. But as time had passed, and especially during the past two years, they had both sensed that their relationship was gradually changing. Outwardly, they were mistress and servant, but they knew, deep down, that the role of companion was increasingly outweighing that of servant. Far more than either of them would admit; to anyone else, or to one another.
Not that this was at the forefront of their minds today. There was another matter at hand: a royal wedding. Today was the day that the now eighteen-year-old Queen Aurora was to marry her beloved Prince Philip, and Maleficent and Diaval had been invited to attend the wedding. The last time either of them had been to the castle was on the fateful night of the battle with Stefan and his soldiers, and the memories still lingered, but as Aurora couldn't imagine getting married without her Godmother present, and neither Maleficent nor Diaval wanted to miss such an important event in her life, they had accepted without hesitation, albeit with a degree of trepidation at revisiting the castle, to which they were now on their way.
However, as the castle came into view, its appearance eased some of their apprehension. No longer was this the dark, iron-clad, threatening place they remembered. It had evidently been carefully restored to its former glory, with all traces of iron fortifications removed, its light grey stone walls looking bright and clean in the sunshine, and coloured flags and pennants rippling in the gentle breeze. It now looked happy and welcoming, and a fitting home for a young King and Queen.
Maleficent and Diaval began a gradual descent as they approached the castle, finally landing near the entrance to the castle grounds, alongside a large tree, whose long, leafy branches created a welcoming shade from the warm sunlight. Here, in this relatively secluded spot, Maleficent transformed Diaval into his human form. As a human, Diaval was remarkably attractive. Dressed in black, he was slightly taller than Maleficent and similarly slender, with jet black hair and eyes, a pointed nose, and numerous long, jagged scars adorning his pale face, neck and chest. Mixed in with his hair were a few small, black feathers. The overall effect hinted at his true raven form, while still looking undeniably human.
With a grateful sigh, Diaval sat down on the ground with his back against the tree trunk, slowly panting after the exertion of the flight. Maleficent looked at him with a slight frown, as if to question this action at such a time. He looked back up at her, an expression of mild disbelief on his face. Of course I'm sitting down - I'm tired. What did you expect?!
When he had regained some of his breath, he responded to her questioning gaze, a faint smile on his face. "Some of us can't fly as fast as you. Some of us have smaller wings." Not that he ever begrudged her such a turn of speed; he was fully aware of how much it meant to her to be airborne at all. He just wished she'd remember his own limitations a little more often.
Maleficent's expression softened, and she returned his smile. "Forgive me, Diaval. Rest a little longer. There is still time."
Once he was sufficiently rested, he rose to his feet, brushing the dust off his clothing as he did so. He was dressed more formally than usual, as befitted the occasion. His gaze lingered on Maleficent, who was tidying her hair and adjusting her own attire, a shimmering blue-green gown that perfectly complemented her piercing green eyes. Her body language evinced more nerves than he was accustomed to seeing in her. Understandable, he thought. Realising that he was observing her, she stopped and turned to face him, a little uneasy at his attention.
Sensing this, he was the first to speak. Gesturing towards himself, he attempted to ease the tension a little. "Well, do I look all right? After all, I wouldn't want to disgrace the Queen's Godmother." Again, there was the hint of a smile.
Maleficent nodded. "Yes, you look just fine." You could never disgrace me, Diaval. Glancing down at herself, she made a similar gesture. "Well?"
He answered without thinking. "You're beautiful." She looked surprised, and turned away from him slightly, her eyes cast downwards. Immediately he realised his mistake and tried to correct it. "I mean, you look beautiful in that gown, Mistress. Perfect for today..." He lapsed into silence and averted his gaze, awaiting chastisement for his impertinence.
The reproof never came. Instead, she turned away from him, and towards the entrance to the castle. "Let's go in, Diaval." With a resigned sigh, he moved alongside her, and together they crossed the drawbridge and entered the castle grounds in silence, gazing up at the immense, intricate building, and feeling much happier to be there than on their last visit, although Maleficent couldn't shake off her lingering nerves. Everything seemed to be all right this time.
In the courtyard, just inside the gateway, a cloaked, hooded man stood watching intently as the guests arrived for the wedding and made their way into the castle. No-one noticed him – they were too preoccupied with the forthcoming events. Even the guards paid no attention to him. As Maleficent and Diaval entered the castle grounds, their distinctive appearances immediately caught his attention, and he stiffened. His gaze hard and unwavering, he began to follow.
