Disclaimer: Alas poor Malefiecent you are Disney's. Or the film would've had way more Malora.
A/N: This whole piece is a bit longer than I meant, so I'm posting it short chapters, but the length is needed. Trust me. Please?
"The reception will take place in the main hall. Did the kitchen staff present their menu, your majesty?" Sir Alexander, master of ceremonies, spoke in a flat tone.
"Yes." Aurora hastily replied. "Although I had to remind them I still do not have much of a taste for meat."
"Noted." Alexander continued, equally monotone. "The kingdom of Arendelle has sent a small music group to play, as part of their gifts."
"A charmingly disguised diplomatic mission. I know their representative wishes to discuss trade once the band and Princess Anna are homebound." Aurora knew she could not let a single political exploit slip past her. She would always see and wish for the best in people, but she also finally knew that she must present the strongest front to keep anyone with negative intentions in their place.
"How did you know that? It was to be discussed after your… honeymoon". Is Alexander blushing? They hide it well.
"A little birdie told me". Aurora laughed at her own remark.
"What should the colors be?" Lady Mackenzie coughed, steering the conversation back on course.
"Blue!" "Pink!" "Green!", the pixie trio said at the same time.
With equal parts affection and dismissal, Aurora glanced at her 'aunts'. "You've had me and my dwellings clad in those colors enough in the past years, my dear pixies. I think such a day calls for my colors to be on display, yes?". The sunrises and sunsets of over 20 years had not dulled the charms gifted by the pixies themselves. Aurora could still so easily disarm them with just her smile and a teasing gleam of her eyes.
"Well, what colors do you wish for, your majesty?" Lady Mackenzie asked again.
Aurora closed her eyes and let visions dance behind her eyes. Green? Perhaps not, the council still seems to scowl at the hue. She smiled again once she aligned her thoughts. "Gold" like the particles of sunlight swirling in the air. "Purple" such a striking color when I'm able to draw it to the surface of those bottomless spheres.
"Fine regal choices" Lady Mackenzie interjected.
"Good woman, I have another" Aurora quipped, making her subject blush in embarrassment. After a pause… "Black."
"What?" every voice in the room spoke at once.
"Since when was this a funeral?" Flittle arose, her fairy wings atwitter.
"Or a display of... malignancy?" Knotgrass pixie whispered.
Aurora again took an air of purpose and charm. "Calm yourselves. I did not mean as a major part of the color scheme. Merely a small accent. To highlight the contrast."
More than one eyebrow rose in reaction, but no more arguments were articulated. They could not deny her.
(-)
The Queen and the Protector of the Moors sat in the ancient rowan tree, Aurora leaning into her Godmother as Maleficent softly kept an arm around her beastie, instinctually making sure Aurora did not fall off her perch for all the gesturing she was so oft to do as she spoke. "… and black, but just as an accent." Aurora finished listing off the finalized arrangements. "I am very glad the pixies can magic materials we already have. No need to spend down the treasury when we can transform the existing textile and swag overnight. It will be ready in time for tomorrow."
Maleficent smirked, in her usual slight fashion. "I hope so. You are a good woman, trusting the rabble with such business."
"Maleficent!" Aurora strongly smacked the arm draped around her, knowing it would sting no more than a chafing feather to the faery. Leaning into the taller woman, Aurora asked the question that needled her mind. "Do you approve?"
"As much as I am able."
(-)
Aurora stood motionless in the haze of twilight near the border of the moors. She had overruled Maleficent's proposal of escort back to the castle. 'A bride must remain in seclusion the eve of her wedding' she relied on a impulsively remembered human notion in order to vindicate her choice of Balthazar and the promise of her human honor guard waiting, who both were bound to honor her wish for this detour.
The Queen of the Moors turned to the fae Robin, who acquiesced a slight bow in her direction. "You need me, my Queen?"
"Yes. This is… important. I require assistance in… a… message, I suppose." Aurora spoke softly, almost as if afraid someone would overhear them.
This intrigued the fae intensely. "Why my assistance, if I may be so bold? You have the gift of a silver tongue".
Aurora left out a 'humph!', but knew there was no genuine reason for ire. "It is not one I can speak. Not now, anyhow. I have an idea, but one that requires magic my mortal self is not capable of. Come closer, I can explain". Robin glided over to the Queen and leaned in as she whispered in his ear.
"You know what those mean, yes?"
"I do. Why do you think I insist on the arrangement? And this…" Aurora removed a tiny scroll of parchment from her robe.
"Oh… OH! As you wish your majesty!"
As Aurora finally headed back to the castle, Robin flew into the Moors and spun his magic into it, coaxing it to behave in the needed manner. It was as if the land heard the earlier conversation, for he found his magic flowed effortlessly and more powerfully than he knew he was capable of.
To be continued! What is Aurora up to?
