Chapter 1: I Believe In True Love
"...Not a day will go by that I don't miss your smile," Maleficent murmured.
Standing in the background, an invisible spectator, Diaval's chest tightened, the pain in Maleficent's words echoing in his heart. As a raven, he never knew such emotion. An animal only seeks to exist; the feelings, questions, dreams, and desires of humans were far beyond their comprehension, but the line had long ago become blurred for him. Now, regardless of what form he was changed to, the human mind never left him. Just as he was permanently ageless.
Sometimes, he wondered if a day would come when he wouldn't be able to return to being a raven.
With a heavy heart, the bitter taste of failure came to him for a second time that night, carried on the dredges of desperation. It had been a hard race, one he had poured himself into, but they had lost. Time had distance had been insurmountable. And as if the fates were laughing at them, by some foul twist of chance, Phillip's kiss had failed, stealing Aurora's chance at 'true love'. His Lady had never believed in true love, that was why she had named it as the antidote to Aurora's curse, but he had believed in true love. Even now, some fickle human emotion still burned with the hope that true love would come along.
Voice ceasing, Maleficent leaned down and kissed the girl's forehead. A moment passed, but Aurora slept on: Maleficent had never believed in true love.
Lingering, Diaval waited till Maleficent had passed before approaching the bed.
Sleep had altered nothing of the child's innocence and beauty, as if at any moment her eyes would open and she'd be begging to return to the Moors. But she wouldn't. No force on Earth could shake her from her eternal sleep; only the force of love, and that was far too elusive to ever find.
Pale golden curls fell across the pillow, face relaxed in sleep, her chest rising with slow breaths. Some animal instinct in him warned him that this wasn't natural, told him to back away, to flee from the room, but he only stepped closer and placed a hand on the coverlet.
Taking a breath, he leaned down, and whispered on the exhale, "I believe in true love." Placing a small, hesitant kiss on her still lips, he retreated from the bed, unable bring himself to meet Maleficent's eyes as he exited the room before her. If he had looked, he would've seen the sympathy and compassion in her eyes.
So it was over. No longer would he be called to watch over Aurora as she played. The child would sleep infinitely, and he and Maleficent had done their best to protect her, but things had run their course and now all they could do was wait.
Though sorrowed, Diaval felt it as if from across a void. Animals didn't understand sorrow, humans did, but sorrow didn't fit into an animal's scheme of survival. And in effect, it was an emotion he had little experience with.
"Fairy Godmother," a soft voice breathed.
Heart stuttering, body half turning, his view was blocked by Maleficent's figure as she hurried toward the bed. Left to tag along behind, never more than a step behind (as usual), anxiety disappeared as happiness flooded him.
Flinging her arms around Maleficent, embracing the overjoyed faerie, Aurora's eyes met his, full of the vivacity and life that he knew so well. Smiling, he half bowed and said, "Welcome back, Princess."
