She knew he was worried, she could see it in his eyes.

"Maleficent, Balthazar has been asking for you, there's been an incident."

She felt a chill go up her spine, "What happened?"

He really, really didn't want to tell her this, it would anger, and possibly even frighten her. However, he knew it couldn't be avoided.

"He caught some of Stephen's men... Maleficent, they were inside the moors."

She felt her heart stop, "How is that possible?"

Diaval shook his head, "I don't know."

An hour later after Stephen's men had been dealt with, saw Maleficent atop the highest part of her great thorn wall.

"There!" She spoke pointing to a spot a few miles away.

"I think you may be right, it certainly looks as if a passageway has been opened there."

Maleficent frowned, "how could they have done this? I was so sure..."

"Whatever they did, I'm going to stop it." He hissed.

She gave him a look that was equal parts worried and proud.

"Please, be careful. I can't-"

He cut her off with a soft kiss, "I know, I can't lose you either. But I'll be careful, and I'll be back in just a moment."

She nodded, watching her mate take his raven-form and fly towards the hole in the fearsome wall of thorns.

It was worse than he had expected, a large tunnel had been hacked out of the wall with iron. He knew this because he could smell it. Iron stakes had been driven into the ground where the giant thorns had been cut away.

If he had been a normal man, he would have been gutted when a soldier rushed out from the depths of the tunnel, sword in hand. But really, to a wild creature, it was almost embarrassing how loud humans were, even when they tried to be silent. And even in his man-form he could hear more than most. He was a raven and on top of the wall before the man even made it out.

Diaval retook his man-form and leaned out over the top of the wall, the soldier was still there. "Damn bloody witch and her pets! What kind of creature runs from a fight I'd like to know!"

As far as Diaval was concerned, these would be that stupid human's last words. After all, the moors had more than one protecter now. And no one would ever be allowed to call his mate something so slanderous and insulting! Not without dying for it anyway.

He considered his options, the man was armed, but then, so was he. A large bird would be preferable, but then, it wouldn't do to be predictable. And besides, though painful, being killed by a bird is relatively quick. And he didn't feel at all merciful right now. No, this man he would make an example of.

When the attack came, the lone soldier didn't stand a chance. He was bitten a dozen times before he could even react. And when he finally saw what had Bitten him, he knew it was all over. Because in front of him was a large And very black 12ft Cobra.

The pain knocked him off his feet shortly after that. Burning, tearing pain. The soldier wanted to plead for death, but he couldn't speak. Which was just as well, because anything he could have said would only have made things worse for him.

It took almost twenty minuets for the soldier to die, Maleficent could hear his screams. This didn't bother her, no doubt the man deserved it. But she wouldn't leave her mate alone if there was to be a fight. She quickly made her way along the top of the wall to where she'd seen the opening.

It wasn't a pleasant sight, the great tunnel ripped through the wall was painful to see. Diaval was busy pulling something up from the ground. "Diaval? What happened?" She asked.

He looked up to see his mate leaning over the side of the wall. "Ah, well this stupid bugger tried to run me through, he's regretting it now I expect." He said gesturing to the dead man.

Maleficent summoned her magic and created a graceful staircase, a moment later she was at his side. "We'll need help to deal with all this iron." She frowned.

He looked up at the countless rivets and screws that held the tunnel open. "You're right, but I don't think there's much help to be had in this case."

"Perhaps if the iron they've driven into the ground were removed I could at least block this up." Maleficent said as she examined the damage.

"I had the same thought, but it wouldn't be as strong as it was." He said looking worried.

"That's true, but It will be strong enough, besides, if we leave the iron inside the tunnel intact we'll know where they'll try to come through." She said smugly.

Diaval looked confused. "How do you figure that?"

Maleficent smirked "Because Stephen must be running out of Iron. He's been wasting his Time sheathing his stupid castle in it."

Diaval blinked. "You're right! If they want to get through again it'll have to be here."

It took almost three hours for Diaval to pull up the iron spikes that kept the thorn wall from repairing itself. He was practically the only person in the moors who could touch iron. Though now, because of the magic his mate had granted him, that ability was quickly waning. It wouldn't do to let her know how much his hands stung after handling iron for longer than a few moments. She would be furious, he knew this, but he also knew how important it was to repair the wall.

Unfortunately he wasn't paying much attention to his hands, and even before he was finished his hands were heavily blistered. In fact, another moment and he would have started bleeding.

He had been right, she was furious.

Maleficent violently slapped the tree branch directly beside him. Obviously neither of them would ever touch the other in anger. But she wasn't above startling him to make a point.

"You are never to do anything so stupid, ever again! Do you hear me Diaval?!"

"I'm fine! And it's not as if anyone else could have done it!" He snapped.

"I could almost see the bones in you hands! Do you know how easily you could die from iron exposure?! Why didn't you tell me that you were losing your tolerance for iron?!"

Oh dear, he hadn't realized it was quit that serious. "Maleficent, I'm sorry, I guess I didn't think it was important... And yes I'm aware how idiotic that sounds." He sighed and ran his fingers through his black hair.

He had been rash, and yes, even stupid. More importantly he knew how Maleficent felt, and how much it must have frightened her seeing his hands like that. It didn't matter that he'd been able to heal them a moment later. If the iron had gotten into his bloodstream- no he wouldn't even think about that. He would have to make this up to her.

She glared and turned away from him, grumbling about 'Damn stupid birds, and why the hell did she have to be in love with one.'

He wasn't offended, because it was true, only an idiot would let iron get so close to his bloodstream. Cautiously, he sat down next to his mate. "I am sorry, truly. I would be absolutely furious if you'd done something like this. Can you forgive me?" He asked looking quite upset with himself.

"Yes, but only if you swear to tell me things like this From now on."

He nodded. "Done."

I know it seems Ooc for Diaval to willingly turn into a snake... but 'witch' is a much worse insult than you guys might realize. Before the modern erra 'witch' meant a women who ****** the devil on a regular basis sold her soul to him and went around killing and hurting people cause she liked it! So needless to say, Diaval was experiencing some emotions. And in his opinion 'death by snake bite' is probably one of the most painfull deaths there is. Remember, he's probaly seen birds get killed by snakes before he met Malificent.