Repercussions
The full moon came and went twice in the Moors without an appearance by the queen. Only Maleficent knew where to lay the blame for that. The fae folk pressed and pleaded incessantly with her for answers, but that only succeeded in causing the winged elf to retreat further and further into her wordless void.
And the longer she was away from her Beastie, the more cantankerous the former Queen of the Moors became.
Diaval, however, knew sooner or later his mistress would divulge what had her so disgruntled.
He fluttered to her rowan tree, noticing immediately how the branches had twisted and diverted into gnarly, unsightly limbs.
They were the dark faerie's frustration personified.
"Into a man."
He gathered himself and stood there silently, still gawking at the disfigured tree.
"What?"
"What indeed," he inquired, "has you so terse? Does it have something to do with our queen's extended absence?"
"Why don't you fly over there yourself and ask her?" came Maleficent's bitter reply.
"I have asked many times," he explained, "and each time she says not to worry. She says she's preoccupied with economic concerns, but she'll return to us soon."
Maleficent rounded on him with wild eyes, "you spoke to her? When?!" The rowan tree groaned and its branches twisted further into themselves.
He smiled wryly, "Once last week and the week before. I don't buy it either. None of the merchants have been in the castle since five moons ago. She can't handle pedantic affairs without their counsel."
"Hmm," was her only reply.
"What did you do to land yourself in the dog house this time?" Diaval remarked.
"You'll find yourself there," Maleficent warned, "if you don't watch your tongue."
He held up his hands defensively. "Easy now," he chided, "Punishing me won't cure your foul mood in the long term."
"Oh, but I'm ecstatic."
"Could have fooled me," he contended, "You've been in quite a stale state since Aurora left. It's like you stopped existing. You're a shell."
"You'll be a spineless, shell-dwelling creature yourself if you don't-"
"Ha! Dogs don't have shells-"
"Do. Not. Test me." Each syllable was punctuated with a snarl, emerald-hued energy wafting off Maleficent like green fire. The rowan tree quaked violently from leaf to root.
Diaval visibly gulped. "My apologies, Mistress."
His sincerity did not tamper the faerie's aggravation, and she continued to seethe as she skulked out of her companion's view.
"Whew," he whispered to himself, feeling very much the lamb that avoided the slaughter, "good thing I didn't mention the pixies."
Nearby footsteps ceased immediately.
"Oh no." He internally cursed.A gust of wind gave him only a fraction of a warning before Maleficent had his jaw in a death grip.
"What," she rasped, "did you mean about the pixies?"
He sputtered unintelligibly, wishing at that moment he was a creature without bones.
"Where are the damn pixies?!" She demanded, her eyes burning even brighter than the ethereal green glow around her.
"Serving as counsel to the queen," he squeaked out.
Her expression was comparable to a shattered glass.
Oh no. No, no, no. That will not stand.
She instantly released her companion and launched herself into the air, soaring at break neck speed towards the human kingdom.
When he was certain she had disappeared, Diaval chuckled lightly.
She fell for it.
He regarded her leafy abode again. "Shame she has to take it out on you," he consoled the tree. The rowan moaned lowly in agreement.
The three faeries giggled together in the glittering halls of the stone fortress.
"It's so wonderful to be back in the castle," Thistlewit said dreamily, "what should we gift to Aurora as thanks?"
"I say we make her a gown!" Flittle exclaimed.
"No, a cake!" argued Knotgrass.
"You know of neither textiles nor bakery," came the foreboding voice behind them.
The trio froze, turning slowly to find Maleficent's grand figure looming in the castle hall.
"Ma-Maleficent!" Knotgrass squeaked out.
"Knotgrass," the dark faerie acknowledged in an icy tone, "Thistlewit."
Silence.
"Tumbleweed?"
"That's not right!" The blue faerie exclaimed, clearly insulted.
"Tumbleshit?"
The three pixies squawked in offense, spewing unintelligible insults that did not faze Maleficent in the least. With an exaggerated roll of her eyes, she glided past them towards the royal bed chambers. Before rounding the corner, however, she flicked her fingers in their direction, causing rain to drizzle over the pixies' heads. They instantly ceased their inane babblings and blanched.
Maleficent chuckled darkly at them. Never gets old.
She treaded lightly into the royal chambers, glancing from side to side.
Empty.
She deflated slightly, hoping she wouldn't have to extensively search out the queen. The more she looked, the more likely she would have a run in with the castle staff. Maleficent had hoped to minimize human encounters as much as possible, save for the one she longed to see.
"Finally decided to drop in," came Aurora's teasing voice.
Maleficent jumped slightly, causing the blonde to giggle. The faerie turned her gaze to the balcony, where she could make out Aurora's silhouette behind the translucent curtains.
"Only for a brief visit," Maleficent lied, "I don't have long. I've spent enough time trying to find you as it is."
"Lies," Aurora judged correctly.
"Maybe." Maleficent chuckled as she stalked to the balcony. When she emerged she immediately swept Aurora up in a tight embrace, one the queen did not protest.
Aurora pressed tender lips to Maleficent's clavicle. Though the contact was quite brief, it still caused the elder being to shudder.
"Don't be frisky." Maleficent said in jest.
"I'm not frisky. You're just wound up." Aurora replied with equal levity.
The faerie chuckled, still not letting go. "I am rather offended that you chose the company of three bloated goats over me."
Aurora laughed and it sent electricity through Maleficent's heart. "That was Diaval's idea." The queen explained, "He suggested inviting the pixies to lure you over here in a jealous rage."
Devious, scheming, feathered creature.
"Well," Maleficent huffed indignantly, "it worked."
"So I see," Aurora's smiled brightly. Maleficent couldn't keep the scowl on her face for long and rested her forehead against her companion's. Her wings cocooned around them, the appendages acting of their own accord.
"I missed you," Aurora whispered against alabaster skin.
"I missed you, too, Beastie."
"Why didn't you come see me?" The queen asked.
"I could say the same to you," Maleficent answered with a hint of petulance.
"I needed to be sought out, "Aurora muttered, "I needed to know you still wanted me around, after-"
"Shhh," Maleficent dropped her finger to Aurora's lips, sickening guilt rising like bile. She internally flayed herself for making her Beastie question whether she desired her company. "I suppose we both were victims of our own stubbornness. You got that from me."
"So it would seem," Aurora mused.
Maleficent ghosted her finger tip on the bridge of her companion's nose, then dusted closed eye lids with tendrils of amber-hued magic. The sensation tickled Aurora to her core and sent her into an airy euphoria. Maleficent continued her ministrations until she had diffused every inch of available skin on Aurora's face with auric light.
"Feel better?" the faerie asked.
"Much," Aurora answered dreamily. "I wish I could return the favor."
"Believe me," Maleficent responded, "your presence is more than enough."
"Are we done ignoring each other then? Please?" Aurora pleaded, "Because I can't go back to the way we were before."
Maleficent shook her head earnestly. "No, no, don't worry," she reassured the younger woman. "It seems I only truly come alive when I'm with you."
Aurora studied the faerie's visage closely. Swirls of emerald melded with gold in the elder being's eyes. Maleficent gazed at her with utter adoration. Her expression spoke volumes more than her confession.
For now, it was enough.
"Take me home," Aurora breathed.
Maleficent slid an arm behind the queen's knees and cradled Aurora's head in her opposite hand.
"Of course," she answered, because Maleficent no longer wished to deny Aurora anything.