This is not going too badly. I hope you are enjoying it. Now to formulate the the scene where Aurora tells Maleficent of her upcoming wedding to Rothan. DTxx
Diaval flapped his wings as fast as he could. In the distance he could see the Moors drawing closer and with them the dreaded reaction of Maleficent when he told her of the new Gentleman that had arrived and already so it appeared won the young Queen over. After the two parties had dispersed to go about preparing for the summer feast Diaval had sored between the two listening intently to the words spoken. "Prince Rothan she is most beautiful and will be most befitting to you. Why your father would be so proud that his youngest son was to marry this lithe bodied maiden. How the Ladies at Court's blood will boil at the sight of her. Yes your Majesty she is the one". Over in the Castle Margaret was whispering to Aurora
"Oh my Queen he is most handsome and such a gentleman, please consider choosing him, I'm sure you would be most happy".
"Margaret you do speak out of turn, but I have to agree he is most beautiful isn't he?" Aurora grinned at the blush across the young girls cheeks at her light chastising.
"If I may say your Majesty, but just think of the heirs you could produce with such strong beauty in you both".
"Oh my, do you not think you are trying to make a chicken lay before it's time? I have barely said but two words to the Prince and yet here you are already talking about heirs as if we are already wed". Aurora chuckled "Now Margaret please go and ask Henry to saddle Vlance for me, I must ride into town to tell the people of the treat that awaits them. Would you like to come too, it is not often you leave the castle and I think it would be wise to extend your riding skills, after all if I am to marry I shall need my first Lady now shall I not?" Margaret beamed
"Am I to be your first Lady then your Majesty?" "Aurora nodded
"Jaqueline I fear may be too old for the position, considering she served my mother before me. I need someone who has be with me from the start of my journey and has learnt as I have. Someone who will continue to do so throughout my reign. Now hurry down to the stables, dusk approaches and I wish for my people to have a wonderful evening". Margaret bobbed her head, her rustic curls bouncing about her face as she trotted from the room. Glancing across at the windowsill Aurora noticed the unmistakable form of Diaval perched watching her. They looked at each other. A burning heat of embarrassment flared up Aurora's spin as she realized Diaval had heard every word and was sure to relay them to Maleficent. She sighed and turned away.
"So it appears our little Beastie has indeed found a suitable young mate then?" Maleficent was glowering out across the rolling fields towards the castle. Her knuckles straining against her skin bone white and pointed as she gripped her staff tightly.
"I wouldn't quite say that but yes she does appear to be quite taken with him. But then again she is very modest and does not suffer fools lightly. I do believe that if this man was unjust she would see it". Diaval sat in the soft grass watching the winged woman carefully.
"And what do you think of him Diaval? This human man".
"Well I don't deny he is most attractive for a human. And I also agree with Aurora's maid that their offspring would indeed been most beautiful all things considered. Yes they would be a very good match". Maleficent nashed her teeth together, disappointed and peeved at the human birds reply. She had hoped he would deny that the man was fitted to Aurora that her council were wasting their time in regards to marriage, but it appeared she was wrong.
"Return to her, I wish to know what happens tonight. I do not feel my presence would be welcome amongst her people, and besides you blend in much better. Into a bird". The gold dust circled Diaval and before he knew it his beautiful self had been returned.
"Cawk, cawk" he squawked before vanishing into the steadily setting sunlight. Leaving Maleficent to hang her head miserably, wishing for Aurora to come home.
The large fires crackled sending spits of pig fat hurtling through the air. A few people were playing upbeat music for the dancing figures who twirled and leapt about the great stacks of burning wood laughing merrily. Aurora sat close to Rothan deep in conversation. "I agree whole heartedly Aurora we must preserve what is left of our peaceful lands stand true and strong against armies who wish to destroy them. Do tell me, what are the Moors like? After all I don't think there is a Kingdom in these lands who have not heard of your dealings with the folk that dwell there". Aurora beamed,
"Oh Rothan you should see them. They are the most beautiful places in the whole world. The water is like liquid crystals, the grass as soft as new spun silk. Nothing is bad there. No shadows threaten it anymore, and the Faefolk are wonderful. Nothing is without its' place or meaning, no flower that is not vital to the flow of life. You should see it. Nothing can compare".
"It sounds truly magical, and you speak of it so highly, it must be very dear to your heart. And what of the Faery Maleficent? What is she like?" Aurora faltered,
"Maleficent. Maleficent is, well I can't really describe her, she's the most remarkable person you will ever meet. As tall as any man she towers over me, and with her horns she is positively a giant. Her wings span almost the length of this table when stretched fully, and they are soft and warm her feathers. Like an embrace from a loved one or the touch of fire when you sit next to it. Her eyes sparkle like the stars above, gold and green swirl together. But her temper is something you should watch out for, believe me you wouldn't want to be her enemy. And she is powerful, her magic ranks high above the other Faefolk but she is kind and gentle, a little distant at times but I believe that is due to her dislike of humans". Rothan scanned the blonde's face
"You speak of her as though she is the most important person to you, you must love her greatly?" Aurora blushed deeply
"She is, I do. My Aunties were not the best at bringing up a child and yet Maleficent, although she cursed me, protected me too. She would send Diaval to feed me when I cried or play with me when I was lonely. She was the shadow that followed me throughout my childhood and no matter how far I strayed I knew she'd be there. Her shadow was my companion before I even met her. The same with Diaval, although he was a Raven I knew he was still my friend". Rothan nodded understandingly,
"It appears to me that you have two very special friends, the ones who have become family. Now please dear lady don't take this as a grievance to you but there has been talk. Even amongst your guests here tonight. They say that you are wild like the seas, you cannot be tamed. That your relationship with Maleficent is uncouth, that although she cursed you as a babe, she has done so again to draw you away from your Kingdom to keep you with her always. That you care more for the Moors than you do for your people here. I do not wish to upset you Aurora but I don't believe your people should be speaking as such about their Queen. Especially as she does not seem to know they do so". Hot tears sprang to Aurora's eyes, after all she'd tried to do, succeeded to do, it appeared her people still did not deem her a worthy Queen. "Oh dear Queen please do not cry. I should not have spoken so openly".
"No, no Rothan you have done me a great service by telling me of the whispers about my Kingdom. It just hurts my heart to think that they view me as such. When they do not know Maleficent nor the Moors. She would never do anything to harm me, she is the Protector of the Moors and as such will defend them to her last breath. It is true I was not raised as a Princess so I have learnt fast to fit the role of a Queen. I was not born to be cooped up inside every waking hour I love the outdoors. The air is like life itself to me. I crave it when I have been away too long, the Moors that is. They are my home too, and their folk my subjects too. Although my reign is much different there, I am one of them not a pedestal trophy like I am here they look after themselves out there".
"I understand your grace, and I apologize most profusely for making you so distressed. I now will tell you of another whisper I have heard one that will sure to make you smile again". Leaning forward he brushed a blonde curl away from Aurora's ear "I have been told that our children will be most beautiful, were we to have any. And I happen to agree with them. You are truly breath taking dear Aurora". Aurora giggled, Rothan smelt of bark and ferns, his breath tickled her skin as he continued to whisper compliments in her ear. His long hair was hanging loose about his shoulders, gently brushing against her bare arms.
"Rothan you must be the most charming gentleman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting".
"That is a great compliment coming from you, now I have something to ask you, and please do consider it before answering. I know we have but just met, and it is foolish of me to expect you to agree but I feel as though we are connected you and I Aurora. Your smile makes me feel as though I am a boy again and I think we would make a perfect match. What I'm asking lovely Aurora is would you do me the pleasure of becoming my wife? My Queen. I would not expect you to leave your Kingdom nor ever leave your beloved Moors. Maleficent and Diaval could even come and live here and I would not protest as I know they are your family. Please my lady do think about my question". Aurora blinked, it was true they had only just met, but out of all the men her council had sent Rothan was the loveliest, most friendly and genuine of all. She felt she could trust him to look after her Kingdom, and why shouldn't she choose him, after all they were friends now weren't they? She breathed deeply and smiled
"Kind Rothan" he took her hand in his, she paused, his hands were soft and large completely covering hers. "I would be delighted in becoming your Queen. You are exactly what I had hoped for in a King, my people are now yours, and I trust you to care about them as I do. So my answer is yes Rothan I will marry you". The young mans' face broke into a wide grin, leaning forward he placed a soft kiss against her cheek, before standing up and carefully climbing onto the long wooden table that was placed upon a raised platform.
"The good people of Queen Aurora please I wish to speak a moment! Please stop the music I have an announcement to make!" Holding up his hands Rothan managed to dim the sound of chatter about the feast. All eyes turned towards the high table. "Ladies and Gentlemen, good people it pleases me to tell you that this evening, Queen Aurora has agreed to my marriage proposal. We are to be wed, I do believe this is a serious cause for celebration. So if you please, eat drink and be merry, for tonight I am the happiest man alive, and it is all down to this beautiful woman who sits beside me". A loud outburst of clapping and whistling erupted as Rothan climbed gracefully down from the table to sit next to a very pink and shy Aurora. Diaval bristled his feathers Maleficent was not going to like this one bit.
"Maleficent. Maleficent did you hear me? Aurora is due to be married, and in less than a week. Don't you think you should perhaps go and see her?" Diaval was stood at a fare distance from the tall woman, who for once was speechless. Her entire posture seemed ridged, statue like even. She merely stared off into the sky as if she was all alone.
"I heard you Diaval" she finally whispered, "And no I do not think I should go and see her, she will come of her own accord to tell us of the news. There will be much preparation for this glittering affair, I do not doubt she will arrive with less than a sunrise from the day in question". Diaval shifted uncomfortably, Maleficent's voice was flat, hollow like. He'd never heard something so dead in all his life.
"Don't you think she'd want to see you? After all you are her mean more to her than anything else". A hard unmoving lump lodged itself deep inside Maleficent's throat,
"No, as I said she will come if she wishes. Now please leave me". Blinking, slightly hurt at her dismissal Diaval turned and quietly left the once again silent woman to her own thoughts. Things, he had a feeling, were going to go very very wrong. Very wrong indeed.
Returning to the castle well past the morns third hour Aurora flopped quite un-queen like onto her bed and chuckled to herself. Life was going according to plan. She'd found a man trustworthy and perfect enough that she felt she could leave her kingdom in the hands of. The Moors were thriving again just like the stories had said when she was young, and she felt positively giddy with excitement (although that could have something to do with the rich, very strong wine she'd consumed during the feast). Outside she could still hear the celebrations still going on, her people obviously were very happy for her, either that or they just needed a reason to indulge, she wasn't sure. Still in that moment nothing could dampen her mood, not even the prospect of telling Maleficent first thing tomorrow, when she'd put into motion the preparations for her wedding.
Eh? Eh? Pretty good huh? Well I thought it flowed quite nicely. Please do review if you wish, but as i said at the beginning if you haven't got anything nice or productive to say then pleas don't bother as it is rather off putting. I wouldn't do it to you, so please don't do it to me. DT xx