Disclaimer: I do not own Maleficent or any of the characters.
A/N: Hello everyone! I pardon for the delay in updating TLOAR. I know that you don't want to hear an excuse but I had so many ideas running through my mind for other projects that I have in mind. I do hope you can forgive. I went back through the wonderful reviews and to per one of the reviews I will attempt to make chapters longer.
This Chapter is merely what Aurora had been feeling throughout the first 6 chapters.
Feel free to favorite or follow or leave a review I appreciate and love receiving any of those options. I also accept all types of criticism. So without further ado, we continue our adventure, enjoy.
~novalightstar
Note: Chapter Revised June 14th, 2018
Chapter 7: Reminiscing
*Aurora's POV*
It was all so strange. In a span of a day, Aurora discovered that she had a father, a princess, and under a wicked curse. As quickly as this news came, it was just as quickly taken away. Her father, King Stefan, died because of his greed. She was still a princess but wasn't sure what that entailed but at least the curse was lifted... even though it came from someone she has grown to love dearly. Aurora couldn't dwell on the matter, even with these current events, her family was in the Moors and were those who took care of her; the three fairy aunts, her Fairy God-Mother and… Aurora glanced over at the birdman. Her eyes scanning him. There was something that she couldn't quite shake from her head. Aurora didn't remember anything after pricking her finger. The next thing she knew was that she was staring up at Diaval. It was all quite perplexing.
Not that there had been anything wrong with waking up and seeing Diaval but their last encounter was not the happiest. Oh, how she regretted yelling at him and blaming him. He was special to her, but she couldn't complain about seeing his face once more.
She remembered the way that his lips curled slightly when she called out "Hello Pretty Bird," and how there was a gleam in his normally cold eyes. Her mind traveled back to when she first saw him as a man. His midnight tresses the fell to his neck, neatly pushed back. The first time her eyes met his, the dark pools were mysterious. Diaval's pale skin carried scars down his face and trailing down his neck and his chest. His smile was a bit crooked and his voice was like honey, making her knees buckle at the sound. There was a strange fluttering that stirred inside her stomach after she had laid eyes on the Birdman and grew when his lips just barely grazed her knuckles.
It was a new sensation. Every time she was around him there was a fluttering. A fuzzy feeling, something Aurora couldn't place. Her mind traveled back to the first time in the Moors. The mud fight. It was the most fun Aurora had in ages. She adored her aunties, she truly did but she felt lonely with all their bickering. The only fun she had was when the raven would visit and they would play games together.
Then Aurora remembered the river. She was lost deep in thought as she began to scrub the mud off her dress and skin. Completely unaware of the presence behind her, observing her every movement. "Mind if I join you?"
Aurora could feel the rise of heat in her cheeks as she turned to face the raven-haired man. Before her mind even think about the question she agreed. Her eyes roamed up and down his muddied figure as he jumped into the water, which in her opinion was not smart as it was not that deep yet, Aurora couldn't contain the laughter as the water rose up splashing her in the process. Once he re-surfaced Aurora returned the favor and splashed him. It was a grand time. It was just the two of them. Alone. Oh, what would her aunties think? Is this even appropriate?
She had been unaware of the fact that he had been calling her name or telling her to stop. Aurora was slightly startled as he grabbed her wrists causing her to lose her balance in the river. Luckily Diaval pulled her up... he would never let her down. It was all so strange. She shifted her gaze to his dark eyes. Aurora found herself drawn to them instantly. They were hypnotizing.
In her mind it seemed innocent enough but little did she know how wildly his heart beats from her next move. It was strange how natural it felt as she wiped away that speck of mud from his cheek. "There now you are Pretty Bird once more."
"Pretty? I prefer the term deviously handsome." Aurora giggled at the raven's response. Aurora's blue eyes finally pulled away from his only to land on the crescent-shaped scar. One of her hands pulled free of his grasp and reached up to his face yet again. The crescent shape scar felt rough under her soft touch. Aurora's fingers gently grazed down his face following the markings down his neck and ending on the strange at the pitchfork marking on his chest. It was like she was in a trance as she traced the scars.
The princess felt the burning feeling return to her cheeks at the mere memory of the event as it was so intimate but she shouldn't be so flustered over it. After all, they are friends... right? Aurora had wanted to talk to Diaval about it but never had a chance upon her discovering the unbreakable curse and all.
She craned her head to peer over at the birdman in question. However, his dark orbs were not on her, instead, they were sending a cold glare just over her head. Following the gaze, her sapphire orbs landed on a boy. "Philip!" Aurora must admit she was happy to see him again and so soon.
Their first encounter was by chance. He was lost in the forest looking for the castle. She was speechless, surprised and cautious. The boy looked about her age perhaps even a few years older. His brown hair was long like Diaval's but shaggier. His eyes were brown and kind as was his smile. Philip, as she learned was his name, was the first human she ever encountered outside of her Aunties and Diaval. Yet, now that she thinks of it none of them are fully 100% genuinely human.
Aurora wouldn't deny that she found Philip attractive. He was a spitting image of the princes she would imagine from her auntie's stories. Curiosity took over and Aurora wanted to spend more time with him.
"I'm looking for King Stefan's castle do you know where it is?" His voice soft and sweet. His brown eyes never left hers. Aurora could swear that her heart was beating through her ears.
"The castle is that way." There was this feeling, something she couldn't place. It was nerve-wracking. Philip began to depart but she chased after him, so curious about the human boy. She yearned for new friends, not that she didn't love the ones she didn't have Not quite ready for him to go yet. Aurora wanted to talk. She adored finding someone knew. Philip promised to return to the forest and here he stood. It was all that she could hope for.
"How did you get here?" She questioned him excitedly, her mind returning to the present. He opened his arms welcoming her into an embrace.
"Those three fairies brought me here." His smile was perfect, so pearly white and straight. She grasped her hand in his, they are rather soft for a man.
"Come among Phillip. There are some people I wish for you to…" the Queen turned back towards where her God-Mother and Diaval once stood seeing no trace of them. Aurora would be lying if she said that she wasn't disappointed by their disappearance.
"To what Aurora?" Phillip squeezed her hand gently, pulling her thoughts back to him.
"Oh, it's umm nothing. Never mind." Phillip simply shook his head and gave a gentle laugh. The two remained in the center of the Moors as for in this moment Aurora was happy and all thoughts of her father and the curse.
She watched Philip intently as he tried to communicate with the Moor-Dwellers. "You really lived out here your entire life?" She nodded, gazing over the land. She remembered how dreary it had always been. Now colors illuminated the forest and for the first time, everything is just right. "I can see why you would be sad to leave this behind."
"What do you mean to leave it all behind?" Aurora gave him a most perplexing look. He seemed baffled in her response.
"How do you expect to run your father's kingdom from a... a... a forest? You are the queen. The people need you."
"I am certain it will be alright." In truth, Aurora had not given much thought to the people of her parent's kingdom. She didn't even know who she really was until yesterday. Would it even be right for her to rule a place that she never lived in? "The people will be fine and I have already made the decision to live here. The kingdoms have been unified. If need be I will divide my time between here and there."
"Well yes of course, but won't you be lonely out here all by yourself?" He approached her with each word taking her hand in his. Aurora retracted her hand from his grip. She looked up into his eyes which seemed even more confused than before. Her head slowly began to shake as she retreated back, she could feel the tears in her eyes. She didn't even understand why she was so upset. "Aurora" he called out "I didn't mean to upset you." It didn't matter, she was gone. Off to a place where she could always feel happy, off to where her most favorite memories resided.
