Sooooo! Longest gap between chapters so far. It took me a lot of time to completely decide where I am going with this story, and I didn't enjoy making Phillip such a.. well, you'll know when you're done reading. I hope the time-gap wasn't a bad decision. Okay, I'm done rambling. Enjoy and remember: reviews are highly appreciated!
Oh ps: if you want to follow me on tumblr or just stalk me and have a look at my face, aphrodisianight is also my name on there, so yeah :)
She awoke to the sound of Isobel banging against the door. The sun was just starting to creep up her face, a soft crimson filling the entire room. For one second she was completely unaware of who she was or what the day would bring, but way too soon her savored innocence faded away, turning into a tight knot in her stomach. ''Queen Aurora, we have to get started!'' The handmaiden practically screamed, leaving Aurora to wonder whether she had just awoken the entire castle.
''I'm aware of that, Isobel. Would you mind letting me wake up in peace?'' The blonde returned with a smirk. Isobel burst into the room with a bewildered look on her face. ''On any other day I would, but today is not just any other day. So, no peace for you!'' The redhead was already busy taking out all the tools she would need. Aurora was used to the girl bursting with energy, especially in the morning. ''Iss, please remind me how I've put up with you for five years without strangling you every morning.'' The queen jested. ''Without me you'd forget to strangle me, so I guess that's why.'' Isobel replied sarcastically.
The rest of the morning seemed to go by faster than Aurora could handle, but thankfully Isobel made sure everything was exactly how everything was supposed to be going. When the clock struck eleven she decided she should take a small break. She locked herself up in her room, opening the doors to the balcony. She stepped out and looked down, taking in all the beautiful sights. There was a huge tent in the courtyard, and she could see strong men bringing in casks of ale and cider for the feast there was to be later that day. The gardens were decorated in a blue theme, much to Aurora's liking.
She started thinking about what the past five years had been like. She had grown into her role as queen, not liking it at first but after some months of reorganizing the way the council worked growing more fond of the task every day. She could even say she loved her duties as queen, being able to help so many people. Her relationship with Maleficent had taken some unexpected turns. The faery had kept her distance ever since Aurora told her she was still going to marry Phillip.
They still saw each other often, but whenever Aurora tried to make some form of physical contact the older woman always seemed to shy away from her touch. The queen had never asked her why she didn't want the bodily contact anymore, as she figured Maleficent would have her reasons. They talked, all night long when the chance occurred, but they never fell asleep curled up next to each other anymore.
She wondered were the older woman was.
She had just woken up, not realizing what day it was or even what time it was. The sun had already made its way up in the sky, and was now burning bright. She yawned and stretched her big wings, not giving Diaval the attention he was desperately trying to gain. When she was finally done stretching all of her body and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes she turned the raven into a man, sighing audibly. ''What is it, Diaval?'' She asked. ''Like you don't know what day it is today. You need to hurry or we're going to miss the ceremony.'' The faery looked up in shock, realization hitting her hard. ''Oh no, I actually forgot.'' She whispered.
Quickly grabbing the duffel bag she'd prepared the night before, she pushed off against the soft, mossy ground, shooting into the sky. She almost forgot to turn Diaval back into a raven again, but after some of her magic he was flying right beside her. They hurried through the sky, the castle rapidly coming closer. Her superb sight could probably identify the woman on the balcony from miles away, but she didn't have to rely on her eyes to know it would be Aurora.
''Beastie, I am sorry for my delay.'' She said as she softly landed next to the queen. ''Oh Maleficent, I was afraid you weren't coming!'' The blonde exclaimed whilst hugging the faery. Maleficent couldn't help but push the girl away, as soft as she possibly could. ''Now, let me see your precious face.'' She said as she held the younger woman's face in her hands. Their eyes locked as they so often did, and both of the women started smiling. ''You look beautiful, Beastie.'' The faery almost whispered.
''Thank you, Maleficent.'' The young queen replied. Her azure eyes went over the faery's body a couple of times, taking in every inch of the woman's body. ''You-'' ''Aren't dressed properly?'' Maleficent quickly interjected. Aurora simply nodded, eyes still trained at the robes the faery had been sleeping in. ''I figured I could get dressed at the castle.'' She held the bag up, opened it and took out the dress she had cautiously folded. Its fabric flowed down, exposing soft silks in an emerald coloring. ''Can I come inside or should I just take off my robes here, for all men to see?'' She jokingly asked.
Once Maleficent was dressed, it was Aurora's time to get dressed. Isobel and the seamstresses came walking in the room and started right away. Maleficent sat quietly on a stool, looking at the girl she had cursed as a small babe getting dressed for the day every human girl seemed to dream of. It hurt her thinking of Aurora and Phillip, and for a reason she knew very well after so many years of knowing the girl, no woman, she got angry at the thought of them consummating the marriage later that day. She had felt jealousy, when Stefan had left her to chase after his silly dreams of becoming king of the humans. This feeling however, the anger and the hurt she could feel flowing stronger with every heartbeat, had come from a far greater love than the love she had felt for the man. Her every being screamed of love for Aurora, but the queens visions had been clear and her marriage to Phillip would be the work of Maleficent herself, as she had told Aurora to heed the advice her 'dreams' seemed to had given her.
Maleficent slowly walked through the gardens, and she had to admit they looked gorgeously. All the flowers and plants were in great condition, and their health had a positive effect on the faery. A smile lingered on her crimson lips, and she closed her eyes as she hummed contently. In a few minutes the wedding-ceremony was to take place, but for a couple of minutes she would not let herself get angry or jealous or a combination of the two.
She had walked quite far into the gardens, longing to be out of sight of the humans. The grounds were crowded with the subjects and servants of her beloved queen, as they all wanted to attend the royal wedding.
''The creature will stand no chance, not once you are king.''
The voice belonged to a man, too soft for another human being to hear. Maleficent however, could hear everything clearly. Curiosity got the better of her and she froze in her place, making sure she would not alert the father and son she could not yet see.
''Father, you underestimate the powers of this wretched beast. From what I've heard she has defended the Moors for a few decades, without fail.''
Maleficent gasped. That voice.. It was prince Phillip's voice. Green magic worked it's way through her body, flaring up her skin, boiling her blood in her veins. She remained perfectly still however, waiting for the father and son to regain their conversation.
''The beast will die. We will strike with two armies, once you've gained control over the army of Aurora we will attack the moors from two sides. The winged creature can't be at two places at the same time, now can she?''
''No she can't, and when my lovely wife 'accidentally' drops down dead after supper she will be heartbroken. Could you believe all the riches of the Moors will finally belong to us, father?''
Maleficent had heard enough, her normally golden eyes spat green fire. She could kill the two right now, and she would have done so if it wasn't for the peace between humans and fae folk. The humans would never believe her if she'd tell them what the two had been planning all along. She decided to leave the decision to Aurora, and with one flap of her wings she shot into the sky.
She landed on the balcony and slammed through the door. For a moment she couldn't even be angry anymore. There she was, the queen. She had just finished up preparing for her wedding. The navy blue of her corset faded into a softer blue, at the very end resulting in a blue as soft as the heavens at sunrise. The gown left Aurora's shoulders bare, her bosom pushed up by the corset. A lock of golden hair fell in ringlets over her exposed shoulders. The rest of her hair fell in the same ringlets over the naked flesh of her back, causing Maleficent to blush slightly.
Aurora's face lightened up at the sight of her favorite person, but she quickly noticed the look on the faery's face. It was one she hadn't seen often, and the last time she had seen it, it had meant the end of a king. ''Maleficent, what is the matter? You look upset.'' The woman sighed, closed her eyes for a brief moment and regained herself.
Maleficent told Aurora all she had heard in the gardens. Causing the queen to burst out in tears. She walked towards her in hopes of calming the blonde down, but before she reached her Aurora stopped crying. ''Isobel.'' She called for the handmaiden, who had been sporting a shocked look ever since Maleficent had started talking. ''Yes, Your Highness?'' She bowed. ''Would you so kind as to inform every person in the castle there will be no wedding?'' The girl nodded and scurried through the door.
''Oh Maleficent, what am I to do with Phillip and his father? Am I to take them hostage, should I kill them, should I let them go?'' She sighed, her temple in her hands. The faery took her hands from the queen's face, into her own. ''Aurora, you cannot act softly, not with this. If you don't show the world you can fend for your own, you can't expect them to believe you are the one to rule over them.'' The queen locked her eyes with Maleficent's now amber ones. ''Do you believe I am fit to rule this land, Maleficent?'' She asked with desperation flooding her face. ''I do, you have done well the past five years, and your subjects love you.''
Aurora looked slightly relieved. ''I will spare them, Phillip and his father.'' She finally said, much to Maleficent's surprise. ''I know, what they had planned was awful, and I will break all bonds with them, but I will not be the monarch my father was. I will not kill unless absolutely necessary.'' Maleficent wanted to tell her how she was putting herself at great risk by letting the men go. She knew however, Aurora needed to make her own decisions, and if this was what she wanted, Maleficent would support her. Aurora walked to the hall and instructed the guards to make sure prince Phillip and king Hubert were well outside the borders of her kingdom before returning to her bedchamber, locking the door from the inside.
''Now, since I'm not going to marry that idiot of a boy. I believe we have to start anew with the unraveling of my visions. Don't we?''
''Have you been having them often lately?''
''Only when I'm in the Moors with you.''
