An: Still don't own anything. Please don't be mean Disney!
Chapter 14: …Gold Glows Their Happiness.
Maleficent stared at the young woman kneeling in front of her. "Well. I think that's the curse broken for sure."
Aurora grinned. "Let's go home." She stood up and offered her hand to the Faerie who took it and kept it in hers all the way to the Oak that was for both of them home.
Maleficent was rather taken aback at the expansion of her hammock. Certain spots on branches had been smoothed to make an easier passage to it for non-winged people. The hammock itself was far more accommodating and was lined with soft blankets. The roof was a thatch supported by the branches and intertwined with fragrant grasses and dried flowers that gave off the aroma of a meadow. There was a wide ledge where two could sit comfortably and look out over the Moors. It was open and could easily be flown onto. Small shelves had been dotted around random branches and from a particularly sturdy branch hung a swing, which Aurora promptly sat on in order to observe Maleficent's reaction, swinging idly back and forth as the Faerie took it all in. Maleficent disappeared into the Oak and found a gap through the foliage where she could look directly down onto the swing.
Aurora looked up at her. "What do you think?"
"I think I like it very much." She hesitated. "It is perfect…"
"…for two." Aurora finished her sentence for her.
"Yes." Maleficent's eyes gleamed and she disappeared from the gap to go sit on the ledge. Aurora ascended gracefully up to join her. They both stared out over the Moors.
"Will you stay with me then?" Maleficent asked nervously, reaching out to take Aurora's hand once more.
"Here? As you ask, yes." Aurora nodded. "Although my shieling is rather more suitable for work. But this is my home. I shall be glad to live here again. I never slept as well as I did here."
"Even with my nightmares?"
Aurora was surprised at the outright mention of them. "Diaval said you still get them."
"Yes." Maleficent sighed, her wings drooping slightly.
"They never bothered me." Aurora shrugged. "I was just concerned for you."
Maleficent shifted until she was sat on the edge of the ledge, her legs dangling. "I always hoped they would fade."
"Maybe they will, in time."
They sat there a little longer in silence, watching the sun descend towards the horizon. It was still spring and though the days were lengthening, the sunset still came early. Aurora's stomach rumbled conspicuously in the hush.
"Food!" she said abruptly, getting up in one swift movement. Maleficent rose more slowly, feeling the day's exertions. "You can stay here and rest if you like, I'll get us dinner." Aurora offered.
"I think I should bathe first." Maleficent frowned. A flight was still out of the question.
"Food first, then you can have a bath and then go right to sleep." Aurora slipped agilely down the steps. "Wait here." She turned and pointed her finger at the Faerie, who nodded, watching the Queen move off.
She tested the stairs herself, although her wings made such movements awkward and she had to climb down them as if they were a ladder. The swing was slightly easier to negotiate and she sat on it, hands folded in her lap, looking at the woods on the slope as they were lit up by the low sun. There were no clouds on the horizon and the sky had taken on a burnished quality, all the Moors seemed lit up with gold.
In her Oak, even as a child, she had felt like an observer of the Moors. She protected them but Aurora seemed to have become a part of them, even in her position as Queen, in a way that Maleficent felt she never could. She wondered briefly if that was why she had felt a fascination for Stephen. She'd felt more equal to that human boy. Her lips bared in a slight snarl at such a thought. And with Aurora? She'd pushed the position of authority onto her as much as the position of Protector had been thrust upon her at such a young age. She felt possibly Aurora had handled it better. But Aurora was still human. And she was still Fae. The two kingdoms worked side by side and together in times of necessity, but was there equality between the two? Could there be equality between her and Aurora? As Queen and Protector?
Aurora returned with food to find a rather melancholy Maleficent sat at the base of the Oak looking out. She didn't question the Faerie but merely handed her dinner and sat beside her, smiling inwardly that Maleficent preferred her old seat to the ledge.
The sun set as they chewed and it was in twilight that the two walked to the bathing pool.
"I still use it." Aurora confessed. "I couldn't go back to the Oak, not without you there, but the pool was a different matter."
"I don't mind." Maleficent was nonplussed at the admission.
"Come on. Let's get you clean."
Maleficent shed her clothes with as little modesty as she always had but kept to the shallow waters. Her wings hovered above her as she painstakingly washed herself. Aurora sat on the edge, watching unabashed, checking on the wounds of the battle Maleficent had fought.
"Any scars will fade." Maleficent was not unaware of her Beastie's observation.
Aurora laughed. "I'm not worried about that. I was making sure they'd all healed fully."
"The Lady's magic is strong." Maleficent immersed herself to wash off the soap before wading to the shore to dry off and dress once more. A lone sprite dried and brushed her hair but she left it loose. "And for the rest, my own magic will see to that." Maleficent smiled wryly at Aurora.
"Well, let's give your magic as much help as we can. Time to rest." Aurora yawned.
"For you also." Maleficent noted.
"Well I did ride to and from the castle today and it's not like I've been getting the best sleep."
Maleficent's expression darkened. "This winter has taken its toll on us all."
Aurora regarded her seriously. "Yes. But the scars will fade." She cupped Maleficent's cheek and kissed her before taking her hand and they walked through a remarkably hushed wood back to the Oak before curling up together in the enlarged hammock. Aurora pulled a blanket about their legs and a draped wing covered the rest of them both snugly.
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The sun had risen fully by the time they were wakened by sudden crashing sounds, one above them and one near them.
"There you are!" a shout came from the ledge where a now-transformed Diaval crouched.
"The whole Moors are in uproar!" Robin's face appeared over the side of the roof.
"Why? Whatever's happened?" Aurora bolted upright, shoving Maleficent's wing off of her, causing its owner to rustle it half-heartedly in protest.
"A slight case a Queen going missing. Not to mention a recovering Protector." Diaval crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow disapprovingly.
"I didn't go missing. I was right here with Maleficent."
"Could ye not inform someone next time, before ye decide to jaunt off?" Robin flew down to land beside Diaval.
"I didn't jaunt off!" Aurora glowered at them.
"Nor did I." Maleficent joined in sleepily.
"Ye weren't at the shieling."
"Well, the sprites had finished repairing our home, why would we be?" Aurora shrugged.
"A note next time? Something? Everyone's still…" Diaval trailed off.
"The Snow Queen's still on everyone's mind. We thought mebbe she'd come here."
Aurora had the grace to look shamefaced. "Sorry Robin, I didn't…"
"Well at least we know to look for ye here now." Robin snorted. "And how is the big Beastie doing?" he gestured to the still recumbent Faerie. Aurora glanced down.
"At least they didn't wave sticks and yell Hiiyahh." Maleficent muttered, making Aurora snort with laughter.
"I think she's doing fine."
Diaval looked around the Oak. "Sprites did a good job." He nodded.
Aurora led back down next to Maleficent. "Mally? Are you alright to get up?" An eye fixed her with a baleful stare which faced an unrepentant grin in return.
"Well we'll leave you two to it and go call off the search parties." Diaval had more than enough experience of Maleficent in the morning and had seen that certain puffing out of feathers before. It didn't usually bode well. He made a look at Robin and they both flew off.
Aurora boldly stroked Maleficent's feathers to soothe them back down and the Faerie allowed the gesture.
"I have to get up now, particularly if there was a furore over us disappearing but stay here and rest if you feel like it." She kissed Maleficent on the cheek and scrambled down the Oak.
The Faerie stayed curled up in the hammock, listening to a small wind playing in the leaves. A part of her did indeed feel like staying but she felt well enough and there were things she had to check and things she wanted to do and none of them would be achieved from a bed. She stood on the ledge and stretched her wings to their impressive span. For the first time she felt nervous as she prepared herself for flight but with a deep breath she gathered herself and leapt, gliding rather than flying downwards. She flapped, once, twice to test her capacity and then flew confidently towards the Lady's cave.
"The Lady there sends you thanks." She said as Maleficent landed at the opening, before even a word of greeting had been spoken.
"She is thawed." Maleficent recalled Diaval saying.
"Aye, along with my pool and all the others' as well. You have our gratitude, Maleficent. What you did was a brave thing and what you nigh on gave up was the highest cost of all." Maleficent was silent. "I'm talking of course about the Queen." The Lady continued, just to dispel any doubt. She matched Maleficent's stare. "There's food, if you need it." She gestured to a bowl of black nuts and blackberries mixed in with sweet leaf.
Maleficent sat by the pool and delicately broke her fast. "Do you think the Snow Queen will return?"
"She'll certainly be angered by her defeat. But I doubt she'll be in a position to come back soon. We guard ourselves so well from all and everything except our own selves. To be struck by your own power, your own curse, that takes some recovering from." The Lady said pointedly.
"Hm."
"And what we take into our own selves."
"Is this about Aurora as well?" Maleficent interrupted, irked.
"To be sure, no!" The Lady mocked affront. "But do the Lady a favour and tell her what was in your heart when you fought the Snow Queen?"
She watched the Faerie's retreating back. "Well, I suppose we all knew the answer to that didn't we…" she muttered to her pool and there was a whisper of an affirmation.
Maleficent took flight, revelling as she felt stronger, particularly after food, trusting her wings once more. What the Lady had said had rattled her. She wondered if Aurora had finished with her duties and belatedly realised the Queen would have no idea where she'd gone. Perhaps Diaval and Robin had a point about notes after all. She flew to the shieling. Aurora had mentioned it was more suited for official purposes so possibly she had gone there.
When Maleficent arrived there was no sign of anyone except Robin, sitting outside.
"Is Aurora here?"
"D'ye think there is anything that could quite cure you of flyin' off without explanation?" Robin sighed. Maleficent frowned at him. "Oh aye, I'm still just a wee bittie mad at ye. Tends to peeve people somewhat, flyin' off with nay a goodbye or explanation. I was jus' wonderin' what it'd take for ye to learn that lesson? Seein' as all the upset and hurt ye've caused so far from it doesn't seem to get it through. Not that I should really expect ye to learn it, not after all this time and ye still haven't."
Maleficent breathed in deeply. "I did not fly off, back then. I could not fly off. I did not have wings to fly off." Robin softened slightly. "Back then, I…did not wish to hurt you. I had betrayed you. I thought you would be ashamed of me."
"I'm sure I could've handled it. Explainin' isn't a strong point with you either is it."
Maleficent sighed. "Would an apology make anything better?"
"Nay lass. But it couldn't hurt either."
"Then I am sorry Robin. You have cared for me since I was young and I should've trusted you more. I have been foolish, for quite a long time. Ever since Stephen."
Robin hissed at the name. "One human. Disnae mean ye shouldn't trust any of 'em. Did I not raise ye right? Was there something I said or didn say that ye parents might've?"
"You said not to trust humans but that my parents did trust humans. I wanted to be like them but at the same time…they were betrayed. I thought that it was a case of choosing sides."
"Aye. And it was, maybe, back then. But it's not now. Peace between the kingdoms, a human on a Faerie throne. Maybe it's time to do a lil trustin' all round. She's more'n earned it. Earned my trust for sure."
"You would approve?"
Robin nearly choked. "That's what ye are looking for? My approval of a union?" he almost laughed but caught Maleficent's expression just in time. "Aye lass. That one? Aurora? Aye. If that is where ye heart has tended and if she's still of a mind and heart to return it, then with a will, Beastie. With a will. No matter what may come of it, a union betwixt Fae and mortal, with a will. Sides, that's a long time in the future." He snorted. "G'wan then. Away wi' ye. Go find yon wee Beastie."
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Maleficent found Aurora talking to the Border Guards.
"If she returns, it will probably be through the Portal but keep an eye out for any disturbances at the borders just in case." She was telling them.
"Aurora?"
The Queen nodded to the Border Guards and walked over to Maleficent. "I called a Conclave; the news of your recovery is a cause for celebration. I also talked to the Giant, it's promised to send a faerie if there are any disturbances there and I've…"
"Got everything in order it seems." Maleficent was highly impressed.
Aurora smiled. "Well, I am Queen. What Diaval and Robin said, about fears of her coming back, it's best to take precautions. Shall we walk back to the Drachkarach stone?" she set off in that direction and Maleficent followed. Faeries fluttered around them both, squeaking jubilantly. They darted back and forth, bringing nectar for Maleficent or a precious stone or pretty flower for her to inspect before returning it home.
"Do they do this for you also?" Maleficent asked, amused by the attention.
"To a lesser extent." Aurora admitted. "They like to have their work appreciated, so it is somewhat a daily ritual. I think however this is in appreciation of your victory and recovery. They do love you, you know." She took Maleficent's hand and squeezed, knowing that Maleficent had not yet entirely rid herself of the guilt of having darkened the Moors. The flowers blossomed around their feet as they walked together hand in hand. After the slight inundation of gifts had died down, Aurora broke the silence.
"You know it is my birthday soon?"
Maleficent nodded. She could not forget the day Diaval had winged to her and told her of the birth.
Aurora fidgeted slightly. "Phillip has invited me to the castle. For a celebration. The same as last year."
"I see." Maleficent kept her tone neutral.
"Would you come with me?" The Faerie turned to stare at Aurora, halting their progress. "I missed you last time. It was lonely. Would you come?"
"I…am not sure that is wisest."
"You used to come to the monthly meetings!" Aurora protested. "And there was the coronation celebration. What's so different about this?"
"I have been away a long time. And with the Snow Queen, I might not be welcome. They might…" she trailed off.
"They know, and Phillip certainly knows, that you almost gave your life defeating the Snow Queen."
"Are they not wary of the Fair Folk? After such an incident?"
"The Fair Folk helped protect the kingdom! You…you've been away. You don't know." Aurora sighed.
"Know what?"
"The trust there is now. Between the Moors and the human Kingdom. I mean, we're not exactly allowing humans to roam around the Moors nor do the Fair Folk exactly venture into the human Kingdom, at least not far beyond the borderlands and farmlands but…they do trust each other. More than they did. Far more."
Maleficent stared at Aurora in awe. "You have done so much. So much I could never do…nor my parents."
"You made it possible."
"How so?" Maleficent snorted disbelievingly.
"Well, if you hadn't cursed me, the two kingdoms might have continued to war with each other forever. I might have gone to war with you."
"I highly doubt that. But true, I was the great villain…"
"And now you are the great hero, defending human and Fae from harm. They see you as much a protector of the human Kingdom as much as you are the Protector of the Moors. And you taught me how to be Queen, showed me the Moors as a child, you didn't have to. Why did you anyway?"
"I wondered what you would do, if shown the Moors. You always seemed so fascinated with them. I suppose I wondered if you would seek to steal from them or whether you would be content to just see them."
"You never answered me properly by the way. What you were so afraid of. When we were going to the castle."
Maleficent turned to a broken branch she had spotted and healed it, stalling her reply.
"That love would make me weak. I needed to be strong. I have always needed to be strong."
"That's why you left without telling me. In order to protect the Moors? You've been Protector a long time, right?"
Maleficent took Aurora's hand again and they continued walking.
"Since my parent's death, technically. Although it was a few years before I could truly take on the role."
"I asked you once whether you trusted me. You trust me with the Moors, that I will protect them."
"And you have proven yourself most worthy of that trust."
"Is it more that you don't trust yourself?"
"I feared I had lost you, you know. I had loved once and lost my wings but this time I was afraid I had lost you. That was the price I had to pay, for being Protector."
"But that's silly." Aurora frowned. "You can be Protector and not lose me at all."
"Can I? You make me weak, dear heart. That is the power you have. Would I put you before the Moors? In the past, oh I don't know. Sometimes it felt like the Moors chained me, the memory of my parents, the wars. When I met Stephen there was a sense of freedom. Breaking free from it. A new peace even. My relations with humanity have always been defined by the Moors and the past. But now there is peace. Peace between the kingdoms. But I do not wish to endanger the Moors because of my love again."
"Do you still feel chained?"
"No. Do you?"
"Being Queen is hard work and the past year, with the Snow Queen, it has not been easy, without you. Listen, the Moors and you are inseparable. I understand that you would do anything for them."
"I would do anything for you."
Aurora's heart squeezed and tears came to her eyes. "Is that because I am now part of the Moors?"
"No. I fought through iron for you, when you had already returned to the human kingdom. I would do anything for you." Maleficent repeated.
"So come with me then. To the castle. For my birthday. As my partner." Aurora kissed her.
Maleficent sighed. "For you. And as an expression of trust between the two realms."
Aurora smiled wryly. "I suppose in our roles as Queen and Protector, every action is representative of the Moors."
"Hmm." Maleficent agreed and they walked on.
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Maleficent woke from a strangely peaceful sleep to find Aurora gone. It was already mid-morning and she sighed. Another week and she was still sleeping more than usual. But her strength was nearly fully returned and just as well. Aurora's party at the castle was tonight. She got up and moved to the ledge, finding a note pinned there. Aurora had liked Diaval's suggestion of notes and had taken to leaving them.
*The Border Guards wish to meet with you to discuss a barrier spell and a call spell for tonight. Just in case of emergencies. I'll see you at the Drachkarach stone for lunch. A.*
The handwriting had impressed Maleficent at first and Aurora told her about learning and reading from the castle library. It made Maleficent faintly jealous. She could write of course but the Fair Folk were long lived enough that a tradition of spoken tales, passed down, was preferred. There were not many buildings in the Moors to house books either, shielings and nests were things to be built or rebuilt as required. She debated procuring some books for Aurora, so that she would not have to wait a month for new knowledge. There was still residual anxiety that Aurora would return to the Human world. But Maleficent had a birthday gift idea for Aurora that she thought might abate that fear.
Until the evening and the morrow, the party being on the eve before Aurora's birthday, there was work to do and she flew off to the border to set up a temporary barrier, made mostly of woven strands of magic. It would hold out all the most determined and would also alert the Border Guards to a disturbance by firing up a bolt of light into the air.
The call spell was trickier due to the fact she would be absent from the Moors, so she summoned Diaval and Brynna, requesting that they answer a summons by the Border Guards and fly to her at the castle. They acquiesced easily enough for with both Maleficent and Aurora in the Moors, tasks on them were rare. Their eggs were to be left in the care of Robin and some of the softer thistle sprites and dandelion faeries who were busy already conjuring up soft flowers as bedding and warmth.
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A farmer was waiting at the border with two horses for them. Maleficent had paid for the use of them in a blessing on his cattle and a soothing spell for his back. Aurora watched Maleficent tuck her wings in close and mount the dark horse from her seat above the chestnut. The farmer waved them off fondly before walking back to his farm with a spring his step, his back not half so troublesome now, looking forward to some good work out in the fields tomorrow with his daughters.
Maleficent was silent as they rode on at a leisurely pace, seemingly calm but Aurora knew better. Her wings fluttered and occasionally she would toss her head, causing her horse to do the same, amusing Aurora no end at the resemblance of the action. With a smile and a hiyaahh, she urged her horse into a canter. Maleficent was startled but her eyes gleamed as she followed, keeping her wings tucked in tight in a streamline position. She soon caught Aurora who turned for a second and flashed a grin and they cantered on for a while until they reached the road that would take them to the castle. Maleficent took a deep breath after she reined her horse in; the adrenalin of the ride had left her elated and bolstered her confidence, Aurora's aim entirely she realised.
At a more sedate pace they finished the journey towards the castle. There was a fanfare from the battlements as they passed under them, no gate coming clanging down behind them. The noise and amount of people there surprised Maleficent as she dismounted and stood imperiously to hide her discomfort.
"Queen Aurora of the Moors and Maleficent, Protector of the Moors!" a herald called out, the cry reverberating round the courtyard. The whole crowd turned to notice them but parted as Phillip, with a contingent, came to greet them.
"Queen Aurora! Birthday greetings to you. We hope you shall enjoy this party we have thrown in honour of you and your kingdom." King Phillip bowed.
"Thank you King Phillip. I am sure I shall." Aurora replied gracefully, bowing in return. Maleficent raised an eyebrow at such formality.
"And Protector, it is good to have you here again." Phillip turned towards her and bowed also. An imperceptible nod from Aurora and she bowed in return. There was a round of applause, with some cheers and gasps intermingled. The farmers and the courts had seen her before but her presence and welcome was still a shock to the assembled nobility, some of whom still remembered her cursing Aurora. "I hear it is thanks to you that we have not all died of exposure and cold this past winter." Phillip went on to say. "I speak for my entire Kingdom, when I say thank you." This caused more muttering among the assembly.
"You…are welcome."
"The Protector is still recovering from the battle." Aurora stepped in to help her.
"Ah. Then may I wish you a speedy return to full health. I look forward to your renewed visits here with the Queen." Phillip bowed again and then led them indoors. Maleficent glared about her in return to the stares and whispers, but Aurora took her hand and squeezed it to reassure her. Maleficent shifted to take Aurora's arm and they walked in to renewed and louder mutters.
"They are wondering why we are so cordial." Maleficent hissed as they were shown to a room to freshen up and change into robes.
"Well last time some of them saw you, you did curse me. That sort of thing tends to leave an impression." Aurora grinned at her as she pulled on a more suitable dress. Maleficent was refusing to change out of her robes.
"I thought you said all the kingdom knew of my battle." Maleficent glowered.
"They do. But there's a difference between hearing something and seeing the evidence before your very eyes."
Maleficent snorted and left to find the main room of the party. Phillip came and joined her standing at the edge of the room.
"Rather different than the revelry ey?" he handed her a glass of some berry juice. "Thought you'd prefer this to wine. The berries were a gift from one of the Fair Folk."
Maleficent nodded her thanks, silently grateful for the attentiveness of the King. They both turned as Aurora entered the room, immediately surrounded by people.
"She asked the Fair Folk to protect this kingdom as well as the Moors during the winter. T'was only thanks to that we didn't suffer as much as we could have. The farm folk, of course, have no qualms but for the more town orientated, it was a change indeed, to see wingéd creatures fluttering about the castle and the towns. But it has gone a long way to mending the relations between here and there. The Council are much more supportive of a "No Action Against The Moors" way of ruling now."
"I'm glad it could help so." Maleficent couldn't quite keep all the tartness from her voice.
Phillip coughed. "I know it was difficult for you. Aurora was beside herself with worry. You were gone for nigh on a year. She wasn't sure if you were even alive but she kept going."
"I hear you helped a lot in that. She learned much here whilst I was away." Phillip stared half amazed at the faerie beside him that even now still towered above him and who was even more intimidating with her wings. "Thank you." She sniffed. "It is good to know she was not alone during my absence. That she is close to someone."
Phillip snorted with laughter that was a little tinged with regret. "Are you jealous?"
It was Maleficent's turn to snort but she did not deny it. Phillip smiled and sipped his wine.
"Need I remind you whose kiss broke the curse?" he said after a while.
"Hmph."
"Will there be another party soon?" he asked, taking another sip, gesturing about the room with his glass. "I'd like to be invited to that too, if at all possible."
"A party for what?" Maleficent's brow furrowed in confusion.
Phillip merely grinned in return and raised his glass in a toast. "To the happy couple."
Maleficent's eyes widened and she downed her juice in one and stalked off to find Aurora. Phillip smiled with gentle disappointment into his glass. It was true that the Council had been excited about a possible union but Phillip could take a hint and a True Love's Kiss was a little more than that. True, friendship was not quite the relationship between the two monarchs that he'd hoped for but possibly it was better for a more lasting peace that the two kingdoms remain separate. Besides, Aurora had always been quite clear that her heart belonged in the Moors and not just on account of a certain faerie either. His ears pricked at a certain conversation near him.
"Don't know what she's doing here with the Queen."
"They can't possibly be together."
"Of course not! I heard rumours that Phillip will propose tonight."
"She is the Protector of the Moors after all, I suppose it is right she should be here with the Queen."
"Well, where was she this winter then ey? No sign of her with the Queen then!"
"Fighting some great fairy evil apparently."
"Takes one to know one."
"Perhaps instead of cursing her, she has now enchanted her."
Maleficent too was overhearing these types of rumours and gossip and had retreated from the room to fly up to a battlement. There was a half-moon in the sky by now and she looked towards the Moors. Her heart belonged to Aurora and the Moors and her heart was easier knowing the two were joined. She didn't believe Phillip would propose, not after their conversation but it hurt her to think that most believed her to have enchanted Aurora.
She snorted. "If anything, more the other way around." She said aloud. She sighed and spread her wings wide to catch the breeze, feeling it soothe her ruffled feathers.
"Why is it, every time I have a party, I always end up looking for Maleficent. It may be that she's just not the party type but it would be nice, for once, to not have to search for my dance partner. I never know whether I'm missing a good tune. Oh well, I'm sure I'll find Maleficent soon. Maybe when I do, we can have a dance right here on the battlements under the moon."
"I can hear you, you know. Well rhymed." Maleficent rolled her eyes as she heard Aurora behind her. The Queen came and joined her, grinning.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Are we going to dance?"
Maleficent took the offered hand and pulled Aurora towards her.
"No music." Aurora lamented.
Maleficent grinned, her fang revealing grin that Aurora had quite missed and with a gesture conjured some faerie music out of the air, spinning Aurora round as she did so.
"So. Not that dancing out here isn't beautiful but how come you flew off to the battlements? Too many people?" Aurora asked, once they had settled from a more spritely prance to a more sedate swaying dance.
"The Council are not happy that we are here as partners. They think I have enchanted you."
"Well that's true." Aurora grinned. "Music, moonlight. Very romantic, I will admit."
"I meant magically!" Maleficent was annoyed that Aurora was not taking this seriously. "They still do not trust the Fair Folk. Well…me."
"I don't care. We'll show them that it's not true."
Maleficent's hands escaped and reached up to caress Aurora's cheeks, halting her for a second.
"Beastie…" she began.
"My heart is in the Moors, with you and always has been and I don't care." Aurora interrupted sternly. "I don't care what people will say. They're stupid. Stupid, you hear me?"
Maleficent tugged Aurora further into her embrace and kissed her hair.
"Take me home."
"Should we not inform Phillip?"
"I already told him I'd leave once I found you. Most of the guests are too sozzled to even care. Take me home."
Maleficent did not even feign misunderstanding and gathered Aurora to her before flying back to the Oak.
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Aurora was woken from a pleasant dream of dancing with Maleficent to a real Maleficent shaking and grunting. *a nightmare…and a bad one. Brought on by visiting the castle no doubt. Damn that Council.* Aurora frowned as she soothed Maleficent, stroking her hair and kissing her horns when she stilled. Trying to wake her was futile.
"I am here, remember? The one who returned your wings to you, the one who loves you, who waited. The one who dances with you beneath the moonlight and kisses you." She whispered as she leaned over to kiss Maleficent on her lips.
She settled back to find opal eyes upon her, damp and intense with emotion.
"I can hear you, you know." She whispered, saying the words for a second time.
"Huh?"
"In my nightmares, I can hear you. I never told you that."
"Hm." Aurora smiled and drew the faerie towards her. "I can feel your presence, you know, ever since I was a baby. I never told you that."
"You did. You said you could feel my shadow following you." Maleficent pointed out.
"Oh! Oh yes." Aurora remembered belatedly.
Maleficent laughed. "Sleep some more Beastie, your kingdom celebrates your birthday in a short while." She snuggled back up to Aurora and drifted off as Aurora stroked her hair, the action soothing her back to sleep as well.
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Maleficent seemed uncomfortable in large crowds full stop, Aurora observed as they stood in front of the throne at the Drachkarach stone. There was a heap of gifts, small jewels, first flowers, sweet nectar but most of the celebration came from the unearthly music of the Fair Folk. Maleficent had told her that as Queen she would no longer be enchanted away by it but it was still the most beautiful music she'd ever heard and brought tears to her eyes.
Not that Aurora needed reminding of the nature of the Fair Folk after a year of being Queen but the actions and beguiling dances and gestures of the faeries were confirmation of a slightly darker and more mischievous nature to the Moors. Even Maleficent joined in with the turning circle, jumping into its centre at her turn and sending the faeries scattering as she lunged out, spreading her wings and flying upward in a spiral before joining them in the circle once more.
As the celebrations wore down into a more general Fae celebration, mainly involving Spring and its glories, a more serene tune started on the air and Aurora found herself with a kneeling Faerie before her.
"May I have this dance? Beneath the moonlight?" Maleficent grinned, her fangs sparkling. Aurora bounded down from the throne into her Faerie's arms, a little drunk from the nectar and the music. Maleficent steadied her and, holding her tight, lifted them up in the air to dance. The Fair Folk laughed excitedly and danced beneath them or flew around them in spirals of light and laughter.
"I have a gift for you, on this your birthday, if you accept it." Maleficent whispered in her ear as they floated.
"What is it?" Aurora asked.
"Diaval is now a changeling true. I can bestow the same on you, if you wish. Make you Fae. You could stay here forever then, with me. Well, for as long as we live."
Aurora shifted back to look Maleficent in the eye. "I'm already staying here forever. Well, for as long as I live."
Maleficent frowned and they drifted towards the ground.
"No! Don't do that. Don't…I'm not…it's sudden Mally. It's sudden. Diaval had a long time to decide and in the end with his friendships and his life it was probably the only way for him to be happy but I can be happy with you as a human and…" she trailed off, staring beseechingly at Maleficent to understand. "In time." She said finally. "Not now."
Maleficent nodded slowly. "Alright."
"I'm still staying here forever." Aurora said hastily, making Maleficent grin.
"I know Beastie. I know." She pulled Aurora close again. "Take one of my feathers."
"What?"
"Pluck a feather, it won't hurt. Preferably one of the down ones."
Aurora gazed quizzically but plucked a small down feather from close to the wing joint. Maleficent shifted to hold Aurora in one arm, the Queen resting her head against her shoulder to watch as Maleficent twirled the feather in a golden light, nipping off the end as one would a quill and passing a sturdy thread through a hole she bored into it. She placed it around Aurora's neck and Aurora held it as the glow suffused the feather and then died away.
"This is a call. Blow through the feather and I shall hear wherever I am, and shall come to be by your side." Maleficent explained as they drifted towards the ground again, the Fair Folk having retreated at the strong magic being cast.
Once on the ground, Aurora tucked the call inside her tunic. She hesitated then pulled a small piccolo-like whistle from her pocket. It had three holes but made a pretty sound.
"Robin whittled this for me for my birthday last year. Will you make it a call for you? So that whenever you blow it, I hear it and will be guided to your side?" she asked.
Maleficent closed Aurora's hand around the whistle, covering it with her own and worked the golden glow of her magic.
"There. Now we can both be at each other's beck and call." The Faerie tried to pun.
Aurora laughed and kissed her, tasting the berry wine Maleficent had been drinking. The Fair Folk returned and danced around them in joy at such passion between the two of them, giggling as the kiss deepened and flying off to hide in the bushes and trees.
Maleficent stopped suddenly, breathless. "Aurora…"
A groan was her reply and Aurora's hand reached up to tug on Maleficent's horns to entice the Faerie to return.
"Aurora." Maleficent shook her head to free herself and the young woman opened her eyes.
"Yes?" she asked, trailing her finger tips down over Maleficent's more pointed ears to her cheekbones and her neck.
"I…Aurora…" Maleficent was doing her best to be coherent but was distracted where exactly her Beastie's fingers were heading. She grasped them as they idly caressed down the edge of her breasts. "It's going to be very hard to say this if you keep doing that."
"What is quite so important that it needs saying at a moment like this?" Aurora asked, a little put out. Maleficent blinked and shook her head before kissing Aurora. Aurora felt sure this was the first time Maleficent had acutally kissed her instead of it being the other way round, on the lips at any rate. She particularly liked the hands stroked up and down her back. Her own hands had drifted to Maleficent's waist, holding the Faerie to her.
Aurora put her forehead to Maleficent's when they paused, noses touching.
"I love you, Mally, my Maleficent." Aurora smiled softly.
Maleficent was sure she'd smiled more times in the past week than she had in all her life.
"I love you Aurora, my Queen, my Beastie."
They were both startled as all of a sudden a golden glow spread out from Maleficent's heart, enveloping them both. Aurora gasped in surprise, laughing at the tingling sensation on her skin, leaning her head back to see to the very edge of the aura as it spread out around them. Maleficent kissed her cheek tenderly.
"Beastie…" she sing-songed.
"What is it?" Aurora asked breathlessly. Maleficent placed their hands palm to palm in the air and kissed Aurora on the nose.
"Happiness." She replied, causing Aurora to smile the biggest smile she'd yet to see on the young woman.
"I am happy too." Aurora replied, kissing Maleficent's left clavicle. Maleficent brushed her head gently against Aurora's and with a grin Aurora returned her lips to Maleficent's.
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Diaval had left the party to check on Brynna and was winging his way back to say goodnight when he spotted Maleficent's wings, fluttering and rising. He landed in a tree by the Drachkarach stone before realising what precisely was going on and shifted into a human in shock before promptly falling out the tree. He managed to turn to a raven again before he hit the ground and thumped painfully as he tried to gain altitude again.
The Fair Folk who had been hiding laughed and Maleficent scrambled up as she realised they had an audience.
"LEAVE THIS PLACE!" she roared and they all fled. Aurora laughed on the grass at her fierce Faerie, half undressed yet still so commanding. The Protector and Warrior of the Moors and she was hers and she laughed and laughed and laughed until Maleficent, highly confused by such mirth, silenced her with a kiss.
An: I took inspiration from the Fairy Dance scene in Peter Pan, seeing as James Newton Howard did the music for that too and the two soundtracks have been my writing music for this. ^^