Inside his room he checked the ingredients that had managed to gather so far. On the desk was the work of many years. To defeat someone like Maleficent, it was necessary a great power and everything had to be perfect. He had only one chance and couldn't fail, otherwise she would slays him with no mercy.

"I'm still missing many ingredients. Let's see..." he reread the list and saw that some ingredients were very rare and hard to find. One was a flower that only born every hundred years in a very far away mountain.

Another ingredient was a bottle of water from source of Nile River taken on the night of new moon during a rare alignment between some constellations. What the hell! He needed to travel to Egypt? There was no alternative. Without it, his work was lost.

The man gave an exasperated sigh, resigned to the situation.

"Well, the quicker I take these providences, the better." He checked an ancient mystical calendar and saw that the flower was going to bloom within a few days. So he'd better hurry or would never have another chance.

He conferred his savings and saw their gold coins were finishing. If economize much, maybe would last for four or five months. As much as it hurt to see his money leaving, he told himself that it was an investment for future. An infinitely greater wealth awaited him.

"You shouldn't walk barefoot." Maleficent said to Aurora who walked without a care.
"I like feel the grass under my feet. In the palace, I couldn't do it!"
"I don't see anything interesting in dirtying the feet."
"It's not dirt. Is grass! Wow, this tree is so beautiful!"

Aurora ran to the large central tree, which was surrounded with beautiful flowering shrubs, very green grass and some rocks filled with moss and bromeliads.

"This tree has about three hundred years."
"Really? A tree can live so long?"
"Some trees have more than four thousand years old."
"It's a long time! It was here when you built the castle?"
"It was a small tree, with half a meter."

Aurora walked around the tree contemplating its thick trunk and wide treetop which seemed to protect the whole garden. Suddenly, a sharp pain hit one of her bare feet.

"Ouch! What is it?" She sat down to examine the foot and saw that had stepped on a thorn. Maleficent knelt to examine her.
"I told to be careful, you foolish! There are many thorny plants in this garden."

The young woman made a pout to mask the pain.

"Let me see. Easy, it isn't a poisonous thorn." She grabbed her foot with one hand and with the other gently pulled the thorn. "Done. The thorn doesn't spiked deep. From here on, take more care. Some plants in this garden are poisonous."
"Why don't you sit down too? This grass is soft!"
"Do you want me to sit on the ground? What nonsense!"
"You're kneeling. What difference does it make?"

Maleficent made her traditional frown, hesitated for a while and finally sat down awkwardly. Her large cape doesn't make things any easier.

"It's very good, isn't it?"
"It's weird!" She said uncomfortably, because never was in such a low position before.

At least there was no one nearby to look. Aurora was sitting in front of her stroking the Oscar's head which was in her lap. The afternoon was ending and within half an hour was going to dark.

Aurora looked at her and smiled. Her cape was really big and was scattered around. A person could sleep on it easily. Still, it was a beautiful sight. Even though sitting on the ground, Maleficent's presence had power to fascinate and intimidate.

"Relax once in a while is good. You work hard!"
"I'm not used to relax." She spoke quietly, not wanting to admit that was loving being with Aurora without any concern.
"If you want, we can sit on the bench."
"Yes, I do. I sat on the grass too long."

She stood up, followed by Aurora and the two went to the bank below the two trees together, their favorite place. The princess went ahead following Oscar.

A young man was in the garden and saw Aurora running after that little dragon. So he decided to take advantage of what she was alone to go talk to her.

"Princess Aurora, good afternoon!"
"Uh... good afternoon Hans..."
"I don't want being indiscreet, but I'd like to invite you to... to..." he stopped talking and froze to see Maleficent coming behind her looking like she wanted to kill him. Damn, he hadn't seen the fairy was with her!
"What do you want with her?" The woman asked sharply.
"I... I... (gasp) just wanted to invite the princess for a ride and... and..."
"Get out of my face before I fry your ass, you bastard!"

The guy got out there running at full speed, leaving Aurora annoyed.

"You needn't have spoken to him like that, poor thing!"
"You didn't intend to accept his invitation, did you? I hope not!"
"And if I wanted to?" Aurora asked cheekily.
"I don't allow!"
"Why? It was just a ride!"

Maleficent didn't want to admit it, but she wasn't liking it one bit to see the men of the castle courting Aurora. When they was just looking, okay although she didn't like as well. The problem was that lately they were increasingly cheeky!

"I won't allow and the conversation is over!" She said turning back and before leaving, finished. "Remember you are my prisoner!"

She went away leaving Aurora without understanding anything. The ride was so good, why Maleficent blew it acting that way? What was wrong if she be interested in a man? Ah, of course. She was a prisoner and so couldn't have the same rights as other residents. Think so did her heart ache. After so many months living in the castle, it was the first time Maleficent reminded her she was a prisoner. Until then, she didn't feel like that anymore.

Without any more desire to continue the ride, she went to her room brooding over her sorrows. Her day was totally ruined.

"I don't believe I said that!" Maleficent spoke walking from one side to another. "She was very upset?"

Oscar nodded, making her feel worse. Damn, why should she care? She had told the truth! Besides, she would never accept the princess was interested in a man. If that happened, what was next? Marriage? Children? Only over her dead body! She was willing to allow Aurora to do anything, except get romantically involved with someone else.

What she didn't understand was why it bothered her. Just thinking about Aurora falling in love with someone, her heart ached and she didn't know how to handle it. On the other hand, also ached they have quarreled. It was time to fix things.

In her room, Aurora was venting with Emma about the incident which occurred that afternoon.

"Why did she do it? Why?"
"Well..." she thought, rehearsed some answers and finally didn't had the courage to speak her mind. Aurora hadn't been able to understand by herself, so touching that subject could be tricky. "I think she meant no harm."
"She said I'm a prisoner!"
"And you're not?"

Aurora gasped a little and answered upset.

"I am, but she doesn't treat me like that for several months! Why has it changed now? What's wrong with me interested in someone? Why does she care?"

Emma scratched her head. Right, that princess was still quite naive for some things. Fortunately, the sound of someone knocking on the door saved her. It was the milliner of the castle holding a beautiful green and black dress embroidered with some silver wires.

"Her Excellence sent you this gift." He said handing the dress.

Aurora took the dress and asked him to Maleficent thanked for her.

"Now I don't understand anything!"
"There's nothing to understand! It's her way of apologizing! Come on, try this dress! It's too beautiful!"

The dress fitted perfectly and Aurora agreed that he was really beautiful. The green tone was the same of Maleficent's magic and matched very well with black. The silver wires broke the seriousness of clothing.

Seeing that Aurora still seemed upset, Emma advised.

"Don't worry about it! You know how she can be hard to understand sometimes."
"Yes... I know."

Oscar entered the room and looked quite excited.

"What's up, my little baby?"
"I think he wants you to follow him."
"Now?" The dragon flew, showing that the matter was urgent. Aurora followed him and the two went up to the top of the castle, where were the watchtowers. Aurora had never gone up there before.

It was night and she saw someone else there. Maleficent turned and looked up and down showing visible delight in her eyes. Both were silent and neither found something to say. Finally, Aurora decided to do away with that unpleasant situation. After all, Maleficent was what she was. There was no alternative but to accept it.

"Thanks for the dress. It's beautiful!"
"You're welcome." She replied smiling and held out a hand showing the sky. "I wanted you to see it."

The princess was stunned to see the most beautiful starry sky she had seen before.

"It's incredible! How many stars! How I never noticed before?"
"Tonight is new moon, it becomes easier to see the stars. And I also ordered everyone turn their lights off so you could better see the sky."

In fact, all the lights were off not only the castle but also in all village. Maleficent had done everything for her?

"It's so beautiful! I don't know what to say! Thank you!"
"No need to thank. Just enjoy it."

They remained there for a long time, looking at the sky while Maleficent showed her the constellations. Aurora was gradually forgetting the incident that day. It was not worth getting upset about such trifles.

Maleficent was happy to see that the princess had forgotten that unpleasant incident. Still, she didn't intend to let her get involved with anyone.

"I'd better keep an eye on her from now on." She thought contemplating the beautiful face the young woman. "It has many assholes around her, I can't let them get too close!"