Chapter 37
One morning a few weeks later, Maleficent was startled awake by the small life inside her darting around energetically, and she let out a soft groan. Reaching over, the horned woman shook Diaval awake, causing the former raven to grunt and blink rapidly to clear the sleep from his eyes.
"Mm…Maleficent? What's wrong?"
"I do believe our child is ready to meet the world."
The man's eyes widened and he helped her get more comfortable in their nest before flying off to find the Pixie sisters. Shifting just a bit, she sat up a bit straighter and closed her eyes as she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. It wasn't long before Diaval and the Pixies arrived at the nest, Flittle going about examining the fairy Queen. The commotion attracted the attention of many of the creatures that lived within the Moors, and it wasn't long before Maleficent's parents found their way to the tree as well. The horned fairy found herself surrounded by fluttering flower fairies, and other flying creatures, even the border guards coming to keep watch.
"I appreciate all the concern...but if all of you don't leave me be, I SWEAR I'll curse every single one of you!"
All the Moor's creatures that had been hovering around her immediately vacated the area, fearful of the fairy Queen's wrath. Letting out a sigh, and moving to make herself more comfortable, the only one that dared venture up to the nest was Diaval.
"I hope you're not planning on cursing /me/."
"Of course not, birdie."
Leaning forward, the man pressed a kiss to her forehead, gaining a small smile in return. After a couple hours, she sat bolt upright and let out a slight gasp, causing Flittle to fly up to check on her. Rolling her eyes, Maleficent's mother gently shooed the little pixie away and took over, smiling at her daughter.
"It shouldn't be long..."
"Wonderful."
"You don't sound too happy, my dear."
"It's not...I just...ugh..."
A soft chuckle escaped the other female fairy, and she laid a loving hand on the horned woman's knee.
"Not something you planned, I take it?"
"No. Not planned at all."
"Mm...well, your father and I didn't exactly /plan/ to have you, either, you know. Even if you don't /want/ this child, the moment you lay eyes on it, that will change."
"It's not that I don't...I /cursed/ an innocent baby, remember? What makes you think I'm going to make a good mother?"
Diaval reached out and took her hand, squeezing gently, laying his other on her stomach, feeling the life there darting around. Lifting an eyebrow, his mate turned her eyes to him and cocked her head a bit.
"You practically raised Aurora, don't forget. She wouldn't have lasted a month in the care of the pixies alone."
A soft laugh escaped Maleficent at his words, nodding slightly in agreement before letting out a pained groan and flopping back in the nest, eyes screwed shut. Lilly's face went serious and she moved to check her daughter again, grinning when she saw it was indeed time for the baby to be born.
"This is it, Maleficent."
"Thank the gods..."
Over the next couple of hours, the pained screams of the fairy Queen could be heard throughout the Moors, the sound causing the feather's on Diaval's wings to stand on end. Finally, she flexed her wings a bit, curling them up and with one more powerful push, the cries of a baby could be heard instead. Exhausted, the horned fairy fell back against the soft mossy surface of the nest, trying to get her breathing pattern back into normal limits as her mother cleaned and wrapped the baby in some cloth handed to her by Flittle. Handing the baby boy to Diaval, Lilly excused herself from the nest to give the new parents some privacy.
"Oh...Maleficent...look..."
Managing to sit up a bit, the moment her eyes locked on the boy in her mate's arms, she felt her heart do a flip. A smile wound onto her lips as the former raven laid their son in her arms, kissing her forehead.
"What should we name him?"
"Raegan."
Cocking his head for a moment, Diaval smiled and nodded, indicating his approval of the name. It wasn't long before Maleficent found her energy had returned, and she insisted on taking the baby to the cottage so Aurora and Phillip could see him as well. The young couple congratulated the pair energetically, each taking a turn holding the Moors' new prince.
"Oh Diaval...he looks just like you! He definately has godmother's eyes though."
A little grin curled the little baby's lips and he reached out, bright green eyes taking in everything around him. Once he was handed back to Maleficent, he let out a contented sound and yawned widely before closing his eyes and falling asleep. Feeling something moving about under the small cloth, the horned fairy adjusted it slightly and chuckled when a pair of tiny brown wings emerged from hiding. Instinctively, the little wings folded against Raegan's back as he slept, causing Aurora to stare.
"Wow...he already has wings..."
"Yes. Most fairies are born with them, but some are an exception and their wings don't emerge until later on into their childhood."
"Did you have wings when you were born?"
"I did. Mine were actually a bit too large for me until I was about twelve. I tripped over them all the time."
The four shared a quiet laugh, none wanting to wake the new addition to the Moors. After visiting for a while, the horned woman and her mate made their way back towards their nest for the night, with the woman fashioning a smaller nest within the large one for her son. Snuggling close to Diaval's side, she yawned and closed her eyes, letting the man hold her close as she succumb to the arms of sleep. After a few days, the fairy was back to her usual self, and for the first time in months, she took to the sky while Diaval watched their son. The sight that greeted her made her heart fall out of her feet, and caused her feather's to bristle in anger at the same time. Aurora's castle was in ruin, most of the village burned to the ground, the residents having set up temporary tents and such close to the Moors.
"I have to do something..."
Knowing that Diaval would have a hissy fit, she opened a path in the thorn wall and emerged, slowly making her way through the tents. The people there all looked up at her and stood, watching her closely.
"Lady Maleficent..."
Turning, her green eyes locked on the familiar form of the maid who she'd helped with laundry in the snow a couple years earlier.
"Martha! What happened..."
"That horrible man who took over the castle...he kicked all of us out, burnt the village, nearly destroyed the entire castle!"
Wisps of green surrounded the fairy for a moment before she calmed herself, and moved further into the small group of tents. Martha watched curiously as she approached a young girl who was sitting alone, clutching a torn and ragged doll. Kneeling down, she smiled and addressed the little girl with a gentle, soothing tone of voice.
"What's your name?"
"Sally..."
"Sally? That's a pretty name. Who's your friend here?"
"Her name is Jenny."
"Jenny huh? Looks like Jenny could use a little fixing, doesn't it?"
Sally nodded, and Maleficent extended her hand, whispering a soft 'may I' before the little girl hesitantly placed her doll in the offered hand. The horned fairy took said doll and let some blue magic flow from her fingers, watching as the tears mended themselves, leaving the doll looking brand new.
"There we go. All better."
Taking her doll back, Sally suddenly launched herself forward and wrapped the tall woman in a hug. Immediately, the hug was returned, and Maleficent stood up, turning to the others.
"You all are welcome in the Moors until we get this man sorted out and get your homes re-built."
"We couldn't impose, my lady..."
"Nonsense. Come with me, and we'll find you all somewhere to stay."
It was hours before the fairy had fashioned make-shift homes for the humans out of what the Moors had to offer, most being made from vines and branches, a few stones, and leaves. Aurora, Phillip and Diaval found her just as she finished, and was walking back towards the nest. When her eyes landed on her goddaughter, she sighed, knowing she was going to have to give the perky blond the bad news.
AN: Chapter 37 is here, and brings with it a new prince for the Moors! It also brought some sadness and desperation for the citizens of Aurora's kingdom. Please, continue reading and enjoying this story! Yes, Raegan is a boy's name, and it is Celtic for "little king". I thought the name fitting! Review as always, they make me a happy wolf!