Okay that was mean of me to leave you there...so here ya go!
Once they reached the castle drawbridge, the two saw Maleficent waiting for them under the archway leading to the castle. As they approached the wooden walkway, the two dismounted from the stead and made the rest of the trip on foot.
"I had a feeling we would find you waiting for us."
Maleficent watched the two with careful eyes before turning to one of the guards that stood behind her. "Take the young prince's horse back to the stables and return to your post with haste."
"Yes, your excellency." The small goblin creature scuttled forward and took the reigns from Kasparov. Maleficent turned and started walking into the heart of the castle. Kas and Eleanor followed behind her, keeping a few feet behind. The three made their way into the throne room, standing in the massive space that was normally filled with banners and weaponry.
"I will not tarry with why we are here. This is my memory of your births, but instead of seeing it through my eyes, I will have you see it as bystanders." Maleficent placed two fingers against her temple. As she withdrew them, white mist trailed their path. Maleficent pushed the vapor between the three of them, and in doing so, it grew within the space. Kas looked at it, concerned as the fog continued to draw near, while Eleanor stood resolute.
"Kas, it's fine. It's just her memory, and from what I can tell it was given completely willingly. There is not hint of grey, just white."
"Indeed, my dear. I have nothing to gain from hiding this from you."
Colors and figures started to make themselves appear within the mist. The same stony archway that they had walked through upon their return came into view along with the figures of two waring armies.
A thunderous roar filled the sky like a clap of thunder. The creature that omitted the sound spout fire from its mouth that caused hundreds of men clad in armor to be incinerated where they stood. Those that did not perish immediately were left in agonizing pain as they felt the hot metal meld to their skin and slowly cook them alive. Their commander knew this was a death crusade as they had charged headfirst into the head of the monster's layer. Luckily for them, only one appeared and it was the younger, more emotionally driven of the two who lived here.
Not only were they fighting the dragon whose layer they disturbed, but also the army that was sworn to guard the grounds. "For your King men!" he shouted as loudly as he could. Those that could hear him raised their voices in a unified cheer as another wave of men charged forward. The beast that guarded its castle released another jet of sapphire flames at the soldiers approaching it. More men went down and twice as many started to retreat to their lines.
"Sir, our forces can't take much more. If we send anymore forward, we will have no one left to defend the kingdom from the witch and her wrath."
He knew that his second in command was correct in his analysis of the situation and that this entire military campaign was made due to the immense grief that their king and queen had thrust upon them. "Sound retreat. We can't afford to leave the castle unprotected."
Trumpets filled the air and those that were still able to move left the rocky terrain that they were fighting on. Some of their opponents continued to follow them, slashing at the heels of those who were struggling to retreat. As they continued to make their way back down the windy path that lead to the base of the mountain, the serpentine beast let out one final blast of cerulean fire from its maw with another deafening screech. The few lines of guards that stayed along the castle's draw bridge and front lines let out a cheer that joined in with their mistress's roar.
The dragon that was guarding the castle did not share in the guards' revelry. Instead it lowered its gaze clenching its eyes tight. A low rumble escaped from its mouth as it started to pull its neck and shoulders back through the stone archway leading to the castle.
"Why would you go out in such a condition?" Maleficent's voice thundered in the dragon's head. The dragon turned towards the tall tower, where she knew the voice's owner was.
"They came for my head. I will not stand by and let my name and reputation be slandered when there are soldiers at our door threatening my curse."
"Even in this state, you risked just that had you been injured." The dragon looked down at its swollen abdomen. In this state, most would not notice, but both her and Maleficent knew that she was with child and far along at this point. When she was in her normal, human state it was quite obvious.
Yes, Helen knew that how she had orchestrated this curse would cause her to bare Aurora's first born, but what she had not expected was that she would in turn bare her own child as well. When she had found out unlike most mothers to be, she was expecting twins, one of which was expected from Aurora and Philip's union and the other…well the other was hers and this addition was not greeted warmly to say in the least initially. It wasn't until a few days after this realization that she had started to accept this idea.
Again, the dragon closed its eyes tight as another rumble escaped its mouth as more pain ran throughout her body. This did not escape the notice of Maleficent's eyes. "You have overexerted yourself. I told you that doing so would induce-"
"Yes, you told me not to do something and I did it anyways. Does this really surprise you at this point?" By this point Helen was at a spot in the courtyard that would allow her to be almost eye level with Maleficent. Her breathing had started to become heavier, causing her ribs to flare.
Extending a hand across the stone ledge Maleficent placed it gently on the dragon's face causing the two to lock eyes. "It does not, but sweetheart your face deceives you. Come up here so I can get your pain under control."
Slowly navy flames and black smoke started to surround her, but as they started to grow higher and higher, they quickly receded. A loud screech filled the air as Helen extended her wings and her tail trashed behind her. She started to violently shake her head side to side as she stepped back into the center of the courtyard. Her tail started to wrap around her legs as she lowered herself to the ground.
"I can't! It's unbearable," her voice rumbled through the stone enclosure. Her sides heaving more now than they were before. The spines that lined her back and tail were erect, as if to ward off anyone from coming near her. She didn't hear what Maleficent said in response, she was only cognizant of the pain that had started to rack her body when trying to use her magic.
They had prepared for this, but it seemed that in her current state those preparations would no longer be applicable. She craned her neck around so that she could look to her lower half where the pain had started. I thought I had more time.
"I can't help you here. This is a first for me as well." The voice in her head belonged to that of her sister.
Helen sat there, ignoring the world around her. The few guards that were still trickling in through the gates stopped at the commotion that had started in the center of the courtyard. It wasn't uncommon for them to see this creature, but how she was acting scared them. Her movements were unpredictable at best and she was in a defensive stance that emitted the aura of hostility to any who would approach. When the ruler of the castle appeared next to her, some backed further away so that they were flush against the crumbling stones. Without so much as a glance in their direction, a wall of green flames sprouted behind Maleficent causing the rest to retreat. They quickly hurried along to other portions of the castle that would shield them momentarily from any outbursts that either the dragon or the fairy might have.
"I know of somewhere that we can go."
"I'm not giving birth in a field," she snapped back.
"Your tone of voice is not necessary, and your lack of faith is disheartening." Placing her hand on Helen's arm that was closest and whisked them away from unwanted eyes.
They appeared in a dark cave void of any other living creature. The cave was covered with stalactites, a few were dripping with saltwater. It was poorly lit, the only light coming in from the entrance that was far enough away that they were still allowed some privacy.
"Where are we?" Helen asked as she looked around at the peculiar place.
"A cavern that is under the castle, at the base of the mountain. The most isolated place in the domain." Maleficent proceeded to slowly walk towards Helen's lower half. She gently placed a hand on the dragon's swollen stomach and closed her eyes as she let her magic tell her what she wanted to know. "They are about ready to meet you."
Her hand was still on the smooth scales when the muscles underneath went into a spasm causing Helen to try and hold in another rumble. "You do not have to keep it in. We are far enough away that no one will hear you."
"Holding it in is what is letting me keep my wits about me. I'm fighting this body's instincts to lash out." She closed her eyes as another wave of pain spread throughout her body. She remained silent while she waited in agony for it to pass. "I don't know if I'll be able to control myself for much longer," she stated after a few minutes of silence. She turned her head away from Maleficent, looking further into the darkness that surrounded them.
"Helen?" Maleficent asked as she walked back towards her daughter's face. Helen released a screech followed by flames that lit the entire cave in blue until the vanished into the air. When her eyes opened again, she lowered her gaze to where her mother was standing with only concern on her face.
"I don't want to hurt you."
"If you want me to go, I will…" she placed her hand reassuringly on cheek. She could feel the shaking in her daughter's reply.
"I don't want you to, but…I can't guarantee your safety."
Maleficent stepped back as Helen started to curl into herself. "You should not worry about my safety. I am more concerned about yours." She conjured purple and grey smoke to envelope her and start to fill the entire space. Once it cleared, a familiar black and purple dragon proceeded to settle itself next to Helen.
The two sat and waited as Helen's spasms of pain grew more frequent and in greater intensity. The younger of the two dragons would violently thrash her tail when the spasms started to worsen. It soon got to a point where Helen started to have chills even when the discomfort was temporarily sedated.
"Isn't there something you can do for this pain?" she asked in a shaky voice. Her head was resting on her crossed arms, claws digging into the earth beneath her in a rhythmic pattern. Every couple of spasms would cause the spines on her back to flare until they slowly returned to their resting positions.
"Not in this state. If you were not in this altered form, I would have been able to, however…"
Helen released another monstrous screech that masked her own outcry of pain. She looked up at Maleficent teary eyed, nostrils flaring with every shallow inhale she made. "Mother…" Her voice grew softer, "I'm terrified."
Maleficent's brow furrowed in concern. "Of what?"
Her daughter's voice was barely above a whisper at this point, which caused Maleficent to lower her own face, so it was adjacent to Helen's. "Of how terrible this pain will be," she winced and inhaled sharply before continuing, "when they do come."
"You will endure, just as you always have." Black scales settled against navy as Maleficent attempted to reassure her daughter. Helen leaned against her mother's cheek trying to quell the pain that was sending her mind into a frenzy.
The attacks of pain continued to grow longer in duration. As the aching and spasms grew in intensity so did Helen's anxiety. One episode forced Helen to quickly stand causing Maleficent to look up at her with concern in her eyes. She started thrashing her head and tail violently as she backed further into the cave, knocking boulders to the side and crushing those that were small enough under foot. Clouds of dust from the moving rubble started to fill the dank air. Flames sprouted throughout the cavern and soon became the only thing visible to the older dragon as the younger continued to back further and further into the darkness.
Maleficent proceeded to stand and slowly followed towards where Helen had slinked away to. A scream filled the air along with more blue flames. The shrill sound lasted longer and held more agony than the previous ones. This caused Maleficent to quicken her pace and release her own set of flames into the air. The green light proceeded to dance along the surface of the cave and lingered long enough to see the silhouette of Helen's face emblazoned with agony. Another cry of pain echoed throughout the stone enclosure.
Once Maleficent was almost to Helen's side, the younger woman staggered forward, barely managing to stay on her feet. She lunged into Maleficent's shoulder as she started to trip over herself, nearly causing both to fall to the ground.
"Easy darling," Maleficent said as she proceeded to use her shoulder to help her daughter regain her bearings. "Are you alright?"
Helen nodded slowly, "I think…I think it's almost time." She turned her attention back to where she stood moments ago. There in the dark sat a large oblong stone. Both dragon's eyes were able to adjust to the dark space around them. As Maleficent was able to focus on the object, she was able to see that the shape was speckled in shades of grey with a smooth exterior.
She waited until Helen had regained her balance before proceeding to walk towards the new shape. Maleficent slowly scooped it up in her hands and then asked, "Is this…" She was unable to finish her question. Turning towards Helen she saw her daughter nod slowly and lower herself to the ground. "And now we wait."
Maleficent placed the egg next to Helen so that it rested against her side ensure it stayed warm despite the frigid air of the cavern. Helen's breathing was still shaky and shallow but had started to slow to a normal pace. Mother sat beside daughter as the two let the quiet air surround them. Helen rested her head on her crossed arms while Maleficent was vigilant over the egg. The sound of soft rumbling could be heard as Helen slowly drifted off to sleep, void of all energy that the endeavor had taken from her.
Hours passed as the two women continued to wait patiently. Helen eventually awoke to see that Maleficent's gaze had not faltered once. She felt a quiver from inside the egg that caught her attention. Cautiously, she nudged it with the tip of her nose to see if she could elicit the same reaction. She was successful and this time the response was more noticeable. Uncurling her tail that had subconsciously been wrapped around the egg while she slept, the object in question began to move again. Both looked on with anticipation as a small crack started to become visible on the exterior of the shell. The watched intently as it continued to worm its way further across the tiny prison that held the prize that Helen had been incubating for the past nine months.
It abruptly stopped causing the expectant mother to tilt her head to the side, confused as to why the steady progress that had been observed came to a halt. She softly nudged it again, but instead of seeing a change there was a noise that caused Helen to recoil. The soft cries of a newborn were the culprit. Maleficent turned at her daughter's reaction before lowering her head next to the egg to see if there were other sounds that it harbored.
She gently pressed against the crack in the shell till it started to send pressure to other parts of the egg causing them to falter as well. Once a piece became available to remove Maleficent carefully picked it up between two long claws and placed it on the ground next to the egg. Looking back at Helen she calmly stated, "I think you should get to see them first. After all you are the one who carried them."
Helen remained motionless, not wanting to inch closer towards the egg. The same whine from earlier reverberated through the air again, but this time it was joined with another voice. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, unsure of what she would see. Upon hearing the children's first utterance of life she was concerned what bearing them in this state may have caused. Helen slowly stepped forward enough to peer into the egg that was at her feet. Inside were two healthy, human children wriggling in their makeshift cradle. Not a trace of any dragon traits to be seen. The owner of the first cry was a girl who had a tuft of brown hair on the top of her head. Her roommate was a boy with black hair.
The boy opened his eyes first to reveal dark chocolate orbs. He looked up at Helen and reached up towards her. She merely blinked, unsure what to do. When he couldn't reach her face, he started to whimper. Tears started to leak from the corner of his eyes as he continued to grasp at the empty air in an attempt to reach the first living thing he saw.
"Why not let them meet their mother?"
Helen cautiously did as her own mother suggested and lowered her head down so that the boy's hand was resting on the side of her face. He giggled and started to hit the scaly surface. There wasn't enough force behind the hit, nor was there malicious intent, for Helen to withdraw. She simply watched him. Another blood curdling scream was released in the air, but not from the boy. Helen looked over at the girl. She was pulling her arms in and kicking frantically.
Despite the redness in her eyes from the tears, emerald eyes were looking back at Helen. She turned her head enough so that she was overlooking the girl as well. This caused no change in the girl's reaction to her presence. Helen retracted her head from the edges of the egg and looked over at Maleficent.
A cloud of sapphire flames surrounded her as she started to revert to her human form. She remained stationary on the ground until the smoke dissipated. The woman that remained after the area cleared was clad in a white nightgown, stained with dirt and sweat. Her hair was plastered to her face and the horns atop her head from the amount she had perspired during the whole ordeal. She placed a hand against Maleficent's arm as she gingerly stood up. Helen gritted her teeth as she forced her exhausted body to hold her own weight, eventually forcing herself to lean against Maleficent. She slowly moved herself to the egg's edge and leaned over to look at the children. The boy laughed and reach up towards Helen, the girl next to him still crying. In an attempt to console her, Helen picked the girl up in her shaky arms. This lessened the girl's crying into whimpers.
Helen whipped away tears from the girl's cheek with a thumb and waited for her to calm. Subconsciously she started to slowly rock the girl in her arms which put the child further at ease. Maleficent had lowered her head so she could see the child in her daughter's arms.
"She has Lilith's eyes," Helen whispered as she continued to gaze upon the girl.
"What will you name them?" The voice of her sister asked.
Helen looked back down at the boy who was looking up at Maleficent wide eyed. She sat next to the egg's edge with the girl held tightly to her as she was concerned that what little strength she had left would leave her shortly.
"Kasparov," she uttered breathlessly, "that will be his name."
"And the girl?" Maleficent questioned. Helen looked down at the child in her arms. She remained silent as she tried to think of something that would suit her. There was silence in the cave except for the occasional babbling of nonsense from the children. After a few minutes Maleficent broke the silence with, "What about Eleanor? It was what your birth mother had named you."
"It has my vote," Lilith added.
"We've had this conversation before of how I don't like to speak of them," she interjected referring to her biological family. "However…it has a nice ring to it." To their surprise instead of the sounds that had previously come from her, the girl let out a small giggle. "I'll take that as a yes."
She proceeded to wipe the last of Eleanor's tears from her eyes when the child grabbed a hold of her thumb. The force that she possessed surprised Helen. She was not expecting such a tight grip from one so small. Eleanor brought Helen's thumb up to her mouth and proceeded to suckle on it. Helen simply watched until the girl's eye lids started to slowly close. Once Helen gently rescued her appendage from the tot's mouth, she conjured forth a blanket that swaddled Eleanor tightly with only her face remaining visible.
Her attention was averted back to the egg when Kasparov let out a long yawn. Helen swaddled him in the same fashion. She looked down at the child she had yet to hold and then looked back at the one in her arms, who was starting to drift off to sleep. Gently placing Eleanor back in the makeshift bassinet, Helen picked up the boy who was starting to drift off to sleep. He was slightly heavier than the girl, but still light enough that Helen did not think that she would have difficulty holding him. She continued to hold him until he was fast asleep in her arms.
The boy started to have spit bubbles form at the edge of his mouth while he slept. Helen wiped them away with the edge of the cloth he was cocooned in. Her arms continued to grow heavy from exhaustion as she held him until she returned him to the eggshell that held a sleeping Eleanor as well. She remained by the egg's edge, leaning against it as she watched the two children sleep.
"Sleep sounds good," the new mother said as she absent mindedly rested one of her hands against her now empty womb.
"You did well, your rest is deserved."
Helen tried to stand and almost did so successfully until her legs gave out on her. Instead of scraping her knees across the jagged ground she was caught midfall. The woman noticed that it was the dragon's snout that had stopped her fall.
"It will take time for you to regain your strength." Helen nodded in agreement. "Hold on."
Maleficent proceeded to lift her up off the ground and gently placed her daughter in the crook of her arm. Helen produced a weak smile before gently hugging her mother. She slid off the scaly surface that had lifted her in the air until her feet were again on solid ground and eased herself back to sitting. Maleficent proceeded to delicately scoop up the egg that held the sleeping babes and set it next to where Helen had reclined herself.
"For incase they wake while we are still here." Helen simply nodded as she looked down at the children. She let her hand that was closest to the egg hang over the edge and attempt to push Eleanor's locks to the side to get a better look at her face. "Rest, you have done your duty."
"I can't let you sit up alone to watch them."
"This is not the first time that I have stayed up for long periods with little sleep. Besides, you three are my priority right now." She proceeded to coil her neck around those that were sleeping within her arms until she was able to make eye contact with Helen.
"Thank you," Helen mumbled as she started to drift off to sleep leaning into Maleficent's arm, her own hand still hanging over the infant girl. Maleficent proceeded to drape one of her wings over the three, shielding them from the elements and unintended visitors.
But before the new mother was unable to fully take the nap she desired so much, Eleanor started to whimper, signifying that she was about to descend into a fit of tears. Helen sat up and lifted her out of the eggshell, rocking her gently in her arms. The infant continued to whimper.
"What? What could you possibly need?" Helen pleaded with the girl. This seemed to soften the child's cries. Helen paused, hoping that she would soon go back to sleep. Instead the silence only seemed to make Eleanor pick up crying again.
"I think she likes to hear your voice," Maleficent suggested.
"My voice? What could be so enticing about…" As she continued to speak Eleanor lessened her protests. "Um, alright." She continued to look down at the girl.
Looking back at Maleficent she asked, "What do I say?"
"Whatever you think of. She recognizes your voice and associates it with safety."
"I don't know what about me signifies safety."
"For as long as you have known of her, she has known you. Your voice is what she heard before she first opened her eyes, so you are all she knows of."
Helen's face softened at that statement. It made sense, that being in this new place the child would want to be close to what was familiar. Again, looking down she stared into the green eyes of the girl who was captivated with her.
"You are kind of cute when you aren't crying." The girl had started to sniffle as the tears slowed. "There, see? Nothing to be scared about. Yes, it's new for you, but you're safe now."
The girl let out a small giggle. Helen couldn't help but smile. Bringing the girl closer to her, she rested her in the crook of her arm. She let the girl grab hold of her finger again and stare at it in fascination. As she continued to watch the girl, she felt a tugging at her emotions, something that she hadn't felt before, unfathomable love. It was something that she did not think she would ever be able to feel for a single being, but in this moment, she was consumed by it.
"I won't let anything happen to you." The girl's grasp on her finger lessened as she drifted back to sleep. Helen turned and looked down at Kasparov and again had another wave of emotions flood over her. "Either of you."
The hand that had previously been held by Eleanor now was resting gently against Kasparov's tiny cheek. There was a slight rumble that could be heard from Maleficent, almost like a hum.
These two, she thought to herself, are more precious to me than any prize a kingdom could offer.
"I didn't know I could feel this way about anyone, let alone two people," she said not taking her eyes off the children. "You've said that you would go to the limits of your powers for me, and I never truly knew the extent of that until now." She looked up at Maleficent who was looking back. "It scares me how much I care for them."
"It is called a mother's love my dear. It should not scare you, but others who might try to wish them ill."
"Since our magic is driven by emotions, this…this will be what I remember. They will be my strength, my hatchlings." She smiled and shut her eyes as she leaned further back against Maleficent's arm. She drifted quickly to sleep while Maleficent kept watch over them.
The scene started to dissipate as it ended. The twins looked back at Maleficent, whose eyes held the spark of happiness from the past memory. "I am not sure what your mother told you both, but this is the truth of your birth. Kasparov you may still have your doubts, but she has loved you since that day."
"Where is she now?" Eleanor asked.
"You will go nowhere near her until she returns of her own accord. Instead the both of you should reflect on this. It may not have been your intentions, but you have just brought to fruition one of your mother's greatest fears."
Maleficent left the two in the vast hall and made her exit. Eleanor looked back at her brother, his eyes shut tight and his fists clenched. "Kas?"
"I'm so confused! I'm filled with anger and remorse. Why didn't she tell us earlier?"
"It's just as she said, she was afraid of this. She has been hiding this for fear of us reacting as we did." Eleanor placed a hand on Kas's shoulder. "Perhaps we should do as she said and take some time to think over this."
"I need to be alone."
He started to storm out of the room before Eleanor yelled back, "You won't run away again, will you?"
Kasparov turned back toward her, a reassuring grin on his face. "I promise, I won't leave your side. Not while we still have a kingdom to take back."
She smirked back and nodded to his response. The two went their separate ways, reflecting on how to deal with the realizations they had that day.
~.:.~
Maleficent had whisked herself to the cave that resided under the castle. "I thought I would find you here." She continued to walk further into the cave and placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder once she reached her side.
Helen was sitting next to the egg that the twins had been borne from. In her arms she held the blankets that she had swaddled each of them in during that first night's sleep they had together. She gripped them tightly to her chest and asked, "Were they satisfied with the answer?"
"I showed them the day of their birth. They both saw the expression on your face when you held each of them in turn."
"And?"
"I believe they both are starting to understand the struggles that have brought you to this point. Still…"
"I don't need another lecture about how I should have told them earlier. How was I supposed to tell them?"
"You just needed to tell us yourself."
The two women looked towards the entrance of the cave. Eleanor had followed and was standing before her predecessors.
"Eleanor?"
"I instructed you to not look for your mother."
"Well, I wasn't looking for her directly. But I knew you would find her, so I just followed you your Excellency." She looked back towards Helen, "I guess I really am like my mother in that aspect."
She looked down at what her mother was sitting by. "I take it this is what is left of it? Our egg?"
Helen nodded and watched as her daughter walked closer. Eleanor kneeled and placed her hand against the smooth shell. A small hum escaped from her lips as her eyes travelled over its speckled surface. "And these?"
"The blankets I wrapped you both in on that first night. I ended up swaddling you both in them for the first few months of your lives, until you were too big for them."
"May I?" Eleanor extended her hand, hoping that her mother would let her hold one of them.
"This one was yours."
"How can you tell?"
"You would weave your fingers through the spaces at the top so much, that you stretched them out." She ran the fabric between her fingers, before slowly and hesitantly handing the garment to her daughter. Eleanor took it in her hand, running her fingers gingerly against it. She held the blanket close to see exactly what her mother had described earlier. As she continued to examine the object in her hand, a familiar aroma entered her nose.
"It smells like you."
"Like me?"
"I can't explain it, but it just does." She looked back up at her mother and grandmother. "I know you were trying to protect us, but you should have trusted us."
"I do trust you, it's just…"
"You didn't want him to push you away." Helen looked back at her daughter. "He is angrier at you not telling him sooner than anything else. It seems like you didn't have faith in us, despite what you said when we got our name day gifts."
"I never wanted either of you to see me as anything but your mother. That is why I had been holding onto that secret." She looked back at Kasparov's blanket that she held in her hands. "Perhaps someday you will understand when you have your own children."
Helen's attention was brought back to her surroundings when a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her. "I do understand, but I still think that you should have told us sooner."
She pulled her daughter closer to her. "You don't know how much you two mean to me. It was something I was told by your grandmother and didn't fully understand until I had you. You are my reason for being." She rested her forehead against the top of Eleanor's head.
The hand that had rested against Helen's shoulder started to slip away as Maleficent went to leave her daughter and granddaughter to give them this moment. It wasn't until a tugging on her robes that she halted. Looking down, one of Helen's hands had a firm grip on her sleeve and Eleanor's eyes stared up at her. Gone was the small child that once looked upon her with fear, but instead in those golden eyes was a longing for her to stay.
"Please," was the only word to escape her daughter's lips. Maleficent placed her hand atop Helen's head, running her fingers through brown locks. She settled herself next to her as Helen released her hold on her robes. Similar to how Helen held her own daughter in her arms, Maleficent sat behind her daughter. She started carding her fingers through Helen's locks, listening to the soft hum that came from her daughter.
A little happier with me now? I hope this explains things a little further. Maybe not completely, but I can't show you all my cards now can I?