Chapter 49

A/N: Sorry for the huge pause in uploading. I'm back writing now :-D

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Maleficent had to admit, Diaval had well and truly outdone himself. As she and Aurora approached the fairy mound, it had never looked more beautiful. Lights of all colours twinkled and shimmered in the branches all around and danced in the water. All the moorfolk had turned up in their finest fairy garb. Aurora stopped short as she took in what was before her.

"What...what is going on?" she asked, turning to Maleficent, who merely spread her hands and inclined her head towards Diaval.

"Nothing to do with me," she admitted. Diaval stepped forwards and raised his hands. As he did so, all the assembled folk cried out, "Happy Birthday, Aurora!"

Aurora's face erupted into a broad smile and tears of happiness filled her eyes. She rushed forwards and threw her arms around Diaval's neck. "Thank you!" she squealed. Maleficent smiled at the girl's obvious joy. She noticed Aurora whisper something in Diaval's ear and nod her head in Maleficent's direction. In response he nodded, took a deep breath and then walked slowly over to Maleficent, who was suddenly acutely aware that everyone was watching, including Aurora who was practically squirming in barely-contained glee.

"Diaval, wha..." Maleficent found herself silenced by Diaval's finger pressing lightly against her lips. Slightly taken aback, Maleficent blinked at him but maintained her silence in the face of the seriousness in his expression. He took her hands in his, his eyes fixed on hers.

"Come with me," he requested, leading her to an empty clearing a little way beyond the fairy mound.

"Maleficent," he began hoarsely, then quickly cleared his throat and tried again. "Maleficent...a month ago, you gave me my freedom. The freedom to choose what I wanted to be and how I wanted to spend my life. I know exactly what - and where - I want to be. I love you," he stated earnestly. "I have loved you for as long as I can remember. There is nowhere I would rather be, than by your side. No one I would rather be with, than you. So, now I'm offering you a choice..." Diaval lowered himself down onto one knee, peering up at Maleficent. She drew in a quick breath. Her heart pounded in her chest and she found herself drowning in his eyes. The rest of the world faded around her. In that moment, there was only her, and Diaval. Time seemed to slow as he reached into his pocket and withdrew a gold band. He held it out to her.

"Maleficent, will you marry me?"

Time froze. Everything froze. Maleficent found herself staring down at Diaval as though looking at a painted image, while her thoughts - and her heart - raced. Doubts and fears crowded her mind. Of course, she loved him - could not imagine her life without him in it - but at the same time she was convinced his life would have been better without her in it. Her mind replayed every time she had hurt him, used him, put him in danger, since transforming him all those years ago. Images assaulted her, one after another after another. And in the midst of it all floated his face, eyes filled with love, and trust, and hope, as he held the ring out towards her.

Abruptly, the world around her rushed back into full moving, breathing focus. Maleficent sank to her knees before Diaval, peering intently into his eyes.

"Diaval," she whispered almost pleadingly, "I love you, so much, but think about what you're doing."

"That's...pretty much what led to this," Diaval responded slowly, confusion clear in his expression.

"You don't want to do this."

"Oh? And why is that?" he asked.

"I'm...I'm a mess most of the time," Maleficent reminded him, her lip curling at the admission.

"That's a matter of opinion," Diaval shrugged.

"I've put you in danger," she continued.

"You've saved my life multiple times," he countered.

"I've hurt you...and I can't guarantee I won't do it again."

"The same is true in reverse. And I'm not made of glass."

"I'm...damaged," Maleficent choked out the word, finally breaking their eye contact and casting her gaze to the ground between them and biting back a sob. She felt his hands on her face, lifting it towards his. Felt his soft lips brush against hers. Tasted the salt of a fallen tear, though whether it belonged to her or Diaval, she could not be sure.

"Maleficent, look at me," he requested softly. She took in a shuddering breath, maintaining eye contact with the ground. "Look at me," he said again. She slowly raised her gaze, and her eyes met his. "You've been hurt," he said, the words triggering so many memories, causing her stomach to turn and her breath to catch in her throat. She wanted to look away again, but his eyes held her. "You have endured more than anyone should be expected to suffer over multiple lifetimes. And you have come out fighting every single time. You're not damaged, Maleficent. You're wounded. Wounds heal. They take time, and patience, and care, but they do heal." He gently brushed away tears she hadn't felt falling down her cheeks. "I know you, Maleficent. There is nothing you can say or do that will change the way I feel about you. The only question is what you want. So...I'll ask you again: will you marry me?"