Chapter 1
A/N: Please review. Thanks for reading my new story!
Disclaimer: As always, I do not own anything.
Moonlight filtered through the lush leaves of overhanging trees, casting silvery shadows upon the soft grass below. The moors were peaceful, quiet. The fair folk slept soundly, tucked away in their little homes in tree, bush, grass and even mud. Not a sound was to be heard.
Not a sound, that is, until a scream ripped through the tranquility. A scream of pain and terror. It emanated from the rowan tree high on a ledge. From the place Aurora, Diaval and Maleficent had called their home since their return to the moors over a week earlier.
Diaval awoke with a start at the sound, then sighed and rubbed his hand over his eyes. Maleficent. He spread his wings and swooped down from his nest high up in the branches of the tree. Transforming as he landed, he met the gaze of Aurora, who was sitting up, also awake. Then they both turned to look at Maleficent whose eyes were shut tightly, head thrashing from side to side. She let out another scream before curling her body into a tight ball and whimpering.
"No..." she murmured. "Please. Stop."
Aurora and Diaval looked at each other again, both pairs of eyes reflecting concern along with exhaustion. Not a single night had passed since they had returned when they had not been thus awakened.
With another scream of horror, Maleficent sat up suddenly and her eyes shot open. They darted around wildly as the echo of the scream reverberated through the air. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps and her body shuddered. Upon finally realising where she was, Maleficent closed her eyes and lay back, rolling onto her side and wrapping her wings around her trembling body. Taking this as his cue, Diaval nodded at Aurora to let her know it was alright for her to go back to bed, and stepped lightly towards Maleficent. Calling her name softly as he approached, he saw her eyes snap open again, saw her body tense.
When she saw who it was, Maleficent's body relaxed slightly and she let out a heavy sigh. She sat up and swivelled round to face him, brushing away the few tears that had leaked from behind her closed eyelids.
"Enjoying the show?" she asked coldly. Diaval winced at her words and her tone but still crouched down beside her and peered at her in concern. "Oh, Diaval, do stop staring at me like that!" she snapped.
He dropped his gaze but remained where he was. He had grown accustomed to her foul mood whenever she awoke from one of her frequent nightmares. Had learned it was best to simply let it run its course. He sat back on his heels and gazed out into the night. Maleficent had been off with him - off with everyone - since the day after Aurora's coronation as Queen of the moors, the day she had given him the ability to transform at will. Whilst he appreciated the gift, he would have happily returned if that would make Maleficent allow him within 3 feet of her. But that was something she had not done since that day. He missed her touch, her smile, her soft kisses.
"Sorry," Maleficent muttered eventually. He looked back towards her and gave a small, sad smile.
"Better?" was all he said in response. She shrugged slightly and rubbed her hands over her eyes. They were red-rimmed and ringed with dark circles. She looked exhausted, unsurprisingly. She had not slept properly for over a week; nor had he.
Maleficent pulled herself to her feet and turned away from him, looking out at the world below. Then, without a word, she leapt from the ledge and soared off into the night. Diaval sighed again and watched her go, then he leapt off the ledge too, transforming himself as he did so. He flapped his wings hard to catch up with her. He had promised to stay by her side and that's exactly what he was going to do...however difficult she made that at times.