A few nights later, Maleficent was lost to her dreams again. A king, long since forgotten, now just a face in the midst of a throng, called out her name in desperation. I'm coming! The allied king disappeared beneath an enemy throng. No! Not again! She fought through, scooping up the bleeding ally in her arms and whisking him to safety. You failed boomed a voice in her subconscious. No I didn't – he's alive! Look what you did. Maleficent looked down at the man in her hands, and realised she'd broken his neck. No! I didn't mean to! The man's blood flowed out around her feet as she dropped his body, staining the countryside red in an ever-growing pool of crimson. No! She turned and ran, taking refuge from the sight inside a shepherd's hut. A small rat ran across her foot. Come back! Heavy footsteps approached the hut, the owner of the voice. Don't leave me alone! There was a pounding on the door.
She awoke with a screech, half-expecting the voice to be calling her name. The pounding continued, followed by the scrape of the key in the lock. The three good fairies, each looking the worse for wear, entered the room sleepily, followed by the two guards who guarded her door, barring all entry and exit except to the royals, the fairies, the royal physician and the servant who brought her food. There were no windows in Maleficent's current sick-room – Stefan did not want to risk her escaping, though the precaution was barely necessary at the moment. Flora lit a candle using the point of her wand and, concerned, flew over to Maleficent's bedside to check her forehead for a fever.
"The guards came for us," explained Fauna, stifling a yawn. "That's the third time since you got here, what did you see?"
"I'm not sure," replied Maleficent, surprised to find herself still trembling.
"If you must wake up screaming, at least have something interesting to report," yawned Merryweather.
"I only screamed once," Maleficent said defensively, feeling it very unfair that even her nightmares were supposedly open to public scrutiny.
"You've been shrieking for half-an-hour," said Flora. Maleficent shook her head disbelievingly at that and hugged her arms.
"I hadn't realised."
"If you're finished, we'll be off," said Merryweather curtly, tired beyond caring. Maleficent watched as she turned to go, leading the way back to the guestrooms. Don't leave me alone!
"Wait!"
"Yes?" asked Merryweather, annoyed at the interruption.
"Fauna – you said you'd stay if I asked."
"Yes..."
"I'm asking you to stay – please." Maleficent looked over to her appealingly. "Don't let me be alone." Fauna took up a chair next to the head of the bed and smiled at Maleficent.
"I'll be right here."
"What?" asked Merryweather. "But you have a bed upstairs!"
"I'll be fine here, Merryweather," said Fauna. "I did promise." Flora smiled at her and then turned her attention to Maleficent.
"Are you quite sure you don't want to talk about it?" Maleficent nodded furiously in response. "Very well then – goodnight."
"Thank you," replied Maleficent quietly.
"Don't mention it," grumbled Merryweather.
"I won't if you won't." Maleficent relaxed back into her pillow as Flora and Merryweather exited the room, then sighed impatiently.
"We all get nightmares," said Fauna, trying to be sympathetic.
"I don't."
"Of course not."
"They're not even real nightmares – I've been in, and coped with, all the situations I see, but there's something else in there with me, something I didn't notice before. And I don't cry when I'm awake and well, I don't weep with terror, I don't even get scared!"
"But you're scared now?"
"Terrified. But I don't know what of. I don't even know who it is. There's just something there, following me, chasing me, saying I've failed."
"Man or woman?"
"I'm not sure. Powerful, very powerful. And there's a rat that keeps appearing and disappearing."
"I'm sure the rat is something random from your subconscious."
"Probably. Fauna?"
"Yes?"
"Why did you stay?"
"Because you asked me to."
"But why?"
"Because whether you like it or not, you've changed. And Merryweather is quite right – you may very well be more child-like than before. What kind of fairy godmother would I be if I abandoned you?"
"The last thing I need is a fairy godmother!"
"Sure?" Fauna grinned at Maleficent, goading her into a response.
"I'm sure. But thank you for the offer. Fauna?" finished Maleficent with a yawn.
"Yes?"
"Leave the candle burning."
The next morning, Fauna woke in an uncomfortable position in the chair. She cricked her neck straight and yawned, turning to find out if Maleficent had managed to sleep through. To her surprise, the bed was empty, Maleficent nowhere to be seen.
"No..." moaned Fauna, rising up. "Where are you?"
"Down here," sobbed Maleficent, from the foot of the bed. Fauna darted around to see Maleficent sitting on the floor, Fauna's mirror in her hand, slow tears running down her cheeks.
"Oh dear..."
"No-one told me it was this bad!"
"Maleficent..."
"Why did no-one tell me? Why didn't you?"
"I thought you had enough to deal with." She reached for her mirror and retrieved it from Maleficent's unprotesting fingers. "Come on now – it's not so bad."
"Yes, it is – look at me!" she glared at Fauna furiously and Fauna had to confess that Maleficent's face was hideously scarred – deep burns marked the right side of her skull and that which wasn't burned deeply had blistered.
"How can I help?"
"Heal me."
"We're not allowed, you know that."
"Then get me a veil."
Over time, Maleficent's nightmares eased. Most nights, Fauna sat vigil at her bedside; rarely, Flora kept her company and Merryweather never volunteered, her outspoken loathing of Maleficent evident as always. Fauna provided a veil that completely covered Maleficent's face, though the physician was worried it would slow healing. Time passed slowly and gradually Maleficent felt some of her old strength returning. She had been Stefan's 'guest' for the last month and in that time her accommodation had improved somewhat. She was now held in one of the upper rooms in the castle with minimal lighting and guards at her door. Maleficent knew that Stefan was paranoid about her escape and that this was the reasoning behind placing her in one of the few rooms with only a thin arrow-slot as a window. Not that she felt like risking her trademark Catherine-wheel exit right now in any case.
Maleficent pulled herself up onto the windowsill and looked out, her hand stretched out to steady herself against the stonework. In the distance, she could see the outline of the Forbidden Mountains in the early morning light. The familiar silhouette of her castle was gone – Stefan's soldiers having pulled down what was left in order to rid the place of the goblins. A small garrison was now stationed in the mountains, their last report indicating they'd destroyed the last of the goblins. Perhaps they had fled, she thought sadly, or been killed. Part of her yearned to go home, but a still greater part was enjoying the comforts of Stefan's castle. For now, she reminded herself hastily. The sun rose a little higher, a ray of light shooting across the land and hitting the castle window. Maleficent reached a hand out of the arrow-slit window and tried to catch the light, turning her hand over and over in the virgin ray. The scorched skin on her hands was healing quickly, perhaps today she could risk a little magic to speed the healing process, just a little magic to help her survive. She hopped down from the windowsill and stood stock still in the centre of the room. She needed to concentrate to do this – scarcely daring to breathe, she raised her arms to her sides, shoulder-height, palms upward.
Maleficent felt the familiar rush of magic that had been so long lost to her course through her body and smiled at the tingle on her fingertips. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on that feeling, trying to stabilise the magic into the palms of her hands. The magic fought her momentarily, but soon she could feel a pulsating orb of power in each palm. Carefully, she raised her hands above her head, the magic fusing into one sphere which slowly started rotating. She removed her hands, holding them inches from the ball as it spun faster and faster. Maleficent found she was gasping for breath, the strain of controlling even this simplest of magic taking its toll on her. Forcing more concentration and bidding the spell to work, she tried to focus the magic into healing energy, hoping to use it to replenish herself. She strained against the force, willing the magic to do as she commanded, relieved when the powerful light that shone through her eyelids changed from white to pink. It was starting to work. She inhaled and held her breath as the words of the final incantation sped through her mind, the words that should turn the energy into a healing spell.
Maleficent shouted as a twinge in her side took the last of her strength, forcing her to diffuse the spell, the magic orb falling to the floor and smashing silently into a thousand grains of coloured sand which quickly vanished. Frustrated, she pounded her fists into the floor and shed bitter tears. The spell would have taken her seconds in her life before she was injured, but now she was finding it hard just to start the spell, let alone control it. Her anger sated for the moment, she wiped her eyes and looked up at her room.
Picking herself up, she crossed to her dressing table, one of the few items of furniture Stefan had allowed her. She looked dispassionately at the image presented to her in the mirror of a scarred and broken woman. Her yellow eyes failed to stand out against her pale green skin without make-up and she couldn't ignore the thin scar across her nose. Nor could she overlook the burn mark across her right cheek and up across the right side of her scalp. Her skin was slowly healing, the hair gradually growing back. She was devastated that the court in general had discovered that she had sleek, black hair – she'd spent some time developing her demonic, non-feminine image and had not wanted it to be destroyed because of some silly accident. She had taken to wearing the veil whenever she had visitors. Stefan had insisted on occasion that she be escorted to the main hall to meet with him, using these odd visits as tests for Maleficent's present mood and her current fitness – she had been quite alarmed to find the guards had been timing how long she took to descend the stairs. Hiding the hated clumps of hair festooning her head under a black scarf and wrapping it around her neck twice, she stepped back from the mirror.
Stefan had taken some pains to settle in his unwelcome guest. He had ordered a new wardrobe made for her, taking her pleas for black, red, purple and dark green seriously (he agreed with Maleficent that the idea of her in pastels was a little too scary to comprehend). She was clothed in a red dress, highlighted by the black scarf she was wearing over her head and around her throat. The dress was beautifully made, but she couldn't help feeling that at some point Stefan was going to expect payment for this. She wasn't sure she would be able to pay the price. She heard a knock at the door and turned to face the intruder, clutching at the veil and desperately trying to fix it before her visitor entered. She forced a smile, which became genuine as she realised her visitor was Fauna. The guards started to enter the room as well, but Fauna waved them away dismissively.
"Can I help you?" asked Maleficent as sweetly as she could manage. The fairy waited for the guards to close the door before answering.
"Anything you would like to share Maleficent?" asked Fauna, sitting down at the dressing table.
"Nothing off the top of my head. Why?"
"You are sure that nothing strange has been going on up here in the last half hour? Not that I would wish to accuse a reformed character of deliberately disobeying King Stefan, but I couldn't help noticing a minor magical disturbance here a few minutes ago. Any ideas?" Fauna leaned towards Maleficent, who gave up pretending to be innocent and sank down onto the end of her bed.
"I tried to heal myself."
"What happened?" asked Fauna, sympathising despite her loyalties to Stefan and his queen.
"I couldn't control the magic and had to give up." Fauna patted Maleficent's arm gently and looked at her.
"You know you're not allowed to use your magic. What could be so bad you needed to break Stefan's rule?"
"This," Maleficent unwrapped her scarf and looked at Fauna, who shrank back uncontrollably. She had not seen Maleficent without a veil since she'd first given it to her and Fauna had not realised how poorly Maleficent had healed.
"I see," Fauna managed.
"I can't go through the rest of my life looking like this."
"Some people would call you vain."
"They don't look like this." Maleficent looked across Fauna into the mirror, then closed her eyes and lay back on the bed.
"Would you like me to ask Stefan if we could help you – even if we can only heal your face?"
"Do you think he'd listen?" Maleficent found herself daring to hope that Stefan might have forgiven her enough to grant this small request.
"Maybe," replied a female voice from the door. Maleficent whipped up to face Aurora, clutching for a scarf that was no longer there to try and cover her face.
"Princess – Briar – I can explain..." started Fauna. Aurora smiled at her and she quickly silenced herself.
"I'd like to speak with Maleficent alone," she said, pointing to the door. Fauna scurried out, shooting one last look back at Aurora before closing the door.
"Please sit down," said Maleficent, gesturing towards an empty chair. Aurora sat primly and regarded Maleficent for a while.
"Father let me see the histories. You've been – around – for quite some time."
"Hardly the most flattering way to start a conversation, Princess."
"I just meant that you have been a valued part of our history for, um, well..."
"Quite some time." Maleficent smirked and nodded at the young princess. "Continue."
"Why did you suddenly turn against us?"
"Your ancestor threw me out. I'm sure you know why."
"Yes, but my grandfather kept in touch with you. So did my father – why did you turn on me?"
"I... wanted to hurt your parents. That was all."
"My existence meant nothing to you?"
"Should it have?" Aurora paused at Maleficent's cold response.
"I suppose not." A few minutes passed in awkward silence. Maleficent, fidgeting more than was usual, decided to change the topic.
"Thank you. For persuading your parents to keep me here."
"I wanted to talk to you," said Aurora, looking down at her feet nervously. From outside, just on the cusp of hearing, Maleficent picked up the voices of the three good fairies, arguing as usual.
"I know. But I don't think I have the answers you want." Maleficent looked over at the girl and smiled sadly. "I genuinely wish that..." The door burst open and King Stefan strode in, flanked by the three fairies.
"I order you to answer my daughter!"
"I was under the impression I already had," replied Maleficent coolly, cutting off whatever she'd been going to say to Aurora.
"You have been here a month."
"I know." Maleficent was pleased to see that her calm responses were irritating Stefan still more and vowed not to lose her temper - it was far more rewarding to watch Stefan lose his.
"I spared your life. I told my physicians to care for you. At the request of my daughter I allowed you some access to my castle and my family. In that time you have offered no explanation for your curse on my daughter, you sulk in the presence of my guests and now I find you trying to corrupt my advisors." Stefan was shouting now, the pressure of the last month finally getting to him.
"I do not sulk in front of your guests. I was not prepared for King Hubert's visit and did not appreciate being presented as a freak show. I was not trying to corrupt Fauna – she was offering to help me."
"I know. She told me. My daughter insisted we all come up here this morning because she wanted to see if there was anything more we could do for you. I understand you are in pain. But that does not excuse the fact you have been here a month and I am no closer to finding out which side you are on."
"Father, please calm down," said Aurora quietly, resting her hand delicately on the king's sleeve.
"I know you have been lying. I have seen the looks you give me and the rest of my family – you're just biding your time here and then you'll leave and try to get revenge all over again."
"I assure you, that is far from the truth. I am grateful to your family for all they have done – I have no plans to turn against them." At least, that's not the plan any more. She wasn't sure when the plan had changed, but she certainly wasn't out for revenge any longer.
"Is it true you tried to perform magic this morning?"
"Yes," replied Maleficent. She glanced sideways at Fauna, who shook her head and mouthed 'Merryweather.'
"How dare you disobey me!" Stefan rushed forward, reached back his hand and struck Maleficent hard across the cheek. She shrieked with pain, the already tender skin complaining at this treatment. Aurora gasped and covered her mouth in horror at the sight of her father, hand raised to strike again.
"Father?" asked Aurora softly, walking back over to Stefan and touching his arm lightly. "What are you doing?"
Stefan looked down at Maleficent's face and faltered. She looked up to his and waited for the worst. Stefan moved to stand in front of her and gently wiped the blood from her mouth, shaking as he did so.
"How am I ever supposed to trust you?" he asked emotionlessly, turning to leave the room. Maleficent watched as he crossed to the door.
"Stefan?" she called, pulling herself into a seated position. He stopped and faced her.
"Yes?"
"I don't blame you for hating me." Stefan nodded in acknowledgement and left the room; Aurora however sat next to Maleficent and lifted her face in her hands.
"Don't hate him. He wanted to help you earlier – he really did. You disappointed him and that is why he lost his temper." Aurora paused. "I'm sorry this happened. I wanted to know why you cursed me, not watch you and my father tear each other apart." She stopped as Maleficent started laughing, wondering what could be so funny.
"You were convenient. And I apologise if you need more than that, but I have spent weeks trying to justify to myself what I did to you and your family. I can't make any excuses for my behaviour beyond the fact I was acting out of revenge. I'm sorry," she felt herself choke on the word, her emotions confused. She was genuinely ashamed of her actions, something she had not expected. "I'm sorry. It was just – politics. And vanity and I just..." Aurora took one of Maleficent's hands in hers and held it for a moment, silencing her.
"I forgive you," she whispered, releasing Maleficent's hand and leaving the room quickly. Maleficent looked up at the three fairies, noting the smile on Fauna's face.
"You can stop smirking for a start," said Maleficent, pulling herself up from the bed painfully. "As if my injuries were not grievous enough," she grumbled, removing her headscarf as a wave of fatigue threatened to overwhelm her.
"Would you like some help?" asked Flora quietly.
"Yes. I would. I would like you to kill me now so I don't have to go through that again." Maleficent lay back carefully on her bed, trying to find a position that didn't hurt.
"Not going to happen I'm afraid. Would you like a cup of tea dear?" asked Fauna. She received a hateful look from Maleficent in return.
"I can live without being your enemy. I can live with one day being your ally again. But I think 'dear' is pushing it a little. And no, I don't drink tea."
"Why not?" said Fauna. Maleficent smirked.
"It hasn't got any alcohol in it."
"Maleficent!" Both laughed, a genuine friendship starting to develop.
"Is that the only help you can give – tea?"
"Yes."
"Then go away." Maleficent closed her eyes and let sleep wash over her, exhausted from the morning's events. Part of her just wanted to destroy the palace and make all of these strange people who were being so nice to her go away. The greater part was feeling more relaxed than she had in years, Aurora's forgiveness meaning more to her than she thought it would. She drifted off to sleep, aware that the fairies were still watching over her and grateful for their presence despite her protestations. As she drifted off, she was vaguely aware of chanting and Flora's hand touching her head softly, but before she could identify the spell she was lost to her dreams. Flora noticed she'd fallen asleep and signalled for Fauna and Merryweather. They completed the healing spell, returning Maleficent to her former self, then left the room quietly so as not to disturb her, hoping Stefan would not be too angry with them when they explained.