Maleficent turned slowly to the three fairies and dropped the helmet to the floor, watching as it clattered across the stones and came to rest in a shallow pool of blood. She met the accusatory stares of Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. Fauna noticed the ashen look on Maleficent's face, while Merryweather was more concerned with the blood on Maleficent's sleeve.
"How could you?" spat Flora. "After everything Stefan did for you!" Maleficent looked down and opened her hands, dried blood visible on the palms.
"Flora – wait..." said Fauna, resting her hand on her friend's arm. "I don't think it was her." The three fairies looked at Maleficent, who shook her head.
"Come with me," she whispered. She led the way through the piles of bodies to a small building, a temporary food storage area. A soldier was sitting cross-legged on the floor and drinking from a water pouch. He stood and saluted the three fairies.
"Captain Chevalier at your service, your excellencies." The captain seemed unharmed, which struck Flora as suspicious given the state of his comrades.
"What happened here?" demanded Merryweather.
"We were locking down the encampment last night, when I heard screaming from the southern gate. When I arrived, the guards at the gate had been torn apart, goblins feasting on their flesh. They saw me and attacked – I remember something hitting my head, then everything went black. When I awoke, I was laying in this storeroom with two corporals at the door dying from their wounds. Paul was still able to speak and explained that they'd pulled me to safety as the goblins destroyed the rest of the camp. We," he gestured to Maleficent, "moved their bodies out of here about half an hour ago." The three fairies looked at Maleficent and she nodded.
"I was checking for survivors when you arrived. I've found no others so far - I healed the captain's injuries so that he could help me."
"Can you walk?" Flora asked Chevalier.
"Yes, other than a lousy headache, I'm fine." He stood and crossed over to the fairies. "As a soldier, I should report straight back to the king. Are you ladies returning to the castle?"
"Yes. There's nothing more we can do here," replied Merryweather.
"I beg to differ," interrupted Maleficent. She stepped outside, followed by the others. She raised both arms, a strong cyclone instantaneously erupting around her. The bodies of the soldiers were caught up and moved into the storehouse, which locked as the last body passed through the door. Maleficent killed the cyclone, then waved a hand to lock the door and prevent any entry to the building. "In case they return to finish their meal." The fairies shuddered while Chevalier reached for a sword and shield.
"Just in case," he said, shrugging. He led the way through the courtyard, accompanied by Flora and Merryweather. Fauna lagged behind with Maleficent, who was in the middle of a cleansing spell to rid the blood from her hands and clothing.
"Are you all right?"
"Not yet. Make sure he gets back to Stefan alive." She turned to take a different path down the mountain, leading away from Stefan's castle.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know. I can't stay here and I'm not welcome at court."
"Stefan asked us to bring you back."
"I bet he did."
"He was concerned about you." As Maleficent laughed, Fauna felt compelled to add, "Is that so hard to believe?"
"Yes, it is. I just don't think I want to go back there. I'll be happier elsewhere."
"No you wouldn't be." Fauna reached out a hand to Maleficent. "Come on – come back with us." Maleficent nodded briefly and walked past Fauna to catch up with the others, ignoring the fairy's gesture.
"It was foolish of the king to send such a small battalion."
"The captain was very lucky you found him."
"Yes. I hadn't realised until he said his last name to you who he was though."
"Who is he?"
"The soldier who spared my life and carried me back to the castle." She smiled a little.
"He's old for a captain."
"Claude says he was injured some years ago and that stopped him being promoted further."
"He told you his first name then?"
"Yes, he was very weak when I found him, could barely talk."
"And you healed him. On impulse."
"I needed to find out what had happened. Thankfully, Claude was very helpful and could give me the full story."
"He seems nice."
"Well he'd have to be to consider giving me a second chance," muttered Maleficent under her breath.
"And not really that old."
"No, not rea..." Maleficent stopped in her tracks and turned to face a grinning Fauna. "Don't be ridiculous."
"I'm not. I just think it's an interesting coincidence – he spares your life, you save his..."
"I am not having this conversation!"
"You have considered it then?" Maleficent scowled at Fauna and continued towards the castle at a faster pace, unfortunately catching up with Claude Chevalier and the other two fairies in the process.
"My thanks again, Excellency, for helping me," said Claude, "And for what you did for my men."
"I think anyone would have done the same." Maleficent tried to increase the distance between them, Fauna's accusatory tone ringing in her ears. To her horror, Flora and Merryweather dropped behind (it should be noted that Fauna was signalling frantically that they should do so). She searched for something innocent to say in order that she may not appear rude. "Thank you again for not killing me." I can't believe I just said that.
"I couldn't with all honesty carry out that order Excellency, you know that."
"Whyever not?" Stop talking!
"I'm not in the habit of killing women I don't have to."
"What about women you do?"
"I try to make it as quick and painless as possible. And I wouldn't agree to kill them in the middle of a dirt track." They continued onwards for a short distance without talking, and Maleficent let her mind drift back over the last few months. She was walking back to a castle where, surely, Stefan would have calmed down enough to accept her version of events by now, and where hopefully she could give some advice on how to proceed with this goblin problem. She... What was that? Something green was rustling through the undergrowth, just out of the corner of her eye. She glanced backwards – the three fairies were gossiping quietly. Taking a step forward and dismissing the flash for now, Maleficent was about to go back to her train of thought when she tripped over something. She stumbled forward and Claude – no, Captain Chevalier – reached out to stop her falling over. Maleficent smiled her thanks and tried to hide her embarrassment, but couldn't help noticing that Fauna looked very pleased with herself. If that was anything to do with you...
"Are you..." started Claude.
"Yes fine," snapped Maleficent. "Just a silly stumble – that's all. Must have been a tree-root or something."
"Does your ankle hurt?"
"No." What does he think I am? Some sort of ridiculous nymphette that cannot proceed without a noble knight on a white steed? Does he honestly believe I'd do something as ridiculous as injure my ankle? "My thanks. Again."
"I wouldn't want you harmed in any way."
"Really?" As soon as the word was out of her mouth, Maleficent groaned inwardly. Chevalier and Maleficent exchanged slightly embarrassed looks. "I think you can let go of my arm now."
"And your waist?"
"If you don't mind." The captain did so and Maleficent fancied he did so with a faint look of regret in his eyes, enough to pique her curiosity at least. She turned to face Fauna and glared at her, not appreciating the crude attempt to set her up at all, then looked back at the road ahead. "Onwards."
A little later, back at the castle, Stefan and Charlotte listened in horror as Captain Chevalier and Maleficent recanted their reports of what had occurred at the Forbidden Mountains. When they had finished, Maleficent stepped forward to the king.
"Your majesty, allow me to return to the mountains. The goblins obeyed my commands when I was in power there – they will follow me again."
"No. You especially are not to return. How could I ever trust you? You could incite them to riot and lead them here yourself," Stefan turned from her and held his head in one hand. "How am I ever supposed to trust you again?"
"If I was planning to deceive you, perhaps I would have returned here tonight. But you must believe me that I would not have taken the trouble to protect the bodies of your soldiers nor would I be offering to return to the mountains alone. If they have truly turned away from all reason, the risk I am taking will be for nothing. They will kill me on sight."
"Then you must have an escort," said Charlotte. "How many men would you need?"
"None – if I go with soldiers they will interpret my arrival as an attack."
"You are not going alone!" reinforced Charlotte.
"You are not going at all!" shouted Stefan. "I will not have you at the head of any army – least of all my own. My army will march on the mountains tomorrow."
"No – that's a terrible idea."
"What help can you be without a staff?" asked Stefan harshly.
"I – don't know. But I have a better chance than any of you."
"I understand why you walked away tonight and I must reinforce that I am pleased you returned – but can't you see why I simply cannot let you go back there knowing full well your minions still live there and knowing what they did to my men?"
"I should leave you to your fate Stefan. But to prove I am loyal to you, I will remain at your castle until you call for my help. I pray you come to your senses before too many of your forces are killed." With that, she swept out of the grand hall, her footsteps echoing as they faded down the dark passageway. Chevalier followed her and caught up on the steps outside the main keep.
"He will call for you," he said.
"Who on Earth do you think you are to offer me your sympathy or support?" snapped Maleficent. "How dare you?"
"I – I'm sorry. I just thought you might need some reassurance..."
"No." She looked down and for a fleeting moment thought about apologising for her earlier rudeness, then dismissed the thought as quickly as it had come.
"Where are your rooms?"
"In the gatehouse," answered Maleficent, more softly than before.
"I shall escort you."
"I assure you, I will be perfectly safe."
"It is on the way to the barracks." Other than asking Chevalier to walk the opposite way around the outer wall, Maleficent didn't see how she could avoid walking with Chevalier. "Besides, you might trip again." A more cowardly man would have run at the look Maleficent shot at him, but Chevalier stood firm and offered Maleficent his arm.
"Just try to keep up," snapped Maleficent, striding off ahead and smirking to herself at the difficulty the captain was having in doing just that. When they reached the gatehouse, they found a squad of guards keeping the peace at the door – one of them handed Maleficent the key to her rooms.
"Why the guards?" asked Chevalier quietly.
"Nothing – it was nothing." Before she could stop them however, some of the soldiers had filled in the details of the fire and the attack to Chevalier.
"To think you refused an escort."
"It's nothing – just some stupid peasants. Good night." She turned to go, but Chevalier caught her hand in his.
"Good night," he replied, half-bowing and releasing her hand as he spoke. Maleficent gave a snort and headed into the gatehouse, locking the door firmly behind her. Only then did she permit herself the smallest of grins before shaking her head.
"Ridiculous – it's Fauna's fault, filling my head with romantic rubbish." Feeling much more like her old self, she headed upstairs to bed without a second thought about Claude.
Back in the castle, Stefan finished his note to the generals of his army and handed it to a waiting page. The servant took the message to the barracks without a further word and left Stefan alone in the library. He removed his crown and picked at an imaginary spot of dirt on the gold. He hadn't wanted this – he hadn't wanted to have to consider Maleficent's offer of help. He'd never led a campaign, never experienced a war as the leader, only ever as an officer at the back, out of harm's way as a young man. He crossed to another desk and wrote a hurried note to Hubert. He rang the bell – another page arrived.
"Ride like the wind and get that message to King Hubert by tomorrow evening."
"Yes, sire."
Stefan had decided to postpone the inevitable for another three days until Hubert's forces joined him, as they knew he would. Part of him hoped that Maleficent would prove herself as a valued ally in that time, while the rest hoped she'd take the hint and leave him and his family well alone. Hoping the morning would not bring further news from the Forbidden Mountains, he went to bed.