"What time is it?" asked Merryweather.
"Just gone six," replied Fauna. The four fairies were hidden in trees, Maleficent perched on Samson and the others on the horse's head, having transformed into their smaller selves.
"How much longer?" asked Merryweather. Lunch had occurred hours ago and the combined forces of Stefan and Hubert's armies should have passed in front of them some time ago. "They're late."
"We know," said Flora through her teeth. "That's why you need to show some patience!" An uncomfortable silence followed.
"Remind me again why I let you come with me?" said Maleficent. "I'm sure I must have had a good reason, though I cannot think of it at present."
"You didn't have a choice," said Fauna.
"Ah, that explains it." Maleficent gathered up the reins and dismounted, walking around the trees to bring some life back to her legs. She shook out her arms and sprang back onto the horse, just as Fauna rose up and pointed at the road below.
"There they are!" shrieked Fauna. "Now what?"
"Now we wait for them to pass and follow at a reasonable distance, hoping it is dark enough to conceal our presence by the time the trees give out" replied Maleficent.
"We have to wait even longer?" whined Merryweather.
"Yes!" snapped the other three in unison.
Claude Chevalier led his archers forward, following in the trail beaten out by the kings and their knights. To their left was a patch of forest, shrouded in darkness in the early evening light. Claude was sure he'd seen some kind of movement, but dismissed the flicker of cloth he'd seen as a peasant out to collect firewood. When he saw a horse being ridden through the trees and keeping pace with the army he changed his mind and kicked his horse into a canter. Claude had been unable to see the rider, but was sure that this strange occurrence was connected with their attack. He caught up with the kings easily and saluted.
"Yes captain?" asked Hubert.
"I have seen some movement in the trees that I believe warrants investigating. Permission to go and investigate?"
"Of course captain."
"Thank you sire." Claude pulled his horse around before the king could suggest taking reinforcements with him and cantered back down the ranks before doubling back towards the forest. With any luck, he should be behind the unknown rider and would catch him unawares.
"Slow down!" said Merryweather, trying to keep her balance.
"Do you want to keep them in sight or not?" replied Maleficent, balancing with some difficulty on the stirrups.
"When are we going to stop?" asked Flora, her eyes shut tight against the sight of trees whipping passed the horse.
"Soon. The forest ends by a bridge – I won't be able to go forward without being spotted by the army," Maleficent gasped, the effort of forcing Samson at high speed through trees beginning to tell. Samson was also quite aware of who was riding him and kept trying to buck Maleficent off, adding to her discomfort. She reined in Samson as the trees thinned and sat back in the saddle. Leaning forward in the saddle, Maleficent caught her breath and looked forward as the army marched on.
"Can I open my eyes now?" asked Flora.
"Yes," said Maleficent, sighing impatiently. "What use do you think you are going to be today? Have you ever fought in a war? Ever killed anything?"
"Merryweather killed your crow," said Fauna.
"I know. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't keep bringing that up." Maleficent stretched her arms above her head and leaned back in the saddle, cracking her back. "There are certainly a lot of soldiers."
"What did you expect?"
"Not that many. Why, if Stefan had that many troops at his disposal, did he never attack the mountains during the last sixteen years?"
"He didn't want to sacrifice his army on a pointless quest to kill you. He considered attacking you, but the mountains were never taken by enemies while you sat in power there," said Flora. "You were too strong - as you have said, he is still outnumbered."
"Fair enough." Maleficent leaned forward on the horse again, resting her head against Samson's mane. The fairies were disturbed by the sound of an approaching horse. Maleficent reeled the horse around to face the noise and raised her hand above her head, charging a spell while Flora, Fauna and Merryweather drew their wands. A white stallion drew up in front of them and the soldier removed his helmet.
"Oh, it's you your excellencies," said Chevalier. "May I ask what you are doing?"
"Following the army in order to help King Stefan. How did you see us?" asked Merryweather.
"I saw a horse running through the trees."
"I told you we'd be seen," snapped Flora. "The way you ride..."
"Quiet!" warned Maleficent. "Are you going to report what you've seen?" She relaxed her arm and urged Samson on until the horses were parallel.
"I should – you are disobeying the king's orders."
"Really? I didn't realise he'd banned me from going for a ride," laughed Maleficent.
"I think you know what I mean. I should report back."
"Then we have no choice but to take you prisoner." Maleficent lowered her eyelids at Chevalier, who reached out a hand . "Give me your sword?" she asked quietly, slipping her hand into his.
"I can't do that." Their eyes locked for a moment and Maleficent chanced a smile.
"Give me your sword. Do I need to cast a spell on you or will you come with us quietly?" asked Maleficent, nudging Samson to side-step him closer to Chevalier's horse.
"I'll come quietly. But what about the kings? They will be suspicious if I do not return."
"A pity. You could compromise our mission if you do report back."
"I could say that you were simply a woodsman out hunting."
"You could. That would be very... useful." She released his hand reluctantly. "I will say I controlled your mind and forced you to lie if Stefan works out the truth and tries to blame you."
"You would do that?" asked Chevalier.
"Of course – you saved my life, I have to save yours to make it even."
"Good luck, your excellencies."
"And you, my brave captain," replied Maleficent, watching as Chevalier rode away. Maleficent was not given to romantic tendencies, but she did appreciate the way the fairies did not force her to speak as she watched the captain ride away and simply smiled when she saw Fauna and Flora grin at each other.
"That was stomach-churning," said Merryweather, breaking the silence. "How long have you fancied that archer?"
"I beg your pardon?" asked Maleficent, aghast.
"My brave captain..." mocked Merryweather.
"I'm sure I don't know what you're taking about. The army is moving around that hill – quickly, we need to catch up." Maleficent spurred on Samson and was quickly some distance from the three fairies.
"Did you know she liked the captain?" Merryweather asked Flora.
"Yes," replied Flora. "Fauna?"
"I had some idea. I had seen the way she looked at him. And how she kept avoiding him in particular while watching the army over the last few days. And she did tell me they'd spoken several times and she finds him interesting."
"We'd better catch up," said Flora, flying off after Maleficent. Fauna and Merryweather followed.
"It's just so wrong..." muttered Merryweather. "What a horrible thought – Maleficent in love!"
Stefan and Hubert ordered their knights to lead the rest of the army up the treacherous mountain road to the Forbidden Mountains and Maleficent's old castle. In some parts, the road narrowed to allow no more than two horses abreast and it was slow progress up the mountains. Stefan heard Chevalier's report and dismissed the captain to lead the archers up the mountain pass. Hubert looked back at the infantry, slowly trooping up the mountainside.
"Stefan, we have not got enough time to attack before nightfall. We should make camp and prepare to attack in the morning," said the king, pulling his horse up.
"There's nowhere to make camp – that's why Maleficent could always defend this place so well. I was looking through my father's war records. Maleficent held her castle for three months against Carlos' troops until father's forces were strong enough to clear the invader's army. With nowhere to camp, Carlos was forced to descend the mountain every night and climb it every morning."
"So we have to press on?"
"I'm afraid so. Hubert?"
"Yes?"
"Should I have accepted Maleficent's help?"
"Yes."
"I knew you'd say that." Stefan looked up at the hulking mass of the mountain ridges above him. In less than ten minutes, they would be at the castle. He realised his tactical error, but could not lose face and pull his army back now. Riding forward, Stefan led his knights onward. Hubert rode to the back of the column, urging the army on to support his ally.
As dusk gave way to night, the assembled army tried to squeeze into the remaining space that would have formed the old courtyard. Unable to fit inside the castle, the bulk of the infantry were left outside with the mounted archers. The knights and foot archers tried to find strategic positions within the ruins to set up. Stefan ordered torches lit around the courtyard and gradually the battlefield became brighter as more and more torches were set up.
"Dismount – send the horses to the back and draw your swords. Archers to the higher ground. Knights and infantry search the buildings for any goblins," shouted Stefan. His generals and captains relayed his orders as quickly as possible.
Maleficent urged Samson up the mountain, the three fairies now clinging onto his mane and listening carefully for any sound of battle.
"This is not how the attack was supposed to proceed. They should have come with more men and a stronger battle plan! They should have come earlier in the day," said Maleficent.
"What do we do?" asked Flora.
"I have no idea – I've never attacked this place. I know what won't work – attacking by night. And I could really do with a staff."
Up in the castle, Stefan and Hubert pulled up a trapdoor and signalled to their guards to check out the passageway below. The passage led into a storage pit, the cavernous walls forming an almost perfect sphere with no other doorways. They headed back to the surface and locked the trapdoor behind them.
On the broken walls, archers took up positions where they could snipe at any non-human movement. As Hubert and Stefan checked the trapdoor a final time, a scream echoed across from the far side of the castle. Twenty archers were thrown from a wall, falling beneath a horde of goblins. The battle had started.