Diaval gave her a tender kiss and gazed at her full of longing. He couldn't let her go, even if it was just for a short time. "I don't want to go", he murmured, his arms clutched around her waist. He placed feathery kisses on her neck and enjoyed her soft chuckle. To him it was the most dazzling sound in the world. He loved every inch of her. Every sound she made, every gaze she gave him, every touch she gifted him. How could he stay away from her?
"And I don't want to be parted from you. But godmother will be here any minute and we don't want to be late to our own wedding, do we?", she replied with a soft smile.
"I'm afraid you're right. I don't want Maleficent to catch me in your bedroom", he admitted sheepishly and scratched his cheek.
Auroras gave him a playful smack on the arm. "Don't be silly. I'm sure she knows about out relationship. Otherwise she will be quite surprised when she walks me down the aisle in a few hours", she joked and freed herself from his hug, although she would rather drag him back to bed. Enjoying the soft sheets and his warm body a bit longer.
The thought of hundreds of people watching her as she walked up the aisle made her nervous. It felt just like her coronation. She nearly fainted that day, but Diaval had been at her side the whole day. His smile had washed all her worries away and he still had this effect on her.
"You know what I mean. Ever since it's official, she stares at me with all her fury in her eyes like I dishonoured you", he replied anxiously and pulled her in his arms once again to snuggle up to her, which made Aurora laugh once more. He was a silly lovestruck bird after all.
Since the day he laid eyes on her he had knew, that he would always protect her. He was four years at that time. Old enough for a raven, but as a human he had many things to learn. Within the years Aurora had taught him so much. She had taught him how to read and to write. Taught him how to dance and how humans express themselves. And she had taught him how to love like a human.
Oh and what a wonderful feeling it was. He fell in love with her and didn't even know what it meant. She was his best friend, his playmate, his human side. But she became so much more over the years. She became his queen and the centre of his life. On one day, when they were strolling over the marked of Perceforest, her arm tucked into his, it hit him like a thunderbolt. He was in love with her. Just like in all stories she had read to him. Just like the happy couples who passed them. And he had told her.
Aurora laid her hands on his cheeks and kissed him softly. "You worry too much about her. You know how she is. She just wants to protect me, it has nothing to do with you", she whispered and gave him another kiss before letting him go. "Go now, pretty bird. We will meet at the altar."
For a moment Diaval gazed at her like enchanted. His heart skipped a beat and for a moment it felt like a dream he never wanted to leave. Since he asked her for her hand in marriage, it felt never more real than in this very moment. Soon they would be officially husband and wife for the humans. "We will meet at the altar", he echoed. The next moment he was a raven once again and flew through the open balcony door to the lonely bedchamber that was his.
He had left the windows open so he could easily come back. But the bedchamber was just a farce for the humans. He had never slept here, instead he always flew to Aurora's chamber for the night. They hated to be separated, so they never abided to the human provisions. As a raven he saw themselves as married long ago anyway.
Humming he took off his clothes and eyed the garment his chamberlain had brought in the evening before. Maleficent had made it for him and he appreciated her effort. It meant a lot to him. He knew she didn't do it just to please Aurora. The clothes she made for him were special. They fit him perfectly, matched his raven form with little details like feathers and the exact colour of his plumage. She wanted him to be happy as well.
Even if she didn't admitted to approve of their relationship, he knew she wasn't really affronted by it. Aurora was right, she just wanted to protect her.
Before he dressed himself, he changed back into his raven-self. Even if he would participate in this ceremony in his human-form, it was all too natural to him to preen himself as a bird. There were things he couldn't abandon so easily. He liked to groom himself in his natural form more than in his human form. Even after all those years the human body was still odd to him. It seemed so impractical. Long limbs, holes and strange bumps everywhere. The human body had no hint of the elegance the raven body had.
But of course Aurora was the great exception to him. Her body wasn't odd. She was perfect in every way. Love made blind, he knew. Otherwise he couldn't explain why of all things he fell in love with a human.
When his feathery shone brightly, he transformed into his human-self again and put on the garment Maleficent made for him. As he looked at himself in the mirror, his heart fluttered nervously. Suddenly it was like his dream became real. He would marry Aurora. Would be at her side for the rest of their lives. It seemed so unbelievable. But he also would become King of Perceforest and the Moors. One of the things he'd like to go without. He had no clue how to be a King.
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he ran his hand over the silky gown which lay over his shoulder, decorated with shiny black plumes. His heart raced in his chest. His hands shivered in anticipation.
A loud knock on the door startled him. "Come in", he shouted and turned around to get sight of Philip.
The prince gave him an amused smile and entered the room. "You look good. Are you all right?", he asked concerned.
"Yes, yes! I'm good. Just a bit nervous." Diaval turned to the mirror again and surveyed himself once more.
"I'm sure she will say yes, if that is what you are anxious about", Philip mocked with a big grin on his face.
"Oh shut up, princeling! That's not what I meant.", Diaval laughed, shaking his head. Although the banter of the prince helped him to calm down, he knew his heart wouldn't quieten down until he stood at the altar with Aurora at his side.
Philip looked at him for a moment and smiled. "Everything will be perfect, believe me. Let us take a walk. It is still time until the wedding ceremony begins. Maybe it will reassure you a bit before you faint", he suggested.
They left the castle and walked through the gardens. With every step, Diaval seemed to be calmer. But his heart beat loud as it did before. He took his nervousness as a good sign. It was a big step they made. He wanted to witness every bit of it. He wanted to be nervous. He wanted to feel every electric pulse rushing through his veins. Wanted to feel human all through. With every quiver, every tremble.
"I'm glad you're here, Philip. It means much to me and of course Aurora", Diaval stated and gave him a smile.
"You two are my friends. I would never miss your big day. I am really happy for you", the prince replied and returned his smile.
"I'm quite nervous being King of Perceforest and all. I don't know if I can be such a good ruler as Aurora or you", he admitted sheepishly. "Aurora assured me that I will do a good job as a king. I learned to read and write. I was in all council sessions since she was crowned, but I have much more to learn. I know nothing about ruling humans. In fact I know nothing about ruling at all." He shook his head and sighed deeply. His eyebrows were furled and he kept gazing into the distance.
Reassuringly Philip laid his hand on his shoulder. "You will be a good king to your people, I am sure of it. You did already so much to help Aurora and you did everything to learn about the people of Perceforest. They love you very much. Do not be worried. Aurora will be at your side and I will be there for you too. It is not like you do not know all this things already. It is nothing new. Except for the responsibility you will carry. Soon you can decide as much as Aurora can and maybe the council will expect you to contribute a bit more than before. But you will not be alone in this."
Philip sounded so convinced Diaval had no choice but to give him a consenting smile. Maybe he was right. He learned so much the last years. He was always at Aurora's side. At every decision she made and every plan she had. It wasn't new to him. No real challenge. Or so he hoped.
"Thank you. I'm afraid I just have to go along with it, hoping I won't destroy the whole kingdom", he joked and a broad grin appeared on his lips.
"You won't. Otherwise I will annex Perceforest and dethrone you and Aurora before that happens", Philip replied and raised a laugh. The hearty laugh of the two men spread over the gardens and soon they had all eyes of the guards on them.
Diaval suppressed his laugh and he looked at the prince with a toothy grin. "Try it, princeling. I won't let you dethrone me that easily."
When they finally arrived at the richly decorated site of the gardens, where the ceremony would be held, Diaval's nervousness was gone. Philip hugged him tightly and pat him on the back. "I wish you all the best, my friend", he whispered before letting him go.
It was strange for him, walking up to the altar, so many eyes on him. The guests greeted him with broad smiles and admiring glances. Some women were giggling and chatting as he walked by. It felt so unreal. As if his feet didn't reach the ground. As if he was floating. A strange dream with too much people watching him. Maybe he would actually faint. His heart fluttered like a little bird. He felt the shivering of his hands, reaching for his chest. He breathed in deeply, hoping to gain his calm once again. His head felt light and dizzy.
And then he reached the end of the aisle. He stood before the altar, feeling nervous all over again. Waiting for his bride-to-be. Waiting for the love of his life to become his wife. Waiting for Aurora.