"Do you have to go?" Aurora asked, nervousness and sadness in her voice.
"It will only be for a few days," Maleficent replied calmly, but she smiled to think that Aurora would miss her so much even if she was only going on a short trip. The Dark Fairy was headed back to the canyons where some of her fellow Dark Fairies had chosen to remain.
Even though the fairies were once again free to live in the upper world, some of them had grown so attached to the vast, underground network of caverns and caves below that they had chosen to remain under the Earth rather than moving back out above it. But some fairies had chosen to move back out and now there were little factions, clans, groups and societies everywhere. This was a wonderful thing, but it did mean that keeping in contact was a bit trickier than it had been required dignitaries and messengers who were willing to travel far and wide in order to keep connection and communication alive. Maleficent happened to be one of those travelers. Now she was headed off to visit the canyons.
"Ok," Aurora looked glum.
"Oh, come now, little Beastie," Maleficent touched the girl's arm affectionately. "You of all people should know how important it is that I do this. We are fellow queens now after all, aren't we?" she gave the younger woman a cheeky smile, hoping that by reminding Aurora that they were both amazing and powerful queens, she would ease some of the human's nerves. This only seemed to do the opposite.
"I know," Aurora heaved another sigh, shoulders slumping under Maleficent's hands. It was then that Maleficent began to realize that Aurora's unhappiness might be more than she let on.
"Beastie?" she asked, and even though she only said Aurora's nickname, the tone with which she spoke conveyed more than words ever could. Aurora knew at once that Maleficent was silently asking her to admit what was truly bothering her. It was just that type of bond the two shared. Words weren't always necessary for them to understand one another. It was a nice change from a few months ago when a miscommunication had nearly torn them (and their respective kingdoms) apart forever.
With this thought in her head, Aurora managed to finally force herself to confess.
"I just don't want you to leave," she admitted painfully. "I know you have to and I agree that you should, but every time I think about you leaving, I get really… nervous. I can't explain it, but even though I've known that you were going to do this for a while now, it always made me uneasy and anxious to think about. I've been dreading this day since you told me about it two weeks ago. I know it sounds silly to say 'dreading', but I can think of no other word to better describe it."
Then the young queen went on to explain some of her symptoms. Aside from the general nervousness and anxiety, Aurora would sometimes find it hard to focus on her tasks at hand because her mind would be so full of Maleficent. She'd be in the middle of meetings and find her mind drifting off to all of her worries about Maleficent, and how unpleasant it was going to be to have the Dark Fairy so far away from her again. She found herself unusually snappish at some of her closest friends and allies. She felt withdrawn. She suddenly no longer took pleasure in the company of others.
And all of these mental worries began to cause physical issues too, like headaches, nausea and trouble breathing. Even if Aurora knew her fears were mostly likely unfounded (Maleficent was going to visit old friends, not heading off to wage war), Aurora couldn't stop fretting and wishing that Maleficent could be with her. The fairy hadn't even left yet and Aurora was already dying for her to come home again!
As Aurora admitted this to Maleficent, she began to wring her hands and her voice rose in pitches until she sounded seconds away from crying. Maleficent fought hard to keep a neutral expression. She didn't want to give anything away or let anything show, just in case it diverted Aurora from her own train of thoughts. But it was hard for the Dark Fairy to see her child getting so worked up. It went against Maleficent's every instinct to just let Aurora flounder, but until Aurora had managed to saying everything on her mind, Maleficent remained as stony and still as a statue.
As soon as it was all out, though, Maleficent's face instantly softened and she was swift to wrap her daughter up, both in her arms and her wings. Aurora felt instantly soothed. She was still shaking and panting slightly, but just the familiar pressure of Maleficent's arms, combined with the protected feeling Aurora got whenever Maleficent's mighty wings were wrapped around her and shielding her, the girl managed to calm down a little. The pressure behind her eyes decreased until it was bearable again and the two remained motionless in an embrace until they each finally felt ready to readdress the current situation.
"There, there, little one. Do not be afraid. There is no need to worry," Maleficent promised Aurora, crooning gently to her in a tone that she used for no one else. Not even Diaval ever saw Maleficent this kind, gentle, caring and soothing. Only Aurora ever did, and Aurora melted into each and every word. The words were not enough totally assuage Aurora's fears, but they were an excellent source of comfort nonetheless.
"I'm right here," Maleficent whispered into Aurora's hair, stroking her back slowly. "There is nothing to fear. Everything will be ok…" and the Dark Fairy continued to whisper all the soft nothings she'd heard humans use before until the last of Aurora's shaking finally stopped.
It was funny, Maleficent used to never understand the point of such trivial and obviously impossible promises, and she used to scorn mankind for offering up such empty comforts. But now as she stood there, hugging Aurora, she finally began to understand their appeal… and their unexpected effectiveness. Even if words could not fix a problem, the power they had to help a frightened heart grow strong could not be underestimated.
Once Aurora felt ready enough, she managed to reiterate some of what she had said before.
"I still don't understand it," the young queen confessed, frustration and shame clear in her voice.
"Separation anxiety," Maleficent replied gently.
"What?" Aurora blinked. Those were not words she had ever heard before. And she hadn't expected Maleficent to have an answer. But Maleficent only gave her a sad smile before answering.
"It is a condition the Moore-folk have been aware of for years," she said. "It is when the idea of someone you love going away becomes unbearable, to all the degrees you described. We felt this condition especially powerfully during the war against Stefan, because of how many of us would go to war and never return."
"But you aren't going to war!" Aurora exclaimed. "I have no reason to be afraid."
"Perhaps not," Maleficent admitted. "But mind does not always obey body or logic and you do not need a certain reason to feel the way you feel. Perhaps there is no real danger, but that does not make separation anxiety any less genuine. I know that some of the creatures of the Moores still deal with it even though we haven't had to face Stefan in six years now."
"And you think I have it?" Aurora asked.
"From what you have described, yes," Maleficent said.
"Is there any way to cure it?" Aurora began to look desperate.
"'There is no one true answer," Maleficent replied. "However, I could easily create potions and medicines that will help soothe your nerves. And I have no doubt that your castle apothecary must have something in the way of treatment. And even just talking about it will do wonders. You'd be amazed at the powers of communication." The Dark Fairy paused and smiled, remembering the days when roles had been reversed and it had been Aurora who had comforted Maleficent rather than the other way around. Talking alone would not help, but it could still be a huge benefit. Like Maleficent had said, there was no one perfect answer. Instead, it would be a mixture of things.
Aurora gave another defeated sigh, looking exhausted by the idea of needing multiple treatments.
"It won't be as if you will need to be in the hospital every day while I am away," Maleficent promised. "I merely mean that it will not be easy. But it is doable."
"I suppose that is good," Aurora echoed, looking as if she was trying to believe what she was saying.
"Talking to me was a good first step," Maleficent encouraged the girl gently. "Everything else will become steadily easier as you experience it."
And for a little while longer, the fairy continued to console and explain to the human until the human finally managed a smile. It was clear Aurora still was frightened by the idea of Maleficent leaving her, but Maleficent's advice had given her hope and relief, hope that this condition did not have to be permanent and relief that it wasn't some abnormality or failure on her part. To hear Maleficent explain what she had, and what its true nature was, was a huge source of comfort to the young queen and she finally felt a bit better. It was easier to fight once she had a name for her enemy. And it was even better to know she would not be fighting alone.
"It's like the old saying goes," Maleficent said as she draped a wing over Aurora's shoulders once more. They were not as stooped as they had been 15 minutes earlier. "Always together, never apart. Maybe in distance, but never in heart." and then as Maleficent placed a delicate but sincere kiss on Aurora's head, the young woman finally gave her first real smile of the week.
Three days later, Maleficent was still gone on her trip. Aurora couldn't help but feel the familiar worry stirring up in her chest and squeezing her heart and lungs, but even as she began to pace the castle floors and wonder about her mother's condition, she could still hear Maleficent's strong, confident voice echoing in her mind, reassuring her and calming her back down, giving her all the strength, courage and hope that she thought she lacked. It did not cure the problem, but it did help quiet some of Aurora's incessant fears.
Aurora smiled and took a deep breath. She felt ready to carry on with her daily duties, and this time, she was certain she would be more focused and pleasant than before. Opening up and taking some medicine for her anxieties had worked wonders. Even if she still struggled with this separation anxiety, it was a lot better now than it was before. In fact, she even amused herself with the thought that maybe she and Maleficent would be doing the exact same thing at the exact same time. Aurora was about to be talking to some dignitaries from a few kingdoms over. Would Maleficent be doing likewise? Aurora liked to think so. They were, after all, two amazing and powerful queens! So it made sense that they would be doing very similar work.
"And I have no doubt she is doing an excellent job," Aurora said to herself with a genuine smile. "Now let's see if I can match it!" then she scampered off to her next appointment with the energy she hadn't had since before Maleficent told her about her little journey. They might've been many miles apart, but they were still very much on the exact same page, and because of that, it was like Maleficent hadn't left at all.
Maybe in distance, but never in heart.
AN: For Gabbie, who wanted a "separation anxiety" fic. Please let me know if I misrepresented the issue in any way. And know that if you ever want to just vent or chat, I will listen. My inbox is always open.