Chapter 13: In Her Arms

''Uh... Yes, well, I... I wanted to tell you that, uh...'' Aurora sputtered miserably, looking at her feet.

Maleficent frowned before she turned towards the goblin who was averting her gaze in the most ridiculous way. At that very moment, if he could have just vanished into thin air, he would certainly have.

''Leave us,'' the dark fairy spat at him.

''Who... Me...?'' The little demon asked, his voice husky with fear.

''Why no! Of course not.'' Maleficent folded her hands upon her staff. ''I was talking about Satan, for sure...'' She smiled mirthlessly.

Aurora stared at her blankly. What was she playing at?

''Did... did you?'' Hector mumbled, looking up at his Mistress shyly.

''Yes, yes,'' the frightening woman nodded, her voice deadly cold. '' IDIOT! FOOL!'' She shouted suddenly, stretching her arms towards the sky in a threatening way.

The young woman took a few steps backwards while Hector stood still, unable to move, his whole body frozen in terror.

''Of course I was talking to you!'' Maleficent screamed, her terrifying voice echoing in all the dark halls and corridors of the Forbidden Mountains. She aimed her staff at her slave, a purple lightning escaped from its yellow ball and flew right towards him but fortunately, the electric ray hit the wall full force instead.

''Now go, before I eviscerate you myself!'' She knocked the ground with her scepter.

She had barely finished her sentence that the poor servant had already started running, leaving the two women alone.

Aurora let out a sigh of relief as Hector was gone and out of harm's way. She took a deep breath and looked up at the older woman.

''So...'' Maleficent tilted her head to the side as she finally focused her attention to the Queen. ''Tell me, Your Highness...'' She took a few steps towards the young woman. ''What is it you were going to tell me?'' She asked quietly, insisting on each word. Her calm voice sent chills down Aurora's spine.

You have to tell her... A little voice was whispering in her head.

She shook her head.

No, she wouldn't understand, I can't...

Of course you can! And you have to. You need to.

No... She won't believe me. She'll push me away again. I can't tell her.

Aurora cleared her throat and made a poor attempt at a smile.

''Uh, yes...'' She began hesitantly, trying to find the most suitable words. ''I... I wanted to tell you that... I...'' She interrupted herself as Maleficent crossed her arms upon her chest impatiently. Aurora struggled to swallow. ''I... I am thankful for what you did, I mean... I wanted to thank you for what you did to Phillip. I know you did that to protect me from him... And I know now why he never...'' She closed her eyes, slightly uncomfortable. ''I now know why he never forced himself upon me. Thank you, Maleficent,'' she raised her head, her purple eyes finally meeting Maleficent's dark ones.

For the first time in forever, the wicked fairy averted her gaze, turning away. If Queen Aurora didn't know her so well, she would thought Maleficent was feeling embarrassed. But if it was not the case, still, Aurora understood.

The young woman smiled and took a few steps forward. ''There is no need to deny it, Maleficent. I know it. And I mean it when I say... thank you.'' She gently posed her hand on the fairy's arm.

''There is no need to thank me, Aurora.'' Maleficent lifted her head, causing their gaze to meet again. ''Nonetheless, you must know that I was quite cruel to him.''

''Yes, I know.'' Aurora nodded reassuringly. ''But I also know you were punishing him because he hurt me. He tried to rape me and... he tried to take me away from you.''

Maleficent suddenly freed herself from Aurora's grip. ''And it would seem that he succeeded in the end.''

She started walking away when a sweet small hand grabbed hers.

''No, he didn't.''

The dark fairy looked down at the white hand embracing her own in silence.

''If he did, I wouldn't be here right now. You know that in spite of the spell Fauna used on me to erase my memories, I never stopped seing you in my dreams... I never stopped thinking about you. You have always been haunting my mind, and you always will. I have never forgotten you. That is why I am here now, right in front of you. I am not with Phillip. He tried to kill you, he is the Impostor. He thought he could fool me, and to be honest, they all did... He thought he could make me love him, but he failed. I don't want to be with him. I want to be with you.'' She shook Maleficent's hand tightly, as if emphasizing her words.

''However, I am afraid the Impostor as you said can give you more than I could ever do.'' The wicked fairy yanked her hand away from Aurora's in a sharp movement, causing the younger woman to startle.

''But... But I don't want what he might offer me...'' She muttered, looking down to hold back the tears which were pearling at the corner of her eyes.

Maleficent violently turned around to face her, her gesture joined by a noisy wrinkling of fabric. ''And what is it you want, princess?'' The dark woman snapped with no effort at kindness whatsoever.

The Queen smiled sadly as she reminded herself of how it was to be referred as 'princess' when she thought she was nothing more than a poor peasant maiden back then. Maleficent was the only one who called her like that, for she was the only one who ever told her the truth... but that was not the point. She was the only one who made her feel... unique, or maybe even special. And being called like that again, here, at the Forbidden Mountains, by Maleficent herself, permitted her to remember how it felt to be near the wicked fairy, to be under her influence, under her spell... to be her toy, her slave maybe. But at least, here, with here, she was her princess. She sighed deeply, before she finally gathered the courage to look up at the woman of both her craziest dreams and worst nightmares.

''You know exactly what I want... and you have always known. Haven't you?'' She murmured, her voice almost inaudible.

Maleficent grasped her staff tightly as her piercing black orbs bore into Aurora. She slowly took a step forward. The young woman could feel her impenetrable gaze on her skin as if it was burning it gradually, very, very slowly...

''What am I supposed to know, princess?'' Maleficent bent to level herself with the Queen.

Hot teardrops started flowing down Aurora's cheeks as the last walls shielding her finally crumbled. She closed her eyes, and all the barriers she had tried to build in order to be the perfect Queen she must be, in order to forget... All those walls fell down at that very moment.

''Please...'' She weeped, trying to keep her breath steady, to no avail. ''I... I know you... you know it... Please, don't... Don't make me say it...''

Unexpectedly, she felt a cold soothing touch as elegant green hands caressed her cheeks, wiping away the tears.

''I will not force you to do anything, Aurora,'' Maleficent whispered gently in her hear, while pulling away some golden locks from her face.

The fairy pulled back and moved away, leading towards the hallway.

''NO!'' Aurora's scream stopped her instantly, as if she were struck by lightning. She froze but yet did not turn around. ''Please... don't leave...'' The young woman's voice broke.

Maleficent heard a muffled noise, as if something had just hit the ground. She heard the girl sob in her back. She guessed Aurora had collapsed to the ground, she knew she must turn around and help her up. She knew she must hold her hands, take her in her arms... but she found herself unable to perform the slightest gesture. So she just waited for Aurora to break that unbearable silence.

''Can't you see, Maleficent?'' The Queen said quietly, her voice shaking madly. ''It's you.''

Silence took over the room once again. Maleficent did not even flinch. Her whole body was frozen in place, with both fear and desire. The fear to feel, the desire to love... She could not choose, for she could not understand.

She wanted to open her mouth to articulate just one single word... but she could not. Instead, she gritted her teeth, clenching her fists and stretched her arms to the sky.

She let out a deep, painful howl as she disappeared into a burst of green flames.

Aurora did not even bother to raise her head to check if the fairy was actually gone, for she already knew she indeed was. She could feel her absence, just as she had felt her presence.

She curled up on the stony ground and wrapped her arms around her frail and trembling body.

She let the teardrops fall as she understood Maleficent would never answer her.

Indeed, some things were meant to remain the same. For ever.


Maleficent was sitting on her bed, reading a thick dark-covered book, her perfectly shaped eyebrows furrowed. It was probably quite late in the night, but she couldn't find some sleep. If she was not so stubborn — proud — she would easily admit it was because of what happened earlier in the fortress' long and dark hallway which had witnessed Queen Aurora's breakdown, whereas the owner of the castle did not raise a finger.

The truth was Aurora's words were still haunting her. If she closed her eyes, she could see the Queen kneeling on the ground, crying her heart out, dying of waiting for an answer that would never come, because she, the Mistress of All Evil, was too proud to say what she really thought. And most of all, she was too afraid to confess what she felt towards that damned young woman.

So she had left her alone in the dark, in the cold, without another word.

And now she was supposed to forget everything about that fateful event and fall asleep as if nothing ever happened. She had tried to do so, of course — a little bit of cruelty never hurt anyone — but she had obviously failed.

As if Aurora's memory was not letting her in peace. Some kind of a revenge, maybe... She thought more bitterly than amusingly. Well, if the young Queen had planned to prevent her from thinking and acting sensibly, she could just stop that ridiculous game already because she had succeeded victoriously...

The wicked fairy sighed deeply.

She knew she should have told her while she was given the chance. But she had wasted it. And now, she had to sleep knowing that the girl probably hated her more than ever. Maybe she had just run away once again, like she did the first time she could not handle Maleficent's ruthlessness anymore. Maybe she had already reached the castle, maybe she had already rushed into her fairy aunts' arms, or her husband's...

And Maleficent shall sleep — or rather yearn for slumber — alone, like she always did for more than a thousand years. But even though it never bothered her, tonight was different.

Just the thought of Aurora gone for ever made her heart ache. She raised a hand to massage her temples, gritting her teeth with anger.

If only she were still here, I could go to her and...

She froze. She was certain that she had actually heard a low noise coming from the entrance of her tower.

''Maleficent...?'' A well-known sweet voice coming from the darkness confirmed her thought.

''Yes?'' She answered, her voice hoarse. She did not even dare to believe her ears.

Did the princess — the Queen — Aurora just enter my room without my permission?

''I... I... I am really sorry... to disturb you that... that late, but...'' Aurora mumbled, stumbling on her words.

Maleficent frowned. Why is she struggling so hard to talk? Is she that scared of me?

''But... I can't sleep, I... I am so... so cold...'' She finished lamely, as if afraid to face Maleficent's reaction.

The fairy's hands let the book fall on her lap, her mouth half-opened in recognition.

Of course. She is cold. She is human, and I barely gave her a thin cover made of cotton... Ah, what a fool! I should have guessed. I should have gave her something warmer, I should...

''Oh. Well...'' Maleficent began in a neutral tone. ''Do you want some more bed sheets and covers? I can give you some, if that is what you wish...''

She guessed as she heard the hesitant footsteps echoing in the dark that Aurora was coming closer to her bed, and consequently, to her.

''Y-Yes... But... I... I am sorry, I... I am so... so cold, I... I don't know if that will be enough...'' She sniffled.

She is shaking.

Maleficent clenched her fists on the linens. She had never felt so frustrated with herself in her whole lifetime, and Satan knew how long it had been. She was trying to figure out a solution which would solve that very common problem, but the sight of the Queen in front of her, in that miserable short torn nightgown, shaking violently and wrapping her arms around herself, was definitely preventing her from thinking wisely.

Of course, there were a thousand of solutions. She was the most powerful fairy of all, she could do anything she wanted. She had all the powers she needed, she was invicible, and yet... A young trembling girl in her chambers was enough to drive her into madness.

She wanted to give that girl the warmth she needed, the warmth she should have provided her. She had to protect that beautiful and fragile young woman. And the more she pondered the matter, the more it was taking over her mind... She craved to feel Aurora's presence near her.

''Come here,'' Maleficent ordered, even though her voice did not hold the authoritative edge it should have.

''W-What?'' The Queen widened her eyes in incomprehension.

''Come closer.''

Aurora did as she was told and moved to stand at Maleficent's bedside. She looked into the older woman's eyes in silence, waiting for her instructions. She did not seem to fathom what it was that the fairy expected from her.

''As you may have noticed, I am no human, Aurora. My body creates enough heat for a bed to stay warm, no matter the circumstances.'' Maleficent patted the empty place next to her. ''Please, Your Highness, lie down. I am not letting you die of cold in my domain.''

Aurora stared at her blankly. She did not know what to do. She couldn't believe her ears as she heard Maleficent's request, but her need for sleep and heat overwhelmed her fear and astonishment, so she quickly obeyed without a second thought.

After all, it was just in order to prevent her from dying of cold, nothing more... or wasn't it?

She lay down at Maleficent's side awkwardly. She curled herself up in the covers and smiled as she felt the warmth of the fairy's bed going through her whole body. Gleaming deep purple orbs lifted to meet the fairy's onyx eyes with relief and gratitude.

''Thank you,'' she murmured, closing her eyes.

She did not see the smile that graced Maleficent's gracious red lips. ''You are very welcome.''

Not a second later, Aurora had fallen into a deep sleep, and Maleficent could not help but watch the young woman in her peaceful rest.

She is so beautiful. At least, the Impostor did not manage to destroy that precious beauty...

She suppressed a growl of fury at that thought, but she did not want to wake up the sleeping beauty lying next to her, and so, she quickly chased that disgusting, disturbing thought.

She lay down as well and let her eyelids flutter closed, a light sigh escaping her lips.

Well, well, it seems fate has a great sense of humor...

Eighteen years ago, she wanted for that girl to die, and now she had just invited her in her own bed, how ironic.

Suddenly, her body stiffened, as a reflex. She felt a slight grip on her waist. She froze instantly, her eyes popping open in bafflement.

Gradually, without her noticing, the young woman had moved closer and wrapped an arm around the fairy's waist. Maleficent looked down at the Queen's unconscious body. Aurora let out a sleepy groan as her body snuggled into the older woman's chest. She rested her head in the hollow of the older woman's neck, as if that place had always been made for her.

And the dark woman could do nothing but open her arms and circle them around Aurora's smaller body in a protective way. She closed one hand around the Queen's waist and stoke her golden hair almost automatically with the other.

Maleficent closed her eyes again, sighing.

What am I doing? I am most definitely insane.

She widened her eyes in shock as she felt warm skin lingering against her neck. She looked down at the sleeping figure in her arms. Aurora was still asleep, smiling, sunk into a deep slumber. The Queen was just brushing her lips against Maleficent's neck unconsciously, but this innocent and harmless gesture did not miss to send shivers down her spine.

Oh, dear Satan. Please stop torturing me!

Finally, the wicked fairy was too tired to argue with her inner self and fell into a sleep like death. And, indeed, as she had said a few days ago...

For the first time in eighteen years, I shall sleep well.

And as did Aurora. For the first time in eighteen years, she was plunged into a dreamless sleep. No more frightening dark shape, no more dragon, no more sword, no more Impostor, and no more death. She knew the woman of her dreams did not disappear into a blast of green smoke, she knew Maleficent was alive, she knew Phillip did not kill her, for she was right next to her. And she was sleeping in her arms. She now knew she had found a shelter where her haunting nightmares could not reach her anymore. A place where she was safe and warm. A place where she could sleep peacefully, released from all her fears and demons. A place she was not willing to leave. A place in which she was willing to stay...

In her arms.


When Queen Aurora opened her eyes, she was alone in a dark tower. She slowly got up and looked around, frowning.

Where am I? This room doesn't look like the one Maleficent assigned me...

She suddenly realized she could not remember the last minutes she spent before she fell into a deep slumber. She indeed left her tower room, but where did she go after that? She only could remind of fear, anticipation, cold, and then...

Oh my God. How could I do that? Oh my God, oh my God! I slept in Maleficent's chambers, oh no! I slept in Maleficent's bed, and I...

Aurora froze in terror.

She fell asleep in Maleficent's arms. And the wicked fairy would probably never forgive her for this. She will never let her approach her anymore.

Well, that is normal after all. I shouldn't have... I should have controlled myself, I should... Oh, but it felt so good!

The young woman closed her eyes, remembering the warmth and strength emanating from Maleficent's body as she held her tightly in her arms. She felt safe, protected, and...

Aurora opened her eyes abruptly as a disturbing and yet obvious thought came to her mind.

For the first time in eighteen years, she had a dreamless sleep.

But... What does that mean? Does that mean... No. It can't be.

However, it seemed it was. The Queen let herself fall down on the bed as she finally was able to face the truth.

The only way to prevent myself from being plagued by horrible nightmares is...

To sleep in Maleficent's arms.

As she thought about it, she found herself not so distressed about that frightening and puzzling revelation... But why? The curse was broken, she had found the woman who had been haunting her dreams since always, she had finally vanquished her worst nightmare... She was supposed to be free from all this! Then why? Why was she still bound to the fairy, and above all, in the most odd way?

What if there was more than a curse between her and the older woman?

Now, I guess I will have to figure this out myself.

She straightened up in a sharp movement and exited the fairy's quarters. She climbed down the stone stairs in record time and as she finally reached the throne hall, that was when she saw her.

Maleficent was nonchalantly sitting on her throne, her gaze set absently on the horizon. She seemed so lonely, so empty...

Aurora walked towards the Mistress of the Forbidden Mountains with firm steps.

''Maleficent,'' she called, and her voice had lost all of its hesitation.

The older woman slowly turned her head and slightly bowed to her.

''Your Highness, I am glad to see you are awake,'' Maleficent replied in a resonant voice. ''But please, take a seat.'' She gestured towards the throne she had built for her.

The Queen obeyed and sat next to the fairy in silence. She looked into Maleficent's dark eyes with determination. The wicked fairy arched a questioning eyebrow.

''What is it, my Queen?'' She asked in a regal tone.

And suddenly, Aurora was trapped into the depths of those dark endless pupils as her purple eyes locked with Maleficent's. She wanted to avert that piercing gaze, but her body just could not obey her. She was hypnotized by those black eyes which managed to set her whole body and brain on fire with one single glance. And she lost all her composure.

''Nothing, I... Uh... I know I fell asleep, uh... yesterday...'' She sputtered miserably. Maleficent smirked, which only made her feel more uncumfortable — if this was even possible — and leant in closer. ''I know I fell asleep in your arms last night, and I... I want to thank you — No! Uh, I mean... I want to apologize for that. I know I shouldn't have, but...''

The fairy let out a low, rich chuckle that caused Aurora to shiver in anticipation.

''Oh, please Aurora!'' She waved her hand dismissively. ''Spare me your lame excuses. Do not try to fool me, I know you feel absolutely no remorse about that.''

''No, I don't— No! I mean, yes I do! But I liked it, and...'' The Queen interrupted herself, a hand flying to her mouth in shock as she realized what she had just said, but it was as if her mouth was not part of her body anymore and acted in command of its own free will. ''Wait... what? What did I just say?''

She slowly looked up at Maleficent, afraid of how the fairy would react to that awkward and incomprehensible attempt at an explanation. The older woman was just glaring at her in silence, her eyebrows raised and her eyes glowing with a strange, fiery spark.

Aurora did not look away and clasped her hands in her lap, waiting for the wicked fairy to say something, anything. But she did not. Instead of that, she burst out laughing.

''Well, I see someone is struggling to speak her mind,'' she mocked her ruthlessly. ''How quaint. But now, I need you to answer one single question.'' Maleficent abruptly turned towards the Queen, raising one red-nailed finger.

Aurora swallowed hardly and nodded.

Maleficent cupped her chin with her thin long hand, forcing the girl's frightened gaze to meet hers.

''Why did you snuggle in my arms in the first place, since you knew very well I would not be very pleased by that sudden and unwelcome outburst of... affection?'' The fairy asked quietly, her face only an inch away from the young woman's.

The Queen averted Maleficent's insisting gaze and her eyes got lost in the sight of the fairy's red lips.

''Uh, I... I don't know, I... I wasn't really aware of my actions, so... I only did what my body wanted me to do, and...'' She muttered, her voice shaking. She looked into the dark fairy's eyes, then she lowered her gaze to the scarlet lips, and back to her eyes again. ''I don't know. I... I guess I just felt it was perhaps where... where I was meant to be.'' Finally, Aurora locked her eyes with Maleficent's, never so certain, so strong.

This time, it was the fairy who looked away and pulled back in a blink of an eye. She leant against her stone throne wearily, as her gaze set upon a far imperceptible point at the back of the immense room.

Aurora sighed, already filled with regret as she understood she better never had confessed her deepest desire to the wicked fairy. But she thought that even if she might have made a terrible mistake, it was worth it nonetheless. After all, she had the right to tell the truth, as much as Maleficent had the right to know it.

The Queen stood up and moved away from the two thrones. She lead towards the corridor.

''I could say I am sorry for feeling that... But you know what? I won't. Because the truth is, I don't feel sorry for anything,'' Aurora said in a firm tone which was very unusual of her, looking over her shoulder, trying to spot a reaction on Maleficent's impassible face. ''No. Instead of that, I never felt so good and happy, because I never slept so well in my whole life — and still God knows I have slept a lot, and I must admit it was mostly because of you — because I never had one dreamless night in my entire miserable peasant and princess life!'' She shrugged her shoulders with rage. ''Yes, I know what you're thinking. You cursed me to die and then to sleep for all eternity, and now, thanks to you, I can manage to sleep without having one single nightmare! Quite ironic, isn't it? I am sure you already thought about this. But that is the truth, as crazy as it may sound. And now...'' Aurora turned around violently to face Maleficent.

She slowly gestured towards the fairy's throne and stopped right before her, looking down at her, an eerie gleam of anger and passion dancing in her purple-blue eyes.

''For once...'' She leant closer to the older woman, ''you are going to answer...'' She spread her arms around the fairy's body, placing both of her hands on each stone armrest, ''my question.'' Aurora's burning gaze met Maleficent's puzzled one.

The dark fairy remained calm despite the Queen's close proximity and she managed to look up at the body which was looming over her, her red lips pursed into a mischievous smirk.

''Well, I guess I have no other choice but to grant your wish. And what would be that question, my Majesty?'' She whispered smoothly, licking her lips defiantly.

''Did you really dislike feeling me against you, sleeping in your arms, defenseless, at your mercy? You could have pushed me away and sent me back to sleep, you could have done everything... but you didn't. If you did dislike it, then I'll surrender and go back to my chambers right now, like the good girl I am. But if you didn't... well, then at least, I would know I am not getting totally mad. So tell me, Maleficent, did you like it?''

The fairy's eyes slowly drifted downwards as her eyebrows quirked together, frowning as if she was suddenly plunged into a deep reflection. She pursed her red lips into thin line that spoke of clear discontent. She opened her mouth, finally decided to talk, but something prevented her from doing so and she instantly shut her mouth.

Aurora shook her head sadly and slowly straightened back. She sighed again and turned away, ready to leave Maleficent and fulfill her part of the deal, which consisted in going back to her room and stay there, maybe forever... who knew?

But her movement was interrupted by a deep, resonant voice she had learnt to adore.

''Yes, I did,'' Maleficent finally answered, lowering her head as in defeat.

The dark fairy looked at Aurora, her endless pupils filled with conflicted thoughts and emotions the young woman could scarcely put a word on.

The Queen slowly turned to face Maleficent again. She gave her the most beautiful and genuine smile the wicked fairy had never seen.

Maleficent clenched her fist on her staff and gritted her teeth as she watched Aurora leaving the throne hall in her usual light and graceful steps.

It seems you have finally won. Are you happy now, Ô my dear Queen?