MALEFICENT

I awoke to a certain heaviness in my chest. And as much as I knew exactly why, it caused me pain to think about it. Diaval. He was no longer mine. He was free now, and I could not guarantee how much longer I would see him. The moors were a large place, stretching for thousands of miles, some even I had never explored. If he so desired, he could avoid me for the rest of his life, easily. And I feared that fate greatly.

It is a remarkable bond, between a master and servant. However forced they may begin, they are not easily broken, and now I was feeling the link between us get weaker and weaker.

I am ashamed to say that thoughts of Diaval overrode my mind all morning, until I could no longer stand it. I had to find out if he'd left. I made my way to his nest, walking fast, and then slow; anxious to see him, but nervous to find him gone. I couldn't find the strength to fly. In the end, I made it there in little over half an hour.

The nest was empty. Suddenly my heart quickened and I felt many feelings. Panic, disappointment, fear, and anger. But that anger was not directed at Diaval. Oh no. It was directed at me. Anger for holding onto him so hard that he left as soon as he could; without even saying goodbye. Anger for acting so violently in front of him and scaring him away from me forever. Anger for… anger for… anger for a feeling I couldn't explain.

Tears began to gather in my eyes. I know I would have cried right there had I not heard the soft footsteps on the ground behind me. I whirled around to find Diaval, standing no more than five feet from me.

"Diaval!" I exclaimed, stepping back slightly.

"Hello mistress."

"Diaval… you can't call me that anymore."

"Oh right. Hello Maleficent."

"Where have you been?"

"I went to eat breakfast. Picked some apples. Is there a problem?" Diaval question, raising his one eyebrow. It made him look slightly questioning, and almost sarcastic.

"No. I just figured you'd be long gone by now," I replied inquisitively.

"Gone!?" he laughed, "Where would I go? This is my home! I have a nest, and a nice tree, and friends, and…" his voice faded out as he studied mine. "Did… did you want me to leave?" he asked softly.

I felt my eyes widen. "Goodness no, Diaval! I just thought you may want to get as far away from me as possible now that you were free."

Diaval stared at me intently. He said nothing. I watched the expressions on his face flash from confused, to hurt, to disappointment. I stared back until I could no longer take the silence. "I am going to visit Aurora now," I announced. As I walked past Diaval I brushed his cheek lightly with the back of my hand, and I walked off at a steady pace.

DIAVAL

Her touch on my cheek was something very unexpected. Never did Maleficent express feelings with physical touch. It was rare and even rarer than rare. And yet she purposely reached up to touch my cheek. It was the gentlest of touches, and her hand was softer than raven feathers.

If only she knew what it did to me.

Maleficent was a confusing being. So sincere and breathtakingly beautiful, yet so cold and harshly terrifying when she wanted to be. 16 years I spent with her, and was no closer to figuring out the thoughts behind those starry eyes. It drove my mind crazy.

I pondered her response to me, before she left in a rush. Was it some sort of sarcastic response? Did she really believe I would just leave, after all we had been through? Not likely.

Maleficent was a very difficult person to serve, not because she asked for outrageous orders to be done, but rather because she was like two different people. The one I hated and the one I loved.

Yes. I hated Maleficent at one time. I pitied her, but I still hated her. The things she had done seemed unforgivable in my opinion, but this hatred was always followed by an underlying feeling of love. There was a side to her that was soft, funny, and gentle. She looked after the moors like each and every part was her child. So protective. So fiercely loyal. She truly had a great capacity for love, even if she hid it.

That was the Maleficent I loved, and knew that nothing she did would ever make me change my mind. Love is a strange feeling, in that you don't get to choose who you love.

Even now, as she began to leave her harsh self behind, my love for her has only grown. But it is a foolish love, for loving Maleficent is like loving a spirit of energy. There is the sound of her, the sight of her, even the smell of her, but never the touch.

I realized long ago that Maleficent would never love in the way that most did. Looking for love in Maleficent was a barren future, and I gave it up almost instantly.

Until now. No touch from Maleficent had ever been made on purpose. Sure, she'd fell into me once or twice, or I tripped over a twig and bumped into her. But nothing like this touch.

I didn't know what to think. And being a bird originally, I have never been one to think about things in general. Acting on instinct was familiar with me. So I did exactly that.

I walked off to find Maleficent. I needed to find the meaning behind this, or my heart would forever ache from what might have been.