A.N: First of all, like always, thanks for the support. Secondly, my school break is over tomorrow so this daily update thing is probably going to stop. I'll try to keep my updates as quick as possible, but like I said, it probably won't be daily.
Disclaimer: I do not own Maleficent and all rights go to their respective owners.
...
Diaval, in his human form, searched the palace in quite a panic. He felt like he had checked everywhere, his mistress was no where to be found.
In the back of his mind he thought the worst, if she wasn't being held prisoner, then was she even alive?
Diaval couldn't take that thought, it wasn't fair. She couldn't tell him that she loved him, kiss him, and then die.
It wasn't fair.
...
"Tell me how to get my daughter back."
"I don't know! If she wants to come back she can!"
Maleficent recieved another kick to her stomach, her arms buckled under her.
"Stefan, the only thing I care about is her happiness!"
Maleficent heard the sound of a blade being drawn, and she tried to shrink away. She would never admit it, but the continuous torture had worn her down to the point of fear.
"You've still taken my daughter Maleficent..." He growled, taking her arm in his.
"Stefan... You don't want to do this."
"I think I do, I've wanted to do this for a very long time."
The King slowly cut away her sleeve, stroking the inside of her wrist. In her weakened state, he was able to slip more of the poisonous liquid down her throat.
Her body lost it's struggle as the vile liquid took her energy.
The blade entered her skin, cutting and burning her at the same time.
"You haven't mutilated me enough?" The faerie mumbled, trying to draw her arm in.
"Shh... I'm almost finished. You don't belong in this world, in your world, you don't belong anywhere." His voice almost sounded soothing, had he not been carving her arm. "But don't worry, you won't be in any world soon."
He finished, leaving her on the floor once again. With the slam of the large wooden door Maleficent sighed in defeat, knowing of the death she would soon be granted.
...
Diaval had traveled this palace many times, but he never felt so lost. Turning a corner he found himself smashing into a guard. His helmet was knocked off, allowing him to get a clear view of Diaval's face.
"Hey, I know you!" Exclaimed the guard. Diaval scrambled up, looking around for a weapon. He took a small stone figurine from a table, smashing it over the guard's head.
"Sorry." Diaval said, taking the guard's armour. "But my mistress needs me more than you need this."
A few moments later, Diaval was moving around the palace successfully. With his disguise, no one stopped him.
He stopped and leaned against a pillar, sending his fist into the stone.
"Mistress, I swear if you're dead..." He murmered, pushing himself off of the wall.
Perhaps he would check the lower castle corridors again, just for safe measure.
Trying to look as casual as possible, Diaval walked down the stairs leading to the under castle.
He sulked down the dingy dungeon floors, feeling sorry for those entrapped in the cruel king's prisons.
Wait, he hadn't seen this side corridor before. Diaval's heart raced as he pushed open the wooden door. The lack of light took him by surprise, there weren't any windows in this room.
"He's not going to kill me himself?" He heard a weak voice say, obviously in pain.
Diaval approached the voice, his eyes adjusting. After recognizing the form and the voice he rushed to her side, putting a hand on her arm.
Maleficent flinched back, a new burn spreading on her arm. Diaval looked down at his hand, disgusted with himself for hurting her. He pulled away the armour, pushing it to other side of the room.
"Mistress, it's me, Diaval."
The light from the opened door casting dark shadows onto her already hollow face. She pushed only her head up.
"Diaval...?" She whispered, not believing it was true, that it was merely a hallucination.
"I'm here," Diaval replied, watching as she pushed herself up. "We need to go."
She nodded in agreement, gesturing with her handcuffed hands to her legs.
Diaval nodded, crawling along the floor until he reached the discarded armour. There was a sword he knew, and when he drew it it felt heavy in his arms.
"Mistress, don't move."
He swung the heavy sword down and it clashed with the chains along her legs, causing sparks. It didn't break the chains, but weakened them, and it took a hard pull from Diaval to snap them.
After her arms were free he tried to help her up, but she couldn't stand.
"Why haven't your wounds healed themselves?" He asked, gently taking her palms in his hands. She flinched back, her wounds still sore and sensitive.
"Moonroot extract I think, it drains magic. He gave it to me."
"Alright." Diaval scooped her up, carrying her out of the room into more light. She wrapped her arms around his neck. His heart stopped as he saw the extent of her injuries. "I'll kill him. I swear to God..."
"Diaval..." Maleficent moaned, her arms falling limp by her sides. "Could we just go home?"
"Of course."
Diaval shifted her arm onto her chest, staring quizzingly at the bareness and the bloodiness of it.
He slowly turned it over, a curious part of him wanting to see the wound. The sight of the wound made him see red, and he tensed.
"Diaval?" Maleficent asked weakly, and he snapped out of his rage.
"Right, let's go home."
As he carried away his mistress, he couldn't get the bloody word 'Evil' carved into his mistress's arm out of his mind's eye.
...
Diaval stroked Maleficent's face gently, he watched her as she peacefully slept. Her magic hadn't returned yet, so her wounds hadn't healed. Diaval hoped it would return before she saw the message on her arm.
"Is she any better?" He drew back his hand quickly, smiling at the young girl.
"No," he sighed, "but she will live. She'll need more rest to completely heal though."
"Oh, it's okay you know. I've been watching you for a while." She gestured to his hand, softly placing it on her Godmother's forehead.
"Oh no, she wouldn't want me touching her."
"She kissed you didn't she?" Aurora argued, smiling at the devotion in his eyes.
"She thought she was about to die Aurora."
"Well I don't think she'll mind, but if you insist..." Aurora mischievously smirked, sliding off the tree.
She wasn't surprised when she peered through the bushes and found Diaval stroking her Godmother's face again.
...
Maleficent was still sleeping by the time the sun went down. It worried Diaval immensely, she'd been brought to the Moors just as the sun was rising.
"You're sure she's alright?" Aurora asked, also getting worried.
"I've examined her wounds, she shouldn't have anything life threatening. I think she's just exhausted, mentally and physically. Also, without her magic she doesn't have the energy levels she's used to."
"You should sleep, Godmother won't want you staying up for the sake of her."
"No, I need to be here when she wakes. You sleep though, your Godmother will kill me when she wakes up and finds you awake."
"Fine." Aurora huffed, moving away from the faerie and the man. She curled up into a ball, and before the sleep world took her she mumbled, "Love you two."
Diaval's head whipped towards the girl, but she was already sleeping.
"Come on Mistress, wake up."
He gently kept urging her, holding her hand as if it was his lifeline.
He closed his eyes, keeping her hand in his. His eyes slowly opened when he felt a cold touch wrap around his hand.
"You look worse than I do..." Maleficent mumbled, a grin spreading along her face. Her green eyes shone, and Diaval had never felt so relieved.
"Oh I highly doubt that Mistress." Diaval replied, feeling like he could breath again.
"Are you insulting me?" She jested, her smile widening.
"It's hard to compete with my beautiful self."
"Perhaps you shouldn't think so highly of yourself. You'd make a fine dog."
Diaval scowled at the memory, but it wasn't a true scowl.
"So," Maleficent's eyes flicked towards their intertwined hands. "Are we...?" Diaval got the picture.
"Only if you want Mistress. But you should know," Maleficent felt her heart beat faster, in... nervousness? "I never got to reply, and I do love you. I've loved you for a very long time."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up in hope, and her heart calmed. "Because, if you don't want to-"
"No, no Mistress. I know my strange human feelings, quite well. I love you, and I'll shout it out for the Moors to hear. That is why, I am remaining your servant, no matter how much you tell me I'm free. Because I'm not free, you've taken my heart."
Diaval leaned towards her, but hesitated before going any further.
"You silly bird, kiss me." Maleficent said before letting her mouth hit his, again.
Maleficent forgot about her past, her wounds, her betrayal, it was just them, together. Both knew that's how it should be.
A.N: Happy? I know I am. Thank you for your kind reviews, and all your support. A special thanks to DancingKitKat for reviewing on every chapter posted, you rock.
More fluffyness coming up in the next chapter!