A.N: Hello my beautiful readers, I'm glad to say that I've only slept half the day away. Only, I went to the doctor and one thing lead to another and now I'm on IV drip because I can't keep anything down. So that's unfortunate, but I have lots of time!
Disclaimer: I do not own Maleficent and all rights go to their respective owners.
...
"Oh! You two are so cute!" Aurora chirped, a bright smile on her face as she ran towards her godparents.
Maleficent's cheeks turned a slight shade of pink as her and Diaval not-so-discreetly let go and separated.
"No, no! Don't stop!" Aurora cried, a small pout on her pink lips.
Maleficent, finding her bearings, smiled at the girl and lead her to the hill's top.
"Come, sit with me." She offered, and the blonde obeyed.
"Don't you want to be with Diaval?" Aurora teased, turning her head towards the faerie.
"Quiet yourself, Beastie. Your hair is a mess, have you brushed it at all?"
"In my life Godmother, have you ever seen me brush my hair more than twice a week?"
"Living under those three idiots? No, I haven't. But, you live here now, and your hair will be well taken care of."
"Please Godmother," Aurora drawled, rolling her eyes. "I hardly think it'll make a difference."
"Your hair is too pretty not to take care of." Maleficent said, a brush appearing in her flattened palm.
"Oh," Aurora exclaimed, taking the brush from her hand. "Godmother it's beautiful."
The brush was golden, with crystals along it's base. The bristles were the softest Aurora had ever felt, it took her breath away.
"You see? Give it here, I'll brush out your hair."
Aurora complied, handing the brush back to her godmother. As Maleficent untangled her hair Aurora watched the Moors.
It was as beautiful as it was magical.
The grass seemed greener, and the sun brighter, but maybe that was only Aurora.
Her gaze moved, a contented smile on her lips.
"Godmother, your kingdom has beauty beyond compare. It's like a dream."
"I know Beastie, it's brighter with you here." Aurora smiled brightly, but the smile faded slightly.
"I miss my aunts Godmother."
"Then I'll arrange for a visit."
"Really? Just like that?" Aurora turned her head in a wondered amazement, but turned it back when her godmother gently pushed her chin back.
"I only wish for your happiness Aurora."
"And Diaval's..." Aurora slyly finished. "Ow! What was that for?!" Maleficent had pulled her hair. She turned her body fully around, a disbelieving look on her face. She grabbed her head.
Maleficent smirked.
"Oops, must have pulled on that knot a little too hard. That's what happens when you don't brush it."
Aurora huffed, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Your hair is done, run along."
"Godmother, you pamper me. Probably more than they would at the palace."
"You're a princess here Aurora. Never forget that."
"But you're a queen."
"I claimed that throne for myself, but really I am only a protector."
"The Moorfolk respect you enough to bow to you."
"They are frightened of me Aurora." Maleficent smiled sadly, stroking Aurora's hair.
"No, they respect you. I bet your hair is beautiful Godmother, may I try and braid it?"
Oh how easy it was for the little beast to so lightly leave one subject for another. She lifted the faerie's heart and spirit.
"Of course, I find it increasingly hard to deny you these days."
The girl smiled and chuckled, an almost golden glow coming about her.
Maleficent reluctantly unwrapped the leather from her head, letting the hair inside fall down her back. Few had seen her hair, many less touched it.
Aurora was amazed at the sight. It was more beautiful than she had thought, and it framed her face perfectly.
Aurora gently began to braid it, but even after she finished the length was still down most of her godmother's back.
"Look at you two..." Diaval said, stumbling up the hill. He stopped when his mistress turned her head towards him, a wide smile on her face.
Diaval cleared his throat, finding the words catching in his mouth.
"Doesn't she look pretty?" Asked Aurora, jumping up and running towards Diaval. "Look she did my hair too!"
"Indeed, I see you've learned from her how to fix such beautiful hair."
"Mhm, pretty isn't it?"
"Oh most definitely." Diaval replied, patting her head.
The young princess looked from her godmother to the man, a knowing smirk on her face.
"I think I'll go explore the Moors a bit. See you two at sundown?"
Maleficent nodded her head, gracefully standing up.
"You may go everywhere you wish," Maleficent told her Beastie, "Except into those woods there. Do you understand?"
"Yes Godmother, I understand." Aurora said, though her head turned in curiosity.
"Aurora," Maleficent said sternly, "I want you to promise me this."
"Alright Godmother, I promise." Aurora was confused, what possibly could be dangerous in the Moors?
"Go enjoy yourself then."
Aurora nodded and ran down the hill, stumbling a bit but able to keep her footing.
"What lays in those woods Mistress?" Diaval asked, moving to stand beside her.
"Creatures not worth telling of."
Diaval furrowed his brow in confusion, but also curiosity.
"Shall we take a walk then Mistress?"
"Isn't that what we were doing before Beastie interrupted us?"
"I suppose."
The two began to walk, making idle small talk.
"I went to spy on Stefan today."
Maleficent stopped dead in her tracks, her head turning dangerously towards Diaval.
"You what?" She said lowly, her eyes narrowed. Diaval knew he was in trouble.
"He plans to come back to the Moors, to attack the wall until you come out again."
"Are you crazy? You went back there after he'd captured you?! You could of been recognized!"
"I was looking out for Aurora! He wants to take her away, and kill you! Surely knowing his plans will help." The man defended, hoping to sway her.
Maleficent took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm.
"Yes, it helps. Thank you Diaval." She forced a grin and began to walk again.
"So you're not mad?" He asked reluctantly.
"No, I am very angry. I'm merely boiling it down."
"Oh." Diaval meekly said keeping his head down as he walked beside her.
"I can't lose you, Diaval." She said after a while in silence, "You were my rock when I was alone, before Aurora. If you hadn't been there, I sometimes wonder if I would of thrown myself from a cliff."
It was Diaval's turn to stop in shock.
"You've thought of throwing yourself off a cliff?" He asked, his eyes wide.
"If I was to die, I'd want it to be in the air, experience that heart pounding moment one last time."
"That's not the point, you've thought of taking your own life?"
"Diaval, you've known me longer than most, you knew how far gone I was when I placed that curse on Aurora."
"Mistress..."
"It's in the past Diaval, and I only ever wondered at it. Like I said, you kept me from succumbing to my darkness." She said this so lightly, it disturbed Diaval.
"Well then I am glad you saved me so many years ago."
"Even though I've turned you into a dog, numerous times?" Maleficent asked jokingly, switching the subject to something lighter, more fun.
"I could of done without that, but all in all I think it's been a pretty good run. A much longer run than any other raven has had."
"Though I really wish that sometimes you would learn to keep you vanities to yourself." Maleficent said, again in a joking manner.
"My beautiful self could not be contained forever Mistress."
Maleficent smiled and laughed, shaking her head slightly.
"I think I'll bathe for a while Diaval, perhaps you could keep an eye on Aurora."
Diaval bowed his head obediently, turning away from the faerie. He felt himself being transformed into a raven, and so he flew away. Off to find the wandering princess.
...
"Well what do you think are in the forbiddon woods?" Aurora asked Diaval, as the two sat and ate peaches from a tree in a nearby farmer's garden.
"Your Godmother said that there are creatures in there not worth discussing."
"That makes me even more curious!" Exclaimed Aurora, sprawling herself out on the ground. "But I can't go inside, I gave Godmother my word."
"What are you suggesting Aurora?" Asked Diaval, noticing the glint in the girl's eyes.
"You don't need to go into the forest, just fly over it!" She said, an excited sparkle in her eyes. "I just want to know what's in there."
"Flying over it won't give you those answers. Only more curiosity, and I doubt Mistress will condone it."
Aurora huffed but nodded her head.
"Guess what I did today." She prompted, turning over onto her stomach.
"What did you do today Aurora?"
"I visited the most beautiful orchard. There were blossoms everywhere!"
"Mhm..." Mumbled Diaval, only half listening as the sun's warmth lulled him to sleep.
Aurora sighed and finished her peach, rolling her eyes as the man slept. Looking at the sun she decided she had some time before sundown, she could go to the stream perhaps.
...
"Is this how you watch over Aurora?" Asked Maleficent, smirking as she prodded Diaval with her staff.
Diaval opened an eye, and upon realizing what was happening scrambled up.
"Mistress! Uh, I was with Aurora. But then uh-" He stumbled for words, feeling like a complete buffoon.
"I know, she told me as much." Maleficent smirked, her eyes playful instead of hard.
"Is it sundown already?" Diaval asked suddenly, desperately trying to change the subject.
"It is." Maleficent replied, looking up at the skies.
"So Aurora's...?"
"Back in the tree, she was rambling about how 'pretty the blossom orchard was,' I had to get out of there."
Diaval chuckled, finding himself able to breath again as the spotlight was turned away from himself.
"Diaval, did you ever see my wings in your visits to the palace?"
Diaval knew better than to lie, but he couldn't tell her while looking into her eyes. He was a coward like that.
"Yes Mistress, in the King's... trophy room. He talks to them like they are you."
"Oh." Maleficent got out, she'd known the answer, but some part of her was still bothered by it.
"I would of told you sooner, but-"
"I understand Diaval." She cut in, patting his arm before walking away.
"Mistress..." He called out to her, releaved when she turned instead of ignorng him.
"I'd gladly show it to you one day."
"You'd risk your life, to only show me something lost eighteen years ago?" She asked incredulously.
"Of course, so that you could rest peacefully."
The faerie smiled, her eyes brightening again. Diaval felt accomplished in every way.
"I suspect that day won't be soon, but I thank you for the offer."
"I said anything you need Mistress. You need your wings." Diaval smiled back at her.
Maleficent walked slowly back towards him, stopping mere inches away.
"You've been my wings for a very long time," Maleficent started, taking his hands in her's "and with you I don't need the ones stolen from me."
It was then their mouths slowly came together in a gentle kiss. That gentle kiss was deepened, and soon the faerie, and the man, were on the ground. Maleficent's arms wrapped around his neck, and his gently rubbed her hips.
Somewhere between kissing and rolling down the hill, Diaval stopped.
"Are you happy Mistress?"
"Happier than I've ever been before."
"Should we go back to Aurora?"
The faerie debated it in her mind before answering.
"She's sixteen, she'll be fine alone for a while."
Diaval smiled, before pulling her back into his mouth.
A.N: And... Another filler chapter. I just didn't want to introduce another protagonist, then have it do something directly in the next chapter, and totally forget about my first protagonist.
Also, there was lots of fluff in my story, not a lot of romance. So with nearly all my 'fluff and romance' juices burned out, expect an angsty next chapter.
Please review, and thanks for reading!