Hurricane

Chapter 5: Fear

"Godmother!"

Maleficent turns her attention to the loud voice. She smiles as she sees Aurora running to her. She braces herself for the hug that is to come.

"Oh Godmother, I missed you!" The little beastie enthusiastically says after releasing Maleficent from her embrace.

"And I you, my dear." Maleficent looks down on her warmly and ruffles her hair. They sit down and Aurora immediately launches into her stories she has obviously been itching to share to her godmother. Maleficent patiently listens to each one, no matter how random they were. She revels in the palpable joy Aurora just conveys in her words and expressions. They talk of laughable matters first, stories that are amusing and lighthearted. Maleficent knew she'd get the more serious stories after a while. They delve deeper into their conversation; before long it was whittled down to what Aurora wanted to talk about the most: Phillip.

"He's been nothing but a gentleman, godmother, and I truly enjoy his company. He is a good conversationalist and he manages to keep up with my zealousness that a lot of people sometimes find tiring."

"You certainly are too energetic, my girl." She smiles fondly. "Does he make you happy, Aurora?"

"He does, godmother." Aurora gives her a tender smile. The beastie is obviously lovestruck.

"What are your immediate plans regarding the young prince? How will you proceed from here?" Maleficent warily questions. She's happy that the beastie is happy but she's young and new to the intricacies of romantic relationships.

"Phillip has asked his parents to come down and visit us so that they can properly meet me. I was also wondering if you could visit me in the castle during that time, Godmother? It would really mean a lot to me if his parents meet the one that raised me. You should bring Diaval, too! After all, he's been like a father to me as well, and it wouldn't do to introduce only one parent when I have two." She puts on a sweet, innocent expression, clearly manipulating Maleficent into saying yes. She need not have done that because Maleficent would have said yes, anyway. Has she ever denied this girl anything?

"Of course, child, I will be there. I'm sure Diaval will be delighted that you thought of bringing him as well."

"It is only right that I do, Godmother. I'm sure he would have come anyway even if I didn't ask him. He rarely lets you out of his sight, have you noticed?" Aurora's smile turned impish. Maleficent prepares herself for what is to come.

"He is used to watching me because it was what he did when he was still my servant. He needed to be attentive so that he will know when I require something from him."

"Is that really all there is to it, Godmother?" She knows what Aurora is implying, but she plays dumb.

"It is all there is to it."

"Oh come on Godmother! Don't tell me you have not the slightest idea what I'm trying to say!" The beastie, bless her heart, is getting hyped up now.

"I really don't, my girl. Go on, enlighten me." Aurora pouts, knowing her godmother is doing this on purpose.

"What I'm saying, Godmother, is that Diaval is in love with you! And I know you love him too! I've always thought the idea of the two of you together is one of the most romantic things ever and I always wished for a man who will look at me the way Diaval looks at you!"

Maleficent laughs at the girl's enthusiasm over this matter. In all seriousness, however, she is aware of Diaval's affection. He has been quite obvious about it, although he has never pressured her into responding. Something Aurora said then registers to her.

"Aurora, did you say you know that I love Diaval? Where did you get this notion?"

Aurora gives a sigh that indicates her frustration with Maleficent's purported cluelessness. "I have been on the receiving end of your acts of caring often enough to recognize when they are being given to someone else. You have always been considerate and concerned for him. Also, he is the person closest to you, no? You may say you love me best, but I know he is the one you trust the most. He knows you intimately; I have often marveled at the way he is so attuned to your every move. You've granted him access to the most vulnerable parts of you, be it conscious on your part or not. Besides, you can't spend almost twenty years of your life with someone without feeling at least a semblance of attachment to them!"

Maleficent is surprised by her words. She has always seen Aurora as a child but perhaps she has underestimated the latter's observational skills and depth of understanding. Her words had definitely hit home. Still, her face darkens as she quietly declares, "The last time I let someone close to me, child, he cut off my wings."

Aurora frowns and looks Maleficent in the eye. "Godmother, are you seriously comparing King Stefan to Diaval? I thought you had more sense than that." Maleficent barely controls her irritation at Aurora's impudence. What could the child know about the pain of betrayal? She was loved by everyone she meets. She only needed to say the words and people would answer her beck and call.

"It is only my affection for you that stops me from calling out your impudence, beastie. You've only ever known Diaval and I for the longest time. The first time you fall in love, you find someone who cares for you just as much. You are surrounded by people who adore you. You are blessed. But not everyone shares that blessedness. Some people, they fall in love only to have their love stepped on and defiled. This is the only time I will talk about my past, so I want you to remember this. When you allow yourself to love someone, you are opening yourself up to hurt. You are practically handing your soul to someone in the hopes that he or she would take care of it. There are people like you who would probably never have to worry about it. However, there are also people who do not have a choice but to guard themselves against it."

Aurora tentatively lays a hand on her forearm. "Do you honestly think Diaval would hurt you, Godmother?"

"I do not know. It is not worth the risk to find out." She hears herself talking and she recognizes a shred of her true emotions lacing the words. Aurora's face registers the slip-up and she decides to go all in now that she's been caught, just so that the girl will understand her logic. She puts her hand on top of Aurora's, on her forearm.

"Aurora, you should know by now that you could break me. If something were to happen to you, if someone were to take you away from me, I would be irrevocably broken. It is the same for Diaval. You are right; I do care for him. But at this point my heart is so weathered that I am wary of letting another person have the power to break me as well. If he were ever to betray me… it would inflict on me wounds far deeper than those your father gave me." Her firmness is a mask for the inner turmoil in her heart, the absolute terror she has due to the possibility of Diaval betraying and leaving her.

Aurora is silent, contemplative. She picks her words carefully. "I am going to push my luck and be completely honest with you, Godmother. I think you're too late."

"Too late? What do you mean?" Maleficent asks, bewildered.

"You're too late in shielding your heart! I think by now you've already given Diaval power over you. And it's not necessarily a bad thing, Godmother, for I know you hold the same power over him, too! You've always had." She ploughs on, "it may be that you never wanted to let him in, but he already is in here"- Aurora places one finger on Maleficent's chest over where her heart should be- "and so the only thing left to do is to enjoy the implications of that."

Maleficent softly murmurs, "enjoy the implications?"

"Yes, Godmother. Be with him in the way you want to be. Enjoy the feeling of love, and succumb to all it entails."

The words are a little too sentimental for her, but Maleficent admits that there is wisdom there. Maleficent has always been afraid of her growing affections for Diaval but Aurora was right- the feelings are already present and there is nothing she can do about it. The only thing that would make all the hesitation, confusion and self-inflicted agony worthwhile is if she makes the most out of her situation. Her musings are interrupted by Aurora.

"I trust that I've given you something to mull over, right? However, if that doesn't convince you, then this should: do you trust Diaval to protect you from harm, Godmother?"

"Of course, my child. I do, and always will, trust Diaval with my life."

"Then it should only be a small matter to trust him with your heart!" Aurora finishes with a triumphant grin, and the last vestiges of fear flow out from Maleficent's heart. She's been an idiot all this time. To trust Diaval is not to base her trust on something shallow, like the hope of romance, but on something concrete- a life lived together. She almost feels like crying in relief and gratitude for her little beastie. Instead, she stretches out her arms, and Aurora willingly steps into the embrace.

She realizes years later that this entire conversation was a premeditated, calculated move on Aurora's part when she accidentally finds out Diaval had been eavesdropping that day. She does make Diaval regret his audacity, but as for Aurora, she can only say, "Well played".

A/N: A little Malora family fluff for you all. This chapter goes out to Alana White, who gave the "fear" prompt (although this was written before the prompt was given). Still, thanks for reviewing and I hope this was good enough.

I wonder if interest is waning, not only for this story but also for the entire fandom. It makes me think about the sustainability of fandoms centered around a single movie. This is the stuff I like to think about. :)

Please please please leave a review and tell me what you think of this! Constructive criticism is welcomed, but please no pointless flames. Cheers!