Hurricane

Chapter 7: Tenderness

There is nothing gentle about Maleficent. The structure of her face, her posture, even the numerous lines on her palms- they all indicate strength, power and formidability. She was a force to be reckoned with, and her beauty is as harsh as it was potent. That is what everyone sees anyway.

Still, this hasn't stopped men from asking her for a dance all night. Maleficent and Diaval's presence had been requested by Queen Aurora for a fete held as part of the thanksgiving festival the kingdom is observing for this year's harvest and agricultural produce. Maleficent has always endeavored to look presentable in these palace celebrations but he reckons she looks positively glowing tonight, if the amount of attention she is receiving from the opposite sex is anything to go by. Ever since they arrived she'd been engaged in conversation by many people, and a couple of men had actually dared to ask her for a dance. Diaval is silently brooding in a corner, watching his mistress be led by another in a waltz. He refuses to acknowledge that this is distressing him immensely.

"What are you doing here by your lonesome, Diaval? There is a celebration to be enjoyed!" Aurora suddenly startles him back to reality.

"I am merely taking a respite, my queen." He murmurs.

"Really, Diaval, do not be so formal with me! You never were, so why start now?"

"Alright, I'm sorry."

Aurora shakes her head. "I think I know what this is about, Diaval. If you dislike seeing Godmother dance with everybody else, then why don't you ask her yourself?" She says teasingly.

"Why should I? I would not want to sully her enjoyment." He tried not to sound so morose, but he fails miserably. Aurora, impudent girl that she was, had the audacity to laugh!

"Oh Diaval, I don't think I've ever heard you sound so bitter before! If you stop moping around, you can see that she's just trying to be polite to the guests. Look." She points at her godmother and the man she is currently dancing with.

Diaval hesitantly focuses on them, this time actually studying his mistress. She was dancing with some foreign dignitary and they were conversing. However, Aurora's right- there is only politeness in her face. Her back is also stiff, and she is trying to maintain a distance between herself and her partner. She's so formal it almost makes Diaval feel stupid for sulking.

"If I were you, I'd save her from the boredom and dull conversation like a good friend." She stressed the word friend and Diaval just smiles amusedly. Aurora rubs his shoulder and leaves him to do what he needs to do- what he's wanted to do all night. He walks to where his mistress is.

"May I cut in?" Maleficent and the man she's dancing with turn to look at him. He almost laughs at the relief in Maleficent's eyes. The man frowns but concedes. Diaval takes Maleficent's hand in one of his, the other on her waist. Maleficent places her other hand on his shoulder while saying "What took you so long?"

"Didn't think you'd want me to cut in." He murmurs. Maleficent raises one eyebrow.

They fall silent for a while, bodies swaying to the music, then she says, "I want to help Aurora strengthen her kingdom by establishing good ties with these foreign dignitaries. I am trying to be on my best behavior and I am even making an effort to be interested in what they have to say. However, it is such an arduous task! All they want to talk about is themselves, their accomplishments and contributions to the politics of their kingdoms." She looks so annoyed that he laughs.

"It is in the nature of men to be vain. I thought you'd be used to it by now, after being in my scintillating company for so long." He quips in jest.

"It is being in your company for so long that makes them unbearable, you know. I already have one incredibly vain companion; I've no need for more." His mistress rolls her eyes. This is an opening, he thinks, and he decides to take this opportunity.

"Ah, so you're content with just me, mistress?" He's trying to maneuver the conversation in a new territory and he knows Maleficent would see through this. The sides of her mouth upturn into a small smile. He expects her to shoot him down with a witty barb. Her answer is much better.

"I daresay I am." His eyes widen in surprise, but he grins and in a surge of boldness he places the hand he's holding on his shoulder, so that both his hands are on her waist now. He pulls her a little closer. Maleficent merely raises an eyebrow at his actions but doesn't pull away. The distance she maintained with her other partners are nonexistent between them, and her posture is relaxed. Her face is open, free. And her eyes- there are no masks that can hide the fondness in them at this moment. This is his Maleficent, he realizes. This is the side of the faery nobody is allowed to see but him. She's gentle, vulnerable- tender. His lips unconsciously form a gentle smile. She questions him what it is that amuses him, but he only shakes his head and touches his forehead with hers. Her arms move to encircle his neck, hands intertwined at the nape. With a smile of understanding on both of their faces, they let the music wash over them.

Not too far away, Phillip and Aurora were sharing a dance themselves.

"Your godmother and Diaval make quite the interesting picture", Phillip whispers in Aurora's ear. Phillip points them out to Aurora with a nudge of his head. Aurora sees them and her eyes widen both in surprise and pleasure. A mischievous smile graces her features.

"Do you know what this means, Phillip?"

"What, my darling?"

"I get to plan a wedding!"

Phillip can only laugh helplessly as she gets hyped up talking about the necessary arrangements for the "most amazing wedding to ever happen in this kingdom". Oh, what he wouldn't pay just to see Lady Maleficent's face when she hears of this!

END

A/N: Sorry this took longer to upload than usual! I wanted to upload this when I've written Chapter 10, but then chapter 10 was taking too long (it's still not written yet!) so I just decided to put this up and deal with my writer's block in my own time.

This goes out to braveravencall from tumblr. Thanks for the prompt! For those who send in prompts, make sure they're "emotion" prompts rather than mere word prompts to keep with the theme of this collection.

I could never say thank you enough for your kind words so far. We're halfway through, actually. :)

Please tell me what you think of this! Cheers!