Author's Note: This one is for one of my anonymous reviewers, milarion1234. milarion1234 asked me to do one like this. Hopefully, it's satisfying and enjoyable. :)

I Promise

"Maleficent!"

His own voice sounded so far away. It felt like he was somewhere else entirely while his voice was in a different location completely. It was as if everything was moving in slow motion. That was how it was; that was what it felt like.

In raw horror, he witnessed the iron blade pierce the winged woman in the stomach, the weapon protruding from her back with positive ease. He watched as the one he held dear to his heart gasped and convulsed in bewilderment, fear, surprise, and pain.

He watched as she collapsed.

He stood there, staring, disbelief tearing through his soul. His heart slammed against his chest violently and it felt as though it were going to rip in half.

This couldn't be real.

His dear one wasn't on the ground with an iron blade in her stomach. She wasn't gasping feebly as she bled on the grass. There wasn't a scared and confused man standing above her with mild curiosity swimming in his eyes.

It was real.

With a wordless cry of anguish, Diaval found himself surging forward, his legs moving without his consent. He reached his destination and shoved the man standing over his lover. The man cried out and fell back against a tree. Diaval completely ignored the perplexed man and fell to his knees beside his Maleficent.

"Maleficent!" Diaval gathered the bleeding faerie into his arms. "Maleficent! Maleficent!" His voice was broken and breathless, remorse and panic evident in his tone.

Maleficent did not answer. Her eyes were starting to glaze over and she was beginning to lose consciousness. Diaval hugged her closer to him, tears finally escaping his eyes and rolling down his cheeks.

"Maleficent, please…please Maleficent…!" Diaval begged, gently shaking her to keep her awake. His eyes moved back to the iron blade that was still plunged into her stomach and he softly laid her back down on the grass.

"What is that thing?" the man that had pierced her with his blade asked, getting back to his feet. "I was just minding my own business and then I see it come out of nowhere. I had no choice but to defend myself. I didn't want to die."

Diaval whipped his head around to give the man a very dark and murderous look, which caused the other male to take a frightened step back. "Get out of here before I kill you!" he hissed violently.

The man wasted no time in skedaddling.

Satisfied that he was gone, Diaval slowly removed the iron blade from within his lover's stomach. The action caused her to scream in pure agony and it broke his heart, hearing her scream. After it was out, he pulled the limp Maleficent back into his arms, standing to his feet and holding her close to his body.

"I will not allow you to die," he whispered to her, running through the Moors as quickly as he could. "I promise you, love. I promise you."

Maleficent could barely hear him. Her vision was turning dark and it was becoming harder and harder to breathe. Her limbs felt numb and she just felt like going to sleep, wanting her pain to end.

Eventually, the darkness grabbed her…

…and she opened her eyes again.

Surprisingly, her eyes were open. She was lying down beneath a tree, feeling incredibly weak. There was someone above her…Diaval. His hand touched her cheek and she sighed pleasantly from the feeling of his hand on her cheek.

"You're awake…" Diaval said softly, his voice broken. Tears gathered in his eyes and they freed themselves, gently flowing down his cheeks. "You're awake," he said again, gathering the female into his arms.

It was then that Maleficent remembered everything. She remembered the feeling of the iron weapon piercing her stomach and almost shivered in horror at the memory. However, there was a very warm and content feeling brewing from within her as she relaxed in Diaval's arms, her eyes closing.

Diaval had saved her.

"Diaval…?" Maleficent whispered against his chest, her voice muffled.

Diaval gently stroked her hair, kissing her forehead. "Yes, love?" he questioned.

"I love you."

Diaval smiled tearfully and pressed a kiss to the woman's cheeks, her nose, her forehead, her chin, and her jaw. When he was done, he stared into her eyes, relief decorating his facial features.

"And I love you, Maleficent," he told her sincerely, his arms tightening around her. "I promise to never let anything happen to you again. I promise you."

Maleficent smiled softly.