As soon as Aurora and Maleficent landed at the flower throne, they were accosted by a trio of pixies.
"We have your crown dear! Oh you look dreadful! Your hair is an absolute mess. We must get you cleaned up before the humans arrive. You can't greet these people for the first time looking like you slept in a tree." Knotgrass fussed loudly while Thistlewit and Flittle nodded in agreement. Aurora and Maleficent exchanged amused glances while Aurora tried running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to make herself look presentable.
"Let us help you dear." Flittle said eagerly. "We can just use a little magic."
"No." Maleficent, who had stepped off to one side to give the other fairies some flying room, moved toward the group once more. "No, I'll do it." she stated.
She slowly circled Aurora, looking her up and down as though taking mental measurements, coming to a stop directly in front of the blonde. Her hand filled with golden light and she blew it towards Aurora. The light swirled around her, beginning at her head and traveling downward. Aurora gasped as the light touch of Maleficent's magic swept through her hair, taming knots and forming sleek curls that cascaded down her back like a golden waterfall. The sensation continued as the magic transformed the simple dress she wore into a gown fit for a queen.
When it was over, Aurora ran to the edge of the rock platform to examine her reflection in the calm water. Her hair was partially pulled back in a braid that wrapped from front to back on both sides, joining in the back in a jeweled clip. The braid itself was also studded with jewels that twinkled like stars in the bright morning dress was a simple but regal gown, a perfect match to Aurora's blue eyes, with delicate golden accents that resembled the gold leaves in her crown.
Maleficent watched Aurora admiring her handiwork with a mixture of sadness and pride. "You look like a queen." she stated softly.
Aurora turned and gaped at her. "It's beautiful, Maleficent. I don't know what to say."
"Consider it a going away present." Maleficent replied.
"Our little Aurora, so grown up." Thistlewit said beaming.
"Come along dear, let's get your crown on. I can hear Balthazar and the guards coming. They'll be here any minute." Knotgrass urged. "Put your crown on."
Aurora took her crown from the pixie and placed it carefully on her head. Maleficent simply stood back and stared at Aurora like she had never seen anything quite so beautiful in her life. Aurora turned toward Maleficent and asked "Well, what do you think?" but before Maleficent could answer, the guards and their human charges came within sight. Maleficent's gaze hardened with distrust and she stepped closer to Aurora until she was directly behind her right shoulder. She spread her wings and held them open. The effect was threatening and would also aid in a quick escape if she needed to take Aurora to safety.
"It will be ok." Aurora murmured over her shoulder, sensing the fairy's unease. "You said you trust me."
"I do trust you. It's them I don't trust." Maleficent snarled under her breath. Reluctantly she took a step back and closed her wings. They stood silently and watch the group approach the throne. Diaval lead the group and when he stepped onto the stone platform, he went over to stand next to Maleficent. Two of the tree guards moved to stand on either side of the throne, while the other two flanked the group of humans.
Aurora stepped forward and addressed the group. "Welcome to the Moors."
Many in the delegation who had been looking at their surroundings with awe, turned their attention to their new queen. It took no more than a split second for them all to realize who was standing with Aurora and their eyes widened with fear. Maleficent's frown deepened, but Aurora continued as though nothing had happened. "I hope your journey was comfortable. I believe you're here to take me to the castle?"
"Yes Your Majesty." replied a dark-haired man who had recovered himself more quickly than the others.
"What's your name?" Aurora asked.
"I am Samuel, ma'am. I became Captain of the Guards after King Stephan's men were...uh...injured." Samuel glanced nervously toward Maleficent whose face was unreadable.
"It's nice to meet you Samuel." Aurora smiled reassuringly at him.
Diaval stepped forward and said "Queen Aurora, I thought you should know, we checked everyone for iron at the border like you asked, but none of them carried a single weapon and their shields are made of wood."
"It's true Your Majesty. We brought nothing into the Moors that might injure the fair-folk." Samuel added.
Maleficent raised an eyebrow in surprise and studied Samuel with a reappraising stare. Aurora simply beamed. "Oh good! I'm glad to hear it. That means more to me than you can imagine. Now Samuel, I want to introduce you to the Captain of the Guards here in the Moors. His name is Balthazar."
Balthazar stepped forward from his place near the throne and inclined his head in greeting. Samuel returned the gesture nervously.
"I'm sure there will be times when you two will need to work together so I thought you should meet. He and the other guards will come with us to the castle along with your men." Aurora continued. "Before we go there is one more thing I need to do and you all need to see. As you noticed, this is Maleficent." Aurora gestured to the dark fairy.
"While I am in the human kingdom, she is the official Royal Guardian of the Moors. While I am in the Moors, she is my protector. She has my complete and unconditional trust." Aurora turned and looked into Maleficent's eyes and finished, "Always."
Samuel and the rest of the group stared at their young queen as though she had grown a second head, but they wisely said nothing. Maleficent flicked her eyes up from Aurora and pinned them all with a challenging look.
Aurora went on, "As a symbol of my trust and of the respect due to her based on her place in my kingdom, I give her this necklace. It is a symbol of her authority and our connection." Aurora reached back around her neck and unhooked the golden necklace.
She stretched out her arm to hand it to Maleficent but instead of simply taking it from her, Maleficent gracefully kneeled, swept her hair to one side, and looked up at Aurora expectantly. Aurora carefully place the necklace around her neck and smiled. Maleficent stood and returned the smile before stepping back again. Diaval elbowed her in the side repeatedly until she turned and snapped "WHAT?" Diaval said nothing but gave her a knowing look. Maleficent rolled her eyes and gave her attention back to Aurora who was addressing the humans again.
"...she is under my protection at all times, whether I'm in the Moors or not. Ok?"
The guards simply nodded in agreement and then, lead by Samuel's example, they all turned and bowed respectfully toward Maleficent. Maleficent could not have been more stunned. It was at that moment, she truly began to have hope that the human kingdom could be redeemed.