The next day, we went to Aurora's christening.
"Maleficent!" Merryweather cried out, stunned to see me.
"You made it," Queen Leah was overjoyed to see me again.
King Stefan saw me holding the small child in my arms and asked, "When did you have a baby?"
I smiled and said, "I wouldn't miss this special occasion for the world."
King Stefan nodded and added, "Have you a gift for my daughter?"
I nodded and drifted closer to Aurora's cradle. Before I offered my gift, I turned to Queen Leah. "Could you hold Elphaba for a minute, while I give my gift to your daughter?"
"Precious Aurora, I grant you the gift of incomparable cleverness," I chanted a new spell I'd invented the night before for her gift. "No one in all the land will be able to outsmart or fool you."
King Stefan smiled at me and then noticed the bruises on Elphaba's arms and legs.
"Maleficent!" he roared. "Why does this child that you were carrying have bruises on her arms and legs!"
I hesitated and said, "Well, actually, your Majesty, I was planning to return later and talk to you about those very bruises. I did not do it. It was her father, Frex. If I had been there at the time of her mother's death, I could have taken her away much sooner."
"What are you talking about, Maleficent?" Fauna asked shocked.
"I'm Elphaba's legal guardian, appointed as such by her late Mother, Melena Thropp," I explained.
Flora gasped in shock and asked, "How?"
"I'll explain later, Flora," I said, off-handedly.
King Stefan looked at me and said, "Maleficent, I want you to stay late, with Elphaba. I will do everything in my power to help the two of you."
I smiled, gratefully at the king.