Maleficent and all its content belongs to Disney. References and other mentioned names, products, brands and all other licenses belong to their respective owners. I only own my OC's and storyline. This story is purely written for entertainment and hobby purposes. English is not my native language.
Thank you for giving this read a chance, and I hope you'll enjoy reading this.

Summary : When Stefan takes her wings, Maleficent vows her revenge on all things human. When she wanders alone and wounded she encounters another victim of his betrayal. The only problem : this victim is human and he decides to stick around. A human who is so tempting to take, to kill, to destroy… But to betray? Never. AU; eventual Maleficent/OC

Warning : mentions of violence, strong language

Hominis Proditam.

High above them, a crow was trying to shut out the screams beneath him as his mistress was having her "fun". She could just as easily have killed them in a jiffy, but she needed some dramatics. She enjoyed toying with her prey like a cat with a mouse. Especially when that mouse still tried to escape, not realising it had been caught long ago.

Further away, a figure of a young blonde man with a scarred face and a running wolfhound hastily took their retreat, eager to get out of here.

Chapter 5 : Evan and Agdar.

It was late in a cloudy afternoon when a black bird dove down and glided over the misty banks towards a hill. And on top of the hill, twisted and grand stood a structure that could be shaped as a tall throne, sharp and foreboding. Whichever ruler chose such a throne was skilled in the art of intimidation, and the dark faery, the most powerful of all the lines of the fae had mastered it. The bird planned to land carefully on the right armrest but before he reached it a flick and burst of golden light changed him to his man-shape. The reigning figure barely moved, but her powerful and cold gaze was suddenly turned on him. A command resounded in the silence.

"Report."

"Caw, caw, cach- could you please not rob me of my wings before I reach the ground but after? It would be much nicer if you waited until I landed safely and then- "

"I. said. report."

"Errr, yes. Of course my queen. Not much has changed since the last report. Men and women and all other two-leggers at the court are squabbling as always but the common opinion and business seems good and still very fond of their new king…" he brought out carefully and tense afraid of her lashing out but there was no reaction of the sorts.

"Go on."

"Their queen's pregnancy seems to be going along nicely, although there are bad tongues distributing some rumours that chances of a miscarriage are high… apparently that used to run in the family. Bad blood or something. The previous king was the only one out of four who survived". Once more there was no reaction.

"The only thing that remains is the continued voices of this 'Agdar'. That's all."

It was silent for a moment as he waited for his dismissal or next order. He hoped the first. She cocked her head slightly sideways while getting a cunning glint in her eyes.

"Elaborate."

"I mentioned him before. The first time I heard of him was when that horde came from the campfire outside the borders and tried to get in before you had your… entertainment." A amused sneer betrayed her stoic form. She found the memory entertaining still. "He comes from outside the kingdom… Vallis, Silva, what was it? That place where the blondie and his monster from hell came from. So, the court thinks of him as a dangerous criminal and the king was all… nervous and twitchy at him being mentioned. As if he was about to lay an egg the size of his head. He has increased the bounty on his head, but what is a bounty and why would he place a one on his head?"

"A bounty is a reward."

"Yes yes yes, I get that. But if he hates him, why give his head a reward?"

"T'is not for his head birdbrain. T'is for the person who brings his head."

"But why would they only want his head and not the re… Oh. I see. That's not nice of them."

She snorted, both amused and annoyed, and sunk in her thoughts and schemes while the bird-man next to her continued blabbering. Seven minutes later he was still going strong.

"… You see, it is the eye-balls that are the delicacy of a corpse. Is that why they want the head? Perhaps they give it as a reward? Is that the bounty? The best part of the meal? Would be an honour of course, getting that from a king. Or do they give a bounty because they want his eye-balls? Seems like a lot of work when there are already so many eyes right there, right mistress? Perhaps his are special? Or do they- Caw! Caw! Cach clergh cacow caw caw! Caw!"

"Cease your mindless chitters, close your little beak and be silent, or I will melt it shut!"

He obeyed immediately. He didn't think she would bother melting his beak together though. Turning him into ash with was easier. She dropped back to her thinking pose after her small outburst pondered further, not bothering with the shivering bird next to her.

"I need more information on this… Agdar. He is an unknown player and I dislike dwelling in unknowns." She muttered. Her mind went on but recalled that entertaining memory from earlier once more. The first time Diaval had heard of him was that night where she stomped off the blonde boy. She knew he stayed around her borders often but he was apparently smart enough to stay out of them.

"Come on Diaval, let us see if that brat can be useful for a change."

"Fergus, don't push it away."

"Wee-wee-whine-whine"

"I'm telling you, making it dirty won't help. I'm watching you, you can't hide those."

"Whine-slobber-woof-woof"

"Fergus, you're a big dog. You. Are. Going. To. Eat. Your. Vegetables."

"Woof-woof-WOOF"

"No, you already had your share of bacon. This is my bacon. Mine. Not yours. Mine"

"Bark-whine-whine-whine-whine"

"You can't do the puppy-eyes thingie. That only works when you're a puppy. Haven't you noticed? You're grown up. You're big. Act like it."

"Bark-bark-woof-woof-slobber-slobber"

"Wait, what did you just call me, you big farting log of wasted space?"

"Slobber-slobber-whine-bark-bark"

"That's it! I'm coming over there! You're going to eat your vegetables one way or another!"

Fergus could not offer more than a surprised yelp when his master suddenly jumped towards him before he himself could avoid and seconds later the two were entangled in one of their seven daily wrestling games, one trying to escape and more or less ran around and the other one being dragged on while trying to push some salad in the first one mouth while protecting his bacon. Sadly, the dog knew his master's tricks mostly and while he was smart and had had the advantage of surprise, the dog managed to wriggle loose, get the bacon and return to slobber all over his masters face. Evan tried to escape, but could only give up when one hundred forty pounds of wolfhound sat on him.

"Sometimes, I really hate you Fergus. No bacon for you next time."

"I knew the dog was more intelligent than you, given that it isn't much of an accomplishment, but even I did not expect it to be so blatantly obvious." A cold voice drawled.

"I'm afraid consulting hours are between nine and five, can you come back tomorrow morning, miss?"

"No."

"Ugh. Fergus, get off me. We've got a visitor."

"Woof."

"What do you mean, no?"

"Bark-woof."

"Tell you what, if you can catch that bird and play nice with him, I shall… rethink about your bacon portion time."

"BARK!" and with that, the huge wolfhound jumped up and immediately began chasing Diaval, who could not properly fly up in the forest. Before long the two were completely absorbed in their chasing game were one was giving huge sloppy wet kisses and the other one was busy avoiding them and trying to pecker him with his beak.

"What are you up to this time, Brat?"

"Hello Maleficent, how are you?" 'Humph. Unfailingly polite as always, brat. Doesn't make me dislike you any less.'

"Absolutely wondrous, until I saw you." She bit, sarcasm overflowing her words. "A bit bored, I admit."

"So you came back here to insult me, given that you enjoy that so much." He deadpanned.

"Evidently I don't have anything better to do."

"You know, I'm really disappointed with you, Maleficent."

"How unfortunate I don't care." She drawled.

"You missed my birthday!" He exclaimed dramatically. "How could you have forgotten my birthday?"

She stood in complete astonishment, her jaw a bit slacked. Even Fergus and Diaval completely forgot about each other and just stared. Then they continued their scuffle with happy barks and indignant caws.

"Why, by the stones, would I care about your birthday?" she asked so astounded that she completely forgot to insult him further.

"Because I wanted to invite you! Fergus and I had a blast -there was even cake- and you missed it!"

"Do you have any cake left then?"

"Well I- wait, you actually want cake?"

"No, I want to see if you suffocate when it gets lodged in your windpipe" She shot venomously.

"Oh. Should've guessed it would be something like that" he mumbled let down. He shrugged it off. "So, care telling me why you're really here? I doubt it's just a social visit – you don't seem the type."

"Quite the observation, brat. Someone from your land is causing quite a bit of uproar among the court according to Diaval. A man named Agdar. What do you know of him?"

"You really should respect my consulting hours, I don't like working overti- alright alright! But Agdar?" he asked a bit surprised. "I might know something. Could you describe him?"

"Apparently he is some dangerous criminal who attempts to incite a revolution and betrayed the crown. He wishes to destroy the kingdom and has vowed to kill the king for revenge on something. And he has blond hair and would be a young human male."

"There are many young men with blond hair in these lands. If half the population of my homeland sports that hair-colour you should specify a bit, you know." he said with a hint of mirth. Then he grew sullen again. "But yes, I think I know of this… 'Agdar', even though your first bit about him is simple hogwash. He is dangerous, yes, but he isn't a wanted criminal back home and I doubt he would care about inciting a revolution in a country that he doesn't want anything to do with. Not to mention, how can he even betray a crown he is no subject too? Silva is no monarchy but is led by a voting council we call the senate, though I don't know the specifics as politics are not my forte."

"That does not matter. Tell me."

"Why? What is Agdar to you?"

"So you know him."

"I know of him. Now, answer please."

"He is an unknown. I do not like unknowns possibly affecting my lands in any shape or form. I need to know if he is a threat."

"I highly doubt he is."

"I shall be the judge of that. Now, tell me."

He pondered for a few moments but resigned with a sigh. "Very well. Take a seat" he said, gesturing vaguely to the ground near the fire. "It's a bit of a story."

Maleficent being who she was, let several branches come out of the ground and twisted them in an elegant throne, clearly above a pesky human. She couldn't resist a smile when she heard him muttering. "show-off." She grinned widely, showing off two rows of brilliant sharp white teeth.

"Why, thank you. I do try. Now, the story?"

"What do you know of the history between the lands of Silva and this kingdom?"

"It is no concern of mine. But from what I gather, a strained peace is kept through trade though the kingdom seems to want more out of it. At least, that is what you told me, apart from the old swine's greed. My main interest would be in the older magical lay-lines that run there, but that is irrelevant."

"That's sort of it, yeah. During his reign, King Henry wanted to know a lot more about the Silvaetus forests so he sent a young servant who wouldn't seem suspicious to gather information. Preferably something that he could use as leverage. It was what – five years ago now?
Well, all was going well for him with one major thing they overlooked : the young man knew absolutely nothing of the forest. So it was after a few days that he didn't bother to recognise to tracker's signs and wandered way too close to a den of nesting wolves."

Maleficent perked up. This could be amusing. Fergus didn't share the interest though and rolled over and whined until his friend scratched him behind his ears.

"So obviously, it wasn't his best moment. He ran for his life and probably broke several records doing it, but you can't really outrun wolves. So he ran but once more, didn't watch out and fell flat on his face, breaking his nose. It would have been his end, had he not had the extreme luck of attracting hunters of a nearby village. Long story short, the hunters saved his ass and scared the big bad wolves off."

"Pity. I had hoped he would've been eaten alive and torn to little meat-strips, soaking the forest floor with his blood." She pouted, disappointed.

"You might be surprised how many share that opinion with you" he muttered sullen.

"Oh? Do tell."

"It'll become clearer later on. Now, because he was still wounded he was taken back to the village and given treatment for his wounds. But winter was soon to fall and by the time he was better, the mountain paths were blocked with snow and the lower forestlands were simply too dangerous to travel alone and frankly no one could or would escort him back here. So he stayed with a family, the one who was unofficially in charge of it. There were of course the father –an ex-royal guard and senate member- the mother and two children. A boy and a younger girl, Anna. That boy – that was Agdar."

"Now Agdar, I knew him. Not like his close friends or family of course, but well enough. A bit of the arrogant self-righteous sort, but not a bad person per se. The kind that can be rude or naïve without knowing or meaning it, but would never purposefully bully or hurt someone unless to defend his friends of his little group, of which he considered himself the leader. They got in all kinds of trouble and wanted to rid the world of the bad guys. Until he grew up, that meant the bullies in the village were subject to merciless pranking or straight-up fights where he wanted to fight their leader alone. Like I said, self-righteous, pompous and arrogant, but one would be hard pressed to find a truer friend."

"You mean, like yourself?"

"You think of me as a true friend? Maleficent, I'm flattered!"

"Well, without the good parts then" She rectified.

"Oh please, I've seen your definition of 'good'. It included hanging someone to a tree with his own bowels as material for cords."

"Well, what can I say? I enjoy creativity and efficiency."

"Efficiency? Efficiency is hacking off his head and be done with it. But it is most creative. Ever thought about doing art?"

She pursed he lips. "A fleeting thought, I admit. But Diaval informed me the local art markets are too narrow-minded to see the beauty of decay."

"Pity."

"I concur. Now, continue the story of your pompous… friend."

"Right. So, the servant stayed with Agdar's family. In the beginning nothing was wrong. But something along the way happened that made Agdar act very uncharacteristically hostile and outright bullying towards the servant. Everybody assumed that it was something the outsider had done because they knew Agdar would not act like this without severe reason. Anna was much nicer and that infuriated him even more. It came to a point where he was quite severely punished by his parents. It did his job because afterwards he was more subdued. Still frosty, but at least civil. By the spring, they almost became friends. Heavens, he even apologised – and meant it too."

"Why the hostility?"

"To put it simple : Agdar thought that this outsider was after his sister. She was eleven, he already an adult. Twenty-something. Early twenties. So naturally he found it all sorts of wrong. Everybody else saw them just being friendly. Overprotective brother act, you might say. But right before he left, he asked the parents whether he could take Anna with him to show her the wonders of his own kingdom. To improve trade relations and a bunch of nonsense. She was eleven, so the answer was a resolute no, and he lost their friendliness. They began to suspect their son might've had a point. But it didn't matter, because then he was gone and life went on in its flow of mundane continuality. Their only request to the servant had been that he would not tell any harmful things of the village and its people, which he readily agreed to."

"Tsk. A boring end to a boring story"

"…Not quite."

"Oh? Pray tell, what uninteresting business happened still? More paedophilic action?"

"Pedo… -what?"

"Understandable. 'Tis a big word. Never you mind, continue!"

"Well, I'll keep it brief, but the next part is not pretty. Months later an awful lot of soldiers appeared, originating from this kingdom. And on orders of King Henry the fat windbag, they burned it all during the night. At dawn, all had been razed to the ground and the ash was still smoking and so were many bodies in it. Anna, they captured the little girl alive and unspoiled but her mother… they had no such qualms about her. Her husband had already found death when he was unceremoniously shot in the back. When Agdar appeared, they recognized him and because the servant's report viewed him as a bully and a hostile barbarian freak, they had something special for him.

They tied him to a post in his own house, threw the fresh corpses of his parents at his feet, and set the entire thing ablaze. They laughed and roared and jeered while he screamed and begged."

Maleficent wanted to say something but she was interrupted before she could form her undoubtedly scathing remark. Evan wasn't finished yet, because then he spoke in a voice that sounded like pure vitriol :

"And then the servant who was the key and traitor to it all became King Stefan."

Evan shuddered a bit in his tiredness. "So that's how the precious king Stefan and your Agdar are connected. Don't know what he's so afraid of though. Agdar is dead. He died in the fire that night."

"Are you sure of that?" she asked, apparently doubting something.

"I am."

"How did you escape that night?"

"Eh, I only learned about Stefan's betrayal and what all happened later on." He mumbled distracted.

"hmm."

"Could you answer a question of mine in return? Just honest?"

She sighed but for some reason did not use the opportunity to shut him down. "Perhaps. What is it you wish to know?"

"What is your history with… with Stefan?"

She froze, caught off-guard. "There's nothing there brat, keep your nose where it belongs, lest you lose it! So be silent like a good boy."

"He betrayed you too. Didn't he, Maleficent?"

"I SAID YOU TO BE SILENT!" she roared in words soaked and reinforced with sheer power. The air darkened, tensed and cracked while her mere voice shook the trees and blew off their leaves. After the torrent a deafening silence returned. They both remained in silence and let the calm return.

"Why is it there is nothing generally known of that attack? To burn down an entire village and leave none alive… wouldn't that give cause to declare war?"

"I've wondered that myself often too. It's a combination of factors. Both the Silva forest and the dales of Vallis –which are allied as one as you know- don't really have a strong standing military. On their own ground they may have the edge against Old Henry's armies but out here… they would have been crushed. They're good, but fewer in members. There's little constant standing military. Most have other occupations. So they couldn't really afford it, there was probably not enough proof that is was that on Henry's order, let alone the infiltrating servant's information. And an offer of better trading negotiation must have swayed them. But people know. It's a public secret and taboo. Henry's eyes were more fixed on the Moors and you than on us. We had little to offer that he could not have gotten another way. Not as important, in comparison."

"You've actually put some thought in that, brat." She sounded surprised.

"Yes, sometimes I do that. Very uncharacteristically for me. Afterwards I soon return to the 'rasasvada'. The taste of bliss you feel in the absence of all thoughts."

"No wonder you are so happy all the time." She quipped.

"A harmless joke? From you? Purgatory must be freezing over…" he shot back, good natured.

"You are Agdar." No question. Just a statement.

The one she had directed the statement at was silent for a very long time.

Ultimately, he gave a soft, sad nod with his head, barely noticeable.

"I go by Evan these days. Like I said : Agdar is dead. That person died in the fire that night."

"Why are you after Him?"

"That. Is personal."

"Then what is it you are searching for in these lands? There is nothing for you here. I am here because the Moors are my home and lands and I shall protect them. I shall kill Him for my vengeance. But you? Does your lust to shed blood in revenge control you that much?"

"You are hardly one to talk about being controlled by bloodlust, Maleficent." He sneered. "I think it is time for you to leave. Bye." And with that he walked in his hut, shutting it tight.

"And for the love of – Fergus! Let the bloody bird go!"

"Bark-Woof!"

"Caw!"

I'm sorry for the long wait people. This is not my priority story. Couldn't keep this hidden though.