III – Her first unofficial waltz

Aurora was sitting by the lake, her feet were submerged in the crystalline water and her eyes were closed. On her golden dress laid a blue butterfly, and all fishes were gracefully dancing under the water by her feet.

"I can feel you around, pretty bird" she said with her eyes still closed.

"How could you do that?" I questioned helping her to stand up.

"I always know when you are around" she said holding my hand and staring at me. I got goosebumps all along my skin when her eyes met mine, an impulse to kiss her. I had to break that connection otherwise I would kiss her.

"S-so, are you excited to your party?" I said, leading her to the waterfalls.

"More nervous than excited, to be honest" she said staring at her feet.

"Why would your grace…" she slapped my shoulder "Alright, I got that. Why would you be nervous?"

"Phillip will be there" she whispered. I felt my heart going cold. Prince Phillip was to be her husband, and since she had woken up, he had flirted with her. I don't have to say that I hated him with all my forces, my I want to: I hated him with all my forces. He was too polite, too kind, too "mister nice guy" for my taste. No, I don't mean she should choose a "bad guy", but at least someone with some personality, because he sucked.

"Oh, yes. Your future husband" I said sadly.

"He is not my future husband, and I do not want him to be" that made me kind of happy "But as he is the only prince of age invited, I will have to waltz with him" she said.

"So what?" I asked. We had arrived at the waterfalls, so Aurora sat down near her flower buttons. Aurora blushed and looked down, as she was ashamed of something.

"I-I don't know how to waltz" she whispered.

"What? You don't know…"

"Have you forgotten that I lived sixteen years of my life in the forest, in middle of nowhere with three aunts? I never met a man to dance with… How would I ever know how to dance if I never had a partner?" she said almost angry "I don't want to be humiliated in front of the entire people…"

"It will not happen, Aurora. You can learn how to waltz" I calmed her down.

"And who would be my teacher?" she asked.

"I would be"

Her deep blue eyes shone like sapphires and her lips opened the most illuminated smile ever "Would you teach me, Diaval? Really?"

"It cannot be that difficult. Not more than flying, I mean" I said, but she was already running to hug me and kiss my cheeks.

"You are the best person in the world!" she said "But we will need some music to dance, won't we?"

Immediately the mermaids who lived on that part of the river offered themselves to start a very soft, slow voiced waltz. Their voices went up and down on the chords of their own song and their heads started to dance along the song.

Gently, I took Aurora's hand and involved her waist with my other hand. She put her hand on my shoulder and allowed me to approach my body. Probably I was even more nervous than her, but I could not let it show. She was blushed, smiling, waiting for me to start, but I froze looking into her eyes. Come on, Diaval… Do something, stupid raven!

I closed my eyes to avoid her for a second, so I could finally start to move. It was definitively like flying. Aurora was light as a feather flying on air, even she was an unwinged creature; it seemed that she knew how to fly with her feet on the ground. That was a new experience for me: to fly without wings and with my feet on the ground. I never felt as free as I felt then, with her hands holding mine and with her body copying each movement of mine.

We spun, we moved, we laughed at the end. We could have spent hours dancing, if Maleficent had not appeared.

"Well, well. Who knew the raven could waltz?" she mocked.

"Oh, godmother, Diaval was helping me with my waltz! You know, tomorrow night I will have to waltz, and I didn't know how, so he taught me!" said Aurora still holding my hand "How long are you there watching us?"

"Long enough" she answered glancing at me, while I stared back at her.

"And how was it? Did you like?"

"You had a great instructor. Your waltz was perfect" she said smiling at her "Now, we must go. Your carriage is waiting for you" she said.

"Thank you, pretty bird! I want to see you tomorrow!" she said kissing my cheek.

"You are welcome, Aurora" I answered watching her golden her disappearing in middle of the forest "And I thank you…"

"Diaval" called Maleficent.

"No, I don't have anything to tell you, now leave me be" I said turning my back.

"Don't be silly, it is not what I want. I am leaving the Moors to be with my goddaughter for her celebration, she needs me there to help her out. In my absence, you guard the Moors. You must leave tomorrow by the dusk, and not before that. When you leave, instruct the guards to stand all around, over the ground, on the ground and under the ground and not to leave the post until you come back by the morning. No one enters, no one leaves the Moors" she ordered.

"Yes, Maleficent" I said "Don't you worry"

"Just another thing, Diaval. Do not fall for her" she said and I felt my heart paralyze for a second "You understood, I was very clear. Do not fall for her, Diaval. She is the princess, the future queen. She will marry a man, a prince"

"What is she does not want a prince?"

"You know it is not how things work. Marriages are unification of kingdoms, almost a business. She has to think of what is best for her kingdom, and the best is a prince"

"But what is she does not want one? She has the right of choosing, doesn't she?"

Maleficent took a deep breath and then finally said:

"Even so, she will choose a human, not a raven" I knew that expression. That meant 'I know it is going to hurt, but I am going to say anyway, because it is the best for you and for everybody'. "Don't forget my orders" she said turning her back at me.