Once Upon A Dream

Chapter 3

"Bird. Delicious" Diaval was not pleased as I held in a laugh. Maleficent hesitated to touch her utensils. Making the Queen notice.

"Is there a problem?" she asked she didn't sound sympathetic at all.

"It's iron" Diaval spoke up picking up the fork.

"Majesty, as you are sensitive to flowers, she is averse to iron"

"I had no idea" she lied. "Take it away at once. I trust you'll be comfortable using your hands?"

I do not like this Queen. A distasteful woman. I looked to Maleficent who put on a fake smile. I shook my head lightly.

"Such a warm spell of weather, isn't it?"

"It certainly is" Diaval and I both looked under the table as we heard meowing. A cat was pawing at Diaval's leg.

"Shoo" Diaval tried to make the cat go away but it wasn't budging anywhere. I tried to help but the cat was too interested in Diaval.

"Well, we have a small gift for Philip and Aurora... to celebrate their glorious future together. Hmm?" we could all hear something being rolled into the room. When a crib suddenly appeared.

"Uhm... I'm sorry. Isn't it a bit soon for children? They aren't even married yet" I spoke up.

"Don't worry it's only for their future child" The Queen sighed happily. "Oh, I simply can't wait to have a little one running through the castle again" the Queen smiled happily whereas none of us were very amused. Except perhaps Aurora who blushed at Philip.

"This castle?" Maleficent asked.

"Yes, of course" she paused. "This will be their home"

"I hear Aurora has a castle of her own"

"Yes, Sir, I do"

"Yes... I'm curious. How did Aurora become Queen of the Moors?"

"I made her Queen" Malecifent answer though the Queen did not seem satisfied with the answer.

"Her castle is quite stunning. You must see it" Philip complimented.

"Yes, but in fact, she has another castle. Does she not?"

"Mother..."

"One in the Moors, and one left behind by her father. King Stefan, was it not?"

"That castle was never our home" I spoke up.

"It was given to the people"

"So, you're also a true princess. Even though Stefan died. Was killed? Remind me, did he die or was he killed?"

"Both" Maleficent and I said together. I looked to her only to see she was staring at the Queen unamused by her chatter.

"Yes, you're right, it is very warm recently"

"Because I remember the story of two babies. Two babies cursed to sleep... and never wake up"

"Really?" the King was shocked. Or was pretending to be shocked. "Who would do such a terrible thing to innocent children?"

"Well, there are many who prey on the innocent. I'm sure your kind would agree"

"What do you mean, my kind?"

"She means humans"

"There are fairies missing from the Moors."

"What I'm missing is some wine" Philip, clearly uncomfortable with the atmosphere.

"Stolen by human poachers"

"That's the first I've heard of it"

"Someone gave the order" Aurora placed her hand on Maleficent's, it was quite visible that she wanted nothing more than to attack the Queen and maybe the King too. But they were to become Aurora's family through marriage and any violence would result in there never being a wedding.

"It sounds as if you're accusing the king"

"No, she never said that"

"Wait... Sorry, who would steal a fairy?"

"Your majesty, I must report that two peasants were found dead... just outside the Moors. They'd been missing for several days"

"I see"

"Yes, we all see" the cat jumped on the chair next to mine placing me between it and Diaval. It growled at him. "The borders are open, but humans are not welcome. Isn't that right?"

"What exactly are you implying, Your Majesty?"

"Innocent men are being slaughtered on the Moors... and she's talking about fairies" my attention turned back to the cat which leaped on the table to get closer to Diaval. Suddenly it leaped at him only for Maleficent to stop it mid-jump.

"Contain your animal" she spoke angrily. "Or I will"

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were making a threat"

"Well, do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Know better?"

"Enough" the King ordered his wife.

"Put her down" Aurora whispered to Maleficent. "Please, put her down" as quickly as she had stopped it she let it go as it scurried away terrified. I hadn't realised that I had been holding my breath. Nervous as to what would happen next.

"We're here to celebrate" the King spoke annoyed at his wife. Clearly he had lost his patience with her.

"Forgive me, he's right. Let's not forget why we're here. The start of a new life for Aurora" The Queen lifted her goblet and everyone followed suit except for Maleficent. "Cheers"

"Cheers"

"You have done an admirable job, Maleficent... going against your own nature to raise these children. But now..." I feared what the Queen was going to say next. "Aurora will finally get... the love of a real family. A real mother. Because the one thing I regret... is never having a daughter of my own. But tonight changes that. Tonight, I consider Aurora my own" those words alone set Maleficent into a rage. Her green magic pulsed out of her making all the candles flicker then die. Everyone who wasn't sat at the table ran, screaming and afraid.

"Guards!"

"We have opened our home to a witch!" a guard attempted to attack Maleficent only to be sent flying through the air and into the doors. With a flap of her wings she sent magic to knock down the rest of the guards.

"Stop!" Aurora shouted at Maleficent.

"There is no union. There will be no wedding"

"Maleficent!"

"We must protect the king!"

"Maleficent, please, stop now"

"John, I'm so frightened" that's when we heard it. The King yelp in surprise.

"What has she done to me?" I was confused till the King fell to the ground.

"Father!" Philip ran to his side.

"John!"

"We go home"

"John" the Queen tried to shake him but he wouldn't wake. "It's a curse" she said to Philip. "It's a curse!" she turned to Aurora who was watching, with tears in her eyes. "Maleficent has cursed the King!"

"What have you done?"

"I've done nothing. Aurora, we go home now" Aurora shook her head heading to the King's side. "Aurora!" Diaval stood from his seat extending his hand to me, which I took gladly. "Aurora!"

"Wake him! Wake him, please" Aurora pleaded with tears running down her cheeks. Maleficent began to fly, Diaval turned into his normal form and I began to fly too. Diaval and I leaving after Maleficent. But as we were flying back to the Moors my wings began to fade away and Diaval began turning from man to bird. Unable to maintain either form he crashed into a hedge and I soon followed. As I tood my wings were gone and Diaval was human.

"Are you alright?" I asked him. He nodded. Checking if I had any wounds myself. He grabbed both sides of my face to inspect. "I'm fine Diaval. What happened?"

"I don't know. I couldn't maintain my natural form"

"My wings. Their gone" my eyes began to tear. Is this how Maleficent felt? When my father took her wings? Useless. A part of her was taken and now I feel like mine has been too. "We need to get back to the Moors. Now"