Diaval X Reader (Maleficent)

Chapter Six

You don't see Diaval for the next three days, and those days go by slowly and painfully. The sun is blocked by heavy clouds filled with unspilt rain. The whole forest is quiet and dismal. 

"Y/n, what's wrong? You haven't been yourself lately." Aurora asks you as you sweep the floor of the cottage.

"Nothing's wrong. I'm fine," you reply. 

She looks at you, face void of her signature smile. Turning away from you, something catches her attention and she leaves the house. 

Sighing, you finish your list of chores. When they are completed, you go outside and pick up a basket. 

You start weeding the garden, and, when you finish that, you start picking out carrots. Taking your basketful, you walk to the stream. You start to wash them in the cold water, scrapping the dirt off the orange vegetables. 

The freezing water makes your hands like ice, and you try to complete this task as quickly as possible. You exasperatedly wipe the sweat off your brow, managing to smudge dirt on it instead. 

You work in complete silence, the only sound is the rushing water. 

A flutter awakens your senses, and you look up in hope. A raven landed on a tree above you, and now it's preening it's feathers. 

"You're not Diaval," you sigh and go back to your work.

The carrots seemingly take forever to become clean, and you work furiously. The icy water and hard scrubbing are starting to make your hands exceedingly sore. 

A dark figure meanders over to where you work, and you are aware of their presence. 

"Why haven't you been with Diaval lately?" Her voice reaches your ears over the sound of the stream.

You shrug, "I don't know, I've been busy." 

"Busy?" She asks as if she doesn't believe you for a split second.

"Yes, Maleficent. Busy." 

"Hmm, I doubt that."

"Doubt all you want, it shall not change the truth," you retort, rolling your eyes.

"You should talk to him." 

"I haven't seen him for three days. I can take a hint."

She sighs, "Diaval is away on my behalf. When he returns you shall see him, and you shall talk to him." 

"But, I fear he doesn't wish to see me-"

"Nonsense," she scoffs. 

You place another dirty carrot in the water and start scrubbing it.

"You're all he ever talks about, Y/n. He cares deeply for you."

You finish washing the last carrot and place them all back in the basket. Standing to your feet, you face Maleficent.

"Maleficent, I fear I may have made a mistake."

Her eyes meet yours, full of curiosity. "Pray tell." 

"I," you start, shame flooding your features, "I may have tried to, uh, to kiss him..." 

Her cold, calculated demeanour breaks as she starts laughing. You duck your head in shame, scuffing the floor with your foot. 

"How did he react?" She asks as she regains most of her composure. 

"At first, he was leaning in too, but then he jerked back and I apologized and ran away..." 

She chuckles heartily, "Oh, dear Y/n. Diaval is new to this. Remember, he is a raven at heart. I suggest that you talk with him when he returns. But, now I must go, and you must be going as well. Farewell, Y/n."

"Farewell, Maleficent..." 

Walking back to the main path through the forest, you think about what Maleficent told you. You ignore your surroundings and mindlessly trudge through trees. 

Humming, you walk over sticks and stones before a warm voice surprises you.

"Excuse me miss, but do know how I could get to the castle?" 

You swivel and come face to face with a handsome stranger. He stands by a regal white horse, and his blue eyes look at you kindly. 

Your breath is stolen, and you have to remind yourself to breathe. 

He frowns at your startled expression, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. I, uh, seem to be lost, and I need to be at the castle. . . Are you alright miss?"

You gulp, and reclaim your lost collectedness, "Yes, um, follow this path-" you point to a narrow path leading to the castle, "- and then take a right at the fork in the road. Then keep going until you reach it."

He grins at you, and moves closer to where you stand clutching your heavy basket of carrots. You nervously take a step back, but trip over a fallen branch.

Choking, you brace for impact, but it never comes. Instead, you find yourself in the arms of the handsome stranger. 

"I'm sorry! Are you alright?" He asks, concerned.

You start to nod, but are distracted by a flurry of wings and an upset cawing. Looking up, you see a distraught Diaval flying away from you and the stranger. 

With a gasp, you shove yourself away from the man, and fall on your butt before hastily standing. 

"What is it? What's wrong?" He questions, but you shake your head.

"Nothing," you reply before you start to walk away.

"Well, allow me to escort you to your home?" 

"The castle is that way," you point to the other path.

"Well, I can always make a small detour." 

You frown at his persistence and spell it out for him, "I can manage just fine on my own. Goodbye."

You continue walking, frazzled from the encounter. You have to find Diaval to clear things up, so you drop the carrots off at the cottage, and then go back into the forest to find him.

~

When you find him, he's in his human form. His usually smirk is replaced with an almost frown. You approach him slowly and sit beside him on a fallen log. 

"Diaval?"

"Hmm?"

"Diaval, I'm sorry for. . . the other day..." You start.

"No, I'm the one who should apologize-"

"No, I'm the one apologizing, so hear me out. . . I'm sorry, and I don't know what you think you saw earlier today, but I can assure you it was nothing."

"Well, it really isn't any of my business. Who am I to judge you for falling into a handsome man's arms?" He replies with a hint of distaste.

"I didn't mean to fall! I tripped as I was stepping away from him!"

"Mmhmm, I'm sure you did." He retorts sarcastically.

You huff in anger and stomp away back to the cottage. "Think what you want!" You yell over your shoulder. 

Slamming the cottage door shut, you remain indoors for the rest of the day, making supper.

After supper is finished, you say goodnight to Aurora before going to bed yourself.