Chapter Text
A Chance
Her first instinct was to curse him.
The Queen narrowed her eyes feeling some satisfaction at seeing Diaval squirmed uncomfortably on his spot. The night was growing darker around them with only a few lights made of the magic coming from the trees of the forest. However, even if the place was full of life, Diaval could not hear a single sound, this only showed him the place was reserved to their Queen's solace and sour humor. They would not be interrupted.
“Mal…Queen Maleficent.” Diaval corrected himself when he saw the faery pursed her lips. “I just…”
“What do you want to talk about, King Diaval?” Maleficent inquired stepping closer to the man. “Are you going to apologize? Are you going to explain your treacherous ways? “
Diaval winced full aware of the venous tone in the Queen’s voice, but he felt his heart ached at the pain in those colored irises. The King knew his actions had been foolish, he had acted without thinking and it could cost him everything if he did not act right now.
“There are no words in my tongue or the faeries tongue that can describe and show how much I regret my actions.” Diaval started holding the stare of the Queen. “It was never my intention to lie or to hurt you. But, I did and I’m afraid I …I don’t know how to fix this.”
“You have shattered the trust I may have in you.” Maleficent said her voice a mere whisper. “How can you mend something you have broken?”
Diaval opened and closed his mouth several times, he was trying to get the right answer but he soon realized there was not a correct answer to that question. Maleficent watched the King carefully, she couldn’t deny right now she was hurting. Her heart was shrinking painfully on her chest, while her stomach felt as if she had jumped into the emptiness. How could she forgive the man in front of her? Why should she? Was love enough to forgive?
Love
Maleficent opened her eyes and looked away before Diaval could read her expression.
Love
It couldn’t be.
“I don’t know.” The King finally answered crestfallen at his own realization. “I don’t know how to…how to make you believe me.”
“I cannot help you.” Maleficent stated still looking away from the man, Diaval nodded curtly his eyes drifting from the woman’s frame to her hand, he realized she had the pouch on her hand and this made his heart fluttered.
He realized he couldn’t give up.
He had come so far, had gotten over so many things to just give up right now. He stepped forward gauging Maleficent’s reaction, the Queen was so absorb in her own realization of love she never realized Diaval right beside her until his hand wrapped around the one holding the pouch Aurora had given her.
The Queen lifted her eyes and she found herself looking directly into black ones, the man was not smiling and his eyes were reflecting sadness but also determination. Maleficent tensed up, her right leg moving slightly backwards ready to leave.
“Please.” It was the pleading in the voice of the man what made her stop. He was a King that had always carried himself with pride and royally but right now he was looking like nothing more than a man filled with pain and heart break. “Let me show you how sorry I am for lying to you. Don’t…don’t shut me down.”
There were so many reasons as to why the Queen of Moors should just say no. She could step aside leaving the man i there, breakig whatever friendship they might have and leave it at a professional level. Maleficent could curse the King, made him feel pain and do so many other things just to ensure herlsef he would suffer the way she did. But, she was't that kind of fae, and the part of her that had fallen for the man in front of her would never do something to harm him in any way. It wasn't in her nature.
Instead, Maleficent caught his black orbs between her golden-green ones, her head tilting slightly while she nodded curtly to the King. "I won't shut you down. But, I'm not sure how to look at you without seeing treason and lies."
Diaval let out a broken smiled, "I can at least try...I know you...you need time, but I won't give up on you and this. Us. I know I made a terrible mistake but know this, Maleficent, I did't hurt you out of malice but out of fear. Of fear that you may not love the human form, that you would never even give me the chance of your friendship."
"That it is a poor excuse for your actions." The Queen replied though she couldn't help the hope grapping at her hear.
"It is not an excuse. Nothing can excuse a lie." Diaval stated, he took a deep breath and grabbed Maleficent hand in his. "there is nothing I can say today that may made you change your mind, but let me try to convince you of my feelings, Maleficent. My heart and my self is yours, from the moment we met."
Maleficent relished in the feeling of his warm handd wrapped around hers, her midn betrayed her just then when the memories of Stefan came back, his smiled, his eyes his treaso. The faery stepped back shaking away the memories, her eyes locked again on those of Diaval's before she spoke again.
"I cannot take your words as truthful feelings towards me, King Diaval, the man nodded curtly refusing just to let go yet. Maleficent glanced at their hands then back at him. "But, I want to. You have a week to convince me, to show me you are not just like him."
You have a week to make me believe again.
With that said, the Queen of the Moors spread her legs and left the man alone in the forest.It wasn’t until she was out of sight that Diaval noticed the pouch with the necklace he had given to her was on his hand. The King looked down at his hand with mixed feeling inside his chest; he turned around with determination gleaming in his eyes. She had given him a week to change her mind, he had a week to make her feel what he feel and to ask and earn her forgiveness.
Aurora leaned back on her chair, watching in amusement as her mother paced around the room. She was still furious, obviously and from time to time she would curse love, emotions and men; but there was also something else there that the young woman could see. It was something she had never thought possible coming from her mother: it was hope in love.
“I do not know what came over me.” Maleficent finally said. “I should have sent him flying to his castle and be over with this.”
“Mother, I think you should at least give him this chance.” Aurora eyed her mother for a moment before speaking again. “Aren’t you curious to know what he will do in a week?”
Maleficent halted turning to face her daughter, she sighed tilting her head to one side, “I am. Beastie, I…”
The faery stood still feeling the tears welled up on her eyes, Aurora was beside her in a second wrapping her arms comfortably around her. Maleficent let the young woman comfort her, she felt her heart clenched painfully as the memories of the past came rushing through her. She could not speak or revealed to her daughter the realization she had made the night before, it was still too early for her to admit her real feelings out loud. Her kin, whether they believed in True Love or not, only felt love once in their lifetime; Maleficent was not ready to admit she had been mistaken about her feelings towards Stefan. She was not ready to admit the spark of True Love lied on the raven-man resting somewhere around their castle.
“What are you going to do, uncle?”
Diaval had no idea.
He had spent a sleepless night, turning around his room and bed thinking on ways to conquer the woman’s trust. The issued was he didn’t know how to build back someone’s trust, how did you go around to show and proof the love and honesty of one´s feelings? Diaval sighed shaking his head in answer to his nephew’s question. Philip bit his lowered lip not knowing how to assist his uncle.
“She left it behind.” Diaval stated showing the necklace he had placed on a nearby table. “ And I just…I felt lost.”
“Uncle, you sound so miserable.” Philip had to clamp his mouth shut when Diaval glared at him, the comment had been meant to be serious but it came with a tinge of sarcasm in his voice. “What I mean is you sound defeated it. I didn’t know that was possible.”
The room filled with a sudden silence of contemplation, it was true Philip had never seen his uncle in such a mood. The young man had always admired his uncle, the King was not only handsome, he was also smart and a great fighter, he governed the kingdom with wisdom and authority and not only his nature but his own personality earned him the love of his people. Philip had always been right behind him, watching and learning trying to live up to him. This was the reason he felt surprised at the sudden changed, he was not use to this vulnerable side of Diaval.
The morning light filtered through the opened windows of the balcony, the sweet scent of the flowery garden reached the Prince’s room. It reminded him of Aurora; his heart skipped a beat as his mind flashed him the sweet smile of the young woman. It was such a strange emotion the fluttering of his heart and the sweet tingling on his body whenever he was closed to the young Princess. Was it like this for his uncle? Did love feel like that?
Philip approached his uncle, his face breaking into a broad smile, “I think I have an idea.”
Diaval blinked a couple of times before raising a brow, “Do tell me.”
Night was already falling in the Kingdom; the sky was painted in different shades of red and yellow with the wind caressing the flowers and the trees of the royal garden. Maleficent had stepped into the maze she had gifted Aurora when she a but 10 years old, her mind was racing around the events of the day and her confusing feelings She had yet to see King Diaval and while Maleficent was quite grateful for this she also felt…disappointed. He had a week to convince her he was honest, for him to win back her trust and yet he didn’t show or sought her out.
The Queen of the Moors let her hands wandered around the bushes, her eyes drifting around while her feet took her to the center of the maze. Maleficent stopped dead on her tracks when her golden eyes fell upon the form off Diaval; the young King was wearing a simple black tunic over a dark trousers. Diaval shifted nervously and his black eyes were looking at her with openness, he stepped forward tilting his head in invitation. The Queen hesitated for a second before stepping inside the center of the maze, she didn’t came any closer and her eyes never left the man before her.
“I knew my father hated me.” He stated never taken her eyes from Maleficent. “He meant for my brother to be King, he was stronger and tend to look like father. I was the freak, but I was also the only one that could hold power he didn´t understand.”
Maleficent frowned at this revelation, Diaval let his lips drawn a self-deprecating smile. “My brother was anything but a fool. He slipped away from my father’s hands but me…I was to do his bidding.”
“I didn’t know.” Maleficent spoke softly unsure as to why Diaval was telling her this.
“No one does.” Diaval shrugged, he swallowed before continuing “No one has ever seen the scars, either.”
The faery gasped stepping closer only to stop herself when Diaval flinched involuntarily, he shook his head looking at her with tenderness and hurt.
“I really am sorry for lying, My Queen.” He said. “I’m not sure how I’m going to win back what I lost. But, let me at least share with you a piece of myself something no one before you have heard.”
Maleficent didn’t know what to say, she felt her heart breaking at the revelation of what Diaval had suffered under Henry. He knew the man was cruel ad was actually looking to destroy the magic of the world, or at least had control over it, she never imagined he would dare to hurt his own blood in the conquest of his ambitions. Diaval moved closer to her but stayed far enough to give her space to turn around and leave. She didn’t.
“Let me show you part of my true nature.” Maleficent burrowed her brow in confusion and soon she had to collect herself when the man transform into a raven.
Diaval’s raven for was as regal as his human one, his black feathers gleamed under the growing darkness of the night, and his eyes sparkled with mischief and invitation. Maleficent hesitated for a moment, seeing the transformation had brought back the memories of the deceit but being the witness of such transformation had also broke something inside her.
“You are not forgiven.” Maleficent said looking directly into the raven’s eyes. “I hope you understand that.”
Diaval flipped lower croaking before setting himself on the bench, Maleficent nodded lowering her head. The King took off again brushing his feather’s against Maleficent ones before raising into the sky. The Queen observed the raven glided into the air, twirling around as an invitation to her. There was a brief moment of doubt in her mind before her own wigs spread out, her legs flexed and she too glided into the sky.
Aurora smiled a little watching as her mother soared into the sky in the company of the raven, both figures dancing around before disappearing into the sky. Philip glanced over at Aurora and then at the sky.
“Do you think she will forgive him?” He finally asked.
“She wants to.” Aurora responded. “But, it will take time.”
“I know.” Philip stated. “Thank you, for helping him out.”
Aurora sighed turning her attention to the young Prince, “Everyone deserves a second chance, if they are being honest with their feelings. I now he didn’t mean any ill towards mother.”
**********************
Maleficent couldn’t deny she enjoy the night before.
She loved flying. Her wings would take her deep into the sky making her felt the wind on her face and her eyes would take upon the world before her. They had flown way past dawn without exchanging more than a few glances, it had been relaxing and Maleficent had shared a different kind of flight with the raven.
The Queen took of her garments and directed herself to the warm bath she had gotten ready, her skin shivered in relief and pleasure when she slid into the bathtub. Her eyes fluttered closed but her mind was already think over the events of the previous night and what she should do next. The pain was still fresh in her heart, and forgivness certaly woulddn't be something she would give just yet. Still, she couldn't help but admit to herself she wanted to give the young man a chance,that she wanted to give herself a chance.
Maleficent opened her eyes and smile.
She shouln't rush anything, just wait and see what would happen.