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Chapter Text

Maleficent opened her eyes to a complete darkness. She was, of course, thankful to Conall for providing her a room to sleep, but being here, on bascially an island in the middle of the ocean, there was no light coming from anywhere.

Slowly though, her eyes got adjusted to the darkness around her and after walking to the window, she was surprised by the view of a million stars. She had never seen such a starry night sky before, not in the kingdom and not in the forest, there was always too much light coming from the village.

The second thing, apart from the darkness, that she noticed was the sharp sting of pain in her side. Her wound was far from being healed, it would take time. For the moment being, the pain was overwhelming.

All of a sudden, Maleficent felt hot. It was too hot and too stuffy in this room, she needed to get out. She needed to fly. Suddenly, she remembered something.

The fairy walked out of her room, to the corridor leading downstairs, spread her wings and jumped.

It was in the middle of the night, everyone was sleeping, all was quiet. She crossed the realms one by one until she arrived at her desired destination: The Winter Kingdom.

___

Maleficent landed with her feet in the snow. She breathed in the fresh, crisp air and the cold breeze felt like heaven on her scorching body. Maleficent carefully took a couple of steps, so as not to wake anybody and took in the view: The snowy landscape, above her the stars and somewhere on the horizon, the ocean.

Suddenly, a melodic voice behind her spoke: "Can you not find sleep?"

Maleficent spun around. She was far from being easily scared, she just had not expected anyone to be awake at that hour.

Before her, with a soft smile, a familar face. The white horns. Hair of the same colour, framing the delicate face in braids. Clothes white as snow. And piercing blue eyes.

He approached her carefully. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to scare you."

Maleficent smiled, gently. "You didn't. Good evening, Udo."

He made a small bow. "Good evening, Maleficent. So, what brings you to our realm at that late hour?"

She sighed. "I needed a breath of cool air."

Udo bridged the distance with swift, dancing steps, until he was close. But not too close.

"Is it your wound?"

Maleficent looked up into his beautiful, icy eyes, surprised.

"How do you ... ?"

Udo smiled. "We fairies from the Winter Realm have healing powers. And we can sense pain in others."

Maleficent nodded, still mesmerized. She had yet to learn so much about this fascinating, new world.

"Allow me?"

Maleficent just nodded. She suspected what came next, but she was also willing to be surprised.

Udo gently placed his elegant hands on her wound. At first she felt nothing, but then the most peculiar feeling. Cozy warmth spread through the wounded part of her body. At the same time it was cooling and pleasant.

Unbearable turned to simply throbbing to a slight pain. Maleficent had her eyes closed and only opened them when Udo pulled away.

"Is it more comfortable now?" he asked gently.

Maleficent smiled and nodded.

Udo took the distance again, motioning with his hand towards a large, mossy stone nearby.

"Come, sit." he invited her.

They sat down and for a moment watched the horizon. There was a silence between them, but it was not awkward.

Maleficent noticed that she felt very calm. It must be his company, she thought.

While Udo was watching the horizon, she studied his features. They were relaxed and wise. He turned around, caught her watching and smiled.

Maleficent returned his smile.

"May I ask," she began, "why you are not sleeping? Is something troubling you?"

Udo laughed, lowered his gaze and shook his head. When he laughed, his eyes were laughing with him.

"I love the night," he replied. "Don't get me wrong, I love our children and all the buzz during the day, but I need this silence for myself. To collect myself and my thoughts. I usually go to sleep very late in the night, almost toward the morning."

She nodded. "But do you get enough rest?" she asked cautiously.

He looked and her and nodded, too. "My tribe knows about my sleeping schedule and they let me be. They are very generous about it."

"So they are," Maleficent mused. The more she learned about the structures of the tribes, the more she liked that mysterious, and yet familiar, world.

They talked for a while, an easy and content back and forth, until Maleficent began to feel sleepy.

"I think I should return to my chambers," she said to him. For a fracture of a second, Maleficent thought she had seen disappointment in his eyes, but he just genuinely smiled at her.

"Thank you for ... well, everything," said Maleficent. "It is very pleasing conversing with you."

Udo smiled a shy smile. "The pleasure was all mine. Whenever you feel like it, you can come visit in the night. Our encounter sure elevated my night walk."

Maleficent laughed. Was she blushing? She felt like it.

Her hand brushed his arm before she took off. Udo watched her fly away and sighed. There was something about this fairy, not only her powers, that drew him to her.

He hoped very much to see her again in the night.

Chapter Text

It was a couple of nights later and Maleficent and Udo were having a quiet moment. Both were absentmindedly sitting on a tree trunk and looking out into the night.

Suddenly, she turned to him and watched him in the gleaming moonlight. The silvery light, it seemed, really brought out his bright features, the white hair, the shimmering horns.

Without much thinking, Maleficent raised a hand and ran it along one of his horns. They felt just like hers. Then her fingers run through his silvery hair. Udo seemed to enjoy the touch, before he turned his face to hers, looking at her fondly. Maleficent smiled at him and, a mere wisp, kissed his cheek. He smiled back at her. Her hand found his, resting on his thigh and she leaned into him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Despite his icy appearance, he felt warm. So warm and soft.

Suddenly, he began to hum. A soft, tinkling melody, as silvery as his appearance. Maleficent closed her eyes, just felt and listened.

It was at that moment that she knew, she felt something for him. Not quite love – but it was a feeling like coming home. It was as if his voice took her right back to the home she knew. Maybe she finally found someone who could love her back, her companion.

---

Maleficent landed safely on her feet and looked around. The whole courtyard was in ruins, people as well as magical folk were injured but finally, peace had found its way. It was over. The war, the evil, it was over.

Maleficent watched for a moment how Aurora hugged Philip – her heart overflowed with joy – but her second thought was Udo. Where was he? Was he injured?

She began looking for him when – her heart leapt – a familiar white figure emerged from within the castle.

Maleficent, all conventions be damned, just ran over to him and threw herself into his arms. He warmly hugged her back.

"Udo!" she exclaimed, pulled away, quickly looking him all over. "Are you injured?"

"Not to worry," he answered with a fond smile. He was touched by her concern. "I am absolutely fine. How about you?" he looked worried for a moment. Then he quickly scanned her body and she seemed to have no injuries as well.

"Nothing to worry about either," Maleficent exclaimed.

For a moment they looked at each other and then, following an impulse, he pulled her closer and kissed her. It was like nothing she had ever experienced. There was a prickling on her lips where his touched hers, she felt warm and safe and shivered all over.

When they pulled away, they smiled at each other. It seemed like every bad spell was broken. Both felt joy and peace.

His hand found a way around her waist, and he whispered in her ear:

"How about you show me your world?"

She smiled happily. "I would gladly do so."

Hand in hand, they left the battlefield, flew up into the air and made their way towards the forest that Maleficent called her home.