Maleficent

by Elizabeth Rudnick

  Diaval shook his head. He had expected Maleficent to be difficult. “You hate Stefan,” he pointed out. “May I speak freely?”

  “No,” Maleficent answered. Waving her hand, she moved to transform him. But for once, Diaval didn’t let her. He grabbed her hand, his fingers lacing with hers.

  “Any time you don’t like what I have to say, you change me back into a bird,” he pointed out.

  Maleficent opened her mouth to retort but then shook her head, thinking better of it. This was not a conversation to be had there or then. Before he could stop her, Maleficent pulled her hand away. Quickly she waved it, transforming him once more into a raven. When he was muted, she sighed. Diaval had taken all the fun out of the day. And for what? To try to save his little friend? Why had he even bothered? Did he think Maleficent would retract the curse and Aurora could live with them? It was a laughable thought. It was not like Aurora could ever be a part of the Moors. She didn’t fit in there. She could never fit in there. How could a human understand and appreciate the magic and nature of the Moors? No, it was silly of Diaval. What was done was done. There was no revoking the curse. Maleficent was perfectly content with that. And what she wanted to do then, more than anything, was continue to play with the pixies.

  MORE YEARS PASSED. Seasons came and went. Days grew longer and then shorter and then longer again. The thick wall grew taller in the summer, invigorated by the sun’s warmth. And in fall, the roots dug deeper. On one side, in the Faerie Moors, Maleficent continued to sit on the throne. She focused on helping the Moors thrive and enjoyed knowing that she had brought a long-lasting peace for all the creatures, great and small.

  Over the years, Maleficent grew more confident and more beautiful. On the other side of the Thorn Wall, however, things did not go as well. In his castle, King Stefan grew weaker and more paranoid. His beard grew gray and thinned while his belly became larger. His red-rimmed eyes were constantly trained on the wall as he waited for the moment it would show him its weakness. He had ordered the once lovely light stone walls of the castle to be covered by thick, dull iron—an attempt to make sure that Maleficent could be kept out. It gave the castle a scary, foreboding appearance, and those who lived in its shadow felt its heavy weight on their shoulders. Gone were the days of celebrations and fun. The kingdom, many said, was in a perpetual state of mourning for a cursed princess who they would never see grow up.

  Deep in the woods between the two worlds, unaware of it all, Aurora grew older. Her pudgy cheeks thinned out yet stayed rosy. The little legs that had so often gotten her into trouble became long and lean so that she towered over her short “aunts.” The button nose that turned up slightly at the tip fit her face perfectly, and the long blond locks that flowed down to her tiny waist shimmered and shone. At fifteen, she was a vision of beauty. And raised away from the trappings of royal life, she was a vision of kindness, as well. There was not an animal she didn’t love or a bird she didn’t sing to. She would wander the woods for hours at a time, lost in thought but perfectly comfortable with the nature around her.

  Maleficent had watched as Aurora grew and got closer and closer to the age of her curse. She had witnessed the awkward years when Aurora’s legs were too long for her body, and seen the emotional shift from child to teen as Aurora struggled to figure out who she was, never getting answers from the three women who had raised her. She had followed the girl as she wandered the woods, always surprised to see a human so in touch with nature. And she had been uncomfortable when, wandering far from home one afternoon, Aurora had discovered the Wall. Soon Aurora began to spend long afternoons lying in front of it, trying to see through its thick, thorny branches. While Maleficent tried to ignore the girl’s presence so close to her home, it was practically impossible. The girl always seemed to be nearby.

  Sitting with Diaval one afternoon on the human side of the Wall, Maleficent tried to relax and enjoy lying on the warm ground. Her gaze fell on the road that ran across from the Wall. It was the road between the human forest and the Faerie Moors. Long and winding, it had deep ruts dug into the dirt by countless carriages and wagons. Tall trees grew on either side of it. In the opposite direction was King Stefan’s castle. As the road drew closer to the castle, it became more structured, the trees trimmed back and the foliage kept to a minimum. Gazing at Stefan’s castle in the distance, Maleficent crinkled her nose. All those years later and the place still made her mad.

  Suddenly, Diaval, who was in his human form, cocked his head, listening. “She’s back again,” he said after a moment.

  Pushing themselves back into the shadows of the thick branches, the pair watched as a moment later Aurora emerged from the woods. Looking around to be sure no one had spotted her, Aurora crossed the road and made her way up to the thorns. She craned her neck up, marveling again at the immensity of the Wall. She stood on tiptoe and then sank, trying to find a hole in the Wall to see through.

  “Curious little beast,” Maleficent muttered as she watched Aurora. She was just about to signal Diaval to go when there was the loud sound of metal cutting through wood. The noise sliced through Maleficent, causing her to shudder, as though she were the one being cut.

  Forgetting all about Aurora, Maleficent began to walk toward the noise. It didn’t take her long to discover the source. A large wagon had broken down on the road. Two of its wheels lay flat on the ground, the other two still connected to the disabled vehicle. The back of the wagon was shattered where its heavy cargo had fallen through. Squinting, Maleficent could just make out a hint of heavy iron peering from underneath the cargo cover.

  Several soldiers, armed in iron and carrying iron weapons, stood guard near the cargo. Two more had made their way to the edge of the forest and were using a two-handed saw to cut down a tree. They were clearly going to use the fresh wood to repair their wagon.

  As the metal blade sliced into the tree’s trunk, Maleficent cringed. Anger filled her and she raised her staff, ready to put a stop to the humans’ destructive work. But a warning caw from Diaval made her pause. Turning, she saw that Aurora was approaching.

  Two of the soldiers had left the group, spotting Aurora close by. The first one called out to her. “Hey, you. What are you doing?”

  “You don’t belong out here,” the other said.

  Then they started shouting over each other.

  “How did you get out here?”

  “Why are you out here in the middle of the forest?”

  Aurora started walking in their direction, her eyes curious and trusting.

  Maleficent quickly formed a plan in her mind. The soldiers outnumbered her. And they did have iron weapons. But she had magic. And Diaval. Looking at him, she narrowed her eyes. She was going to need something a bit scarier than a raven to help her frighten off the soldiers. Raising her staff, she softly said, “Bring them to me.”

  With a small cry, Diaval fell to his knees. And then, in front of Maleficent’s eyes, he transformed into an enormous wolf. His fur was thick and black and long; sharp talons extended from huge paws. He was a terrifying creature. The only things that were not frightening were the wolf’s eyes, which still retained Diaval’s kindness. He bounded off.

  The soldiers stopped in their tracks as soon as they heard a loud, echoing howl. Instantly, they turned around and headed back to the other men.

  At the same time, Maleficent approached Aurora from behind. She pulled a yellow flower from her robe and blew on it. Pollen flew off the flower, got caught in the gentle breeze, and began to move toward Aurora.

  “Sleep,” Maleficent said softly.

  Taking the shape of a small cloud, the pollen continued to float toward Aurora. Reaching her, the yellow dust swirled around, and her eyes began to close. A moment later, Aurora’s body went limp and she gently dropped to the ground. But Aurora was still too visible for Maleficent’s liking. Lifting her staff, Maleficent raised the princess’s sleeping bo
dy slowly into the air. The girl floated higher and higher until she hovered safely above the soldiers’ line of sight.

  That taken care of, Maleficent turned her attention back to the soldiers. She watched as Diaval galloped closer and closer to them. Terrified of the mass of fur and muscle fast approaching, the soldiers drew their swords. And then, just as swiftly, they started running in the opposite direction. Diaval trailed behind like a menacing sheepdog.

  Too late, the soldiers realized they were racing straight toward a tall, horned creature. They skidded to a stop just as Maleficent raised her staff once more, lifting the soldiers into the air this time. Weapons began to rain down on her as she made them float in the air. She twisted her staff, and the soldiers bumped into one another in the air, then fell to the ground in an unconscious heap.

  She grinned, satisfied that the crisis had been averted. But the smile faded on her lips as she looked down at an iron helmet lying near her feet. She studied it and then carefully reached out a finger. The tip touched the iron and Maleficent felt a searing heat. She snatched her hand away and held it to her chest. So that little problem hasn’t gone away, she thought. And if she faced more soldiers in another battle, it could become a much bigger problem.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by the return of Diaval. Waving her hand, she transformed him back into a human. His cheeks were flushed and he shuffled from foot to foot, clearly agitated.

  “How could you do that to me?” he asked angrily.

  Maleficent took a step back, surprised by his response. He had never reacted to a transformation like that before. “You said…anything I need,” she replied haltingly. And he had. True, it had been many years earlier, but she didn’t think there was an expiration date.

  “Not a dog!” Diaval snapped.

  Maleficent shrugged. So that was what he was so upset about. That he had been furry. “It was a wolf,” she pointed out, “not a dog.”

  “It’s the same thing,” Diaval replied. “They’re dirty, vicious, and they hunt birds.”

  “Fine,” Maleficent said, throwing up her hands. “Next time I’ll change you into a mealy worm.”

  She turned and began to make her way back to the Wall. It wouldn’t be long before the soldiers awoke and alerted King Stefan to the skirmish. She would be safer in the Moors. Diaval followed, still muttering about his earlier transformation. “I’ll be a mealy worm,” he was saying. “Gladly! Anything but a filthy, stinking…Awk!”

  Looking over her shoulder, Maleficent tried not to smile as Diaval flapped angrily about. He could be so dramatic. A little transformation never hurt anybody, and it wasn’t like he had hurt a bird while he was a wolf.

  Suddenly, Maleficent remembered Aurora. Looking up, she saw the princess was still floating in the air, blissfully asleep and unaware of the battle that had occurred on the ground below. She needed to wake the girl up and get her safely back to the cottage before any of Stefan’s men woke up. Yet that could take a while and she could be followed if the soldiers were good trackers. Maleficent doubted she had that long. Suddenly, she had an idea. A strange and unsettling idea, but an idea nonetheless.

  “I wonder…” she mused aloud.

  What if she were to take Aurora to the other side of the Wall? The men couldn’t follow them there and Aurora would be safe for the time being. Plus, Maleficent thought, I am curious to see what the girl would think of the Moors. Would she see their beauty? Or be frightened? Or overcome with the urge to take and destroy like every other human? She shook her head. Was she being foolish even to consider taking her to the Moors? Or was it the best decision given the circumstances?

  Maleficent could stand there all day battling with herself. But time was precious and she needed to make a decision…soon. Lifting her staff, she pointed it at Aurora.

  NIGHT HAD FALLEN ON THE MOORS. High in the sky a full moon hung and beams of light shone down, illuminating the lush ground. The air was still and silent. Most of the Moorland creatures were asleep, some tucked in the leaves on the ground, others resting in trees. Through it all, a sleeping Aurora floated. Maleficent walked a few paces behind while Diaval flew ahead. As the trio made their way along, a few curious faeries peeped out, eager to see who would dare disturb the peaceful wood at that hour.

  Arriving at a small glen through which a shallow stream burbled, Maleficent lowered Aurora gently to the ground. Then she slipped into the shadows. She took a deep breath, then whispered, “Awaken.”

  Maleficent waited, her heart pounding. She was beginning to regret her decision to bring the girl there. What had possessed her? It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now, as Aurora’s eyes fluttered open, Maleficent was beginning to think differently.

  Slowly, Aurora sat up. She took in her surroundings calmly with her big blue eyes, as though waking up in an unfamiliar grove of trees was a common event for her. Watching Aurora take in the Moors, Maleficent felt an ache in her chest. She had never felt comfortable out of her familiar surroundings. Yet Aurora, who had lived her whole life in one cottage and knew only three people, seemed unfazed.

  Turning her head in Maleficent’s direction, Aurora spoke. “I know you’re there.”

  Startled, Maleficent slipped farther back into the shadows.

  “Don’t be afraid,” Aurora added.

  “I’m not afraid,” Maleficent said defensively. She slapped a hand over her mouth. As soon as the words had slipped out, she wished could take them back. Now there was no hiding.

  “Then come out,” Aurora pleaded.

  Maleficent smiled. Ah, maybe there was a way out of this after all. “Then you’ll be afraid,” she said.

  But Aurora shook her head. “No, I won’t,” she said stubbornly.

  It appeared Maleficent had no choice. She hadn’t really thought through what would happen once Aurora was in the Moors, but she most certainly hadn’t thought she would have to talk to the princess. Nevertheless, if Aurora was like any other human, the girl would run away as soon as she saw Maleficent.

  Stepping out of the shadows, Maleficent made her way closer. A bright beam of moonlight shot down, illuminating her, and she cast a long shadow on the ground behind her. In the night, her horns looked bigger and darker, and she was not surprised to see Aurora’s eyes widen with fear. But what did surprise her was that Aurora didn’t run. Instead, she spoke.

  “I know who you are,” she said, causing Maleficent to raise an eyebrow. “You’re my faerie godmother.”

  A chuckle caught in Maleficent’s throat. “Your…what?” she asked, trying not to laugh out loud.

  Ignoring Maleficent’s reaction, Aurora nodded. “Faerie godmother,” she repeated slowly. “You’ve been watching over me my whole life. I’ve always known you were close by.”

  “How?” Maleficent asked, curiosity getting the best of her.

  Aurora pointed over Maleficent’s shoulder. Turning, Maleficent saw her distinct horned shadow. “It’s been following me ever since I was small,” Aurora explained. “Wherever I went, your shadow was always with me.”

  Hearing that, Diaval let out a loud caw. While Maleficent knew he was, in his own bird way, saying something along the lines of “I knew it!” Aurora simply heard the birdcall and smiled. Watching as Diaval landed on Maleficent’s shoulder, she paused and then made her way closer.

  “I remember you!” she said, reaching up to pet Diaval. “Pretty bird.”

  Maleficent tried not to cringe as the girl’s small hand brushed her shoulder. She hadn’t been this close to a stranger in a long, long time. To her surprise, it didn’t feel as terrible as she would have thought.

  And what was even more surprising was how at home Aurora seemed in the glen. She turned from Diaval and wandered around, bending down every now and then to get a closer look at the small flowers and plants that were different from the ones on her side of the Wall.

 
As she explored, Moorland faeries, awoken from their slumber, began to emerge, curious to see the human in their midst. When Aurora caught sight of the winged creatures, her face filled with wonder. Maleficent felt herself smiling as several courageous dew faeries fluttered up to the princess, their translucent wings glimmering in the moonlight. It had been a long time since Maleficent had really looked at her home. True, she fought to defend it and loved it fiercely, but with Aurora there, she was seeing it in a fresh light. It was beautiful and mysterious. Peaceful and yet alive. The trees protected the plants, and the plants hugged the ground. There was a home and place for everyone and everything. That, Maleficent thought, was why she fought so hard to keep it safe.

  Unaware of Maleficent’s musings, Aurora softly ran her hand over the top of a cattail. “I’ve always wanted to come here,” she said softly. “But my aunts told me it was forbidden.” She looked up, and her eyes met Maleficent’s. “How did we get through the Wall?”

  The question snapped Maleficent back to reality. It was one thing to have the girl there for a short while, but it would not do to have her asking questions and wanting to come back. “It’s time to take you home,” Maleficent said, not answering Aurora.

  “So soon?” the princess said, clearly disappointed. “May I come back another night?”

  Instead of answering, Maleficent reached into her robe and pulled out another yellow flower. Once again, she blew on it, sending pollen into the air in front of Aurora. And once again, Aurora’s eyes fluttered shut and her body went limp.

  As the other faeries looked on, Maleficent raised Aurora into the air. And then, in silence, they left the glen.

  A short while later they arrived at the small cottage. Quietly, Maleficent floated Aurora into her room and gently lowered her onto her bed. Leaning over the princess, Maleficent felt a small smile tug at the corners of her lips. “Good night, beastie,” she said gently before turning to go.