Hi Everyone

I am back to present a new chapter to you!

(Guess where I got this line from ;) ) I might say, I really was quite distressed not receiving many reviews. Sorry, couldn't resist. But we went from TEN reviews, to six, to five. And thankyou to all those reviewers, and all you lovely readers. Let's hope we can get a few more review for this chapter!

And just for incentive, this is my longest chapter EVER!

Enjoy!

The first few weeks of Diaval's servitude to Maleficent were difficult. Maleficent was not at all used to an almost constant shadow, and Diaval was probably the most silent being she had ever encountered in her life. Nothing like Stefan's clumsy footsteps which could be heard from miles away. It made her quite jumpy, and it took a while to stop flinching every time he spoke from behind her. While she was still powerful, she felt vulnerable without her wings, unable to simply fly away from any possible danger.

Diaval was completely terrified, as he was no fool. His mistress was the most powerful woman he had ever served. Which meant if he did something wrong, there were no limits on what torture she could inflict on him. Every time she jumped, he did so twice as high. Yet-save for the first time he had been behind her and she had hit him in shock- she never once struck him, or inflicted any of the torture he imagined she could.

Slowly, they began to adjust to each other. Diaval always made sure to give a loud caw before landing, or he put in extra effort to make his footsteps loud enough for her to hear until the flinching eventually stopped, and she begun to accept his almost constant presence. Maleficent realized quickly what he was trying to do, and while she never verbally thanked him for it, she showed her gratitude in other ways, mainly by also making her moves slower- to dissipates his fears of her striking him- and trying to give him as much time to himself as possible.

Diaval had never had a mistress, or master, like Maleficent. And yes, he had finally overheard her name after his 6th journey to the Kingdom. Firstly, she was the first fae he had ever served, and by far the kindest to him. Which confused him greatly, considering all she had been through. If anyone deserved to be angry and hateful, it was her. Yet not once did she show anger, let alone take it out on him. Just more evidence of her strength. She was also an extremely complex woman, with such an array of different emotions keeping up with her was dizzying at times. But it also made her more intriguing to him, and he spent any free time he had by her side anyway, observing her and trying to unravel the mystery that was Maleficent.

He woke early every morning to spy on the castle, and returned in the afternoons when he was sure he would find no more information. Maleficent woke up each day with a bundle by her side, filled with food. Without her wings, she was unable to fetch food herself, as it was wither over the border or high up on trees. Climbing onto a branch was one thing, trying to pick herself breakfast was another. She had spent the first few weeks living on what few berries she could pick off bushes and fallen fruits, far too ashamed to ask Diaval to assist her.

Diaval had been confused as to why his mistress had been slowly thinning, and once he realized, he made no comment, but made sure to fetch her food each day early before he left, and steal for both of them whatever delectable goods he could find for them when he returned. Maleficent had been horrified once he had figured it out, but neither spoke about it even once. Now, she welcomed the breakfast with gratitude, and their evening meal was the part of the day they looked forward to the most, both thoroughly enjoying the conversations they had together which lasted well into the night.

Diaval had heard her name being whispered fearfully among Moorfolk. Maleficent. The name sounded terrifying, and he wondered what exactly her parents had been thinking giving her such a name. But strangely it also suited her, mysterious and unique and dark, just like the fairy. But he doubted she was evil. The most she had ever done to the Moorfolk was frighten them, keep them and their pitying stares away from her. She had never once hit or even screamed at a creature. She never once used her self-proclaimed queen status unfairly, in fact he doubted she really even considered herself queen. Perhaps it had just been a moment of anger. She still protected the land, healed what was broken and guarded them all from threats. They had no reason to deem her evil, especially since they all seemed to have figured out what happened to her.

She was not the only one angered when they had found out the threes flower fairies, who had practically raised the horned fairy, had gone to the King to seek asylum from her. They had abandoned her, and sided with him. Diaval had also been furious, becausehe knew that beneath all her anger, there was an aching grief, and he was disgusted that someone had the heart to make her even more miserable.

'Darkness had descended upon the Moors.' Blasphemy! Maleficent still cared for each and every creature, and it was no fault of hers that her sadness was poisoning the land. If there were another more capable to handle her duties, she would have immediately chosen what was best for the Moorfolk.

Even the wall they all despised her for was something out of necessity, not simply her cruelty. With no wings, she couldn't be watching every inch of the Moors at all times. It insured that Stefan and his idiotic men didn't pass the borders. She was protecting them, yet they all abandoned her. It saddened her slightly, to lose all her friends so, and angered Diaval very much. They didn't deserve someone as kind as his mistress, and obviously none of them had ever seen true cruelty.

So Maleficent distanced herself, and therefore Diaval, further and further from the creatures of the Moors. She chose to sleep in the ruins, far from both Moorfolk and the prying eyes of humans. It weakened her to be so far from nature, and her true home. But he knew it made her feel even worse trying to ignore the scared and pitying stares of those that once adored her.

She slept on the floor as, unbeknown to Diaval, she had nightmares, and they would shake her off any tree she slept in. Also, she had a horrid, constant pain in her back that made even sleeping miserable. What she found odd was that Diaval, who she had asked to sleep far from her incase her dreaming was particularly loud, chose to sleep in his raven form, but was always curled up on the floor, and that was if slept.

So on one of her late night walks, when she had found him once again on the floor and wide awake, she transformed him and sat gracefully in front of him. He stretched his human limbs and gave a yawn.

"Yes, mistress? Is there something you wish me to do?" Diaval asked.

"No," she replied, and Diaval cocked his head to the side, confused.

Maleficent immediately felt stupid, coming to him like this in the middle of the night.

"You wish to talk then?" Diaval spoke again, and Maleficent nodded, still feeling foolish. He sat properly before her, giving her an encouraging smile.

"Why do you sleep on the floor? Why not build yourself a nest?"

He gave an amused smirk, "I'm a slave, mistress, I can not enjoy such things. The luxury of a nest was taken from me long ago." Maleficent looked down. If she ever felt self-pitying, all she had to do was ask Diaval something about his life.

"I would have no problems with you making a nest," she offered.

His smile became a bit warmer, "Thank you, mistress. But there is not a tree here for miles, and I would much prefer to remain somewhat close lest you need me."

She gave a small returning smile, wincing at the sharp pain in her back. Another problem she suffered from the loss of her wings was the inability to walk without her staff/crutch - she was quite off balance without the extra weight- and the almost constant pains in her back from her shifted posture.

Diaval had tried many times to assist her, quite confident he could at least ebb the pain some, but she absolutely refused to let him come anywhere near her, let alone touch her. Let alone touch her back.

Tonight, the pain was especially strong, and as hard as she tried to hide it, Diaval noticed almost immediately.

"Mistress," he said softly, pleading. He didn't like seeing her in pain, especially if he could do something about it.

She tried to glare at him, but another sharp pain momentarily knocked the breath out of her. Her eyes filled with unshed tears, and Diaval immediately moved from his place against the boulder, allowing his mistress to lay against it in hopes of easing the pain. The pains were getting worse, she realised, as a flash of agony coaxed the tears from her eyes. She was desperate for relief, more than she ever had been. But was she that desperate?

"Mistress, I swear to you that I won't hurt you, and I'll stop immediately if you ask. Heck, I have to stop if you ask. And I couldn't hurt you even if I wanted to."

Maleficent was silent for what felt like decades, thinking. She had not let anyone touch her since she had lost her wings. She was terrified of physical contact, always fretting over what more they could steal from her. But Diaval was right, he couldn't hurt her, and with a simple phrase he would by a frog by her feet. Was that enough for her to trust him? She looked at him, examining his face, which held the same expression it always did when he was pleasing to assist her. There was nothing cruel about the way he looked at her. Just worry- for her, shockingly- and a quiet hope. She slowly turned herself so her back was facing him.

"Be careful," she whispered, and Diaval's heart leaped in his chest. To anyone else, this offer may have seemed inconsequential. but he knew how hard it was for her to agree, and he felt incredibly honoured that she finally trusted him with such a task, no matter what the reason.

Maleficent stiffened as she felt his hands on her shoulders, tentative but firm. His skilled fingers worked to loosen up her stiffened muscles and relax her rigid posture. His touch wasn't as difficult to bear as she thought, and he was extra careful with her. His touch became much weaker around especially painful areas, and he made sure to keep away from the stumps of her wings. Unbelievably, she felt the pain fade to a dull ache, until it was completely gone altogether, as if it was just a dream.

She felt complete relief for the first time in the entire year since her wings had been taken, and with this blissful relief came the strong urge to sleep. Before she could do anything, her eyes had drooped and Maleficent fell limp into Diaval's arms, fast asleep.

The raven had left her in his sleeping place, not wanting to stay for fear of angering her. She had just started to give him her trust tonight, he wouldn't dare make her doubt her decision. But when he heard her bloodcurdling scream, almost the same one that had first attracted him to her, he was bolting back to help her.

His mistress lay screaming, just where he had left her. She clawed at her back as sweat glistened in dull moonlight.

He fell to his knees, prying her arms away and cursing as she continued to thrash.

"Mistress, mistress!" He gasped out, pinning her sown as carefully as he could.

As soon as his voice met her ears, her eyes shot open.

Diaval let her go, falling back in relief. She shot up from her place, confused staring angrily into his eyes.

"I-I'm sorry mistress." He stuttered, "You were...screaming...I thought you were in danger. You had a nightmare." He was terrified, certain he had finally pushed his limits.

She was horrified "I fell asleep?"

His head bobbed, "While I was massaging your back, remember?"

Her eyes widened, indeed she did. How could she have fallen asleep, with him still there, touching her? She felt nothing out of ordinary, but took a moment to check herself.

"And you stayed?" Her voice was back to its usual cold tone.

"No mistress, I didn't think you would want me too. I slept in the ruins, I swear. My coat is still there, if you want to check."

Maleficent felt slightly guilty, for it was not his fault she had fallen asleep. And he had done the right thing sleeping somewhere else. There was nothing to blame him for.

"It's alright. I believe you." She stretched, and Diaval bit his lip.

"Thank you, for assisting me." She said, her voice back to its usual tone.

He gave a small bow, "It is my duty, mistress. Do you wish to transform me to my natural self, so I can go to the castle? It's almost sunrise."

She looked up at the sky, and indeed it was.

She flicked her fingers, and he squawked at her as he flew away, as if saying goodbye.

She thought long and hard after he left, about the occurrences of the night, only brought from her thoughts when a neat little package dropped itself into her lap.

And despite everything, all her worries and doubts and confusions, she let her mouth stretch into a small, honest smile.

Ok, so as you guys saw this chapter was all about them adapting to each other. This was not at all mentioned in the movie and I think that was a big issue. Maleficent was shown before to spend almost all her time alone flying and guarding the Moors, so there is no way she would adapt to a 24 hour presence as easily as they showed it in the movie. And she is extremely powerful, which would frighten anyone, at least in the slightest. So I don't think Diaval, a raven would be completely unafraid of her at first. And in my story he has been around magic a lot before, so he would be a lot less afraid then an animal of the wild who had never known magic, as he was depicted in the movie.

I think they would obviously over time start to figure things out, and start to compromise so as to settle together. And wasn't Diaval caring for her just the sweetest!

Also, they seemed to slowly become closer over time in the movie, yet we never really knew the reason for that. I think it would have started with something like this, her finally trusting him a little more.

All the issues I came up with in regards to how she was with her loss of wings were very realistic. She would have found it far more difficult to find food, not being able to fly, and I'm guessing Diaval would have noticed. And she is far too proud a character, I think, to ask someone for assistance. Also a change in your posture can cause many issues, especially if you have lost a huge amount of weight off your back. Not only would she stand differently, but her balance would be put off. Why wasn't that touched on?

Another thing is how the Moorfolk treated her after. I think it was horrible. She was never really mean, and always took care of them, and they just immediately deemed her evil, even after knowing what had happened to her and knowing her her entire life! How cruel. And the pixies practically raise her! How could they leave and seek asylum with him? That part of the movie really, really ticked me off.

We also had the reason for the wall, a little conversation between the too and a situation I have been dreaming about forever, as well as a bit on how Maleficent seems to Diaval, as he is ALWAYS watching her in the movie.

Well, I hope you enjoyed! Please REVIEW!