Maleficent(38)
Expecting the princess to look scared, Maleficent was surprised to see her smile. “I’m almost sixteen, Godmother. I can take care of myself.”
Maleficent smiled despite herself. The girl was so brave yet so naive. “I understand. But that’s not—”
Aurora interrupted her. “I have a plan,” she said, her face lighting up with excitement. “When I’m older, I’m going to live here in the Moors with you. And then we can look after each other.”
Looking at the proud smile on Aurora’s face, Maleficent had no choice but to smile back. It was clear the girl had put a lot of thought into this. And that she not only wanted to live in the Moors but wanted to be a part of Maleficent’s life was beyond touching. Aurora didn’t know what her future held, the curse that was inevitable. She thought she had her whole life in front of her. And she wanted to spend it in the Moors, not in the cottage with her aunts, where things would be easier. There she had a home and was surrounded by family—at least, she thought they were family. There in the Moors, she would have only the woodland creatures as companions. True, she would also have Diaval and Maleficent, but what fun could they possibly be after any length of time? But it would be so nice.…
As Aurora’s words sank in, Maleficent’s heart began to beat faster. Wait a minute, she thought. Why didn’t I think of it sooner? Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to prevent the curse and give Aurora what she wanted—and, frankly, what Maleficent wanted, too. If the girl lived in the Moors, she would never be able to touch a spinning wheel. She could avoid the fate placed upon her nearly sixteen years earlier. Her excitement building, Maleficent turned to Aurora. “You don’t have to wait until you’re older,” she said. “You could live here now.”
But Aurora shook her head sadly. “My aunts would never let me.”
“I thought you could take care of yourself,” Maleficent said, hoping she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt. Now that the idea had lodged itself in her brain, she couldn’t let it go.
“I can,” Aurora said. “But they would be sad without me.” She paused and then smiled as she, too, had an idea. “Could they come visit me?”
Maleficent stifled a groan. Knotgrass, Thistlewit, and Flittle? Here? The pixie traitors back in the Moors and, worse still, in her grove? The idea was abhorrent. The three little pixies had abandoned their home to live with the enemy…and yet they had raised Aurora. And while it pained Maleficent to admit it, they hadn’t done that bad a job. Even if it had taken a little unseen help from her and Diaval. Looking down at the hopeful expression on Aurora’s face, Maleficent knew she had no choice. If she wanted the girl to be safe in the Moors, she was going to have to let the pixies through the Wall. Though it wouldn’t be all the time. Just every once in a while. But that was something she and Aurora could discuss at a later point. For now, she was simply going to say yes.
Aurora let out a happy squeal and clapped her hands. “Then I will!” she exclaimed. “I’ll sleep in a tree and eat berries and black nuts, and all the Fair People will be my friends. I’ll be happy here for the rest of my life. I’m going to tell them tomorrow.” As she spoke, she skipped ahead, lost in thoughts of her life to come.
Behind her, Maleficent watched, pleased that things were going to work out after all.
AFTER TUCKING AURORA SAFELY INTO HER BED, MALEFICENT SPENT THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT WANDERING RESTLESSLY THROUGH THE WOODS NEAR THE COTTAGE. The next day was important for so many reasons. In only three days’ time, Aurora would be sixteen. And before that day arrived, she needed to come to the Moors. While Maleficent trusted Aurora to stay strong and stand up to her “aunts,” she wanted to be nearby in case. And with Aurora’s sixteenth birthday fast approaching, she felt an even greater sense of urgency. Aurora needed to be in the Moors—and safe from spinning wheels—immediately.