Maleficent(45)

            A short while later they arrived at the princess’s room. They ducked behind a thick set of drapes that covered the wall opposite the room, and Maleficent took stock of the situation. Two soldiers stood guard, and through the open door, Maleficent could hear the grating voices of Knotgrass, Thistlewit, and Flittle. The trio seemed to be in the middle of forcing someone to kiss the princess.

            “This is Princess Aurora,” Maleficent heard Knotgrass say.

            “Isn’t she beautiful?” Flittle added.

            A male voice answered, “Yes.”

            Then Knotgrass spoke again. “Are you in love with her?”

            Hidden behind the drapes, Maleficent rolled her eyes. Did those three nincompoops honestly think that all it would take was some stranger saying he loved the princess and kissing her for the curse to lift? Poof? Just like that? Beside her, Diaval saw her expression and smiled knowingly. While they didn’t irk him as much as they did Maleficent, he was well aware of how silly the three pixies could be, and he sympathized.

            When the young man in the room replied that he was “madly” in love with Aurora, Maleficent heard Knotgrass say, “You may kiss her, then.”

            There was a moment of silence and Maleficent knew that the young man was kissing Aurora. There was another moment as everyone in the room waited for Aurora to wake up. But of course, she didn’t.

            If she hadn’t been so distraught, Maleficent would have laughed out loud when she heard one of the pixies stamp her feet in frustration. She did love when they got worked up. Then Flittle cried out, “If it was true love, you would have woken her!”

            “I’ll try again,” Maleficent heard the young man say.

            But the pixies wanted him out. A moment later he appeared in the doorway, looking dejected. Behind him, Thistlewit and Flittle stood in the door, their arms folded across their chests. They waited for him to walk away before turning to the two handmaidens, who had been waiting patiently. Reaching out, the pixies snatched the linens and, with a huff, turned and closed the door behind them. The two handmaidens looked at each other and then, shrugging, turned and walked down the hall. Within moments, the hall was once again empty save for the two guards and the threesome hidden behind the curtain.

            Maleficent knew this was her chance. Moving slightly away from the curtain, she waved her hand in front of Phillip and softly whispered, “Wake.” Then, with a gentle shove, she pushed him out from behind the curtain. He stumbled into the hall, the noise alerting the guards, who quickly raised their swords, unsure where the young man had come from. At the same moment, the door opened and the three pixies bustled out, nearly crashing into Phillip.

            Looking around, Phillip shook his head, as though trying to clear his vision. “Pardon me,” he said, seeing the three pixies. “I’m embarrassed to say I don’t know where I am.” Despite having just woken up from a magical sleep and not knowing where he was or how he had gotten there, he looked every part the perfect, handsome gentleman, Maleficent had to admit.

            The faeries must have thought so, too, because they didn’t slam the door in his face. Instead, they informed him that he was in King Stefan’s castle.

            Upon hearing that, Phillip looked surprised. “This is where I’m meant to be,” he said, trying to understand. “Odd that I can’t recall how I got here. My father sent me to see the king.”

            Knotgrass perked up. If his father had sent him to see the king, perhaps this young man was someone of importance. There was one way to find out. “Who is your father?” she asked.

            “King John of Ulstead,” Phillip replied.

            The three faeries exchanged looks as they mouthed, “Prince.” Without a word of explanation, they pulled him into the room.