Chapter Two

As Diaval flew towards the castle, many things ran across his mind, not in the least being Aurora. She was such a gentle soul and she was utterly unprepared to live among humans. They were corrupt and greedy creatures and if he were not careful she might end up like her father and grandfather – victims to an early demise. The nobility and the gentry that were the sum of her court would probably be his biggest problem. He had no idea how to deal with them, not really. After all, he was but a lowly crow himself and he all he had done was to occasionally observe the humans on her orders. Humans, but rarely any actual nobility. He knew how to act, somewhat, around the humans but he had not a smidgen of a clue about their culture or traditions. He wondered if Lady Maleficent had made the right choice with him guarding the Beastie.

The castle grew bigger in his view and he found himself suppressing an icy shiver that went down his spine and through his heart. It had been less than a month since her sixteenth birthday but the servants were still barely making progress on removing the barbed iron spikes and thorns that had been piled and piled upon every nook and cranny within and without the castle for the last sixteen years. It was an ominous sight and his heart clenched once more thinking of how the Beastie would have to live in such a dreary place among complete strangers.

Light was pouring from the large, ominous windows, signifying that the activity was still going on despite the lack of proper daylight. It was something that not so much perplexed him as much as he did not see the need for it. Creatures were either such of daylight or of night. When those of daylight slept, it was the turn of the night creatures to be active and vice versa. It was in their nature. And yet, here they were, these humans, doing what they did best – defying whatever was left of nature within them.

They were always up before the sun and went to bed long after it had set. They used artificial light, their time of daylight never being enough. It was always like that. Nothing was ever enough for these humans. They always wanted more than they needed, always took more than they had to and never would they stop and think about what they had done.

There was no balance.

There was only dominion.

And despite the powers bestowed upon him by the Lady Maleficent, Diaval knew well that it was fear within him to be amongst humans without her comforting if sometimes overwhelming presence. He believed that no matter his own opinion, the Lady Maleficent would've still done her best to make sure Aurora was protected to the best of her ability. He also knew that he was chosen not only because he was loyal.

Diaval was chosen because he was a crow. And crows were creatures under the power of their nature. They were thoughtful, conniving and resourceful creatures. They could be underhanded and ingenious when they had to and they had eyes to uncover deceit for they themselves were creatures well familiar with it.

Diaval looked through the window and into the Great Hall. There she was. The Beastie. She looked simply radiant though he could also see that she was weighed by the events that had transpired. The people around her, lords and ladies, were all taking turns to talk to her, no doubt trying to gouge the amount of threat she'd present as King Stefan's sole heir.

Aurora was smiling and eager but she was also bursting with anxious energy. She was constantly either wringing her hands or fiddling with her dress. Her eyes were shining in the torchlight, not unlike a deer's and Diaval could not keep himself from noticing how apt a comparison he had made. She was surrounded by the nobles and servants like a pack of wolves would surround said deer. He never really liked wolves and their ilk.

He needed to get to her, but without dragging too much attention to himself. He doubted that the people of the castle had even seen his human face, for which he thanked whatever high power was looking over him. He'd be able to enter the castle under a normal human. Well, as normal as he could ever be as a human and Aurora would have him right at her side. It was a simple but effective plan and he was satisfied with that. With a quiet caw, Diaval flew away from the castle and into the village proper.

Not too long after, a black clad figure emerged from a shadowy alley and with determined strides headed for the castle gates.