Chapter 1

Aurora winced as she quickly limped her way toward the stables. Her task was made even more difficult by the pouring rain that had turned the dirt to thick, heavy mud. So heavily did the rain fall that she could barely see in front of her.

It's denseness and the storm clouds that blotted out the moon serving to aid her this terrible night.

The young queen practically stumbled through the doors as she forced them open with more effort than necessary. Fighting to keep her balance as she nearly fell face first into the dirt that was slowly becoming mud as rainwater leaked inside. On the far side if the room resided a lone horse within his stall.

A curious whine coming from him as he shook his head, looking over in her direction as his ears twitched.

She needed to keep moving, the blonde told herself. Taking a moment to glance down at her hands. They were just as soaked as the rest of her, yet, all she could see upon them was the blood...even if there was none there.

Despite the chill she felt piercing her very bones, her hands felt as warm as they did when the blood poured down upon them, coating her hands evenly.

The soft limbs clenching into fists, well, one of them turned into a fist. The other she couldn't even move, save for involuntary twitches of what she was positive was pain from the injured limb.

Still, her hands trembled all the same.

She bit her lip. Now wasn't the time to think about that, even if she kept seeing flashes of the event replay over and over as she made her way here. Right now, she needed to focus on getting out of the city.

Surely it was only a matter of time before...

The queen frowned as she shook her head, trying to force away all but the now. Heart pounding in her chest she crossed the distance between herself and the horse in record time. Impressive for a woman walking with such a severe limp.

A pain she didn't even notice as her blood rushed through her veins. The sound of it flowing rapidly and her heart pumping just as quickly the only sounds her ears catching.

Time was not kind to her as she had none of it to spare to saddle or even brittle the horse. Opening the door to his stall and carefully moving inside while offering gentle reassurances. The blonde would have much rather preferred her own mount, but that was impossible seeing as how they...

Again shaking her head to stop the thoughts. Thinking of them here would only serve as a hindrance. Escape and then she could think.

She used a bale of hay to mount the horse, sitting astride him. A position those of her council vehemently protested because it was unlady like, and the norm for a woman of her stature to sit side saddle; a position Aurora herself had always found odd and uncomfortable.

It took her a moment to find her balance, as she could only grip his mane with one hand. Her other arm tucked firmly against her body, as she couldn't move it. The young queen knew that it was broken, had been for some time, and she was not looking forward to being reacquainted with the pain once the fight or flight instinct wore off.

Once she was positive that she wouldn't fall off in this position (though truthfully she wasn't) she spurred the stallion into action. The young mount rushing from his stall as she guided him toward the exit where they flew through the open door and out into the pouring rain; the sound of alarmed cries reaching Aurora's ears.

Which only caused her to push the beast faster, her own comfort, as his feet pounded on the ground, be damned. She needed to escape the castle, the city, if she had any hope of staying alive. She needed to get away from the world of men, she needed to get to safety. She needed...

The Moors.

An hour had passed since the queen had managed to flee her city. The rain having let up from it's previous state, but still continuing all the same; the moon had decided to make an appearance, helping to light her way.

Not that she needed it. She'd know how to get to the Moors even in the darkest of nights. She knew how to get home.

Home...

Was she even allowed to refer to it as such after all this time?

The last time she had been there, she was sixteen and being crowned queen of that realm. Even then, she knew it was more a formality than anything, for the Moors and it's denizens governed themselves. A ruler wasn't needed and never would be for that realm.

The blonde was touched by the gesture all the same.

Now here it was three years later. A relatively short time, but Aurora felt she had changed all the same. It was never her intention to stop visiting the land she had grown to love. She practically grew up within it's boarders.

Yet, the kingdom that she had never known was hers until her sixteenth birthday, all but fell into her lap. With it, came levels and mountains of responsibilities she felt herself unprepared to handle; it happened too suddenly, like bursting up from the water only to be pulled back down before one could take a breath.

Still, she had chosen to face her task head on. She wanted to heal the land, her land, and it's people from the damage done from the kings before her. She wanted them to know peace and a gentle rule.

Desires she didn't know were so monumental until she set about trying to put them in motion.

Immediately, she was met with challenges and resistance from her council. The older, seasoned, and battle hardened men that served and advised her father. For every suggestion that she presented they snarled and bared their teeth like savage animals.

They argued that she was too young and naive in her decisions. That the witch had somehow cast a spell upon her. That the Moors were hers by right and should be forcefully taken, and those that dwelled within should be made to either bend the knee or face the sword.

While Aurora may have been born a human, she was as clueless to their ways as any of the Faerie-folk. She did not understand their greed and need to dominate others, or why they sought what did not belong to them. Nor did she understand why they did not appreciate the beauty around them, opting instead to injure the land.

After three years among them however, she was frightened to say she had begun to understand. Things that were once bewildering and confusing now were clear as the daytime sky. Where she was once frightened to move among vipers, she had learned to move among them with ease and with her own fangs and venom.

She found herself having to erect a wall around her heart, to close off a part of herself, in order to be taken seriously as Queen despite her age.

For three years she put up with their ways. Their politics, their agendas, their balls and endless suitors. From every mistakes she had learned and used that to become better at playing their game if only to keep the people she ruled happy.

The only stance she never faltered on being the Moors. The land was not to be touched, and none were allowed to enter without it's guardian's permission. Those that did so were subject to the punishment of the land's guardian, in whatever way best befit the crime.

Still, despite everything she thought she knew of humans (odd how she didn't consider herself one) it paled in comparison to what transpired tonight. Someone she thought her friend, who had helped her with her new role as Queen and explained customs, tradition, and what was expected of her, had betrayed her. An action that had pierced and burned and broken her heart.

The pain more excruciating than any of the injuries on her body.

Grunting as she felt the arrow imbedded in her shoulder move. She had not managed to escape the walls of the castle completely unscathed. Her adrenalin having long ago worn off.

Allowing every nerve ending to come alight with pain as her vision blurred as she fought to remain conscious. It wouldn't be long until she reached the Moors now. With every step that drew her closer, Aurora grew more afraid.

What if she had changed too much? Would the Moors even welcome her as they had three years ago? What if she had become too human in her thoughts, and had become just as greedy and poisonous as they were?

Would Maleficent even allow her passage after seeing all the changes in Aurora?

Maleficent.

It was a thought that shook the young woman to her core. Powerful enough to cause her vision to fade black momentarily. In that moment her grip on her mount going slack as she toppled off the galloping steed.

Landing on the ground roughly, further aggravating her injuries, as she rolled a bit from the momentum.

A pain filled scream escaping her lips as she rested on the wet grass, making no attempts at getting up. Through blurred vision she could make out the giant stones that served as the distinction between the two kingdoms; vaguely aware of the horse walking over toward her.

A gentle neigh in her ear as he sniffed and nosed against her face.

She was too weak to move now that she was away from danger. Yet, it would seem the fear that was once behind her now moved in front of her. Making her afraid to enter the Moors.

She did not wish to corrupt the land, and the thought of Maleficent turning her away because of the darkness she was sure had developed over the years, terrified her. Aurora found herself weeping at the thought of never being allowed to enter the land again, and lay her eyes upon it's untamed beauty. But, most importantly, she wept at the thought of ever seeing Maleficent again.

The tall, winged-horned Faerie that made her feel safe and protected, more so than an army of ten thousand men.

She bit her lip, trying to stifle her sobs, but all it did was draw blood. Ironic how despite all she had been through these last few days it was the thought of never seeing Maleficent again that struck a tangible fear into her heart. Not the loss of her kingdom, or the betrayal from someone she trusted, or the potential war that was sure to come...but that.

"G-godmother..." She said the name on a weakened and cracked voice. Something that would never be heard, and yet simply saying it brought the former princess comfort. "G-godmother, please..." A desperate plea in her voice as the world darkened around her.

"I'm sorry. I...I'm so so sorry," Aurora apologized wholeheartedly. "Godmother, forgive me...pl-please..." Breathing out the last word as her world faded into darkness.

Leaving the unconscious, sleeping beauty to soak in rain, blood, and moonlight.