She was the Queen of the Moors - and he had known her when she was no one at all. His gaze, always surprisingly expressive, considering that his eyes were two holes, was burning another hole in her, trampling her into the ground - with his concern. She became acutely aware of her emaciated, wretched appearance, her hungry, haunted scowl - and the shameful, hideous state that made her look that way. How dare he send him to keep an eye her like a little spoilt child! What right did Balthazar have to look at her like she is. She was the Queen of the Moors, and he was a tree guard, a subject! To say nothing of Diaval. There was something else mixed with it, as chilling as anger that threatened to outweigh everything else. “And you obeyed a bird,” the fairy snarled - but as soon as the words left her lips, shame only strengthened its hot grip. “The bird asked me to watch you while he is away.” Maleficent nodded slowly, looking away, pursing her lips. So he thinks he is guarding her? Wherefore? Has her condition ruined the weather on the Moors and made him come to chastise her? Oh no, she had an even better guess.īalthazar rustled. “Why aren't you guarding?” the fairy squared her shoulders, no matter the inconvenience it cost her. She was the Queen of the Moors, and Balthazar was a spriggan, a tree guard, her subject. Her first sound thought was that she should not be ashamed. As if his being here was completely in the order of things.īefore she had even a single sound thought, she suddenly felt unthinkably embarrassed. Soon as she stepped outside, beyond bewildered, he turned his horned head towards her and nodded. Maleficent tugged at the thick fabric and branches blocking the passage - and what she saw in front of her was not the sky at all.Īs stately and serious as ever, Balthazar towered like a great wooden column right at the threshold. Although, if her memory served her right, she left him a man. What time is it now.? It must be early morning, since Diaval is absent - he must be foraging. This strip was now a dirty green, as though the sky had suddenly turned into a swamp. It was completely curtained except for a thin strip at the edge left open to allow ventilation. Holding on to the wall, the fairy headed for the exit. Yes, perhaps a couple of spoonfuls or sips would relieve her of the painful sensations for a few minutes, but she was not blessed with those few minutes - nor was she blessed with the hours it would take to then come around again. Even if she was nauseous and every muscle of her body was cramping. Her hand was about to go looking for a bottle of liquid on its own. The fairy stopped herself halfway to the table. She felt wrecked, drained to the very last. True, she felt like lying back down at once. Her back was tingling a little, but that did not stop her from leaving the bed. Maleficent tried to move - she succeeded, without terrible pain, but without pleasure either. There was deathly silence in the cave, save for the humming in her temples. The shade of gray grew a bit lighter by the time Maleficent woke up again.
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