CHAPTER 4
King Henry lay in bed, dozens of councilmen and generals surrounding him. From an alcove, Stefan watched the scene, lighting the last candelabra. He had to lean in closely to hear what the weakened king was saying.
“When I took the throne, I promised the people that one day we would take the Moors and their treasures. And each of you swore allegiance to me and to that cause.” He started coughing violently, sputtering as he tried to sit up. Stefan appeared with a pillow and placed it behind the king’s back.
“Defeated in battle,” the king continued as if there had been no interruption. “Is this to be my legacy? I see you waiting for me to die. You won’t have long to wait. But what then? Who will rule? My daughter? Or perhaps I will choose my successor.”
An audible intake of breath sounded from the other men. One of them, be king? They all stood a bit straighter.
“But who among you is worthy?” The king’s eyes flashed with anger. “Kill her! Kill the faerie, and avenge me. Upon my death you will take the crown!”
Stefan backed away from the bed quietly, knowing that as a servant, he would not be missed. Once he stood outside the king’s chamber, he panted, his palms against his knees. He knew what he had to do.
“Maleficent? Maleficent?” Stefan called out. It had been so long since he’d set foot in their old secret spot, but it was as beautiful and serene as it always had been.
Maleficent landed swiftly behind him. He spun around, surprised. He almost laughed, thinking how he should have been used to her entrances by then.
She eyed him wordlessly for a moment, trying to see if he had changed. It was as though he had never left. He still wore his threadbare clothes and a flask at his side. But Maleficent was even stronger now after winning a battle, aware of her power and authority, her ability to protect her friends and her home. She had been reminded of the Moors’ war-stricken past, why the others were so suspicious of outsiders.
At the same time, she couldn’t help feeling a flutter in her stomach as she looked upon his familiar and comforting face. Forcing the sensation aside, she squared her shoulders and raised one perfectly arched eyebrow. “How is life with the humans?” she asked.
He stared at the ground, clearly uncomfortable. “They are horrible,” he said after a moment. “And they will not stop. They mean to kill you.” He looked up into her eyes.
Maleficent listened carefully. She had once loved this human deeply. Now she wasn’t sure if she could trust Stefan.
“When we first met, you told me never to come here again. But I did, and I told you it was worth the risk.” He brushed her hair out of her face. “It still is. I have chosen.”
Stepping closer to her, he whispered, “I belong here, with you. If you’ll have me.”
Maleficent relaxed, moved by his words. She hugged him as she had done the day they had first met, and it felt like everything was right once more.
A short while later, Maleficent lay snuggled in Stefan’s arms. Her wings were wrapped around them like a warm blanket, and as dusk faded into the darkness of night, they continued to laugh and talk. It was a joyous occasion. She loved and was loved in return, by a human no less. Her parents’ goal of peace between the races had been achieved by her. And now she and Stefan could live in the Moors together. Now there was hope for peace for everyone. She couldn’t wait to introduce him to the others. It would likely take some getting used to, but in time, they would learn that an alliance with some humans was possible and could even help protect the Moors from future attacks.
Smiling to herself, she reached over and took a small drink from Stefan’s flask. Then, closing her eyes, she began to drift off. The last thought she had before sleep overcame her was that maybe, just maybe, she would get to live happily ever after.
第 4 章
亨利國王躺在床上,數(shù)十位議員和將領(lǐng)圍在他身邊。斯戴芬點(diǎn)燃了最后一支燭臺,從凹室中注視著這一切。他側(cè)著身子靠近他們,想聽清楚虛弱的國王在說些什么。
“當(dāng)我登上王位時,我答應(yīng)子民們,有一天我定會拿下摩爾森林,奪取他們的寶藏。你們都發(fā)過誓,要效忠于我,要忠于那份使命。”他開始劇烈地咳嗽,氣急敗壞地想要坐起來。斯戴芬拿著一個枕頭走出來,墊在了國王的背后。
國王好似從未被打斷一樣繼續(xù)說道:“在戰(zhàn)斗中被擊敗,難道這就是我的遺贈?我知道你們都盼著我快點(diǎn)死。你們不需要等多久了。但是那之后呢?誰來統(tǒng)治這個國家?我的女兒嗎?也許我該選一位繼任者了。”
在場者的吸氣聲清晰可聞。他們其中一個人,將成為國王?他們都站得更直了一些。
“不過你們誰才能擔(dān)此重任?”國王的眼中閃過一絲怒火,“殺了她!殺了那個精靈,為我報仇。我死之后,那個人就能繼承王位!”
斯戴芬靜靜地從床邊離開,他知道作為一個傭人,沒有人會記得他。他站在國王的寢殿外,雙手撐著膝蓋,呼吸變得急促起來。他知道該怎么做了。
“瑪琳菲森?瑪琳菲森?”斯戴芬大聲呼喚著。他太久沒有踏上他們的這塊密會之地了,不過這兒還像之前那樣美麗、寧靜。
瑪琳菲森迅速地落在他的身后。他驚訝地轉(zhuǎn)過身,幾乎笑了出來,他早該習(xí)慣她的出場方式了啊。
她默默地看了他一會兒,想看看他是否變了,而他好像從未離開過一樣。他還穿著那件磨破的衣裳,酒瓶掛在身側(cè)。不過在贏了一場戰(zhàn)役之后,瑪琳菲森變得比之前更強(qiáng)了。她意識到自己擁有的力量和權(quán)威,意識到她有能力保護(hù)朋友和家園。她回憶起了摩爾森林被襲擊的往事以及其他人都不相信外來者的原因。
與此同時,看見他那熟悉又令人安心的臉龐時,她又忍不住心動。她將感情擱到一邊,挺直了胸膛,挑起一彎美麗的眉毛,問道:“人類怎么樣了?”
他盯著地面,顯然很不安。過了一會,他說:“他們很可怕,他們不會善罷甘休的。他們想要?dú)⒛恪?rdquo;他抬起頭望著她的眼睛。
瑪琳菲森認(rèn)真地聽著。她曾經(jīng)深深地愛著這個人。而現(xiàn)在她不確定她是否可以信任斯戴芬。
“我們第一次見面的時候,你告訴我不要再過來了。不過之后我還是來了,而且我說過為此冒險是值得的。”他將她臉上的頭發(fā)撥了開來。“現(xiàn)在還是這樣,我還是選擇來了。”
斯戴芬走向她,輕聲說道:“我和你,屬于這里,如果你想和我在一起的話。”
瑪琳菲森被他的話打動了,放松下來。她像他們第一次見面時那樣擁抱了他,所有的事情好像都回到了正軌。
過了一會,瑪琳菲森偎依在斯戴芬的懷中。她的翅膀像一張?zhí)鹤幽菢庸麄z。隨著夜幕的降臨,他們?nèi)匀挥姓f有笑著。這真令人開心。她愛他,他也愛她,即使他是人類也毫不影響。她實(shí)現(xiàn)了父母關(guān)于兩族人民和平的夢想?,F(xiàn)在她和斯戴芬可以一起在摩爾森林里生活了?,F(xiàn)在每個人都有實(shí)現(xiàn)和平的希望了。她已經(jīng)迫不及待地想要把他介紹給其他人了。這可能需要一些時間來適應(yīng),不過,以后他們就會知道,和一些人類結(jié)合不是不可能的,而且這也能讓摩爾森林今后遠(yuǎn)離戰(zhàn)爭的紛擾。
她笑了起來,拿起斯戴芬的酒壺,喝了一小口。接著,她閉上雙眼,迷迷糊糊地睡了過去。她睡著前的最后一個念頭是,有可能,只是有可能,她可以一直快樂地生活下去。