(You're fifteen now.)

[TW: attempted sexual assault. It occurs near the end of the chapter and is only a few paragraphs long.]

-

You walk down the familiar path to the stream, careful of low hanging branches. Aurora's tenth birthday is today, and you were going to pick some blackberries by the stream. Of course, you were also going to bathe, because it's been a day since you bathed. But, you also thought you'd get some blackberries.

You hum a familiar tune as you walk, before you sense the presence of your 'Fairy Godmother'.

"Hello, Maleficent," You greet without looking her way. Since Aurora's not around, you see no harm in addressing her by her name.

"Hello Y/n, how are you faring?" She asks politely, coming to walk beside you.

You smile slightly, "I'm fine. And I trust you are well?"

"Of course. Y/n..."

You look at her with a small frown, "Yes?"

"I am sorry for your troubles." She says, sadness evident in her voice.

You smile, "You've already apologized, and I've already forgiven you, Godmother. All is in the past."

"Beastie is turning ten today. That means you have six more years."

You grin, "Yes, six whole years to enjoy life to its fullest, and I can't do that with a sour attitude. Positivity is key."

Your gaze fixes on a raven coming to rest on Maleficent's cane.

"Hello Handsome!" You run your fingers through his soft feathers. He nuzzles his head into the palm of your hand, making you giggle.

"Handsome?" Maleficent questions with a smirk.

"Well, yes. He's a very attractive bird." You reply, continuing to walk with Maleficent.

She chuckles before making a motion with two fingers. You gasp as the raven turns into a man before your very eyes.

You step back before smiling as a blush forms on your cheeks.

His hair is raven black, with a few feathers sticking in it. His skin is pale and dusted with various scars, it contrasts with his dark hair.

His brown eyes are playful and happy, making you stare at them for longer than necessary.

"Still handsome?" Maleficent quips, smirking at your blush.

"The name's Diaval, pleased to meet you properly, miss." He steps closer to you and takes your hand in his.

Bowing, he kisses your hand, making butterflies burst in your stomach.

"The pleasure's all mine. And, please call me Y/n, sir." You curtsy.

"Only if you'll call me Diaval, I'm no 'sir'."

Maleficent smiles, "I'll leave you two to talk."

Diaval nods at her, and you both watch as she retreats into the woods.

"Well, Diaval, are you often a man?" You ask, continuing your stroll to the stream.

"Only as often as Maleficent allows. She's the one who controls what I am." He explains to you with his velvet accented voice.

You puzzle over his words before asking more questions, "Why do you serve her?"

He smiles, hoping over a fallen log before assisting you over, "She saved my life, and for that I am eternally grateful. Serving her is my way of repaying her for her kindness."

You frown, "How did she do that?"

He grins at you, "Well, not everyone likes ravens. Most people find us to be pests."

"Most people are cruel."

"Well, a farmer wasn't pleased with my presence. He caught me in a net and was about to club me to death before Maleficent turned me into a man and scared him away. I've been indebted to her ever since."

"That's horrible. I can't believe someone would want to harm you."

"Sadly not everyone is as kind as you."

You duck your head and blush at the compliment.

"It's nice to talk with you. I mean, I did talk with you, but now you can answer me back." You smile and chuckle at the memories of chatting with the raven whenever you saw him.

He chuckles too, and moves a branch out of your way. You walk past him on the narrow path before coming to the edge of the stream.

The stream's water is crystal clear, and the sound it makes is alluring and beautiful. The water flows at a constant rate, never stopping for anything. It is a glorious force, vibrant and life-giving.

You beam at the sight, and sit upon a rock. Diaval sits across from you.

"I've always enjoyed talking with you, Y/n." He comments, nervously tucking his hair behind his ear.

"Well, it's nice to have someone other than Aurora to talk with. And, my aunties can't really hold onto a conversation without squabbling over something."

He chuckles with you, "Yes, as nice as they may be, they are pretty incompetent. I remember when you first moved into their care. Poor Aurora was practically starving."

"Yes, until you came with that flower. Without you, she could have died."

"Well, Maleficent was the real saviour, I was just delivering it."

"Without you, Maleficent may not have helped. You're obviously a caring person. You're a good influence on her, I think."

"Hmm, maybe." He says, shrugging modestly.

"Honest!" You reply, playfully splashing him with cool droplets from the stream.

After a pause of silence you ask him another question, "Diaval, what's it like to be a raven?"

"It's the most wonderful thing in the world." He says wistfully, smiling at you. Tilting your head, you dip your fingers into the cool water, waiting for him to continue.

"There truly is nothing to compare. As a raven, you can go anywhere, see everything..."

You sigh with envy, "That sounds just as I imagined. Soaring in the clouds, happy as anything."

He chuckles, "Well, that is until someone tries to kill you. There's all sorts of dangers, yes. Cats, dogs, angry farmers."

"Angry housewives? Have you ever stolen a cooling pie on a windowsill?"

He looks offended, "Never. I'm not a common thief, I'll have you know."

"Of course not! I didn't mean anything-" You stop apologizing as he breaks out into laughter.

"I'm just teasing, miss! I may have tried to sneak a pie once or twice, and I'm glad to still have all my feathers!"

You laugh with him, and keep conversing for hours, before you remember what you came to do.

"Oh! Diaval, I almost forgot why I came! I need to pick berries and bathe!" I scramble off my butt and rush to the basket I was carrying.

"Here, let me help. I'll get the berries, you take care of..." He trails off, evidently uncomfortable about the subject.

"Really? I can get the berries myself-"

"No, I'd like to help out. Besides, it's getting late, we'd better hurry." He insists.

It takes you awhile, but you agree to his help, "You can pick over there. I'll just be over here."

"Ok, Y/n." His eyes twinkle as he walks away.

After you're certain he's gone, you go into a more sheltered area and start to undress before getting into the freezing water. You hiss as the cold takes control of your body. Scrubbing the dirt from you body, you finish as fast as possible.

You leave the cold water and dry off with the towel you brought along. Quickly changing back into your clothes, you hear a snap.

Fully dressed, you look to where the sound came from, startled to see a soldier standing a few feet away from you.

"What's a gorgeous girl like yourself doing all alone in these woods?" His voice is rough and scratchy, and he steps closer to you.

Blocked by the stream, your only way of leaving is to go by the stranger.

"Who said I was alone?"

"Well, I don't see anyone around." His eyes rake across your body, and you are getting more and more uncomfortable.

"I really must be going," You excuse yourself, moving past the soldier.

"You can't leave yet, I just got here," He says, grabbing you and shoving your body against a tree. His rotten breath makes you want to hurl, and his face is covered in dirt.

"Leave me alone!" You yell at him, trying to push him away.

He is stronger than you, though, and has no problem keeping you against the rough tree. His free hand wanders over your vulnerable torso, as he leans in close to you. He inhales deeply, and bends his head, drawing his tongue across your neck.

You scream loudly, terrified of this monster.

A low growl startles you and the soldier, making him release you and step back. You get behind the tree, and watch as a large black mass jumps onto the soldier.

Snarls of pure fury fill your ears as you watch the soldier try to fight off a black wolf. The wolf's talons rip through the man's flesh, leaving bloody gaps.

Wait, talons?

"Diaval, that's enough!" The booming voice of Maleficent calls out as she steps into the light.

The wolf growls in anger, but obeys, taking a step back.

You cry with relief at the sight of Maleficent, and you run to her. Throwing your arms around her, you cry.

"I'm so glad you're here!" You cry.

"Shh, it's okay now, Y/n." She comforts you before facing the bleeding soldier.

She curls her lip at the scum before glancing at Diaval. They make eye contact, and Maleficent nods. A deafening snarl of victory floods everything, and you gasp. Turning to face the man and a wolf Diaval, you yell, "No! Don't kill him! I think he's learned his lesson, haven't you?"

The man looks at you with fear and nods.

Maleficent looks down at you, and you silently plead with her.

She sighs, "As you wish."

Wolf Diaval lets the man run away, watching him with evident hatred. Maleficent twirls her fingers, and Diaval turns into his human form.

"I shouldn't have let you alone! Can you forgive me, miss?" He begs, kneeling in front of you.

"Of course. It's not your fault that man was a creep." You shudder thinking about it.

Diaval stands up and gathers you in his warm embrace, as if to protect you from all the evil in the world. He doesn't move to let you go, so you have to tap out. Diaval would have liked to keep hugging you for all eternity.

"I have to get back to the house, they're all waiting."

Maleficent and Diaval watch as you start to walk away. Turning to the raven-man, Maleficent orders him, "Protect her. Don't leave her side."

Nodding as Maleficent turns him into a raven, he follows after Y/n, swearing an oath to protect her at all costs.