Diaval's POV

You know that feeling.

That particular and very precise feeling of not being able to hold your composure any longer?

Well that was what I was feeling, and I couldn't just stand where I was any longer.

My Mistress was being bothered and I wanted to help, I had to help.

Because if I didn't...I would feel even worse than I was now as I stood idle.

When I did intervene between Borra and Maleficent, I couldn't believe how superiorly strong and fast Borra was.

He attacked me the moment I laid my hand on his wrist.

It was as if he was waiting for me to do the smallest thing so he'd have a reason to assault me.

To beat me and humiliate me in front of all his Fey-kind.

I knew the moment he caught eye contact with me...he had such a look in his eyes that said it all.

I had already lost.

I tried my best to defend myself and fight back but to no avail...he had beaten me like I was some newborn pup.

I had no chance against him. It was predator against prey.

I had no possible way of landing even a single blow on him.

And all became dark as I started to wheeze.

It was difficult to breath, my chest felt so caged, locked, and compressed.

I had fully understood what he implied through every punch as if speaking to me.

He hated me and wanted my Mistress for himself.

I despised him.

He will not have her.

——

The way he communicated his feelings was bothering and compared to him I was the complete opposite.

I would have preferred to have risked my life for the one I loved, not come close to killing another just to show who's boss.

Even if I did despise Borra for how crude he was...that does not mean I was going to worlds end to kill him, just so I could prove my point of affection for my Mistress.

Unlike him, I did not try and show stupid male dominance like he was now.

Just to be a showoff...and unfortunately for him, it wasn't enough.

Not even close.

Not for Maleficent.

I knew her all to well, even if I was still learning and discovering new secrets about her I had never known before.

I know it was a male thing too...but I absolutely was not a beast like him, I was a raven. A raven who took pride in what my heart longed for and what I had.

And even with all these jumbled up thoughts and feelings inside me...One thought ran through my head as clear as a bullet, one thought I couldn't run away from.

...

If I'm losing and Borra doesn't stop until I'm dead...I won't be with my Mistress any longer.

I wouldn't be able to ever experience the soft feel of her hair in my hand.

I would never be able to see those rare moments of her warm smile again.

I no longer would be able to comfort her whenever I'd notice her smallest change of mood.

...

For the first time, in my life...I was truly afraid of dying. I did not wish to die.

Not because it was by the hands of Borra but because I didn't want to leave Mistress's side.

I know I'd consider dying for her but not like this. And if I did die today...just the thought made me second guess my confession of sacrificing myself for her.

It's not that I wouldn't but it was that I couldn't.

I couldn't die...Not if it meant being permanently separated from the one I loved.

And as much as I wanted to get up and fight, I was certainly unable to.

——

I was being humiliated so miserably.

Did I really deserve Mistress's affections?

Even when giving it my all...it still wasn't enough.

She must've been pitying me right now...of how weak I must've looked to her.

And if she was...

Was I just mistaking her kindness as something I wished to see?

Something I was merely imagining on my own?

Something more than just what a servant and Mistress would have.

Doubt started to overwhelm my very being...and I became afraid of what the answer was.

———

When I came to, all I could think about was Borra.

He was truly a savage.

So vile and unpleasant he was to my Mistress.

To think he would have thought to use force against Maleficent to win her affections...

How foolish of him.

But to indicate that I was a crow, in which I most certainly was not! Was downright rude!

I grumbled at the thought.

Ha. I was more upset about the way he treated Mistress and misinterpreted my species than him nearly killing me.

What a true raven I was.

Just then I had finally taken notice to where I was.

An unfamiliar nest, darker than the one before with vines enlaced between the nest's small openings.

I felt bandages across my chest.

I could hardly move. I was so stiff.

I would say this was from Borra's powerful punches...

But some fault was laid upon my lack in fitness and agility.

Unlike Borra, I was indeed skinner and more laid back.

I mean, when you have someone like Mistress to turn you into a powerful beast with the wave of her finger, why would you worry in being fit like Borra was.

Evidently, I felt ashamed...

I was weak and pathetic, not being able to protect Maleficent as I would have wanted, it bothered me.

"Your finally awake." A soothing voice called to me so sweetly and kind.

"I am." Just then I felt the doubt from before set in again like a ton of bricks.

I heard a soft sigh come from Mistress, sounding as if that sigh had just relieved her of any stress she was bearing before she spoke.

"Honestly, you worry me."

"I do?" I tried to see where she was but I couldn't, for anything, move my head.

"Lay still. He took quite a beating to you."

"He is very strong." Unlike me.

"Only in muscle." She spoke out calmly.

"And fast." Again, unlike me.

"Perhaps. But still foolish." Her tone sounded as if she had no interest in him at all.

Which was entirely true.

I felt as though I was possibly testing the waters to see how far I could converse to her, in such a way that I was.

"Am I foolish?"

I felt her hand wipe away a strand of hair out of my face as she came into range to where I could catch sight of her.

I could finally see her, her soft brown hair swept down, uncaged by the snakeskin that once hid and entrapped such beautiful hair.

She sat beside where I laid.

Her wings behind her as she looked at me with such a warm look.

"You are far from it."

"I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you."

For the first time in forever she let out a small laugh.

And as small as it was, it wasn't insignificant.

In fact her laugh meant the world for me, no matter how small it was.

"It wasn't like I was in danger. I could have beaten him easy."

"That I know."

"Borra may best you at strength but what he does not have...is my heart."

I looked to see her face but she had instantly turned away, holding my hand in hers.

"Mistress?"

"You've protected me from far greater things than Borra."

"That may be true but-if-"

"It is true Diaval. Stop aiming yourself as the weaker one here."

She turned her head to me with a surprisingly serious face.

"Don't doubt like you usually do when you're unsure. When I say he doesn't have my heart that is the truth..."

She paused as if her next words were almost impossible to say out loud.

Her face had gone red as she diverted her eyes from mine.

"You are the one...to have it Diaval."

Tears spilled from my eyes almost instantly, she really loved me.

It was truly like a dream.

And as she said those words all doubt that I ever had between us faded away.

I was no longer afraid.

"I did not want to die." I said as I took a gentle squeeze to her hand that held mine.

"I was afraid of not being able to be with you."

Her free hand traveled to the side of my face.

"I won't ever let that happen as long as there's breath in my body. You won't die."

"What if-"

"Diaval." She warned me, knowing this was another one of my pointless worries. Something that was useless to bring up.

"There's no need to worry. Borra won't be bothering you anymore."

As I tried to turn my head again I could not.

This time she had noticed and rested her hand on the back of my neck.

I felt a surge of magic go to where my tensed muscles were as my neck was once again, free to move.

"Is your neck alright now?"

"Very much, yes."

I tried to sit up but she stopped me.

"Rest. Don't strain yourself."

I obeyed, saying nothing more.