Author's note:

I honestly felt a bit hesitant to publish this chapter due to the fact that I might've put Maleficent a bit out of character. So, hope this is alright!

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Diaval's POV

When I awoke, all the pain that my body once harbored was gone.

So much so, that the pain felt as if it were only from a dream.

I blinked a few times in disbelief.

I felt like a plant after a good day of rain; refreshed and replenished.

That was only thanks to the aid of my Mistress.

"Good evening my Raven."

As she spoke her eyes had softened the moment they laid upon me.

"G-good evening Mistress."

She caught me off guard by her intimacy in speech.

It was irrefutable...I wasn't familiar with such articulated words from her.

She was never one to say anything quite like what she had said.

Her words...they were so enchanting to my ears.

She may have said these words before, but there was, now, a deep and unmistakably different meaning behind them.

Her words were sincere and ardent.

"Well, can you stand?" She had noticed I had looked at her too long and was now averting her eyes from mine, bypassing my surprised gaze.

A red tint visibly shown on her usual pale face.

I acted as if I didn't realize, not wanting to make her feel uneasy, as I attempting to stand.

I stood with ease.

"Yes, quite surprisingly actually." I turned my hands back to front as though I couldn't believe what I had just done.

"Are you alright?" She seemed to want to go to my side but she held herself back, standing by the entrance of the nest instead.

"Fine! Just fine. I'm oddly surprised is all."

She looked at me with a raised brow, positioning her arms to be crossed in front of her.

I could tell she wasn't believing my words so easily as I had thought.

I felt nervous for some reason. But I didn't wish for her to doubt my well-being, so I continued.

"After going through all that horrible pain from my wounds...and to feel nothing now is immensely extraordinary. Thank you. Really."

"It's thanks to 'rest' that you're even standing now. Don't give me all the credit, I only aided." She took a few steps toward me, uncrossing her arms.

And I noticed she was without her staff.

An object that helped her in troubling steps was unaccompanied by her, left behind somewhere.

As she took those steps toward me, with her face tiring, her knees became weak and collapsed underneath her.

I grabbed her as soon as I realized, saving her from an ugly fall.

"Look at you. Worrying so much for me that you're forsaking your own health."

She gripped my dark shirt as I laid her down where I had once laid.

"Truly, how ironic are we."

She gave a faint laugh.

I looked down at her as she looked so delicate.

So fragile.

And such moments like these were sparse for her.

She never really showed this side to anyone, not even to me...not until now.

She had ran ill.

I guessed from the looks of it, seeing her condition...

She didn't get a wink of sleep looking after me...and for who knows how long.

She had sacrificed her well-being for mine.

I was a little upset that she wasn't taking care of herself much because of me...but her very mindfulness made me happy.

Words could not express how overjoyed I was for such a sweet and wonderful being she was.

And to be able to say she was mine, made it all the more special.

I embraced her without thinking.

As soon as my skin contacted with hers, I became concerned.

"You're burning up!!"

"Hmm." She hummed as she turned to her side, seeming as though she was uncomfortable.

"I'll go soak a piece of cloth for you."

She grabbed my hand immediately.

Maleficent's POV

I felt odd and detached from myself.

I was bitterly cold and searing hot all at once.

I had felt fine a minute ago and instantly when I became unwell it became unsettling for me.

My head felt like it was spinning with my chest having an overbearing tightness, that I wished wasn't there.

Without premeditated thought, I had grabbed ahold of Diaval's arm.

He was leaving and I didn't want him to leave.

He was my only sense of comfort right now.

And whether or not I was to confess such feelings and thoughts to him...well...it just wasn't the time.

My muddled mind did not take into account of anything else.

As well, I had no idea what he had just said to me, only that I was burning up.

Just as I was about to say something the tightness in my chest grew immensely.

I could barley breath, holding my chest as I curled up with my wings following.

Being a magical being, such as myself, it was unheard of to become ill like this.

But since I took no time to rest for several days, such exhaustion to the body with no sleep and nearly nothing to eat, gave way for me to fall ill.

Also resulting in my power to slack, allowing me no ability to heal myself and/or to ease the pain.

I began to gasp for air from the panic that was starting in me.

I rarely become ill so this was unfamiliar to me, especially at the rate it was progressing.

It was a switch that wasn't turning off.

And in turn, I was very much afraid. So much so, I couldn't speak.

I said nothing. I could say nothing. I could only manage to hold on to what comfort I had until this sickly feeling went away on its own.

That's all I could think to do.

"Don't fret my Mistress. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Diaval escaped from my sight and for a moment I was afraid he had left me too long.

A few minutes later he arrived back at my side with a wet cloth to place on my forehead as he then rubbed my back.

He aimed to soothe my anxiety and agitation.

And thankfully it was working.

I was glad he was reluctant to leave my side.

He sat close beside me as he continued to sooth my back.

I nestled into him.

And honestly, if I weren't sick right now I wouldn't have done so.

It was too embarrassing.

But I had no regrets; I was immediately better, the pain in my chest had disappeared entirely.

"Thank you."

"Of course." He spoke as he pulled a thin cover over me.

"You shouldn't be the one not taking care of yourself."

"I'm well aware."

I was fully aware. I just couldn't do much until I knew Diaval was absolutely better.

Until I had no doubt he was back on his feet again.

Diaval's POV

Mistress was finally calming down now.

Occasionally, I'd re-dampen the cloth to keep her fever down.

This went on until she fell asleep.

That night, I stayed beside her.

Keeping her hand in mine, hoping she'd be ok.

"I'll try my best to protect you, in the best way I can." I whispered thinking she was asleep.

Her hand gently squeezed mine.

My eyes widened as heat ran to my face.

"Your awake." I spoke, attempting to hide my surprise.

"I know you will." She spoke weakly as her eyes blinked slowly at me.

"And you already have."

"Goodnight Mistress."

"Same to you my Raven." And after her last words she fell asleep.

Her hand still rested in mine and I couldn't bring myself to let go.

And...I didn't want to.