Diaval's POV

What my eyes were witnessing right before me...that human.

I wanted to rip his throat out.

That cruel man that so loved my Mistress at one point...now raising a hand at her, burning and searing her with iron, trapping her as if he could control her like an animal.

To eventually kill her in which I would never let happen, not while I was alive and breathing.

Even if it costed me my life I'd protect her the best I knew how.

And as if my wish was granted my Mistress transformed me into a beastly dragon.

They wanted to hurt her with iron then in turn...I'd burn them alive with the fury of my scorching fire breath.

Never before did I feel this way.

Protectiveness ran through every vain in my body for my Mistress.

And then I knew...I really did love her.

Once this battle was over...I would have to tell her how I felt.

What I realized during battle.

My love for her was growing and I didn't want to be afraid to love her even if I thought myself unworthy of her.

Unfortunately for me the space in the castle where we had been fighting was quite cramped for a beast of my size so I could only hold them off for a time before they started to try and trap me.

They were well prepared I'd give them that but I knew they were still no match for my Mistress who I saw fighting for her life.

A part of me softened from the rage within.

I shouldn't hurt any more of these soldiers...she wouldn't want more blood spilled on these forsaken castle floors.

Many bodies of the men who wore armor sprinkled the floor beneath me as they were covered in their own blood.

I knew we were fighting to protect ourselves and each other but war made no one good.

If I could just speak a word to Maleficent to tell her we could somehow leave this place.

But if she chose this, no matter what my personally feelings were I'd stay beside her until the very end.

———

When I went to search for my Mistress she was gone along with the king.

I pushed and pulled to be free of the netting the armored men were tangling me in, using my tail I knocked most of not all the other soldiers down which gave me time to escape.

Once I was free I escaped outside to see Maleficent kneeling beside the king.

I was guessing he had fallen and she was unable to save him by the looks of it.

And her wings...such beautiful wings had taken the place of a once empty and scarred back.

"Into a man." Her voice was barely even a whisper as she looked up at me, blood smearing her face as she held onto her side.

"The king is dead. I feel free but also...I can't quite explain this feeling."

I knelt beside her hesitant to even touch her.

When my barehand went to her shoulder she flinched for just that moment.

"You're not a killer." I spoke knowing nothing else to say.

"I told myself that it would have to end only by the death of one life or the other. But I truly didn't want this. After all he was my first love...not that I feel for Him anymore but...it's just complicated isn't it."

It sounded like a question but I'm certain that she knew the answer to that.

"Move forward with Aurora and I. Let his death mean a new start. Not a new regret."

She turned her head toward me with tears in her eyes as her rose colored lips parted to speak.

But no words escaped.

My hands slipped toward her hips and ended at her back where her wings were at.

I hugged her as gently as I could until she accepted it with a tighter hug.

"Thank you my dear and sweet Diaval."

I about lost my composure with that name she had called me by.

Her voice toward me in that moment felt like the warmth of summer.

Just enough warmth to feel safe and content.

Before I could speak she had beaten me to it.

"Diaval...I love you. I love you so much that I can't see myself without you. You've done your duty more than fully...and you're allowed to leave me if you wish it. But just know that I'd love to have you by my side as my equal. As someone I love deeply and sincerely."

My jaw about dropped, tears wanted to escape me but I held tight to her...I didn't want to cry and seem like a child in front of her.

I wanted to be strong.

Strong her for her as well as Aurora.

"And I you my Mistress. I love you even more so."

And after that the war was over after the king's death was announced.

Aurora took her place as Queen, giving the castle to the people.

Leaving the castle and escaping back to her true home with my Mistress and I.

After all this time of pushing and pulling...escaping and running from our affections from one another I wondered if the battle hadn't happened...would we have found the courage and realization of our affections toward one another?

Well whatever the case I'm grateful we did...I was ever so grateful that we both had found love and strength through one another.

A place of safeness.

Happiness and a new start to our lives.