CHAPTER 11
Time passed quickly in the forest, and before long, Aurora was no longer a toddler but a child of eight. The dangerous baby years were over, and while the pixies had been practically useless to an infant, they seemed capable enough of taking care of a young girl. So Maleficent mostly stayed in the Moors, safe from humans and content in the knowledge that Stefan, as all of Diaval’s reports indicated, was a sad, mad, lonely king. But on occasion, she would make a visit to see Aurora.
Once, when Aurora was still a toddler, Maleficent had followed Diaval to the clearing and waited in the shadows of the trees as, in raven form, Diaval played with the girl. Fall had turned the leaves gold and red and sent many of them drifting to the ground. Aurora, her blond hair long and loose, sat in the midst of a big pile of leaves, giggling. She lifted a handful and threw them into the air, laughing as a few landed on the black bird. Reaching out, she gently stroked Diaval’s thick black feathers. “What a pretty bird,” she said, her voice pleasant to the ear.
Maleficent squirmed. At one time, the baby had been the only thing to irk her. Yet more and more, she found that Diaval’s spending time with Aurora irked her far more. Or was she irked because he could play with her out in the open, with such ease? That afternoon Maleficent had shaken her head to clear the ridiculous thought and walked away from the clearing.
Yet she was never gone for very long. Even though she hated to admit it, she felt an odd pull to Aurora. And there was another draw, as well. It was too much temptation to play tricks on the three pixies, a break from her serious thoughts and a brief reminder of happier days spent playing tricks on the other faeries. Often the thought of disrupting the little pixies’ lives for even a few moments was enough to send Maleficent through the Wall and into the human forest.
One summer morning she and Diaval, in his human form, made their way to the clearing. Hearing Knotgrass’s nasally voice, Maleficent inched up to the edge of the cottage. Diaval followed and together they peered through an open window. On the other side, the three pixies were sitting at the kitchen table playing a game of checkers. As usual, they were bickering.
“What’s this?” Flittle said, reaching out and grabbing Knotgrass’s hand. Prying it open, she revealed one of the markers. “You’re cheating!”
“I resent the insinuation,” Knotgrass huffed.
“There’s no insinuation. I’ve caught you in the act,” Flittle retorted. “You cheating hedgepig.”
As the three began to hurl insults at one another, Maleficent raised a finger. A single drop of water fell onto Knotgrass’s head. She brushed it away absently.
Plink! Another drop fell. Again, Knotgrass brushed away the water.
Plink! Plink! Plink! Unable to ignore the water any longer, Knotgrass looked up, trying to see where it was coming from. Not seeing an obvious leak, she moved over. But it was no use. Plink! Plink! More drops fell, landing only on Knotgrass.
Shooting a dirty look at Flittle, Knotgrass snapped, “Stop doing that!”
“I’m not doing anything,” Flittle protested.
Hiding on the other side of the window, Maleficent stifled a laugh. It was so easy to rattle the pixies. Her shoulders shook as they tried to figure out the origin of the water, blaming each other and then a leak. But as Knotgrass pointed out, a leak would only happen if it was raining. And it most definitely wasn’t raining.
Plink! Plink! Plink! Plink!
The drops came faster and faster, each one falling only on Knotgrass. Finally, she slammedher hand down on the table. “Stop it!” she screamed.
Instantly, the drops ceased. Knotgrass anxiously stared at the ceiling as though waiting for the next wave. But when, after a few moments, no more water fell, she sighed and sat down.
And then it poured.
A torrent of water fell on Knotgrass, drenching her instantly. The other two pixies began to laugh, but as they did, a wave of water poured down the stairs, washing over them. They all screamed.
Outside, Maleficent was racked with laughter. Her body shook and she struggled not to make a sound as she waved her hand again. Inside the cottage thunder boomed and lightning cracked. Looking at Diaval next to her, Maleficent smiled, eager for him to join in the fun. But his expression was serious.
“Oh, come on,” Maleficent said. “That is funny!”
Diaval didn’t respond right away and Maleficent could tell he was working up the courage to speak. Finally, he cleared his throat. “Mistress,” he began, “there’s something I need to know.”
Maleficent let out a sigh. He was ruining all her fun. “And what is that?” she asked, not bothering to hide her aggravation. What possibly could be so important that Diaval would take away from one of the few carefree moments Maleficent allowed herself?
His next question shocked the smirk right off her face. “When are you planning to revoke your curse?”
“Who said I was planning on revoking it?” she asked, turning her attention back to the cottage. “I hate that little beast.”
Diaval shook his head. He had expected Maleficent to be difficult. “You hate Stefan,” he pointed out. “May I speak freely?”
“No,” Maleficent answered. Waving her hand, she moved to transform him. But for once, Diaval didn’t let her. He grabbed her hand, his fingers lacing with hers.
“Any time you don’t like what I have to say, you change me back into a bird,” he pointed out.
Maleficent opened her mouth to retort but then shook her head, thinking better of it. This was not a conversation to be had there or then. Before he could stop her, Maleficent pulled her hand away. Quickly she waved it, transforming him once more into a raven. When he was muted, she sighed. Diaval had taken all the fun out of the day. It was not like Aurora could ever be a part of the Moors. She didn’t fit in there. She could never fit in there. How could a human understand and appreciate the magic and nature of the Moors? No, it was silly of Diaval. What was done was done. There was no revoking the curse. Maleficent was perfectly content with that. And what she wanted to do then, more than anything, was continue to play with the pixies.
第 11 章
森林里的時間過得飛快,不久以后,愛洛就從一個蹣跚學(xué)步的幼童,長成一個八歲的孩子。危險的嬰兒期已經(jīng)過去,雖然魔法仙子們在撫養(yǎng)寶寶時幾乎一無是處,但照看一個小姑娘還是綽綽有余的。所以瑪琳菲森大部分時間都待在摩爾森林里,遠(yuǎn)離人類,同時她還心滿意足地從迪艾瓦的匯報中得知,斯戴芬已經(jīng)變成一個凄慘、瘋狂而又孤獨的君王。不過偶爾,她還是會去看看愛洛。
曾有一次,在愛洛還是個幼童時,瑪琳菲森跟著迪艾瓦來到空地上,她站在樹蔭下,看著烏鴉身形的迪艾瓦和愛洛嬉戲。秋風(fēng)將樹葉變成金黃和深紅色,再將它們從枝頭卷落,飄落大地。愛洛披著金色的長發(fā),坐在大堆的落葉中,咯咯地笑個不停。她雙手捧起一堆樹葉,拋向空中,有一些便落在了烏鴉身上。她伸出手,輕輕地?fù)崦习哂趾谟趾竦挠鹈f:“真是只漂亮的鳥兒”,她的聲音十分悅耳動聽。
瑪琳菲森有些局促不安。曾經(jīng),這孩子是她煩惱的唯一來源。然而,她越發(fā)覺得迪艾瓦和愛洛經(jīng)常待在一起更讓她煩惱?;蛟S,她煩惱是因為他竟然可以這般輕松地在光天化日之下陪愛洛玩耍?那個下午,瑪琳菲森搖了搖頭想要擺脫這個荒謬的想法,隨后她便離開了空地。
不過,她是不會離開太久的。盡管她不愿承認(rèn),但她感到有一股奇怪的力量拉著她走向愛洛。而且那兒還有另一個吸引她的地方:戲弄那三個仙子對她來說簡直太有誘惑力了,它能夠讓她暫時從嚴(yán)肅的思考中脫離出來,讓她想起過去戲弄其他仙子的快樂時光。攪亂三個仙子生活的想法只要在她腦海中出現(xiàn)一小會兒,就足以讓瑪琳菲森穿越荊棘墻來到人類的森林中。
一個夏季的清晨,瑪琳菲森和變成人形的迪艾瓦來到了空地上。瑪琳菲森聽到紅葉仙子略帶鼻音的說話聲,便一點點地移至小屋墻角。迪艾瓦跟著她,透過一扇開著的窗戶向內(nèi)窺探。屋內(nèi)的另一端,三個仙子圍坐在餐桌前,下著西洋棋。和往常一樣,她們又在拌嘴了。
“這是什么?”藍(lán)果仙子說著就抓住了紅葉仙子的手。掰開一看,里面藏著一枚棋子。“你作弊!”
紅葉仙子生氣地說:“我討厭含沙射影。”
藍(lán)果仙子反駁她:“這不是含沙射影。都被我當(dāng)場抓住了。你這個作弊的討厭鬼。”
在她們?nèi)齻€開始互相辱罵時,瑪琳菲森舉起了一根手指。一滴水落在了紅葉仙子的頭上。她心不在焉地拭去了。
滴答!又一滴水落了下來。再一次,紅葉仙子又拭去了水滴。
滴答!滴答!滴答!紅葉仙子再也不能無視落下的水滴了,她抬起頭,想看看水是從何而來。她沒發(fā)現(xiàn)明顯的裂縫,所以挪了一下位子。不過沒用。滴答!滴答!更多的水珠落了下來,只淋到紅葉仙子一人身上。
紅葉仙子朝藍(lán)果仙子翻了一個白眼,厲聲道:“給我停下!”
藍(lán)果仙子抗議道:“我什么也沒做。”
瑪琳菲森躲在小屋另一邊的窗外,憋著笑。這三個仙子也太容易被激怒了。她們想要弄清水從何來,互相責(zé)備著,然后又歸咎于屋頂?shù)亩?,瑪琳菲森見此笑得肩膀抖個不停。不過紅葉仙子指出,除非是下雨,才有可能漏雨,而顯然外面沒有下雨。
滴答!滴答!滴答!滴答!
水滴落得越來越急,每一滴都打在紅葉仙子身上,她的手猛拍了一下桌子,尖叫道:“停下!”
水滴立刻停下了。紅葉仙子急忙盯著天花板看,好像是等著下一陣水滴的降臨??墒?,過了許久,還是沒有水滴落下來,她便舒了一口氣坐了下來。
再然后,水傾瀉而下。
水流傾注般落在了紅葉仙子的身上,她馬上就渾身濕透。另外兩個仙子笑了起來,可就在同時,一大股水從樓梯上奔瀉而出,將她們澆個透心涼。她們都尖叫不已。
屋外,瑪琳菲森已經(jīng)笑得不行了。她前仰后合,卻要憋著不能出聲,手再次揮動起來。小屋里立刻雷聲滾滾,閃電陣陣??粗砼缘牡习?,瑪琳菲森笑了,想要他也加入這個有趣的游戲。不過他卻一臉嚴(yán)肅。
瑪琳菲森說:“哦,拜托,那多好玩??!”
迪艾瓦并沒有馬上回答,瑪琳菲森知道他正在攢足說話的勇氣。最后,他清了清嗓子說道:“夫人,有件事我想知道。”
瑪琳菲森嘆了口氣,他把她的樂趣都破壞殆盡了。她懶得掩藏自己的怒氣,問他:“什么事啊?”。是什么如此重要,讓迪艾瓦寧愿搶走瑪琳菲森那為數(shù)不多的無憂無慮的片刻時光?
他接下來的問題,讓她的臉上再也掛不住笑容:“你打算什么時候撤銷魔咒?”
她問:“誰說我打算撤銷的?”然后她便將注意力轉(zhuǎn)回小屋,“我討厭那個小怪物。”
迪艾瓦搖了搖頭。他早就知道瑪琳菲森不會輕易松口。他點明道:“你恨斯戴芬。我可以直說嗎?”
瑪琳菲森回答說:“不可以。”她手一揮,想要將他變回鳥身。不過這一次,迪艾瓦攔住了她。他抓住她的手,手指和她的手指相互交纏。
他繼續(xù)說道:“每次你不想聽我要說的話,你就把我變回鳥身。”
瑪琳菲森張嘴想要反駁,不過還是搖了搖頭,改變了主意。這個話題不適合在那個時候或那個地方談起。在他阻攔她之前,瑪琳菲森抽出了手,迅速一揮,又把他變成了一只烏鴉。當(dāng)他閉上嘴后,她嘆了口氣。這一天的樂趣都被迪艾瓦毀了。愛洛不可能成為摩爾森林的一部分。她不適合那里。她永遠(yuǎn)都不適合那里。一個人類,怎么能夠理解和欣賞摩爾森林的自然和魔力?不,愚蠢的迪艾瓦。木已成舟,魔咒不可能撤回?,斄辗粕瓕Υ丝墒菨M意至極。而她現(xiàn)在想做的,不是別的,就是繼續(xù)戲弄那三個仙子。