CHAPTER 16
After tucking Aurora safely into her bed, Maleficent spent the remainder of the night wandering restlessly through the woods near the cottage. The next day was important for so many reasons. In only three days’ time, Aurora would be sixteen. And before that day arrived, she needed to come to the Moors. While Maleficent trusted Aurora to stay strong and stand up to her “aunts,” she wanted to be nearby in case. And with Aurora’s sixteenth birthday fast approaching, she felt an even greater sense of urgency. Aurora needed to be in the Moors—and safe from spinning wheels—immediately.
As the sun rose, Diaval joined Maleficent and the two made their way to the clearing. From the safety of the trees, they watched as life began to stir in the cottage. They heard the clink of pans being put on the stove and the sizzle as eggs were cooked. That was followed by the sounds of dishes being cleaned and the squabbling of the three pixies over who had left the dishes overnight. Maleficent smiled. It would be good for Aurora to get away from those three, even if they did have to visit occasionally.
Finally, Aurora appeared at the cottage door. Looking up at the cloudless blue sky, she smiled and, after saying a quick good-bye to her aunts, began to walk into the woods as she was wont to do every morning. But that morning was different. Because on that morning, not only was she being followed by Maleficent and Diaval, she was gathering up the courage to tell her aunts the news.
“Aunties,” Maleficent heard her say as the girl walked along. “I’m almost sixteen and I need a life of my own.” Maleficent smiled as she listened to Aurora practice her speech. “I love you very much but it’s time—”
Her voice cut off abruptly as she heard a noise in the bushes. Looking about, she saw a wide tree and ducked behind it. Maleficent had heard the noise, too, and turned her head toward the nearby bushes. A moment later, she watched as a handsome young man stepped out, leading a large white horse. He pushed a strand of thick brown hair out of his brown eyes and looked around.
“Is someone there?” the young man called out.
From her hiding spot, Aurora peeked out. Seeing the man, she quickly ducked back, her cheeks turning red.
Seeing Aurora’s reaction, Maleficent was filled with an ominous feeling. The princess had never seen a man up close before, let alone one this handsome. And there was no denying it: the young man was very, very handsome. He had a regal way of carrying himself and broad shoulders that tapered into a narrow waist, and from what she could see of them, his eyes looked kind. What would happen if he and Aurora spoke? Would he enchant her the way Stefan had enchanted Maleficent all those years before? Would she still want to live in the Moors? Or would she betray the faerie world like her father before her?
As those thoughts raced through Maleficent’s mind, the young man took another step closer. “Hello,” he called out toward where Aurora hid.
Cautiously, Aurora stepped out. “Sorry to bother you,” he said. “But I’m on my way to King Stefan’s castle and I’ve become hopelessly lost. Can you help me?” As he spoke, he took another step forward.
Nervous, Aurora stepped back, stumbling over a rock and falling to the ground with a thump.
“I’m sorry,” the young man said. “That was my doing. I rushed in too fast and frightened you. Forgive me?” He held out his hand to help her up.
Just as he pulled her to her feet, a ray of sun shot down, turning Aurora’s golden hair still more golden and illuminating her tall, lean body and beautiful face. Maleficent watched as the young man’s eyes grew wide. He was entranced. She saw his breath quicken and his face flush. She also saw that Aurora’s hand nervously went to her throat, as though she was unsure of herself in front of the man.
“It’s that way,” she finally said, her voice breathless.
The young man nodded but didn’t answer.
“The castle,” Aurora added, worried that he didn’t know what she was talking about.
He nodded again.
Watching, Maleficent didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The young man was clearly love struck. And Aurora? Well, she was growing bolder, less shy, with each passing moment. If it weren’t so upsetting, Maleficent would be proud of her brave Aurora. But selfishly, she wanted the girl to stay quiet.
“What’s your name?” Aurora asked, trying to get him to speak.
The young man once again didn’t say anything. Not for a moment. He just stood there, transfixed and seemingly unable to think of his own name. Finally, he shook his head and blinked, as if coming to from a long sleep. “Phillip,” he said. “It’s Phillip.”
Aurora smiled. “Hello, Phillip.”
“What’s yours?” Phillip asked, mesmerized.
“Aurora.”
“Hello, Aurora,” he said softly.
As around them the birds chirped and the wind blew gently, the pair stood there, gazing into each other’s eyes.
For them, it was as though time were standing still. For Maleficent, it was as though time were speeding up. She could clearly see what was to happen. This Phillip would woo her Aurora, take her away and never be able to protect her from the curse. And Aurora would go, unaware of the danger she faced. With a sigh, Maleficent waited to see if she was right.
“Well, thank you for your help,” Phillip said, finally breaking the silence. “I’d best be off, then.” He whistled loudly and his white horse trotted over. Phillip pulled himself into the saddle and reluctantly turned to go.
“Will you be back?” Aurora called out.
Smiling, Phillip looked over his shoulder. “Nothing could stop me.”
Letting out a happy laugh, Aurora said, “Then I’ll see you soon. Good-bye, Phillip.” She waved as he rode off, looking back over his shoulder as if to make sure she was still there.
Long after Phillip had disappeared over the horizon, Aurora stood there, until, humming a happy little tune, she left the glen. In the woods nearby, Maleficent fretted. Diaval, who had been sitting on her shoulder the whole time, began to pick incessantly at her with his beak. Reaching up, she grabbed his bird feet. “Stop doing that!” she hissed. When he began to squirm, Maleficent waved a hand, transforming him into his human form.
“That boy is the answer!” Diaval said the instant he could speak.
Maleficent shook her head. “No, Diaval,” she said sadly.
“Yes!” he countered. “True Love’s Kiss, remember? It will break the spell!”
“True Love’s Kiss?” Maleficent repeated. Was he serious? Did he really not get it? This was why she had wanted to keep Aurora in the Moors in the first place. Because there were fools who might actually believe there was a way to stop the inevitable. But there wasn’t. There could never be. She knew the truth all too well, as she had lived it herself. Filled with renewed bitterness, she went on. “Have you not worked it out yet? I cursed her that way because there is no such thing.”
Diaval didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, softly, he said, “That may be the way you feel. But what about Aurora? That boy could be her only chance. It’s her fate, not yours! Haven’t you done enough?”
The words cut deep. What Diaval said was true. She had already done enough, too much. She had put Aurora in this position, yet ... it made her furious that Diaval had to point it out. He knew nothing! What right did he have to make her feel worse than she already did? Her temper flaring, she lifted her hand, ready to transform him. But Diaval spoke, surprising her.
“Go ahead!” he cried. “Turn me into whatever you want. A bird, a worm. I don’t care anymore.” Not waiting to see what she would do, Diaval turned and walked away.
Behind him, Maleficent watched him go, her emotions churning. She hated him for talking to her like that. Hated him for making her feel guilty. Yet if she hated him so much, why was she so upset to see him go? Maleficent sighed. Why had everything gotten so complicated?
第 16 章
把愛洛安全地放回床上之后,瑪琳菲森整夜都在小屋附近的樹林里焦躁不安地徘徊。明天,因?yàn)楹芏嘣驎?huì)變得異常重要。再過三天時(shí)間,愛洛就要滿十六歲了。她必須在那天來(lái)臨之前就到摩爾森林里來(lái)。盡管瑪琳菲森相信愛洛足夠堅(jiān)強(qiáng),并能勇敢地面對(duì)她的“阿姨們”,但以防萬(wàn)一,她還是想在一旁盯著。愛洛十六歲的生日越來(lái)越近,她也越發(fā)感到時(shí)間更加緊迫了。愛洛需要到摩爾森林里來(lái)—遠(yuǎn)離所有的紡車—立刻就來(lái)。
太陽(yáng)升了起來(lái),迪艾瓦也來(lái)了,他和瑪琳菲森一起走向那片林中空地。他們躲在樹林里安全的隱蔽處,看著小屋里的人陸陸續(xù)續(xù)地醒來(lái)。他們聽到了煎鍋放在爐子上的叮當(dāng)聲,煎雞蛋發(fā)出的咝咝聲,接著是洗碗的唰唰聲,還聽到三位魔法仙子在爭(zhēng)論是誰(shuí)放著臟盤子一整夜都沒洗?,斄辗粕α?,愛洛是該遠(yuǎn)離那些魔法仙子,就算迫不得已要讓她們偶爾來(lái)看看愛洛,也比現(xiàn)在強(qiáng)得多。
終于,愛洛出現(xiàn)在小屋門前。她抬頭看了看湛藍(lán)無(wú)云的天空,笑了起來(lái)?;仡^和阿姨們簡(jiǎn)單作別之后,她就像往常一樣走進(jìn)了樹林。但今天早晨又有些不一樣,不僅因?yàn)楝斄辗粕偷习哒?,而且為了告訴阿姨們那個(gè)消息,她自己也在積攢 勇氣。
瑪琳菲森聽見她邊走邊說道:“阿姨們,我已經(jīng)快十六歲了,我想要自己的生活。我很愛你們,但是現(xiàn)在是時(shí)候……”瑪琳菲森笑著聽愛洛在一旁演練自己要說的話。
灌木叢中傳來(lái)一陣響動(dòng),愛洛突然停了下來(lái)。她向四周望了望,看見一棵大樹,便躲在了它背后。瑪琳菲森也聽見了這陣響動(dòng),她轉(zhuǎn)頭看向附近的灌木叢。不一會(huì)兒,她看見一位英俊瀟灑的年輕人牽著一匹高大的白馬走了出來(lái)。他抬手撥了撥遮在他棕色的眼睛上的一縷濃密的棕色頭發(fā),打量著四周。
年輕人叫了一聲:“有人在嗎?”
愛洛從藏身之處偷偷往外看去。一看到這位年輕人,愛洛立刻縮了回去,臉頰變得通紅。
瑪琳菲森看見愛洛的反應(yīng),心里充滿了不祥的預(yù)感。公主從沒如此近距離地看過一位男性,更別提是這么帥氣的年輕人了。不可否認(rèn),這位年輕人實(shí)在是帥極了。他全身上下散發(fā)著王室貴族的氣息,寬闊的肩膀,窄窄的腰身,而且在瑪琳菲森看來(lái),年輕人的眼睛里還透露著善良。如果他和愛洛說上話了會(huì)怎么樣?他會(huì)迷住愛洛嗎,就像許多年前斯戴芬迷住瑪琳菲森一樣?愛洛還會(huì)想要住在摩爾森林嗎?還是她會(huì)像她的父親一樣背叛精靈世界呢?
瑪琳菲森的腦海中思緒紛亂,眼看著年輕人又向前走了一步。他對(duì)著愛洛躲藏的地方喊道:“你好。”
愛洛小心翼翼地走了出來(lái)。年輕人說:“很抱歉打擾你,我準(zhǔn)備去斯戴芬國(guó)王的城堡,但完全迷路了。你能幫幫我嗎?”他說著又向前走了一步。
愛洛有些緊張地退了一步,絆到一塊石頭,重重地跌在了地上。
年輕人說道:“對(duì)不起,是我的錯(cuò),我走得太快,嚇到你了。請(qǐng)?jiān)徫液脝幔?rdquo;他伸出手想要扶她起來(lái)。
他拉著愛洛站了起來(lái),這時(shí)一束陽(yáng)光照在了她的身上,愛洛的頭發(fā)變得更加金黃,她修長(zhǎng)的身體和美麗的臉龐在陽(yáng)光的照耀下都顯得更加明艷動(dòng)人?,斄辗粕吹侥贻p人睜大了雙眼。他被迷住了。她看到他的呼吸變得急促,臉也變得通紅。她還看到愛洛也緊張萬(wàn)分,把手放在了自己的頸部,好像在這位年輕人面前不知道怎么辦才好。
終于,她說話了:“往那邊走。”她的聲音扣人心弦。
年輕人點(diǎn)了點(diǎn)頭,但是沒有回答。
愛洛擔(dān)心他不知道自己在說什么,所以又加了一句:“通往 城堡。”
他又點(diǎn)了點(diǎn)頭。
瑪琳菲森在一旁看著,哭笑不得。很明顯,年輕人墜入愛河了。愛洛呢?隨著時(shí)間一分一秒過去她變得不再羞怯,膽子也越來(lái)越大。如果不是在這樣心煩意亂的情形下,瑪琳菲森甚至?xí)橛赂业膼勐甯械津湴痢5菑淖运降慕嵌瓤紤],她希望愛洛保持沉默。
愛洛問道:“你叫什么名字?”她想讓他開口說話。
年輕人還是什么都沒有說,一句也沒說。他只是呆呆地站在那里,好像已經(jīng)記不起自己的名字了。終于,他搖了搖頭,眨了眨眼,就好像從一場(chǎng)長(zhǎng)眠之中醒來(lái)一樣,他說:“菲力,我叫菲力。”
愛洛笑了:“你好,菲力。”
菲力目眩神迷,問道:“你叫什么名字?”
“愛洛。”
他輕聲說:“你好,愛洛。”
鳥兒輕唱,風(fēng)兒淺鳴,這一對(duì)年輕男女就站在那里,互相望著對(duì)方的眼睛。
對(duì)他們來(lái)說,時(shí)間好像都靜止了。而在瑪琳菲森看來(lái),時(shí)間卻仿佛加快了腳步,她完全可以預(yù)料接下來(lái)會(huì)發(fā)生什么。這個(gè)叫菲力的年輕人將會(huì)向她的愛洛求愛,帶走愛洛,那她就永遠(yuǎn)無(wú)法保護(hù)愛洛免受詛咒的傷害。而愛洛并不知道自己所面臨的危險(xiǎn),她會(huì)和他一起離開。瑪琳菲森嘆了一口氣,她等待著,看看自己的猜測(cè)是否正確。
最終菲力打破了沉默,他說:“非常感謝你的幫助。我該走了。”他吹了聲口哨,白馬應(yīng)聲跑了過來(lái)。菲力爬上馬鞍,有些不舍地轉(zhuǎn)身離開。
愛洛喊道:“你會(huì)回來(lái)嗎?”
菲力轉(zhuǎn)頭笑道:“沒什么可以阻攔我。”
愛洛開心地笑出聲來(lái),她說:“那我們很快就可以再見面啦。再見,菲力。”她揮著手,菲力騎著馬漸行漸遠(yuǎn),時(shí)不時(shí)回過頭來(lái),好像在看愛洛是否仍在原地。
菲力在遠(yuǎn)方的地平線上消失許久之后,愛洛還站在那里,然后她愉快地哼著小曲,離開了幽谷。而在一旁樹林中的瑪琳菲森卻苦惱不已。剛才一直停在她肩膀上的迪艾瓦開始不停地用鳥喙啄瑪琳菲森。她伸手抓住了迪艾瓦的爪子,低聲說道:“住手!”迪艾瓦開始扭動(dòng)自己的身體,瑪琳菲森手一揮,將他變成了人形。
迪艾瓦一能開口便立刻說道:“那個(gè)男孩就是解藥!”
瑪琳菲森搖了搖頭,悲傷地說道:“不,迪艾瓦。”
迪艾瓦反駁道:“他就是!真愛之吻,還記得嗎?真愛之吻可以打破魔咒!”
“真愛之吻?”瑪琳菲森重復(fù)了一遍。他是認(rèn)真的嗎?他是真的不懂嗎?這正是她要將愛洛帶入摩爾森林的原因啊。因?yàn)榭傆幸恍┥倒蠒?huì)相信有辦法阻止一些無(wú)法避免的事情發(fā)生,但世界上并沒有這樣的辦法,永遠(yuǎn)也沒有。她太清楚真相了,因?yàn)樗约壕褪沁@么過來(lái)的?,斄辗粕男睦镌俅纬錆M酸楚,她繼續(xù)說道:“你怎么到現(xiàn)在還不明白呢?我之所以給她設(shè)下那樣的詛咒,就是因?yàn)槭郎细緵]有真愛。”
迪艾瓦好一會(huì)兒沒有說話。接著,他輕聲說:“也許這是你一廂情愿的想法。但愛洛怎么辦?那個(gè)男孩可能是她唯一的希望。這是她的命運(yùn),不是你的!你做得還不夠多嗎?”
這些話說得很重??傻习哒f的是實(shí)情,她已經(jīng)做了很多,太多了。就是因?yàn)樗?,愛洛才落到這個(gè)境地,但……迪艾瓦指出這一點(diǎn),令她滿腔怒火。他什么也不懂!她已經(jīng)很難受了,他有什么權(quán)利讓她更痛苦?她怒火中燒,抬手要將迪艾瓦變身。但迪艾瓦忽然說話了,讓她十分驚訝。
他叫道:“來(lái)吧!你想變什么就變什么好了!鳥啊,蟲啊,我已經(jīng)不在乎了。”還沒等瑪琳菲森動(dòng)手,迪艾瓦就轉(zhuǎn)身走了。
瑪琳菲森在后面看著他離開,心中各種情感翻騰不已。她討厭迪艾瓦那樣對(duì)自己說話,討厭他讓自己覺得內(nèi)疚。但是如果她真的這么討厭他,為什么他的離去會(huì)讓自己悲傷呢?瑪琳菲森嘆了一口氣,為什么所有的事都變得這么復(fù)雜了呢?