Aurora watched in horror as Maleficent's hands were bound behind her. Her once beautiful dress was ripped to shreds, barely clinging to her, only holding on from the sweat and blood that covered her body. Her back looked like it had been shredded with whips made from the Briars, strips of muscle showing. Blood oozed out of her wounds and mouth, staining her teeth, and bruises covered her face and skin. Her usually beautiful and silky hair was messy and chunks of it were missing, ripped out by the hands of the guards. And though she looked like she should have been dead, Maleficent still stood tall, her eyes hard and cold. She didn't look like she was in pain, instead her eyes burned with rage, glaring at the king. She didn't whimper in pain, nor did she plead or cry, all her emotions pushed into the rageful glare. The chains clattered hatefully as they bound her, and Aurora flinched with the noise, her eyes already filled with tears. The king didn't look to Maleficent as he waved his hand to the guards, his low voice thundering with disgust. "Get her out of my sight!"
Feeling her heart shatter, a sob broke its way out of Aurora's throat and she rushed forward toward Maleficent, but a strong arm grabbed her and held her back. The guards grabbed Maleficent's arms, ready to push her forward, but she shrugged them off, glaring coldly at them. The guards almost seemed afraid of her, and for a good reason. And though she could have crushed them all with one twitch of her finger, she paused and looked back to Aurora. Her eyes flickered with pain, but only for a moment, then she turns quickly and begins to march toward the courtyard. The arm held Aurora tighter as Maleficent turned to her, almost trying to pull her back. Aurora's eyes were too muddled to see who it was that was holding her back. Her eyes were pinned on Maleficent, and she tried to push away, rushing for her again. The arm grabbed at her again, this time, its hands grabbing her upper arms, pulling her back, then a kind face filled her vision. Phillip held her tightly, his voice trying to be soothing, brow furrowed and eyes worried, "Aurora. Hey, look at me." He pulled her closer, blocking more of her view. "These feelings are things she put in your head." Shaking his head, worriedly, tears almost starting to moisten his eyes, he choked out,"None of it is real!"
Aurora looked up at him, horrified and hurt, and she tore herself away from his grip. "You can't say what I am feeling isn't real!" She spoke through gritted teeth, sobs threatening to overtake her voice.
Phillip paused for a moment, as if hesitating, "Rory, she's a witc-"
Now angered, she lashed out, slapping him across the face, leaving them both shocked. Though Aurora quickly shook it off and rageful tears filled her eyes, shaking lightly, "Don't ever call me that again!"
Phillip still stood in shock, tears in his eyes, a large red welt starting to cover his cheek. She stepped back lightly, sobs tugging at her throat. Turning quickly, avoiding the eyes of her mother and father, she rushed to the doorway where the guards and Maleficent had gone through.
Stumbling through, sobs continuing to push at her throat, she looked around with panic. The courtyard was empty. Aurora grew more panicked and began to rush out toward the front gates.
More guards stood at the gate, though Aurora paid no attention to them. She stormed through to the outer courtyard, angry and desperate tears streaming down her cheeks.
She froze in fear at the sight before her. All the kingdom seemed to be there, gathered in the square. A slender stone pillar stood amid the large pile of wood and brush, guards with torches standing around it, their faces void of emotion.
In the lowering sun, the crowd roared angrily, spitting at Maleficent as she marched past them toward the pillar. The guards with her had to forcibly push them back, though she didn't understand why. The guards didn't usually care if the people roughed up the criminals. Though, this one was personal to the royal family, so the king wanted it over with. The people were so reverent to their princess, and Aurora hated it. It filled her with such pain and hatred, though that pain was quickly buried by another.
She had seen a Burning before. She and Maleficent had watched many men and women burn for their crimes. It had filled Aurora's heart with an incredible burden. Not to save them from death, for they deserved it, but to simply end their pain. Their screams haunted her dreams for weeks after, and only Maleficent could calm her. But now, as she watched, the burden turned so heavy, she thought she might collapse. It wasn't a criminal this time. It was her best friend, her lover. It was her protector and guard. The one who held her heart and eased her pain. The one she loved and who loved her.
Sobs finally broke free, and with such a force that her knees buckled. She felt that she would break when she hit the ground, the weight of the world pressing down on her. Waiting for the crack of her knees on stone, she sobbed harder, willing and praying to all the powers of heaven and hell to save Maleficent.
Before she could hit the ground, strong arms grabbed her again, holding her close. Aurora sobbed more with her eyes closed tight, trying to push away. Her body was limp and her strength had dissipated nearly completely. Despair filled her broken heart, and she stopped fighting, falling limp in the arms.
Philip's quiet voice filled her ears, "Aurora. It's…. Its for the best." His arms pulled her closer, tears in his eyes.
Hearing his voice, she tried to fight again, kicking and sobbing. But her strength disappeared nearly instantly and she went limp again. Not looking up to him, her eyes followed Maleficent through the crowd, sobbing harder as she stepped up to the pillar.
Maleficent pressed her back to the pillar, her face still hard and cold, eyes like piercing daggers. Though as she turned to face Aurora, even from far away, she could see Maleficent's eyes soften, pain flickering across her face. Aurora sobbed more, dropping the ground, forcing Phillip to let go of her.
The cold stone steps felt icy against her hot skin, sobs racking her body. She sat, watching through tear-filled eyes as the guards threaded the chains through rings to keep Maleficent attached to the pillar.
Aurora didn't understand why Maleficent wouldn't fight back. She could have broken those chains in an instant, without even batting an eyelash. Even with her wounds, she could have fought hand to hand with each guard here and won. Aurora wished she would.
With a start, as their eyes locked again, Aurora realized that this was truly the end. Maleficent wasn't going to try to save herself. She wasn't going to fight back, but Aurora still didn't understand. Wouldn't it be better if they were together, even if it were on the run? And it wasn't that she couldn't protect Aurora, as that was Maleficent's job, which she had done perfectly for sixteen years.
Through tears, Aurora choked out, "No! Pl…. Please!"
No one heard, or no one seemed to care, though Maleficent seemed to flinch slightly, her eyes moistening slightly. She blinked and tore her eyes away from Aurora, pained and heartbroken. Forcing herself to go cold again, a single tear fell down her bruised cheeks, her throat heaving lightly.
Aurora's eyes were still pinned on her, and she sobbed harder. Shaking her head, her breaths came out as whimpers, growing terrified. She would never feel her soft touch again. Those lips that only smiled for her would never kiss her again. Aurora would never be able to run her fingers through her silky hair ever again. Her warm breath which tickled her neck would forever be stopped. Her glorious laugh would never be heard again, silenced for eternity.
Aurora felt shattered, watching everything before her. She was suddenly frozen, and the world seemed to move without her. Phillip, having stood, watching her with concerned eyes, looked up as one of the guards motioned to him. He stepped down to them, glancing back to Aurora. Though his eyes were soft and kind, he looked disgusting to her. She hated him more than she hated anyone else in the world; more than even the king or queen.
He turned away and back to the guard, then reached out to him. Aurora watched in sudden horror as the guard gave Phillip his torch. The flames of the fire shone evilly on his face, showing his bright red welt from her slap. She sobbed suddenly as she realized what he was here to do.
Philip's eyes grew cold, and he and Maleficent glared at each other for a very long moment. Maleficent's fists tightened slightly and the flames seemed to bend at her will, but only enough to burn his cheek quickly; and though he pulls it away from his face, panicked, she had already let go of it, looking away from him.
Phillip held the torch far away from his face, hissing in pain, large blisters beginning to bloom on his cheek. His eyes burned with rage, looking up to Maleficent again.
By this time, the crowd has quieted, waiting for Phillip; watching him closely. Aurora's quiet sobs now echoed through the square in the silence, though she remained frozen in fear. Pleadingly, she choked out, breaking the silence, "Phillip!" She forced herself to not say his name with contempt, through tears.
He paused, seeming to soften when he hears Aurora call out. His head turned in her direction, but he didn't look to her. Anger and rage still prevalent in his voice, he growled, "What, princess?"
Taking a shuddering breath, she whimpered out, "Please…. Don't d-do this ..."
He stopped for a moment, seeming to be hesitating, then looked back, dropping the torch slightly. Slowly starting to panic, Aurora sobbed again, pleadingly, "N-no! Please!" Her voice shook, but desperately, she forced out, "I a-accept y-your p-proposal!"
Phillip seemed to freeze, as did Maleficent, and they both looked shocked. Maleficent's hard expression slowly fell and tears started to stream down her cheeks, but she remained silent; watching, looking confused and hurt. Phillip looked back to Aurora, "You do?"
Aurora choked back a sob, nodding reluctantly, still desperate. "As long as you d-don't do this," her voice was shaking slightly.
Phillip seemed to consider it, hesitating, then he shook his head. Watching Aurora with soft eyes, he sternly explained, "I was ordered by your father, the king, to carry this out. No matter what trickery you or the witch presented to me."
Aurora sobbed in anger and desperation, looking back to Maleficent. Phillip looked pained as she sobbed again, then, regaining his coldness and stiffness, said quickly, "This isn't the true Aurora that I know. You must be purged of her lies."
Before Aurora could react, he turned quickly and threw the torch into the middle of the pile. The brush quickly took fire and the flames exploded to life; right below Maleficent's bare feet. Aurora screamed in agony, sobbing harder. Maleficent didn't react when the flames appeared, though she flinched when Aurora screamed, pain in her eyes, but she quickly hardened again, not giving them the satisfaction of her misery.
The guards all around Maleficent threw their torches in, feeding the fire. It begin to lick at her legs, burning away at the small amount of rags she had left on her body. Aurora watched in horror, sobbing harder. She could see Maleficent was fighting a scream, her brow furrowing, throat heaving lightly.
The guards pushed the people back as the flames grew taller and taller, though Phillip didn't move back. He looked content and satisfied, watching Maleficent suffer, a malicious smile curling at his lips.
Maleficent closed her eyes, her cold expression starting to melt away, replaced with pain. The skin on her legs starting to char and burn. Tears of pain and despair stream down her cheeks, throat heaving more, fighting a scream. Aurora trembles, watching with wide eyes as she weeps. She is unable to look away, but pleading in a whimpering voice. She is finally able to close her eyes, near to collapsing from exhaustion. Aurora welcomed the darkness behind her eyelids. But even so, the light of the flames haunted her still, and she felt more tears streaming down her cheeks.
In one crashing moment, suddenly the voice of Maleficent broke through Aurora's own sobs, screaming, filled with pain as she gave up. Aurora clamped her eyes shut tighter, the sound sending shivers of despair down her spine. She had never heard anything more horrifying in her life and she sobbed harder. The sound seemed to echo in her mind, continuing on and on. Trembling, she knew she would forever be stuck with Maleficent's scream in her mind.