The pixies interrupted her on the stairs. They had a lot to tell her about, most of it regarding Nanny Stoat and how clever she was. Apparently, she had pressed Thistlewit, Flittle, and Knotgrass into service, getting them to do little magics around the castle and managing them with such flattery that they enjoyed it.

“You see,” said Flittle, “Lord Ortolan never saw our importance in this kingdom.”

“We should have known he was wicked then,” added Thistlewit. “After all we’ve sacrificed, how could anyone not reward our loyalty?”

“Very right,” Aurora agreed, smiling.

They also passed on some gossip. After depositing Aurora and Phillip at the castle, Maleficent had been convinced to go with Smiling John to return Simon to his family. Once the boy was done telling them about the awful Count Alain, they were not only trying to press tea and jam on Maleficent but paying her such flattering compliments that she had to flee in horror at their overwhelming gratitude.

“Although I don’t know why they singled her out in such a way, when no one ever bothers to invite us for tea, even though we are much more agreeable,” Knotgrass put in.

“A mystery, to be sure,” Aurora said.

Aurora entered the throne room in cloth of gold, wearing her crown, and with a smile lingering at the corners of her mouth.

Already there were the Fair Folk. Maleficent and Diaval stood at the front, beside tree sentries, wallerbogs, hobs, ogres, hedgehog faeries, and more. Maleficent was in a long black gown, with silver bands on the horns of her head and matching ones on the horns at the joints of her wings. Diaval was in a long black coat with cuffs made of feathers that were undoubtedly his own. The pixies hastened to make a place for themselves at the front, buzzing their bright wings and forcing everyone else to move.

The humans were also assembled in the hall. There were nobles, young and old, including Lady Sybil and Lady Sabine and a nervous-looking Lady Fiora. And Nanny Stoat was there, along with farmers and villagers. Simon stood beside his family, looking proud. She supposed that his story had been in great demand with everyone he met and that he had been made much of.

Aurora cleared her throat and began to speak. “Before me is a document that will set the terms of an enduring peace in our unified kingdom, one that I hope will live on past the end of my reign. It will be signed not just by me, but by representatives from the humans and the faeries. Will the representatives please come forward?”

Maleficent and Nanny Stoat moved to the sides of Aurora’s carved wood throne. A small table was brought forward by a footman, and a scribe set down a long scroll on which the terms of the treaty were set out.