“King Henry led us into a war,” she said, “and we forgot. The younger generations only knew the faeries as enemies. And though we have always wanted the same things—enough food in our bellies to be strong, enough warmth in the winter to be hale, and enough leisure to have joy—things are different. The nobles take our best crops and demand taxes besides. And they say they need to do it because they need to protect us from the Moors.”

“Let me try to remind you of those days,” Aurora said, an idea coming together in her mind. “I want you to be able to meet one another in peace. And get to know one another without fear. I have been preparing a treaty to help create laws—so that you don’t have to be afraid of them and they don’t have to be afraid of you….”

Aurora spotted Prince Phillip on the other side of the hall, walking down the stairs with a book tucked under his arm. He glanced in her direction but avoided meeting her eyes. There was something in his face she couldn’t interpret. Perhaps discomfort.

For the first time, she saw the motley assembly of people in her great hall through the eyes of an outsider. She took in their sunburned faces and mended clothes. Could Phillip think that speaking with them herself wasn’t a proper thing for a queen to do? That they were not worth hearing?

No, not Phillip. He couldn’t think something so terrible. He wasn’t like Lord Ortolan.

Aurora realized that she’d paused long enough for people to notice and forced herself to keep talking. “I will hold a festival for everyone,” she said, “two days hence. We will have dancing and games and food. And we will sign that treaty.”

That meant she needed to finish it. And she needed to persuade everyone it was in their best interest to abide by it.

At the mention of a festival, a ripple of excitement had gone through the crowd. A few of the young people clasped one another’s hands and began to whisper until they were shushed.

“We and the Fair Folk?” Nanny Stout asked. “Together?”

“Yes,” said Aurora. “Please come, all of you.”

Lots of voices rose then, talking over one another. There were many questions and worries, all of which she tried to address. By the time she left the great hall, she believed most of her people would come, even if it was only out of curiosity. Now she just had to convince the faeries.

And Maleficent.

Chapter 14