After tucking Aurora¹ 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 Moors². 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 wont³ 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 gathering⁴ 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 abruptly⁵ 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 strand⁶ 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 peeked⁷ out. Seeing the man, she quickly ducked back, her cheeks turning red.

Seeing Aurora's reaction, Maleficent was filled with an ominous⁸ 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 tapered⁹ into a narrow waist, and from what she could see of them, his eyes looked kind. What would happen if he and Aurora spoke¹⁰? Would he enchant¹¹ her the way Stefan had enchanted¹² 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 thump¹³.

"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 illuminating¹⁴ 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 nervously¹⁵ 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, mesmerized¹⁶.

"Aurora."　

"Hello, Aurora," he said softly.

As around them the birds chirped¹⁷ and the wind blew gently, the pair stood there, gazing into each other's eyes.　

For them, it was as though time were standing¹⁸ 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, unaware¹⁹ 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 trotted²⁰ 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 tune²¹, she left the glen. In the woods nearby, Maleficent fretted²². Diaval, who had been sitting on her shoulder the whole time, began to pick incessantly²³ at her with his beak²⁴. Reaching up, she grabbed his bird feet. "Stop doing that!" she hissed²⁵. 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 inevitable²⁶. 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 flaring²⁷, 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?

 

把爱洛安全地放回床上之后，玛琳菲森整夜都在小屋附近的树林里焦躁不安地徘徊。明天，因为很多原因会变得异常重要。再过三天时间，爱洛就要满十六岁了。她必须在那天来临之前就到摩尔森林里来。尽管玛琳菲森相信爱洛足够坚强，并能勇敢地面对她的“阿姨们”，但以防万一，她还是想在一旁盯着。爱洛十六岁的生日越来越近，她也越发感到时间更加紧迫了。爱洛需要到摩尔森林里来—远离所有的纺车—立刻就来。

太阳升了起来，迪艾瓦也来了，他和玛琳菲森一起走向那片林中空地。他们躲在树林里安全的隐蔽处，看着小屋里的人陆陆续续地醒来。他们听到了煎锅放在炉子上的叮当声，煎鸡蛋发出的咝咝声，接着是洗碗的唰唰声，还听到三位魔法仙子在争论是谁放着脏盘子一整夜都没洗。玛琳菲森笑了，爱洛是该远离那些魔法仙子，就算迫不得已要让她们偶尔来看看爱洛，也比现在强得多。

终于，爱洛出现在小屋门前。她抬头看了看湛蓝无云的天空，笑了起来。回头和阿姨们简单作别之后，她就像往常一样走进了树林。但今天早晨又有些不一样，不仅因为玛琳菲森和迪艾瓦正跟着她，而且为了告诉阿姨们那个消息，她自己也在积攒 勇气。

玛琳菲森听见她边走边说道：“阿姨们，我已经快十六岁了，我想要自己的生活。我很爱你们，但是现在是时候……”玛琳菲森笑着听爱洛在一旁演练自己要说的话。

灌木丛中传来一阵响动，爱洛突然停了下来。她向四周望了望，看见一棵大树，便躲在了它背后。玛琳菲森也听见了这阵响动，她转头看向附近的灌木丛。不一会儿，她看见一位英俊潇洒的年轻人牵着一匹高大的白马走了出来。他抬手拨了拨遮在他棕色的眼睛上的一缕浓密的棕色头发，打量着四周。

年轻人叫了一声：“有人在吗？”

爱洛从藏身之处偷偷往外看去。一看到这位年轻人，爱洛立刻缩了回去，脸颊变得通红。

玛琳菲森看见爱洛的反应，心里充满了不祥的预感。公主从没如此近距离地看过一位男性，更别提是这么帅气的年轻人了。不可否认，这位年轻人实在是帅极了。他全身上下散发着王室贵族的气息，宽阔的肩膀，窄窄的腰身，而且在玛琳菲森看来，年轻人的眼睛里还透露着善良。如果他和爱洛说上话了会怎么样？他会迷住爱洛吗，就像许多年前斯戴芬迷住玛琳菲森一样？爱洛还会想要住在摩尔森林吗？还是她会像她的父亲一样背叛精灵世界呢？

玛琳菲森的脑海中思绪纷乱，眼看着年轻人又向前走了一步。他对着爱洛躲藏的地方喊道：“你好。”

爱洛小心翼翼地走了出来。年轻人说：“很抱歉打扰你，我准备去斯戴芬国王的城堡，但完全迷路了。你能帮帮我吗？”他说着又向前走了一步。

爱洛有些紧张地退了一步，绊到一块石头，重重地跌在了地上。

年轻人说道：“对不起，是我的错，我走得太快，吓到你了。请原谅我好吗？”他伸出手想要扶她起来。

他拉着爱洛站了起来，这时一束阳光照在了她的身上，爱洛的头发变得更加金黄，她修长的身体和美丽的脸庞在阳光的照耀下都显得更加明艳动人。玛琳菲森看到年轻人睁大了双眼。他被迷住了。她看到他的呼吸变得急促，脸也变得通红。她还看到爱洛也紧张万分，把手放在了自己的颈部，好像在这位年轻人面前不知道怎么办才好。

终于，她说话了：“往那边走。”她的声音扣人心弦。

年轻人点了点头，但是没有回答。

爱洛担心他不知道自己在说什么，所以又加了一句：“通往 城堡。”

他又点了点头。

玛琳菲森在一旁看着，哭笑不得。很明显，年轻人坠入爱河了。爱洛呢？随着时间一分一秒过去她变得不再羞怯，胆子也越来越大。如果不是在这样心烦意乱的情形下，玛琳菲森甚至会为勇敢的爱洛感到骄傲。但是从自私的角度考虑，她希望爱洛保持沉默。

爱洛问道：“你叫什么名字？”她想让他开口说话。

年轻人还是什么都没有说，一句也没说。他只是呆呆地站在那里，好像已经记不起自己的名字了。终于，他摇了摇头，眨了眨眼，就好像从一场长眠之中醒来一样，他说：“菲力，我叫菲力。”

爱洛笑了：“你好，菲力。”

菲力目眩神迷，问道：“你叫什么名字？”

“爱洛。”

他轻声说：“你好，爱洛。”

鸟儿轻唱，风儿浅鸣，这一对年轻男女就站在那里，互相望着对方的眼睛。

对他们来说，时间好像都静止了。而在玛琳菲森看来，时间却仿佛加快了脚步，她完全可以预料接下来会发生什么。这个叫菲力的年轻人将会向她的爱洛求爱，带走爱洛，那她就永远无法保护爱洛免受诅咒的伤害。而爱洛并不知道自己所面临的危险，她会和他一起离开。玛琳菲森叹了一口气，她等待着，看看自己的猜测是否正确。

最终菲力打破了沉默，他说：“非常感谢你的帮助。我该走了。”他吹了声口哨，白马应声跑了过来。菲力爬上马鞍，有些不舍地转身离开。

爱洛喊道：“你会回来吗？”

菲力转头笑道：“没什么可以阻拦我。”

爱洛开心地笑出声来，她说：“那我们很快就可以再见面啦。再见，菲力。”她挥着手，菲力骑着马渐行渐远，时不时回过头来，好像在看爱洛是否仍在原地。

菲力在远方的地平线上消失许久之后，爱洛还站在那里，然后她愉快地哼着小曲，离开了幽谷。而在一旁树林中的玛琳菲森却苦恼不已。刚才一直停在她肩膀上的迪艾瓦开始不停地用鸟喙啄玛琳菲森。她伸手抓住了迪艾瓦的爪子，低声说道：“住手！”迪艾瓦开始扭动自己的身体，玛琳菲森手一挥，将他变成了人形。

迪艾瓦一能开口便立刻说道：“那个男孩就是解药！”

玛琳菲森摇了摇头，悲伤地说道：“不，迪艾瓦。”

迪艾瓦反驳道：“他就是！真爱之吻，还记得吗？真爱之吻可以打破魔咒！”

“真爱之吻？”玛琳菲森重复了一遍。他是认真的吗？他是真的不懂吗？这正是她要将爱洛带入摩尔森林的原因啊。因为总有一些傻瓜会相信有办法阻止一些无法避免的事情发生，但世界上并没有这样的办法，永远也没有。她太清楚真相了，因为她自己就是这么过来的。玛琳菲森的心里再次充满酸楚，她继续说道：“你怎么到现在还不明白呢？我之所以给她设下那样的诅咒，就是因为世上根本没有真爱。”

迪艾瓦好一会儿没有说话。接着，他轻声说：“也许这是你一厢情愿的想法。但爱洛怎么办？那个男孩可能是她唯一的希望。这是她的命运，不是你的！你做得还不够多吗？”

这些话说得很重。可迪艾瓦说的是实情，她已经做了很多，太多了。就是因为她，爱洛才落到这个境地，但……迪艾瓦指出这一点，令她满腔怒火。他什么也不懂！她已经很难受了，他有什么权利让她更痛苦？她怒火中烧，抬手要将迪艾瓦变身。但迪艾瓦忽然说话了，让她十分惊讶。

他叫道：“来吧！你想变什么就变什么好了！鸟啊，虫啊，我已经不在乎了。”还没等玛琳菲森动手，迪艾瓦就转身走了。

玛琳菲森在后面看着他离开，心中各种情感翻腾不已。她讨厌迪艾瓦那样对自己说话，讨厌他让自己觉得内疚。但是如果她真的这么讨厌他，为什么他的离去会让自己悲伤呢？玛琳菲森叹了一口气，为什么所有的事都变得这么复杂了呢？

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