Soon, the royal herald announces the arrival of three more guests: the three good fairies called Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. Flora and Fauna bless Aurora with beauty and song, respectively, but Merryweather's gift is interrupted by Maleficent, an evil witch who is furious about not being invited by the kingdom. As retaliation, Maleficent curses the princess, proclaiming Aurora will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday. Although Maleficent's power is too strong to undo, Merryweather uses her gift to weaken the curse; instead of dying, Aurora will fall into a deep sleep until true love's kiss breaks the spell. Still concerned, King Stefan orders all the spinning wheels in the kingdom to be burned. The fairies know that Maleficent will not rest until she gets her way, so they convince the King and Queen to let Aurora live with them in a cottage hidden in the forest until she turns sixteen.