A/N Ooooo. New Story. I adore Tin Man but really just completely absolutely have a crush on Wyatt Cain. Darn him and his fictional self. Not mine. None of it. Except a few original characters here and there in the story. And I actually don't want them. They are simply tools to help Wyatt stay around a little longer. Sigh. *Shakes fist* Cruel world!
Will eventually be M just like all my lovely little tales. Can't keep the smut away very long or else those frisky plot bunnies turn vicious! I think I need to buy a new package of band-aids. Do you think they have some with Tin Man images on them?
Shadows and Whispers
Chapter One
Cold. She was so cold. It was a different cold than she had ever experienced. It wasn't the polite frost of a fall morning that had her toes curling under a warm blanket as she lay asleep. It wasn't the fun bite of chill that accompanied snowball fights and winter walks. It wasn't even like the bitter cold winds that used to sweep through the body on deep winter days back in Kansas, making you clutch at your coat and bury your face into your scarf as you try to breathe. It was a cold that burned. Burned with fear and dread. Burned with a horrible wickedness.
The dream had been re-occurring for two weeks now, never quite the same except for the blasted cold. Sometimes the dream teased her into relaxing and then the cold would sneak up on her in the form of a friend. Sometimes she would be walking alone and see the cold, a thick fog waiting for her and she was helpless to it. Against her better judgement she would steadily walk right into it and the agony would rip a scream from her throat as she awoke, covered in a fine sheen of sweat. But tonight, even as she had fought against the exhaustion, not wanting the dream to visit her yet again, she knew it would be different...worse...
There was no plot, no easing into the visions that bombarded her as soon as she drifted off. She was cold. Without a doubt she knew that it was the middle of the day, yet the suns that usually warmed her skin were barely shining through the thick fog that clutched at her. Grass was beneath her bare feet but it was dry and sharp, dead. Making out a treeline ahead of her, barely being able to think because of the numbing fear that was invading her every sense, she began to walk. Her legs were carrying her to a place she didn't want to go. There was nothing but more cold ahead. Deeper shadows that waited to claim her and drag her down.
Not wanting to take another step, although she had tried this many times before without success, DG forced her legs to stop, and they did. With a small, triumphant smile, she stared into the chilled surroundings, trying to take in every detail, wanting to find the source of these intrusions. But, as often happens in dreams, soon she was moving again, powerless to stop herself until her foot hit against something solid on the ground. She was closer to the tree line and could hear faint whispers. Nonsense words jumbled with the feel of a strong magic. Time seemed to slow as she looked toward the ground to see what had stopped her forward movement.
At first it was just a large lump of blackness. But as she continued to stare, unable to look away, it took shape. Details began to form and twist. Dull coloring slid over the curves and angles. The cold began to worsen, gripping at her chest, stealing the breath from her very lungs as her foggy mind recognized the shape. It was Ambrose laying at her feet, dead. Against their will, her eyes took in every horrid detail. His legs bent at unnatural angles...fingers missing...a ragged wound in his upper torso. His fine clothing was shredded and torn, some scraps sickeningly matted with blood and skin. His eyes were wide open, fear and pain etched into the dead glassy surfaces. She was going to be sick. Anger rose within her, pushing the fear away. There was a metallic taste in her mouth and she clenched her teeth together.
"Good...good..." a clear whisper ghosted over her, causing her to shiver. "Finally the anger, finally the rage."
Spinning about, DG saw no one. There was no hint at what direction the voice had come from. It simply slithered and coiled through her dream, wrapping around her senses.
"Now we know. What it takes. How we will win." The voice was closer. It was the worst sound she had ever experienced. Hate and death, teeth gnashing, thick and inescapable. It covered her and weighted her down. Sticky as tar and just as foul to breathe in. "Good...good..."
Wanting to tear at her own skin, wanting to claw her way out, DG tried to fight back the tears that were already spilling down her cheeks. The last thing she expected was a solid touch, a hand on her arm. Ready to fight she spun about again, dizzy and sick, but stopped short when a pair of ice blue eyes met hers. A sob escaped her as she saw the man that had visited countless other dreams. Dreams full of warmth, passion and love. He didn't belong here. Shouldn't be here.
"Please...no..." she whimpered as his grip tightened. His eyes flickered from hers and glazed as he stared over her shoulder at the trees. With no emotion, his face pale, his lips moved and she felt herself going limp with exhaustion. She didn't want to leave him in this hell.
"DG. Wake up."
"No Wyatt. Not without you."
He looked at her then, his eyes becoming clear and warm as he leaned closer. A gentle kiss touched her forehead and DG felt herself slipping out of the cold, out of the dream.
"It's time to wake up."
"DG! Wake UP!"
Sitting up forcefully, she barely missed slamming into her sister whose arms had been shaking her awake. Breathing shallow, her lungs burned as if they had been without oxygen for some time. Her cheeks were damp with tears and her eyes felt raw.
"It's ok. You're awake. It's all right." Azkadelia shushed her sisters wild movements with a calm embrace. "You're safe DG. Everything is fine."
"How did you...why are you in..." jerking away from her sisters comfort, her skin felt on fire. DG tossed the blanket from her body and inspected her arms and legs in the pale moonlight.
"I could feel the magic you were giving off. It was so strong, you woke me up." Az just watched helplessly as DG stood from her bed shakily and moved toward the window, opening it hastily. She couldn't get enough fresh air..."So I came to see what was wrong. I knew you were here, that it had to be a dream you were lost in..."
DG breathed in the night air and finally began to calm slightly. That one had been bad. The worst yet. She hadn't told anyone, didn't want to worry anyone. Plus, she knew what the diagnosis would have been. Stress. The dreams had begun the night of the freedom ball where it had been announced that she would be heir apparent instead of her sister. They had tried, the people of the OZ had tried for three years to accept that Azkadelia could rule when their mother stepped down. Despite constant public appearances, charity work and not a trace of the witches influence remaining in her sister, the people still pressed for DG to be the one who would become their queen someday. So that coupled with her increasing duties, continued magic lessons, steadily missing the otherside and an arranged marriageā¦stress would have been the rationalization if she had gone to see a doctor back in Kansas.
"DG? Did you hear me?" she turned to see Az walking carefully toward her, concern on her features.
"Sorry." she shook her head clear and forced a weak smile onto her face. "No, what did you say?"
"I asked you how long this has been going on?"
"This dream was a new one, never had it before." It was the truth even though she wasn't answering her sisters question directly. Azkadelia seemed to ponder the answer and tilted her head to the side as she studied DG.
"That's not what I asked."
Sighing, DG closed her eyes and rubbed at her face, trying to draw herself completely from the dream. But the image of Ambrose at her feet wouldn't leave her...
Wait...Ambrose...
DG was running out of her bedroom and through her suite before Az could even call after her. Flinging the door open, she saw her guards jump as she bolted into the hall and towards the stairs that would carry her up to Ambrose's chambers. Her friend had become a mix of old and new when his brain had been reinserted into his noggin. She counted him as her most important advisor, able to council her on matters concerning the crown and give her reason to chuckle when she needed to release tension. The trust she put in him, the secrets only he knew, the burden of knowing the depth of her unhappiness and the mask that she wore to cover it all up...what would she ever do without him? He was her only daily link to the adventure that brought her to this point in her life. Raw only came once a month as an ambassador to his people, Cain and Jeb had left...yet before her brain could spin off in that direction she was pounding on the door that separated her from a horrible reality. Ambrose might be...
"Hold your horses for goodness sake!" Relief spread though her entire body as she heard the advisor stumbling towards the door. "What in great Gilda's name is so important at three in the morning?" The door was opening too slowly so she pushed it hard, quickly rushing against Ambrose's stunned frame. "DG?" she buried her head into his shoulder even as she felt him embrace her, his voice panicked. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"She had a bad dream." Azkadelia's quiet voice sounded from the doorway. Ambrose took a deep breath and began to smooth DG's hair with one hand.
"Is that it doll? You had me thinking the whole OZ army was behind the door trying to get in." he chuckled and DG tightened her embrace. He was safe, whole and trying to make her laugh. "Ok Deeg. Can't breathe anymore."
With a small 'eep', DG jumped back and released him, chuckling as she smoothed out his crinkled dressing robe. It had only been a dream after all.
After giving her a worried smile, he moved to turn on some lights, the suite hopelessly messy as usual. Stacks of books and papers, sorted into a system only he would understand, were everywhere. Two of his walls were covered with notes and diagrams, ramblings, quotes and even some poetry. DG was still taking in the familiar surroundings when she realized she was being moved towards his small sitting area and being guided onto the couch.
"Do you want some tea?" DG smiled up at his offer and shook her head as Az come to sit next to her.
"I'm fine. It was just a really bad dream. With the amount of stress that is floating around here..."
"Your dreams are never just dreams doll." Ambrose smiled sympathetically and sat down across from the two princesses. "And from the crushing blow to my ribs, I am assuming something bad happened to me?"
DG couldn't even look up. The bloodied image of him at her feet wouldn't go away, even after finding him safe and sound. It was all she could do to nod in agreement. Az slid closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"How did you know?" The question wasn't for her, so she thankfully sunk against her sisters frame and let her mind focus on their voices and not the images swimming around behind her eyes.
"Her magic was flaring. It was almost unbearable. She woke me up and it was all I could do to apparate into her room."
"I'm sorry." DG felt as if she were six again. Az shushed her little sister and chuckled.
"As if you had any control over what was happening. There is nothing to be sorry about."
"Can you tell us about the dream Deeg?" Ambrose moved his chair closer, reaching out a hand and patting her knee. Her daily role of being the brave champion of the OZ had become so comfortable that this felt strange, feeling so small and weak. Sighing, she straightened. If she was going to do this she wanted some feeling of control.
"Two weeks ago, after the freedom ball, I had a dream about being cold." she paused and looked at her audience. "It wasn't like I needed another blanket or a heat source. It was different. A cold that couldn't be chased away with tea or being near a fire. I awoke all sweaty and thought nothing of it. It was a big evening, I was exhausted, and I really do think there was something wrong with that salad." Az shook her head and tried to hide the smile that appeared.
"There was nothing wrong with it."
"There were bright pink peppers in it!" DG squeaked, smiling despite the atmosphere.
"They are a delicacy."
"Whatever." She waved her hand at her sister and continued, eager to finish and have the two of them reassure her that stress and pink peppers were the culprit of her terrible dreams. "Every dream I have had since then has been different. But the cold is always there. And shadows. It's never a warm sunny day. There are always shadows sliding around." When neither of her listeners said anything, DG sighed again and stood, feeling too confined.
"Tonight was different. You know in dreams how you have no control over your actions? I had been trying, the last few nights, to try and take control. Thinking if I could change something, anything, then the dream might break and I could wake up. I accomplished that for a moment tonight. I stopped moving for a second. But when I began walking again, something stopped me." She took in a deep breath. Maybe she shouldn't tell about this part. Would saying it out loud cause it to come true? Would acknowledging the events of the dream give them hold in reality?
"It was me?" Ambrose had stood and followed her to the window that she was trying to force open. With tears gathering in her eyes, she looked up at her friend and moved to hug him again.
"You were dead at my feet." she cried into his arm as he held her close.
"Is that when you woke up?" Az spoke gently, still seated on the couch.
"No." DG sniffed and pulled back from Ambrose. "The shadows spoke then. I was angry. Seeing you like that. And the cold liked my anger." She caught the look that passed between Az and Ambrose. "What? What was that about?" Az stood then, her eyes giving no hint as to what thoughts were going through her mind.
"I think we need to talk to our mother."
Lovey Dovey reviews will get you another chapter. Well...actually...even constructive criticism reviews will get you another chapter. Heck, yell at me how horrible it is...I will post another chapter out of spite! ;)
