A/N: Thank you much to those who took the time to review. This next chapter is for you and the others who have been gracious enough to put this sotry on their favorite and alert lists so early on. Thank you again and I hope this chapter is up for you expectations. Don't worry, the story will pick up soon and you will be seeing more familiar faces. Now, on with the fiction! Reviews are appriciated as always!
Chapter One: Dance Lessons and Dresses
"Okay, once again!" Tutor said from in front of DG in the giant dance hall. His voice echoed off the walls even though he spoke in normal tones.
"Tutor," DG groaned, "We've been at this all morning long. I've got it down. A break please…"
"Princesses are flawless in their steps," Tutor reminded DG, "And must maintain a conversation while they dance flawlessly."
DG rolled her eyes at the word. Flawlessly… there is no such thing. Even in the magical world of the O.Z.
"Mind if I give it a whirl?"
DG looked up and her smile couldn't be wider, "Glitch!"
"Ah, ah," he waved his finger and pointed up to where a zipper had once been, "The new and improved Glitch. Ambrose included."
Glitch had gone into the operation almost as soon as the alchemist arrived. His brain carefully put back into its rightful place in his head and apparently all synapses connected properly. His zipper was gone, with only a minor stitch visible on his forehead. His grin was still there, but he seemed to stand straighter and hold a new presence to him. DG was just glad that the Glitch she traveled with was still there and was always going to be. He had kept his promise.
"So what do you say, Doll?" he lifted his eyebrows and offered her and hand, "I have the most rhythm in this whole palace. You have learned from the rest; now learn from the best, huh?"
She laughed and shook her head in amusement. Tutor seemed a little off from the implication he couldn't teach the waltz as well as a man who just got his brain back. The older man hesitantly nodded and gave DG over to Glitch. DG bowed as she was supposed to for a new dance partner and he bowed back. She got into position and they were off.
"So do I call you Glitch or Ambrose?" she asked as they made the first turn.
"You can always call me Glitch, DG," he smiled and looked at the dress she was wearing, "Please tell me you are wearing something completely different for the ball."
DG scowled at the dress as she kept repeating steps in her head. It was a monster of a skirt, bellowing with taffeta and lace where she couldn't even see her legs anymore. The bodice was a tight corset and she knew she wouldn't last the night if the real thing was as tight as they made this one. She finally looked back up at her present dance partner and shook her head gratefully.
"No way," she answered verbally with another spin, "I'm being fitted for the real thing right after my lessons here. They are taking down the skirt a little."
"Good," he answered simply. He looked up from her for a while admiring the decorations that had been put up already and then at the servants who were still putting more up, "The dance hall is coming along nicely."
She heard Ambrose in that statement, but his next was all Glitch.
"Oh look, there's Cain!" he almost shouted.
DG whipped her head around to find Cain and only succeeded in throwing herself and Glitch off balance, "Whoa!"
She fell below Glitch who landed over her legs. She looked down, only to see her over stuffed skirt and the edge of what had to be one of Glitch's elbows, "I'm sorry! Are you okay, Glitch?"
He peered over the skirt, "That's what happens when you try to lead."
She laughed at herself and he soon joined in. After only a moment another person was at their side, grabbing Glitch by the arm and heaving him off of the princess. She opened her eyes which were still filled from tears of laughter and were met by a pair of steel blue ones. Her laughing stopped and her heart began to beat faster.
"That was quite a show. You bruise anything?" Cain asked as he helped her off the floor.
"No, I think the ocean of taffeta and lace stopped any injury from occurring," she smiled and willed her heart to beat slower, "I have my own personal airbag with this thing."
He looked at her a bit confused at the term and she just shook her head to dismiss it.
"DG, waltz time," Tutor reminded her and started to twirl his finger as if his hand was waltzing in the air. DG took a deep breath and looked toward Glitch as if he was going to step up again. Instead she felt Cain's hands fall into place on her hip and then other grabbed her hand.
"A dance for an old Tin Man, kiddo?" he asked with a faint grin.
"I don't know for an old Tin Man, but I will settle for a dance with a gentleman," she nodded and placed her hand on his shoulder. The music began and they stepped off. She forgot to bow, but recently the formalities didn't matter between her and Cain.
"A gentleman?" he asked through the first few steps.
"And you're not that old either," DG added.
Glitch took his place next to Tutor and watched the pair dance and talk as if they had been doing it every night for years. Glitch sighed and huffed at the same time and leaned toward Tutor, "How is it that he gets the good dance? I was her friend first."
"I believe that the question is not about friendship, Mister Ambrose," Tutor watched the young princess closely, "They are in perfect dance harmony."
"I would be too if I had a partner," Glitch mumbled, not catching on directly to what Tutor was inferring about his two good friends. A second later a hand delicately tapped Glitch's shoulder and he turned to find the older princess staring up at him, "Azkadellia."
He found that his heart seemed to jump to his throat and then back down at just the sight of her and he put a hand up to his chest in question. He thought to himself quickly and then shook it off. Azkadellia looked up at him in confusion but he shook his head.
"Good morning, princess," he bowed and stood straight as a hand entered his line of vision.
"Good morning, Ambrose," she nodded with a small smile, "Would you care to escort a princess for a dance? I haven't had one in quite a long while and I fear I'm out of practice."
Glitch found his mouth muscles involuntarily lift into a large smile and took her hand. He lifted it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, "I doubt that you could be anything but graceful, princess. I'd be honored."
Azkadellia could feel the heat coming to her cheeks, but beat the blush back before he looked her in the eyes. She felt a bit silly seeing as she was in the same outfit that DG had on, but the dress seemed to look better on the older sister to Glitch. He escorted her out to the floor and they bowed to one another before they took off in a perfect waltz.
DG looked at Cain as he seemed focused somewhere other than dancing. The fact that he was doing so well surprised her enough. She never would take Cain to be a great dancer, but at the moment he was outshining her and he wasn't even trying. After talking over little things, they had fallen into a comfortable silence. It looked as if he was in one of his contemplating sessions again. She cleared her throat and caught his attention.
"I'm surprised that you move so well," she started.
"Why's that?" he answered gruffly.
"I never took you to be a waltzing man."
"You'd be surprised what kind of man I am, kid."
"Did my mother finally tell you what she has in store for you?" she asked, "I noticed that she had called you into a meeting after Glitch went into his operation."
"Yes," he answered with a nod and spun her out and then back in.
"Are you going to tell me?"
He thought to himself unsure if he should answer a question that he hadn't even answered for himself yet, "You know how you said you would like me staying around for a bit?"
"Yeah," she drew on the word.
"You need a protection detail. You and your sister," that didn't really explain what that had to do with him, but she didn't want to point that out yet.
"Longcoats?" she guessed.
"Among other things," he nodded and cut off when he saw how Azkadellia and Glitch floated by. They had their eyes locked and were lost to the world, "Well, look at that."
DG turned her head from his eyes and watched her sister and their mother's advisor waltz perfectly together. She had to giggle at the thought of maybe playing matchmaker. If the look in her sister's eyes were any clue then all meddling would be welcomed. For the moment they forgot about their previous conversation and DG's thoughts settled on that Cain would be put in charge of palace security.
"Do you think they know yet?" DG asked still looking at the other couple on the dance floor.
"Know what?" Cain asked still admiring the waltz from an outside point of view.
"That they have feelings," both her and Cain turned toward each other and locked eyes as well, "… for each other."
There went her heart again and she swallowed hard. He blinked and took a step back from her. He took one of her hands and bowed to her and she curtsied. Apparently their dance was over.
"DG, you did well. You may go to the dress maker. I just heard that your mother is waiting for you and your sister," Tutor said from the side where a servant was standing next to him.
"Until next time," Cain dipped his hat to her.
"Yeah, until next time," DG smiled and felt a little out of place. She punched his arm in a friendly, buddy-buddy manner and then walked away as quickly as possible. As soon as she cleared the doors she began to hit her forehead with an open hand, "Stupid. Stupid, stupid!"
Azkadellia saw her sister leave and quickly bowed and thanked Glitch for the dance before taking after her. Glitch came to stand next to Cain in the hall and sighed.
"You have no idea how lucky we are do you?" Glitch asked as he turned to Cain.
Cain just answered back with one of his stares.
"We just had the privilege to dance with the two most beautiful women in this world," Glitch nudged in Cain's side, "Perk up a little, will ya?"
Cain only looked back at the door that DG and her sister left through. He sighed and pulled the brim of his hat over his eyes and left through the same door. Glitch pouted and then stood straighter.
"The announcements!" his Ambrose half reminded him and he took off for his office to make sure everyone coming would be announced properly.
Meanwhile, in the dress maker's room two princesses stood perfectly still on two identical pedestals for their mother. Both were dressed in what could only be called a petty coat; the O.Z.'s equivalent to undergarments. DG held out her hands lazily as the dress maker made measurements. Her eyes were a bit glazed over and never shifted from their position. Azkadellia took it in stride and kept her position for the waist measurement. Lavender Eyes picked out the colors for each of her daughters and then looked up to catch DG's expression.
"DG?" she asked softly and DG shook her head out of her reverie. Of which included more dancing with her most recent partner, "Is something the matter, my angel?"
"Nothing," she smiled and shook her head, "Just wishing this was over with."
"It will be soon," she nodded and looked over at Azkadellia, "Are you certain you do not want a rest?"
"I'm fine mother," Azkadellia answered as the maker stepped away to look at the fabric.
"DG, did Mister Cain tell you?" Lavener turned her head again to her other daughter.
"About being part of protection detail or something like that?" DG asked and wanted to slap at the person taking the measurement around her bust line.
"Yes, something like that," she nodded, "Did he tell you in a positive manner?"
"It seemed like it," DG looked confused at her mother and then did really slap at the hand on the woman getting her measurements.
Lavender Eyes sighed and tried to ask Azkadellia again until she interrupted.
"Go if you need to. We will both be fine," Azkadellia stopped her mother's worrying. Lavender nodded to both of her girls and to the dress makers before leaving the room.
Azkadellia looked over at her sister with an eyebrow raised. DG caught her stare and then looked between her sister and a far wall.
"What?" DG asked. Az didn't answer right away. As soon as the dress makers told them they would be back in a few dozen moments and out the door Az turned back to her little sister.
"You know exactly what," she smirked and climbed down from the pedestal for a moment, "Nothing my foot. You were thinking about him, weren't you?"
"What are you talking about?" DG sat on her pedestal and tried desperately not to smile or blush.
"Oh please, Deeg," Az smiled like she used to before the witch. She only could do that around DG these days, and sometimes around the reinstated Ambrose, "You couldn't keep your eyes off of him and you get so flustered every time that he is even mentioned."
"You're exaggerating, Az," DG reminded her sister and tossed her a grin, "Besides, I've noticed a little something growing between you and dear Glitch."
"Now who is exaggerating?" Az stood back up on her pedestal, "Ambrose was only kind enough to escort me for a dance."
"And look longingly into your eyes as you two swept across the polished floor," DG smiled and began to laugh as her sister stumbled on her pedestal.
"DG!" she cried and ran after her sister.
As she caught up with her sister and began to tackle her all in good fun DG couldn't help but scream in laughter. Suddenly the door busted open and a stunned Cain stood in the door way. Both DG and Azkadellia looked at Cain. He stared back surprised until he quickly caught himself, turned around and back out the door with a quick apology. The door closed and both girls looked at one another. They couldn't stop each other from absolutely busting out in laughter.
Within a few moments the dress makers were out of the other room with full dresses in hand. DG often wondered how they were so fast in making dresses, but chopped it up to enchanted sewing machines or something of the like. The princesses were ordered back to their pedestals and they stood as the mannequins they were supposed to be.
Dresses were fitted and trimmed and because of the lack of mirrors, DG couldn't see anything of the finished product other than the ripples of the silver-blue material in front of her. She took a look at Az who sported a very nice forest green dress which would no doubt make Glitch drool… or get other ideas.
DG smirked to herself and had to laugh to herself on her private joke.
"Your highness, please don't move while I'm pinning," the dress maker sighed from beneath her.
"I'm sorry," DG apologized and smirked back over to her older sister. Az only lifted a brow and decided that they would talk later.
Directly after the fitting was dinner. Az and DG walked from the fitting room still whispering and laughing with one another except in their common wear instead of the petty coats from earlier. As the door opened two men stood on the other side. Glitch stood with a straight back and in one of his new suits next to a somewhat still unsure Cain. It almost looked like Cain had cleaned up a little, his shirt didn't have the dirt it had on it earlier that morning.
"Gentlemen," Azkadellia nodded her head to both of them as DG followed in suit.
"You highnesses," both men echoed in unison and bowed deep in front of the princesses.
"Here to escort us?" Azkadellia let go of DG's arm and attached herself to Glitch as he offered it to her after his bow.
"How did you know?" he asked with a laugh.
DG stood unsure in front of Cain as he turned his hat over in his hands and stood in front of her. He took a deep breath and looked at her, "Um, sorry for running in on your fitting."
She smiled in acceptance, "Don't worry about it, Cain."
He nodded and put his hat back on his head. Then he offered his arm out to her and they continued down the hall to dinner.
Later that night DG came out from her huge closet with a light robe over her silk sleeper dress. She picked at her still wet hair and made her way to her window seat. She sat in silence and looked at the stars out her long window. She remembered that only the night before she and Cain were sitting in the same spot and talked to one another. He had left so abruptly after dinner that she didn't have the pleasure of his company back to her room.
Wyatt Cain.
He had changed since the eclipse. He was open to her in most things now. He still shut her out on specific topics or if a discussion is heading a certain way. She noticed that he seemed to smile more around her, even if it was only a slight tilt at the corner of his mouth. He still stared off into almost nothing, contemplating as always. Deciding what was right and what was wrong. Deciding which path he should take this time. He did that around her a lot now too.
'You couldn't keep your eyes off of him…' Az's observation entered her mind.
She sighed in thought and laid her chin on her arms and continued to count the stars over head, 'Why is he on my mind?'
You already know, another part of her mind butted in.
She disconnected with the stars and to the place where the window met the sill. Damn her mind. She made the leap voluntarily, but she didn't expect to fall so fast and so hard for one of her traveling companions. Her heart jumped for a second and she could only think of his eyes and the way they stared into hers. They way his hat covered them partly and gave him that mysterious vibe. The way the dance was perfect earlier that morning. Not because she remembered the steps, but because it was with him. The way their hugs felt.
Her head tilted a little. They haven't had a hug since that day that seemed so long ago. She gave hugs to Glitch and Raw like she was giving out candy. But Cain… he was much harder.
Maybe it was the age thing. He was supposed to be almost twice her age, but she couldn't count the eight years he was locked away in the tin suit. According to Tutor and the other advisors he was almost in a stasis. Never aging, just surviving. So in reality he was only twelve years older than she was. Right?
She blew some of her wet hair from her eyes. She thought back to the day she found out he was leaving with his son. At first her heart hurt because she thought he wasn't coming back. Then he said it was only going to be until they had the Longcoats under control. There was no time limit on that job. And then he said goodbye- without a hug and barely even a look in her direction. It didn't help lessen the deep hurt when she watched him ride away on a horse with the rest of the resistance fighters over two weeks ago.
And now he was back. Out of now where.
'Should I be angry?'
"Cain," she said softly.
"DG?" he asked only a few feet from her.
She shot up with a gasp and turned back to him.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I thought you heard me come in."
"It's okay," she put a hand over her chest, "Is anything wrong?"
"I just wanted to make sure that you made it back to your room safely."
She smiled at his chivalry, "I can walk the halls by myself, Cain."
He nodded, "I am going to go to bed. Do you need anything?"
She had to bite her lip to stop herself from saying something she could regret later on. She slowly shook her head and lowered it, "Thank you."
He nodded and back out the door, "Good night, kiddo."
"Cain?"
He stopped before the doors closed and looked at her to finish.
"I'm not a kid…"
"I know," he took a breath to pause, "Good night, your highness."
"'Night," she called back as the door closed. She squinted her eyes a little as she turned to the windows. She much rather have 'Kiddo' than 'your highness' any day.
Cain laid his head back against the door, 'Why did I have to come to see her before bed?'
You could never go to sleep without knowing she's safe, his mind reminded him. He curled his hands in fists and walked down the corridor to his room. Confusion over DG that he thought he had settled a week ago resettled in his mind.
So much for getting a good night's sleep.
