Chapter 3

I do not own anything from Baum or the Wizard of Oz movies.

Thank you Sebastian. I really appreciate the thoughts.

Dorothy seems a little timid right now, but that will change. One more flashback chapter after this one.

Dorothy and Scarecrow were quiet throughout their ride to Emerald City. Scarecrow seemed lost in thought most of the time, and Dorothy wished he would speak a little more about it. He had always struggled with shutting down when something went wrong, and though he tried to get out of that, sometimes it did not work. Dorothy concluded long ago that it was from his time as king. As he was not supposed to show much emotion because it would make the wrong people question him as a leader.

But, Dorothy knew how to get his attention. When she said his birth name he always responded.

"Fiyero?"

That did it. "Hmmmm?" As his blue eyes widened a little. It was so rare she said his birth name that it continued to take him by surprise.

Dorothy looked over at him with a slight smirk.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked.

Scarecrow shook his head and said, "I'm sorry. I was just..."

Suddenly, over the hill on the yellow brick road a rider came upon the couple. Scarecrow immediately reached for his sword, and Dorothy fingered her gun in the holster. They had seen the usual citizens of Oz, but no soldiers or anyone else. The way the rider was coming up on them fast made Dorothy tense a little.

Dorothy realized it was one of Aslan's scouts, but his name escaped her. He was not human either; he was half man, and half wolf. Dorothy always said the creatures that inhabited this world would always fascinate her.

He was covered in fur from top to bottom his head was a wolf's head, but with human eyes. His body was also more human, but he still had paws for feet and hands.

Scarecrow stopped Kronos when he approached, and Dorothy did the same with Phillipe.

The scout stopped in front of them and spoke. "My lord," he said. He then turned to Dorothy and bowed slightly from the horse. "My lady, it is always a pleasure."

"What do I owe this pleasure, Baran?" Scarecrow asked. He relaxed slightly, but Dorothy could tell he was still on guard.

Baran! That's it.

"Are you on your way to Emerald City, my lord?" He asked.

Scarecrow tensed again, and answered slowly. "Yes, we are. Is there some business you need me for?"

The wolf-man nodded. He reached in his pocket and took out a note. "I have a message from Lieutenant Aslan my lord."

Scarecrow took the note and read it. He then nodded and handed it to Dorothy who read it as well.

"Let the Lieutenant know we will be there by nightfall. We had planned to stop there for the night anyway," Scarecrow said.

"My Lord, the Lieutenant would like to keep this as discreet as possible. He is asking to meet with you in the stables before you check into the tavern for the night," the scout said.

"As he wishes," Scarecrow said.

The scout looked around, said his goodbyes, and took off back into the deep forest. The horses they rode were specially trained to ride into the deep forests of Oz to prevent major injuries.

Scarecrow looked around, and held his sword, but was satisfied they had not been seen.

Dorothy looked over the note again, and it was simple from Aslan that he wanted to meet them at Green Eye Tavern, which was a passageway from Munchkin Land into Oz County.

"I guess our suspicions were correct," Dorothy commented as they took off again.

"I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I know what you mean. Aslan is taking a huge risk meeting with us in secret," Scarecrow said.

"We still don't know exactly what is going on though," Kronos said as he snorted.

"Do you want us to keep watch for you, Scarecrow?" Phillipe asked.

Scarecrow smiled at his and Dorothy's two loyal friends who were not humans. "Of course. There is a pasture nearby the tavern. I know it is up on a small hill there. I know it is high enough to see any movement from there."

Dorothy looked up at the position of the sun. They better get moving. This was a point when she missed a telephone and a car. It would make living in this world so much easier. She looked over at Scarecrow and smiled, but living a little in a primitive way made it so much better with him.

Scarecrow looked over at her and returned the smile though she could see the worry in his deep blue eyes.

Dorothy swallowed hard, and wondered what Aslan wanted.

...

When they came up on the tavern, they decided to dismount further down the yellow brick road, and walk the rest of the way. Dorothy could hear the far off music, and smell the cooking which made her stomach growl.

Her behind was sore from riding the whole day, and her legs stiff. She was ready to spend the night in a bed, though not hers, any bed would do.

They grabbed their bags, and sent off Phillipe and Kronos. They would meet them at the stables in a little while.

"Do you think we should check in first as to not look suspicious?" She asked.

Scarecrow laughed, and shook his head in amusement.

Dorothy scoffed when she realized what she said, and smiled back at her husband's teasing. "I forgot. You just tell the man behind the bar."

Scarecrow nodded still chuckling. "We are not at that point in this world."

The couple laughed again, and kissed for a moment before going to the stables. Darkness was now settling over Oz, and Dorothy kept watch as Scarecrow walked around. Dorothy could have sworn she heard another movement. She went to reach for her gun just in case when she spotted a lion tail wagging around the corner.

The scout quietly came out of the shadows, but still made Dorothy jump a little.

He stood on his hind legs and said, "Sorry, Dorothy. I was trying not to scare you."

Dorothy smiled at her old friend, and one of her best friend's son.

Aslan had grown into a full-grown lion now, and was the spitting image of his father.

Dorothy walked into Aslan's furry embrace, and hugged her tightly. She looked up and could see worry in his lion eyes.

Dorothy put her hand on her friend's shoulders and asked. "What is it?"

Aslan scoffed. "So much to tell you both. Where is the king?"

Aslan never accepted Ozma, but he still served loyally to the crown.

"Right here," Scarecrow said coming out of the shadows.

Aslan bowed. "Your highness."

Scarecrow frowned in the moonlight at the title, but he knew how Aslan felt.

Aslan looked around and said, "There is a little shack over there in the woods that I cleaned up before you got here that we can talk without being seen."

"I have Kronos and Phillipe keeping watch," Scarecrow said.

Aslan smiled his toothy lion smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

The group heard voices, and Scarecrow pulled Dorothy into the shadows and held her close as a group of obviously intoxicated men came out and mounted their horses. Scarecrow's breath on her neck made Dorothy shiver, even though the night was warm.

Aslan came back out of the shadows, and said, "I think we're safe now."

"I don't think they would have noticed us the way they sounded," Dorothy said.

Scarecrow chuckled slightly, and they followed Aslan.

They entered the shack, and Aslan lit a small candle. Scarecrow still feared fire, but he was slowly overcoming it.

"Is someone going to finally tell me what this is about?" Scarecrow asked as they settled on some old chairs in the shack.

"Your highness, I am going to highly recommend that you and Dorothy pack your things and leave Oz as soon as possible," Aslan began.

Dorothy gasped and Scarecrow's eyes narrowed in question.

"Aslan, what in the world would make you say that to me?" Scarecrow said.

It did not get past Dorothy that Scarecrow went back into his Royal Highness mode. Dorothy began breathing heavily. She knew it! They were in danger.

Scarecrow took her hand and squeezed it in reassurance.

Aslan took a deep breath and said, "Father, told me that Odaran is making a deal for a route with Oz."

Dorothy looked towards her husband with wide eyes. Scarecrow's emotion did not play on his face.

Dorothy felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. She reflected back on what Scarecrow had told her about Odaran.

There was a high council of kings around the land they lived on. Scarecrow was head of the council at one time before Drigka overthrew him. He had found out about Odaran's warmongering and slave trade. Scarecrow then kicked him off the council and set in embargos on trades with his country. The country that Odaran ruled was called South Aglas, which was more of desert country with the ocean surrounding it.

Odaran had vowed revenge against him, but never came to fruition because of lack of funds, and a slave rebellion at one time.

Scarecrow still did not show emotion.

"So, I am guessing that he wants me gone," he said lowly.

Aslan looked between the couple and said, "Father was not allowed in any of the meetings they were having with the ambassadors. From what he has requested he wants you banished from Oz, but of course there has to be something else."

All three sat there quietly for a moment, then Scarecrow said, "Is Odaran there now?"

Aslan shook his head. "I have not heard from father or Nick in three days, so I am not sure. Last of what I have heard he was not there because Father said he would remember his scent anywhere."

"Do you think he could have slipped into Emerald City undetected?" Dorothy asked becoming more and more worried.

Aslan shrugged. "Anything is possible. Ozma has taken away half of my scouts."

Scarecrow's eyes narrowed and he shook his head. "Whatever for?"

Aslan got a little angry and growled lowly. "She states that we have been at peace for four years now, and so she retired half of my team to put up new drapes throughout the guest rooms."

Scarecrow and Dorothy both were open mouthed.

"What was wrong with the old drapes?" Dorothy asked. She wanted to laugh sarcastically, but held back.

Aslan sighed. "I have no idea, but this takes away our safety."

Scarecrow shook his head and thought for a moment. "I am obviously not going leave Oz..."

Aslan looked at him in fear. "Your highness, we both know this is probably a trap, and you and Dorothy could be in grave danger."

Scarecrow rubbed his goatee in thought. "My first priority is to keep Dorothy safe. I would really like to convince Ozma of what a big mistake she is making. Do you know what he promised her?"

Aslan shook his head. "I don't know yet. Last time I heard from father he was setting up protection for you and Dorothy. Hopefully, he was not caught. Her advisors from her family are very conniving."

Scarecrow nodded. "So, I've heard."

Dorothy's necklace began to flicker again, and she felt a slight jolt course through her body. This was not good at all.

"I wish you would turn around and make your escape your highness," Aslan said worried.

"Where are Oscar and Glinda?" Scarecrow asked instead of heeding the warning.

"We don't know. They were visiting Dorothy's world again because Oscar had a sick relative, but we have not heard from them," Aslan said.

Dorothy knew Scarecrow was formulating a plan.

"There is another thing," Aslan said.

"What?"

"Two weeks ago, Ozma banned all use of magic in the land,"Aslan said.

"What!?" Both Dorothy and Scarecrow exclaimed at the same time. That might explain why Glinda and Oscar were still in Dorothy's world. They might be trapped there.

Dorothy fingered her emerald necklace. She hadn't used its magic since she turned Scarecrow human again, but she was worried about being separated from it. It was still very powerful, and only answered to her, but Ozma was a powerful fairy, and might be able to break it.

All the fears that Dorothy was finally letting go of were coming back in waves. She felt her breath quicken and palms began to sweat. The thought of losing him again...

Scarecrow looked over at her and said, "It's alright. Everything is going to be okay."

Scarecrow turned to Aslan and was about to say something when Aslan began to sniff the air.

Scarecrow knew that sign all too well. "There is a foul odor here."

Dorothy gasped, but immediately reached for her gun. Scarecrow and Aslan began to get in battle ready positions.

"How many men do you have here?" Scarecrow asked.

"Only three," Aslan said.

Scarecrow cursed, and pushed Dorothy behind him as a banging began at the door.

"They decided not to wait," Aslan growled.

Dorothy began to shake, and cried out in surprise as the door broke through. There was a mix of Oz soldiers and another group she did not recognize. They were trapped. The other soldiers were all bald with heavily tanned skin, and yellow uniforms.

Scarecrow turned to Aslan with anger in his eyes. "Who knew?" He yelled.

Aslan whimpered for a moment and shook his head.

"Who knew Aslan?" Scarecrow demanded.

Aslan shook his head. "I would never betray you, sire. I don't want to serve that bitch anymore."

"He is not lying, my lord," an Oz soldier stated stepping in front of the others. "Lieutenant Aslan is now considered a traitor to the crown, and will be punished accordingly."

Aslan growled lowly. "I am a traitor to no one. I will no longer serve your queen, but I will die to protect my king."

Scarecrow knew the captain well. He was one of the best soldiers during the war. Scarecrow caught for a moment the look of regret in his eyes, but he had a duty so Scarecrow knew he could not hold it against him.

"My Lord Fiyero. Your presence is being requested immediately by Her Royal Highness Queen Ozma of Oz, and Lord Ordaran," he said.

"I will come willingly if you leave Aslan alone and let him and my wife go," Scarecrow said.

"No!" Dorothy whispered. She could feel the tears well up in her eyes. She felt so betrayed by Ozma right now. She could not even imagine how Scarecrow felt.

"No sire," Aslan said shaking his head furiously.

The soldiers from South Aglas began to argue with the Oz soldiers. Finally, the captain ordered them to hush.

The captain finally turned back to Scarecrow and said, "Sorry, my lord. All of you come with us."

Scarecrow thought for a moment, but decided to give up. He would not risk Dorothy. He would die before he would see her hurt again. He didn't know how he would save Aslan, which would have to fall on Lion.

Maybe he could talk some sense into Ozma once they reached Emerald City.

He turned to his wife who had tears in her eyes. He mouthed 'I love you' to her, threw down his sword, and put his hands up. She did the same with her knife and gun. Aslan threw down his crossbow in disgust.

"I am doing this to guarantee the safety of my wife, and the scout," he said lowly.

"That I will do for you, my lord," the captain said. "I must follow orders as I still serve the crown of Oz."

Aslan growled again making the Aglas soldiers cower in a little fear, but he knew too it was hopeless right now. Scarecrow would not risk Dorothy to danger, and neither would he.

All Dorothy could think at that moment was, not again!