Chapter 10

Thank you all so much for the reviews.

Gabbyfan-Yeah I know. I caught that after I posted it. I didn't edit very well.

I do not own anything from The Wizard of Oz or Lord of the Rings.

I am not sure if this chapter will put the story into crossover status. I really don't want to do that. This is the only chapter these characters will be featured. Only Gandalf will continue.

Glinda sat before the council of some of the leaders of Middle Earth. She had been having a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach all morning. Something happened; she could just feel it in her heart.

Before her sat Elrond the Elf holding the council for Glinda. To his right was his mother-in-law Galadriel, who looked more like his sister despite her age. Next to Glinda was the white wizard Gandalf. Glinda had been friends with him for hundreds of years now, and she was grateful for his support. She had also been thrilled when she found out he had become a white wizard though he went through darkness to get there, and was betrayed by his high wizard Sauraman for the title.

Finishing out the council was human king named Elessar and his wife the queen Arwen who was Elrond's daughter and granddaughter of Galadriel. Elessar was the king of men in this land, and from what Glinda heard he was a great king. She could only hope that he would be sympathetic to her plight.

"You do understand Glinda that we just came out of war not too long ago, and most of the elves have left Middle Earth for the Grey Havens, which I and Galadriel will be doing shortly," Elrond said.

"We really should have went and killed off the remaining Orcs when we had the chance" Elessar spoke up. "I never thought they would gain another Lord and attack another land."

"I understand that Elrond, and that is why I seek help. You understand this enemy better than we do," she said sadly.

She didn't want to say how angry she was that they did not kill off this species, which found a following with Drigka. Now Oz was taking up the mess they left behind. At least Elessar was sensible enough to see that.

"The suffering in this land continues though Sauron has been destroyed. I am not sure if my people would be willing to go to another war," Elrond said.

"You have much more forces than I do, Elrond. My land is now suffering such consequences of not fully destroying your enemy," Glinda said angrily.

She couldn't help it. She was sick of these games.

Elrond's eyebrows shot up in question. Deep down he knew she was right, but it was up to men now to clean up what was left over.

"Anything to say, Gandalf?" Elrond asked.

Gandalf sat there and thought for a moment. "No matter what you're decision is, I can spare my time to help out Oz."

"I thought your destiny was complete," Elrond said.

Gandalf looked towards Glinda and then back at Elrond. "I think it might have taken a slight turn for now."

"I will have to consult my council at Minas Tirith, but I am willing to send men for help. I just don't know how many will be approved," Elessar said. He was feeling guilty that this land of Oz was attacked because they had become complacent.

Glinda was grateful that at least the human king was responding to her for help.

"How long will that take, your Highness?" Elrond asked.

"Two weeks."

Glinda groaned on the inside. It may be too late by then.

"Who is this Drigka anyway?" The Queen Arwen asked.

Glinda looked up at the queen. "He is the brother of two powerful witches. He was banished from Oz a long time ago for his evil deeds. He must have gained more power from wherever he went, because he came back in a vengeance, and with the Orcs as allies."

"Why did he come back?"

Glinda breathed deeply at the memories. "A human girl of no more than twelve killed both of his sisters."

Elrond was doubtful of the story. "This girl killed two witches at once?"

"I know it sounds far-fetched, but yes, she did kill them both, and no, it was not all at once," Glinda said.

"Where is this girl now?" Elessar asked.

"She went back to her world, but we had to summon her back, because she was in danger in her world. We felt that we could protect her better being closer to us. Besides, she is no longer a child," she said.

Suddenly, Galadriel's head shot up, and her ocean blue eyes became concerned.

"Glinda?" Galadriel asked.

"Yes?"

"What is this child or woman's name?"

"Dorothy."

Galadriel shook of her thoughts, and said straight to Glinda. "She is now riding towards the shadow in your land."

Glinda about bounced out of her chair. "What? Why would she do that?"

Glinda was thinking frantically. She had to get back to Oz soon.

Gandalf put a hand on her arm and sat her back down. She started to hyperventilate. If anything happened to Dorothy she would never forgive herself.

"All I know she carries a great deal of guilt," Galadriel said.

What happened out there?

Glinda needed to be in contact with Oscar right away.

Elrond saw the panic in Glinda, and decided it was time to make a quick decision.

"Glinda, it is obvious time is of the essence. I can have an answer for you in the morning," Elrond said.

Glinda almost cried in relief. She looked over the council and said, "Any help. Anything! It would be greatly appreciated."

"Is this all it is about is vengeance upon a girl?" Elessar asked curiously.

"Not all of it, but Dorothy played a great deal. His sisters had control of Oz when Dorothy came through," Glinda answered.

"Part of his revenge was to strip me of some of my powers, so that is another reason why I am here," she continued.

Elessar nodded not saying anything more. He seemed lost in thought.

….

As Dorothy rode the horse Phillipe down the yellow brick road towards Emerald City, she thought of something her uncle said as he lay on his deathbed.

"Life is about risks, Dorothy. I hope you will follow those risks, because without them life is not worth living, but it's about what you're risking it for," he said.

"Dorothy, I can't go much further!" Phillipe said to her starting to panic and in between breaths.

She rubbed Phillipe's mane, and tried to soothe the spooked horse. "Please Phillipe, just get me to the fields, and I can let you go."

"I wish you wouldn't do this," he said continuing to gallop towards Emerald City.

"Neither do I, Phillipe, but I have to," she said.

Dorothy still couldn't get over the fact that she was having a conversation with a horse.

"You know I will go and fetch the King when I return to the castle," he said.

Dorothy knew he would, but at that moment she wasn't worried about it.

"Less talking and more riding," she said sternly.

"We can turn around right now," he insisted.

"No!"

The horse grumbled in disgust, but kept riding on. Dorothy didn't have time to stop and realize the areas that she knew as a child were almost all gone. Burned to the ground. Any other time she would have noticed, but not now.

Even in the daylight the orange and yellow glow looked menacing, and as both her and Phillipe approached it, Dorothy began to feel the fear rise in her throat.

She could see it beyond what was left of the trees in the area.

Clouds were formed over the city, and it looked like a thunderstorm that never ended. It was at once menacing, and puzzling.

Suddenly, a flock of black birds came towards them, making Phillipe stop and rear up in fear.

Dorothy bent down behind the horse's mane to protect herself. The birds squawked as they flew by Dorothy and Phillipe.

Phillipe reared again, and it took all of Dorothy's strength to stay saddled on him.

"Phillipe! Please calm down!"

"They know you're coming!" He bellowed.

Dorothy got down from the spooked horse, and petted his nose in reassurance.

"How much longer to the fields?" She asked softly.

"Just over that hill," he said calming down, but still looking around for danger.

Dorothy nuzzled him, and he returned the favor. "Go. I can take it from here."

"Dorothy. I am begging you one last time, please don't do this," he said to her stomping his hooves against the brick.

Dorothy smiled at the horse. "There will never be peace as long as I am here. Go, and get back to the castle."

"I am going to go get the King," he said stubbornly.

Dorothy nodded and lifted the hood to her cape. "Do what you need to do."

The horse turned around and gave Dorothy one last sad look, and took off in a gallop in another direction.

Dorothy began walking the yellow brick road. This time she did notice her surroundings as she approached Emerald City. The trees stood bare and sullen from fires. There were sprouts of green, but they were few and far between. The sun was shining, and it should have been a beautiful day, but it wasn't

As she climbed the hill, she noticed the sun shrinking behind clouds.

She stood at the top of hill and peered over the fields, and gasped in terror.

She could see Nargol off in the distance. They marched in formation around the grounds, and into the gates of the Emerald City.

There were hundreds, no thousands of them. The group that had attacked the castle the night before was nothing.

Her breath began to get faster, and her heart pounded as she began her descent towards Emerald City.

Emerald City was burning, but still had the green she remembered so well.

Sadness overwhelmed her at the evil within its walls.

"So, you have finally come." The voice boomed from nowhere.

It had to be Drigka.

She looked around, and in front of her was an image.

He was not what she expected at all. He had short black hair, with a full black beard. His skin was tanned, and he wore a black robe with a red sash. His eyes were an ice blue, and glowed from his face. She was expecting a monster, but he was just a man. She could tell he was just an image as she could still see through him.

If Dorothy didn't know any better, she would have said he was very handsome.

"I only come for peace," she said her voice shaking.

The image laughed at her. "Dorothy, you are naïve, but I think we can work things out."

Dorothy couldn't help it. She enchanted by this wizard.

She remembered back to his sisters, and thought of their ugliness. He was different.

Suddenly, Drigka began laughing.

As if reading her mind he said to her, "My sisters chose their ugliness. I choose beauty."

Dorothy didn't know why, but she suddenly wanted to start walking towards the castle.

Drigka smiled at Dorothy again.

"Come Dorothy, you will be well taken care of here," he said smoothly.

Dorothy began to walk towards the city, and she tried but she could not control herself. He had her under some kind of spell.

Her thoughts wandered.

Serpents in my mind

She could see Emerald City, but not really. She looked towards the image of Drigka who stayed in front of her with his hand extended.

"That's right, my dear, it will all be over soon," he said softly.

Dorothy tried to shake herself out of her thoughts, but couldn't.

She could see the Nargol had spotted her approach, and instead of attacking they began to form a road for her.

Serpents in my mind

She resigned to the power of the witch. She could no longer control her actions.

Controlling minds

She lowered her hood, and for some reason the knife she carried came out of it's holder and dropped to the bricks under her feet.

"I have things I need from you," he said.

You enjoy sucking on dreams

Dorothy tried her damndest to fight back with her thoughts, but it was becoming more and more useless as she continued to walk towards Emerald City.

"The Scarecrow rejected you, but I will not," he said with a smile to her.

Trying to forgive your crimes
Everyone changes in time.
I hope he changes this time

"That's right. Each step you are closer to safe havens, Dorothy," Drigka said.

Dorothy could hear him, but she felt like she was listening under water.

She could hear the growls and the laughs of the Nargol off in the distance.

She tried to shake her head again, but it only made it hurt worse.

Serpents in my mind

Dorothy then heard something that she couldn't put her finger on. Was it a galloping horse? She thought she sent Phillipe away.

She tried to snap out of her trance once again, but it still had a death grip on her mind.

Suddenly, Drigka cursed and disappeared. However, Dorothy could not stop walking.

She was almost there. Then she would be safe, he promised.

Suddenly, she heard a voice in the distance, but the voice was actually right behind her.

"Dorothy! No!"

She didn't know how, but she was pulled up onto a horse, and a gloved hand held her in place as they turned and rode away.

She could hear the Nargol growl and yell from the distance. She heard hundreds of boots take off in a run at her rescuer.

…

Credit to Sharon Van Etten - Serpents lyrics