Chapter 12
Sorry for the re-upload of Chapter 11. I caught my errors last night when I was reading it off the app. Usually, Hubs proofreads it for me, but he has been working long hours.
I modeled the grown up Dorothy after Judy Garland in her movie "The Pirate." If you search for the movie, that will be Dorothy in this story.
Again, thank you for the reviews. They mean the world to me.
I do not own anything from the Wizard of Oz or the Lord of the Rings.
Dorothy hummed a tune to herself as she tried to fix her messy hair. She was braiding it on both sides to go down as pigtails for the ride back. Even though she loved spending some alone time with Scarecrow, she knew they had to leave the cave and go back to the castle.
Scarecrow was on the lookout for Kronos. He was enjoying her humming the tune he did not know as she fixed her hair.
She still was still feeling some of after effects of the spell the Witch King had her under. She had woken during the night crying out.
She was then tying up her boots that she found closest to her size when Scarecrow asked, "Do you know how to use a sword?"
Dorothy turned and looked up to him shaking her head. "No. In my world swords became obsolete when guns were invented."
"I figured. I know how to use a gun, but we are still not as technical as your world," Scarecrow said. "I think you should learn how to use one. Most of the women from Emerald City are now armed with one, and children who can handle them safely."
Dorothy looked up to him and smiled. "Of course. That would make sense with what happened."
"I will have Tin Man give you the lessons when we get back," he said still looking for Kronos.
Dorothy scoffed and laughed a little. "Are you sure you want to do that?"
Scarecrow sighed. "I should re-think that with the way he is."
Dorothy stood and they embraced for a moment.
Dorothy kissed him and said, "No worries. I know how he is. I knew it the first time I was here."
Scarecrow chuckled. "It took a while for the women of Emerald City to find out, but they talk to each other."
Dorothy giggled at that when Scarecrow said, "Are you hungry?"
Dorothy looked relieved. "You didn't have to ask. The dried fruit and pork are great, but my stomach is still growling."
Scarecrow thought for a moment, and said, "We should stop off at Munchkin Land on our way back. We can spend one night there, and I can talk to the Mayor about some plans I have been thinking about."
Dorothy's eyes lit up at going to Munchkin Land. The place she first landed, and where she first met Glinda.
However, concern took over and she asked, "Shouldn't we get back to the castle? Your people shouldn't be without you for too long."
"I trust Oscar being in charge in my absence. I refuse to be like other Kings with all the pomp and circumstance. I want everyone to know that I am there if I am needed in all the counties…."
Before Scarecrow could finish his sentence, a knock came at the door.
Scarecrow immediately drew his sword. He looked towards Dorothy, and said, "Stay behind me."
Dorothy nodded, but still picked up another knife she had found among the supplies. She did know how to use a knife from her farming days.
Scarecrow made his way to the door, and listened for a moment.
"Your Majesty?"
Dorothy could see the relief in Scarecrow when he heard his royal horse.
Scarecrow opened the door still with sword in hand ready for a fight, and shut it behind him as the horse entered fully saddled for his King.
"Were you followed?" He asked the horse.
"Not as far as I know, your Majesty" he answered snorting from his run, and then bowing to his King. "I didn't travel on any main roads, and there are scouts around."
The horse spotted Dorothy and whinnied in approval.
"Dorothy! I am so happy to see you are better," he said nuzzling her.
Dorothy giggled petting his nose. "Thank you."
Scarecrow asked, "What news do you have for me?"
"Your kingdom knows you are missing along with Dorothy. There have been worries about your whereabouts. Oscar has been able to keep everyone calm so far, and there is talk of moving away from the witch's castle to another location," he said still nuzzling Dorothy a little.
Scarecrow cursed slightly. He was afraid of that.
Dorothy looked to Scarecrow concerned. "Is this normal, Scarecrow?"
Scarecrow nodded a little lost in thought. He could not have a rebellion right now. He needed his people to be calm with everything.
"Unfortunately, yes. They will question my leadership if I don't return soon or think I am dead and crown someone else in haste."
Dorothy shook her head very worried. "Then maybe we should just return to the castle."
Kronos looked confused, but said nothing yet.
Scarecrow did not answer Dorothy just yet. He turned to his royal steed and said, "How far is the nearest scout from here?"
"Just over two hills," Kronos answered. "A munchkin scout."
"Refresh yourself, and I want you to go alert the scout that Dorothy and I will be on our way to Munchkin City. I need to meet with the Mayor," he said. "I have some plans I will need his help on."
Kronos still looked confused, but said, "Yes, your majesty. I will be back in less than an hour."
Dorothy watered and fed Kronos who took off for the scout.
She turned to Scarecrow who was sharpening his sword; she could tell he was lost in thought. She debated whether to interrupt him.
But, she was really worried about a possible rebellion on him because of her.
"Stop that," he said not looking up from his sword.
"Stop what?"
He looked up to her, and said, "This is not your fault. When a kingdom is missing its king for any reason they talk like that. It is just the nature of the beast, as Oscar says."
Dorothy still worried, but she tried to calm herself.
Dorothy couldn't help it. She never lived in a land where a King was, and she knew in the United States people would and could turn on the President for anything. She remembered the talk when Pearl Harbor was bombed.
However, this King she cared deeply about, and didn't want to see anything bad happen.
Scarecrow put his sword back in its scabbard, and came up to Dorothy putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Didn't Oscar tell me this happens in your world too?" He asked smiling at her.
Dorothy nodded. "It does. It's called politics. Even the greatest leaders have their detractors," she said more to herself than to him.
"Exactly. I have my critics here too. I learned the hard way that I will have those that question my decisions, and then they will make up rumors that try to hurt my leadership," he said.
Dorothy smiled back to him. "I know. I just hate to think that anyone could do that to you. I have seen you, and you are a great leader."
He embraced her again and rested his chin on top of her head.
"Thank you. That means a lot to me," he said softly. "It is actually a good thing. It keeps balance in the kingdom, and keeps me on my toes."
Dorothy nodded into his chest. She still could not get over how solid he was.
Kronos came back not too long after and they were on their way.
….
Munchkin City was exactly how Dorothy remembered it. She could tell they haven't felt the affects of the war. The creek still flowed clear through the middle of the city. The little houses were still intact, and the munchkin still went about their business as if nothing was wrong.
There was still the stage in the middle of the city where Dorothy once stood when the celebrations of the death of The Wicked Witch of the East was crushed by her house. Dorothy shivered at the thought, sitting in back of Scarecrow on Kronos.
She couldn't help but smile at the innocence that still resonated over the area.
The munchkin's all came out and bowed to their King, and waived as they came to the center of town.
Dorothy giggled as the mayor and his council came out to greet their King. As Scarecrow and Dorothy stopped on Kronos, and dismounted the council bowed to them.
This mayor was different than the one she had first met. Scarecrow had told her he retired, and was now living in a small farm off in a valley.
The new mayor's name was Vinky. She remembered Lorna telling her that.
"Your Royal Highness. Welcome back to Munchkin City," he said smiling shaking Scarecrow's hand.
"Thank you Vinky. I will need lodging for the night, and speak with you about plans I have," Scarecrow said genuinely happy to see the Mayor. Dorothy could tell they were good friends.
Vinky looked around and spotted Dorothy, but said, "Of course. That can be arranged. I hope my scouts did their jobs well for you."
"Yes, it was safe passage all the way," Scarecrow said smiling.
Dorothy looked around to the munchkins eyeing her with curiosity and some whispering. She didn't think it was a good idea to say, 'Hey! It's me Dorothy Gale. Remember the house I dropped on the witch!'
The mayor finally looked at Dorothy again and asked, "And who is this young lady you have traveled with, your highness?"
Scarecrow chuckled. "Does anyone remember a certain young girl who accidentally dropped a house on a witch a few years ago?"
Dorothy blushed and stared down Scarecrow who smiled widely at her.
There was then a collective gasp through the city as the munchkins realized who she was.
"It's Dorothy!"
"Our Savior!"
"Welcome back!"
Suddenly, the little people of the land surrounded Dorothy again. She grinned and laughed, as she was welcomed back with open arms. She had to kneel down to give and receive hugs.
"Quite a surprise, highness," Vinky said.
"It was for us too," Scarecrow answered laughing at the attention Dorothy was getting.
Finally, Vinky came through the crowd and said to the munchkins. "Let's give Dorothy some room here."
He then took Dorothy's hand and said, "I would like to show you something, my dear."
Dorothy looked over at Scarecrow confused, but he just waived her on as he spoke with the rest of the mayor's council.
The mayor took Dorothy over to the place where the house had dropped into Munchkin City. Dorothy remembered it well. Her heart began to beat faster as she eyed the area with both curiosity and a little fear.
The area was still clear except for a garden that surrounded some kind of plaque.
Mayor Vinky still held her hand as they made their way to the plaque.
"This was made for you, dear. We always wondered if you would come back," he said smiling down at the plaque.
Dorothy gasped as she read it out loud.
Dedicated to our savior Dorothy Gale.
Embedded in the plaque was an engraving of the house, and the witch's feet sticking out with Dorothy emerging from the house with Toto at her feet.
The crowd behind her began to cheer.
"I really don't deserve this," she said clearly embarrassed.
"Yes, you do," he said smiling widely.
Dorothy actually was really honored, and felt tears in her eyes.
"I really don't know what to say," she said turning to the crowd her voice shaking. "Thank you all so much. You are the real heroes here. You welcomed a stranger into your land who fell from the sky, and that I will always remember."
The crowd cheered at Dorothy, who smiled.
The mayor then led Dorothy back to where Scarecrow and the rest of his council were standing, and said to the crowd, "Let's give the King and Miss Gale time to rest from their long journey."
The Mayor then called a few people and made some orders Dorothy could not hear, and said, "This way your highness."
Scarecrow and Dorothy were led into the mayor's office, which they had to hunch to fit into.
Dorothy was pleasantly surprised that they could stand up straight in the office. A small older lady named Loila who was the mayor's stenographer again greeted her and bowed to Scarecrow.
Some human sized chairs were brought in for Scarecrow and Dorothy to sit in. Dorothy was mesmerized at how tiny everything was.
"Would you like to freshen up before our meeting?" He asked smiling.
Scarecrow turned to Dorothy who was relieved at the question.
"Yes, please," Dorothy answered.
Dorothy was then led away with Loila to another house, which Dorothy assumed was hers.
She drew up a bath, and Dorothy was surprised that she would fit into it, though it was still small.
Dorothy wrapped herself in a towel waiting on it to fill.
Loila came back into the room and said, "Unfortunately, I don't have anything that would fit you dear."
Dorothy shrugged. "Oh this is enough Loila, trust me. I really appreciate this."
Loila waived her hand. "Dorothy, you are our guest."
Loila finished getting the toiletries ready, and said, "Lorna wrote to me and told me you were back."
"Oh! You know Lorna?" Dorothy asked testing the heat of the water.
Loila laughed. "Yep! She is my sister."
Dorothy laughed. "How nice. She was great with me."
Loila scoffed. "She is a pain in the rear about her sewing."
Dorothy laughed at the little woman's words. "Nah. She was great."
Loila came up to her, and said, "We are so glad you are back Dorothy. Someone needs to defeat this monster."
"I think the King is doing just fine," she said.
Loila shook her head violently. "No. It is not his destiny. It is yours."
Dorothy scrunched her eyebrows in confusion, and Loila explained further. "The King is a wonderful leader, but he is losing. You being here changes everything just like it did with the witches. It is yours for the taking not his."
"Loila, I am no fighter. I wouldn't even know how to begin to fight something that powerful. He almost captured me. Without the Scarecrow, I wouldn't be here now."
"Then next time you will pick your battles a little smarter," Loila said.
Dorothy was adamant to protest. "Loila, I am just a farm girl from another world. A farming world named Kansas. I am no hero, and I would never know how to defeat this witch," she said.
Loila looked around again. "Keep telling yourself that, honey."
Dorothy scoffed, and got ready to go into the bath.
Loila suddenly snapped her fingers, and said, "I may have something for you to wear."
"Ok."
Dorothy took her bath and reveled in the hot water. She scrubbed every inch of her dirty body and hair. She felt refreshed and ready to go now.
She looked out the window, and the sun was beginning to set outside.
Loila knocked and came back in as Dorothy was brushing the knots out of her hair.
Loila proudly held up a tunic and some leggings. Dorothy immediately knew she liked it. The tunic was a cream color, and the leggings a dark beige. It looked almost her size.
Dorothy gasped in delight at it. Clean clothes.
"This was from a young lad from Qualding County. He was ambushed by those monsters, and came here for sanctuary," she said.
Dorothy gasped. "Oh my. Was he alright?"
Loila nodded. "Oh yes. I think he is a soldier in the King's army now."
Dorothy tried on the outfit, and though it was big in ummm certain places, but she really liked how comfortable it was.
Loila admired her idea, and suddenly said, "You know. We had always wondered why the King never took a queen."
Dorothy stopped suddenly, but did not say anything.
"We wondered why he wouldn't even consider the idea," she said.
Dorothy almost rolled her eyes, and started munching on some fresh grapes Loila handed to her. They tasted like heaven.
"Well, I am sure that is hard on these troubled times," she commented.
"No, it was because he had something missing out of his life," she said.
Dorothy was only half paying attention; she really wanted to get out of there now.
"What was he missing?"
Loila turned to Dorothy and smiled widely.
"You!"
Dorothy almost choked on a grape. Loila came over and patted her back. She handed a Dorothy a cup with liquid in it. Dorothy almost choked on the liquid, and realized it was beer.
It was strong too! Woo!
"I see the way he looks at you," she said.
"I think this is the last thing the Scarecrow needs right now," Dorothy insisted.
Loila stood back and shook her head in frustration. "You sure do like to deny a lot of things don't you?"
Without saying another word, Dorothy took a big gulp of the beer. She needed it.
….
I promise some action is coming. I wanted Dorothy to see Munchkin Land again.
More lovey stuff coming, and then more action in the next few chapters.
