Chapter 21

I do not own anything from Wizard of Oz, the books, the movies, nothing.

Oh, and I wanted to address the Dorothy "loving" Boren thing. It is a friendzoned kind of way. I guess love was too strong of a word, and after thinking it over, yeah, it was.

After a struggle in the room that Dorothy and Scarecrow were locked in, Dorothy was finally forced to leave it with some soldiers. It was only after they had beaten Scarecrow and held a knife to his throat that Dorothy was taken away.

She felt the tears flow down her cheeks as she was escorted to another room barely noticing her surroundings.

She was then turned to a room that was decorated with more feminine décor.

She finally looked around, and found a bath in the middle of the room next to a fireplace. There was a huge bed to her left. She wondered whose room this was.

She was left standing in the middle, but two guards stood at the door, and another soldier at another door off to her left.

The room was surprisingly cool for the desert area.

Dorothy stood there for a few minutes with her arms wrapped around her waist.

She wondered if this was where Ordaran would take her forcefully.

She would fight him till her last breath if he tried.

She turned and gasped a little as the door opened, and a small woman with dark hair, and dark eyes walked in.

She was beautiful with her olive toned clear skin, and the yellow dress that brought out her skin color.

She smiled slightly at Dorothy, but did not say a word.

Dorothy just stood and watched as the woman grabbed a glass, and opened a bottle of red liquid. She took a sip of what Dorothy surmised was wine, and looked Dorothy up and down.

Dorothy then realized that she could see a slight resemblance to Ordaran.

"Good morning, Dorothy Gale," The woman said in a heavy accent.

Dorothy nodded slightly, but did not say a word.

The woman snickered a little, and took another sip of wine.

"Thirsty?" She asked.

Dorothy shook her head, even though her throat was pretty dry.

"Of course you are," the woman said pouring another glass, and handing it Dorothy. "Drink. You will need it."

Dorothy finally could not resist. She gingerly took a sip, and realized how thirsty she was.

"So, here you are," the woman said eyeing her again. "The savior of Oz, the wife of the Scarecrow King. The woman who should have been queen of the realm. The girl who dropped from a star."

"Yes," Dorothy said quietly. "Who are you?"

The woman chuckled, and put her glass down. She walked up to Dorothy and looked her over.

"I am Meera, Lord Ordaran's cousin. I am also in charge of his harem," she said with a smile.

Dorothy could only stare at her. "What do you want with me?"

"Well, I need to see if you'll fit in to the other women. They are a jealous lot, but I think you will do nicely. You can hold your own," she said softly.

"I have no plans to enter that harem," Dorothy said angrily.

Meera smiled even wider. "Yes, you will. Do you really think your husband can defeat Ami?"

"I do," Dorothy said defiantly.

Meera laughed again. She took the wine glass from Dorothy, and said, "I had your husband here with me once."

Dorothy's heart sank, and then she swallowed hard. Did she really want to know why?

Meera smirked at Dorothy's reaction. "The Scarecrow King is a very handsome man. I never thought I would find that in a straw man."

Dorothy could feel the tears ready to burn her eyes. What happened here?

Meera turned and walked around, then she turned back to Dorothy her eyes flashing in anger.

"He is very loyal to you, but in the process he almost escaped," she hissed.

Despite herself Dorothy smiled.

Meera scoffed at Dorothy's reaction. "That was my error. I have never known a man, especially one with his title to be so loyal I guess I was wrong. So, you should be proud Dorothy Gale," Meera said.

"I am."

Meera's eyes flashed once more in anger. "This why you will watch him die!"

Dorothy's eyes also flashed in anger at the cousin of Ordaran. "Then I will watch you die."

The guards suddenly grabbed Dorothy from behind and held her. Meera walked up to her and Dorothy could feel her hot, soft breath against her cheek.

"I would love to kill you now. Just to get back at Scarecrow for what he did to me, but my cousin insists on keeping you alive."

Dorothy smiled again, even though the guards were hurting her arms. "Whatever he did, you probably deserved."

The slap came swift and hard from the noble woman, and Dorothy reeled, but she was made to stand up straight.

Meera walked away again, and slammed her glass onto the table.

"Strip her. I need to get her ready,"Meera ordered the guards her voice dripping with venom.

Just then two maids walked into the room, and Dorothy was stripped. Any other time, she would be embarrassed about it, but she smiled slightly the whole time.

Not just at Scarecrow's loyalty to her, but to the fact that this Meera apparently had a crush on Scarecrow, and he did not reciprocate. This woman was not used to rejection.

Dorothy did finally blush profusely at being naked in front of the male guards, but there was nothing she could do.

They stood over her every move, as the maids washed and dressed her, and did her hair.

Dorothy was then taken to a big room that looked like it was used for dining. Memories of Drigka overwhelmed her for a moment, and she began to shake a little.

Ordaran was sitting there eating what looked like breakfast. He spotted Meera, and a chained Dorothy and stood smiling.

"There she is," he said admiring the maid's work on Dorothy Gale.

Dorothy was now dressed in a low cut red dress with chains running across her chest. Her hair contained a jeweled hair net that held some hair in a bun, and the rest flowed down her shoulders in curls.

Ordaran could tell the savior was very uncomfortable.

"Doesn't she look beautiful cousin?" Meera asked smiling at her work.

"She is still very pale," he commented.

Meera shrugged. "That won't last long."

Dorothy looked around. She realized this was a tropical version of Oz's dining hall.

"Where is Scarecrow?" Dorothy asked.

Ordaran laughed a little, and pulled out a seat.

"He is getting ready for the biggest fight of his life," Ordaran said.

Dorothy was then made to sit. Her one hand chained to the chair.

"Would you like some breakfast savior?" Ordaran asked sitting and smiling as they were served.

The memories of what Drigka did to her came rushing back to her.

"No thank you," she said.

Meera scoffed and sat waiting on her lord to give permission.

"What are you afraid of, savior?" Ordaran asked sitting and putting a napkin in his lap.

"I don't like dining halls," Dorothy said through gritted teeth.

She was about to close her eyes, and wait for something to happen. This time she was chained, and could not fight back.

Ordaran suddenly laughed loudly making Dorothy's eyes snap open.

"Drigka was a beast, Dorothy Gale. Here in Aglas we have more respect for women," Ordaran said.

Dorothy looked over at him sharply. "I seriously doubt that."

Ordaran leaned forward and said, "I tell the truth. You will come to my bed eventually, but you will do so willingly."

"I would never do that," Dorothy said staring back at him.

"Oh you will. I have things to help with that," Ordaran answered smiling widely.

He motioned to the food on the table. "But, for now, eat, because I want to show you something when we are done."

With the Lord's permission, Meera and Ordaran began to eat.

Dorothy had to be goaded by the soldier standing behind her. She took a few bites, and sat there. Ordaran and Meera were quiet the rest of the time.

The only thing on her mind was Scarecrow and his well-being.

"You know we have forces coming for us," Dorothy suddenly blurted out.

Ordaran wiped his mouth, and sat back smirking at her. Meera giggled a little.

"You do not think I did not know that, savior?"

"I had no doubts," Dorothy said.

Ordaran cocked his head in thought for a moment. "You see, I am already prepared for that. Besides, not only am I prepared for an attack, but there are politics at play here."

Dorothy looked down at her food and then up again Ordaran. "What does that mean?"

"Let's just say that Oz was never the only one to pay its debts," Ordaran answered.

Dorothy's eyes narrowed in question. " I have heard that before. Who else did you pay off, Ordaran? Most of the council of Kings is with our armies. Ozma will be punished accordingly."

Ordaran laughed again. " I don't need that silly council, savior."

"What then?"

"I have something better," Ordaran said taking a bite from some kind of cake.

Dorothy eyed him. "What?"

Ordaran looked over at her and smiled. "Shapeshifters."

….

Dorothy was still reeling from what Ordaran told her. So, Boren had been with them all along. She felt so betrayed by him. She decided that she would kill him herself.

She shook her head in disgust, as she had been so naïve. She should have known better.

Scarecrow had told her that morning before they were separated again that Boren was not to be trusted.

Even though the shapeshifters were not many in numbers they could still put a serious dent in the armies that were coming.

She had no way to warn Tin Man, Oscar, and the others. She wanted to scream in disgust, and defeat.

There was one thing bothering her. She could still feel the power of the emerald getting closer to her, but she didn't know how. God, how she could use it right now.

She was then led out to what looked like the arena that Ordaran was talking about. She was taken up some stairs, and to a box with a huge chair and smaller ones beside it.

She looked around as dust came up from the ground and swirled around a giant pole in the middle of the arena.

Then her eyes widened in horror. There were chains attached to the pole.

Ordaran turned to her, and said, "Your Scarecrow King will have quite a fight tomorrow."

Dorothy almost felt the tears burn her eyes. "What are you planning to do?" She choked.

"He will have a chance to fight, but I am making it more interesting," Ordaran said.

He then walked up to her grasped her chin in his fingers to meet his eyes.

"I will have my revenge, savior. I have toyed with him long enough. Your forces may win their first battle, but they will be too late," he said softly close to her face.

Dorothy felt tears run down her cheeks once more. "You are barbaric, and deserve everything you get," she said her voice breaking.

She could the soft clatter of the chains in the wind. It was like a bad omen.

"You will watch the whole thing, savior." He said softly, and not smiling.

Dorothy knew she had to warn Scarecrow, but knew it would not happen.

She was then escorted back to the room that her and Scarecrow had originally been in, and sank to the floor sobbing softly.

He wasn't there, and wondered if he was all right.

He had no chance being chained like that tomorrow.

….

"You have to take this to her!" Oscar said frustrated at the shapeshifter Boren.

Boren shook his head. "Ordaran is a master at magic. He would know the emerald is there before I could even drop it to her. He would take it and make us just human again."

Oscar scoffed. "By the time that happens Dorothy could have the city in her hands!"

He wanted to know why the shapeshifter was being so stubborn about taking the emerald necklace to Dorothy.

He knew exactly where she was. Oscar was starting to not to trust these people, especially their leader.

Oscar turned and walked away from him in anger.

He tried to will Dorothy to hear the emerald calling for her.

"I know we can't trust them, but they stand between us, and Scarecrow," Oran whispered to Oscar as the others stood away.

Oscar nodded. "I know. Why won't he take this to her?"

Oran turned and glanced at the group, and said, "I have a feeling there is more to it."

Oscar thought for a moment. "I need to contact Glinda, and ask her. She might know. Cover for me," he told Oran.

Oran nodded and went back to the group.

Oscar made his way to his tent, and got out his crystal ball.

It was not long until Glinda appeared. "Are you safe?" She asked.

"Yes, for now. How about you?"

Glinda smiled. "Yes, Oz has calmed down and seems to be getting back to normal. The prisoners are still well taken care of."

"I have a question for you," Oscar said. He looked around to make sure he wasn't being spied upon.

"Yes, my love."

Oscar told her how Boren would not take the emerald necklace to Dorothy.

"Why?" He asked. "You know these people. Why?"

Glinda shook her head. "I was afraid of that."

"What?"

Glinda looked at him through the crystal ball, her eyes steady.

"It was the rubies that made them shapeshifters, and it was the emeralds that took it away. So, he is not lying," Glinda said. " I know this because…."

"Why, Glinda?"

"It was me who gave them their powers back, but I did not know it would come to this," she said.

Oscar looked around and said, "Can we trust them? They relied on the power of the rubies after all."

"They are not bad people, but their leaders are another question," Glinda said.

Oscar nodded.

So, the shapeshifters had been born of evil, and they didn't want to let it go.

Oscar would let Oran know.