Chapter 21

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

Enjoy!

Scarecrow looked on as Lion dispatched two Nargol. They had a small skirmish as they came upon the tunnels, but the group was small of about six Nargol, and they were able to take them out easily when the Nargol were ambushed.

Lion spit and said, "Really getting tired of tasting Nargol blood."

"Isn't that what your claws are for?" Tin Man asked smiling.

Lion growled at him, and came back to his hind legs in a standing position.

Marvel rode up to the group from behind. "Sire, Aslan just reported the area is clear. His group also took out about seven Nargol."

Scarecrow nodded. "Alright then. There are small groups around. We must be vigilant in the tunnels."

"Nick, you go around to the dungeons. I don't think she's there, but we need to know. Lion, you search the courtyards and the courts. I will go under the river and through to the castle rooms. Remember to keep your lanterns low, and if you cannot take on a group of Nargol just get out of there, and meet with Oscar," Scarecrow instructed.

Tin Man and Lion nodded and got ready to take off.

"How long, sire?" Marvel asked.

"Give us at least four hours to search. We will meet back to where Aslan and the other scouts are," Scarecrow said.

Marvel nodded his head in agreement, and took Kronos and Tin Man's reigns of their horses.

"Good Luck to all of you," Marvel said and then headed into the night.

"Lion!" Tin Man called.

"What?"

"Try not run away again, ok?" Tin Man said laughing.

Lion growled again at Tin Man who just walked away laughing.

Scarecrow snickered a little, but tried to hide it.

He patted Lion on the shoulder. "Good Luck, my friend."

Lion nodded. "Let's get her back."

Scarecrow and Lion separated, and Scarecrow looked over the area of the entrance of the tunnel. All he could see was complete darkness. Lion had lit the lantern for him before they separated, and Scarecrow entered.

Once inside, Scarecrow assessed the tunnel, and memories began to come back to him on the layout. He knew he would go left under the river and beside the underground lake, then right into the castle of Emerald City. From there he would ascend into the secret passages of the rooms.

I'm coming, Dorothy. He thought fingering the ribbon in his pocket.

He began to move through the darkness and listening to any sound that would alert him to danger. So far the silence was deafening. He placed a gloved hand along the wall for support, with his other hand holding the lantern in front of him.

He knew he was getting close to the underground lake. He stopped short as he spotted a slight light off in the distance. He listened closely, but still could not hear anything. He looked behind him, and everywhere he could to see if he had been followed. Nothing.

He began to move again, when he heard it. He stopped short. What was that?

There was movement up ahead.

Nargol! Dammit!

He could hear their growls and yells. Then something else caught his attention. A cry! A female cry!

He began to move towards the sound, and would help out the woman no matter what.

He froze in place for a moment as he spotted the woman. Her sword flailed widely as she tried to keep them from getting her.

She was surrounded by at least ten Nargol.

Dorothy!

Scarecrow unsheathed his sword, and began dispatching them.

….

Dorothy ran down the path of the tunnel. She kept stopping to take a breath, and kept looking behind her to see if she was being followed. So far things had been quiet. Only darkness surrounded her.

She dared to brighten her lantern, and could hear something in the distance. The river!

She was getting close she could already feel the dampness of it.

She touched the wall and could feel a slight wetness. She decided to take off and run again.

She was so caught up in getting at least past the river that she missed the light around the corner.

Dorothy froze as she turned and there they were.

She wanted to scream, she did, but she couldn't.

Ten heads turned and began to growl and hiss at her.

She was completely frozen in place, as they stood and began surrounding her.

She looked around frantically as a means to escape, but the only thing she spotted was water off to her right.

She couldn't tell, but it looked like an underground lake.

One Nargol eyed her and licked his lips.

"Drigka will not be happy to see you tried to escape," he hissed to her.

Dorothy backed up a little, and suddenly remembered her sword.

She unsheathed it, and began flailing it around to keep them at bay.

Most laughed at her.

"Take her back to our lord!" Another yelled.

"I think we should just eat her. I could use some good meat," another said.

The group laughed, and Dorothy began to cry out in fear.

"Stay away from me!" She screamed.

She prayed, and prayed hard. There was no escape this time she was trapped.

She managed to cut a few of them, but one was grabbing her sword.

She began to cry and scream as they began to grab at her.

She still fought with the sword, but it was no good. They just stood laughing at her.

Dorothy looked up again, and gasped.

The head of one of the Nargol suddenly fell off and black blood sprayed everywhere!

Distracted the Nargol began to go after their attacker. Dorothy just stood there for a moment in shock that she was being rescued.

She could see a figure in the shadows picking them off one by one.

She looked at her sword again. She had to help whoever it was.

She stabbed a couple of them in the back almost getting sick from the sounds coming from their insides.

Both her and her mystery rescuer took them on, and Dorothy still could not see whom it was.

She then felt something pull at her hair, and she screamed in pain.

A knife came to her throat. She could feel the cold steel against her delicate skin. He was so close to her main artery. One false move, and she would be dead. She was trapped again.

"Stop! Or the girl will die!"

The figure stepped out of the shadows.

"Scarecrow!" Dorothy screamed.

Scarecrow looked at the Nargol and then at Dorothy. Without a word he threw his sword down.

What was he doing? She thought.

Scarecrow put up his hands and said, "I surrender. Please don't hurt her."

The Nargol began to laugh, and Dorothy almost choked as the knife moved against her skin.

"Your highness." The Nargol sneered. "I think my lord will be happy to have both of you."

Scarecrow walked closer to where they were. " I am sure he will."

The Nargol began to get suspicious of Scarecrow. "What are you doing? I will kill her if you move again!"

"Well, we need to go see your master, right?"

The Nargol began to waiver a little. It did not get past Dorothy that Scarecrow had a funny look in his eyes.

"Yes," The Nargol said.

"You must take me and the girl to him," he said lowly.

Dorothy felt relieved as the knife came down from her throat.

"Yes," The Nargol repeated. He still held Dorothy, but began to shake.

Dorothy wondered what was going on.

"You will be highly rewarded for this capture. The savior Dorothy Gale, and King Scarecrow," Scarecrow said still moving forward ever so slightly.

Scarecrow stared at Dorothy a moment, and nodded his head. Dorothy stared back with equal intensity.

Dorothy knew what he was saying without words. Dorothy took a deep breath, and came out of the Nargol's grasp. She dropped to the ground and scooted out of the way. Before the Nargol could react, a knife was in his throat, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"What did you do?" She asked in a shaky voice.

"I used an old spell on him," Scarecrow said.

Dorothy was picked up and embraced tightly. She sobbed into Scarecrow's shirt for a moment.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you," she said in between sobs.

"I thought I had lost you!" Scarecrow said his voice shaking.

"I thought I had lost me too!" Dorothy said with a slight laugh into his shirt. Scarecrow laughed lightly.

They pulled apart a little, and Scarecrow's lips came down on hers with an intensity that made Dorothy smile.

He ran his gloved fingers through her hair, and said, "You are a sight for sore eyes."

"I am so happy you found my trail," she said breathlessly.

Scarecrow shook his head. "I really thought I was going there to recover your body. I….I don't even want to think about it anymore."

Dorothy smiled, and kissed him again.

He looked down at her confused. "How in the world did you get down here?"

Dorothy laughed. "I found the secret passaged last night. I had help from a maid she was a troll-like creature, but I never got her name."

Scarecrow smiled widely. "That is Emmie. She is one of my best spies."

He looked over Dorothy to see if she was hurt. He could see the small scrapes, and bruises from her fall, but they looked like they were healing.

"He didn't hurt you did he?"

Dorothy shook her head. "No, but he told me about the Ruby Talisman."

Scarecrow embraced Dorothy again. "Believe me. I didn't know about it either."

Dorothy looked up at him confused. "Boy, Marvel and Glinda sure are secretive."

Scarecrow rolled his eyes. "I know. That will stop now."

Scarecrow went and picked up his sword, and Dorothy did the same. "We better get out of here. Drigka is supposed to return after nightfall, and he said….."

Dorothy swallowed at the memory, but she hesitated.

Scarecrow looked at Dorothy confused. He walked over to her again, his blue eyes flashed with suspicion.

Dorothy took a deep breath, and shifted on her feet.

Scarecrow looked down at her intensely. "Did he touch you?"

Dorothy took a breath. "He said he was going to come to my room tonight. I couldn't do anything about it."

Scarecrow cocked his head to the side. Dorothy could see the anger building in his eyes. His straw body became very tense.

"Did he touch you?" He asked again through gritted teeth. She could see him begin to handle his sword and eye the tunnel.

Dorothy put her hands on his shoulders to calm him down. "He didn't hurt me."

Dorothy could see the battle going on within him. She knew Scarecrow was ready to run into the castle and defend her honor, but now was not the time.

They had to get out of there.

He looked down at Dorothy again. His eyes began to soften a little. "He will pay dearly for what he did."

Dorothy looked at him with a smile. "I know, but not now."

Scarecrow hesitated a few more moments, but gave in. He would have walked into that room and waited on Drigka and took his head off, but he had to get Dorothy to safety first.

"Lion and Tin Man will be waiting for us," Scarecrow said in a tense voice.

Dorothy looked at him and said, "We need to go meet them."

Scarecrow wrapped an arm around her still eyeing the dark tunnel.

"Come on."

They began to walk when a laugh reverberated through the tunnel.

Both Scarecrow and Dorothy froze in place. They knew who it was.

Dorothy could feel her breathing quicken, and her heart pound against her chest. What was going to happen now?

A voice began to shake the walls, and it made Dorothy cry out.

"Fire, straw, and human flesh…They don't mix well at all."

Scarecrow and Dorothy both turned, and both cried out in fear as the ball of fire was heading right towards them.

"Run!" Scarecrow screamed.

Both began running the opposite way, but it was gaining on them fast. Dorothy knew they would both die if the fireball hit them.

Dorothy started to feel the heat of the fire, and began to sweat, as it got closer.

Her throat, eyes, and face burned. They weren't going to make it.

The tunnel suddenly lit up.

She could hear Scarecrow whimper beside her. His worst fear was fire, and he would die that way if they didn't move faster.

Suddenly, Scarecrow pulled her to a stop.

"What are you doing?!" She screamed frantically at him. The fire was only yards from them now.

Scarecrow grabbed her, and said, "Hold on to me! I can't swim in this body!"

Dorothy did as was told, and Scarecrow pulled her down into the water.

Oh God! I am so tired of water!

She was surrounded by water, and opened her eyes as Scarecrow became heavier in her arms. She grabbed at his shoulder too try to hold onto to him. Meanwhile, she was trying to determine if they could break the surface of the underground lake.

The lake lit up as the fire came above them.

Her lungs began to scream as she the fire continued to burn above them.

She tried desperately to hold onto Scarecrow as he flopped his arms against her.

The fire stopped and all became dark again except for the lanterns in the area.

With all her strength she pulled herself to the surface and took a breath.

Scarecrow was still under water, and she had to get him to break too.

Spotting a small cliff that she could reach she pulled Scarecrow along submerging a couple of times, but finally grabbed it. Scarecrow was starting to go limp in her hand.

"NO!"

She took her free arm, and pulled his head above the surface.

"Scarecrow, grab the edge!"

Scarecrow grunted as he lifted his water-laden arm and got a grip on the edge.

Dorothy turned and gasped as the tunnel lit up again, and she could hear laughing in the distance.

"Go under!" Scarecrow said in between coughs.

Dorothy opened her eyes under the water, and watched as another fireball went past them.

She broke the surface once more, and looked around frantically.

"Scarecrow!" She screamed in panic. She had lost her grip on his shirt.

He had his protective clothing on, but it could only do so much in the water.

She spotted another fireball coming, and decided to use the light to find him.

"I hope you are dead," Drigka's echo mocked. "This kingdom is mine!"

Dorothy growled at the voice.

Dorothy submerged once more, and saw Scarecow floating beneath her. She grabbed his shirt at the shoulder and waited for the fire to pass. Her lungs began to scream in protest.

He was like a wet mattress under the water.

His eyes were closed. She couldn't tell if he was still alive. Could he die from this?

She grabbed the edge of the small cliff, and cried out when she pulled Scarecrow's head above the water.

"Scarecrow! Wake up! I can't hold you!" She yelled to him.

Suddenly, he began to cough up water, and flung his wet arm out of the water and gripped the edge. He stayed quiet for a moment as he breathed in the air.

He turned and looked at Dorothy and said, "He will keep sending the fire until he is sure we didn't make it. I can feel the water getting too hot now."

He was right. The water was getting very hot, and Dorothy could feel her skin burning slightly.

He turned and looked at her. "Dorothy, there is an opening over to your left it should be no more than a few feet. You can go through there and it will take you out to the river. The river is not powerful so you should be able to swim through it."

Dorothy eyed him frantically. "Wait just me? What about you?"

He looked at her with sad eyes. "I can't swim. I will just sink. Go, and save yourself. I will make it out somehow."

Dorothy looked at him for a moment. No! She would not let this be. She would not let the man she loved give up like this.

"Oh hell fucking no! You saved me! Now it's my turn."

Scarecrow went wide-eyed at Dorothy, and then smiled widely, but weakly.

They had to submerge again as another fireball shot through.

Dorothy grabbed Scarecrow and pulled him to the surface.

She coughed for a moment, and looked around. She could see the hole where the water led out into the river.

Asking for help from God, Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, and Toto she began to prepare for the swim.

In the distance she could hear the echo of Nargol coming for them to see if they were alive or dead.

"I can't hold on much longer," Scarecrow said weakly. "The straw is completely soaked through, and my wooden frame is too."

Dorothy suddenly had an idea. She quickly took off her belt and let the sword drop into the water.

She started to wrap it around Scarecrow's chest and secured it.

"I need you to help me swim until we get through the hole, then I will pull you through," she said.

"I'll try," he said.

"I knew big bales of hay were heavy when wet, but I didn't think you had that much in you," she commented as they began to swim towards the hole.

Scarecrow was facing away from her as she pulled him along. "Much more to me than you know," he said half jokingly.

Scarecrow kept a steady pace with Dorothy though his movements were slower. She thought he would be like a soaked cat if he ever hit water, but not like this.

She could feel the movement of the current as the water made it's way to the hole.

Saying another silent prayer, Dorothy turned back to Scarecrow.

"Ready?"

He nodded. "If you feel anything wrong, just release yourself. That is an order."

Dorothy couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Yes, your highness."

Taking a deep breath, Dorothy submerged, and began to go with the current.

The force began to grow stronger and she tightened her grip on the belt.

She swam with her free arm along with the current. Everything went black and she began to panic a little in the darkness. Her lungs began to want air, and they were protesting. She tried desperately not to take in any water, and prayed for an end to this.

She then used her free hand to feel for rock around her so she could get control of her and Scarecrow. Finding she pulled herself along, and before she knew it they began to tumble through the current. She began to panic even more because she didn't know where the surface was.

She couldn't see anything! Oh dear God!

She used her free hand again to feel around, and then she felt it. Air!

She tugged on the belt again, and finally got control of the water. She realized it had calmed down a lot as they moved down the small river. Finally, she surfaced, and gasped in air.

Her strength was beginning to give out, but she had to make it to the bank.

She gave one final tug on the belt and Scarecrow's head surfaced. He wasn't moving, but Dorothy couldn't think about it now.

She let go of the belt and put her arm around his neck, and she swam as best she could until she could put her feet down.

Breathing in heavily, she waded through the river, and holding Scarecrow's head above the surface the whole time.

Getting out of the water, she turned and grabbed his shoulders and pulled him to the bank. Finally, when she thought he was out of danger, she collapsed next to him.

She breathed in for a moment, and tried to calm her pounding heartbeat.

She looked around, but everything was quiet. Satisfied there was no danger she kneeled beside him.

His eyes were closed and he wasn't moving.

"Scarecrow?" She asked.

No answer.

She cupped his face, and tried to move him.

"Scarecrow. Please be alright," she said getting frantic.

How do you help a straw man? Why wasn't he responding to her?

Wait! Was he drowning in his own wet straw?

She began to shake him to get him moving.

"Scarecrow! Please!"

She looked around trying to see if anyone would help them. No, they were alone.

She felt the tears burn her eyes, as she had no idea what to do.

"Please don't leave me. I love you!" She cried.

Was he dead? Could he die? How does one save a straw man?

She became panicky, because he still was not moving.

She could see that his usual golden color had faded into a grayish one.

"No…"

She began to shake her head. No!

Finally, she tried one last thing. She knew she was beginning the final war, but at that moment she didn't care.

She removed the Talisman from her pocket, and placed it on his chest.

Praying again that this would work, she said through sobs. "There's no place like home."

The Talisman began to hum quietly. She picked it up and it responded to her touch.

"I need the King alive," she said quietly. She suddenly realized she could control it. It was hers.

She placed it on his chest again.

"There's no place like home," she repeated.

A red light began to engulf Scarecrow, but he still did not move.

Taking a deep breath and asking for forgiveness, she said the final words. "There's no place like home."

A red light flashed and Dorothy felt back a few feet from him. He was now engulfed completely, and began to convulse.

Dorothy watched in amazement as the Talisman hummed on his chest and red and white lights flashed around her.

Just as fast as it came, it was gone, and the Talisman's lights stopped.

Though it continued to hum and glow slightly on Scarecrow's chest.

Dorothy crawled over to Scarecrow as he began to cough and spit out more water.

She cupped his burlap face gently as his eyes began to flutter open. He was now dry again.

Dorothy smiled through tears as he began to focus his vision.

He moaned a little, and said in a raspy voice. "We made it?"

Dorothy laughed a little. "Yes, we did."

He looked at her confused. "How am I alive?"

Dorothy began to sob a little. He looked at her concerned. "Dorothy, what is it?"

"I had to activate the rubies," she said still sobbing. "I'm so sorry, but I couldn't let you go."

Scarecrow suddenly sat up, and cupped a crying Dorothy's face.

"Hey. Don't cry. You did nothing wrong," he said.

He embraced Dorothy, and they sat there for a while.

He finally took her face in his hands again, and said smiling, "You saved my life. Again!"

Dorothy smiled back. "You saved mine first."

"I know what I did, but I could not lose you," she said.

"I told you….."

"No! Drigka told me he was connected to it."

Scarecrow scoffed. "He is, but not as strong as he would like."

Dorothy looked at Scarecrow confused. "What….what do you mean?"

"Glinda did one smart thing by changing its power over to you. She blocked Drigka from feeling it."

Dorothy shook her head in amazement. "So, all along he would never have control over it even after I used it."

Scarecrow smiled slightly. "Why do you think he needed you alive? He had no plans to kill you in that fireball he sent at us. He would have protected you, but got me."

"I'm so confused," she said rubbing her temple.

Scarecrow's eyes softened. "Dorothy. I know it is a lot to take in. He has no idea you activated it. All he knows is you might now be dead, and the rubies lost. He was coming to get you when we escaped. I saw him coming when I pushed you into the water."

"You did? How?"

Scarecrow laughed. "A little magic of my own."

"So, did I just start the war? What about those mindless soldiers that he had in the city? He said they could only be brought alive by the rubies."

Scarecrow's eyes darkened. "I know about his new Nargol. He would have forced you to do it, and taken over."

Scarecrow put his arm around Dorothy who sat wide-eyed.

"We have to destroy it, and soon. No, you did not start the war," Scarecrow said.

"How do we destroy it? Maybe I can use it to finally end this war," she said hopeful.

Scarecrow sighed a little. "I wish we could Dorothy, but remember these rubies were created from evil, and they will end with evil. No matter what your good intentions are and you are the owner of them, they will destroy you if Drigka gets his hands on them, and he gains control. I can't take that chance."

Dorothy nodded understanding what she was saying. Dorothy remembered Marvel telling her about a creature called a hobbit in Middle Earth before she was captured that held a ring and was in similar circumstances to her.

"So, how do we destroy them finally? Glinda?"

"Glinda's powers are stripped for now. We will have to find another way. Gandalf tried to restore her, but to no avail."

Scarecrow and Dorothy stood up and Dorothy realized the Talisman had quieted again as she mentally ordered it.

"Come on let's get going before we are found by the wrong group," he said.

They began to walk through the dark forest, and Scarecrow suddenly turned around to her.

"I want us to have some time together before I plan my final battle to end this evil. I know we both have things to say," he said to her running his gloved fingers through her still wet hair.

Dorothy smiled softly at him. "I want to still help in any way I can. But, yes, you're right there is lots to say."

Scarecrow thought for a moment, and said, "I will say this. When I thought you were dead, a piece of me wanted to be with you. I felt dead myself already knowing life would be without you in it."

He then took her hand and put it against his chest. "That is how I felt."

Dorothy felt the tears again, and cursed them, but they were happy ones. "I felt the same way only moments ago."

"By the way, you are strong," he said smiling.

"I was a farm girl, and a music teacher. I had to be," she said smiling back. "If I never see another river again in my life. I think I will be happy."

Scarecrow laughed. "I can't say that I blame you."

He leaned into her and they kissed softly for a moment before they were moving again.

They came out of the forest to a search party looking for them.

…

What I basically did is have Scarecrow drown in his own straw as his body became weaker, and soaked with water. I couldn't think of any other way to put it. At first, I was going to have Dorothy save him by doing some kind of CPR, but that didn't make sense since he would still be wet. So, the only way to bring him back was by magic from the rubies.