Before The Worst
Chapter Thirty Six
Princess DorothiGale and Lord Cain Wedded in Secret Ceremony
The Central City Daily is proud to announce that first heir, Princess DorothiGale Gale and future Consort, Lord Wyatt Cain were married yesterday in a secret ceremony, only twenty-four hours after Lord Cain's recovery from a month long coma. Lord Ambrose Baum released a statement late last night.
"Both the Princess and Lord Cain decided that after recent events, they preferred to have a short, sweet wedding rather than a large celebration." He exclusively told the Central City Daily. "It was only the royal family and a few very close friends."
In regards to the health of the future rulers, he said, "They're fine. Cain was attacked during a mission in his capacity as head of the royal guard, whilst investigating the attempted assassination that occurred during the parade. Princess DorothiGale was forced to go after him by some traitors, but the matter has been entirely resolved. The guilty parties involved are due for trial before the Royal Council next month."
~*~
Glitch cleared his throat quietly and DG shifted in her seat. She'd been doodling idly on the corner of a sheet of paper she was supposed to be taking notes on. The Royal Council had been in session for over four hours and DG had lost interest after the first two and a half. The fifteen elderly noblemen had been wheezing over the plans for the coronation for almost an hour, something that had been finalised in the first twenty minutes of discussion.
Lavender was the epitome of patience. She listened to each opinion in turn, taking note of each point and discussing each subject openly. DG didn't know how she did it, she would have lost patience hours ago. Luckily the subject seemed to be coming to a close. The Queen looked at her daughter and smiled tiredly.
"Only a couple more matters to discuss." She announced, "My daughter presented you with a couple of proposals. DorothiGale?"
DG's joints cracked as she stood, but she tried not to wince as all eyes turned to her.
"I have been discussing with my father, the problem of the lack of power in some of the poorer regions of Central City." She said. "I've given each of you a proposal outline, seeking your opinions on the revival of the power station on the edge of the city. As you know, this was shut down during the Witch's reign and as a result most of the city's power comes from outside sources."
"Very noisy. Very expensive." Muttered one of the gentlemen. DG smiled. She'd been patient for hours, she was ready for a debate.
"The noise won't be an issue. Up until its closure the power station was based on the use of Ojonium. Lord Ambrose has made plans to redesign the station using Aurexium. This is a much softer element, it will require less processing and, as such, less machinery. Therefore, less noise."
"Still expensive." Another man pointed out, stroking his thick beard.
DG kept smiling.
"Expensive, yes. But it will create hundreds of jobs, it will improve the quality of life in the city, it will encourage people to return to the city. We're rebuilding, almost from scratch here. We need to show the people of the O.Z. that we are confident, that we're prepared to invest in them."
Lavender couldn't help smiling. Several of the noblemen nodded in agreement, but most looked dubious.
"It's a big investment." One of them grumbled and DG looked at him pointedly.
"What do you think it would be better spent on than the people of the O.Z.?"
The nobleman didn't seem to have an answer. He huffed for a few minutes and then settled down. DG grinned at her mother and then looked over her notes.
"The only other thing is my trip to the fields of the Papay. I think it's going to have to be delayed until after the coronation. My magic isn't currently strong enough to heal the fields and until the H.I.E is repaired, there isn't much point. I'll send an envoy with a gift of food to the Papay in exchange for safe passage for travellers until I can get there myself."
No one seemed to have any qualms about this and the session ended shortly after. DG and Glitch left swiftly, almost running down the corridor to the entrance hall before ascending the stairs.
"Oh my god, I don't think I've ever been so bored!" DG moaned. Glitch patted her on the back.
"They won't last that long usually; there was just a lot to go over this time." He said as they turned down the corridor to Cain's room, where the others were keeping him company. Azkadellia was sat in the seat by the bed, laughing at a story Tutor was telling, Raw sat cross legged on the floor, grinning. Cain looked faintly amused and DG was surprised to see him dressed and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Oh, you've finished?" Azkadellia beamed and DG groaned, falling face first onto the bed. Glitch snorted behind her.
"It was a trying session." He explained and DG groaned loudly again. Cain's hand went to the back of her head and stroked her hair.
"You alright, sweetheart?"
"No. I quit."
"You did really well. She convinced them to go ahead with the plans for the power station." Glitch announced and Azkadellia clapped excitedly.
"DG, that's wonderful!"
DG rolled onto her back and pulled a face at the ceiling.
"Yeah, it is pretty cool. Dad and Glitch need to go over the planning and finance of it all first, but it's a start."
"Come on, Glitch." Azkadellia got to her feet, "Let me see how the H.I.E is progressing."
One by one they all left, leaving DG and Cain alone. She pushed herself into a sitting position and held out her arms to him.
"Husband. I need husband." She said with a smile. Cain gave a quiet laugh and pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead.
"It was that bad?"
"Oh… no, I guess not. It was all important stuff; the council are just so stuffy. They're more concerned about their own way of life then putting anything into getting the O.Z. back into a liveable place." She said and then smiled, "However, I'm now free until dinner and you made the mistake of putting on clothes."
Cain smirked.
"Why was putting on clothes a mistake?"
"Because when I see you with clothes on, I immediately want to take them off again." DG said, fingers working the buttons on his shirt. Cain laughed quietly and DG flicked her wrist. The curtains drew, the lock on the door clicked shut and DG pushed Cain down onto the bed, kissing him firmly. Cain put his arms around her, hand sliding under the edge of her blouse. She paused and her fingers circled the scar on his chest. Cain lifted her hand and kissed the fingertips one by one.
"Don't dwell on it, sweetheart. Just another scar." He murmured. DG smiled faintly and then begin to laugh as his hands returned under her shirt once more.
~*~
Lavender found Glitch and Azkadellia in the sitting room, talking quietly. She smiled at them.
"Excuse my interruption. Have you seen DG?"
"She's with Cain." Azkadellia said with raised brows and Lavender gave a soft laugh.
"I see. We need to go over the plans for the wedding celebration."
Whilst Lavender and Ahamo had been surprisingly lenient with the surprise wedding, they were insistent that the reception went ahead at least. Hundreds of noblemen and women had gathered in Central City for the event that was only five weeks away. The coronation was to take place a fortnight after that.
"I'll let her know, when she reappears." Azkadellia promised. Lavender nodded and left. Glitch chuckled and scratched his head.
"I hope she isn't expecting to see DG again before dinner."
"I doubt it. But DG does need to get everything organised before she and Cain disappear to Pacalisaqua." Azkadellia reminded him. DG and Cain were leaving in a week's time for almost four weeks of absolute privacy. Glitch rolled his eyes.
"I don't think she's even thinking about organisation."
"She shouldn't have to." Azkadellia said, "She just got married! She should be able to go off and relax, without a celebration ball and coronation hanging over her head. These are her last few days before she becomes queen."
"And what will you do when she becomes queen?"
The question made her look at him in surprise. His dark eyes were fixed on hers and there was no amused grin playing around his lips. Azkadellia shook her head.
"I'll help her. I'll do whatever I can to help her. I'll… be the picture-perfect princess. I'll go to the right charity events, visit the right people and make sure that she's looked after." She said softly. Glitch considered this answer.
"That's what you'll do for DG. What will you do, Azkadellia?"
She stood abruptly, walking to the window, but her eyes were glazed over, not seeing the view of the city.
"I don't know!" She said, almost angrily. Glitch got to his feet and went to stand behind her as she stared out of the window. "I don't know… I feel… I feel like I've just been stagnating since we returned from Pacalisaqua. I'll help organise the celebration ball and the coronation and then I'll just have to find something to concentrate on because there's nothing for me to do. I can't go out into the city; they still see me as the witch."
Her voice was calm, but Glitch could sense the trembling emotion just behind it. He understood what she was saying, and everything she wasn't. Azkadellia could not stay in Central City. The only place he'd seen her truly happy was in Pacalisaqua, where she could sit and read, where she could walk by the lake, where she could cook and clean and live an utterly simple existance.
His arms snaked around her waist and he rested his chin on her shoulder, staring out of the window with her.
"I'll take you away from this. From all of them." He murmured and he felt her smile slightly.
"Glitch… Ambrose…" It was so rare that she used his original name and he kissed her cheek softly.
"I'll take you away."
~*~
DG was packing. Well… packing was something of an overstatement. Glitch winced as he entered her room.
"Why don't you get a servant to do that?" He asked and she shrugged.
"I can manage."
"DG, I'm having flashbacks to the last time you packed to go to Pacalisaqua." He said, snatching a dress and folding it. DG grinned.
"You were only trying to find out the gossip on me and Cain last time!"
"True. It's dull this time, since I know all the gossip." Glitch admitted, removing a shirt from the suitcase and shaking out the creases. DG sank onto the bed and watched him, smiling to herself. Glitch caught her little grin and laughed.
"You look like a cat that got the cream."
"Nope. Just a super hot husband, an easy wedding and, finally, some peace and quiet." DG teased, going to the wardrobe to find shoes.
Glitch smiled, watching as she selected several pairs and tossed them into a second, smaller suitcase. His grin faded as she stopped, rubbing at her right shoulder.
"Does it still hurt?"
"Yeah." The scab had disappeared some time ago but as DG pulled the collar of her blouse to one side, Glitch saw the distorted scar that marred her shoulder. Even know as she reached to the top shelf of the wardrobe he saw that she couldn't lift her arm as high as the left one.
"Have you been doing your exercises?" He asked and she nodded, grinning over her shoulder at him.
"Yes, dad. I have, it just aches and I can't move it as much as I used to." She shrugged, having found the coat she looking for, "No big deal. It could have been worse, right?"
DG zipped up the suitcase and dragged it to the door. Glitch leaned against one of the bedposts.
"When do you leave?" He asked.
"First thing in the morning, before breakfast. Just me, Cain and a couple of guards who are only coming as far as the mountains. They'll wait there for us and we'll pick them up on the way back."
"And Cain has agreed to that?" Glitch was surprised. DG gave a dry laugh.
"Mother, Azkadellia and I have set up so many magical protections on that place that no one can even find it without one of us leading them. We're blocked off from the rest of the O.Z. and we'll have Einstein, if we need to send a message. We're coming back the day before the celebration ball and that's that."
She looked around the room, hands on hips and Glitch was struck by how certain she was of herself, of how different she was from the cynical young woman who had found him hanging in the top of a cage. She caught his eye and smiled.
"What?"
"Not a thing, doll. Come on, it's almost time for dinner." He smiled and she looped her arm through his as they left the room.
~*~
"No."
"Come on!" DG whined over her dinner and Cain eyed her firmly.
"No."
"Don't be so mean." She pouted and everyone at the table tried not to laugh, Ahamo lifting his glass to his lips to hide his smile.
"I'm not mean. I just don't have a death wish." Cain said and she scowled at him.
"You let me drive before."
"Only because I had no choice." Cain reminded her, "We were on a mission to save the O.Z."
"I'm a perfectly good driver!" DG insisted, "I have never had any accidents whilst driving."
"Then there's no need to tempt fate." Cain said triumphantly, popping a piece of beef into his smiling mouth. DG narrowed her eyes.
"You're being unreasonable. And you can stay out of it, too." She looked down at the Emerald, which had pulsed brightly.
~*~
DG was woken by a kiss. How princessy, was her first thought as she returned the gesture to Cain before rolling out of bed. It was still dark outside and she groaned as Cain turned on the little lamp on the bedside table.
"We need to make a move, sweetheart." He said. He was already dressed and DG went to pull on the trousers and blouse she'd brought to his room the night before. By the time they returned, their possessions would have been moved into a single room.
Cain had recovered more quickly from his unconsciousness than she had. He had been more badly injured, more lost but as he'd pointed out, he hadn't needed to recover magically as well as physically.
They made their way downstairs and were surprised to see Azkadellia, Glitch, Raw and her parents waiting for them. DG smiled.
"What are you guys doing up so early?"
"Say goodbye." Raw said simply, hugging her. One by one they made their goodbyes but DG paused in front of Azkadellia and then took the Emerald from around her neck.
"Will you look after it for me?" She asked and Azkadellia looked shocked.
"DG, I can't!"
"Az, it'll be fine." DG promised. "I won't need it in Pacalisaqua."
We will meet again soon, DG.
'Sure will. Keep an eye on them for me?'
Of course.
DG twisted her wedding ring thoughtfully and then looked down at the Emerald.
'I never asked… what was his name, Ozma? What was your husband's name?'
…Tippetarius. His name was Tippetarius. Take care, DG.
'You too.'
DG looked up and saw them watching her, aware that she had been in council with Ozma. She smiled and handed the Emerald to her sister.
"Take care of each other." She said and then turned, slipping her hand into Cain's as they disappeared into the pre-dawn gloom.
A/N: Hello my dears! Chapter! Lots of made up words that hopefully sound vaguely OZian in this one! Tippetarius is, in the books, the character that Ozma was turned into for most of her childhood by an evil witch. I take liberties with canon! Next chapter – lots of DG/Cain fluff and bit of Azkadellia Angst. I can't believe how close this story is to finishing! I'm writing the last chapter up now; due to my OCD need to end stories on round numbers, the last couple of chapters tend to be overly long. Hope you don't mind!
Lots of Love
Katie