Author's Note
This is the first of ten vignettes designed as a companion to "Pitstop at the Hilltop Café." Each story is designed primarily to further expound upon how DG and Wyatt's relationship evolved after the Eclipse. While you may choose to read this first, there are some spoilers at the end, so be warned.
I hope that these stories give you all a little diversion during this strange time we all find ourselves in. Please Enjoy!
-White Rabbit
These Are Not The Gnomes You're Looking For
When DG was a girl, dodging twisters on the Kansas prairie, she imagined that if she concentrated hard enough, she might be able to influence the weather patterns of her world. Young DG fantasized that she was like one of the characters in the books she purloined from the town library, and she whiled many dull days away winning staring contests with clouds and failing to move leaves with her mind where her characters had otherwise succeeded. Even though she understood logically that she could no more change the nature of storms than she could slow down time, DG felt that she should be able to – she just didn't know why.
Now, while she sat in a dusty corner of a forgotten library in Central City, brooding while she stared out a grimy window, she finally understood. The Otherside, as she now knew Kansas to be, wasn't a magical place, and although she might have been able to affect small changes in her general vicinity while there, she was also hampered by a powerful spell that blocked many of her memories and dampened her magical abilities. DG's parents had explained – no, rationalized – that they had done this to save not just her life, but the OZ, from a terrible witch intent on using DG and her sister to bring the light crashing into eternal darkness.
DG pulled her jean-clad legs up into the deep windowsill where she sat, and she hugged her knees while she let out a labored sigh. This train of thoughts had been trundling around her brain a lot in the past few weeks since being reunited with her family, and unlike her past experiences in Kansas, she now found that this particular string of thoughts normally resulted in a rainstorm that varied in its turbulence dependent on DG's overall mood. It's not that DG was angry about her situation. In fact, she readily accepted her parents' reasoning for why they had placed the spell on her in the first place, but the result after defeating the witch was almost unbearable to her.
"I just feel so useless," DG murmured to no one in particular as her head fell back to lean on the inner wall of the sill. A loud thunderclap rattled the window as if in reply, and DG huffed, "On the bright side though, if anyone needs their plants watered, I'm their girl. All I seem to be able to do is cause these stupid rainstorms." Her eyes were glassy and wide, and the edges were rimmed in red, showing very clearly just how hopeless her mood had become of late. Another sigh escaped her as she wiped a tear away, and she continued her vigil of the landscape outside her small domain that mirrored the turmoil within.
It appeared as if her gaze was directed at the window, where heavily laden drops pelted it and washed it clean. The sky outside the glass was dark, and from her height, the people down below seemed like figures in a dollhouse and bustled under awnings and in doors quickly to beat the unexpected downpour. In truth, DG's eyes had drifted past the visible world, and she now only looked on what her mind's eye saw. The trouble was, beyond the events of the past month – cycle, rather – her memories of the OZ were fragmented like dreams, and she struggled endlessly to string them together into some coherent picture that might make the rest of the fog clear. This by itself was troubling enough on its own, but she and her friends had also stumbled upon another distressing factor about her lack of memories which made restoring them paramount – it seemed that as memories came back to DG, pieces of her magical control were also restored. While DG and her companions had been on the run from the Sorceress, it hadn't occurred to any of them, not even DG's magical mentor Tutor, that the two things were intrinsically linked. Now, with the pressure removed and DG's mother available once more to fill in the gaps, there could be no doubt, and DG and her family were at a loss as to how to help her.
Lavender Gale had used much of her power to save DG, and now, her remaining light was all that kept her tethered to the magical world she reigned over. Not that this would always be the case, but for now while she was recuperating from her long imprisonment, Queen Lavender was resigned to counseling only, rather than attempting any practical application of her remaining magic. Azkadellia was also little use in this department, as she had been young and only somewhat trained before being brutally overpowered by the Sorceress. The skill set she had gleaned from the witch during her confinement within her own mind was dark and dangerous, and left her in a constant internal struggle with herself over whether or not she could trust her magic at all. This left only Tutor, and while the man was gifted in his own right, he was no daughter of light, and therefore only marginally more helpful than either her mother or Azkadellia. Unfortunately, even he was at a loss though and had temporarily paused their search for answers while Central City was in the midst of being wiped clean of the Sorceress' reign. There were cells of Longcoats still to draw out, and legions of citizenry to assist, not to mention an entire country to restore, and all were rightfully more important than hunting down a few dusty old tomes that might possibly hold the key to unlocking DG's memories, as she had been told on more than one occasion. This had been the reason for her covert trip to the Central City library. Certainly, she had thought, no one would miss her when there was so much else to be done. Besides, she reasoned, it was unlikely that she'd encounter any errant Longcoats in a library, as the building had been locked down so tight for annuals that not even a mouse could find a way in.
Her search had been fruitless though, since she had no real idea of what to look for. After spending hours coughing up dust, she had finally dropped heavily onto this windowsill to catch her breath. She might have succeeded in doing that had she been able to open the window, but being that she was stories high, the windows did nothing more than let light into the dusty and otherwise dark room lined with books.
"I'm going to have to get out of here soon if I want to keep the dust from finishing the witch's work," DG grumbled, shaking herself out of her doldrum to rise from her seat.
This action had the unfortunate effect of bringing DG completely to her senses, and she suddenly realized the time. She had been gone for most of the day and should have been meeting her parents and Azkadellia for dinner within the hour. She would certainly be missed now, she recollected with a groan, and she began to move towards the door, where just outside, a set of stairs would take her to the bottom floor. She didn't even get the chance to move, however, before another sobering realization hit her – she was supposed to be alone in this building, but there was suddenly a clatter outside the room that told her this was no longer the case. Her heart seemed to stop, and her breath stilled while she listened, her body frozen in sudden terror.
"DG!" A familiar voice bellowed, sounding not unlike a certain Tin Man, except it was not quite as deep and rumbly.
When Jeb appeared in the doorway, out of breath and pale with what could only be described as fear, DG let out a sigh of relief, and she leaned over to relax her now over-tight muscles. "Jesus Jeb, I think you nearly gave me a coronary," DG breathed out as she straightened back up and offered him a weak smile.
Jeb did not smile back. If anything, he seemed almost more incensed by her answer and scoffed, "If you think I'm bad, you'd better hope my dad doesn't find out about this. He'll probably skewer the both of us and feed us to a bunch of angry papay when he finds out that you snuck out again."
This seemed to deflate DG, and she slumped back onto the windowsill while she replied sadly, "I'm sorry Jeb, I really didn't think about it before I took off. I guess I just figured that no one would miss me."
DG stared down at her hands, and Jeb assumed that she was trying very hard not to let him see her cry. She looked so small on that large window ledge, and in her turmoil, even more so. She didn't really seem to fit the part of a princess, he thought to himself. She didn't act like a princess – in the past three weeks, he'd found her under the hood of an old, broken down army truck, handing out sandwiches in the Army mess, and sneaking in shifts in the staff childcare center at the bottom floor of the palace. She didn't look like royalty either – she never wore dresses and was seldom seen out of her sneakers. Both of these facts endeared her to Jeb, even though she also had a nasty penchant for sneaking out of the watchful eye of her guard detail. This had been why his father had assigned him to her in the first place, since she had gone through two other sets of guards already within only a week of being restored.
Wyatt had fixed Jeb with an earnest, almost pained expression when he had asked him to take the assignment, recalling him say, "Son, you're the closest thing to me she's got right now, and since I can't always be there to watch her, I need you to help me."
There was no way Jeb could say no, so he had taken the job with a fair amount of pride and a smidge of fear. If DG had been any other Princess, and her concerned shadow anyone other than Wyatt Cain, he might have already quit the job. DG Gale was difficult and troublesome only in that she didn't seem to understand just how important she really was, and as she sat before him swiping the tears from her face with childlike frustration, Jeb finally understood how she had so endeared herself to his father.
Jeb sighed and his body went somewhat limp as he stomped over to the windowsill, dumping himself next to DG before he replied sounding fatigued, "DG, do you really think my father would have assigned me to your detail if you wouldn't be missed?"
Jeb eyed her from his periphery, careful to not draw her attention while he surveyed her covertly. Mention of his father had made DG sit up somewhat straighter, and the realization that she would be missed by him in particular seemed to bring color back to her otherwise ashen face, and she ducked down suddenly when her cheeks must have grown hot. Jeb averted his eyes in that moment, hoping to help DG maintain some semblance of pride, and he cleared his throat suggestively to show that he was still waiting on her reply.
DG glanced at Jeb while he looked out at the old reading room. His harvest gold hair, which was darker than Cain's by at least a few shades of the sun, hung limply in his eyes. DG imagined that he must have inherited his wavy locks from Adora, whom DG had only seen in the brief images replayed by the TDESPHTL that had been intended more as a torture device for Cain than anything else. His eyes too, seemed to hail from his mother, and were a deeper, less piercing blue than his father's. The firm set in his jaw was the same though, and she suspected that his drive and determination could also be owed to a combination of the Tin Man and hard knocks. He also seemed to have inherited his father's blood hound like tracking abilities and had pinpointed DG's location quicker than any other guard, save of course Cain himself.
This peaked DG's curiosity, and she finally asked in an overly casual voice, careful to deflect any question about the briefly mentioned Tin Man, "So, how did you find me this time?"
This question seemed to lighten Jeb's countenance somewhat, and a familiar smile crept up on his face that instantly set DG at ease. He chuckled quietly and answered finally as he turned to meet her eyes, "Dad told me that if I ever lost you, I should look for a storm cloud hanging over somewhere you shouldn't be. Funny thing, until today, I really thought he was joking."
As much as it had warmed DG to think that Wyatt Cain knew her so well after such a short amount of time, the fact that he had relayed it to anyone else somehow felt like a betrayal. A feeling of sadness rushed over her with that thought, and she could not help but feel even more hopeless than she had before. The smile that she had cracked before fell instantly, and the pleasant flush that had filled her cheeks was gone when she asked in an almost-whisper, "Why didn't he come then?"
It pained Jeb to see DG so upset, and he felt a sudden brotherly protectiveness for the woman that sat next to him that made him upset with his father and himself for not seeing this sooner. DG was horribly alone in a world she didn't remember, and his father was one of the only people she truly trusted, and possibly loved.
"Gods DG, I'm sorry," Jeb sighed in frustration with himself, "I don't guess he told you. Of course he wouldn't. He's too damned modest." Jeb stood suddenly and paced before he turned back to her and continued, "I didn't tell Dad you were missing. I just ran out to find you, and he's been in one meeting after the next with the Tin Men and the Army and the Council – "
DG stood up now, her face now serious and somewhat confused when she interrupted, "Wait, why is Cain meeting with all of these different groups?"
Jeb ran his hand through his hair and sighed to the ceiling, "He got promoted to General. Your mother has him doing all kinds of important stuff. I've barely even seen him for the last few days. I think he only asked me to step in because he didn't feel he could trust anyone else to look after you while he was doing your mother's bidding."
DG's face seemed to go blank as she absorbed this information, and she sat back down while she processed, murmuring almost to herself, "so he's not avoiding me." Jeb watched her face with concern, and he almost expected her to burst into tears, but instead her face suddenly brightened, and she smiled up at Jeb and asked, "so what does my mother have him doing exactly? I want to know everything."
Jeb laughed, feeling disarmed by the bubbly inquisitiveness of the Princess, and he answered honestly, "I really don't know much, to be honest. Why do you want to know anyway? It's not like your mother doesn't have everyone on their toes already."
DG's face fell again, and she shifted uncomfortably when she admitted shyly, "Everyone except me." She glanced up at Jeb who was looking down on her with a mixture of confusion and sympathy and she explained, "Mother doesn't really know what to do with me right now. Until she and Tutor can figure out how to restore my memories, I'm a little bit of a liability, I guess." She sighed heavily and added, "I'm just glad that I didn't get Cain sidelined, and I really hope I didn't get you in trouble by running off."
Jeb's head dropped in embarrassment for his oversight and his shoulders dropped sadly. It seemed that although his father appeared to know the Princess amazingly well given how short a time they'd known each other, he had missed an important piece of information about her. DG was a doer and had found all manner of tasks to occupy her time during his short stint as her guard. He suspected that this had been the case all along, and he wondered how his father had missed her hardly met need to feel needed. Wanted. Jeb could relate to this drive, being of a similar mindset himself, and while he watched her silently take in their surroundings with a resigned expression plastered on her face, he became resolved in the notion that he would help her in any way he could.
"Princess," Jeb declared suddenly as he rose from his seat and looked down on her, "If you promise to stay on place grounds and let me know where you're going so I don't get in trouble, I promise I'll stay out of your hair. I won't even lecture you about things that other people think are unprincesslike – I have no concept of what that means anyway, so I don't really have any room to judge – deal?"
He held his hand out to DG in offer. DG looked up at him with what was initially uncertainty, but seeing his honest smile gave her a much-needed insight about the strength of his character, and she knew instantly that he meant every word he said. So, with a hint of a smile and a nod, DG took his hand and let him pull her up.
"Good," Jeb answered, adding, "Now let's get you back to the palace. I told your family you have an upset stomach, so they won't expect you at dinner, but I'm 100% certain that that excuse won't work for Dad. He'll be at your door the second he hears you have even a hang-nail, so we'd better get a move on if we don't want to get caught."
Jeb held the Princess' hand for a fraction of a moment as he helped her up, and in that brief moment, he watched as a pink flush rose up on her cheeks once more at the mention of his father's well-known concern for her. The fact that she had seemingly forgotten this for even a moment due to his sudden disappearance from her daily life spoke volumes, and despite a protective instinct for the memory of his family as it had once been, he felt no malice for this woman. If anything, he liked DG, and felt a great deal of empathy for her. Besides this, he liked her. He also knew that being without her for the past few weeks, his father had become a grouchy son of bitch.
Having agreed that they should return to the palace poste haste, DG allowed Jeb to lead her through a maze of streets and alleyways outside the towering library. DG marveled at the twists and turns that Jeb made, and she found herself almost embarrassed that she had taken such a direct route. Surely, she realized silently, he was taking such a randomized path so as to limit their chances of being ambushed by some rogue cell of Longcoats that still popped up on occasion. Cain would have chosen a similar tactic, so it only stood to reason that his son would as well. The realization that she had very likely put herself in a good deal of danger –both by taking the most direct route from the palace, and by inadvertently hanging a location beacon over her head by way of a magically imposed thunderstorm– mortified DG, and she half expected a lecture from Cain even without him knowing from Jeb what had become of her during his absence. Her self-admonishment was an effective means of silencing her for the trip back, and her compliance increased by such a degree that Jeb began to monitor her even more closely, afraid that she might disappear at a moment's notice.
A feeling of uselessness seemed to pervade DG's spirit so profoundly now, though, and by the time they reached the threshold of her quarters, she walked silently with her eyes downcast. Jeb's heart constricted as he watched her move silently past him into her sitting room, hating to see one such as DG so beaten by her circumstances. Jeb closed the door noiselessly, and he turned back to DG in order to quietly plot their next move in the event that his father made an appearance.
DG beat him to the punch though, and she grumbled as she moped to her bedroom door, "I'm going to go get in the shower. If he sees me, he'll know for sure that I don't have a stomachache, and he won't dare come into my bathroom if he thinks I'm naked."
Jeb nodded curtly while trying desperately to hide the smirk that was attempting to make an appearance on his face. It was no wonder DG was so talented at skirting her other security detail, he chuckled inwardly. If the Princess knew Wyatt Cain's methods so well and could dodge him, even for a split second, then other less seasoned officers wouldn't stand a chance. With thoughts like this rambling through his mind, Jeb felt himself suddenly fortunate that she'd decided not to get him in trouble any longer, and he collapsed onto the settee on the other side of the fireplace when the realization sent a wave of exhaustion rushing over him. He had just taken an overlarge breath, and was expelling it slowly when the door burst open, and a flustered Wyatt Cain charged in.
Jeb almost didn't recognize his father as he was now, decked out in his dress blues that were emblazoned with brand new medals and badges of his rank. He was the youngest General by far, even given that the Monarchy was having difficulty filling the ranks with what remained of the resistance, former military and the Tin Men. Most of the cause for Wyatt's apparent age difference from his other cohorts was simple –after spending nine annuals in an enchanted iron suit– he hadn't aged more than one annual from when he'd first been imprisoned by the Sorceress' Longcoats. This meant that although he might be closer to forty annuals old chronologically, physically, he was only just six years older than Princess DG. This lack in shift of his father's physical appearance from when Jeb was a boy was really what threw Jeb every time his father entered the room; he just couldn't help but feel like he was looking on a legend. In his current state, though, Jeb was reminded of just how very human and fallible his father truly was, and he couldn't help but feel somewhat sorry for him.
Wyatt's eyes were full of concern and guilt and when he saw his son jumping from his relaxed position on the couch, and he determined that he had probably could have afforded knocking first; had the kid truly been in any danger, Jeb wouldn't have been sitting so leisurely in the princess's sitting room. He could not help but be concerned still, and he shut the door carefully before crossing over to Jeb to ask in a hushed voice, "Is she okay Jeb? Glitch told me she wasn't feeling well."
Jeb let out another sigh and he ran his hands through his hair while he considered how to answer, and he finally replied calmly, "Yeah Dad, she's okay. Just, um, abdominal pains."
Wyatt's eyes narrowed suspiciously, and his arms folded across his chest when he replied, sounding unconvinced, "Jeb, DG had cramps over a week ago. Try again." When Jeb groaned and slumped back onto the couch, Wyatt smirked and asked through an expectant sigh, "storm clouds?"
Jeb cracked a smile at this question and chuckled, "I really thought you were messing with me, you know." Then he paused and his face straightened as he continued, "but yeah, big ones."
The way Jeb emphasized the word "big" made Wyatt come somewhat undone, and he sighed heavily as he dropped down onto the furniture next to his son. It had been a long, trying stream of weeks, and although Wyatt may not have looked his age, he certainly felt it. When the Queen had offered him his commission back, plus the rank of General, he had considered turning her down; this wasn't an ordinary officer's commission –not from Lavender Gale, who Wyatt was sure DG shared a fair amount of meddlesome traits with– no, this was bound to be chalk full of political wrangling and babysitting, not to mention the long hours. Then the Queen "accidentally" let it slip that while she highly approved of his promotion, the credit for the idea belonged entirely to Princess DG. Since the kid was the reason for his original plan to turn down the Queen, he could hardly say no; not if it mattered to her like he suspected it did. While he was already proving to be a stellar member of the Queen's Cabinet, he felt he had been failing in his most important job: DG.
DG had been having problems before he made his sudden disappearance, and it hadn't taken him long to connect the strange weather patterns to her mood. The storms that had been washing through Central City since he had taken his new posting were a different story altogether, and Wyatt felt a twinge of guilt that could not be assuaged by any praise from the Queen. He'd known that DG was troubled, but he just couldn't think of how to fix it for her. He also wasn't sure how to discuss such a thing with his son without veering uncomfortably close to mentioning Adora.
Finally, Wyatt's fatigue got the better of him, and he leaned back on the couch and groaned, "Gods Jeb, I just don't know what to do. It seems like the second I think I might be able to breathe so I can come check on her, another fire pops up that's got to be put out with the council. Did you know that the Eastern Guild chased off another envoy that tried to get them to attend the Reclamation Ceremony? If I didn't know better, I'd say those little ankle-biters are trying to get the Gales to kiss their feet, but I've got half a mind to put mine where it might do some good."
Jeb had been silently studying his father as he sat mulling on the couch next to him. The man was clearly torn about his various roles, and none seemed to give him quite as much trouble as DG. It wasn't as if he was required to continue acting as DG's guard, but he clearly wanted to. What was more, he didn't seem to be able to bring himself to talk about it openly with him, and Jeb suspected his father still had a few skeletons to excise before that conversation could be had with anyone, let alone him. Then his father began grumbling about the Eastern Guild and inspiration hit him like a sudden flash of lightening, and a slow grin spread on his face.
Jeb straightened his face as his father finished his soliloquy and prepared to set a trap for both of his charges, hoping that he might be able to kill two birds with one stone. "Well at least you're doing something. The Princess will be happy to hear about it, since she's been feeling pretty useless lately."
Wyatt's eyes peeped open and he eyed his son with thinly veiled concern, asking quietly, "Is that why she's been so upset?"
Jeb pretended not to notice his father's expression, which was a mixture of not-so paternal interest and worry, and he shrugged as he deflected him by saying, "Yeah, I guess, but come on. How bad could it be to be a Princess?"
Jeb intentionally found a spot to look at across the room as he finished so his father could fix him with a skeptical eye without Jeb cracking his façade. He knew he was successful in baiting his father when he rumbled quietly, "but she didn't know she was a Princess until last cycle. You can't expect a farm girl to sit on her hands when there's work to be done." Wyatt paused to huff at himself in exasperation, and Jeb thought he heard him mutter quietly, "Gods Cain, you're thick."
Jeb glanced at his father now to see him scrub the back of his head in discomfort. This was a clear indication, at least from one Cain to another, that Wyatt Cain was intensely uncomfortable with himself in that moment. Jeb knew that it would only take one more tease, and he'd have his father completely hooked, and he stared off in space again and answered thoughtlessly, "Yeah, I guess. I just wish I knew how to help you with your Eastern Guild problem. I mean, they know me. I could always go out there, but I think you're right about them wanting the Gales to kiss up to them. They're very proud, you know." Jeb feigned a pensive pause and he continued again after another moment as if thinking out loud, "What we really need is someone who's got the inside track. You know, someone we can trust that doesn't appear too regal. Anyone who looks stuck up or pops off magic tricks every few seconds will put them off, and then we're at square one again." Jeb sighed now and finished by adding, "Sorry Dad, I wish I knew how to help you."
The second Jebediah Cain switched the subject back from the Princess to the Eastern Guild, Wyatt knew exactly what his son was doing. He watched his son avoid eye contact and pretend to be anything less than the empathetic young man he knew him to be, and he could not help but be somewhat amused. There was also a pang of sadness when it occurred to him that Jeb had learned this tactic from his mother, who had used it expertly on him on more than one occasion. Despite having caught Jeb red-handed though, Wyatt played along. Honestly, it was a damned good idea to pull the kid in on his munchkin problem. It would give her something important to do, and it would give him a much-needed break from council chambers.
"Finally," DG breathed as she stretched upwards in bed.
She blinked blearily at the room around her. It was still a horribly ungodly hour, and sunlight hadn't even started filtering through the cracks in her heavy, dark blue curtains yet. Ordinarily, she would have been incensed at being awoken so early, but today was a big day. Today, she was leaving on her first official mission for the House of Gale, and she was ecstatic to be leaving the confines of the palace, which had started to feel more like a gilded cage. DG was tired of flapping against the walls, and when the Queen presented the opportunity for her to escape, DG had taken it with both hands. So now, instead of slinking out of her bed with a groan, DG literally jumped from the twisted sheets and dashed to the bathroom. It was almost inhuman, the speed with which the Princess bathed and changed, and she only paused when her looking-glass doppelgänger caught her eye. DG frowned at her image in the mirror –her long, dark curls were a tangled mess this morning, and she looked somehow thinner than she recalled being the last time she'd seen Cain.
"If I get any skinnier, I'm going to disappear." DG grumbled to the mirror as she scrubbed her face. She huffed loudly at herself in annoyance. It wouldn't take much for Cain to figure out that she hadn't been doing so well since he last saw her, and that would inevitably lead to him feeling the need to sacrifice his new commission to look after her. This thought gave her no end of irritation, and after finishing her speedy shower, DG endeavored to put on her best brave face. "There won't be any hara-kiri on my watch." DG muttered as she examined herself one last time.
She did, admittedly, look less alarming after taking a shower. Her curls were less unruly, and at least consented to being pulled into a ponytail, and the fact that she was allowed to be seen in public in a pair of pants restored some of the spring in her step. DG smoothed the front of her slacks out in front of the mirror and straightened her blouse. It wasn't jeans and a t-shirt, but at least she was comfortable, and in this, she could still pull off her canvas shoes, which peeped out of the front of her dark blue legs. The blouse had been fashioned after her much-loved t-shirt, which had seen so much action during her trek through the OZ that she had had to retire it shortly after the eclipse, and the sky blue shade of the soft silken material had the effect of making her cerulean eyes shine. Satisfied that she looked the part of the spunky slipper princess once more, DG smiled at herself and turned to leave hurriedly.
DG didn't want to spend too much time picking apart her appearance, for fear that she might somehow find something wanting that might make her come apart once again. This "diplomatic mission to Alderaan," as she had been privately calling it in overly dramatic terms, would reunite her with Raw and Cain, and she was certain that either of them would see right through her if she was even the slightest bit ruffled when she appeared before them. Now was not the time for handholding, she told herself, she needed them to see that she was perfectly capable of taking part in the restoration of the OZ. Seeing that Jeb had already seen her at her worst, and had yet to out her to the rest of the world, she felt she could overlook his knowledge of her somewhat unstable state of mind. As it was, he was quickly becoming like a beloved little brother to the Princess, and she suspected that even if he did give her secret away, it would be to someone who would be equally as protective about her as he and his father were fast becoming. This idea might have gone off without a hitch, but what DG found when she opened the bedroom door onto her sitting room nearly made her burst out in tears again.
"Oh, you brought me coffee," DG sighed dreamily as she stopped short in her door to breathe in the sight of Cain, standing at her breakfast table, diligently pouring her a cup of dark, steaming fluid, topping it off with a healthy dose of cream.
DG was pleased to see Cain this morning dressed as she'd first known him – how she always saw him in her mind – trimly dressed in tan slacks, dress shirt and leather waistcoat, and hanging over the chair near the fireplace was his trench coat and beloved fedora. It shouldn't have been a surprise to see him when she did, but DG rationalized that the flutters in her stomach were owed more to the presence of coffee, than not having seen the Tin Man in weeks. Surely too, any latent image of what might be underneath that beloved uniform of his that drifted to the surface of her consciousness had to be blamed on her empty stomach and lack of human contact over the past cycle. There couldn't be any other reason for the feelings she was having, she thought with a small shake of her head.
Fortunately for DG, Cain hadn't seen her confused countenance, and he only glanced up at DG as he finished his pour. He replied sarcastically as he picked up the saucer and walked it over to the frozen Princess, "As I recall, the last time I got you up this early, I made the fatal error of not appearing at your door with coffee, and you sent pillows flying at my head."
"Expertly." DG added with a smirk, already sipping on her beverage.
Wyatt beamed down on her and laughed quietly, his rumbling voice sending a shiver through her, "Yeah, well I don't know where you learned to throw like that, but I have no intention on being on the wrong end of you again, Princess."
Under Cain's eyes, glittering with humor and something else that DG was not prepared to question, the Princess felt her face grow warm. She couldn't think of what to say without somehow sounding like a blithering idiot, so instead, she took another sip of her drink and moved slowly to the table where she intended on depositing her nearly empty cup. She did not see Wyatt's expression change to one of disappointment when she moved away, and if she had, she probably wouldn't have known what to do about it. Neither of them would, in all honesty, so it was a relief to them both when Jeb and Raw entered shortly thereafter.
As the odd pair entered, quietly due to the early hour, the faces of their cohorts brightened once more, and DG very nearly bounced from one side of the room to the other so she could wrap her arms around the smiling viewer. Raw had changed very little since DG had seen him last, and apart from his furry attire that gave him the overall appearance of an overlarge shaggy, bipedal dog, the only change was the way in which he carried himself. Since the first time DG had met Raw, just over a cycle ago, the empath had changed from a timid, cowering creature, to the proud, bright-eyed viewer that stood before her now. Raw and DG were overjoyed to see one another, not having the chance to see the other since the eclipse, where the wounds of his people and the country demanded Raw's attention and pulled him away from his now close royal friend, and they embraced tightly while both laughed happily. This brief physical contact was enough for Raw to glean something important from DG, however, and as they pulled away from each other, Raw eyed his young friend with an air of concern.
His warm brown eyes seemed to look deep into DG when he asked gently, "DG not so happy in palace. Better now, but still sad?"
Raw's eyes flickered to Cain for a fraction of a second when he made his second inference about DG's state of mind. DG's eyes also roved in Cain's direction, and she found that fortunately, the Tin Man was otherwise engaged in a quiet discussion with Jeb. DG rubbed Raw's arms affectionately and murmured quietly so only he could hear, "I'm always better with you and Cain around, but I'm fine, really. It's just Princess growing pains."
Raw looked unconvinced, and he half frowned at DG's response to show his displeasure with her obvious deflection. Always discrete though, Raw would not continue his gentle interrogation now, for Cain was finishing his conversation with Jeb and rapidly approaching so he could offer the viewer his own greeting. Wyatt too seemed to beam with happiness when he wrapped his arms around Raw and he muttered against the man's shoulder, "It's good to see you, Furball. I'm glad you could spare the time for this little mission of ours. Just like old times, huh?"
Wyatt's eyes seemed to smile on Raw as they parted from their embrace, and Raw replied cryptically, "Yes, Tin Man. Like old times."
Raw's patient gaze on the former Tin Man spoke volumes where he, as far as Wyatt could tell, would intentionally not elaborate verbally. Before, the viewer's inciteful observations about him had made him uncomfortable at best, but now, he almost welcomed them. Even Wyatt Cain was willing to admit that he had softened since their defeat of the witch, but how much was owed to resolving the mystery of what had happened to his family he still could not determine. In truth, he had hardly had a chance to breathe since the events at the tower and hadn't truly grappled with the lingering grief of losing his wife, let alone any other matters of the heart. At some point soon, Wyatt knew that he would have to have a more meaningful conversation with his furry cohort about the inner reaches of his psyche, but for now, his main concern was for that of the Princess.
Wyatt's jaw set into a firm line when he breathed out through his nose determinedly and replied, "Well, we'll talk more about that later, okay Raw?"
Raw nodded silently, holding his friends gaze for a time with a patient, knowing one of his own. There would be time, annuals even, for the Tin Man to unravel the jumble inside his brain, the viewer thought sagely, and there was no need to hash it all out now. Raw stepped back and watched the scene unfold before him now as they completed their preparations to leave. While DG bustled and fretted over details, the stalwart Tin Man stood close by, quietly supporting her. Raw smiled as he watched Cain locate the Princess' misplaced travel satchel, and snickered when Cain refused to hand it off, instead slinging it over his shoulder while, with his other hand, he attempted to reach for his fedora on the nearby chair. The Princess got to it first and placed it carefully on the Tin Man's head, a satisfied smirk firmly on her face. They were standing so close to the other as the Tin Man allowed the Princess to tug the hat down so that it was seated properly. While the Princess did this, she found her eyes trapped by the silent, smiling eyes of the man before her, and Raw thought he heard a laugh rumble quietly out of the Tin Man before they both broke eye contact and moved away in sudden shyness. It was clear to Raw then, that there was a reason for the Tin Man's need to speak with Raw sooner than later – a shift was happening, and it was as swift as a thunderclap in how it changed the air – it was also unsettling to the viewer, and in such close proximity to both the Tin Man and DG, he had difficulty drowning out the din of their collective thoughts.
Raw moved to the back of the party now with Jeb as they exited the room and made their way to the car port downstairs. At such an early hour, they moved quietly, with hardly a word spoken. This was a relief to Raw, who was having enough difficulty sorting out the inner thoughts of the group from words being spoken, after such time spent away from humans. When they stopped in front of two covered army trucks, where their army escort stood waiting, ready to drive them as far as the outer reaches of the Eastern Guild's territory, Raw paused to consider which truck he wanted to find himself in for the next few hours. He was happy to see his old friends, he thought, but their separate inner conflicts were like a cacophony, and he could only take so much before his head hurt.
The choice was simple then, and Raw muttered quietly to Jeb as they both watched the Tin Man help DG into the second truck, "Raw stay with Jeb. Tin Man and Princess' thoughts are too loud. Raw not get nap in same truck."
Jeb chuckled silently and replied with an affirmative nod, "Yeah, but at least they seem to be better thoughts. They both seem a lot happier now that they're back in the same general vicinity."
Raw clapped the young man on the shoulder and grinned, answering in a low rumble, "Jeb have gift, almost as good as empath."
Jeb shrugged noncommittally, and smirked. It wasn't in his nature to take credit for such things, he only did what felt natural, regardless of how he might fare from his usually succinct insights. Raw could sense this about the young man, and said no more, allowing his hand to drop from Jeb's shoulder as they moved towards their own truck. There was a mission to be completed, after all, and they were burning daylight.
Central City hadn't had the chance to change much in the short time that the Gales had come back. The glittering spires were still somewhat tarnished, and some alleyways were still too dark to traverse, even in broad daylight. Despite this though, there had been some visible improvement, DG noted as their truck bumped along the avenue and quickly left the palace behind. The streets had been cleared of debris, and families and children were slowly reappearing on the wide avenues between the residential districts and the market square. So too had gone the droves of Longcoats that had once lurked these streets, their menacing stares no longer discouraging the natural progression of life. So, although DG was certain that there was much left to do before the city was restored to the glory that Cain had once described only in passing, what had happened in only a cycle was a positive sign of things to come.
The truck quickly left these sights behind though, and so too did DG's thoughts drift to other subjects. Trees filled her view now, and past with such dizzying speed that her eyes could not focus on any one trunk or branch. She turned her silent watch now to Cain, who she found had been silently watching her rather than the scenery out his own window. DG felt her cheeks grow warm, and in effort to diffuse her sudden bashfulness, she returned the small smile that played at the edge of the Tin Man's mouth and sparkled in his eyes.
"What?" DG asked defensively, smile still in place.
Cain removed his hat and placed it on his knee, and his sigh told her that a lecture, perhaps somewhat lighthearted in nature, was about to emerge. "I heard you took off again. Where did you go this time?"
DG's mouth dropped and she answered in shock, "He told me that he didn't want you to know. What did you do, twist his arm?"
Wyatt could tell DG was only baiting him. Her voice had a touch of humor in it, and he could see a smirk fighting with her features. Somewhere inside that troublesome woman's head, she actually liked being caught by him. Damn, she's trouble, he thought with a slight frown, answering instead, "No, I don't have to with my own son. Besides, it's hard not to know about your escapes when you've literally got a storm cloud hanging over your head."
DG frowned now, and Wyatt could tell he'd hit a nerve. He might have said something then to ease the fall of her features, but DG seemed to have her own ideas, and swiped the hat from his knee, placing it on her head and partially obscuring her eyes when she retorted coolly, "I didn't grow up a princess you know, Mister Cain." She paused to turn her attention to the window, further marring his ability to see her eyes as she continued more softly, "I can manage just fine without a shadow."
Wyatt could hear hurt in her voice. He wasn't sure if it was truly aimed at him or not, but he knew without a doubt that she was attempting to redirect something that was hurting her internally. He suspected then that Jeb was right –without any purpose, DG had become unmoored, and what was worse, the only people she knew in the OZ were almost entirely absent on a daily basis. She was alone, and in a new place, and Wyatt felt supremely guilt-ridden despite his best efforts to ignore it.
DG's contemplative stare out the window was short-lived at least, and she turned to face him with a suddenly serene, if not stern look. "So, this whole thing was your idea, wasn't it?" DG folded her arms in front of her body, and her mouth screwed into a frown that Wyatt was hard-pressed not to grin at with boyish delight.
The corners of his mouth turned up and twitched when he tried to bring them back down into a more serious expression. Even if he knew she was deliberately changing the subject of their conversation from her to him, he had to admit –at least to himself – that she was irresistibly charming when she did it. Wyatt didn't want to take all of the credit though for her accusation, and in an attempt to appear more serious, he replied, "Well, Jeb might have planted a thought in my head about it, but yes, I did convince your mother that it would be a good idea for you to act as the official envoy on this trip."
DG's brow furrowed and her eyes darkened when she asked, her voice tinged with hurt, "Why didn't you just ask me yourself instead of going through my mother?"
Wyatt considered DG's question carefully while he studied her downturned face. Don't sugarcoat it Cain, he thought, she'll see right through it, and she won't thank you for it either. He huffed in mild exasperation at having to reveal something to her that he had originally intended to take zero credit for at all, but seeing that she'd already caught him, it was too late to turn back now.
"Kid," Wyatt sighed, removing his hat from her head and waiting for her to look at him before he continued, "You and I both know that you hate sitting still when there's work to be done, and you also know that I'm the last person that would want to tie you down when you've already done so much good." His eyes met DG's now, and he fixed her with an earnestness that made her tune out the rest of the world, and he admitted quietly, "If I had asked you, it wouldn't have meant nearly as much as I bet it did, coming from your mother."
Wyatt remained steady on DG as he watched her process what he said. She didn't reply right away, but he could tell by the flush that crept up her neck and rested on her cheeks, that his words had had some effect. The result was a pleasant sight to Wyatt, and his warm smile only grew the longer she seemed to struggle under his watch.
DG squirmed somewhat and her eyes flashed on his for a moment before she turned away and muttered, "It might have, but I still would have liked to see you."
It was Wyatt's turn to squirm, but this wasn't something the Tin Man usually did, and instead, he cleared his throat and turned to stare out his own window, almost growling, "Sorry kid. Been a little tied up, but I'm here now, aren't I?"
Wyatt turned back to look at DG, looking repentant and somewhat worried about what she might say, and was relieved to see her smiling serenely out the window. Her eyes flickered on his, and the passive smile turned to a full watt grin, and she nodded her agreement. This eased Wyatt's mind greatly, and he smiled in return as he let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Then DG yawned, and her arms came up over her head while she stretched. It was still early, Wyatt realized, and the kid had only had one cup of coffee; hardly serving to fill her usual quota of caffeine before she felt sufficiently awake.
Wyatt didn't think, and he didn't care about appearances for once, and reacted only to DG's apparent need for sleep, opening his arm to the young woman as he grumbled sweetly, "Come'ere Deeg. You can sleep on me."
DG's cheeks were still pleasantly pink when she smiled at the Tin Man and scooted closer to him, shifting on the seat to lay her head on his chest. Wyatt's arm fell around the Princess' shoulder meanwhile, and his hand held her to him while they both settled more comfortably. The hat came back onto the Tin Man's head and he pushed it down over his eyes, content to do the same as the Princess for the long drive. For some reason, sitting in that army truck and bouncing down the road did little to trouble Cain while the Princess rested against him. He felt oddly comforted by her weight on his chest, and when he breathed deeply, she did as well unintentionally, and the pattern of their joint breathing was enough to calm his overactive mind.
DG never failed to be amazed when Wyatt Cain initiated physical contact. In the short time that she'd known him, they had only touched a handful of times, and for DG this was a difficult prospect. DG had always been open and free with her displays of affection, and for the Tin Man, she had a great deal of it. As grouchy and temperamental as Wyatt Cain could be, he never left her side, and never truly judged her. His calling her a kid was a jab to be sure, but she knew internally that the names Cain gave people were like a shield. Either they would put distance between him and unwanted elements, or those that truly understood him would be drawn closer as if being given a special term of endearment. For most people, Cain only reserved one pet name, but DG knew that he must truly care about her, for she had not just one, but three separate nick names from the cool, stoic lawman. This was generally his way of showing affection with most, and the times that DG had initiated a surprise hug had been shocking and somewhat uncomfortable. The other times they'd touched, like this one, Wyatt still surprised her with such gentle, unassuming warmth. It had the effect of putting her completely at ease, and her eyes closed quickly as Wyatt's steady heartbeat sent her to sleep.
The truck stopped abruptly, causing Wyatt's beloved fedora to slide down his face and tumble to the floorboards. Wyatt awoke almost as quickly as his hat had ceased to offer him shade from the sun, and he winced as he looked out the window at their destination. They had arrived just outside the borders of the Eastern Guild, where they intended to camp for the night before finishing on foot the next day. His initial instinct would have been to jump out and confer with his officers, but a soft weight rested on his chest, and when he shifted, she grunted adorably in her sleep. A small frown formed on Wyatt's face at this –he hated waking DG up – it seemed a remnant of their days traipsing through the OZ. She had struggled with sleep then, being haunted by images from her past life that she didn't understand, and Wyatt had looked on in silent concern then. Now, she was safe at least, but she seemed no less troubled. If anything, she seemed more so, and he hadn't missed some of the light being absent in her wide eyes when he held her gaze for longer than a moment earlier. She seemed to come out of her funk to some degree when he and Raw reappeared, Wyatt realized, and although that gave him some hope, it also reminded him of his own troubles. Since accepting his new commission, Wyatt had been listless and sullen, and his usual sleeplessness was compounded by something that he couldn't quite place. Seeing DG had put to rest that question, as it had his sleeplessness, and now that he knew it, he hated waking her up even more.
They couldn't stay in the truck all evening though, and Wyatt grimaced slightly before gently shaking the Princess into waking, "Hey kid, we're here. Time to get up."
"I don't want to go see the nasty little lawn gnomes, Cain, they'll put me in a bird cage again," DG muttered against his chest, and Wyatt stifled a laugh at her obstinance that was unfortunately keeping him trapped in what was quickly becoming a precarious position.
Wyatt tried to straighten his face and focus on the matter at hand, and rubbed her shoulder a little harder, replying, "No one's gonna put you in a cage while I'm around, Princess. Come on, you don't have to see them tonight anyway, we're gonna camp out under the stars tonight, and deal with the ankle-bitters tomorrow. Okay?"
Wyatt's words seemed to have done their job, and DG finally sat up with a sleepy frown. She had pulled her hair out of its ponytail sometime during their nap, and her hair had gone wild, surrounding her sleepy, flushed countenance in unruly curls. Wyatt could not help but admire the fact that even in her tousled state, she was uncommonly pretty, and as she blinked blearily at the window over his shoulder, his hand moved on its own to move an errant strand out of her face. As he tucked the dark strand behind DG's ear, her eyes refocused on him, and she smiled up into his eyes with genuine fondness. Her attention made his heart swell for a moment, and he withdrew his hand suddenly when he realized that his fingertips had lingered a little too long on the line of DG's jaw. DG didn't seem to mind his affection, nor did she feel any disappointment when he retreated, being accustomed to the comings and goings of Cain's demonstrativeness. They were, after all, at least partially visible to others, and it was only natural for Cain to withhold any public displays. Then she noticed his hat laying forgotten on the floorboard, and she reached down to catch it before he could react.
Wyatt looked on with mild interest while DG brushed off the felt carefully, and smiled when she proclaimed while replacing the hat on his head, "Good as new, Tin Man."
DG admired the way Cain's steely blue eyes seemed to smile on their own as he looked down on her and rumbled, "Thanks kid." A voice in the back of Cain's mind warned, better get a move on Cain, or you'll want to stay here all night. This made the Tin Man stiffen slightly, and he cleared his throat while tilting his head suggestively towards the door, adding, "You ready?"
DG seemed to understand Wyatt's mind without him saying more than those two words, and the soft smile melted into a passively determined nod. "Yeah, let's go," She huffed quietly, and followed Cain out the door of the truck.
When DG stepped from the truck, she realized that the road on which they'd been traveling as far back as she could see was made of heavily packed dirt, with only one or two yellow bricks blinking in the lowering suns. The grass that grew on either side or this road was matted from repeated army traffic, but beyond more than a meter or two on either side, it was still high and wild. Being a farm girl at heart, DG guessed that their road had been fairly bumpy for some time before they came to a stop, and she glanced at Cain in astonishment when she surmised that they had both slept through it. Cain's eyes were too busy scanning the horizon ahead when she looked up at him, and in that moment, he seemed a million miles away. DG didn't have to ask what had taken him away, for a survey of their surroundings told DG all she needed to know. It was later in the day than it had been the first time she was here, she thought, but she recognized the general look of the area. In the far distance ahead, at least mile away, a copse of tall trees stood like a massive barrier to the grasslands that they stood in now. Somewhere to the south of the road, where Cain now watched, was his old homestead and the iron prison she had rescued him from only a cycle or so ago.
The look in Cain's eyes was pained, like it had been the day they had found Adora's grave, and his jaw hardened as he choked back tears. DG glanced at the rest of the party behind them – they were conspicuously ignoring the two of them, and DG sent a silent thank you to both Raw and Jeb, who seemed to be directing everyone away from their general vicinity while they set up camp. Satisfied now that they would be left alone a little while longer, DG moved closer to Cain and silently slipped her hand into his and pulled it into her other hand gently. Cain's attention was broken with that, and he looked down on her in bewildered silence for only a moment before he smiled gratefully and squeezed her hand back. DG didn't say anything, and only smiled faintly up at her friend, her expression calm and understanding. When Cain turned back to his silent vigil now, still holding her hand like a security blanket, he felt a certain amount of gratitude for her head leaning on his shoulder in a silent show of solidarity, and the serenity that seemed to wash over him from her proximity.
Another few moment past before either acknowledged the other again, and during which time they seemed to lean against the other, strengthening the other by physics alone. Finally though, Wyatt seemed to have recovered himself enough, and peered down on the Princess as he muttered roughly, "Thanks, kid. You're good for me, you know that?"
DG eyed him in her peripheral vision while still appearing to look out ahead of them, and she shrugged when she replied simply, "what are friends for, if not standing by you when you need them. You've done that for me all this time, its only fair that I do the same for you."
A smirk appeared at the edge of her mouth as she glanced up at him, and Cain smiled back, feeling a sense of levity rise up in him all of the sudden. It was then that he suddenly remembered the rest of their party and turned to inspect their progress, feeling somewhat flustered for his unexpected inattentiveness. When he realized how far they had gotten with their preparations, Cain gave DG's hand a final squeeze before he let her go and indicated with a jerk of his head that they should join the rest.
DG wasn't sure which time she'd slept better – in the truck, using Cain as her personal pillow, or in a tent under the stars with both Cain men flanking her temporary quarters and Raw sitting against a nearby tree – but she was glad for it all the same, and thankful for a decent nights rest for once. She almost didn't need coffee to get moving that morning, but she didn't argue all the same when Cain made her a cup without her even having to ask. She had just sat up when there was a light tap on the flap of her small tent, and when she got up and peered out, she grinned when she saw Cain standing on the other side with a steaming cup in his hands.
"Thought you could use this," he greeted her quietly, handing her the cup gingerly, afraid she might burn herself.
"Thanks Cain," she replied sleepily.
DG took her time taking the cup from Cain, and she took this opportunity to study his appearance. He seemed like he had rested well himself, for the troubled expression that he had worn the previous day was gone, and he took no pains to hide his smile when he had greeted her. There was no hat on his head that morning either, and DG was pleased to see that Cain's eyes seemed somehow brighter, and while always expressive on their own, there was no hidden pain or conflict there either.
While DG sipped on her hot beverage, Cain took the opportunity to fill her in on their next plans, explaining while he looked out over the waking camp, "We'll break camp in just a little while, once the men get a chance to get something to eat, and we'll all head out on foot from there. Besides the two men that we'll leave behind to keep an eye on the vehicles, there will be another group waiting at the border while you, me, Jeb and Raw head into the woods."
"No scaring the turkeys, huh?" DG scoffed; smirk firmly planted on her face.
Wyatt chuckled back and nodded, "Yeah something like that. That's also why none of us are wearing official regalia. I don't want to set them off."
Wyatt was fixing DG with a stern expression now, almost like he was afraid she might do something impulsive, and DG rolled her eyes before she spoke, "I promise, Mister Cain, I'll behave myself. You have my word. I won't even ask for reparations for being put in a cage the last time I was their guest."
Wyatt's eyes narrowed suspiciously when DG said this, and she could not determine if it was because he didn't believe her, or if her calling him "mister" had somehow riled him. Whatever the cause, DG was not in any mood to address it, and took another sip of her drink before handing the cup back to him and announcing with a sweet smile, "Well, I guess I'd better get myself presentable before we go. I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Okay kid," Cain growled back, sighing as he turned back to the camp to help in breaking down the tents.
Fortunately for the men assigned to the envoy, DG was not the type of Princess that fretted with her appearance, nor was she the type to allow anyone else to break down her tent. Before anyone had a chance to help her, DG had broken down the canvas structure, rolled it up as if another article of her clothing, and stowed it in her satchel. DG's actions hadn't surprised Cain at all, and while he did sit close by and watch the whole display, it was more to enjoy the bewildered expressions of the other men who had intended to help her than the Princess herself. DG had noticed Cain sitting close by and smirked at him while she took similar enjoyment. When all was done, DG stood in the middle of what had been her camp with her hands on her hips and satisfied smile on her face, and she huffed happily.
"Well I'm ready, how about you guys?" DG asked brightly, her eyes sparkling almost as much as her near-manic grin.
DG's party had been standing at the ready, and was headed by Cain, who was now shaking his head and laughing silently. "Come on, kid, let's get a move on," he said though a smirk, and she joined him at his side as they rejoined the road that was on a direct course for the trees in the distance.
The band of what more closely resembled family in description than any other adjective walked in near silence towards the trees, which seemed to watch them as they slowly drew near. During that entire time, DG held her head high, and on her face, she wore a mask of calm. Wyatt watched her covertly from the corner of his eye and noted how not even the smallest sounds or breeze blowing through the stray wisps of her hair seemed to trouble her. For all the Princess' bluster, Wyatt could see a glint of concern in her eyes, and for that reason, he chose to remain close to act as a shield if she felt she needed it. All of DG's joking about the Eastern Guild aside, she was nervous about intentionally putting herself at their mercy once more. Although small in stature and somewhat comical in their paranoia, she knew that the Eastern Guild was nothing to be trifled with. Beyond these quirks lay a proud, fierce people, who had successfully avoided the worst of the Sorceress' reign of terror, and if they wanted to, they could avoid anything the Gales dished out as well. DG knew that this kind of strength was sorely needed in the chambers of power that the House of Gale was struggling to restore, and she didn't need anyone to tell her how important their alliance would be to the group that managed to secure it. If DG and her family wanted the OZ to be restored as one sovereign nation once more, they needed all the guilds and counties to come together, and any splintering could throw them into a civil war. DG's mother hadn't really said any of this implicitly, for fear of putting too much pressure on her somewhat volatile daughter, but DG was no fool and was an expert at reading in between the lines. Her friends knew this, of course, and they also knew that if DG asked for their help, it was a matter of importance.
So, as they left behind the grasslands, and stepped onto the loam of the forest floor, their expressions all turned serious and any discussion that might have been had ceased completely. Their positions also changed, and the Princess became flanked by each Cain man once again, with Raw at her back. In this protective cocoon, DG felt at her strongest, and ready to take on any munchkin that pointed a spear at her. Initially, however, this seemed almost unnecessary, as they appeared completely alone. The towering pines waved somewhat in the wind, and their trunks creaked slowly as they moved. Somewhere in the back of DG's mind, something told her that these creaks and moans were like an early warning system for the Guild, and that the trees were actually speaking as they waved in the wind. The princess did not react though, and continued forward, still listening as she walked with her friends. When the borders of this country could no longer be seen, and they were wholly surrounded in forest, the birds were next to change their tune, and ceased their pleasant twitter as they continued deeper into the trees. It was only their footfalls thudding on the earthen floor that they heard now, with the occasional whispering wind to remind them of the stead passage of time. Wyatt knew that these were no ordinary whispers, and that they were most likely surrounded on all sides. He didn't dare look up, for although he wouldn't see a thing, the action would signal him as somehow distrustful in their hosts' eyes. Cain considered stopping, to allow the Guild a chance to come to them and give their group an opportunity to take a rest before the circus started. They could walk all day and they would probably not encounter any outright resistance, he thought in some frustration, and he was near to suggesting it when DG suddenly stopped at looked at them all in turn.
"We should stop here," she announced a little too loudly for just their group, and Cain noted a slight smile at the corner of her mouth. When their eyes met, he had no doubt that the kid knew what she was doing and had the same thought he had had just then. As uncanny as this suggestion was to him, that they might know each other's minds so well after so short a time, he was grateful to not have to explain himself to his charge and dropped his pack instantly with a small nod of his head.
Raw remained silent this entire time and had looked on while worrying with his hands as they created a small, comfortable circle, and started passing out snacks like they were on a day hike. Before seating herself, DG glanced at her fury friend, and stepped to his side to pat his arm. Her wide blue eyes met his warm, brown set, and she smiled sympathetically while she continued to squeeze his arm lightly. The viewer didn't need her to speak to know what she was telling him, and her smile alone told him that she cared for his feelings deeply. This brought his worry under control enough that he smiled back at the young woman and patted her hand to indicate that all was well now. Now satisfied at least that Raw wouldn't worry himself into a panic, DG led him to their party, where they sat and enjoyed a snack in silence.
Raw was, of course, aware of the large band of guild members that were watching from the trees above. He knew that if he looked up, he wouldn't see a thing. He also knew that he couldn't run, and even if he wanted to, he still wouldn't have for the princess in his care. DG was right to be concerned about his level of panic, he reasoned, but he smiled internally with the thought that although concerned, she did not seem to fear his departure. This hadn't been a concern in the young woman's mind once in their friendship – she had always trusted him implicitly – and he was appreciative that her trust had somehow bolstered him until he was stronger than he'd ever thought himself capable. Empathy was another characteristic of the slipper princess that the viewer was grateful for, and this sense of care had brought together so many beyond their small group in the last cycle, despite DG's insistence that she had very little to do with it. This study told Raw that she was, indeed, the right person for this mission, and he hoped that her trust, bravery, empathy, and modesty would endear her to the Eastern Guild like it had every member in their small group.
The Guild seemed a gracious host at least and allowed their band to finish their meager meal before appearing. Just as wrappers were being stowed and throats cleared of what contents remained, the group found themselves surrounded by a large party of tribesmen, who descended from the trees on interminably long ropes. There were quadruple the number of guildsmen to their little band, and all carried fierce expressions and sharp spears as their protection. None spoke, but watched them closely while they all waited, for what, DG was not certain. A moment past, and her impatience nearly got the better of her, but for the arrival of their leader, who descended ahead of the rest, and closest to DG's position.
He was a proud looking man, and like his warriors, he was adorned in feathers and warpaint, but his were grander, and his paint a brilliant red as opposed to their less vibrant shades of yellow and blue. It was an interesting thing to be looked down upon by one who stood at half of DG's height, and DG cleared her throat lightly to dislodge the laugh that sat there in waiting. She had met this man before, of course, and knew that he was greatly respected. It would not do well to insult him, and this sobered her enough that any hint of a smile was wiped clean from her face.
"I am Redhat," the man announced proudly, "and you are DG, Slipper Princess of the House of Gale." DG nodded her head politely, but did not otherwise speak, out of courtesy to the proud man. This seemed to gratify the man's superiority and he added graciously, "You may speak Princess. Please tell us the reason for your visit."
Wyatt was somewhat uncertain what DG would say, and a small part of him worried that she might accidentally insult the man, but he was relieved that so far, her instincts seemed right on. What she said next further relieved him, and he relaxed internally when she replied gratefully, "Thank you, Redhat, for allowing our small group to pass through your magnificent trees. My friends have come with me in my quest to see you and your people, and ask your help, if you would be willing to speak with me."
Redhat straightened, and his chest puffed up while he considered her seriously. His eyes remained steady on DG's while he did this, as if they were the only two people in that forest, locked in some ancient battle. For DG's part, she did not flinch, and she held the man's stern gaze in serene silence. Discretion, she had learned, was the better part of valor, and she intended to show both her courage and trust to this man with her eyes alone.
Her tactic seemed to have worked this time, and Redhat finally flinched, announcing loudly, "We will speak." He stopped and waved to the air in signal, "Come, your friends shall join my warriors, while you and I speak privately."
Wyatt had been in a near-panic when Redhat's warriors had separated him from DG. Although it had been expected, he had not planned on the feelings that came over him when it actually happened. Already, he had managed to lose her two times while trying his utmost to protect her, and although it had resulted in their defeating the which, the memories still haunted him. There had only been one other woman in his life that had so successfully dodged his attempts to protect her, and he had lost her as a result of his own carelessness. He would not do so with DG, he thought determinedly.
It was at this point that Raw's hand fell softly on his shoulder and led him to sitting at a log near a warm fire, where they spoke with thoughts alone. While he had been surveying the pleasant little village they now stood in, at the feet of the tallest trees in the center of the forest land, they stopped momentarily on his furry companion. Raw smiled warmly on him in return, saying with his eyes alone, that DG was safe, and he could rest easy for a moment.
"DG safe, Tin Man," the Viewer rumbled quietly, "DG know they mean no harm. Just worried about her magic. Want to trust Princess, just need to understand her."
Wyatt sighed quietly and nodded his head in resigned agreement. On the other side of the fire, his son sat watching noiselessly. When Wyatt's eyes met his, there was a similar look of quiet understanding that was further increased with a small nod of his son's head, and Wyatt calmed considerably. All the brooding and posturing in the world could not help him, he knew, and at least among these men, he knew he was in good hands as well as his princess. With that, his thoughts rested solely on his charge, wondering how her mission was faring.
The hut that Redhat had led DG into was in the branches of the tallest tree, and sat on a wide, round platform made of sturdy logs. There were other rounded huts surrounding this one, sitting on similar rounded platforms in other trees in the small cluster, and each was connected by a strong looking rope bridge that two full grown people could walk on side-by-side without fear of falling. Redhat's hut was the largest of the group, and his thatched roof was thicker than the rest, with bright red berries mixed in among the branches that gave the dwelling protection from the elements.
It was still a little small for DG, and she had to stoop as they entered. She was relieved, then, when Redhat sat at the end of the structure on a firm cushion and indicated to DG that she may sit before him on a slightly plusher counterpart. DG did as she was asked wordlessly, and when she sat, she nodded in silent appreciation to her host, who smiled with warm satisfaction.
There was a glint of recognition in the man's eye and a paternalistic smile spread slowly as he spoke, "We have met before, Princess DG."
DG smiled slyly and nodded, replying, "Yes, I recall being your guest once before, although the accommodations were not quite so nice the last time."
Redhat roared in laughter at this and shook his head, answering kindly, "Perhaps the young Princess does not remember the first time we met." He paused to consider DG's look of confusion and continued, "I will tell you then."
DG sat in rapt silence while Redhat recounted to her their first meeting, having no memory of it whatsoever. Annuals past, a rather spunky young girl had wandered into their trees (or marched rather, according to his retelling), and requested quite diplomatically for one so young, that she be allowed to join their guild. There was a fire in that young girl's eyes, and she had stood proud like one of his bravest warriors when she had stood before him. Her request was just that, though, and there was no malice or contempt in her eyes when she asked it. It seemed that she truly felt kinship with his people, and given her spirit, he was not inclined to disagree. He had consented, and out of respect for the girl he had withheld the laugh that was threatening to bubble up from within him while he did so. He had thought she might not be truly up to the task of guild membership – it was hard, even for a child – to climb the tall trees, learn to shoot arrows and spears straight and with enough deadly force to protect as well as feed the guild, and to work alongside the adults to care for the village structures. The girl had, however, and in only days she was akin to any other child her age in the guild. In some respects, she was better so, but he only vaguely suspected the reason. When a Royal Army contingent arrived days later, looking for a wayward princess, he knew for certain, and had relinquished the girl somewhat sadly. Now, it seemed that his adopted daughter had reappeared, and he was secretly pleased. He had been waiting for her, of course, and had stubbornly held back his support of the Gales in hopes that she would return once more.
He did not tell her that, of course, being intimately aware of the deep sense of pride that was just as ingrained in this woman as it was one of his own. DG could not have known of the man's personal knowledge of her, and when he relayed the most innocent details of their first meeting, she blushed profusely and laughed. When her laughing finally subsided, she sighed sadly and admitted, "Thank you, Redhat, for telling me that. I'm afraid though, that you have me at somewhat of a disadvantage." Redhat's eyes narrowed in confusion and DG added, "You see, there is still a magical block on my memories, and I can't remember that time, or much else from before I was taken to the Otherside, but I wish I could. I think I was probably happy here before."
Redhat nodded in equal sadness, having wished to recount their past together, and he sighed as he replied, "Ah, Princess DG, I wish there was something I could do to help."
This polite offer gave DG a sudden spark of inspiration, and her eyes glinted with happiness when she replied hopefully, "You can actually!" Redhat looked up on his former charge with interest and she continued, "I understand if this is something you are disinclined to do, since we are still so weak, but we could use your long memory and strong leadership in the council. Would you consider coming back for the Reclamation?"
Redhat studied the Princess as solemnly as he possibly could, given that he had already made up his mind before she had asked. DG, for her part, could not tell the rouse from the truth, for the man was generally so straight-faced that he gave the Tin Man a run for his money. Having had experience reading these kinds of stoic men before, however, DG was able to at least recognize a glint of humor in the man's eye that gave her some hope of positive reaction. Instead of giving her the satisfaction of answer however, Redhat wanted more to indulge his curiosity in the changes that had occurred within his old friend, including the addition of the protective lawman that seemed tied to her in a much more intimate way than one who was by all other appearances, only her guard.
"I must have time to consider," Redhat answered solemnly, and added in an attempt to assuage her disappointment, "but do not be discouraged. While I think on what you've said, you and your friends will be our guests. We will throw a party tonight in your honor, and you will rest in comfort under our trees. Before you leave in the morning, I will give you the answer you seek."
This did give DG the encouragement she needed, and as they rose together, she smiled on the man and nodded happily. With that decided, DG then followed the chief from his hut to rejoin her party.
The party thrown by their hosts had been epic in nature, and was a "true Ewok celebration," according to the Princess. Cain had no idea what Ewoks were, or how they related to the small people that had gathered on the forest floor in honor of their guest, but he could only surmise that it was a positive thing, for she had smiled brightly when she had said it, and laughed delightedly when the dancing had begun around the large bonfire.
Even Cain had to admit that the spirit of the celebration that had popped up around them lightened his own mood, and a smile grew on his face as he watched the Princess dance among the children of the guild in happy abandon. A part of Cain longed to join DG in her lighthearted celebration, but the greater part of him told him that it would not be appropriate, and he sat quietly with Raw instead, while their younger cohorts intermingled pleasantly with their hosts. Jeb had taken to a group of young warriors, and was engaged in a jovial conversation some feet away, and could not hear anything being said between his father and the furry man beside him, and so the two could speak in relative privacy for a time.
Now seemed as good a time as any to address the Tin Man finally, and Raw spoke quietly as they gazed at the small campfire before them, "Tin Man have questions?"
Wyatt glanced at Raw for a moment before his sight returned to DG a few yards away, and he answered thoughtfully, "Yeah, but I'm not sure how many of them you can answer, Furball."
Raw's eyes followed Cain's gaze, and he nodded, answering sagely, "Some answers only found with time, and patience, Tin Man, but you feel happier now than before."
The edges of Cain's mouth crept upward at this observation, and he chuckled as he answered candidly, "Yeah, its been good to be back with you, with her. It doesn't make any of the questions go away, but it does make them feel less urgent. Like they'll keep until I'm ready for them."
Raw nodded silently, and answered after a moment of meditation, "Cain ready soon, Raw thinks."
Cain nodded in agreement, and for once the realization seemed to bring with it a sense of hope and closure. "Yeah Furball, I think so. I think the next time I come this way; I might come on my own. We're not too far from my own house, you know."
Raw growled softly and replied, "Yes. Raw know. Tin Man's mind on suit. On saying goodbye."
"Soon," Cain answered simply, "Soon."
Despite being awake several hours past the fall of the twin suns, DG and her party awoke early, when the birds heralded the arrival of the suns once more and the world seemed new. DG had been given a pleasant little hut to sleep in among the trees, and nestled among the soft pillows of her bedding, she almost forgot that she had slept on the floor of the hut instead of a plush bed. DG felt oddly refreshed, having slept so little and in such odd circumstances, and she reasoned that between being back in a place she had once been so happy, as well as being surrounded by some of her closest friends, her body was finally able to relax. Satisfied by this knowledge, DG prepared herself to leave, and in stooping to exit, she picked up her bag and exited quietly. DG was unsurprised to find her friends waiting outside, with Cain standing by the door and Jeb and Raw standing on a nearby rope bridge, chatting pleasantly and attempting to passively ignore whatever might be said between the Tin Man and his ward.
Cain took DG's bag from her and slung it over his shoulder, and he greeted her quietly, "Morning Princess, did you sleep well?"
Cain looked down on the Princess, who he was happy to see, appeared refreshed if not attractively ruffled. She had decided to let her curls free today, and her cheeks were a rosy pink as he looked down on her. In all honesty, the way her lashes fluttered at him when she smiled stirred something in him, but he looked away quickly, pretending to look out over the village before and below them.
"I did, thank you, Mister Cain. You seem to have rested well yourself." DG answered thoughtfully.
Cain's eyes moved back to the Princess', and he smirked as he replied somewhat sardonically, but with soft fondness, "Well, you know how it is, when you've lived out in the country for a long time. You just sleep better than you do in the city, right Princess?" DG's only reply was a grin, and she broke their eye contact to look below at the growing activity of the morning. Cain looked down as well and suggested quietly, "I think we'd probably better get a move on soon, Highness."
DG followed Cain's gaze, where down below, a group of important looking Guild members were slowly gathering. DG nodded in agreement with Cain at this sight, and soon the entire party descended to join the growing group. In short order, Redhat and his senior warriors arrived, parting the gathering with their arrival, stopping only when they reached DG and her group.
"Princess DG," Redhat announced importantly, "you and your friends have honored us with your visit." DG and her friends bowed in silent thanks and Redhat continued, "I will send an envoy to the Reclamation, with one condition."
DG smiled conspiratorially and replied with equal weight, "Please, name your condition, and I will do everything I can do assist you in our shared goals."
Redhat now smiled broadly and replied, "I would like very much for you and your friends to visit us soon and tell us how you are faring. We have missed our lost daughter, and would like to share in your happiness, now that you are so surrounded in those that wish you as much happiness and safety as we do."
DG grinned and replied, "Yes, I would like very much to do just that, Redhat, thank you for your hospitality."
Redhat and his warriors now bowed, and in straightening, Redhat handed a letter to Cain and asked, "General, you have honored us by your close attentions to the Princess. She appears safe and happy in your keep. If you will, please deliver this message to the Queen to convey our intentions regarding what we've spoken of today, and if you will, please continue to keep the Princess safe. Our thanks."
Cain, DG, and the others bowed once more in closing, and turned to depart. As they gathered their bags, which had been sitting on the forest floor near the base of their tree, Cain took the Princess' bag from her and slung it over his shoulder. As he did this, he looked down on her with his eyes smiling once more and rumbled quietly, "Let me do that, Deeg, please."
A shudder passed through DG at the soft rumbling of the Tin Man standing so close by, and she looked up at him, feeling instantly thrilled by the smile she found there. It occurred to her in that moment that, at least with the Tin Man, she could let some of her independent posturing rest. She wasn't ready to admit this openly though, and instead shrugged nonchalantly, before following him down the path and away from the village.
For now, it was enough for Cain that she had relented somewhat, and he smiled to himself as they departed, knowing for certain that his attentions to her were both welcome and wanted both by his princess, and by those that cared for her. Now knowing where he was most wanted, Cain could move forward with the questions still left in his mind, satisfied at least that while he sorted them, he would have no question of where his home was.