I realized something a moment ago… it's not quite as dramatic as I had planned! But I promise, IF the story continues on for a while, it will get better. I just have a fondness for fluff! Yay fluff. ((sighs)) Fluff is fun. But here's a note to my lovely friends who have reviewed Ch. 2 (the original, anyway…)
LesMisLoony: Neverfear! The Tin Man and Scarecrow have RETURNED! (yay!)
Zazzie: Ya! Liir and Dorothy are great together. I loved it in the book and though I should put it in my fic.
L. M. Ward: Yes… Liir is a bit obsessive, isn't he? But then again, you must excuse me. I was a phan (Phantom of the Opera fan) first and foremost, so obsession is something I am definitely familiar with.
Kennedy Leigh Morgan, Dave the L's gal, Lils, and blushingbeauty86: Thanks so much for reviewing!
Disclaimer: Don't own it. Don't even ask.
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Ch. 3: Crimson
Nanny was in the kitchen making coffee when Dorothy tiptoed down the stairs. She was wearing a lavender bathrobe over the pajamas that had been loaned to her.
"Umm... Nanny?" she asked timidly.
Nanny's head turned away from the brewing coffee. She smiled with her crooked, wrinkly grin. "Good morning, dear! Sleep well?"
"Not exactly," she murmured under her breath. "Nanny, have you seen my dress? I left it near my bed, but I can't seem to find it."
"Oh, the odd-looking blue one?" Nanny replied as she fetched some cups from the cupboard. "I washed it. It should be about done drying. Hold on a minute." Nanny walked out the door and returned a minute or two later with the clean dress folded neatly in her arms. She handed it to Dorothy who examined the fabric and how nice it felt since it was finally clean.
Nanny poured coffee into each of the two porcelain cups and offered one to Dorothy. "Just have a cup of coffee with me and then you can change."
Dorothy took the cup and followed Nanny to the table. She remembered it as the table they had dined at the previous day before... she didn't even want to think of that now. She sat near the old woman in an awkward silence for a few minutes until Nanny finally spoke. "So are you enjoying your stay in Kiamo Ko, dear?"
Dorothy shifted a little in her chair. She did not want to insult the woman's home. She did like Kiamo Ko. It was a landscape very different from Kansas. Gazing out any window over Kiamo Ko took her breath away. But she was far from having a good time.
Before Dorothy could even try to answer, Nanny answered for her. "I can see you are not. Tell Nanny what is the matter."
Dorothy began to sniffle a little and wiped the sleeve of her robe underneath her eyes. "I am worried about my friends, the scarecrow and tin man. Do you know what happened to them?"
"Oh, them?" Nanny replied. She grinned. "They're fine, dearie. They're probably still resting out in the barn. You may visit them after you dress, if you would like."
"Oh, thank you," Dorothy gasped in a relieved voice. "And thanks for the coffee." She handed Nanny the empty cup.
"Anytime, sweetie."
Dorothy nearly skipped up the stairs to her room. The Lion would be so pleased to hear that their friends were safe.
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"Scarecrow! Look!"
The weary scarecrow lazily opened his eyes and lifted his head from the cot. "Hey! I was sleeping! What's so important that you had to wake me up?"
"Look!" repeated the Tin Man. "It's the Lion!" He pointed his metal finger towards the open window that overlooked a dirt path leading to the barn where they were staying. Every hinge on his body rattled with excitement.
The Scarecrow stood so rapidly that he received a rush of straw to the head, leaving him momentarily dizzy. "Really?" He moved near his iron friend to look. Sure enough, he could see a tan figure bounding along the path.
The Tin Man flung the doors open and stepped outside to meet their comrade. The Lion was just a few feet away when the doors opened and skidded to a stop, yelping and nearly knocking everyone over in the process.
Panting for breath, he turned his gaze upward to meet the eyes of his taller, two-legged friends. "You're safe! Thank goodness!"
"I'm glad you're okay," the Tin Man sighed. "We were worried about you and…" his voice faded.
"Where is Dorothy?" asked the Scarecrow, his eyes darting nervously.
"She's fine. She's just getting dressed." The Lion sat down in the dirt, exhausted from his efforts of running so fast. "But I need to know… how did you guys get here? We feared the worst."
"Both of us thought we were lost for good. But then this boy came along and picked me up. He oiled my hinges and took me here to rest." The Tin Man pointed behind them to the makeshift home in the barn.
"And he stuffed me with fresh straw," added the Scarecrow. "Pudgy fellow. Thought he would faint from the effort of dragging my parts and putting them together. Nice guy, though. What was his name, Tinny?"
"I told you not to call me that!" the Tin Man groaned. "I think it started with an L… Louis, Leonardo, Laverne…"
"Larry! That was it!" cried the Scarecrow in triumph. He imagined that to figure that out, he must have a brain somewhere.
The Lion recognized their description. "Oh, you mean Liir?"
The Scarecrow's face fell. "Oh. Yeah. That too."
"Hello?" The trio heard a voice calling from down the path. "Hello?"
"Speaking of the devil," said the Tin Man. Sure enough, Liir came into view mere seconds later. He approached them with an air of reluctance.
"Hi," he said. "Umm… If you want you can all come to the house for a while. You can eat lunch or something. Dorothy… well, she'd like that I guess."
"Food?" The Lion looked excited and started trudging down the trail, the rest of the pack following shortly behind.
"You always think about food," the Tin Man criticized.
"That's because he's not afraid of it," replied the Scarecrow.
Idiots, thought Liir as he silently trailed a few feet behind the other three. They can't possibly serve as decent protection for Dorothy. Maybe I could. She says she wants to go back to the Emerald City. I can try to keep her here. It'll be safe. That way she won't run into any of that other trouble around Oz.
They finally made it back to the house. Dorothy must have been watching at the window because she flew out of the door the minute they came into sight. She hugged the Scarecrow, then the Tin Man. "Oh, I'm so glad." A tear of relief sank down her face.
Liir looked at her and smiled. She's been through so much that would bring her tears of despair. I've helped to bring her something that brings her tears of joy. His smile faded as he watched the friends together. But maybe not. She's happy for them. Not me. Maybe she doesn't need me. He turned and walked off toward the house.
A few seconds later, he heard a voice call out. "Liir! Liir, wait!" He turned to see Dorothy running towards him, her pigtails dancing in the breeze. She slowed to a walk and approached him.
"Thank you," she whispered. Her crimson lips met his cheek, and he turned an identical shade of that welcome crimson color.