*/*
Though beautiful, the wedding dress that had been so hastily made was not one she would have chosen. As she stared at her reflection, the seamstresses fluttering around her fussing over folds in the heavy white satin, DG could see herself in the gown she would have chosen for the day ahead, should the groom have been the one she would be pleased to marry.
Satin would be replaced by silk and chiffon, heaviness replaced by light fabric she could breathe in and move in. The long sleeves would disappear, replaced by thin straps. The ornate design and detail within it would give way to simple elegance. There would be no petticoats keeping the skirt flouncing out around her, just a gentle, natural fall of material from her waist to the floor.
A sharp prick and a muttered apology from one of the seamstresses brought her back to the present, to reality.
To the wedding dress fit for a Princess marrying a Prince instead of a Tin Man.
"You look stunning, Your Highness," one of the lady's maids who had come from the palace in Central City with the Council told her, awe on her young face. "So beautiful."
DG didn't acknowledge the compliment. She knew it was a cause of concern to those around her, her continued silence, but she hadn't spoken a word to anyone since Glitch had confirmed that Wyatt and Jeb Cain had left the grounds of Finaqua shortly after sunrise.
It was the last she'd seen of Glitch, which surprised her. She had thought he would be there, advising her on what she should and shouldn't do and say during the ceremony and celebrations afterwards.
Her parents, she understood, were greeting the guests who had arrived for the wedding. She'd heard that those she'd managed to meet during her tour, and those she hadn't, were mostly in attendance. Commander Wynn was there with the Viewer, Gem, Ishta had informed her, pleased to see her father though it had been less than a week since they'd parted company. Lord Tilton, she'd been warned by a decidedly unhappy Rafe, was also in attendance, invited by the Council rather than her parents. Lord and Lady Ashcroft from the East, who she had been due to meet before venturing into Eastern Guild territory were there, along with Duke and Duchess Winters from the South. The munchkins of the Eastern Guild had sent a group of four to represent them and DG was glad they were slighted by her inability to meet with them as planned.
All but Jeb and Cain of the soldiers who'd made up her protection detail would be present, with most of the Royal Guard on duty at the palace to oversee security at the unexpected Royal Wedding.
"DG?" Azkadellia waved her hand in front of her, startling her. Her big sister smiled sadly when DG blinked. "I've been here for five minutes," Azkadellia explained at DG's confused look. "You were miles away."
"Miles would be about right," DG said with a sigh, thinking Cain must be miles away from her by now. She could only hope Jeb had heeded her suggestion and he was on his way to a much deserved reunion with his father, though she regretted that she wouldn't be there to see it herself. "Is it time?"
"Almost." Azkadellia's smile dropped. "You look beautiful, little sister."
"Thank you." DG wouldn't deny that she looked like a Princess should on her wedding day but the feeling inside kept her from feeling anything but numb. "You look lovely, too, Az. I like that colour on you."
Azkadellia's attendant dress was a pale grey-green that shimmered and caught the light as she walked. It was demure and elegant, not at all in the style that the Sorceress had preferred. Knowing that her sister was nervous, that the wedding would be only the second big event that Azkdellia had attended since her freedom from the Witch's possession, DG reached out to take her hands.
Tears filled Azkadellia's dark eyes. "I wish there was a way I could do this for you, DG. I wish I could have convinced them to choose me instead."
"It was always planned to be this way," DG tried to soothe her. "Think about it, Az. The eldest was always going to be the heir so when the contract was agreed, it would've been me in mind. Faraday and Montague might've manipulated the situation to make sure of it to get rid of me but the foundation of the plan has been there for annuals."
"I still don't like it," Azkadellia muttered, taking one of her hands away from DG's so she could wipe away the tear that threatened to fall. "I don't want to lose you when it feels like I've only just got you back."
"You're never going to lose me," DG told her fiercely. "Whether I'm in the OZ, in IX or on the Other Side, I am always going to be your sister and nothing and no one will get between us again. I promise you that," she vowed, her light responding to her emotions, combining with that which flowed in her sister and causing the light between their joined hands to flare.
They stood together for a moment longer, before there was a knock at the door and their father, looking impressive in the dress uniform of the Royal Guard but otherwise appearing pale and unhappy with the situation, entered the room.
"It's time, DG," he told her quietly. His own eyes shining as he looked at his daughters, as if memorising them together for the last time. "They're ready for you."
DG took a deep breath and tried to force a smile for her sister and father. "Then let's get it over with."
*/*
They'd made it as far as the other side of the woodland after the maze when Cain had pulled his horse to a halt, turned it around and stared back in the direction in which they'd come.
"Father?" Jeb pulled his own mount around to stand beside Cain's, unable to hide his concern. "I'd ask if you're okay but I know that's a stupid question."
"She'll have finished getting ready by now," Cain murmured, his expression distant. "The ceremony should be starting soon."
Jeb nodded, having memorised the itinerary. "It's a long ceremony, combining OZ and IX traditions and speeches," he murmured. "I don't envy anyone having to sit through it."
Cain was silent for a long moment. In his mind, he could see her in the dress the seamstresses had made. It was an exquisite gown, intricate. His jaw clenched at the thought of her wearing it for Prince Faseem and not for him.
"It's not too late," Jeb said quietly. "If you've changed your mind, we could go back. We'd make it before they exchange vows."
"And do what? Object to the marriage?" Cain clenched his jaw as he resisted the temptation to do just that. "It would cause a scandal."
"It's going to cause a scandal anyway," Jeb pointed out. "I think the people of the OZ will object more to finding out their beloved Princess, who they've just got back, has been hurriedly married and sent away to IX than realising she's actually in love with a hero of the Eclipse and accepting a former Tin Man as her choice of husband. It might be a scandal to the nobility, Dad, but it's one the Royal Family could survive."
"But the people won't if IX declares war over the contract not being fulfilled," Cain retorted, his voice pained. "That's why she's doing this, Jeb. The OZ isn't strong enough to withstand a declaration of war. She wants to heal the lands and its people. War won't do that."
"We've survived the Witch," Jeb argued. "We'd survive war with IX. I know DG underestimates how important she is to the people of the OZ but I'd thought you knew. My men adore her; they'd willingly fight for her and now, because of what DG's done in recognising them as equals, they'd fight for Azkadellia, too, because it's what DG would want them to do. I've spoken to them, since joining the Royal Guard. The Queen has their loyalty as the reigning monarch but it's DG who's guaranteed it."
Tears stung his eyes but he refused to let them fall. Pride at what DG had achieved, however unknowingly, threatened to swamp him. He hadn't realised the full extent of it, Cain realised, having been so focused on the huge difference she'd made to him and his life. He'd known she was pivotal in winning the hearts of the people as she worked hard to restore the OZ to its former glory but he hadn't noticed to its full extent.
"The people might revolt," he muttered, a sudden thought crystallising in his mind. "If they think the Royal Family haven't tried to prevent this from happening."
"Glitch is aware," Jeb told him quietly. "I don't know if he's told DG yet but he did have a plan for that, if he couldn't come up with a loophole in the marriage contract in time. He was going to get DG to record a message that can be distributed throughout the OZ before her departure, and you know DG would agree to that."
"What do you mean, loophole?" Cain asked, turning slightly in his saddle to face his son. "Glitch thinks there's a way she might be able to get out of this?"
"He was working on something but wouldn't say what in case it didn't come to anything." Jeb sighed heavily. "I'm guessing it didn't, since we're here and DG's..."
"DG's getting married," Cain finished, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "In a few hours, she'll be his wife."
Jeb couldn't deny it. "You know if she had a choice, she'd be yours."
Cain nodded but didn't speak.
The sound of horse hooves from clearing on the other side of the trees distracted them both from their maudlin thoughts. As one, they turned to face the sound, both reaching for their weapon of choice.
Five men on horseback greeted them; four were strangers, one was not.
Sam Cain drew his mount to a halt, tipped his head back and blinked several times. He shook his head, his hat slightly askew as he stared at them in disbelief.
"Is there a problem, Mister Cain?" One of the riders he was with asked in a thick accent that reminded Cain of the one shared by Prince Faseem and his advisor.
"No problem, gentlemen. I told you we're on the right track." Sam motioned to Cain and Jeb, his eyes never leaving them. "I'm just wonderin' what these two are doing here instead of bein' back in Finaqua with our Princess."
Another man moved his horse forward, a rider who wore a formal uniform that was unpleasantly familiar. "Then we are close to Finaqua. We may yet make it in time."
"Ozma willing, we will, Your Highness," Sam said, bowing his head in respect of the stranger who'd spoken. "Son, Jeb. Allow me to introduce King Tarik of IX; he's here to keep our Princess from making a terrible mistake."
"King Tarik?" Jeb stared at the Royal in surprise. "You're related to Prince Faseem?"
The King's expression darkened. "He is my brother. I fear he is trying to exploit an old marriage contract our parents agreed so that he may marry the Princess DG and use it as a means to remove me from my throne."
"Then the Prince isn't the one named in the contract?" Jeb asked slowly, tearing his gaze from his grandfather to the King of IX. "He's lying?"
"He is. It is I who has a claim to marriage to a Gale daughter," the King confirmed. He caught Cain's glare and the corners of his mouth twitched despite the serious glint in his eyes. "Rest assured, I have no interest in insisting upon that claim. I am married to the only woman who could lay claim to my heart. My brother has been conspiring for many annuals to take the throne from me. He believes that by securing the hero Princess of the OZ as his bride, the people of IX will revolt in his favour. I do not believe it will happen, and I cannot allow our peace treaty with the OZ to be jeopardised because of his foolhardy ambitions. I can only pray that I am not too late."
"It's not too late, Your Highness." Cain turned his horse back around, his heart feeling light and full of hope for the first time in a long time. "We'll get there in time to stop the wedding."
The group set off at speed, with Sam Cain taking up position between his son and grandson. The Cain men were on a mission; their reunion could wait a little longer.
*\*
Glitch kept looking at the double doors at the end of the aisle, and then back at the Priestess who was conducting the ceremony. It was a little bit distracting to DG, but in a good way, since she was looking for something to distract her from the ceremony that was taking place and the man beside her.
There were so many speeches and readings, so many elements to the ceremony due to the combination of IX and OZ traditions. She couldn't decide if it was a good thing that it seemed to be taking forever or if it was a bad thing and she'd prefer it all to be over and done with so she could find somewhere private to grieve for what could never be.
Prince Faseem's smug smile wasn't helping matters; he didn't appear to be paying much attention to what was being said but was clearly enjoying the attention kneeling at the altar in front of so many prominent Ozians was gaining him.
DG didn't share the love of attention, too conscious of saying or doing something that would offend. She kept her head down but kept glancing at Glitch, at her parents, at Azkadellia and at Raw. She tried not to let herself think about the people who weren't there, the man she'd sent away.
"We will now begin the vows," the priestess declared, motioning for the couple to get to their feet.
DG's legs were unsteady but she managed to get back to her feet, clasping her hands in front of her instead of reaching for those of her husband to be. She faced him, though, as she was meant to do; she just couldn't stand the thought of touching him.
"Princess Dorothy Gale of the House of Gale, please repeat after me," the Priestess began.
It was as far as she got.
The double doors to the grand room hosting the ceremony burst open. DG's breath caught in her throat when she recognised Cain walking alongside another man she didn't know, followed by Jeb and Sam, and three others all wearing a uniform bearing the official crest of IX.
"Brother!" The man striding along the aisle beside Cain called out, his voice echoing around the otherwise deathly silent room. "You commit treason not only against IX but against the people of the OZ!"
Gasps went up around the crowd; DG didn't really notice. She didn't notice her parents get down from their seats on the dais overseeing the ceremony, or Az start to move towards her with Rafe as her shadow. She didn't notice the relief on Glitch's face as he moved to greet the gate crasher.
All she saw was Cain, striding towards her with a look of determination on his face, and the glint of the dagger Prince Faseem unsheathed from the belt at his waist.
Someone cried out a warning; DG didn't think it was herself.
Cain saw the blade and the direction it was heading in towards the man who'd called Faseem brother. He moved instinctively, putting himself between the dagger and the IXan Royal.
DG saw the blade the direction it was heading in towards Cain. She moved instinctively, putting herself between the steel tip and the man she loved.
The pain didn't register at first. She heard screams and shouting and found herself wishing they'd all just shut up so she could work out what was going on. And then she saw the wide-eyed, horrified expression on the face of the man who would be her husband and followed his gaze down to her stomach.
Down to where red blossomed against the white satin of her dress, the stain spreading as blood oozed out from around the blade he'd jabbed into her flesh.
It was then she felt the pain, the dizziness, the beginnings of fear.
Someone screamed her name; it was her mother or sister, she wasn't sure which.
Her knees buckled and the ground started to come up to meet her, but strong arms around her middle kept her from falling all of the way.
"No, DG. Stay with me." Cain's voice was frantic, panicked. His hand felt hot against the cool skin of her forehead. She twisted her head to see the fear in his pale blue eyes and wanted to reassure him but couldn't find her voice. "Raw!" He yelled, not taking his eyes off her, not for a second. "Get over here!"
There were too many people, DG thought, too many trying to get a glimpse of her, trying to help but hindering by getting in the way of the Viewer doing his best to fight the crowd and their emotions so he could reach her side.
Not sure if he would make it in time, feeling the life inside her fade even as her light flared in response and tried valiantly to fight and save her, DG managed to lift a hand to touch Cain's cheek.
"I'm s-sorry." The words were hard to force, her teeth chattering as an unnatural coldness spread over her body. "I love you."
"I love you, too, DG." He grasped her hand with a bloodied one of his own, removing it from her middle as help arrived and someone else started to put pressure over her wound. "Don't leave me," he begged. "Please, Deege. Don't leave me."
She wanted to promise him she'd try, that she'd fight to stay with him.
Darkness rose up and engulfed her before she could.
*/*
Um, yeah. I was going to say sorry for leaving it on an angsty note last time but I don't think this one's much better... But rest assured, we're on the homeward stretch with this story so you won't be waiting too long!