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On the morning of her coronation, DG stood on the private balcony of her room, watching the twin suns rise over Central City. Restored almost to its full glory, the city was certainly shining, almost awash with a silver glow that settled the nerves taking flight in her stomach. Two annuals had passed since her mother had announced at the first anniversary of the Eclipse that DG would be her successor. Though there was an outpouring of public support for the change in succession, DG had been pleased and relieved that there was support for her sister, too.
Azkadellia had come so far since the burden to one day be Queen had been removed from her shoulders; she had been accepted by their people as their forever princess and as such, no longer shied away from them as she once had. While DG had started the arduous task of preparing to take over from their mother, Azkadellia had completed her own tour of the realm, meeting the people as well as doing her part to heal the lands. It endeared her to them, and proved once and for all that the woman she was was absolutely not the Witch who had once worn her face.
For DG, seeing her sister so loved and accepted by their people made everything worthwhile. Her mission when she'd set out on her first tour of the realm all those annuals ago had been to clear Azkadellia's name, to gain forgiveness for her sister even if it meant accepting the blame for herself. To see her work come to fruition, to see her sister so happy and well, eased the guilt that still sometimes lingered in her heart.
In the cycles before her coronation was due to take place, an annual to the day that her mother had come to her and asked if she felt ready to take on the mantle as Lavender herself had grown weary and did not feel she could be the queen their people deserved, DG had met with the Council to announce the changes that would take place once she was crowned.
Her plans were met with quiet acceptance for the most part; those who had served her mother well but were growing old were happy to step down and be replaced by others who would support the new queen. The only advisor who remained in situ was Lord Ambrose, forever referred to as Glitch by the Queen-to-be, who would step up to head the council if ever she was absent.
Others joining the Council were Joseph Skipton from Hirshall, Jeb, Ishta and Raw. DG had requested the Guilds from the South, East and North to appoint a representative to join them for meetings every quarter to ensure the views of people from all over the realm were heard and that all of their needs were met.
Azkadellia had also agreed to join her sister's council, despite her initial protests that it was an unusual practice. DG had placated her by explaining that she only wanted advisors she could trust to be honest with her on her council, people who wouldn't be afraid to tell her when they thought she was wrong.
That was why it went without saying that the new Consort of the Realm, General and Troop Commander Wyatt Cain would be present alongside his wife at all Council meetings. Though he had his own duties to attend to, DG was adamant that they would rule the country together in more than just name and that there was no other who could keep her grounded quite as well as her husband.
It was he who joined her on the balcony, taking up position beside her as he had done once before annuals ago on another balcony. For a long moment, they stood in silence, each contemplating what this dawning of a new day would bring to their lives.
"I'm supposed to tell you your ladies are waiting to help you into your gown," he told her after another moment, pulling his gaze away from the brilliant colours streaking the sky to look at her.
"Supposed to?" A small smile curled the corners of her mouth as she turned to face him. "What's stopping you?"
He tilted his head, turned to mirror her position. Close enough to touch but keeping his hands to himself for the moment. "Maybe I just want a moment or two more with my wife before I have to share her with everyone else."
"You don't have to share me all of the time," DG murmured, the first to close the gap between them. As she stepped up to him, he reached out to rest his hands on her hips, completing the circle. "I'd say it's not too late for us to change our minds about this but I'm afraid it is. I can't promise I'll always be the best wife in the world but I'll do my best."
"Just being you is good enough for me, DG. Always has been." He flexed his fingers, tightening them for a moment. "It'll be enough for the OZ, too. You're going to be a brilliant Queen."
She already was, in most ways. Though still officially the reigning monarch, Queen Lavender had deferred many of her duties to her heir, preparing for the passing of the title and rule of the realm. Ahamo had followed his wife's lead, showing Cain the ropes, taking him patiently through the role of Consort and teaching him the skills and knowledge he would need to best support his wife.
The coronation was simply the ceremony where everything would become official, where his Princess would become the OZ's Queen.
"Promise me we'll still have moments like this." DG's voice was quiet, her eyes searching his in need of reassurance. "No matter what happens, promise me we won't lose this, us, because of it."
"We'll have as many moments like this as you want," he vowed, sealing it with a gentle kiss stolen from her lips. "I promise, here and now, nothin' between us changes after today. You'll still be you, I'll still be me, and we're absolutely still going to be us, Princess."
"I won't be a princess after today," she pointed out with a sigh.
"You'll always be my Princess," he told her simply.
It was the right thing to say, as a beautiful smile broke out across her face. "And you'll always be my Tin Man."
They allowed the moment to last a minute or two more, breaking apart reluctantly when Azkadellia cleared her throat from inside the room.
"It's time, little sister," she told DG, her head held high, her dark eyes clear. There was nothing but pride in their depths, pride and gratitude for all her baby sister had and would achieve. "If you don't start getting ready now, you'll be walking down the aisle half-dressed."
"Well, we can't be having that, can we?" DG returned Azkadellia's smile but made time to kiss her husband one last time before she followed her sister to the dressing room where a gaggle of ladies-in-waiting and the seamstresses waited.
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The gown was beautiful but heavy. Since her legs were already a little on the unsteady side, DG sent a prayer up to the Gods of the OZ that she wouldn't trip and fall during her long solitary walk up the aisle to the throne where her Consort-to-be waited with her parents.
She was accompanied to the big double doors leading into the throne room by an honour guard made up of those she'd selected herself. Jeb led the way, as both Captain of the Royal Guard and her son-in-law. Bran, Rafe, Bates and Elliot walked behind. She had wanted Ishta to be amongst them but had been told it was a tradition that the Queen-to-be was the only female in the procession so had settled for asking if Ishta would stand with her parents and Cain as part of their honour guard instead.
Jeb glanced back at her over his shoulder when they reached the double doors, a question in his eyes.
DG took a deep breath and squared her shoulders before nodding at him; she was as ready as she was going to get.
Turning back to face the doors, Jeb motioned for the men guarding them to open them and the coronation ceremony officially began.
There was no music to accompany her walk along the aisle, just the sound of awed whispers as the invited guests, a combination of nobility and regular people, caught a glimpse of her in her gown for the first time.
She tried her best not to focus on them, smiling in greeting at the familiar faces she saw wherever possible but mostly keeping her gaze fixed ahead of her to where her family waited. Whenever she felt her step was going to falter, uncertainty keeping her from moving further forward, she looked to the people on the dais.
Her parents, standing tall and proud with tears in their eyes as she walked towards them. Never had they allowed themselves to dream that not only would both of their daughters return to them but that together, they'd manage to restore their country almost to what it once had been. Oh, it would never be the same; there was no way it could be. But they'd healed and grown and learned to start moving on.
Glitch and Raw, honorary members of the House of Gale due to being two of the first and best friends she'd made in the OZ during their search for the emerald that hung on a simple chain around her neck as she approached them.
Azkadellia, no longer the face of evil or the fragile flower she had been for so long after the Witch's possession. Flowers from the field of the Papay decorated her sister's loosely plaited hair, a symbol of hope and new beginnings, of innocence born again. DG looked at her sister and felt the pride she could see in Azkadellia's eyes reflected back at her sister in her own. They'd come so far together, and would continue to support one another as their journeys continued.
And then there was Cain. Wyatt. Her Tin Man, lover, husband and soon-to-be Consort. Her touchstone and constant, a guiding light even when times got tough. They'd needed the time they'd spent apart to grow, DG knew, to find themselves as individuals before they could come together as a whole. Though she'd missed him during that time, she wouldn't go back and change it if she could; without it, they wouldn't be anywhere near as strong as they now were.
He stepped forward to take her hand when she reached the carpeted stairs leading up to the dais, guiding her the final three steps towards her – their – fate.
He stood aside as she spoke her vows, watching with pride as a crown dating back to Queen Ozma was lifted from its cushion and settled over her head. As soon as her mother stepped back, a brilliant beam of light broke through from the window, momentarily concealing her from view from all in attendance.
Those bearing witness gasped and would later swear to hearing a voice in their heads, a low grumble that resonated with Ancient magic.
"As it was written, as it will be. Dorothy Gale, Child of the OZ, Queen to these lands and all who dwell within it. Blessings be on you, our Lady of Light. Blessings be on you, our Lady's Consort."
Cain felt the familiar tingle of DG's magic intertwined with something he'd never felt before as he moved to stand beside her once the light faded. His worried eyes found hers but she gave him a serene smile as she took his hand.
A golden light sparked between their joined palms, transforming into a ribbon of gold that snaked around their wrists in an endless figure of eight.
There were more gasps as the Ancient voice spoke again. "Bound to each other, bound to the OZ. Blessings for Our Queen and Consort."
As the ceremony came to its conclusion, DG and Cain led the procession out of the throne room and to a private chamber where the family could regroup before making an appearance on the public viewing balcony to greet the crowds waiting outside. Her parents followed, keeping their composure despite the unexpected addition to the ceremony, with the other members of their group falling into step beside them.
"I'm pretty sure I don't remember going over that in the rehearsal," DG spoke up as the doors were closed behind them and she was alone with her family and close friends. "Was that supposed to happen?"
"Very rare," Raw answered, his grin wider than she'd ever seen. He moved forward and took her hand, kissing her knuckles as he bowed. "Ancients of the OZ bless DG and Cain. Not known to happen for hundreds of annuals."
"Around about three hundred if I remember right," Glitch supplied, puffing his chest up proudly as he'd been the one to receive the honour. "It's a good thing, Doll," he added when DG continued to look unconvinced. "Means they agree with you being Queen, that you'll have the support of the land as well as its people if you need it."
"That sounds weird. Good," DG added with a shrug. "But I'm wondering if this place will ever stop surprising me."
"I wouldn't count on it, Spitfire," Ahamo grinned as he moved to hug her. "I've been here near on thirty annuals and I still learn something new most days."
"Thanks, Dad." She rolled her eyes but hugged him back, pleased she'd still have him and her mother for guidance even if only in an unofficial capacity. "What was with the gold ribbon thing? No one mentioned that, either."
"It's not usually part of a coronation ceremony," her mother told her, taking her father's place to hug her. "Usually, if a couple is to be blessed on their union by the OZ, it takes place during the marriage ceremony."
"It could be that the OZ was a little confused that day," Azkadellia teased lightly as she, too, embraced her sister as their parents moved away. "I'm so proud of you, DG. You will be magnificent."
DG accepted the embrace and lingered a little longer in her sister's arms. "I'm proud of you, too, Az."
"I've not heard of the OZ blessing a marriage ceremony before," Cain spoke up, wrapping his arm around DG's waist once the rest of the hugs and handshakes had been given. "I'm guessin' that doesn't happen often, either?"
"Not at all," Glitch told him cheerfully. "I think maybe the last couple to be blessed in that way were Queen Dorothy and her Consort. That's the Grey Gale to you, DG."
"Is it a good thing, this blessing?" DG glanced up at Cain, felt his hand tighten on her hip as he, too, waited for the answer. "It's not a sign we need it because it's going to be nothing but trouble ahead, is it?"
"No, my angel," Her mother smiled but her words made them all pause for thought. "Blessings are a good thing. It means you're a strong couple. Strong enough to overcome any obstacles, though it's certainly not a given that there will be obstacles to overcome. It's a reassurance, as much for you as for the people. To be blessed by the Ancients of the OZ is a good omen for any marriage and any reign."
DG sighed as she leaned her head against Cain's shoulder, deciding to let the matter rest for now but promising herself she'd pay a visit to the library to do some research of her own.
For now, she planned to kick back and relax, to enjoy the company of her family and friends and be grateful for the well-wishes of the people of the OZ.
Life along the old road might be full of its ups and downs, its twists and turns, but with Cain at her side and those she loved beside them, she was confident they'd get to where they needed to be.
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End
Thank you for all of the support you've given this story - it's much appreciated! I don't know when I'll be back with another because of life's demands but I do have more stories planned for these characters! If anyone has any one-shot style prompts, feel free to send them my way and I'll see if they spark something. No promises, but I can try.