"I need to finish these drawings in the next several days. I promise that we can do dinner tonight. But please, I need to finish this…"
As the witch slowly walked away from the Wizard after he said this, panic started to take over. Does the Wizard not like me anymore? We had such a wonderful evening together. Why doesn't he want to spend all of his time with me?
Like a long-time friend of hers, the witch's perpetual anxiety returned. Her negative self-talk became stronger as it spoke to her, gloating how the Wizard was going to leave her and that she would have to fend for herself, like so many others who "left" her. And perhaps there was none other who had hurt her more in her life than her father.
In reality, the Wizard leaving her after their first night together was not what actually triggered her. Growing up in the Emerald City palace, Theodora had been locked away by her father and neglected by her family. She spent long, lonely days in her bedroom, often fantasizing about having friends and what it would be like to explore the Land of Oz, a country renowned for its beauty, all on her own.
When the Wizard left and her sister Evanora broke the news of his womanizing ways, the scarlet clad witch was not so upset by his rejection. Yes, she was disappointed and angered that the Wizard was not going to make her his queen-a position that Theodora believed she rightly deserved-but the rage she felt was much deeper than that. His actions had triggered past trauma within the witch that she had tried to bury, but suddenly and involuntarily had resurfaced. This past trauma was what her father did to her and how he had neglected her for many years. And when the Wizard walked out of the Emerald City palace that day, he unwittingly released the monster within her.
Angry emotions were considered to be forbidden in Oz, but Theodora had plenty of those. She tried to cover her rage as best as she could and today was no different. The Wizard had spurned her for his "work". What sad and sorry excuse was that? Did he want her to light his blueprints on fire with her bare hands? Still, the witch exercised patience. She pushed down her anger and tried her best to attend to her own duties, which she hated to do. She somehow managed to maintain a cheery disposition in spite of the Wizard's actions and behaviors. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed him, not just for her own emotional and physical needs, but also to take over the entire Winkie province and subjugate the various rebellious communities that were resistant to her rule.
The witch sighed as she began to make her rounds throughout the castle and its outdoor grounds. She would always wear her red hat to protect her face from the sun as Ozians believed that beauty originated from having and maintaining a light skin color. Theodora used various lotions and creams to make sure that her skin stayed as light as possible. Even before her friendship had frayed with Glinda, the witch would engage in an unofficial and unspoken contest to make sure her face was more beautiful than her sister's. Despite Glinda not being aware that Theodora would compete with her, the elder sister always managed to outshine her, literally and figuratively. Glinda did not even have to wear a hat and her face was always so pure and unspoiled. Unlike her sister, Theodora had to work for her beauty. This made the witch envious of Glinda and created a rift between their friendship. It wasn't until Glinda did something unspeakable to her that Theodora considered her elder sister to be her worst enemy.
As the witch passed several of her servants on the castle grounds, a small group of which did their best to look away from her, she frowned. The Winkie maids and servants who worked in her castle were absolutely incompetent. The only one that had favorably caught her eye was the servant girl, Bella. She was possibly the only one out of these mangy ragamuffins who could actually get work done and perform well. The rest had to be ordered around and be screamed at, otherwise nothing would ever get done. Indeed, it was Evanora's rulership by fear and intimidation that rubbed off on Theodora the most. The witch learned these bad habits from her older sister as they appeared to be "normal".
While Theodora could direct her Winkie Guards to do as she pleased, she could not micromanage them to the same extent as her servants (or, her "slaves", as Glinda would often slanderously and callously call them). For one, only Winkies from wealthy families could be conscripted into the guard. Additionally, the Winkie must be conscripted as a young boy and that boy must also be taller than most of his peers. While Oz was a matriarchy, a boy being able to join the guards was probably the most prestigious position he could attain within Ozian society. There were several reasons for this. First, the chances of an Ozian boy developing magical abilities were a lot lower than girls, even if that boy came from Faerie lineage. Second, it was women who often held the majority of mayorships and political positions throughout the land. In fact, before her father, the great Wizard Pastoria became king of Oz, no one remembered the last time a man held the throne. Since Oz was magically enchanted by the Faeries, a lineage that Theodora and her sisters came from, it was almost always a woman with Faerie lineage who held the throne. While it was an honor for a boy to be conscripted into the guard, its leader was almost always a witch.
"What is this?" Theodora was interrupted from her walk by a Winkie farm boy, who was repairing a door to the side of the castle. "I thought repairing this door was supposed to be finished last week? What incompetence is this?" The witch was furious that this child did not do as he was told and failed in his assignation.
"I…I am sorry Mistress…" The boy was stuttering from fear. "The supplies were delayed and I couldn't…"
The witch shook her head and frowned. "Excuses! Excuses! I…"
If it was any other day, she would have punished the boy by beating him senselessly with a belt. Instead, she remembered what the Wizard had told her the night prior about power and how to use it. Once again, she buried her anger and remained calm.
"There, there…" She placed her hand gently on his shoulder. "You are forgiven." She grinned cheerfully and brightly at the boy as she gave a lighthearted chuckle. Still surprised at her sudden benevolence, the boy turned away from her and resumed his duties. As he did so, the witch's smile dissipated and a slight scowl emerged on her youthful visage. Still, the Wizard had this effect on her and she was going to try her hardest to be fair.
"Mistress, you must come at once", a Winkie Guard exclaimed as the witch was mired in her own thoughts. He gestured at her with his hand as Theodora followed him.
"This Winkie boy stole from the granary."
The boy retorted. "I didn't, sir! I didn't take no food!"
But the Winkie Guard was furious. "Then why is grain missing from the Mistress' pantry?"
The boy opened his mouth as tears began to swell in his eyes. "I don't know, but I had nothing to do with it! Please, you must believe me! I had nothing to do with it!"
"Lies!", the Winkie Guard exclaimed. All lies! The Mistress will make an example of you and…"
"It is okay", Theodora calmly and soothingly said. She approached the boy and touched him on his shoulder. "I forgive you. You are forgiven." She smiled and giggled, as a group of Winkie onlookers were bewildered by her response. Normally, the witch would blow up. And if someone stole from the granary, their punishment would be worse than a mere beating.
The witch continued her duties, pardoning any Winkie servant or maid who failed to live up to her lofty expectations. After spending some time outdoors, Theodora returned to her castle. Dashing into the dining room, she noticed that the Wizard was missing. Instead, she saw the captain, who was sitting at the table ruffling through numerous piles of paper. "Where is the Wizard?", the witch frantically exclaimed. Panic was clearly present in her voice. Did he leave her without saying goodbye? Was he upset from this morning that he decided to leave the castle grounds for good?
As she darted past the captain, he responded casually, without looking away from the paper he was holding. "I think he's taking a nap…"
Her bedroom was dark and cool as the witch slowly and quietly opened the door. She saw her guest with his eyes closed as he slept serenely on his stomach. The witch could tell he was so tired. Seeing the blankets neatly folded by the edge of her bed, the witch smiled and covered the Wizard up to his neck. She gently pressed down on the blanket near his shoulders. She gazed at him tenderly and then kissed him softly on his cheek before quietly leaving and closing the door behind her once more.
The witch continued to make her rounds for the next several hours without any further incidences. She felt that fate was rewarding her for the good deeds that she had done that day. She was about to head back to the dining room to see if the Wizard was there when she by chance glanced into the guest bedroom as she walked past.
She stopped as her mood suddenly changed from euphoric glee to utter fury. Caught by the witch's penetrative gaze was a young maid who was taking a nap.
"No….no!", the witch exclaimed as she shook her head, with rising anger in her voice. The witch's rage, which she had successfully kept at bay, exploded. She ran to the bed and forcefully pulled the sleeping child out of it. "WHAT TO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING TAKING A NAP?", the witch passionately screamed at the sleepy child. The little girl shrieked and released a blood curdling cry of her own as she was violently flung off of the bed.
The Wizard had just finished speaking with the frantic and panicky Bella as they heard the chilling scream. He quickly stood up as he heard a little voice crying with fear. "Help me! Help me!" Daisy rushed into the dining room area as she was being chased by the furious witch, now gliding and levitating off the carpet. "HOW DARE YOU TAKE A NAP WHEN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING! I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU A BEATING YOU WILL NEVER FORGET!" Theodora's was so enraged that her cheeks were just as red as her hat. She angrily grabbed her strap. The small child started to cry as she fell to her knees. "Please don't…", Daisy begged. She started to sob. "Please don't…"
Bella was terrified, knowing what punishment awaited the little girl. "Oh my god!", she shrieked. She placed her hands over her face. She couldn't look. Even little Betsy screamed, joining in the mayhem.
The Wizard dashed in front of Daisy and held his hands out at the witch. "Theodora!", he cried. "What are you doing?"
"Wizard!", the witch furiously roared, her voice shrill as she raised the strap over her head and snarled. "GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
As the commotion erupted in the dining area, a group of Winkie Guards surrounded the room. The captain moved past them as he silently looked at what was unfolding.
"No!", the Wizard exclaimed. He held his hands out, but then decided to get on his knees and crawl behind the child. He held the crying child in his arms. "Please, don't…", the Wizard pleaded. "You are better than this…please don't."
For a moment, the room became quiet and calm. The child stopped sobbing as her head rested on the Wizard's chest. The angry expression on the witch's face disappeared. She lowered the strap. The Wizard breathed a sigh of relief.
But then the witch turned to the Winkie Guards and gave a slight nod.
Suddenly, several guards grabbed the Wizard by his arms from behind and forcefully moved him to the side of the dining room. "Theodora, what are you doing?", the Wizard screamed. Fresh tears ran down Daisy's cheeks as Bella shook her head in fear and moaned "no! no! no! no! no!" The room erupted into chaos and pandemonium once more.
"MITCHELL! MITCHELL!", the Wizard screamed at the captain as he was on his knees. "YOU MUST STOP THIS! THIS IS CHILD ABUSE!" Despite his screams for clemency, the captain stared somberly at the unfolding events and did nothing to try and intervene. The Wizard tried in earnest to break free from the two guards who were holding him, but he was unable to do so.
The child tearfully looked up at the witch, resigned to her fate. Theodora's jaw was tight as her eyes narrowed. She forcefully grabbed the child's hand. But instead of the expected beating, the witch dropped the strap onto the floor and used her free hand to gently smack the back of the child's hand. She then let the child's hand go.
Besides some audible sobbing, the room became quiet once more. The two Winkie guards began to release the Wizard, who used his arms to wriggle himself out of their grasp. His breathing was rough and coarse from weeping. Like Bella and Betsy, the two girls who eyed him with much surprise, he had expected something far worse to happen. He lowered his head into his hands as the witch passed him by, gently petting him on his hair. The Wizard and the three maids continued to sit on the plush dining room carpet in a fetal position as the Winkie Guards scattered and returned to their posts.