Disclaimer: I own only my ideas and imagination.
Tristan was struggling to keep up the brave façade for Jacqueline. They were on the second week of their journey and still the words in the book made no sense. They had wandered through different villages and towns, stopping only to rest at night in fields and barns of obliging farmers. The food supply had run out a week back so they had taken to begging in the streets and scrounging in the woods for food. Jack was asleep while Tristan kept watch.
The smoldering embers cast a glow on Jack's sleeping form. "How did I get to be so lucky?" Tristan thought. "She's honest, selfless, courageous, and caring. How can I possibly deserve her?!" Tristan pondered. "Thank you God for sending her to me! But God, if we can't get back to France, how will we ever get married? I don't think an Ozian marriage certificate is valid back home… Will we ever get home?" Tristan prayed. He desperately wanted to go over to Jack and stroke her hair and sooth her fears. "I should be getting us out of here! Why are we still here?!" Tristan thought angrily. He wanted to be Jack's hero, her knight in shining armor. Why was it taking so long for him to live up to his own standards of heroism?!
Tristan stood up and started pacing. It usually helped him to calm down and think through things rationally. After a long while, Tristan sat back down and his eyes stung with desperate tears. He wanted Jacqueline to be safe at home with ordinary people… and as his wife. He crawled over to her sleeping form and just gazed at her. She looked so peaceful. Why couldn't they be at home and in peace? Oz wasn't what they wanted. Her parents were probably going crazy at home without Jack's nightly calls. "I'm failing everyone! I can't get Jack out of Oz and back home. I can't live up to my own standards. And most importantly, I probably won't be able to marry Jack once we get home since her parents will be so furious with me! God, why's this happening?!" Tristan's held-back tears spilled over as he sobbed. "I can't do this anymore, God! You're going to have to be the strong one here! Can we please go home now? Please… please… please," Tristan sobbed.
I stirred and Tristan tried to soften his sobs but to no avail.
"What's wrong, Tristan? Are you hurt?! What can I do to help?" I cried, wide awake now.
"I'm—so—sorry, ma belle! I—haven't—been able to—get us—out of here and I haven't—been—your knight in shining armor! I'm just—frustrated with myself. I'm—so sorry!" Tristan sobbed, his back heaving with every heart-wrenching sob.
"Tristan! You are my knight in shining armor! Don't ever doubt that!" I whispered adamantly as I held Tristan's face in my hands. "We need to stay away from the Emerald City and Shell and we'll be fine." I paused, choosing my next words. "We could get married here just in case we can't get back home," I said cautiously.
"We will get home!" Tristan interjected.
"I know we will monsieur. I'm just saying that we could get married here and then get a marriage certificate back home. We don't know how long we'll be here so I'd like to be married to you for that duration of time!" I smilingly stated.
"Whatever you wish, ma belle. If we are still here in two weeks, I promise that we will get married here," Tristan swore. Just then, a twig snapped just beyond the tree-line near where they were sitting in a field. Tristan jumped up and grabbed my hand. My heart started to pulse faster and faster.
"Who goes there?!" Tristan authoritatively inquired.
"It's just me, my Dear Fellow. I bring a message from Emperor Shell. Shell, Emperor of Oz and its surrounding lands, has commanded Tristan Daae, descendant of Erik and Christine Daae, and Jacqueline Tenbrook, daughter of Elaine and Landon Tenbrook to come with all haste to his palace in the Emerald City for an audience with him. He promises that he will not harm either of you while you are in the city." Baronne growled. "I don't trust him and neither should you. Please be wary of everything inside the city and that monster's palace. Look for escape routes and anything that could help you get away. Take everything with you but hide the book under some of your clothes. Shell will take it if he sees it. Godspeed to you." And with that, Baronne was gone.
"I guess we're going right into the belly of the beast. I promise I will stop at nothing to protect you from that fiend. I love you, Jacqueline!" Tristan whispered. He doused what was left of the fire, gathered their things, and took my hand. "Let's get this over with." We were both thinking about whether or not we would make it home alive as we strode toward the Emerald City…and possibly our doom.