Disclaimer: Tin Man, Wizard of OZ or anything associated with it belong in no way, shape, or form to me. Sadly, this includes Cain's gun. For some reason, there's no money either. ::pouts::

Cain pinched the bridge of his nose as he listened to Lord Ossin shriek hysterically at Princess Azkadellia. This was rapidly turning into one of the days that he could almost wish he was still in the Tin Suit. Almost. The nobleman's voice grew louder and shriller with each accusation he hurled toward the Princess.

"What do you mean, the Witch saved the OZ?" the man was nearly apoplectic with rage. "My daughter died in the uprising! She died! I bet it was slow and painful. The Witch was an evil seductress bent on the destruction of the OZ and everything your ancestors worked to create. She wanted to make the Eclipse permanent and cast the land in shadow for all time! She was a monster and for all that's holy I won't stand here…"

Cain let the rest of the man's diatribe fade into the background. With each point he made, he stamped his velvet-clad leg in emphasis and jabbed a scrawny finger at Azkadellia. Stamp. Jab. Stamp. Jab. With every jab, the princess grew more guarded and more aloof. She made no attempt to interrupt him, but that was probably for the best at this point. The man might as well let out whatever was eating at him. At least Cain had managed to move everyone into the hallway. All this yelling was sure to bring guards along sooner rather than later and he did not want DG to be wakened by the noise.

Glitch stood against the wall across from the infirmary door, shooting nervous glances back and forth between Lord Ossin and Azkadellia. Once he made a motion as if to interfere, but Az just held up one graceful hand without ever taking her attention away from Lord Ossin and Glitch subsided in confusion. The lord was so caught up in his ranting that he did not even notice the byplay, the more fool him. Any person that had it in them to make it in court life would have immediately noticed and processed the implications of that one simple gesture. Hell, Cain recognized it and he was a long time away from that life. Even if Lord Ossin's rant had not proved what an idiot he was, his ignorance certainly did. What was the Lord Commander thinking, anyway? Yes, Azkadellia was the image of the Witch but she retained her own standing as Crown Princess of the OZ. The Queen made that eminently clear simply by allowing Azkadellia to remain with the family and granting her all of the honors and privileges – and yes, duties - of her title.

Cain had to admit that the Crown Princess had done more than anyone but the Queen to restore the OZ and its ruling monarchy. Azkadellia was always in the middle of everything, whether it be meetings with the Council on Longcoat troop movements or aiding researchers with the restoration of Glitch's brain. She attended every memorial service and helped DG learn the customs and expectations of the OZ. She made appearances to every diplomat and dignitary. Many times, it was only Raw's quiet, certain support that made those appearances possible. Every single person in the OZ knew Azkadellia only as the Witch and the princess never visibly broke once underneath the weight of their suspicions.

"They need someone to blame, Deeg," he overheard her telling DG once, after DG took exception to the attitude of one of the Guild representatives. "You can't be angry at them every time someone allows their grief and anger to get the better of them. For 15 years, my face has been the reason behind every death and oppression. Just because I personally was not at fault does not make things better or okay for the people that suffered."

There was silence for a moment, then a sullen-sounding comment from DG. Azkadellia laughed, but it sounded sad. "Oh, little sister, how I love you," she said, so quietly that Cain barely heard her. "When people see me, they see the Witch. I think a part of them always will, even the children that are too young to truly remember those times. I can't tell you what a comfort it is to know that you love me for myself."

The day Cain overheard that conversation between the sisters was the day he started to respect the Crown Princess as her own, independent person. She would always be the Witch, to some degree, but she recognized it and took steps to be herself, as well. More than anyone else he knew, he could appreciate the effort it took to separate how people saw her from who she really was.

Now that same woman listened calmly to the verbal abuses heaped on her by another petty, small-minded person and gave no sign of the sadness he knew it caused her. "My Lord Ossin," she said quietly into a lull, "I did not know your daughter. I am sorry she was a victim of the Witch and I would do anything I could to bring her back to you." It was the same speech she gave to every injured party screaming for her blood, but somehow it sounded equally genuine each time. "It cannot possibly make up for the loss of your family, but I shall grant your family full reparation for her loss."

The nobleman grew red in the face."You're sorry? You'll grant me reparation? At heart, you're just like the Witch. You just want more blood!" Before he could say anything else, Glitch leapt forward and delivered a punishing blow to his face.

"Say that again," the advisor hissed. The hapless man snarled in anger and Glitch grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall. "We've all lost people, but think, man!" he urged.

Azkadellia slashed a hand downward. "Enough!" she snapped, and Glitch left Lord Ossin to stand heavily against the wall. "My Lord, I understand your loss," she said gravely. "I, too, lost nearly everyone ever dear to me." She stopped for a moment and stared at him for a long time. "I understand your anger," she said softly, "but it does not excuse treason."

Lord Ossin gaped at her for a long minute. "T-treason? Your Highness?"

"You accused me of still harboring the Witch, didn't you? You accused me of committing bloodshed against my own subjects for nothing but personal pleasure. You implicated that I would continue to do so." Azkadellia paced forward, clasping her slender arms behind her back. "I am still Crown Princess, my Lord. My mother the Queen has not seen fit to remove my title or my responsibilities from me at the Witch's death. That makes your statements treason in the OZ."

All color drained from the lord's face. "No! No, Your Highness, that's not what I meant!" The words spilled from his lips faster and faster. "Of course I don't think you want more strife. The stress of my position, my grief…."

The princess continued to speak right over his protestations of loyalty and innocence. "I think I shall have to speak to the Lord Marshall about your overwhelming grief and how your dedication to your position has left you incapable of doing what is best for the OZ and its peoples right now. Perhaps you should go rest, Lord Ossin. It has, after all, been a very difficult day so far." Her tone didn't quite imply that she thought he was useless, but it came close. "Ambrose, why don't you escort Lord Ossin to his quarters for a much deserved rest?"

Cain watched silently as Glitch took the babbling man in hand and steered him toward the rooms for visiting nobility. The man seemed remarkably docile all of a sudden. He smirked to himself. He had no use for men that couldn't stand up and fight for what they believed, whether it came down to violence or only to mere words.

Azkadellia turned to speak to a guard. "If anyone else disturbs my sister in this manner again, you will escort them forcibly away and deny them access to the palace grounds until explicit orders otherwise are given by the Queen or Consort, myself, or Commander Cain. I don't want a mouse to squeak in this corridor until she is awake." She watched in satisfaction as the guard came to attention and saluted sharply.

The princess disappeared into the infirmary for a moment. When she came out, Cain could tell that she was much calmer and more collected than she had been as she listened to Lord Ossin spew filth toward her in the hallway. It never failed to amaze him in the six months since the defeat of the Witch how the younger, wilder sibling was a calming and soothing influence on the older, calmer one. She smiled absently at them then moved down the hallway toward her own quarters, issuing orders as she went.

"Glitch, arrange for a full Council meeting as soon as DG is awake and able to attend one. Speak to the Lord Marshall about a possible replacement for Lord Ossin. Men like that have little place in getting the OZ back on its feet. Clear everything through Mother, of course, but I'll update her in person in a few moments so that shouldn't be an issue. If it is, come back to me and I'll resolve it." She handed Glitch a slender Seal in the form of a ring. "Issue a proclamation to the immediate Central City area that everything is under investigation. We might as well keep everyone as calm as possible, since they're not in any immediate danger."

Cain raised an eyebrow. "Begging your pardon, Highness, but how do we know that? They didn't get what they wanted – meaning the death of you and your sister. So why should they act predictably now?" He found himself fingering his weapon absentmindedly again at the thought of anyone attacking DG again. He was not able to protect her from the first attempt but if he had his way, there would not be a second one.

"You don't know that," she said coolly. "But I do, because I know what they were after. The general population is safe and does not have to worry about any kind of attack. I could be the Witch all over again and actively look for ways to hurt them and they still wouldn't be in danger from the people behind this particular attempt."

The rebuke in her voice stung, but Cain was getting irritated with being kept in the dark. "Well, who is behind it, Highness? If I have some idea, I might actually be able to help your family before another one is brutally attacked and severely injured." His sarcasm showed only in the flatness of his voice and the tenseness of his shoulders. Her eyes flashed at his for just a moment in what he thought was hurt, but glanced away again before he was sure.

"Commander," she said formally, "I do know what we're up against and I understand your desire to protect our family. I appreciate it immensely. I can tell you in all honesty that we do not need to expect another attack immediately, but I am not willing to talk about the particulars until DG is awake and rested. More than any of us, she is going to have to be the one to address the problem."

Cain thought her dark brown eyes were the saddest things he had ever seen in his life as she caught his gaze once again and held it with her own. "I wish more than anything that I could leave my baby sister out of this. Please tell me you will keep her safe no matter what," she said softly.

Cain closed his eyes. The thought of DG in danger again left his gut a churning, aching mess and fired a deep desire to do anything he could protect her. He would not let anyone ever hurt her again as long as he lived; it was as simple as that. He met Azkadellia's eyes again with a sharp, burning blue gaze. "Your Highness, I will," he vowed, "no matter what happens."

A/N: I know this was a lot of boring (relatively!) character development, but I thought it was essential to the storyline. Don't get too bored. I promise more actiony action is coming up soon. Or at least a few more pieces of the plot puzzle!

Thanks for the reviews. You guys make me happy that people enjoy my story.