Disclaimer: While I dream about them sometimes, I don't own or make money off of Tin Man, Wizard or Oz, or any of the characters. It is a grief.
Azkadellia, Crown Princess of the Outer Zone, stopped herself from throwing a royal tantrum with only the most tenuous grip on what was left of her increasingly diminishing patience. How does Mother deal with this nonsense day in and day out? she seethed. She caught herself almost baring her teeth as yet another inept Councilor stood and started making a lengthy speech about how continuing to consolidate power and strength in Central City must remain the priority. Just in time, she managed to force her lips into a parody of an approving smile. The Council meeting itself did not phase her; first as the Heir and later as the Witch, she had sat through many countless sessions just like this. Normally, however, they at least served a purpose. This one did not. It could not, really, although she understood why the Queen chose to allow the appearance of control. I really cannot stand this any longer. She tightened the cold fingers clasped together in her lap until she was sure blood could not possibly be reaching them. Az never truly regretted the death of the Witch, but there were definitely times when the Witch's methods had a certain appeal. Screaming in rage and throwing objects around indiscriminately seemed quite appropriate at the moment. When would this accursed, pointless meeting end? She tuned out the monotonous drone and imagined ripping any number of objects into unidentifiable shreds. She did manage to avoid daydreaming about tearing people into tiny bits, but she regarded it as a useful exercise in discipline and control.
Across the table, her sister DG did not quite stifle a loud sigh. In spite of herself, Az felt her lips twist into a more genuine smile of amusement. Apparently, she was not the only one bored out of her mind after three hours of repetitive discussion. Her baby sister's attempt at interest failed utterly and Captain Cain had to discreetly elbow her more than once to pull her wandering attention back to the matter of hand. Under other circumstances, Az would have more sympathy for the Tin Man. DG was never easy to handle when she did not want to be somewhere or doing something.
Az lost her smile when she realized that Deeg was swaying in her seat. Her sister's normally pale complexion was whiter than her own and the dirty, bloodied hair hanging in stiff tangles around her face only emphasized the unhealthy pallor. Immediately, Az felt contrite for her amusement. DG always approached her duties so seriously that it was often easy to overlook her ignorance. Or, in this particular case, her pain and exhaustion. All of a sudden, it was easy to remember that only a few hours ago she was lying unconscious from her severe injuries. Cain shifted slightly. It looked as if he were just making himself a little more comfortable, but Azkadellia would bet her magic that he was supporting DG somehow. Nonetheless, as soon as the current speaker sat down with no additional discussion following his comments, she stood before anyone else could.
"Your majesties, my Lords and Ladies, I believe that we have covered as much as we can in one session with what we know now. I propose that we allow the Lord Marshal to gather more information in the ways he deems most suitable. In the meantime, we should rest and regroup. I, for one, am quite weary after today's events." A few Councilors were openly unhappy with no solid plan in place for preventing another incident, but Az noticed that the rest showed only dawning comprehension as they looked from her to the younger, obviously injured princess.
Her parents both shot her a grateful glance and stood to make final remarks to the Council and usher everyone out. Az waited a few moments before gracefully making her way over to her sisters side. "Will you live, Deeg?" she asked, with a ghost of a smile.
"Are you kidding me?" DG exclaimed. "Not only will I live, I may just nominate you for sainthood! A sort of glorified Ozma with a divine connection," she explained, knowing that her sister would need the explanation. "I cannot even believe that in three hours we just heard 21 variations of exactly the same speech." She pitched her voice upward in an imitation of a panicked, helpless old woman. "'Oh, dear, whatever are we to do?' 'Someone dared to attack the royal princesses after more than a decade of the Witch's rule. Reprehensible!' 'We don't know what's going on. Why don't we know what's going on?' 'We must carefully gather more information and not even so much as squeak until we know who these Lourden are!' Bah!" she finished up in disgust. "We could have covered all of that in twenty minutes and more or less without my ignorant presence." Cain just pinched the bridge of his nose and heaved a silent sigh.
Azkadellia's smile became real. DG always amused Az, even in the worst or most uncomfortable situations. That was still true, although they weren't little girls any longer. Az often considered DG her light, just as their mother did. There was something inherently good about DG, despite her often irreverent and mischievous attitude. "I am sorry to say it, little sister, but I do not think we're done for the day yet," Az said gently, hating that her words caused her sister's good humor to disappear instantly.
"Sad, but true," their father said, coming up behind them. A sharp glance cut off Cain's protest before he could verbalize it. "Deeg, honey, I know you're hurt and you're both tired, but this is the best opportunity we're going to have to get anything useful done without the Council interfering."
"Is that why Mother let them go on for so long? I was beginning to wonder about that," DG grinned. "I've never known Az to let people randomly talk without saying anything useful at all, even if you guys allow it sometimes."
Ahamo mock cuffed her indignantly. "We're not quite senile yet, Deeg, thank you," he grinned back at her. "Go ahead and get cleaned up, but make it fast. You can use a topical pain killer – see the doctor for that – but don't take any oral pain medication. We'll have a private dinner and you need to be awake for that. Captain Cain, I expect you to join us. One hour, in the family dining room." With a gentle kiss for each daughter he strode off to escort the Queen from the chamber.
DG reached for her sister's hands, then gasped. "Az, your hands are freezing!" She chafed her sister's hands. "It's not cold in here, are you okay?"
Azkadellia pulled her sister into her arms as gently as she had spoken a moment ago. "Just strain. They will warm quickly with a bath. I love you, little sister," she said serenely. She made sure her eyes let her sister see how genuinely she meant that statement and was rewarded with DG's brilliant, happy smile.
"I love you too, Az. I'm going to go get cleaned up – an hour doesn't seem like much time when I feel like I've been backed over by a semi a couple of times."
"Where do you get these weird expressions, Deeg?" Az smiled yet again in spite of herself and turned DG toward Captain Cain's anxious gaze. "Go get your bath before that man has to call in reinforcements to keep the Councilors away from you." To Az's delight, a deep red flush creeped up DG's pale cheeks. Her younger sister turned and rushed over to Cain, but the hasty wave goodbye did nothing to distract the Crown Princess. Azkadellia laughed out loud and left the room leisurely to find her own bath. It was nice to have something to tease her sister with for a change, instead of the other way around. With the threat of the Lourden looming over their lives there wouldn't be a chance to use that ammunition for a while yet, but Az was nothing if not patient. Her time would come. As she walked down the hallway, the guards noticed the unusual brilliance of her smile.