Chapter III: Just One After Another
DG looked at her reflection silently in the ridiculously large mirror in her room. Emily had just finished getting her all zipped up and had fled to the main hall to watch the ceremony. At least she had her mom and Popsicle there for her.
DG's eyebrows furrowed as she pulled at some of the lace on the white gown. It reminded her of a wedding gown. Not one that she would wear, but a wedding gown none the less. Half of her wanted to tear the dress off, the other half wanted to pretend that the day was her wedding day instead of her coronation. At least then she would be ready to go and a lot happier than what she was at the moment.
She sighed and dropped the piece of the lace dress so that it fell back to place on the skirt. The bodice was embroidered with diamonds and sapphires, apparently to bring out her eyes. It was strapless and was pulled tight around her waist to keep it up. The skirt billowed from her waist and floated just above the floor thanks to her silver heels. They were nothing like the famous slippers… at least those were flat. She blew some of the curls of her hair from her face and looked over her reflection again. She was beautiful in the dress and her hair done up, but she didn't feel completely right.
"Why do I have to do this?" she looked into her own eyes and searched for an answer, "This isn't me… It can't really be me."
She noticed a small glimmer through her hair and caught sight of the small ear cuff that Cain had got her for her birthday. She had snuck it onto her ear after the maids had finished with her hair. At least something brightened up her outlook on the outfit.
The door behind her opened and she saw Cain stick his head through, "DG, are you almost ready? They're starting to introduce the royals and you're still missing in action."
DG looked away from him and to her reflection again. She heard him sigh and then the door close. His boots skidded a little against the marble as he made his way to her and settled behind her. He was in a white suit with a sapphire blue sash and belt more than likely made to match her coronation dress. He was very handsome when dressed up for formal occasions, but she still missed his hat. She was used to him in his casual attire and she knew he wanted his clothes back as much as she wanted her jeans back. She could see him fighting to keep from pulling at the collar of his jacket and a small smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth before dropping back to a thin line.
"How's it settling, kiddo?" he asked and put a hand on each of her hips from behind.
"Not good," she shook her head. She saw his head peer over her shoulder at her reflection. His eyes skimmed the line of the bodice and the way the lace dripped from her waist.
"You look exquisite," he whispered into her ear.
"I don't look like me," she responded, "But thanks for the compliment. You look very dashing in your suit."
He grumbled something under his breath before responding with, "It's not me either."
She nodded in understanding and leaned back into him a little, forcing his hands completely around her waist, "Well, look at us. We're just a couple of people where royalty was flung at them and want nothing to do with it. You can still get out of it you know. Cut strings and take off into the sunset on your horse never to be heard from again."
"No chance," he answered immediately, "I may be uncomfortable, but I'm not letting you go. And I especially won't let you go down this road by yourself."
She closed her eyes for just a moment and could almost see herself out of the stupid dress and back in their bed. His heart beating loudly beneath her ear giving her more comfort and warmth then he would ever know.
"This doesn't define you, DG," Cain turned them both from the mirror. He then turned her around to look her in the eyes, "You are you and I love you. Be you a princess or a hell of confused slipper that fell into my lap. But this is part of who you are and who you were meant to be. It's up to you on how you face it. Either way I will be by your side. Have since the moment we met and always will be."
"Remind me to get you to train any and all of our negotiators," she smiled and kissed him lightly, "You know exactly what to say in almost every situation."
He smirked at the compliment.
"You talking me up to lead me into battle?" she asked as she laughed.
"I don't know. Are you ready to face the crowds?" he asked.
"You will be there, right?"
"Right by your side," he nodded and kissed the top of her knuckles, "Where you'll always find me."
"Then yeah, I think I'm good," she interlocked her arm with his and they exited their room and down the hall toward the coronation hall.
As they neared the curtain DG could hear the announcer's voice just ending the introduction to Glitch and Azkadellia. Apparently they had just walked through the curtain and joined her mother on the small stage that was set up for them. She wanted to peer through the curtain to look at the multitude of guests, but couldn't bring herself to do it. The last thing she needed was to loose her nerve and go running back to her room only to escape in a travel storm moments later.
"So did mother keep her promise as far as the number of people?" DG asked Cain and tightened her grip on his arm.
"Five hundred exactly," he nodded, "I counted as they came through the garden gates from my window… where they stuck me in this ridiculous suit."
DG laughed to herself and peered behind him at the seat of his pants, "I don't know if it's all that ridiculous. At least I get a good view out of it."
"DG," he chided her which only gained another giggle from the princess on his arm. At least he was making her laugh. Only a moment ago he was sure she was going to rip his arm off with the grip she had on him.
"Are you ready, your highness?" one of the pages at the side of the door asked her. She nodded her head a bit hesitantly. He nodded back and opened the curtain.
"And now introducing the saviors of the O.Z., Princess Dorothy Gale and her escort Wyatt Cain!" the announcer yelled from his small podium from the bottom of the stairs.
DG's eyes widened at the crowd of people below that was cheering and waving at her. She recognized some of the guild fighters, or munchkins, from after her crash landing and a few dozen seers were sprinkled through out the crowd. There was a large group of them toward the middle of the crowd and she saw Raw at the front of the group. Most of the other guests had shawls much like Cain's but in different colors and some had jewels or medals pinned upon them. She caught Jeb and Kelly dressed up toward the front of the room smiling brightly and clapping along with the rest of the guests. She barely caught sight of Emily and Hank since they were at the far side of the hall.
"Let's get your feet moving," Cain whispered to her and they began their way to descend the stairs.
"We're saviors now?" DG asked through a clenched, fake smile and waved at the crowd who clapped a little more vigorously.
"Have been since you stepped foot on this side of the rainbow," Cain didn't even try to hide his response and escorted her down the stairs.
They got down without an incident and he set her in her chair before settling into his own beside her. She let out a breath of relief. She thought for a moment that he was going to stand behind her like he had done at the ball months ago. And that would only begin to agitate her.
Lavender and Ahamo sat together on one side of the stage opposite from DG and Cain. Azkadellia and Glitch sat behind Lavender and Ahamo in smaller chairs. Lavender had told DG that it symbolized that one side of the family was giving power over to the other. Azkadellia had stepped down as heir apparent, so she sat behind the now reigning queen in representation of that fact. In the middle of the stage was the main throne. It was the seat of power and DG would have to sit in it for the first time today.
She sighed and then looked over the crowd and saw a few dozen younger men with disappointed looks on their faces. DG leaned over once all of the guests sat in their seats to Cain and whispered, "I saw quite a few disappointed faces of would be suitors out there. Do you think they know?"
"Quite possibly," he nodded, "Your father had said that the princess that becomes heir apparent usually made that walk on her own, but if she is escorted by a gentleman, they would usually announce their engagement toward the end of the coronation."
"So in lamens terms, yes, they know," DG nodded and sat back into her seat.
Lavender stood from her seat as soon as she noticed that all the guests were seated and the page at the side of the room announced her. She smiled at DG and then looked over the crowd with a wide sweep of her eyes. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath.
"You'll have to excuse me," she began with a light laugh, "This is my first time leading a coronation. The last time there was one I was the one in my daughter's seat."
The majority of the hall laughed politely and waited for her to continue.
"Today is a joyous a momentous celebration. My daughter Dorothy Gale has graciously accepted her right as princess and is becoming the heir apparent."
At this the hall erupted in thunderous claps and hoots of joy from the guild fighters from munchkinland. DG smiled at the support of the leaders of the world she would some day lead. As the cheering calmed down to polite clapping Lavender continued.
"I now ask that my oldest daughter, Azkadellia join me," she looked at Azkadellia who slowly rose from her seat with one hand on her belly and the other trying to balance her. She walked up to Lavender and put both her hands in her mother's, "As first heir apparent you have evoked the right of passage to not take the throne of our kingdom. As such, you hold no power to the throne unless your sister is unable to do so."
Azkadellia bowed her head, "I do indeed."
"DG, my angle, please step forward," Lavender looked back to DG who walked up to both of them. Lavender placed her directly across from Azkadellia and had both girls hold one another's hands, "As you have agreed, Azkadellia, so you are now bound. As you couple hands with your sister, your right of passage has been passed to her and her decedents."
Lavender encompassed her hands over the pair of her daughter's and closed her eyes, "With my blessing and my power as reigning monarch of the lands, I give the passage to the younger princess, Dorothy Gale."
Another set of polite clapping flowed from the crowd and Lavender stepped back from the two sisters. Azkadellia looked deep into DG's eyes and noticed her hesitation and possibly some fear. Her thumb gently crossed over the back of DG's hand in an action of comfort and support.
"You will be the greatest of them all, little sister," Azkadellia said softly so only she could hear her, "Of all queens and all monarchs. Your name will be right next to our greatest grandmother, the original Dorothy Gale."
"Yeah, there's no pressure there at all, right? Thanks for the great name choice goes to our parents," DG smiled at her sister nervously, "Thank you, Az. It means a lot to me."
After their hands disconnected they hugged one another and Azkadellia walked back to her chair by Glitch who held her hand tightly.
DG stood next to her mother who took her hands in hers and stared into her eyes, "Dorothy Gale, my angel, you are in the position to be the next queen of our land, our home the O.Z. You are faced today with the choice to take the throne after my lead or to let the land fend for itself. As the next princess in the Gale line, by blood you are the last left to lead, what do you choose?"
DG took a deep breath and noticed that the hall had become deathly silent. She looked into the eyes of her father, sister and Glitch as they all sat behind her mother. She turned her head to look at Cain who sat tall against his seat and gave her a smile of encouragement. She took a quick sweep over the representatives of the people of the lands and nodded her head.
She turned back to her mother and bore into her eyes. She thought over the words and how to answer before she began to speak. She and her mother went over the words dozens of times, she couldn't miss them up now, "Queen Lavender Eyes, my mother and Queen of the O.Z., I give you my answer. The answer if passage of the right to the throne was wasted. If I will bound myself to the throne of this land to the end of my days or until I step down to my successor. To say yes or no to the responsibility and the power over this mighty land, our home. I give you my answer and it is this…"
Again the hall was deathly silent and DG smiled brightly, "… I take the position of heir apparent. I take the position to become future queen of the O.Z., the Outer Zone."
As soon as the last words left her lips the crowd clapped and cheered for the new queen-to-be. Lavender Eyes hugged her youngest daughter close and whispered in her ear, "You did so well, DG. I am so proud of you, my angel."
DG was then led by her mother to the throne and was sat onto its plush cushion. DG settled into it and sighed in relief. All of it was over and decided. She thought that she would have felt a huge burden settle over her once she took the position of heir apparent. But strangely, the burden never came. She felt comfortable. Lavender came to her side as a page brought a small crown over to her and she lifted it from the small pillow it was on. It looked like a miniature of the one that she, as the queen, was now wearing.
"With the placing of this crown and the blessing of the House of Gale, I now bestow you the seat of heir apparent and future queen," the small crown sat over DG's hair and Lavender stepped back to look over her daughter on the throne.
DG tried her best to look regal and put together enough to fit the part she was just given. Apparently it worked for the five hundred guests that had attended. The hall stood as they applauded and Lavender sat back in her seat next to Ahamo. He kissed the side of her head at the temple and smiled up at his daughter. DG waited until the clapping and cheering settled back down until she spoke up.
"Thank you for your support and your presence at this event. It means very much to this family and to me that you still support after such a long and trying time. Now at the end of the witch's reign I, along with my mother and sister, hope to rebuild the O.Z. and make it the shining land that it was always meant to be. With you and the people's help, we can rebuild what was destroyed and take back the land that is ours. Not mine and not the queen's, but every O.Z. citizen living now and any that will live after," she looked at specific faces in the crowd trying to gauge how she was doing so far. Many were smiling and some clapped through her speech, "But this isn't the only announcement that is to be made today. Will my father stand?"
Ahamo nodded and stood from his chair to stand next to the throne. DG then turned to Cain who was still sitting straight backed in his chair, "Wyatt Cain, please join us at the throne."
He got up quickly and stood on the other side of the throne from Ahamo. She smiled at him and then looked back at her father.
"As heir apparent, usually the young princess would be offered to be suited by the eligible men of the lands," Ahamo began and a few young men's eyes lit up from the crowd. He laughed a little to himself as he noticed them and then shook his head, "But this princess, I am proud to say, is already spoken for."
DG and Cain both smiled and also heard some disappointed mumbling from the crowd.
"Princess Dorothy Gale is engaged to a very honorable man. A man I trust will not only keep her safe, but keep her heart for all time. A man that has led her through danger and taught her ways of the O.Z. that was lost to her for so long," Ahamo turned to Cain and gently took one of DG's hands and placed it in Cain's, "Wyatt Cain, I give you my daughter's hand to marry and to keep for all time. In this placement I and the reigning queen also give you the position of prince-consort and future king-consort, lord of the lands. Do you take this all and become bound to your post from this day on?"
Cain took a deep breath to answer, but someone shouted before he could get a word out.
"Objection!" a voice carried from the back of the crowd.
"Objection to what?" DG hissed from her seat and Cain's eyes narrowed toward the voice.
"Objection to this courtship…" a young man around DG's age stepped from the crowd. He wore a nicely presented suit with a sash covered in medals and jewels. His dark hair was slicked back and his dark eyes shone up at DG and her father, completely ignoring Cain who stood beside them. If DG didn't know any better she would think that he was a prince. He cut through the crowd and stood before the stage, "…You were promised to me, princess."
"Bull-" DG started when she was interrupted by her mother.
"Lord Soren," the queen looked down at him as she stood from her chair, "We believed that you were dead."
"You were apparently mistaken, your majesties. I'm very much alive and ready to take my place at Princess Dorothy Gale's side as her betrothed."