Chapter IV: Surprise, DG!
"At my side?" DG looked between her mother and the lord that ruined the moment. Why does something always ruin the moment?
Lavender turned to the hall filled with people and cleared her throat, "It seems as if there has been a misunderstanding. If you all would please help yourself to some food, it will be resolved shortly."
DG saw her mother wave a hand at the band toward the back as they began to play some slow music. Servants came out into the hall with finger food on plates for the guests as the hall began to rumble with hushed whispers. Glitch stood with Azkadellia and helped her off of the small stage and toward the hall to the Queen's study. DG stood close to Cain and looked worriedly between him and the young man in front of her. She may not have been raised from this side of the rainbow, but she knew what betrothal meant.
"Lord Soren," Lavender bowed her head toward the nobleman, "I see we have a few matters to discuss. Please."
The man watched Lavender's arm motion toward the hallway where Glitch and Azkadellia had disappeared, "As you wish your majesty."
Lavender followed closely behind him.
Ahamo stayed close to Cain and DG through the whole production and sighed loudly. DG looked up at him with a very scared expression and fear written in her eyes. Ahamo shifted to Cain and although the ex-Tin Man may deny it, he had fear written in his eyes as well.
"Come on, spitfire," Ahamo sighed, "This concerns both of you and the two of you need to be a part of the final decision."
"Great," DG lowered her head, but quickly caught herself so she wouldn't look so weak in front of the guests who were still watching her.
She and Cain walked behind her father and she caught Emily and Hank make a bee line for the study as well as Jeb and Kelly. Raw seemed to be lost in the crowd, but she hoped he could make it through. Once outside the study the whole group gathered around one another. Lavender and Ahamo went into the study first and closed the door behind them. Of course the royal couple had to discuss the circumstances over before everyone else is let in. Azkadellia was sitting in a chair next to Glitch and DG, holding her sister's hand. Emily was behind her adopted daughter making sure that her breathing slowed down and she stayed calm. Cain paced back and forth a few feet from DG and shooting glances to the young Lord on the opposite side of the doorway. He was probably trying to find a loop hole to the situation. Jeb and Kelly stood a little ways away knowing how bad the situation could explode if the Lord decided to open his mouth against Cain or DG. Hank stood with them, quietly discussing the ways that they could possibly get DG out of it. The only odd man out was the Lord Soren who stood on his own.
"Deeg, it's going to be okay," Azkadellia said softly to her younger sister who had her eyes glued to the huge doors leading to the study.
"How do you know, Az?" DG said hesitantly and then laughed a little to herself, "It seems like no matter what I do, fate always wants to stop my happy endings from coming true."
"You will have a happy ending, princess," Lord Soren spoke loudly and interrupted the quiet conversation, "It's just not with the peddler that you had in mind. You will be with a Lord instead."
"Careful what you say about Wyatt Cain," Kelly whispered while both Jeb and Hank nodded their heads. Kelly then saw not only red rise in DG's face, but Cain's as well. And beside that Cain had stopped his pacing and now had all his attention on the young Lord.
"I don't know who you think you are," DG started and stared sharply at Soren, "But I do believe that my sister and I were having a private discussion and we had no intention of inviting you into it."
"My apologies, your highness," he bowed his head, "I just thought that you would want to know that you would now be in capable hands."
"Who says that I am not already?" she growled and felt Emily move to the side behind her and Cain's arm wrapped around her waist. She quickly leaned back against him to send the message to the 'all mighty' Lord Soren.
"I would remind you, sir, that she is betrothed to me," Lord Soren stepped forward with a hand on the hilt of his sword, "Please unhand her."
As he went to take another step one sword, one foot and two revolvers were aimed at his throat. He looked around the small circle and sized up each would be opponent. Kelly had her short sword pointed at his adam's apple, Glitch had one of his legs slightly bent to attack at a moment's notice and it seemed that both Cain men were partial to their revolvers.
"And I would remind you, sir," DG started and looked down the barrel of Cain's revolver just to the side of her head, "That we all stick together and if you attack one of us, you attack all of us. Not a good thing to do since, as you have noticed, we all have our own skills. And I still have some mighty strong magic."
"So it might be a good idea to take your hand off of that sword or we can take it off for you," Cain nodded his head at the hand in question. Soren relaxed and took his hand off of the sword. Cain smirked and put his revolver back in his holster which was hidden by the sash of the uniform, "Good choice."
The rest of the group followed suit and put their weapons back in their hiding places and Glitch put his foot back down. It seemed as soon as Glitch's foot hit the floor the door opened and Lavender and Ahamo looked over the small group eyeing the lord.
"I do believe that we have to have a discussion," Lavender began, "Lord Soren, please come in and be seated."
"Thank you, your highness," he bowed his head at her, but kept his eyes locked with Cain's until he fully entered the study.
"You and Cain too, spitfire," Ahamo said to DG.
Cain looked back at Jeb and Kelly, "You two need to wait out here."
"Of course," Jeb nodded and relaxed a little against the far wall.
"What about Mom and Pop?" DG asked and nodded to her robot parents.
"We'll stay out here, DG," Emily said carefully, "This is something that we have no part in. Go on in."
DG didn't like it, but she nodded and she and Cain entered the room, careful to be on the other side of the room from the lord. Ahamo then turned to Azkadellia, "You can come in too, Azkadellia."
She shook her head, "No, this is something that is between you, DG and the Lord Soren. I will be with her, but I think it would be best if I stayed out here physically."
"We'll need you as advisor, Ambrose," Lavender turned to Glitch who looked down at Azkadellia unsure if he should leave her side.
"We'll be out here with her," Jeb offered and smiled at Glitch, "Don't worry."
"Thank you," Glitch nodded and stood next to the queen before he entered.
Lavender looked at the support system for her youngest child and closed the door to the study. As soon as it was shut and locked the rest of the group piled around it and placed one ear on the thick wood.
"Ouch, that's my foot, Jeb!" Kelly hissed.
"Sorry," he muttered and shifted to get a better listening space on the door.
On the other side of the door, the Lord had placed himself in the middle seat in front of the Queen's desk. DG huffed and pulled a chair away from beside him and sat down to the front left corner of her mother's desk with Cain behind her. Apparently he tried to sit between the two, but didn't understand the way they worked. Glitch took the other chair next to Lord Soren and stared at the side of his head as if to burn a whole in it. Lavender sat behind the desk as Ahamo took a seat on the other front corner of her desk.
"So we do have quite a situation here," Ahamo began and sighed deeply.
"Um, can we have an explanation of what it is, first?" DG asked.
"DG, this is Lord Soren of Winkie Country," Lavender waved her hand to Lord Soren who gave a small smirk, "He is Lord to the Eastern lands of that realm and… you were betrothed to him when you both were two annuals of age."
"That is correct," Lord Soren nodded his head and DG rolled her eyes. As if he needed to make sure her mother was correct.
"Well, you got here a little too late, buddy," DG grabbed a hold of Cain's hand that was resting on her shoulder and gave it a small squeeze, "I'm marrying Wyatt Cain. Betrothal or not."
"You don't have much of a choice here, Princess Dorothy," he shook his head and turned to the queen, "I believe you still have the bond oath that you and my parents both agreed upon?"
The queen nodded and brought out the paper with the gold lettering. DG lunged forward and grabbed the paper from her mother, "You're joking."
She ran her eyes over it a few times just as Cain had done from behind her. There in gold letters was her name beside Lord Soren's. Right below their two names the agreement read, 'Are to be wed once of age and in good standing within the kingdom of the O.Z.'
"I am only here to collect my princess so we may be wed as was promised between our two families," Lord Soren explained.
"I am no one's princess. As far as my heart it belongs to Wyatt. No one else," DG pointed out and threw the paper in the young lord's face.
"You have no standing to go against the bond that was agreed by our parents," the young Lord stood up and toward DG when he spotted Cain going for his revolver once again.
"I would back up from the princess, kid," Cain growled. DG smirked at the name. This wasn't the way he said it to her with affection. This was anger and annoyance at someone who was trying to act way beyond their years.
"And what are you going to do, you washed up Tin Man?" he spat back.
"Why you little-" DG felt her fingertips light up with the magic she had gained from Glinda on the last adventure. And she was ready to use it all on this guy.
"Actually she does," Glitch interrupted before a brawl broke out. All three of the would-be fighters turned to him as he sat calmly in his chair.
"What was that?" Soren asked and sat back down in his own chair.
"Princess DG does have standing to go against the pact made between her parents and yours," Glitch tried to explain slowly. When all he received were blank stares even from the royals behind the desk he began again, "When the pact was signed you both were only two annuals old. This bond was signed to ensure your future happiness, but it was made before you two even understood what it had meant. Usually that wouldn't be a problem between royalty, but this is a new case. When DG was six annuals old she had been killed."
"What are you talking about, she is right here," Soren jabbed a finger in DG's direction at which she frowned at.
"She was killed by the witch's dark magic and was revived by her mother," Glitch nodded respectfully at the queen and continued, "The bond is only effective when the two signed therein are both alive. I would consider this bond null and void since DG had died. She doesn't have to keep to the bond if she doesn't want to and if she doesn't see you fit. You are at the same standing as if you were another suitor."
"Way to go, Glitch," DG smiled at her friend, "No one could possibly have a better brother-in-law."
"I am not your regular suitor," he frowned, "And I want what was promised to me."
"Whining is not going to get you anywhere," DG smiled brightly and turned to her mother, "What's the verdict?"
Lavender looked at the paper in front of her and looked at the gold lettering, "Usually the lettering would fade if it is not effective and they are still shining. Ambrose is correct in his logic, as usual-"
DG watched Glitch smile proudly from the queen's praise and giggled beneath her hand.
"- maybe all that is missing is an exclamation of fitness of a suitor," her mother finished.
"What's that?" Cain asked.
"If Ambrose is correct, all DG has to do is refuse him as she would with any suitor," Ahamo looked at DG, "So say the word."
"I know who I want to spend the rest of my life with," DG started and looked at Soren, "And it's not you. You are not the future King-consort."
Lavender looked at the paper in front of her and the gold lettering immediately dried up and disappeared. She smiled at the action and looked up at DG, Cain, Glitch and finally at Lord Soren, "It seems that you have no more standing, young lord. My daughter has made her decision. I'm sorry."
"This is an outrage!" Soren stood from his chair, "My father and mother died during the reign of the witch. I am the last of my line and we deserve to have our bonds honored!"
"You must calm yourself, Lord Soren," Lavender ordered him and he immediately sat down. She held up the piece of paper which had no names printed on it at all, "As you see, the bond is broken. You are the one who no longer has any standing here."
"And I am curious," Glitch shifted slightly in his chair and looked at the young man in the eyes, "What took you so long to come back here for her?"
"I thought she was dead."
"And she was re-announced back to the kingdom months ago," Glitch reasoned, "Did you hear of her coronation perhaps?"
"That has no standing on my trip here for her," he frowned.
"It doesn't matter," Glitch stood up and walked over to Cain and patted him on the back, "Cain is a fine man and loves her very much. I agree with their majesties. She has chosen her future husband… and it is not you."
"I will not be out shined by an old Tin Man," Soren growled and turned his head to Cain.
"You will and you have. And just so you know, he is not old and he is the best Tin Man that I have ever known," DG stood from her chair and began to walk to the door, "I believe that this matter is closed."
"You will not desert me!" he grabbed her arm and was then promptly punched to the ground by Cain's fist.
"Hands off the princess," Cain said and pulled DG behind him and out the doors to the safety of the others in their group.
Lord Soren began to get up from the floor when Lavender spoke to him, "Lord Soren. Sit back down. Apparently, we have another matter to discuss."
Glitch walked to the doors and closed the four of them off from the rest of the group. DG watched the doors closed and knelt next to Azkadellia who was already smiling as she felt her sister's relief through their connection. Raw had joined the group while they were in the meeting and smiled at Cain and DG.
"What are you smiling about, fur ball?" Cain asked and shook his fist as if to shake away the pain from the direct hit to Soren's jaw.
"DG and Cain annoyed, but relieved," Raw smiled.
"What happened?" Kelly asked and looked back and forth between DG and Cain.
"The betrothal is null and void thanks to Az here," DG looked at her sister who tilted her head in question, "Well- actually it's the witch's doing, but hey, it's a good thing this time. So I thought I'd give my sister the credit."
"What did I- or she do?" Azkadellia asked cautiously.
"When she killed me when I was six, she was able to give me a choice now," DG smiled and tried not to bring back too many bad memories between her and Azkadellia, "I don't have to marry the jackass. I get a choice. And you have to thank your husband for me as well."
"I'm thinking the advisor found a loophole?" Emily asked while Hank was plastered to the doors trying to listen in on the conversation inside.
"Yup," DG nodded vigorously.
"Probably why mother wanted him in there with you two," Azkadellia smiled thinking of her husband's abilities.
"You must have said a few things because that lord in there is mighty angry," Hank commented from him position at the door.
"And it could have also been from Cain hitting him to the floor," DG laughed and looked at Cain who now had his arms folded in front of his chest.
"No one lays a hand on you like that and gets away with it," Cain commented and saw the smirk on DG's face, "What?"
"Remind me to reward you later for coming to my rescue," she winked at him.
Hank promptly stepped away from the door a moment before they opened once again, but this time with much more force. Lord Soren turned to DG and bowed stiffly to her.
"My apologies, your highness," he said sarcastically and stood straight up again, "I take my leave now. My blessings to you both."
"…Thanks," DG said hesitantly.
"You will need them," he hissed under his breath and then turned promptly down the hall and out one of the other doors, away from the other coronation guests.
"Glad that's over," Kelly frowned after the man.
Lavender, Ahamo and Glitch came out from the study. Lavender turned to DG and Cain, "Are you two okay?"
"We're much better now that's its taken care of, right?" DG asked him which he only gave a nod to answer.
"Well then I believe we have a ceremony to finish," Ahamo clapped his hands together and began to shoo everyone back down to the main hall.
DG walked next to her mother on the way back, "What did you say to him?"
"No one treats my child in such disrespect. Royalty or not," Lavender smiled down at her, "You do not need to worry about him, my angel. It is over and the bond is broken. Let's finish the other that was interrupted, shall we?"
"Let's," DG nodded as most of the group found their way back into the crowd and the band played the small introduction piece for the royal family.
Lavender stepped back up to the front of the stage as DG, Cain and Ahamo got back into place. The queen surveyed the crowd and found that everyone had stayed.
"I am so sorry and I apologize greatly for the delay," she bowed her head a little to the crowd, "It seems as if someone was over exaggerating a bond that was never to be. I believe that Mister Wyatt Cain had an answer for my husband."
She nodded to Ahamo and took her seat again. Ahamo turned to Cain and repeated the question, "Do you take this station and this post presented to you?"
"I do, sire," Cain nodded and noticed the huge smile that spread over DG's face, "With everything in my being, I do."
"Then here and now you are to be Prince-consort once you and Princess Dorothy are wed," Ahamo shook Cain's hand. He took DG's hand and placed it in Cain's once again then turned them both toward the crowd. Lavender stood back up next to DG while Ahamo stood on Cain's side.
"I here pronounce and introduce your future queen and king-consort," Lavender announced and the hall erupted in clapping and cheers.
Meanwhile, on the other side of one of the tall windows stood a lone figure on a horse, looking in on what should have been his.