Chapter 16
I do not own anything from the Wizard of Oz. The movies, books, or anything else related to the story. I own my OCs.
I know you guys are anxious for Scarecrow and Dorothy to reunite, and I promise it will be soon.
Scarecrow just defeated his new opponent. Another kill, another mark on his soul.
He wiped the blood off his hands as Ordaran looked down and smiled at him. The woman with the dark curly hair was also there again. Today, she wore a bright orange dress that was still low cut. Scarecrow wondered who she was now. It had to be more than one of Ordaran's lovers.
Scarecrow could only walk away from the body on the ground. There was nothing he could do. He had to kill to live. Lion had been pitted against two men the day the before, and though he took out both easily, Scarecrow could tell it was tough to do. Tin Man was still recovering from the rust that he acquired after the water had been thrown on him in the jungle, and had yet to fight.
Scarecrow began to walk back to the door of the arena. He still did not trust Ami. Ami had another agenda besides defending the honor of his son. Scarecrow could just feel it. Ami had plenty of chances to take out Ordaran. He was a shape shifter, but there was something more to this story.
The only thing that he did believe Ami on was that Dorothy was still alive and with the shape shifters. He could just feel it in his heart. He could only hope that he would find her soon, or she would make her way back to Oz safely to get help. From who, he didn't know.
Ordaran motioned for a guard and Scarecrow was taken by the other guards, and put into shackles again. This time they took a turn, and Scarecrow was then led out of the arena. He was still dirty, dusty, and bloody. He blinked in the bright sunlight to get his bearings together. The roads were paved in stones, and people stopped to stare at the man in shackles being led away from the arena.
Scarecrow realized that they were heading to the pyramid like structure in the middle of the city. It was a bronze in color, and reflected the sunlight. Scarecrow would have admired it's architecture if it hadn't been the castle of his enemy.
He was led through the main doors where guards stood under fires that were lit above them.
The inside was simple metal, and concrete with house symbols surrounding the emblem of Aglas. Which was a sun in a red circle. There were plants that Scarecrow did not recognize adorning the walls in pots. Servants walked around cleaning or other things. Guards were everywhere.
He was then turned and guided up a series of stairs, and huge wooden doors stood down a long hallway.
The double doors opened and he was escorted into another hallway then made to go right.
A room opened again by a woman and there were colors of rich red, and gold colors adorning the windows. By the lit fireplace was a table, and next to that was a bathtub. Two other women were filling the tub with water. Scarecrow spotted a bed on the other side of the room along with other tables or chairs.
Scarecrow had been learning the Aglas language and asked the one soldier.
"What is this?'
"You will see Scarecrow King," the soldier said smiling.
The two women who were filling the bath finished, and laid out some linens. Then stood to the side.
Scarecrow was released from his shackles, but the guards stood by with swords pointed at him.
"You may leave," a female voice said from the other side of the room.
Scarecrow groaned as he spotted the woman with Ordaran sitting in a chair.
The soldiers left the room, but the door locked behind him.
She moved over to the table and leaned against it drinking something from a cup, and smiling at him.
"You fought bravely today," she said putting the glass down on the table.
She told the one blonde girl servant who had poured the water to get Scarecrow a glass of wine.
"I would not call that brave, my lady," Scarecrow said.
The woman just smiled, and walked over to him.
Scarecrow hesitated when the girl handed him the wine.
"Do you fear poison now that you are human once more, Scarecrow King?" She asked laughing lightly.
Scarecrow looked down at it, and frowned. "Possibly. My straw could have handled it, but not my human form."
"How does it feel to be human again, Scarecrow King?" The woman asked coming a little close to him that he could almost feel her body against his.
Her brown eyes were filled with a sultry mischievous look.
"It was fine months ago," he answered.
She grabbed the glass from him and took a sip then handed it back to him.
"There. No poison," she said smiling again.
Scarecrows just looked at the glass again, and then back up at her. What did she want?
"Forgive me, my lady, I haven't had the pleasure of your name," he said trying to ignore her body almost pressing against his.
She laughed lightly and said, "So honorable, my king. My name is Meera, and I am the Lord's cousin."
Scarecrow wondered if she was still one of Ordaran's lovers as well.
"I try to be, my lady," he answered swallowing hard.
She suddenly walked away, and waived her hand. One of the maids handed her a wet cloth. She came back over, and looked up at Scarecrow.
"Oz is a fascinating nation. So…..enchanting from what I have heard. Along with the noble king who ruled at one time."
Scarecrow still wondered about Ordaran's cousin. She was very sure of herself as she stood in front of him. He would not be surprised if she was one of Ordaran's lovers. Ordaran had been long rumored to not only take many women, but men as well. Who says that he would not take his cousin?
Meera crinkled her nose. "You smell like a cow," she said laughing at her own joke.
"Apologies my lady. I was just fighting," Scarecrow said.
He looked around the room, but did not see a means of escape as of yet.
To his shock and surprise, Meera grabbed his neck, and pulled herself against him. She was surprisingly strong for her small stature.
"Stay still, Scarecrow King. I do have guards outside the doors," she whispered in his ear.
Scarecrow wanted to struggle away from her, but knew she was right. He would die before he hit the ground if he put a hand on her.
She smelled like a flower he could not place. Her body was warm, and her breasts soft against his chest.
She suddenly looked down, and began to wipe his chest with the cloth, which made Scarecrow shiver a little.
Scarecrow began to breath heavily at the touch. He cursed his male instincts taking over his logical brain.
"Do you like?" She asked as her hand made its way down his torso.
Scarecrow knew where she was going, and he didn't like it a bit. There was no way in hell he would ever even think of laying with this woman. Not just because of Dorothy, but she was Ordaran's family.
"Please don't," he choked out as her hand brushed his pants.
She pouted a little and took a step back. "Why not?"
Scarecrow looked down, and saw the knife at her side.
"I am a married man," he answered trying to regain his composure.
Meera laughed loudly. "You really are a noble man, Scarecrow King. The man who gave up the throne of Oz for a woman."
She walked up to him again, and looked him over as he said, "That is not correct. My land's ancient scrolls brought Ozma in."
Meera laughed again. "Ancient prophecies are not always true, Scarecrow King. You did it for that farm girl. You could have easily overtaken Ozma the fairy."
"That farm girl is my wife," he said.
"Who might be dead," she said lightly.
Scarecrow didn't even want to think about that. He started to formulate a plan in his head. He had to get to that knife. He knew if Meera knew how to use that knife, she knew how to fight.
He had to overpower her.
"I will find out. What do you want for me?"
Meera laughed again. "I like you. I have never been around many noble men in my life. Besides, you are very handsome."
Meera had more wine handed to her, and she took a drink. "Handsome, and noble. Such a rare combination."
"Thank you," he said still thinking about his plan.
"I have wanted you from the moment I set my eyes on you," she said.
Scarecrow smiled slightly. "You don't mince words do you?"
"No."
"Have you said to other fighters?"
"No, just you," she said smiling. Her voice was becoming husky.
"That is a compliment. Thank you," he said still eyeing her.
"Well, I was expecting something else after all," she said putting the wine glass down.
Scarecrow knew at that moment what he had to do. He asked the gods and Dorothy to forgive him. He would never, ever love another woman than he would Dorothy Gale. He tried to picture her standing there for a moment.
"What were you expecting?" He asked huskily. He hoped she would fall for it.
Meera looked at him and smiled. He was hoping she took the bait.
She did.
"Well, I was still expecting a man made of straw. Not very comfortable to sleep with, wouldn't you say?"
"That I could not control," he said.
He wondered about how he would get Lion, and Tin Man out, but he would worry about that later. Right now he had to plan his own escape.
"I think you're right though," he commented eyeing her up and down.
"About what?"
"My wife is probably dead," he said smiling slightly as Meera looked up at him again.
"Do you need some comfort, Scarecrow King?" She asked as she reached for the straps to her dress.
Scarecrow took a deep breath, and said, "Yes."
The dress with the knife fell to the ground before Scarecrow could react.
He swallowed hard again as she stood naked before him. She then dismissed her maids.
He hadn't planned for that. He thought she would stay dressed for a few more moments, and he could get the knife.
"You still stink, Scarecrow King," she said.
He closed his eyes for a moment trying to not look too closely at the naked woman standing before him.
"Why…..why don't you help me?" He said trying to clear his throat.
"Of course," she said in a low voice.
She pulled him over to the bath, and then turned around, and lightly touched her lips to his.
He closed his eyes again trying to imagine Dorothy doing this.
He then opened them, and yelped as she grabbed his pants and pulled them down. She still kissed him as her hand made it's way down to things that were private.
He absolutely hated his response. He opened his eyes to see she had kicked the dress and the knife out of the way.
She then guided his hand to her breast, and made him touch it.
Before he could react, he was suddenly pushed into the bath, and made a big splash all over the floor.
The hot, soapy water surrounded him, and he had to get his bearings together for a moment.
"Clean yourself," she ordered standing above him smiling.
Scarecrow smiled slightly. "Of course, my lady."
He had to do something else. He would not have sex with this woman if it killed him. He had to get out of here.
The cloth was thrown at him, and he began to wash himself.
Meera watched and waited patiently.
Then Scarecrow realized something. He had been so distracted that he hadn't realized that he was still holding the wine glass.
He looked at it and saluted Meera, and then he drank it. Meera laughed lowly.
He smiled to himself as he set the glass down on the side of the bathtub.
"I think I am clean enough, my lady," he said looking up to her and smiling with the dirty cloth in his hand.
"You smell better," she said.
Scarecrow gave the invitation and said, "Please tell me then that I am good enough for you now."
Feet entered the water first, and then a female body suddenly straddled him.
"Good enough, Scarecrow King," She said leaning into him.
He let her touch him, but he did not respond as much as he probably should have. The guilt was just killing him inside. He had loved Dorothy Gale from the moment he met her. He had waited so long for her to come back, and then they were finally together.
She had brought him back from the brink of death, made him whole and human again. She was still alive, and even if she wasn't, he just could not give himself to another woman.
He now distracted Meera. He let her lips touch his. Her tongue enter his mouth. He prayed for it to stop, but she was very persistent, and when he did resist she put him back in line.
"You are ready for me, Scarecrow King," her hot breath whispered in his ear.
Scarecrow smiled again. "No."
Meera pulled back a little in shock. "No?"
"No."
He grabbed the wine glass, and broke it against the bath. He suddenly grabbed Meer's wet hair, and held the sharp broken piece to her throat.
"Scream, and I will not hesitate to put this through your flesh," he said to her quietly.
Meera began to breath heavily, but did not scream as he gripped her hair.
"My cousin will kill you," she said between gasps at the pain from the grip on her hair.
"I have seen war, Meera. I have done things that I have to live with the rest of my life, but there is one thing," he began.
"What?" she asked. She was definitely a fighter, but she knew better to fight back with the sharp glass touching her flesh at her neck.
Scarecrow pulled her closer and said, " I love my wife. You should have never trusted me. Now get up."
Meera rose from the bath, and Scarecrow did the same. She was eyeing the knife.
"Don't even think about it," he said to her.
He then turned her around, and held the glass in front of her still at her neck.
He looked around, and asked, "Where is the secret entrance the maids left through."
She didn't answer. Scarecrow was getting annoyed at her.
He grabbed her hair again, and pulled her against him. She cried out, but he put his other hand to her mouth to stifle the noise.
"Where is it?" He whispered menacingly digging the glass a little deeper.
She pointed to her left. "It is not secret. There will be guards."
"I'll take my chances," he said.
He suddenly turned her around and made her come face to face with him.
"Where would Ordaran be now?" He asked.
She shook her head. She tried to struggle against him, but Scarecrow was too strong.
"Yes, you do know," he said to her. "Don't lie to me."
"You will never make it out Aglas alive, Scarecrow King," she said with sarcasm.
"You should have never trusted me, Meera. Now tell me!"
"He would be with his advisors now," she gasped as his grip on her tightened.
"Where is that?"
"At the top of the other stairs you came in on," she said.
"Thank you. You are a very beautiful woman, Meera," he said smiling to her.
"You will not live to see the sun set, Scarecrow King," she said her eyes flashing and spitting at him in disgust.
Scarecrow took his other hand, and placed it on her neck still careful to hold her in place.
'When my armies come for me, I promise I will spare you," he said.
He then pressed down on her shoulder, and cut off blood flow to her head. Her eyes widened and she struggled against him again, but then she crumpled his arms.
Scarecrow picked her up bridal style, and put her sleeping form on the bed. It would not be long till she awoke again.
It would not be long till the either the maids or the guards would come investigate.
He turned and put his pants back on. He cursed that he did not have a shirt. He would have to get one from the guards.
He had to somehow get Lion and Tin Man out. He thought about taking Meera hostage, and bargaining for them, but knew that would not work.
He had to find another way.
He looked up at the wall, and could not believe his luck. There sat a sword in it's scabbard.
He looked at it, and found it was a little dull, but would have to do.
He found the door, and opening it looking around. The hallway was empty and he could see light up ahead. He had to get a soldier with a head covering to disguise himself. It was the only way.
He knew this probably led to the servant areas.
Taking a deep breath, and looking back to make sure Meera hadn't awakened he quietly closed the door, and broke off the handle without making too much noise.
He began to walk down the hall with the knife, and the sword in both hands.