Chapter 28

I do not own anything from Wizard of Oz.

I still have a few things hanging in the air, but they will be cleared up. I promise. ;)

Her Royal Highness Queen Ozma looked through her crystal ball as Scarecrow and his loyalists headed back towards Oz. Her gaze was steady, but she inside she was seething that Ordaran, and that peasant Boren couldn't do the job.

"We could spread the disease into Mifkit," Thoreon suggested as his queen paced a little.

"I tried, but Glinda managed to put a protection barrier around the outside of Oz with her old wizard friend," Ozma said through gritted teeth.

Ozma looked up at Reginald came through the throne doors with a slight smirk.

"What? This better be good news," Ozma said to her uncle.

"Oh it is, your highness," Reginald said bowing a little. "They should be here soon. They will be immune from the disease."

Ozma felt relief after hearing the news. Scarecrow may be straw again, but he was not completely invincible.

"How many?" she asked.

"At least sixty thousand, your highness," Reginald said.

"That should be plenty," Thoreon said sitting back in his chair satisfied with a smile playing at his lips.

When Ozma heard of Ordaran's death, and then Boren being captured she figured it was over for her, her cousin, and her uncle. Her families have now turned on her, and she had no allies.

She now cursed Ordaran in death for his failures, and now she had no way of going back.

After she had tricked Glinda, she thought she would gain control once more, but after hearing that Scarecrow had survived and was on his way back to overthrow her she knew this was far from over.

So, she sent the disease fast and swift through the land until the army she ordered got here then she would release it after she won, of course. She knew she would have to cure her people, because after all she couldn't rule dead people. No, they were just in a catatonic state with problems with the lungs until this was over.

However, she did not anticipate Scarecrow turning back to straw to be immune from it. That was a very intelligent move on his part, she had to give him that. However, she would have to use another tactic, and that was on its way. Besides, him just being immune was not enough to defeat an army.

"If we do defeat Scarecrow, then we will have the council to deal with, and they may try a hostile takeover," Reginald commented to his queen who seemed to be calming at the news.

Ozma turned, and smiled slightly. "They won't. They fear my magic," she said.

Reginald stood once more, and said, "Ozma there are rules of engagement…"

Ozma turned and looked over her uncle sharply. "I know this uncle, but I would advise you to know your place as well."

Reginald stumbled around a little. "I think you best not use your magic to always get what you want, Ozma. It can backlash on you. One day someone more powerful will come along, and you can be defeated."

Ozma looked over him sharply, and asked, "Who?"

…

The journey through the mountains had been a hard one. Temperatures dipped well below zero, and snow swirled around them as they went through.

There had been losses, and Scarecrow was now mourning those losses. He was able to protect Dorothy from any cold, but even with the best furs the men had, it was still not enough for some.

He was now immune from the cold, and could walk on top of snow without any issues. However, Tin Man kept rusting, and Lion who was used to constant hot and humid was suffering as well.

As they threw another body over the cliffs and into the river below, he was getting frustrated, and needed help soon.

It caused a delay for at least another week. Dorothy did her best with the emerald and put a protective barrier of warmth around the men in increments, but she left herself exposed when she did that. He worried that she would get ill if she did not warm herself enough.

She would warm herself, but only for so long before she had to help the men once more.

Thankfully, they were at the last pass, and were now descending out of the elements slowly.

There had been many goats in the area, with Lion and others able to gather enough to give his men a good feast despite their miseries.

Boren would give him looks as he passed by, but did not say a word. Ami tried talking to him several times, but that did not work, as did Khali.

He finally gave up on the shape shifter. He knew more than he was letting on, and Scarecrow knew it.

Oran looked around, and said, "I thought I had prepared better for this when we first came here. Do you think this is unnatural?"

Scarecrow looked around, and said, "Who can say? I never came through these mountains before."

"I have but always in warmer weather," Oran remarked.

"I guess we have learned a lesson," Scarecrow answered. "We should be down by nightfall, and the rest of them out by morning."

Scarecrow spotted Dorothy with Oscar. Once they had left the mountain passes he wanted to get them together. They would need reinforcements, and maybe delay the invasion if they had to.

"The men are fed, and have their strength again. So, I think you will not have a mutiny on your hands," Oran commented.

Scarecrow shook his head. "That I am glad for. I am going to have to speak eventually and tell them what is happening in Oz, hopefully that will get their morale up."

"You may be a reluctant king Scarecrow, but you are no pushover," Oran replied.

"No, but I need these men to be willing to fight for the kingdom again," Scarecrow said. "If they hear their families are ill, that should be enough."

Scarecrow rubbed his burlap face as they began their trek once more. Scarecrow hated this. He could not feel a thing. He felt empty once more. There were advantages to being straw again; such as he did not need food or water. However, he never appreciated how much he had been human again as he did now.

He could feel Dorothy near him, but it was not the same. It was not the warmth they once shared. He kept telling himself that this was necessary and only temporary, but he easily forgotten how it was to be straw. Now, he knew and he understood what it took him a hundred years to miss once more.

Oran looked around to the mix of purple and green behind them, and said, "I think their morale is down for another thing."

Scarecrow almost rolled his eyes. He knew what was coming.

"Do I need to say it?" Oran asked careful with his footing on the rocks and ice.

Scarecrow helped him down a small crevice. "No, and I am not ready to."

Oran shook his head in frustration. "You are going to need to, if you are going to retake Oz or they really may not follow you into battle. They don't want to think they came all the way out here for nothing."

Scarecrow looked further away, and was relieved they only had a few miles to go.

"True, but I did not force their hands either," Scarecrow said and immediately regretted it. He knew sooner or later it would have to come. He would have to declare himself King once more.

"You will eat those words," Oran said a little angrily.

"Apologies. I know what the risks were, and appreciation is more than I could ever give back," Scarecrow said looking behind him to see if Dorothy needed him. She was still out of earshot, and glad she was not hearing this.

Oran shrugged and looked back to Dorothy who looked up to them quizzically.

"Do you think if I left her my kingdom as heir she would change her stance?" Oran asked in thought.

Scarecrow looked at the older king in shock. "You would do that?"

Oran shrugged. "I have no heir, Scarecrow. She would be the best fit."

"No bastard children?" Scarecrow said in a slight challenge with eyebrow raised.

Oran laughed slightly. "Despite the rumors, I am no Lord Ordaran. If I had one it would be a miracle."

"She would no accept," Scarecrow said laughing at the concept. Dorothy would be horrified, he thought amused.

Oran shrugged. "I know I should give the country to the people, but I wonder what would happen after that. I don't want to make the same mistakes again."

He then turned to Scarecrow and said, "You will have to do it eventually, and she knows it. One thing Dorothy is not is stupid."

Scarecrow looked back at her and slowed down for her to catch up. She was looking cold.

That is one thing she is not, he thought as he wrapped his cloak around her shoulders.

….

They were out of the mountains by morning, and Scarecrow made sure to do a head count so everyone was out safe and sound.

They were all relieved as temperatures began to rise once more. They decided to stop and rest for the day. Lion and another party went out to search for meat again.

The tent was set up, and Dorothy washed her face as Scarecrow was still out with his men.

She was exhausted, but happy to down on lower ground again. She could not wait to sleep in a bed again. She thought of using that abandoned cottage again, but thought that would be unfair to the military traveling with them.

Scarecrow being her bed would have to do for right now.

Scarecrow entered the tent, and the couple embraced and kissed for a moment.

It still surprised Dorothy how soft his lips were still even though they were burlap.

She smiled slightly at him, and he softly to her.

"Are you ready for some sleep?" He asked.

"More than ready," she said relieved.

She knew him well enough that he wanted to talk to her privately about something, and knew what it was. The men were getting restless for Scarecrow to declare himself king, and she was hearing about it.

She looked up at her husband, and said, "I know what you have to do. I have been hearing the talk and the pleas."

Scarecrow nodded, and stroked her auburn hair. "It is the only way I can keep morale up. I haven't even told them about the disease that grips Oz yet."

Dorothy nodded and sighed. "I know, and I understand."

"This means you will be declared queen," he said.

Dorothy knew it would come to this, and she turned away from Scarecrow in thought. She stopped him as he tried to say more. She remembered being a little girl and dreaming of a prince on a white horse coming to sweep her off her feet. She had read that story so many times that she began to believe it for a while.

Of course, she was just a silly child. She remembered how much she just wanted to get out of Kansas, she laughed to herself.

Then a tornado took her to Oz, and she realized their were magical lands out there, but instead of a prince…she had gotten a Scarecrow.

That Scarecrow turned out to be a king, who is more than any girl, could ever hope for. However, there was more to it than just mere girlish fairy tales. Lots of work, lots of stress, and lots of heartache as she had found out first hand after the war with Drigka.

She asked herself whether she was ready to be a queen. She was not the ruling type, and would be happier getting her hands dirty on a farm than just a small garden for her entertainment.

Yet, she knew there wasn't anywhere she wanted to be than right now, and by her husband's side, and knew that it could all end tomorrow by the flick of Ozma's hand if she really wanted to.

She thought of Ozma, and something inside of her snapped. She knew she could use this newfound power for something, and that something was a blonde fairy that had betrayed them so many months ago.

She thought of her lost child, and why she would do what she would do. There was a sacrifice to be had, but there was something to be gained out of it.

After all of this was over, what she would do she did not know. Her and Scarecrow hadn't thought that far ahead yet.

Scarecrow waited patiently for her answer. She could see the worry in his very human blue eyes. He needed her to agree to this, and needed her support.

They had made so many sacrifices, and now this would be one more.

The emerald seemed to be giving her messages, and they were foreboding ones, she just knew it.

Something was coming for them, and this was more than a curse over Oz. Oh no, Ozma had other plans for them, and Dorothy had a feeling it was something that would take them by surprise.

She had to accept her fate as Tin Man had commented. If it put her one-step closer to Ozma's throat with her knife, then so be it.

She smiled at Scarecrow. She pushed her hair behind her ears, and looked down over her dirty clothes.

"I don't look very royal right now. What will the men think?" She asked smiling even wider at Scarecrow's relief.

Scarecrow walked over and embraced Dorothy hard, and whispered a thank you in her ear.

He then kneeled and said, "We will make sure you have better attire soon, your grace."

Dorothy chuckled at him as he stood and smiled at her.

Dorothy was right. Scarecrow was relieved, very relieved, but he could see something in her eyes. Her main goal was Ozma, and he knew it. She had not kept it a secret about her anger at Ozma. He swore on his life force she would have her vengeance, until then they would get through this hurdle.

The emerald flickering was worrying him, and as Dorothy voiced later it was concerning her as well.

Right now, Scarecrow had an announcement to make in the coming day.