Disclaimer, you know
When Alex was brought to Glinda's room by Locasta he was left in the door way as Locasta returned to her room. Alex sighed and walked in to see Glinda waiting for him standing in front of her desk. Alex found this unusual since normally when Glinda wanted a word she would come to them herself, or she would actually be sitting at her desk.
"Alex, you are wondering why I wanted you wanted here, I can tell." Glinda said.
"Yes, I actually would like to know." Alex said walking over to her.
"Yes, well we are going to the Nome King's domain." Glinda said looking at the clock on her wall.
"At this hour?" Alex asked curiously.
"I'm sorry but yes." Glinda said taking Alex's hand.
Immediately Alex felt himself lurch forward. He began to feel extremely sick and felt as though he couldn't breathe either. He hated this feeling and wished there was a way to get around it. The feeling began to get worse as it normally did and then he came to an abrupt halt. He fell forward and collapsed to his hands and knees. He heaved and gasped as he tried to catch his breath and not vomit at the same time.
"Ah, Glinda, I've been wondering when you would return, your order is almost ready, and hello Alex." The Nome King said getting up from his throne and helping the boy to his feet.
"Thank you sir." Alex said dusting himself off.
"I assume Glinda has not told you why you had to come here with her?" The Nome king asked curiously.
"No, no she hasn't, and to be quite honest, I'm not sure I want to know." Alex said as a chair of stone appeared behind him.
"Roquat, why would I tell him why he has to be here?" Glinda asked curiously.
"I don't know, perhaps he would like to know?" The Nome King replied lighting his pipe.
"Like to know what?" Alex asked.
"There has been a special order placed here for you almost a week ago now, my nomes are almost finished forging it and it should be ready for you soon." The Nome king replied.
"What order?" Alex said.
"Come, both of you, I shall show you." The Nome King replied helping Alex up again and leading him and Glinda out of the room.
As they walked along Alex and Glinda immediately noticed a change in temperature between the throne room and where they were now. It was getting hotter and hotter to the point where Alex himself was sweating.
"It's rather toasty down here isn't it?" Alex asked taking off his coat and slinging it over his shoulder.
"We are rather close to my fiery furnaces now, down to what I call the Nome Forge, where we make all the precious Jewels, metals, Et cetera, et cetera." The Nome king said as they walked through a large stone archway.
As they entered the room on the other side of the arch Alex was met with a sight that put him in awe. It was a large circular room with large hole in the middle with a staircase spiraling up and down from it. Looking up Alex could see large entry ways in the walls with orange light glowing from them and the shadows of nomes working away at the forge. Across from the archway was a large opening in the shape of a fanged mouth, it was easy to see the fire in it as Nomes came and dumped wheelbarrows full of ore and crystals into it. The Nome king led them over to the staircase and chuckled as Alex looked down the hole at where the staircase spiraled down to and turned completely white. The staircase went down almost impossible deep it seemed. However Alex did eventually regain his composure and they followed the Nome king up the staircase to the next floor.
"Glinda has ordered a special sword to be crafted for you." The Nome king said as he puffed a few rings of smoke from his pipe.
"Why?" Alex asked curiously.
"Because, I feel it would be safer for you to have something to defend yourself with other than a peashooter." Glinda said looking back him
Alex sighed and shrugged. When they reached the next floor the Nome King led them over to the closet room to them and whistled.
Immediately a small Nome came out of the room and stood at attention.
"Are you finished with the sword?" The Nome king asked.
"Nearly finished sir, just putting the finishing touches on the hilt, I know you said plain design, but we thought it would be better to put the design of a snake's head with the mouth open, ready to strike at the bottom of the hilt." The Nome said.
"That's fine, and the enchantments?" The Nome king asked curiously.
"Once it's done it will only harm its intended target, no spell known to Nome or man will be able to make that sword turn on its owner." The Nome said finally taking notice of Glinda and Alex.
"Ah yes, you know Glinda, but this is Alex, the one the sword is intended for." The Nome King said as another Nome emerged from the room carrying the sword in gloved hands.
"Ah, yes, here it is now." The Nome said.
The Nome king chuckled and looked at Alex. He then motioned for Alex to take the sword. Alex nodded and approached the Nome. Carefully and slowly he took the sword from the Nomes hands. It was a standard sword, about the same length as the one on the wall in the emerald city. It was lightweight however and easy to carry. It was still a little warm but it felt comfortable to hold. It seemed to adjust to his grip as well. The Nome king smiled and immediately a small stone table with a vase of flowers appeared in front of Alex.
"Test it out." The Nome king said motioning to the table.
"I'm not sure, I've never really wielded a sword before." Alex said.
"Don't worry, with this it will come naturally." Glinda said.
"Exactly, now take a few steps back and swing at the vase." The Nome king said.
Alex sighed and did as the Nome king said. He took a step or two back, took a deep breath, and swung the sword like an axe. The sword struck its mark precisely and shattered the vase as well as slicing the flowers cleanly in half. The Nome that had brought out the sword immediately started to clean up the mess.
"Now, Alex, this sword will not be able to harm you, or people you care about, it will only harm what you intend it to." Glinda said.
"That's nice, but I don't intend on swinging this sword in any of your guy's direction." Alex said.
"Well, I suggest we try it out just to prove a point, don't you think so Glinda?" The Nome king asked looking at Glinda.
"Really? We're going to use me as target practice? Again?" Glinda asked.
"No thanks." Alex said.
"Oh don't worry, Glinda you stand over there, Alex you swing the sword and try to hit Glinda in the arm, don't be afraid I promise you that the sword will do her no harm." The Nome King said.
Glinda and Alex nodded. Alex however was extremely worried. He followed Glinda over where the Nome king had instructed her to stand. He looked at the Nome king worriedly. Roquat merely looked at him and nodded. Alex then sighed, closed his eyes and swung the sword. As soon as the sword hit Glinda's arm it bounced of her as if Alex had just tried to hit one of the many stone objects surrounding him instead of Glinda. He opened his eyes and sighed in relief. He noticed that Glinda had a look of delight on her face
"Oh Roquat, you and your Nomes have done so well." Glinda said running up to him and hugging him tightly.
"Anything for an old friend." The Nome King said returning the embrace.
"Say hello to father time for me when you see him again, Alex and I must really be getting back to the city." Glinda said.
"Wait, there is something else I have to give you." The Nome King said quickly running passed the two Nomes and into the room.
Alex looked at Glinda, who returned the glance and shrugged. The Nome king emerged again a minute later carrying a sheath for Alex's sword.
"You can't go around just carrying that thing, not only will it get extremely tedious but it will get rather tiring even though it is rather light." The Nome king said handing the sheath to Alex.
"Thank you." Alex said taking the sheath and sliding the sword into it.
Alex then took the sheath and strapped it to his belt. He then put his jacket back on and was ready to leave.
"I'll contact you at some point later Roquat." Glinda said walking over to Alex and taking his hand.
"Till we meet again." The Nome King said.
Glinda smiled and waved her wand over both of them. Alex once more felt himself lurch forward. Even after all this time he still wasn't used to this sensation. As he began to feel horribly sick and out of breath he felt his feet make contact with the floor of Glinda's room. He fell once more to his hands and knees and began coughing and retching. Glinda chuckled and conjured a metal bucket, which Alex in turn vomited into. When he was done and finally managed to catch his breath, he got up, thanked Glinda and bid her good night. He then walked out of Glinda's room and returned to his. It was close to nine o'clock now, he sighed and unstrapped the sheathed sword from his belt and set it to the side. He then took off his jacket and threw it to the side before dropping down on his bed and falling asleep.