Disclaimer… do I really need to put one here still?
After seeing Tugg off down the river Dorothy was led away by lily to what appeared to be a small castle. Smaller than the emerald city as well as the witch's old castle.
"I'd say about 50 people could comfortably fit into this place without bumping into each other within every five minutes of needing something." Alex said as they walked into the main hall.
"You'd be right, and it's rather lonely sometimes, other kids, people like you seem to think I'm weird, because of my, well gift, well I call it a gift, everyone round here can actually do it, but I can perfected the art, pawing through people's minds, memories, the works its normally just me, my sister, and my adopted brother, as well as momma, or Mrs. garrison to you." Lily said.
"Lily don't annoy the guests, who are they anyways?" came the voice of another girl.
"Yes, I would like to know that." Came a male's voice as they heard a door open.
"Thomas, violet, I guess I have to do the introductions, this is Ms. Dorothy gale, and her friend Alex, and they are staying here for protection against him." Lily said.
"Dorothy gale!?" Came the two in unison.
Immediately another girl with dirty blonde hair was about the same age as her sister, and had brown eyes unlike her sister who had crystal blue eyes. As well as a boy with flaming red hair, green eyes, and a freckled face. He looked a few years older than his adopted sisters and Alex.
"Don't bother our guests you three, get ready for lunch, Dorothy, Alex, everything has been prepared for your stay, and for the record your rooms are this way." Mrs. Garrison said turning around.
"Yea, sorry." Lily said
Dorothy sighed and turned around, however something caught her eye. It was a birdcage with a sleeping dove in it.
I can't believe it." Dorothy said.
"What?" Alex asked.
"That's a carrier dove, I can't believe it." Dorothy said
"Yes, and you know who it belongs to." Mrs. Garrison said.
"I do, and that means our ending up here wasn't complete coincidence." Dorothy said angrily.
"Yes, and Glinda told me to let you find out, she didn't want any secrets." Mrs. Garrison said as they came to a door that was slightly ajar.
This made Dorothy calm down immediately. As they entered the bedroom it was apparent even more now that this wasn't coincidence. The room had two wardrobes in it and a bed large enough for two people and a desk. Dorothy smiled and placed her satchel and the scepter down on the desk
"I like it." Alex said.
"You two can change for lunch if you'd like, I'll leave you two alone." Mrs. Garrison said leaving the room.
As soon as Dorothy and Alex were alone they walked over to the window at the far end of the room.
"Beautiful view of the courtyard." Alex said.
"I see that." Dorothy said.
"What do you think?" came Thomas's voice.
"Well, it's a nice place, so how did you come to live with the garrisons?" Alex asked.
"My parents were killed by a boulder in an earthquake, Mrs. Garrison was nice enough to take me in, being a main family of the Winkie country, not at all arrogant or conceded, and the girls would like you to know this, and that's that they have no father." Thomas said.
"What do you mean?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"I meant what I meant, they don't have a father, Mrs. garrison never married, she said she was saving her love for an old promise something she made to someone, I don't know who though, or why she said her love is undying but it might never be." Thomas said.
"Then how did they come into being?" Alex and Dorothy asked in unison.
"They were a wish, a very powerful wish, from the heart, she wanted a family, and she got two daughters, a wish that was somehow granted maybe not for her gain but someone else's, she never quite explained." Thomas said.
"You know, I'd argue, but having been a person who's seen a lot in my life time, well I've just given up asking at this point." Dorothy replied.
"Same, as has your boyfriend I'm guessing?" Thomas asked turning to Alex.
"I gave up asking after my first visit to Oz, now explain to me this, if people can't die in Oz…" Alex started to say before being cut off.
"In Oz, people can be killed given the correct circumstances." Dorothy and Thomas said in unison.
"Of course you would know that." Alex said turning to Dorothy.
"I've only ever caused the deaths of two people and they were both on accident." Dorothy said.
"Yes, one was crushed by your house in munchkin land and the other was melted by water, neither circumstance did you have control over, but it's made you a heroine, and a savior of Oz, this time however, at least according to Mrs. garrison, the threat is greater with the jester, he isn't like his sisters, and never was, she believes he's acting out of jealousy about something, but she won't tell us what." Thomas said.
"Well, you most likely wouldn't be wrong, I mean before he was the jester, he wanted to be a warlock but his sisters ruined that chance for him, I wonder why he never lifted the spell that was placed on him…" Dorothy said as she began to trail off.
"Well anyways, I'll leave you two to it." Thomas said leaving.
Dorothy looked at Alex and shrugged. She picked up the scepter and they both left the room making note of which way to go. Eventually they found themselves in a parlor where they were surprised to find Mrs. Garrison, and Mrs. Garrison. Doubles sitting across from each other the only difference of one was the hair, being greyer and faded. Between them hung on a wall was a picture of Rose standing with her arms crossed in front of her.
"Dorothy, I'm glad that you found this place alright." One Mrs. Garrison said making direct eye contact.
Immediately Dorothy felt as if her mind were being pawed through again, until they found the memory of her talking to the jester. And Glinda forbidding her to say anything to Rose if she found her.
"So they forbade you to talk to me about the jester, I do not mind, for I miss him so, but he never came back, and I've waited, loyal to him, taking the title of Mistress or Mrs. so that I would not have to marry, but I think he wanted to find me, otherwise my wish for children, for a true family would never have come true, I've wanted one of my own ever since we were your age, now I have two daughters, created by a powerful wish, one that I could not have made alone." One of them said.
"I'm confused, who's the other one?" Alex asked curiously.
"Momma." Said the same Mrs. Garrison.
"Wait so Mrs. is a diminutive of mistress?" Dorothy asked.
"If you mean is it short for mistress then, it's fallen out of practice but it is true." Said the real, older Mrs. Garrison.
"I took on the pretense of being married once I had kids, no one ever asked if there was a father, everyone knew there wasn't, and being Winkie royalty no one dared even though I would indeed answer truthfully." Mrs. Garrison said
"So you fake being married, taking on the title, did you realize he didn't want you to know he was who he was?"" Alex asked curiously
"Appearances may change." the older Mrs. Garrison said.
"But voices, at least his, stayed the same." the younger one said.
"Mrs. Garrison, can I just call you rose? This will, be, rather confusing." Dorothy said.
"You may dear child." Rose said.
"Milady, where are your daughters? And Thomas? Lunch is served, the sandwiches you requested are ready." Came the voice of a man.
"Daddy!" rose said sounding irritated
Nothing but chuckling was heard as a result of this. Dorothy knew her time in this part of Winkie country would definitely be interesting
Well no need to worry my dear readers. Rose's children are the result of a wish, but who made the other half of it? and will rose and the jester ever reunite? Also I made sure you guys know that you don't have to be married to have the title Mrs. though it's the most common way to get it.