Disclaimer, you know.
When Cassandra had arrived at the castle Rose, Lily, Alex and the Professor had just arrived at the parlor. Alex was surprised to find Cassandra already sitting in one of the armchairs opposite of rose's parents.
"Lady Cassandra, what brings you here?" Rose asked.
"She heard that Dorothy was sick and decided to come here to keep an eye on her I'd assume." Alex said.
"The boy's right, that is exactly why I am here, it is nice to see you again rose." Cassandra said.
"You know, I have a name, I really don't like it when you refer to me as boy." Alex said.
"Alex, don't argue with Cassandra It's bad for your health." Mrs. Garrison said.
Cassandra smiled and got up. She then hobbled over to Alex.
"Bring me to her." Cassandra said.
Alex nodded and left the parlor as Cassandra hobbled after him.
Meanwhile at the palace.
The jester was growing tired of waiting. He was pacing in front of the crystal ball. He had no idea where Dorothy was or her boyfriend for that matter. He knew Dorothy was sick and that was all he knew. He looked at the orb and soon decided send the flying monkeys out and make an announcement to all of Oz. he went over to the crystal and brought the wand up to his mouth like a microphone.
"people of Oz, I do not wish any harm to you, I do not wish for there to be a war if I can avoid it for now, but this message is directed to Dorothy gale, I know you don't want this to go to war, but if you continue running, well, how many people will you let come to harm because of you?" the jester said as his voice echoed through the land.
The jester put down the wand and chuckled, he knew that Dorothy would be angry and soon she would be coming back to him.
Back at the castle.
At the castle Dorothy had tears in her eyes, streaming down her cheeks, she was too sore to move or do anything at the time being though. As Cassandra hobbled in she turned her head and shut her eyes tight. Before Cassandra could even get to Dorothy however Mr. Foreman appeared. Cassandra immediately stumbled back and nearly tripped over the chair Alex had set up. Mr. Foreman chuckled before walking over to Dorothy and placing a hand on her forehead.
"Cassandra, Alex, go to Rose and tell her to run Dorothy a cold bath, after breakfast of course." Mr. Foreman said taking two apples from his pocket.
"One is for you, the other for her I'm guessing?" Alex asked not even bothering to question why Mr. Foreman was here.
"You got it on the nose my boy." Mr. Foreman said taking a bite from one apple and leaving the other on the side table.
"Why did Glinda send you here?" Cassandra asked.
"I am a doctor, Glinda thought it would be best if I came here and help, and I think she was quite right about that." Mr. Foreman said sitting down in the chair.
Cassandra snorted and hobbled out of the room. Mr. Foreman smiled and waved his hand signaling for Alex to run along. He sighed and ran after Cassandra.
Meanwhile back on the river.
"I hope Dorothy will be alright." Ellie said.
"In terms of her sickness or the jester's message?" Glinda asked looking down into the river as they floated along.
"Both I guess." Ellie said
"I think she'll be fine, for the most part." The china princess said as she joined them.
"I would imagine right now she's rather distraught over what the jester had said, but I know he's just trying to wind her up, but she's safe as long as she can't leave the castle." Glinda said.
"And what about us? The only ones who are truly safe from the jester are the triplets, since he can't touch them, and he feels far too guilty taking Mr. and Mrs. Gale without their kids so basically, as long as we stay out here we're sitting ducks." Ellie said.
"If he captures us it will just give Dorothy another reason to fight him, and in the end it has to be her doesn't it Glinda?" Alyssa asked curiously.
Glinda said nothing, she just continued to stare into the water.
"Well, tell me I'm wrong, tell me it doesn't 'have' to be her." Alyssa said.
"I-I can't." Glinda said turning around.
"Great, so the Land of Oz is going to war, and the only one who can stop it is currently bed ridden." Alyssa replied.
"But why does it have to be her?" Emma asked curiously.
"It's a very hard to explain Emma, but from what Locasta and I have ever been able to understand it's because Dorothy is the cause of all of this, I don't like admitting that either, she started the whole mess and now she has to put a stop to the problem she created, all links to the problem seem to converge on her and there isn't anything we can do to fix it, she can choose not to fight, but she knows the outcome, she knows the risks and she knows what she's fighting for, I really don't like acknowledging it but in the end, Dorothy was right, it's all her fault." Glinda said turning away from them again.
"Glinda, you can't mean that seriously." Em said getting up from her seat and walking over to them.
"Em, she started the chain of events and they have escalated to the point where only she can put an end to it." Glinda replied, not even turning to face her.
No one said anything in response, they simply walked away from Glinda and decided to leave her in piece.
Back at the castle.
After breakfast was done and over with and the Professor bid farewell to everyone and left the castle, Rose had gone to run Dorothy a cold bath while Thomas and Alex went to the kitchens to juice some grapefruits. Cassandra had taken to sitting in a chair by the fireplace in the parlor. After about half an hour Dorothy had been placed in the bath and was being watched over by Mr. Foreman.
"Jon, I got the juice." Came Alex's voice from behind him.
"Splendid, bring it to the bedroom and come back here." Mr. Foreman said.
Alex nodded and ran off to do just that. Five minutes later he was back in the bathroom, kneeling at the side of the tub.
"How are you feeling?" Alex asked placing a hand on Dorothy's forehead.
"I've had better mornings." Dorothy moaned out.
"I can imagine, I should probably go get a towel and a dry nightgown for Dorothy, since both of us seemed to have forgotten to do that." Alex said getting up only to have his wrist grabbed by Dorothy.
"Alex, I'll go, you stay here with her." Mr. Foreman said getting up and leaving the bathroom.
As soon as Mr. Foreman left Dorothy attempted to push herself into a sitting position only to collapse again.
"Dorothy, you shouldn't strain yourself." Alex said
"Alex, I can't stay here, I can't let anyone else get hurt because of what I've cause." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, even if you were in any shape to leave, I wouldn't let you, and neither would rose." Alex said.
"Alex, Oz is verging on all-out war, and I can't do anything about it." Dorothy said.
"Perhaps that's for the better right now." Came Rose's voice.
"Thank you Rose, it's helpful, I think all of Oz heard the jester's message, and I think he's just trying to get her wound up." Alex said.
"Well, I don't think that there should be any think about it, that's exactly what he's doing." Rose said.
"Rose, I know you don't want him dead, but do you think Oz will rest till he's been wiped out of this world like his sisters were?" Alex asked curiously
"No, but I think he deserves another chance." Rose said.
"The people of Oz would never allow it." Dorothy moaned out.
"You think I don't know that?" Rose asked.
"I know you know." Dorothy moaned out.
"Right, Dorothy my dear, I brought a towel and a fresh nightgown, I'd give it ten more minutes before we bring her back to the bed room, Toto and Pockets seem rather anxious that she get back soon, Dorothy forbade them to follow." Mr. Foreman said walking back in.
"Thanks Jon." Dorothy said.
Meanwhile back on the river.
Glinda had spent the last hour not saying anything to anyone, Jenny and Jessica were the only ones who dared to approach her. Glinda said nothing to them. She merely closed her eyes tight and wished that she hadn't said what she had, she now knew what the jester meant when he said the truth hurt more than lying. For the longest time she had known that it was Dorothy's responsibility, since the jester's second attack on Oz she had known. Dorothy always suspected that it was all truly her fault and once or twice she had even let Dorothy believe that it was. Her thoughts however were broken by Aislynn placing a hand on her own.
"Glinda, I realize that you are upset, but you, Locasta, and Angela are the ones responsible for us at the current time." Aislynn said.
"I know ace, but, never mind." Glinda said turning away from her.
Aislynn sighed and walked back over to her maids. She turned to look at Glinda. Then she turned to Locasta and Angela who seemed just as worried as she was. She then began wondering how Dorothy was doing.
At the castle.
After Dorothy had been changed into a fresh nightgown and placed back into the bed she was given a glass of grapefruit juice, which she slowly drank, decided that she was beginning to like it, and had them pour her another glass before she fell asleep again. Alex had taken his chair next to the bed and was monitoring Dorothy like he often found himself doing. He had Toto on his lap and pockets was resting on the bed.
"Well boy, this should be interesting." Alex said scratching Toto behind the ears.
Well this was a rather interesting chapter. Good place to end. Will Dorothy actually try to go after the jester before she is completely recovered? Will the jester capture Glinda and the others? Find out soon.