Chapter Two: The Old Road

DG had stopped struggling. There hadn't really been much point anyway. Cain had found her and she wasn't naive enough to think that she could get away from him- or if she did manage to get away, that she could stay that way. She knew as well as most of the Long-Coats in the Central City area did, when Wyatt Cain got his man, they tended to stay gotten.

Despite knowing this she had wriggled free twice. The first time she'd staggered four steps into the forest, tripped and fallen on her face. That had been embarrassing but not as embarrassing as the second time. Having escape the horse and run into the woods again- she'd tripped and landed funny on her ankle. Then DG had, had to sit and wait for Cain to come and pick her up. Now she saw no reason to fight the Tin-Man. He'd caught her; the most sensible decision was to stay caught.

'Is there any chance you'd let me actually sit up?' DG asked. Her stomach hurt from being tossed across the horse's neck for so long. Plus her ankle kept jolting and sending shooting pains up her entire leg.

'Will you use it as an opportunity to run away?' Cain asked. He knew she wouldn't get far- he just was getting frustrated with her keep trying. Knowing the Princess she'd probably bob herself off the horse and over a cliff the next time she tried to escape.

'No. I promise.'

'Fine.' He dismounted and helped her climb onto his long suffering horse properly. He swung himself up behind her. DG sat staring out at the road, her mind racing.

'What's going on in Central City?' She asked finally.

'There's a malady.'

'A what?'

'A malady. An illness. A sickness. It's called the Turning Malady.' Cain spoke through slightly gritted teeth.

'How many are ill?'

'Maybe fifty. At the moment... it spreads quickly.'

'Azkadellia is a much better healer than I am.'

'That doesn't excuse you from being you.'

'I guess.' DG stopped talking and continued to stare out. Cain drew the horse off of the road and into the forest. They'd come to a slight clearing, it would be a good place to stop.

Cain collected a pile of wood and lit a fire as darkness began to fall. DG sat a little way from the fire thinking hard. She watched the Tin-Man as he put a kettle on the fire and began to mix some form of field rations into it. Liquid dinner, she thought, yum.

She'd been gone for almost five weeks. Staring into the fire she realised how amazing it was that Cain hadn't found her earlier. She'd taken the only route out of Central City that she knew- the Old Road. Without too much thought she was heading back towards where she'd slipped through. Admittedly she had covered her trail with her magic and moved around continually. She hadn't known what the eventual plan was- keep away, go back, try to slip back over? They'd all crossed her mind at some point. All she knew was that she didn't want to Princess DorothyGale anymore. Banquets, Peace treaties, Balls, talks, making things right with people she'd never met- often members of a species she hadn't known existed a few months ago... It was exhausting. It was so hard. It wasn't right. She felt disconnected from everyone and everything. But... Cain might be right. Whether she wanted to be or not. She was Dorothy Gale... DG... Princess... Daughter... Sister... all of it. It was her. She should be there if there was a problem. She'd go back. For the moment.

The thought crossed her mind that maybe she could work out what to do- how to escape. Then leave- properly this time. No sneaking out of a window at 4am. Maybe that was the best plan for now.

'You can let me out of the shackles. I'm not going anywhere.'

'How do I know that?' Cain was serving the stew ration into two wooden bowls.

'I promise you that I won't run away- you say Central City needs me. I'll come back and help Az fix this... malady. Promise.'

Cain undid the shackles and handed her the stew.

'Thank you.' DG ate for a while. 'How is Jeb?'

'He's good. He'll be glad to know you're found.' Jeb Cain was working with his father to restore the Tin-Man system across the O.Z he had responsibility for training new recruits and forming some form of military system. Wyatt Cain spent his time overseeing the actual missions- searching for Long Coats, the Witches allies etc. All in all the two men worked incredibly well together. DG was glad he was okay.

'I should get to sleep. If we leave early enough tomorrow we can be back in the city by the evening.' Cain spoke with the most friendly tone she'd heard him use since his sudden re-entry into her life. The princess nodded and went to her bed roll.

Cain stayed awake staring at the dying fire. The five weeks without DG had been crazy. He'd found her gone- her things left but windows open. He'd guessed almost straight away, he had recognised her frustration. The way she had so little patience for matters of state, how she called her parents 'mum and dad' to their face but 'Lavender and Ahamo' otherwise. She talked about things being different 'on my side.' She didn't- Cain noticed, ever, refer to anywhere, this side or the other, as home. That she'd cut and run wasn't a shock. He didn't blame her in the slightest. The arguing and cajoling back at the shack had shocked him though. She had seemed so desperate, so young.

When a Princess goes missing it's a big deal. If it wasn't for the outbreak of the Turning Malady he would have been out searching for her more quickly. The Queen and Consort had hoped she'd return of her own volition. She hadn't. As soon as he had leave, and he had people dealing the sick, he'd left.

That had been three weeks ago. If there had been a trail to follow- which he doubted there would have been, it was long gone. Cain had relied solely on his instincts and knowledge of the young princess. He'd found the shack almost by accident after a week of systematically checking the villages around the area she'd slipped through into. Now she was found and would be returned to the palace. But how long she'd stay he couldn't guarantee.

'What is this- Turning Malady?' DG asked him as they rode the last few miles towards Central City.

'It's a sickness. A horrible one.' Cain answered her. His tone even, devoid of emotion. 'It affects the blood first. Heating it up causing a fever. Then there's the nightmares. It makes it so that you don't dare sleep even if you're gonna drop dead of exhaustion.'

'Is that why it's called the Turning Sickness?' DG's blue eyes were huge now, she wasn't looking at him but he knew. The same way he knew her hands were twisted together, white knuckled in her lap.

'No. It's called the Turning Malady because of what happens after the nightmares stop.' Both Cain and DG stared onwards, the horse walking them back towards the palace.

'What...?'

'They turn. The fever stops. The dreams stop. You'd think they'd never been sick 'cept for the rash that's spreading across their body. Black in all their veins. Then they turn again. Their blood turns to tar. Their breath to poison and their life to death. It happens fast but the stages are slow. And painful.'

'Is there a cure?' DG asked. Her voice tiny and thin like a pencil hitting a snare drum.

'No.'

'Oh.'

'Your sister and the head case are working on something. They could use your help.'

'Ok.' DG sound resigned rather than relieve. Cain was shocked. Her concern for herself had never outweighed her concern for others before. The kid must be more messed than he'd thought. He remembered their last conversation before she'd cut and run... maybe dragging her back wasn't the best idea.

'How many are sick?' Her question cut through his internal monologue.

'Around fifty... I said before.'

'Oh yeah... is anyone... my parents or...?'

'No. It's mainly been the people from the lower city. Hygiene ain't too good down there yet.'

'True...' DG had spent a lot of time coming up with plans to help sort hygiene and waste management in Central City. It wasn't the glamorous princess job she'd expected to be doing. But she'd found it one of the more enjoyable jobs... in a weird way.

As they turned a corner Central City sprang into view. DG felt her breath catch in her throat. She was back. For better or worse, sickness or health, here I am again. The thought made her half smile. Behind her Cain stiffened. Something was going on that he wasn't telling her, she knew that much. Or thought she did. Maybe he was just mad at her for leaving. She guessed that more than a few people would have things to say about her little escapade. She just hoped some of them would forgive her.

Cain looked out at the cityscape before him. He felt tension flood back into his shoulders. Taking deep draw of air he mentally shook himself.

Here we go again.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you're thinking- reviews etc. I'm taking offers of beta-ing etc too!