Chapter Seven: The Lower Town and The Breakfast Room

It was the light that woke her. It had started off weak and grainy but was now pouring in through the window she had left open the day before. DG lay still fully clothed under the blankets, staring up at her ceiling.

She was angry; at herself for being weak, for still wanting to run away, and she was angry at her parents for their attitude. The anger lay in her chest under a layer of deep resignation. Every problem could be dealt with if she took her time.

'I don't feel at home here.' The whisper was dry and tiny in the room.

DG nodded agreement with herself and sat up. There wasn't anything to be done about that now. Her parents, sister and friends were here. It ought to feel like home. She would have to deal with why it didn't or what to do about it... later. Right now there were more serious things to take care of. The Malady, her parents, Cain… Forcing herself upright and out of bed DG went to wash and dress.

Taking a deep breath DG tried not to panic. If this didn't work she wasn't sure what she was going to do. It was her only plan- it had to work. She knocked and waited for the distant response. She marched into the room and said as bravely and clearly as she could-

'I need you to take me to the Lower Town.'

Wyatt Cain looked up from his breakfast. It was still very early- for most people, he usually had to wait for the rest of the palace to wake up. He hadn't ever seen DG up before it was most of the way to noon.

There was something different about the Princess this morning. Last night he'd been too shocked to think about anything. After he had made it back to his rooms though, he'd thought about her face, blotchy and pale. Last night DG had looked like a child, frightened and scared. His instinct had been to go back and talk to her, but he hadn't. He hoped he would have the chance in the morning.

They'd been through a lot, more than a lot actually- the week leading up to the eclipse had been a lot. There had been more since - and Wyatt Cain felt himself hoping - more to come. He knew DG, often he thought; better than her parents or sister. He knew how she worked, how she processed.

Now she stood in front of him dressed in dark grey and staring at him so intensely his face stung. She no longer looked like a child. She looked like a Princess.

Cain nodded and stood up.

The two walked together through the Lower Town. They didn't speak but they didn't need to. Cain was leading the way.

They reached a small house; it was made of logs and in the row of similarly built houses, it stood only because it was quite run down. Wyatt Cain took a step back allowing DG to go to the door first and knock.

A middle-aged woman opened the door. She had the same curly brown hair as Caydie but the spark the girl had had was gone in the woman in front of DG and Cain. Her eyes were red-rimmed and sunken into her head.

'Mrs. Albred-son?' the woman nodded. 'I'm Prin...' She paused and readjusted her mindset; she wasn't introducing her to a foreign dignity. 'I'm DG and this is General Cain-' she moved aside to reveal Cain.

'Wyatt Cain.' He nodded at Caydie's mother and tipped his fedora at her.

'I know who you are. Caydie talked about you all the time. She was really impressed you'd visited her.' The woman paused to push hair out her eyes. 'You'd best come in.'

The inside of the little house was spotlessly clean. There was, however, the same air that things needed fixing. DG sat at the kitchen table with Amarie Albred-son and her infant son, Cain chose to stand a little way off looking out of the window. He'd been sure to take a good look round as he'd entered to try and see anything that could give them an idea of what caused the sickness. He didn't buy the 'voodoo drawings' idea.

Now he was content to stand in the sunlight and listen to DG work her magic. Although it wasn't magic and that was the real power of it. He saw that so clearly- DG meant everything she was saying to Amarie. She was sorry Caydie was gone. She was so glad to have met her. It was the sincerity and genuine nature of the Princess that set her apart from anyone else. It was why she could turn an argument between two drunken local lords into a real discussion about the people, about the O.Z and about a better future. He had seen it many times. Her concern and compassion astounded him.

As the conversation progressed Amarie Aldred-son took them to see her daughter's room. She let DG hold and coo over her baby son. She explained that her husband had been killed in the resistance before he was even born. She talked about how he, like his son, had been called Oliver. Cain wondered if Jeb had known him. He didn't say much, though he answered any questioned directed at him and accepted the sweet tea made for him, but otherwise he remained happy to listen to DG.

As they left the Princess handed over a folded piece of paper. It was the sketch of Caydie or a copy of it... Cain knew that DG was skilled at sleight of hand and could easily have stolen the sketch back from her sister, but he wondered if in her panic and worry whether she would have risked it. Even so the image delighted Amarie who hugged DG tightly and then seemed to realise what she'd just done.

'Oh! Your Highness...'

'DG please. Thank you seeing us Amarie, we're so glad we could speak to you.'

'No. Thank you.'

Cain tipped his hat again and they left together. As they walked side by side back through the market DG took a deep breath and said,

'Did you see anything that could be related to the Malady?'

'No. Did you?'

'No...' DG paused and glanced back at the house. 'Can you arrange for the Palace to cover the funeral costs?'

'I could but...' Cain paused and then went on 'If you'll take my views-'

'Of course!'

'Funerals on this side aren't costly. An' not being able to bury your own child would be pretty shameful.'

'Oh.' Said DG she felt a little dejected. 'What about the house?'

'I'll arrange it as soon as I can.' Cain nodded. Someone fixing up the house a little wouldn't be obvious but, he felt, it would be appreciated.

The silence went on between them, but it was comfortable.

'I need to speak to my parents.' Ah, thought the Tin Man, I knew this might be coming.

'It's only a little after breakfast. They'll still be in the breakfast room.'

Azkadellia noticed the change in DG as well. When she'd visited her a second time last night she'd been asleep, fully clothed under the blankets. She'd seemed very young. But the older Princess had reasoned that sleep was probably a good healer. Now her little sister stood in the doorway looking every inch the descendant of Dorothy Gale... By Ozma she looked like she should be wearing ruby slippers!

Wyatt Cain stood a little way off behind her. His pale eyes focused on DG. The new Princess and her shadow... sometimes Ambrose referred to them as that. It was a play on what the people called DG- the 'new' princess and the somewhat dubious rumour that Wyatt Cain had once fought, defeated and arrested someone's shadow.

Az's attention went from her sister and her 'shadow' to her parents.

'DG, what is it dear?' her mother asked.

'We need to talk about things.'

'What things?' Ahamo asked looking up from his place at the huge breakfast table. He was seated next to Lavender at the head of the wide dark wood table. Around the rest of the table, in various stages of breakfasting sat several of the 'serious' men and women from the meeting the day before. Nothing in Central City was ever casual, working breakfasts and lunches were common.

'About the illness.'

'Yes?' Said Lavender quietly, before taking a sip of the water in front of her.

'We need to tell the people. We have to...'

'DG, honey, we talked about this...' Her father began and DG shook her head.

'No. You talked. Now I want to...' she glanced up at the window behind her parents and its view seemed to strengthen her resolve. Following her gaze Az had to smile when she saw the Tin Man reflected in it.

'As far as I'm aware our purpose is to lead and serve the people, yes?' DG asked hesitantly.

'Yes dear.' Said the Queen in a patient tone. After another glance in the window and another deep breath, DG continued.

'We're not doing either. Not very well… things have got to change.' There was a rise of mutters from the other people present. It ended abruptly as Wyatt Cain moved to stand beside DG.

'The Princess is right. She knows the people just as well as any one of you. Better probably. She should be listened to. I for one, give her my complete support.' Silence reigned for a while and was broken by the red-faced Captain Jamely.

'What? You don't even know what she's going to say man!'

'My complete support.' Repeated Cain and that seemed to settle things- Wyatt Cain was not a man to be crossed.

'I'm not challenging your authority mother. You're an amazing leader, but right now the old ways are not the right ones. We need to tell people what's going on. There might be someone out there with some idea of how to fix the situation. Someone who knows how the Turning Malady works, or even how to cure it. If we never mention it they will never know how much they could help.

We need to give them the option to leave Central City if they want to. We need to make it clear we'll support anyone who is sick. That we're doing our best BUT we're stuck at the moment. Anyone who can help should be allowed to.

There should a public acknowledgement of those who have died. And full disclosure to the people, even outside of Central City. The whole of the O.Z. No more secrets. No more lies.'

DG felt her chest deflate a little now. She had no more words and that made her feel quite alone… there was pressure on her arm. Cain. She wasn't alone. Steadying herself she said the only other thing she could think of.

'This is my view. I will not be dismissed. I am a Princess of the O.Z.'

'Yes. You are.' Said Lavender, she was smiling.

'But…' Began Ahamo, looking from wife to daughter.

'I agree with DG.' Azkadellia had barely realised she'd spoken before she felt herself shaking under the gazes of the officials. She rarely spoke up, afraid of authority. Afraid of being seen as she had been for so long…

'Me too.' The voice from beside her was welcome and came with a comforting hand on her back. It was Glitch.

'Oh.' Said Ahamo.

'It seems my own Advisor doubts my choices…' Said Lavender.

'No. Your Majesty!' Glitch began.

'No Ambrose. I understand. As my daughter said- in this case I am wrong.' Her smile remained. 'I bow to the judgement of both my children. If they are united, who am I, who are we, to deny them?'

There was no response from anyone else. They understood the Queen's words: the Princess Azkadellia and DorothyGale would be ruling the O.Z in the future. The crown divided had been the term used but also- the O.Z united. If the Princesses were in agreement, they're decision was final.

Az looked at her sister. They shared a startled look. Somehow, inadvertently, they'd just taken their first real steps in the ruling of the O.Z.

'We shall meet again this afternoon. Come up with a plan DG. We'll discuss it and how to implement it then.' Lavender said calmly, her smile now one of pride.

DG nodded and let out the breath she'd been holding. Cain squeezed her arm once and took his hand away.

'You'd better go prepare, Your Highness.' He said by her ear.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please review and let me know if you're enjoying it!

Also major thanks to my fantabulous Beta!