Chapter 3: The Blossoming Flower of the Spring Ball
The witch was dead.
For more than half a year the witch was dead and the land of Oz, or the O.Z., was free again.
Months of hard work were laying not only behind the Royal family and their closest friends, but now every citizen was looking back at weeks of hard labor and the organization of their new or old homes. Villages that needed support in winter could now live on their own and people who suffered from lack of food were slowly raising their stocks again.
The country and its people were blossoming and cheerful. Of course it would need more than the last few months to provide the wealth and carefreeness from the past, but life had improved and everyone was willing and happy to celebrate this victory with a colorful fest.
Now that everything was slowly starting to settle in, the Royals had announced that there would be a huge ball in honor of the upcoming Spring Equinox and the return of Princess D.G.. All citizens were invited and free to join the festivities that took place all around Central City.
Neighboring countries like Ix and Ev had been invited and delegates as well as ambassadors from all parts of Oz had announced they would come. For the next couple of weeks all that the city and its people were concerned with was the preparation for the ball, one that each of them hoped would become a day of remembrance and peace.
O.O.O.O.o.O.o.O.O
D.G.'s thoughts were twisted when she observed herself in the mirror. Years ago she had liked to wear a dress for her prom night, and in theory she didn't have anything against dresses. They were pretty and she liked how the pumps made her legs look thinner and as if they were longer.
Truth being told, it wasn't the most comfortable way of dressing and it was annoying to walk as if she had swallowed a stick but like every woman it made her feel elegant and special. Tonight, however, she felt completely different than during her prom night, although she only looked slightly different.
According to her mother, sister and aunts it was tradition that the women of the Gale family wore a long, either strapless or fully closed dress in mostly decent natural colors.
Green was a favorite because it symbolized their families history and their status as Royal family, but dark blue, lavender or a golden crème color belonged to the long time favorites as well. Shoes and accessories would be fitted with the color of the dress and the tiara she would have to wear.
In the end D.G. had decided to wear a long strapless dress in a shade of midnight blue. The fabric was soft and caressed her skin with every movement, it felt light and shimmered when the lights above her touched it. Since it matched her eye color and emphasized her pale skin she had chosen this dark and mesmerizing color. No one would see her shoes, but her mother had insisted that she should wear high heels, but like her aunt Thea, she felt comfortable with the much more flattering version of high heels and so her mother had accepted the pair of silver pumps that D.G. was now wearing. Her hands and arms were covered by long black gloves, her cleavage was covered by a glistening masterpiece of a necklace and her ears were decorated with matching earrings.
Her make-up looked beautiful but to her joy it was kept to a minimum, to ensure that everyone could enjoy the natural beauty of her face and to avoid that anyone could think she was vain. Her hair was a clever combination of a ponytail and an updo, part of her hair resting on the top of her head in a bun while the rest fell down on her shoulders in smooth waves. Like her dress, her hair was shimmering with little crystals that were resting between her waves, only underlining the silver tiara that was resting on the top of her head. The tiara was kept traditional and showed the letters O and Z, which entwined to the name of their country in the middle of her tiara. It was a light silvery metal with a thin band which made it look as if it consisted of little branches and silver flowers.
She thought that she looked stunning, she couldn't deny that, however it was a strong reminder that she wouldn't be dancing with her crush and among friends in the old gym of her high school but among skilled dancers, members of aristocracy and probably an assorted number of sticks in the mud. The familiar feeling of discomfort and nausea started to develop in her tummy and for a second she had to steady herself on the frame of the mirror.
"It is common that people wear light colors like lime green and lavender for the Spring Equinox, but it looks like we two prefer to act against these standards." She heard a voice approaching from the door causing her heart to stop for a moment. Never being a fan of people walking into her room without knocking she turned around with a furious look on her face although she had to admit that she was happy to have some company.
"Glitch, I thought my heart would stop. Ever heard of knocking?!" She pressed through gritted teeth before she throw a wicked smile at him and invited him to step closer.
Glitch had stopped in the middle of the room when D.G. had scolded him but now he made his way to the mirror and stopped behind her. The line on his burlap was formed into a smile and he placed one hand on his niece's shoulder.
Like he had indicated he was wearing a short dark blue military jacket that was part of the royal garb and one of his uniforms. A pair of black trousers and shining black shoes and a lots of medals also belonged to his outfit. Out of all his uniforms he preferred the blue one so his decision had been easy. Since he was part of the family, and they were having a royal ball, he had to wear a crown but like D.G.'s tiara he was only wearing a simple silver band with the traditional Oz ornament and additional engravings on the band. It was strange to see his usually bald head with the crown decorating it but he wore it with dignity and a skilled posture of his body.
Together they observed each other in the mirror before both of them sighed simultaneously. Glitch let go of D.G.'s shoulder as the woman turned around and walked to her bed where she carefully sank onto the mattress.
"Do you think that this outfit will help me to feel more… I don't know... like a princess?" D.G. asked, softly flinging her feet while her gaze rested on her glistening shoes.
Slowly Glitch walked to the corner of her bed and joined her.
"I'm sure that it will help with your posture and it might help you to feel more confident. But how to feel like a princess is something you have to make out for your own. I guess dresses and a cheering crowd only come along with that kind of 'job'. It will need time, but you will fit in," he answered and mimicked his niece by staring at his shoes as well.
D.G. nodded, a gesture that Glitch couldn't see since he was looking down.
She knew that it would ruin her hair but the anxiety that was building up made her feel even more dizzy so she needed to lie down. A lot of different thoughts were rushing through her mind and nothing seemed to distract her. When Glitch noticed the nervous shift, he let his gloved hand glide to her fingers and comfortingly touched them.
"There is no need to be afraid. They will love you and they won't allow you to feel uncomfortable… our family will find a way to make you feel like you belong and that's what's so special about them," he told her reassuringly his hands never leaving hers.
She didn't doubt that her family and friends would be there for her and that the nobility would let her be since she was the princess, but nevertheless it scared her that she would be the center of attention in merely an hour.
"How are you feeling about it?" Knowing that he was the only other member of their family who would be a surprise to the 'cheering crowd', as Glitch called them, she secretly hoped that he would be the one who knew how nervous and desperate she was feeling.
Indeed, he didn't speak for a while after this, his legs shifting uneasily, his head slowly falling back so that he could watch the ceiling in silence.
"It is strange to be reconnected with the other half of my brain and still be a Scarecrow... It frustrates me that the spell couldn't reverse that, but I learnt a long time ago that it's best to concentrate on your friends in these royal events, and to be kind to everyone else no matter if you like them or not. These balls are supposed to strengthen the relationship between the countries and the nations of Oz and they should be peaceful. Conflicts are reserved for Royal meetings. You can't please anyone especially not at such events, so just smile and listen carefully when someone talks to you. That people stare is a fact that will never change and I've got used to it a long time ago. If you try to listen to these rules you should be fine and I will do the same. All in all these balls can be a pain or real fun, since our dear Mr. Cain promised that he would dance today I assume that it will be an unforgettable night," Glitch ended with a snicker and a shake of his head, probably at the image of Mr. Cain trying to dance.
D.G.'s demeanor changed visibly as she tried to do the same and imagine her friend on the dance floor and a smile formed on her face. She lifted herself up and walked to the mirror to save her hairdo before she took a deep breath and faced her uncle.
"Thank you. Now I feel much better," she said and he smiled back at her.
As he was about to give her one last bit of advice the chamber was stormed by a beaming Thea who enthusiastically rushed through the room and came to a halt in front of her niece.
"You look marvelous my dear. You're as beautiful as your lovely mother," she said kindly and played with a loose strand of the woman's dark hair.
Thea was wearing a long lime green dress which was fully covering her cleavage and closing around her neck. It was sleeveless and parts above her shoulders were transparent while the fabric from the upper part of her chest down to her belly bottom was decorated in filigree embroidery. From her belly bottom downwards the fabric fell smoothly and softly to the floor. The dress covered her shoes but one of her silver pumps (in a similar design as D.G.'s) was looking out from the hem of the dress. Thea was wearing her blonde hair open and in little curls. The top of her head was decorated with a silvery white tiara which had little diamonds in its band and the Oz ornament. She was only wearing a thin necklace so that it wouldn't distract from the embroidery on her dress but also her bracelets and earrings looked simple. Like herself Thea wasn't wearing much make-up but she radiated such beauty that it took D.G.'s breath away, Glitch must have felt the same thing for he rose from his place on the bed and took Thea's hand to carefully fling her around to observe her from all sides.
"The same applies to you Thea. You managed to combine tradition and fashion very elegantly again," he exclaimed which made his sister shine brighter than the sun.
"Well, thank you dear sir, I hope I will be able to convince you to share a dance with me," Thea answered and placed a kiss on Glitch's forehead.
"Your mother has planned to hold a little speech in front of the family before she will welcome the guest and open the ball. Everyone is gathering in her office and I was asked to collect you two," she added now facing both her niece and brother.
"It's best to not let her wait then," Glitch exclaimed and the three Gale's left the chamber behind.
O.O.o.O.O.O.o.O.O
The ballroom was huge, bigger than any room she had seen before and she bet that it had originally been three or four regular rooms before a brilliant architect must have turned it into this little paradise of extravaganza, charm and beauty.
The walls were covered in a cream colored tapestry with filigree flower patterns imprinted in them, the four corners were steadied by white marble pillars and from the ceiling hung a chandelier like she had read about in all her fairytale books. The floor was black and in a stark contrast to the light walls and the huge creamed colored windows. It was starting to get dark but she could take a look at the gardens, which you could see through the glass of the windows and huge doors.
The ballroom was divided into three different areas since it served three different purposes. In one corner close to the entrance door she could spot a place with long tables that were decorated with white table linens, fine silver, crystallite glasses, red napkins, sparkling candle holders and flowers. Another long collection of tables served as a keeper for tons of carefully cooked meals and foods as well as drinks that made her tummy grumble. A few people were sitting at the tables and chatting, she could see them laugh and smile and her anxiousness disappeared a bit.
The biggest part of the ballroom and the second area was dominated by the dance floor. Almost hundreds of people were swirling and twirling to slow classical music that was coming from another corner of the ballroom. The orchestra that her family had hired must be one of the best, for their music mesmerized her and for a moment she got completely lost in the music. Aside from that she was fascinated when she observed the different dresses of the pretty women who were dancing. She could spot all the colors of the rainbow and impressive designs. Most dresses looked stunning and all of them were decorated with gems of all kinds –mostly diamonds or emeralds who were a symbol of OZ and a sign for wealth.
Without having met her and without being aware of it, D. faced with the same beauty that Adora Cain had first witnessed all these years ago. Nothing much had changed for her mother had wanted to restore the ballroom to its old beauty. Most things needed a change because it was too hurtful to face the constant reminders, but some memories need to be cherished her parents had said.
Different from Adora's impressions though, D.G. felt like her dress was meant to outshine the others which made her feel uncomfortable, but she listened to Glitch's advice and never left her sister's side while she was introduced to the Ozian nobility. Furthermore, the ball room was decorated in lighter colors and like Glitch had promised most of the guests wore dresses and uniforms, which perfectly went along with the décor.
The music that was playing reminded her of a sunny day on a meadow in spring and she felt as if the whole ball, the outfits, the food, the music and the dances had all been created to welcome the new season and to symbolize the upcoming spring.
She was completely mesmerized and fascinated by this beauty and she had to admit that Glitch had been right and a royal ball surely had its bright side.
Her mother was just introducing her to another Earl from one of the surrounding nations when she saw Cain walking into the ballroom. Like her sister had taught her she greeted the Earl with a curtsey and politely excused herself after a couple of minutes of talking to the man and showing a decent amount of interest.
Mr. Cain had vanished into a corner of the ballroom and was observing the dancing couples on the dance floor but he couldn't hide from the princess and her good mood.
Unlike herself and her uncle, Mr. Cain was honoring the spring dress code, although it was slightly altered by wearing a dark green military jacket with silver buttons and embroidery as well as black trousers and neatly polished shoes. His hair had grown a bit in the last months and although he wanted to shave it off again he had lost against the protest of D.G. and later even Az. Now he was wearing it neatly combed back in a little wave.
D. him with a broad grin on her face and she didn't miss his eye rolling as reaction.
"Oh come on Mr. Cain, everyone needs a little change once in a while and the longer hair really suits you... as well as this outfit," she teased him and gave him a glass of champagne, which she had fetched on her way to her friend.
He gratefully took it into his right hand and went through his hair with his left and a disapproving look.
"I just prefer it short and simple," he sighed before he took a sip from the glass.
"I assume you didn't come here to tell me how I'm looking today, did you? I might look lonely but I'm fine, kiddo. You should walk around and explore the ball a bit instead of hanging around with a grouchy old man," he added with a mixture of amusement and sarcasm swinging in his voice which encouraged D.G. to ask herself if the glass of champagne had been his first one. Usually he wasn't up for jokes but now it seemed that he had honestly tried to be funny.
"Maybe I was hoping to steal a dance from you?" she asked mischievously. "But seriously, Cain, I wanted to know how you are and check on you because you really look quite lonely in this corner. And I wanted to get away from all the new people because although this ball is more fun than I thought, it can be very overwhelming to be introduced to so many people," she whispered, leaning closer .
"You can say that again, kid," Cain smirked and they looked at the dancing crowd before they shared a knowingly look.
"Why are you here and not in the company of someone else?" she asked when their conversation was going towards a much too soon ending. Cain kept observing the dancing people and took a sip from his glass again.
"My mother has decided to take care of the children but she might join in later, she also thinks that these events are too busy for her taste. Anne and Thea are busy telling anyone that Amelia is pregnant, your mother is taking care of you and your sister, Raw said that he needs a rest from all the different emotions around him so he went to his room, and I wanted to talk to Glitch but I haven't found the courage yet," Cain replied in one go without showing if he was happy about being left alone or not.
When a servant came walking by he placed his now empty glass of champagne on the tray the young man was holding and immediately took another one. She could see that his hand was shaking lightly and slowly she got concerned.
"You're not looking forward to that conversation with Glitch aren't you? Is that why you are hiding?" she asked carefully, not lowering her gaze on Cain.
"I haven't told him yet and I don't know how he will react. Now that he is reconnected with his brain again he is easily overwhelmed by all his long missed feelings and I don't want to hurt him," Cain replied shortly and D.G. finally understood.
"You really care for him, don't you? You shouldn't be afraid, he is a smart guy, he will understand. But if you're still having these feelings you should tell him before it's too late," she countered reassuringly and when he looked at her she smiled at him.
He looked back at her sadly before he lowered the glass and sighed. He knew that she was right and he didn't like it but the sigh was like a sign of capitulation which made her smile grew even bigger.
"I will promise to go out and talk to all these people and act like a good princess if you promise me to go and talk to Glitch now and tell him the truth," D.G, said triumphantly.
"All right, I guess I should listen to you. If I keep drinking like this it won't be very beneficial to have a talk after all." Again Cain joked which was very uncommon for him so either he really was drunk from the alcohol or from something completely different… like a certain Scarecrow maybe.
D.G. patted his arm in support and told him that everything would be fine and that he had shown them all how brave he was so she didn't doubt that he could manage a conversation with the duke. Cain gave her a funny look at that but they both knew that she was right.
In the end the princess left with an encouraging raising of her thumbs, leaving Cain alone in his corner and making her way through the dancing couple as if their awkward conversation had never happened.
Now it was up to Cain, either he could keep his promise or spend the rest of the night standing in his corner.
Luckily for him his guts decided on the first option.
O.O..O.o.o.O.o.o.o
He had spotted Glitch with a couple of men surrounding him at one of the tables close to the buffet. The scarecrow didn't need any food but he had wanted to chat with Felix and Philip and what had started as a random conversation had soon turned into a political discussion.
Cain saw the satisfied grin on Glitch's face even before he reached the table and he was glad to see that his friend was able to be in his element again. The reunion with the other half of his brain was only part of what he had wanted for his friend but he was sure that his friends would do everything they could do take care of the last obstacle as well. What was important now was to see his best friend so happy, his heart doing a flic-flac in his chest at the sight.
Months he had spent thinking about his feelings, and although he had had enough of other thoughts clouding his mind, he had used the times of solitude to make up his mind on his relationship with Ambrose. The hours which they had spent together in the brain room had really helped to come to terms with those twisted feelings.
The first months he had dedicated to bid his farewell to Adora and although he would never stop loving her or cherishing her, and although the memory of her would never fade there came a day when he woke up and the pain in his chest wasn't as strong as it had been before. No doubt it wasn't possible to fully recover within only a couple of months but he had allowed his heart to open up for long forgotten feelings of love and admiration.
Sessions within the brain room, which had started as routine in order to help Glitch remember his past, had soon turned into a time where Cain grew closer to his old friend and more than once he had left the session with a smile on his face and a funny feeling in his tummy. Other days he had gotten into a fight with the man that was half scarecrow half brain in a tank but none of this had changed the growing affection which had blossomed many months before their first fight.
Weeks after Christmas, a beautiful time that the two had spent with exchanging ambiguous glances and coincidental hugs and pats here and there he had finally admitted to himself that he was in love with his friend and that he enjoyed every minute with the clumsy and scatter-brained Scarecrow.
He had looked forward to the Spring ball for weeks because he had planned to dance with Glitch and confess his love to him, but then Jeb had made him and offer which he wouldn't refuse.
He still planned to dance with Glitch and he still planned to confess his love, but he was afraid that his news would ruin this romantic moment. D.G. was right though, Glitch deserved to hear it from him and before it was too late.
"I'm sorry for interrupting your conversation but I would need to talk to the Duke for a minute," Cain announced politely when he had reached the table.
Several heads raised or turned around to him which made him feel slightly uncomfortable but he didn't break eye contact. The man in question, however, welcomed him with a smile on his face and rose even before anyone had the chance to say something.
"Please excuse me, gentlemen, I will come to my next point later because it is best to not refuse a request from Mr. Cain over there," he said mockingly which earned him a teasing look from Cain and a knowing smirk from his brother in-law, Philip.
When he was sure that no one would protest that their conversation had been interrupted he walked to Cain who pulled him aside lightly and whispered something to him. He nodded when Cain had ended and followed him to the side of the ballroom where both of them went into the garden through one of the glass doors.
"I thought it might be calmer outside, it's such a beautiful evening," Cain said when they stepped through the grass which was shimmering in the light of the setting sun.
"Must be really chilly though, don't want you to catch a cold, Cain," Glitch countered, walking close behind him.
The Tin Man turned around and moved his head to the side at that comment and observed his companion with an amused look on his face.
"Do I look like I get a cold from a walk through the chilly air? I'm a Tin Man, Glitch. I will survive," he responded but when he noticed that Glitch really was concerned he stopped teasing his friend.
"I'll be fine no worries, thanks for the concern," he added calmly, honestly being touched by Glitch's way of showing his affection.
They stopped in front of a bench which looked very familiar to Glitch. Although he had spent many hours sitting on it, reading or watching the nearby fountain, it was also the bench on which he had confessed to Adora Cain that he was in love with her husband.
Now she was dead and who knew what Cain was planning to confess his love on that bench. Sometimes fate was a wicked thing but he didn't protest when the blond offered him a seat next to him.
"You remember that we made a promise to each other the night after the eclipse," Cain started carefully, making sure that there was enough space for Glitch to sit down next to him.
The Scarecrow shifted lightly and then grinned when he heard the question, two very opposite reactions, which didn't really assure Cain if Glitch was feeling all right or uncomfortable about the question.
"It is funny that you ask that because I had planned to talk about that promise as well," Glitch answered now turning his head to Cain and fixing his eyes. "Forgive me but since I'm... well... one with my full emotions again, I tend to be very nervous," he added quickly as the shifting hadn't stopped.
Hoping to gain Glitch's trust, and in order to calm him down a bit, Cain took Glitch's trembling hand and observed the white fabric of the gloves.
"So we both have been thinking then, I assume?" he said while his thumb brushed over the shimmering silver button that was holding the gloves together at one end.
"Looks like it… listen, Cain I...," Glitch started only to be stopped by Cain.
" No long discussions and talks this time. Let's get straight to the point. Before you tell me that you understand that I need time to heal and that you want me to cherish Adora, I need to tell you that the last weeks, especially the hours in the brain room, have really helped me to come to terms with myself and with you. I've been thinking a lot lately and while doing so I also have allowed my heart to open up and I think we really should try this... being a couple I mean…." He knew the ending was rather clumsy but he hoped that Glitch understood what he meant, at least he couldn't tell for sure since the Scarecrow was now throwing his head back as if he wanted to burst out laughing but no sound left his lips.
"You surely are one hell of a romantic, Wyatt Cain," Glitch answered with an odd smirk on his patched mouth as he observed the clouds above them. "As weird as this little confession of love might have been, if that was what you were getting at, I believe that we should try this too," he then added and his head sank back into its old position.
Cain stared at him for a second before the different emotions overwhelmed him and he hugged Glitch.
"Maybe you can teach me to get better at this. You already showed my heart how it feels to love again and even if my words haven't found a way to properly express my true feelings yet, I now realize what should have been obvious to me when I first felt this tingly feeling in my tummy…you... just make me feel whole again. So if you really want to give this old Tin Man here a chance I will show you how romantic I may become in the future," Cain exclaimed with a tight feeling in his throat, holding back tears that were mixed with joy and relief.
He didn't flinch when soft gloves touched his back but instead he fully embraced the gesture and enjoyed these seconds of being close to this wonderful man.
"Of course I will, Mr. Wyatt Cain jr., how could I say no to a man who is willing to love me as I am? It was hard to describe these feelings towards you in times where I didn't know what feelings were after all. But you always gave me hope and even if there were bad days where I forgot all about my past again you were there and even before the spell reconnected me with the missing half of my brain I started to embrace these feelings," Glitch whispered still pressed to Cain's chest.
He wished that he could feel the warmth of his body, or the softness of their touching bodies but despite emotions he was numb to feelings like that. When they parted from their embrace Glitch could see that Cain's eyes were sparkling in joy and there was an expression on his face which was glowing with happiness and love. It was something he hadn't seen on Cain's face for annuals and it made him look indescribably beautiful.
Glitch smiled back at him, fully soaking in this smile and sparkling of the eyes.
They decided to stay in the garden for a bit longer because it was beautiful weather and with the rising moon came the stars and the chirping of crickets and Glitch enjoyed every minute of sitting next to Cain with his head placed on the Tin Man's shoulder and his hand wrapped around Cain's.
"I can't believe that I forgot how beautiful this place is," Glitch mumbled while he watched the reflection of the moon on the water of the nearby pond.
Cain's heart ached at this, Glitch didn't speak of his forgotten memories very often after they had been restored to him. This was the first time in a few weeks that he mentioned his time without them and even though they had agreed on switching between his real name and his nickname it felt strange to hear him talk about it again. Cain didn't blame him, for their past would always be a part of them, but the sadness in Glitch's voice brought back a familiar pain in his chest.
It also reminded him of the news that he still hadn't shared with Glitch and he hoped that it wouldn't deepen that pain.
"I uhm …there is something else I need to tell you," he interrupted the silence and was glad that Glitch gave him all his attention.
"I thought about it a long time, but as my heart told me that I want to be with you, it also helped me with this decision. Jeb and I ... uh...we will go back to the old cabin where we used to live and we will bring it back to its old glory. After that I will give it to Jeb and move closer to my family in Old Creek. I love the palace and I love you but I lost so many years with my family that I now want to spend all of my time with them. I don't expect you to like this or to go with me but I think you deserve to know this," he explained with the feeling of a tight throat coming back with every word.
As he had expected it was silent after this and Glitch moved a bit away from him, breaking the grip which Cain had on his hand. He knew that it was Ambrose's way of showing him that he needed this moment to think, since the man never said something before he hadn't made up his mind.
Seconds soon felt like minutes and minutes like hours but Glitch answered him sooner than he had expected.
"I can't deny that this hurts me... I hope you understand that I'm in the same situation and that I was hoping to catch up on the times in which I was parted from my family too. I had planned to work as advisor again and help my sister as best as I can so I'm in a twisted situation now," Glitch started, surprisingly calm.
"However, I hope you know that your family always has been part of my family as well and that I mean what I said a few minutes ago, I love you Wyatt Cain, and I want to spent the rest of my life with you. What I suggest, and you know that I'm really good at this, is that you go and restore your old home with your son… take your time and try to work on your relationship with Jeb because I know how important it is for you to get closer to him again. I will stay here because it is something you need to do on your own. In the meantime I will take care of everything around here and when you are ready you will come back and we will look for a nice cozy house in Old Creek. I will work as a far distant advisor... I'm sure I will come up with some kind of magical device that will enable us to communicate with the palace so that I can work from there. We will visit them for the holidays and I'm sure that no one will say something against a nice summer holiday in Munchkinland," Glitch ended by taking Cain's trembling hand again.
Like only minutes before Cain could only stare at Glitch, being amazed by the unconditional love and understanding that was coming from the man in front of him. Tears rolled down his cheeks when relief washed over him. He couldn't believe that after all these annuals he was still allowed to be treated like this.
"Thank you, Thank you for everything. I will look for the most beautiful home that I can find, even if this means that I might have to build one on my own," was the only thing he managed to say before his instincts took over and he kissed Glitch for the first time in their lives.
He had never thought about how it would feel to kiss the cotton like burlap that was Glitch's face and it surprised him in more than one way. Unfortunately he didn't have much of a lower nor upper lip which stopped Cain from deepening it into something more passionate, however, he used all his senses to make the moment special. Knowing that Glitch couldn't feel the touch he was grateful that the man in his inhuman body didn't back away but tried to make it unforgettable as well.
The burlap was warm, but the fabric left no taste on his lips, he smelled the straw which was filling Glitch's head which caused Cain to feel weird for a moment, but his longing and his love where dominating his emotions and so he didn't care that he was kissing the burlap skin of his love.
Cain was about to interrupt the heated situation when all of a sudden his lips felt electrified, sending stimulating signals to his brain. The atmosphere between the two grew hotter and suddenly it felt as if the cotton fabric would get softer, the smell of straw decreasing and replacing it with something else that Cain couldn't define. Glitch shifted and placed his hands behind Cain's back pulling him closer. His brain was still getting signals which made him feel inexplicably dizzy so he had to close his eyes.
The touch got deeper, the heat between them rising but remaining comfortably hot before something seemed to explode from their touch and the kiss turned into something
Magical.
O.O.O.O.o.O.O.O.O
Azkadellia had promised her family that she would attend the ball and try to enjoy herself, but with every passing hour it was proving more and more difficult to lie to herself and pretend as if she was having fun. Many hours spent with her sister and aunts, as well as her mother had taught her that she had tried everything to escape the possession and undo the deeds of the witch, but all these people, the heat of the room, the dizzying music and the dancing felt like a weight around her heart.
The panic and anxiety started to make her twitchy and the fear of losing control encouraged her to flee into one of the corners of the ballroom. She had wanted to go outside to take a breath and organize her messy thoughts but she had seen how Cain and Glitch had left for the gardens and she didn't want to disturb them, once they returned she would get her chance but for now she concentrated on getting away from the crowds and to some calmer parts of the ballroom. When Amelia asked her if she was okay she smiled back reassuringly for she didn't want to ruin their day of fun and joy.
Once in her corner she stumbled upon the seer Raw who also seemed to prefer to spend his evening away from too many people. She fetched a glass from the nearby buffet table and placed herself next to the shy hybrid. She knew that he wouldn't talk much so she would get her time to sort her feelings but also she knew that he was great company in situations like this. She nodded when he looked at her and a little smile crawled on her face.
"Had to get away from the cheering crowd as well?" she asked as he was still looking at her with those kind brown eyes.
"Raw feels too much, makes Raw feel a bit dizzy, better if he stays in corner. Wants to be there for D.G. though," the seer answered with a buttery soft dark voice.
"I know how you feel… I mean... I don't know how it is to share other people's emotions but my head is feeling pretty dizzy as well and I'm only here because I gave a promise to D.G.," she answered approvingly which made Raw smile.
"Azkadellia not ready for many people, Raw can feel, but Azkadellia kind to do this for D.G. D.G. very happy," he answered her and now it was her who had to smile.
"It is good to know that I'm not alone with this feeling," she said to Raw and encouraged him to raise his glass of water so that they could clink glasses.
"To a nice calm evening in our comfortable corner," Az exclaimed and Raw indeed copied her gesture before he suddenly flinched.
"What is wrong Raw?" Azkadellia asked as she noticed that the viewer was suddenly clutching his head. Comfortingly she touched his shoulder.
"Raw felt something… something strong... something …with magic," Raw said as the funny feeling in his head had ebbed away a minute later and his vision was getting clearer again.
"Magic?" Az asked in curiosity letting the question hang in the air for a while until minutes later they heard someone shriek in joy.
Both she and Raw jumped up from their seats and exchanged a confused look as they had identified the shriek belonging to the Queen.
"Something happened," Azkadellia said and wanted to rush to wherever her mother was hiding in the crowd but Raw stopped her by grabbing her arm.
"Nothing bad … the Queen happy…s he crying because of being so happy… Azkadellia not need to worry… but better look what happened... Raw can feel that other people happy too," he said to her kindly which even more confused her.
What could possibly have happened to cause her mother to express her feelings in such a loud and evident way? Their mother usually was very composed and even if something nice happened she usually expressed her joy through a smile or a pat on someone's shoulder.
Azkadellia rushed through the crowds, making her way through numerous people in colorful attire before she bumped into her sister D.G.
"So you heard it too?" D.G asked as she saw the concerned look on Azkadellia's face.
"Loud and clearly, you want to see what happened?" Az asked back and D.G nodded.
When the people around them finally realized that the princesses were trying to make their way to the other side of the ballroom, where the thrones were standing, they cleared the path, some of them stopping their dance so that they wouldn't bump into the princesses.
Most of the people in the ballroom were much too concerned with their own businesses, chats and dances, that they hadn't noticed the sudden outburst of the Queen. However, the members of the family weren't alone when D.G. and Azkadellia arrived, but a couple of interested guests were watching as the Queen hugged someone as if she was intending to never let go of her victim again.
As Queen Ozma Lavender saw that her children were approaching she let go of the man, who finally was able to turn around and face the newcomers as well, causing Azkadellia to stop dead in her tracks as if the world around her had suddenly stopped turning.
"That can't be," she whispered and without being able to compose herself from the shock, tears started to stream down her face as she jumped into the open arms of her uncle.
O.O.O.o.O.O.
Cain stared at Glitch in disbelief after they parted from their passionate kiss. His mouth was lightly hanging open and although it already had been beating fast from the kiss, his heart now felt as if it wanted to burst in his chest.
Glitch shared that same look of confusion and just like Cain the expression in his eyes reflected utter shock and surprise.
He flinched lightly when Cain's fingers touched the skin on his face because he wasn't prepared to actually FEEL the touch. Cain had to wipe away a tear that was leaving Glitch's eye, he himself fighting with another wave of tears.
Cain's touch was warm and a bit raw from hands that knew a lot of hard work. He had never believed that he would ever experience the feel of Cain's hands again.
He grabbed the hand like he was in trance and placed soft kisses on it, taking in the taste and the smell before he leaned in for another kiss. It was a sensation and he thanked the gods and spirits for giving him that second chance.
Their first kiss had soon turned into something none of them had ever experienced before. Cain had closed his eyes as the tingling and electrifying feeling had started but Glitch had felt the change right from the start. It hadn't been painful but he had felt how the burlap had changed into skin, how his hair had grown back, how his heart had started to beat and how every touch suddenly was attached to a feeling again.
It was difficult to describe but as his feelings had taken over again it had been wonderful and unique and when Cain had parted the kiss and noticed the change he had wanted to cry out his joy into the night.
"It is you …you're back," Cain managed after he had made sure that he wasn't dreaming and that the man in front of him was real and that he was human again.
Ambrose only smiled back at him, the expression forming dimples on his cheeks, a trait about the advisors face which melted Cain's heart in an instant. Only now he realized how much he had missed it.
"The question is how is this possible?" Ambrose said, still mesmerized by the smells, the chilliness of the air, his own heart beat and other long forgotten impressions.
Cain didn't have an answer, he himself was confused and too shocked to think of anything that could explain why Ambrose was a human again. Everything he had wished for had happened within one single evening and he still believed that he was dreaming and that someone would wake him up from his pleasant slumber. The kiss had felt all too real though and like nothing his brain could make up. He had felt the magic down to his bones and like Glitch he wanted answers. How was it possible that after so many years the curse could be broken without any spell or potion? Cain fixed on the man in front of him who was touching his face and looking at his hands in disbelief, when he saw how Glitch was, then going through his hair he got an idea.
"We could ask your sisters and at the same time spread the good news and surprise anyone?" Cain suggested thoughtfully.
Glitch answered with an approving nod before he rose from the bench and offered Cain his hand.
"We should be careful though, like us no one expected this and although I doubt that anyone will faint they might be really overwhelmed," Glitch said dragging Cain with him, he was walking fast, probably because he was excited to show everyone that he was back but he stopped abruptly when they were standing in front of the glass door leading to the ballroom.
"You're sure that I can do this? There are an awful lot of people in there... maybe we should wait and tell everyone in private after the ball?" Glitch asked and turned around with a doubtful look in his eyes.
Cain laid his hands on Glitch's shoulders and deeply looked into his eyes as he spoke.
"I won't tell you what to do but I believe it might be beneficial to go and tell them now when everyone is there to see that you're back, otherwise you might need to attend another ball and be the focus of everyone else," he answered honestly.
"You're right, wouldn't want to go through that more than once," Glitch countered, shuddering.
"Off we go then," he added theatrically and pushed open the glass doors.
0.O.O.o.O.O.O.O.O.
"You broke the curse," Azkadellia said in disbelief as she parted the hug with her uncle, who was now looking back at her in his human form. Behind him her mother and aunts were brushing away tears of joy which had streamed down their faces and next to her she could see a confused D.G. who couldn't stop staring at Ambrose.
"You're Glitch?" the younger princess asked curiously as she walked closer to touch her uncle's arm.
"Yes I suppose so, nice to finally be able to introduce myself properly," he said to her and bowed before he smiled at her beamingly.
Now she knew what the others meant when they had said that his smile was contagious for she couldn't help but laugh and pull him closer into a hug.
When they parted, her mother Lavender walked closer to her brother while the others circled them curiously. The Queen still couldn't believe what she was seeing, something that had happened to all of them, first and foremost the two who had witnessed the transformation.
"Lavender, we were hoping that you might have an explanation for this. You know that you searched everywhere in the old library for a clue and nothing helped but now this happened without any spell or use of magic and we're utterly confused," Cain threw in from his spot next to D.G. He had watched the happy reunion from a distance so that the family had enough space to express their feelings but now he had entered the circle to raise the question that seemed to haunt more than just him and Glitch.
"So am I … It's all very surprising yet confusing. It does seem that you didn't stop aging as well, if the witch's spell had been correct you should have stayed at the age you had been during the transformation yet I can detect grey streaks in your hair and you look worn out and older than I remember. Maybe the magic that was inside of you even before the witch cursed you left a loop hole. Maybe this is what enabled it to be broken," she said thoughtfully.
"That sounds like a possibility, however, I don't understand why such a chance wasn't mentioned in one of the books," Glitch answered scratching his head in thought.
"Maybe it was, what exactly did you do before your transformation?" his sister Amelia suddenly threw in curiously.
Cain and Ambrose both exchanged a look, while the latter experienced his first blush in a very long time again. Cain cleared his throat lightly, whereas Ambrose tried to hide his pink face by looking to the floor.
"Okay, looks like today is the day of big news…so I guess we shouldn't keep it to ourselves much longer. Ambrose and I ... we ... came to terms with our relationship and ... uhm …the latest developments and we both came to the conclusion that we ... uhm have strong feelings for each other and that we will try and be a couple," Cain said uneasily, not because he was ashamed of his feelings, but because he wasn't sure how anyone would react. They knew that Cain usually wasn't the right guy for talking about things like that and he didn't know if anyone had ever expected that the Tin Man had feelings for the Duke and vice versa.
The collective exclamation of joy and the repeated hugging, as well as the best wishes that followed proved that at least D.G., Az and Thea had had a suspicion. Even the Queen smiled at him and gave him a kiss on his cheeks after he had made his confession in front of everyone. His son Jeb who had been standing in the circle next to Aham , gave him a knowing look and an approving nod. He had been the only one who had heard this confession even before Glitch had returned his feelings, so it wasn't new to his son. Out of all the people Cain had wanted to make sure that his son was okay with his dad's choice of heart and that he wouldn't hold anything against him. Jeb had been shocked at first, but after Cain had explained himself he had promised him that he would need some time but that he understood and that he wanted his father to be happy.
"So I assume that you kissed?" Amelia suddenly interrupted yet another merry moment of the evening and everyone turned their attention to the duchess .
"Yes we have," Glitch said with a dreamy expression on his face, earning a thumbs up from his sister Thea.
"Well then I might have the solution," Amelia announced and now she had everyone's full attention.
"As I said maybe it did stand in one of the books but not in the ones we looked at. You surely remember the story of how our great grandmother Dorothy the Great married our great grandfather?" she asked and everyone except for D.G. nodded. "You should also remember that our great-grandfather had been cursed and living as a Scarecrow as well," she went on. "The story tells that Dorothy fell in love with her friend when she was old enough and before they married she gave him the kiss of true love and the curse was broken," she finished and let everyone process this theory.
"But I thought that this was legend and that he never actually was a Scarecrow?" Cain asked confused, remembering one of their history lessons.
"Oh no it is true, we have a portrait from after the fight against the witches that proves that all the legends are true. However, I thought as well that the part with the kiss was added in order to entertain the kids and underline the eternal love of our ancestors," Ambrose countered knowingly. The Duke knew a lot about their lands history, he always had, which was one of the reasons why he had thought that the man would make a good advisor. Now he got a tingly feeling in his tummy when his friend talked like that.
Instinctively he took Glitch's hand into his own and looked at the slightly smaller man.
"You think that it was true love's kiss that transformed you back?" he asked his love.
"I don't know, maybe we will never know if it was true love's kiss. However, I know that my feelings for you are honest and very deep, so at least my heart is telling me that it is right," Ambrose answered, putting a loose strand of his hair behind his ear.
"Couldn't agree more," Cain smiled back at him before he sank onto one knee, still holding one of Ambrose's hands.
Everyone breathed in deeply as they saw the gesture whose meaning was known to everyone, but Cain just laughed and shattered their dreams.
"It's not what you're thinking! Ambrose I wanted to ask you, will you give me the honor of a dance?" he asked sheepishly and looked up at Glitch with wide puppy like blue eyes.
Glitch started laughing lightly before he ordered Cain to rise up again.
"The last time you asked me that I didn't know what feelings I would develop. Can't harm to encourage fate a second time, right?" Glitch answered
mysteriously, which Cain accepted as a yes. He gently pulled Glitch closer to himself and with his left arm wrapped around Glitch's waist he guided the man to the dance floor.
A.N: Long time no word from me! First off all I want to apologize for not posting anything the last couple of weeks. I have been very busy with moving back to Germany and then I wanted to see a couple of places in the U.K before my departure so I didn't use much time for writing. Now I'm back again but I'm still not very productive yet. The last two chapters will hopefully follow soon though and as I said : This story will be finished! I have finished 70% of the second to last chapter and I hope that I will be able to upload it next week. Otherwise it might take a few more days but I will try to be quick with the last chapters. I'm very sorry for the delays! About this chapter. I kind of have a feeling that everything happens too rushed which makes it seem stuffed but I didn't want to procrastinate everything by adding even more chapters to this story. In general this chapter is summing up what I wanted for the characters to happen and the last two chapter will add a little bit more to that , to underline their happy end. If you don't like it , please let me know otherwise I hope that you liked it . Thanks for reading ;)