The Wicked Witch of the East: Evanora's Return
[Part 2]
CHAPTER 9: MOTHER
-Emerald City-
*~ Firefly ~*
Evanora.
That is the name of the woman who is apparently her birthmother.
Before coming to Emerald City, she never heard of anyone called Evanora. Here, though, it seems to be a name that everyone knows yet no one wants to say. China Girl is the one who told Firefly most about her. About how she was the Wicked Witch of Prophecy, how she killed King Pastoria and how she tried to kill Miss Glinda, but also how she was trying to help the people of Oz.
Firefly asked Miss Casta about her too, but the only response she received is that she was once her friend. Firefly hasn't been brave enough to ask the Wizard, and Miss Glinda doesn't really seem to like Evanora, but that's probably because King Pastoria was her father. Firefly doesn't think she would like someone who killed her parents either.
It makes her wonder about her own father.
Who is he? Is he with her mother, or did they get separated as well?
She has so many questions, but no one is willing to answer.
"You alright, Kiddo?"
Startled from her thoughts, Firefly jumps and looks up from where she was staring at her book. It's Finley, she realises, embarrassed about being caught. "Just thinking."
"Must be a complicated thought." He sits down on the floor next to her, his wings fluttering a moment before settling around his sides. He takes off his hat – the one that looks like the Wizard's – and puts it down in his lap, giving her his full attention.
Firefly isn't sure she should say, she hasn't really thought of asking Finley about Evanora, but maybe he's willing to tell her what the others won't.
"The Wicked Witch, Evanora. Did you know her?"
Finley blinks in surprise, but he doesn't look scared or angry. Instead he seems curious. "I met her with Oz when we first came to Emerald City, but we didn't really interact. Why? Do you want to know more about her?"
She nods slowly, then hesitantly adds, "Miss Casta says she's my mother."
This time Finley does look shocked, but it's only briefly before he looks sad. "I should say sorry then. Having the Wicked Witch as your mother is going to be hard. Especially after Theodora..." He trails off, grimacing.
"Who's Theodora?"
"Well. Theodora is Evanora's sister." He sighs, sounding upset. "She was good and so kind, in love with Oz too, but he wasn't honest with her and then Evanora got sick. She thought that Glinda must have cursed her, so she sent Oz and I to break her wand." He shakes his head. "Something happened after that. We still don't really know what, only that it has something to do with a Fairy Artefact, but Theodora used it to gain more power and break the curse on Evanora. Unfortunately that power came with a cost."
"What happened?"
"Theodora began changing. Her personality became twisted, like she was becoming the opposite of the person we knew. She started hurting people and threatened to kill anyone who called Evanora the Wicked Witch. It was the truth, but Theodora didn't know that. She thought her sister was a truly good person."
A good person wouldn't kill someone, Firefly reasons, then feels guilty. Miss Locasta has killed before, she knows that, but it was to protect Firefly. Miss Casta isn't a bad person, it was the situation they were in. "What do you think she was like? My mother."
Finley is surprised by the question and stares open-mouthed for a moment, then scratches his head. "Well. She seems to have really cared about her sister and I think, in the end, she really did try to do right by the people of Oz, it's just that she didn't know how." He quiets for a moment, looking to be deep in thought. "She saved Oz and Glinda once."
Firefly's eyes widen. "She did?"
"Theodora captured them and planned to have them put on trial as traitors. We made a plan to break them out, but by the time we managed to get into the dungeons, Evanora already had them halfway out. She even arranged for a way out of the city. She stayed behind, wanting to cure Theodora, but going against her sister must have caused something in Theodora to snap. Evanora ended up on trial in their place and Theodora... Well. I'm not sure there's anything that can be done for her now." He sighs, turning to her with a sad smile. "I don't know her, but I do know that your mother was very brave that night."
Firefly doesn't know her either, but she feels that she's learned just a little more about the person behind the Wicked Witch. The woman with the warm presence and comforting magic. Maybe her mother isn't a good person, maybe she's just like Mombi, but Firefly finds that she is grateful that at least her mother seems to truly care.
"Thank you," she whispers, putting down her book. She smiles at him, her heart aching, but also feeling oddly comforted. "I hope that one day, I'll get to know the real her."
That night, Firefly dreams of a woman with brown hair and brown eyes with a shining emerald necklace bathed in the glow of green light. She sees flashes, sometimes of magical fights, sometimes of a girl surrounded by fire and sometimes of Miss Casta, Miss Glinda and a man with the kindest of eyes.
Not everything she sees is pleasant, but other times she sees the emerald-wearing woman smile in a way that makes every bad thing seem to fade away.
She sees arguments with important-looking men, sees the woman breaking down in grief and frustration, sees a knife in a bedside drawer that never quite makes it to its mark. She sees silver shoes and a Miss Locasta look-alike smiling at all the horrible things happening around her.
Firefly wakes up in tears, to China Girl's distress, but she struggles to speak and she can only sob when the Wizard and Miss Glinda come running. They sit down on each side of her and China Girl rubs her back.
She doesn't explain, knows her voice won't work because she's already tried. All she can do is cry for what could have been as she realises for the first time since leaving Mombi that someone has been waiting for her, looking for her, and loving her this entire time.
-Emerald City-
*~ Glinda ~*
Closing the door behind her with a sigh, Glinda slumps, the weight of recent revelations and Firefly's heartache pushing down on her mind.
"Perhaps a walk will do me good."
She instructs the guards at the end of the hall to alert either the Wizard or herself if anything else happens and begins her trek about the third floor. She has no particular destination in mind, so she wanders, turning whatever corner is convenient.
It's still difficult to believe, Evanora having a daughter.
She must have already been expecting by the time Andahan was caught in the crossfire, meaning she went into battle while with child. On the front lines, no less. Considering their enemy, a single curse could have easily ended both their lives. Firefly might well have never been born if Evanora was even a little less skilled. Worse yet, she was fighting her own father – the very one who encouraged her talent through his ruthlessness. Glinda shivers at the thought.
If Locasta is correct and Orison had acquired the silver whistle from Zurline it would explain why the witch would want to turn Evanora to her cause. Perhaps that is what she had hoped for in giving her the apple. Glinda cannot think of any reason Evanora would accept it, having never been one to chase power, yet if Zurline had kidnapped her child and Evanora was ignorant of the infant's whereabouts...
Why not tell them the truth?
Why keep Firefly a secret? Her father was a kind man who always treated Evanora with great respect, surely he would not have denied her aid? No, perhaps that is the very reason Evanora did not approach him. If Zurline truly does hold distain for the royal family, King Pastoria would have been near first among her list of targets. By the time Evanora killed him, she would have certainly known that. An exchange then? The life of Glinda's father for Firefly's return?
Or something more sinister?
A false promise, a trick by Zurline, meant to lure Evanora into the darkness of her bloodline?
Glinda comes to a surprised stop in front of a familiar set of doors, one of her hands already in her pocket reaching for the key.
The Hall of Records.
Naturally the Book will answer whatever she asks of it, but is asking about Evanora's downfall truly to the benefit of anything beyond Glinda's curiosity?
She thinks of Firefly, of Finley's hesitant admittance that the girl hoped to meet her mother and it's enough to give Glinda the strength to push past the lingering sting of betrayal. "I've been so focused on finding the answers to my own questions," she shakes her head, realising now that she has broken her promise to the child, her very own niece. That is not how her father raised her. "No more." She resolves herself, unlocks the door and closes it behind her.
-Emerald City-
*~ Locasta ~*
Firefly's parentage isn't as much of a surprise as Locasta thought it would be. In fact, it explains a great deal about Evanora's withdrawal and paints a clearer picture of how deep Zurline's hatred has grown.
Was she like this when Queen Lurline was still in power?
It's a question Locasta has had for years, but never dared to have answered. Would it be easier to despise the fae woman, had she been wicked-hearted from the beginning? Would it be justified to ignore the one kindness she granted Locasta before ruining the lives of those the Witch of the North holds dear?
No. As far as Locasta is concerned, Zurline has no place taking up so much as a moment in her thoughts.
She pauses then, breaking from her meditation to open her eyes and stare at the wall of her bedroom.
What does Firefly think of Evanora? The child has asked about her before – that is to say, before the discovery of her origins, but Locasta cannot claim that she didn't have some suspicions. Perhaps she should have told her more.
What is the king's savior doing out here on her own in the middle of a celebration?
I'm not one for crowds.
Well, crowds aside, what do you think of Emerald City?
It's... different, from what I expected.
And what did you expect?
Something more alike the west, I suppose.
You came from the west?
I was raised there, but... My mother is from the east, as were most of her family. I was born there as well, before we left.
And your sister?
A witch of the west, through and through. She may well one day inherit it. She's strong enough, though her control is lacking.
She's young.
Yes.
You think she has yet to reach her true strength.
I know she has yet to reach it. Theodora's power is great. Should she go untrained, I fear it may one day consume her.
A caring sister. Dutiful, responsible, a mother long before she should have been. Locasta has no doubt she would have raised Firefly with the same care and consideration. Another tragedy to lay at Zurline's feet.
Let me go, Evanora!
No, Locasta. She isn't worth your tears.
But, I...
One day, she will reap what she sowed and she will regret ever turning her back on you. Come now. We should make sure the king and princess are unharmed.
"Evanora." Closing her eyes, she sighs, rising from her position to look out the window. "Where are you?"
So, I started. Then... Well. Sorry. Here it is though! Hope you enjoyed.
Farewell, until next we meet.
– L.L.