The Wizard sat on a chair and stared off into space. His hand rested on his mouth with his elbow planted on the dining room table. After the latest outburst with the witch, he parted ways with Finley and tried to do more work on his blueprints. However, he could not concentrate. The events and cumulative stressors that had occurred over the previous days had taken its toll on him and made him fatigued.
"A penny for your thoughts?" This startled the Wizard as he jolted from his daydream and his eyes darted to the soft feminine voice that addressed him.
Bella held her hands up. "Woah didn't mean to startle you there", she said. The Wizard began to look around, but none of the guards were in sight. "How do you always know when to talk to me", he whispered to her. She flashed him a sly smile. "I've been here for far longer than you have. I know everyone's schedule. Everyone's." She leaned towards him as she placed her hand on the table and whispered to him. "The Mistress wants your presence tonight at dinner in the grand dining room." However, the Wizard waved off her request. "I'm not hungry. I'll probably eat in the guest bedroom, instead."
The maid then leaned even closer to him. "Listen, my father is having a meeting tomorrow at 1PM. It's about a 15-minute walk from the castle gates. Please, see if you can go…"
The Wizard gave the maid a side eyed glare. "I already told you I can't be involved, I…"
She interrupted him. "We're not asking you to get involved. All I'm asking for you to do is to attend their meeting." She held her hands up as she gestured to him. "We heard that you plan on heading back to the Emerald City tomorrow anyway. Just stop by before you head back." Her eyes glanced to the side. "She won't know anyway since you would have already left the castle. It gives you the perfect cover."
The Wizard sighed. "I'll see what I can do, but I can't make any promises. Okay?"
Bella looked at him with relief. "That's all what we request of you to do. Here…" The maid slipped him a small piece of paper with a drawing on it. "This is where our secret enclave is located. We…"
The maid's words ended on her tongue as she turned her head and tsked when a little girl passed through a side entrance of the castle and entered the dining room. Unlike the maids and servants, this little girl wore dirty and raggedy clothes. She looked no older than four years of age as she stumbled around as if she were lost and confused. "Momma…momma", she cried out as she started to slowly walk through the dining room interior.
"Oh no…not again", Bella said as she shook her head with a peeved expression on her face.
"What", the Wizard asked. "Who is that?"
The maid sighed. "It's a girl who lives on a nearby farm. Her father's harvest failed, and the family has nothing to eat. As a result, the Mistress forced her mother to work at the castle. Other Winkie farmers have tried to help, but sometimes the family goes a day or two without food. Obviously, this is one of those days." Bella placed her hand on her hip. "I don't know what the girl's father is going to do tomorrow as it's Inspection Day…" She turned her gaze back to the Wizard again. "Hold on, let me fetch her out of here before the Mistress notices…"
But he stood from his chair. "No wait…let me help her out. I am sure there's some food here for her."
This made Bella stop in her tracks as she strenuously objected. "No. Trust me, that will NOT go over well with the Mistress. Not one ounce of food is to be taken without her permission."
As the Wizard and the maid were talking, a meeting was taking place in one of the nearby parlor rooms. Upon the Wizard's arrival, the witch had moved her meetings from the dining room and into one of the smaller rooms. A map of Oz was laid out on a circular wooden table as a small group of her most senior Winkie Guards gathered around it as they discussed various topics.
"Report", the witch said as she reviewed numerous papers in her hands. "Who hasn't produced?"
"Mistress, the farmer who lives down the road. I believe his wife now works at the castle", the captain said. "But they are still falling short of production."
"Mark him for 'interrogation' tomorrow", she replied. "And Ugu? What about him", the witch asked without looking up.
The captain approached her as he pointed his finger to one of the papers. "His numbers improved last week." This made the witch mildly disappointed. She really wanted to make an example out of him.
The captain continued. "Mistress, there are reports that some farmers are experiencing continuing food shortages. Other Winkies have asked to assist…"
The witch interrupted him as she continued to gaze and study her papers. "They are on their own. Should any Winkie try to assist or help in any way, they too will be punished."
The room was then silent as she continued to review and shuffle papers in her hand. "And Mistress, there is something else…" As the captain whispered into her ear, she simply nodded her head as she continued to read. "I am aware of that, captain. After three long years, I will finally ascertain their location through her." As she spoke, a malevolent smile crept across her face. "And he will unwittingly help me do that…"
After a moment of silence, she changed the discussion. "And the Winkie Guards. What do you have to report?"
"One of our newest recruits hasn't showed up to his duties in the past two days due to injury...", the captain responded.
But the witch was unsympathetic. "Then halve his food rations", she said.
This made the captain interject. "But Mistress, this would have to be put up for a vote by the Winkie Guards…"
"Then hold your vote. But if someone isn't doing their job, then it's your responsibility captain to maintain discipline amongst the ranks. The guards are already given their own food and their own manor houses. We can't have guardsmen leaving whenever they feel like it. They must keep order…"
"But Mistress, Evanora didn't—"
Theodora lowered her papers as she glared at the captain with mild irritation in her voice. "I don't care what Evanora did or did not do. You heard my recommendation. Now act upon them! If it was up to me, I would throw him out for incompetence or worse! If you can't enact discipline, another guard will become captain who can!"
The captain slightly bowed. "Yes, Mistress…"
"Now where were we", she asked. She then placed the papers to the side of the table and began to examine the map of Oz as she traced her finger along its contours. "What's the update on the military situation?"
The captain continued his presentation. "Mistress, the campaign to conquer the remaining towns and provinces throughout the Winkie quadrant is proceeding as planned. Various villages and towns have pledged their loyalty to you…"
The witch leaned forward and continued to gaze at the map as her hand ran through the various areas of the Winkie Country. "And they've begun to send half of their stock to us", she asked without adverting her eyes.
"Yes", the captain replied.
"And they know the penalty for refusing or failing to do so?" The witch then turned her gaze to the captain, who answered in the affirmative. The witch then turned and studied the map of Oz once more.
"Good."
Another senior officer began to speak. "Mistress, I know we've discussed invading the Emerald City or the Quadling Country at these meetings numerous times in the past. Now that most of the Winkie Country is under our control, is this something that we should plan for?" As he spoke, the captain shot him a glare, silently chastising him for raising this issue without his approval. But the witch continued to focus on the map.
"I'd like to focus on the Quadlings for now", she averred. "I am delaying my plans for the Emerald City for the time being." This made the guards murmur amongst each other. Theodora then looked up as her finger continued to touch the map. "I need to see how things go with a certain someone before we decide on our course of action with the Emerald City..."
She then looked down once again at the drawing. "But that will be discussed later. You are dismissed." She then began to wave off the guards who were present. As they left the room and returned to their assigned duties, the witch heard a commotion in the dining room.
As the pair was discussing what to do about the Winkie girl who had stumbled into the castle, the Wizard shook his head at Bella with annoyance in his voice. "Well, then she can have my rations. I'm not hungry and I will give her mine…" He was about to continue when heard a booming voice emanating from a nearby hallway.
"WHAT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Finished with her meeting, Theodora entered the dining room from an adjacent hallway as she saw the little girl. Her loud and angry voice made the girl quietly tremble and sob. The girl's little eyes darted around as she tried to see where the kitchen was. "I want…I want my momma", she cried in a frightful little voice. "And food".
As the little girl turned away from the witch and started to dash towards a nearby pantry with her little feet, this only made Theodora madder. "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING", the witch barked as she raised her hands and started to slowly walk towards the frightened little girl. "THERE'S NO FOOD OVER THERE! THERE'S NO FOOD HERE FOR YOU! I SHOULD TAKE MORE FOOD AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY FOR EVEN COMING HERE!"
But before the witch could reach the little girl and stop her from entering the pantry, the Wizard walked past the maid and towards the child. This made Theodora stop in her tracks. She placed her hands on her hips as she gazed at them both with narrow eyes. "Wizard…what are you doing", she said in a quiet but edgy voice.
"Come", he softly said as his hand grabbed the little girl by the hand. "Let's get you some food."
"Wizard! Stop!" When he didn't answer or listen to her, she started to scream at him. "WIZARD! I DEMAND YOU TO STOP!" His back turned to her, the witch's enraged voice made him stop walking.
"Theodora, I am giving her something to eat. She can have my rations." A scowl spread across the witch's face as she spoke to him in a biting and resentful tone. "She can't have your rations unless I allow it, Wizard! You have no say with what goes on here! And besides, you don't care about me anyway if you are even considering a return to your precious little Emerald City! I hope you are happy, Wizard! I hope you are happy that I'm suffering because of you!"
This made the Wizard turn his head around to address the sulky witch. "I don't like to see anyone suffer! I'm sorry that you are going through this. I really am. But this doesn't change the fact that no one should be forced to go hungry. I am going to give this girl some food."
The witch crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "Oh, so you care more about this Winkie than you do about me? That's very typical of you, Wizard! All you care about is your popularity and your fame, but you neglect the people who truly care about you. You think this Winkie girl cares when I am the only one who does! And yet you just keep walking over my heart time and time again…"
The Wizard interrupted her. "Starvation is a more pressing problem than heartbreak!"
"No, it isn't", she spat. "But you seem to be very good at causing it yourself!"
"Theodora, if you can't see that hunger is a serious issue, then maybe all of Oz is right. Maybe you are a lost cause…"
She gasped as he turned his back to her once again. "You know what, maybe you're right about what you said before, Wizard! Maybe fate hasn't been kind to me because I have been too nice to everyone! Glinda can be as beautiful as she wants and gets glowing praise without having to do anything at all. She gets everything she wants, including your affections! You're right. Good people suffer and life is not fair. Well, maybe if life isn't fair, then maybe I should be a wicked witch until I get what I want!" As he continued to silently stare straight ahead, the witch continued her tirade. "I am NOT the wicked one, Wizard! The Winkies here have been farming for generations and if they are not particularly good at it, then that is not my problem! But you know what, I know who the true wicked one is! And it's Glinda and her sycophantic helpers who spread lies and fabrications about me! And maybe if being good is not good enough for you or for anyone else, then maybe I should just embrace wickedness!" She then began to gloat at him. "What do you think about that?"
When the witch finished her rant about the conversation they had earlier, the Wizard did not turn around to address her, but instead replied to her in a calm manner. "Theodora, I am giving her some food. I am not going to debate this with you any further."
The witch was shocked that he would talk back to her like this. He was now openly defying her in her own castle, and amongst her Winkie subjects no less. First, he wanted to return to the Emerald City and now this. She was not going to have any of it.
In fact, his defiance made her so angry that she started to levitate quickly towards the pair as they resumed their walk towards the kitchen. "NO", she screamed. And when she caught up to them in lightning speed, she was so upset that she impulsively shoved the Wizard from behind, which made him lose his balance. He instinctively held his hands out to prevent his face from colliding with the wall.
He swiftly turned around. "You hit me", he said as he looked horrified and disgusted at the witch. "Get away from me." His voice went from soft to forceful and angry as he started to shout at her. "Get away!" These events made the young child start to cry.
Realizing what she had just done, Theodora's expression and tone went from furious to fearful. Her red lips quivered as she opened her mouth in shock and held her hands out. "I-I didn't mean to", she exclaimed.
But the Wizard was having none of it. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU", he said as he started to scream at her over the wailing little girl. The altercation even caused Bella to become fearful herself as she ducked behind one of the dining room chairs. "I DEFENDED YOU FROM AGATHA! I LOST MY FRIENDS! I DESTROYED MY REPUTATION! I LOST EVERYTHING! AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?"
"But I didn't ask you to do any of that", the witch cried out.
"No! You didn't! But I wasn't going to let it happen because it was wrong! And yet you don't seem to appreciate any of it! You just want to use me as a tool to control the Emerald City! This seems to be all you ever wanted! Maybe this is why the Emerald City is up in arms over Agatha's death, Theodora! Maybe this has nothing to do with her! Maybe this has everything to do with you!
Instead of matching his anger, the witch maintained her composure. She gestured with her hands and tried to act reasonable. "Wizard, calm down! It was never about using you to take over the Emerald City. It's not what it seems!"
"No", the Wizard barked. "It is never what it seems! There's always something different! You can never look in the mirror and see that the problem might be you! It's always someone else!"
The little girl began to calm down as he waved the witch off. "I'm sorry, I'm done!" He started to walk away from her. "What do you mean you are done", the witch asked with growing concern in her voice. "Wizard, where are you going", the witch said, but this time with greater urgency.
As he walked past the maid who was now hiding behind a chair, he turned angrily to the witch. "I'm going back to the Emerald City tonight", he said. "I've had enough of this! Goodbye, Theodora!"
This made her mouth curl into an expression of pain. "Wizard! You don't mean that! Please…please come back!" However, when he didn't listen to her and continued to walk towards the bedrooms, she frantically darted after him. "No! No! Please don't say that Wizard!" She started to sob. "Please come back!" On the verge of tears, she dived towards him. Her body was now outstretched on the floor as she grabbed the Wizard's legs to prevent him from walking.
"Theodora", he said with much irritation in his voice. "Let me go!" But she refused to let his legs go as her crying became louder. He tried to move, but her grip was too strong. "Is this girl for real", he said out loud. "Theodora", he said as he started to shout at her again. "Let me go!"
"Wizard, I'm sorry", she said tearfully. "I can change! Give me another chance! Please!" She finally stood up and began to hug him from behind as her wailing continued unabated. "Please! Give me another chance! I will never do it again! Please give me another chance! Please forgive me!"
The Wizard inhaled and then exhaled through his mouth. He was tired. He was fatigued. And he still could not get over the fact that for the past three years, this was the woman that every Ozian had feared.
But the Wizard had always tried to be a compassionate man, even when he was in the circus. He hated seeing people suffer and now felt awful that he had made Theodora cry.
As the witch wailed into his suit jacket about how she could change, the only thing he could do was gently shake his head. "A product of the Emerald City", he muttered to himself. "One day they love me. The next day, they curse my name…"
"Alright", he said sharply as he gave in to the witch's begging and pleading. "I will stay tonight." He turned around as the witch hugged him in relief. "Ohh, thank you, Wizard", she said as her sobbing slowed, and a smile spread over her face. She began to kiss his cheeks repeatedly. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you."
But then he started to take several steps back as he broke her embrace of him. "Yeah, well, I need my space", he said, which made the witch's smile disappear and her jaw became locked. He continued to take several steps backwards as he held up his hands. "I just need some space."
As he turned around and started to walk to his guest bedroom, the witch shouted from behind as she held her hands up. "I'll give her some food for you Wizard!" Her voice was one of desperation, as if she was trying to seek his approval and forgiveness. "I'll give her some food! I'll do it for you!"
But as he continued to walk, this only made him disappointed. While the old Oscar would have been flattered that he was able to manipulate a woman so easily to get what he wanted, that was not his intent, and he was further upset that the only reason Theodora relented was because of him. What would have happened if he wasn't there, and that girl came into the castle seeking food?Something far worse could have happened.
As the captain aptly pointed out to him on that three-hour journey to Gayalette's home, him being there seemed to have restrained Theodora's worst impulses. But in the Wizard's mind, that still wasn't enough for him. It wasn't enough for her to not act on these impulses just because he was there. She had to do the right thing even when he was not there.
While his decision was not an easy one and his mind was ever shifting, it was at this point when he began to believe that it be best for him to return to the Emerald City the following day.