The Wizard took small steps as he left the witch's bedroom and slowly made his way down the long corridor and towards the dining room. He wanted to disappear, to find a way and leave the castle as quickly as possible. After reading the witch's private diary, he genuinely felt concerned for his personal safety. His heart was thumping so loud in his chest that he thought every guard he passed could hear it. But as he turned down the usual corridor towards the dining room, he noticed that there were two guards silently standing on each side of a huge gold-plated door. This was strange, as he usually was able to pass freely. Ever since he arrived at the witch's castle, the entrance to the dining room area at the end of the hallway was always open.
As he approached the door, one of the guard's ceremoniously opened it. And when the Wizard entered the dining room, he was stunned by what he saw. The whole dining room table was covered with every different type of breakfast food one could imagine. There were two candles lit at each end of the table. Sitting on a chair near the center was Theodora, her hat resting on the table, while Finley sat on a chair at the end.
As she noticed him, Theodora opened her mouth with excitement as she gave the Wizard a big smile. She got up from her chair and ran over to him and then gave him a big hug. "I knew you would come", she said excitedly. As she did this, the monkey turned and waved at him from his chair. "Hi, Wizard."
Placing one of her hands around his back, the witch turned and looked at Finley. "I thought he could join us for breakfast…" Still having her arm wrapped around him, she then turned her head and looked at him once more. "Would this be okay, Wizard?"
Thank God, the Wizard thought. Now at least there was a witness in case she tried to murder me.
After she beckoned him to the table, he sat on one of the chairs at the far end of the table.
The Wizard eyed the food. He couldn't wait to eat, after missing dinner the previous night. He was eager to leave the palace in one piece, but he was also famished. He eyed the table. There were pancakes and waffles with every topping imaginable. The only thing that was missing were eggs, but the Wizard knew how much the witch hated that food, believing it to be "beneath her".
As the witch sat down on the chair in the middle, she quickly started to adjust it. "Wait", she said. "I want to sit closer to you, Wizard…" As she did so, she placed her arm around his back while she flashed Finley a huge smile. "What do you think", she asked him as her cheek touched his. "Don't we make a good couple?" The Wizard raised his eyebrows as he nervously squirmed in his seat.
Please monkey…please say no, the Wizard thought to himself.
"Oh yes, of course both of you would", Finley responded with the utmost of glee. "You'd make the best couple in all of Oz!"
The witch chuckled heartedly as she kissed the Wizard on his cheek. "I knew you would think so", she said.
The Wizard didn't turn around as his jaw was locked and his eyes stared icily at his friend. Thanks a lot, Finley", he thought to himself sarcastically. Thanks, a lot. Somehow,he needed to get Finley alone so he could tell him what had just happened, and what he had just read. If he even survived this breakfast, that is. However, the witch exhibited no self-awareness to the Wizard's tense expressions and mannerisms.
As the Wizard rested his hand on the table, Theodora placed her hand on top of his as she gazed at him tenderly. "Wizard, I wanted to have this breakfast because it's been three years since you came to Oz and to show my appreciation for how much you mean to me." She flashed him a sincere smile as she squeezed the top of his hand. She then turned her head and gazed at the monkey. "And I thought since we all met at the same time, it'd be wonderful if we had this breakfast together." She then kissed him on the cheek.
As they ate, the Wizard would glance awkwardly at the witch before turning his attention back to his own plate. Theodora was the first to break the silence as she daintily and gracefully rested her fork on her plate.
"Finley", she asked as she elegantly placed her hands on top of the table. "What do you think if the Wizard and I travel together to the Wish Ways." She then turned her head to the Wizard and smiled. "I hear its dust can grant any wishes."
The Wizard took his glass and was about to drink. He gave a stone-cold look at Finley. Please, do not continue this conversation, he thought to himself. He then took his glass and drank from it.
"What would you wish for", Finley inquired.
"That I would have a mini-Wizard with him", she snickered playfully as the Wizard's drink went down the wrong pipe. He then patted his hand forcefully on his chest as he held his other mouth to his mouth and began a coughing fit. This made the witch chuckle sharply as she rested her hand on her cheek and stared at him lovingly, her sparkling eyes filled with a hint of seduction.
A Winkie Guard then ceremoniously and slowly entered the dining room. He bowed as he approached the table. "Mistress, you are needed outside."
The witch tsked in annoyance as she arched her back. "Oh, come on. What now", she asked peevishly and with much irritation in her voice. But the guard didn't respond, which meant it was for her eyes only.
Without turning to either of her companions, she apologized for the interruption, placed her hat back onto her head and then excused herself. And as soon as she left, the Wizard jumped out of his chair and ran over to Finley.
"Finley! Listen…" The monkey's eyes were wide as his former master ran over to him and started whispering to him. "I have to leave now…"
"Wait, Wizard, what, why?" The monkey was taken aback by the urgency in the Wizard's voice.
"Finely…this girl…is insane!"
"And is this something you just had a realization of", Finley asked. "Listen, I know Thomas Edison is your idol, but come on, you don't need to be a genius to realize that…"
"No, you don't understand", the Wizard said as he gestured animatingly with both of his hands. "I mean insanity on a whole other level. I just read this girl's private diary and she said she wants to kill me and her!"
This caused the monkey to hold his hands out. "Woah, slow down there, Wizard. She just said she wanted to go on a trip with you. There was no mention about killing you."
"Yeah, well, I need to go back to the Emerald City, remember? She said in her journal that if I tried to go back, that she would kill me and then she would kill herself! This is like some wicked witch ritualistic suicide shit!"
The monkey became worried. "Woah, Wizard, this is intense…"
"This is not just intense! This goes beyond intense! This is crazy! Listen, Finley, you can't leave me alone with the girl! I am begging you. You can't leave me alone with her…"
"You got it Wizard, but what are you going to ultimately do? Are you going to go back to the Emerald City today or not?"
But before the Wizard could answer, he saw the witch approaching the castle again through the dining room's expansive bay window and dashed back to his chair. He took his seat just as she turned a corner, and the dining room came into her view.
"Sorry", she said in a sweet, but singsong voice. "It's Inspection Day and some people just get on my nerves", she whispered edgily to them.
The Wizard began to rub his eyes with his hand as Theodora eyed him suspiciously as she took her seat. "What?"
He swiftly lowered his hand. "Uhhh…umm…nothing", he said in a jittery tone as he shot a nervous glance at Finley.
The witch pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes as she gazed at him, but only briefly as she turned her head. "Thank you for coming, Finley", she said in a sweet tone, beckoning him off. "I want some private time with the Wizard though. I think we will go out for a walk."
Great. Private time to kill me, the Wizard thought once more. His eyes wide, he subtly shook his head at his furry former companion.
But Finley was no help whatsoever. "Right you are! You go have your private time with the Wizard! I am sure everything would be great! Like peaches and cream! He is a wonderful Wizard, that he is!"
Ohhhh fuck you, monkey, the Wizard thought to himself. Didn't he remember the conversation that they just had?
Still wearing her hat, the witch rose from her chair as she extended her hand to the Wizard as she passed by his chair. "Come, Wizard…", she said to him sweetly with a bright smile on her face. As he reluctantly extended his hand to hers, he gave the monkey a grim expression, followed by an angry glare.
As they left the castle, Finley looked down and touched his paw nervously to his face. "Oh no, did I say something wrong?"
While the pair made their way from a side entrance of the castle and walked towards its expansive outdoor gardens, the Wizard noticed that there were dozens of Winkie Guards who were arranged at individual desks. Many Winkie farmers, most of whom wore raggedy and dirty clothes, formed neat lines. Each carried large burlap bags.
"What's going on here", the Wizard asked as they walked from a distance. Theodora shot him a gentle look. "It's Inspection Day. A representative from each Winkie farm comes and their crops are inspected."
"What happens after that?"
Her smile faded as her lips parted. "Nothing. They go home", she tersely said. They remained silent as they continued to walk hand in hand. It was then when the Wizard remembered the secret meeting that Bella told him about the previous day. He had left his bag back at the castle but was now intrigued at the maid's invitation. Should he go? It still didn't start for another hour, so he felt like he would still have ample time to venture to their secret location. He placed his hand into his black pants and felt the map that Bella had given him. It was still there.
"Wizard, I know of a wonderful field just past the gate where there are some large trees with multicolored leaves. We can sit under there if you'd like?"
He nodded his head. Perfect, he thought to himself. That would place him not too far. All he had to do was somehow try and extricate himself from Theodora's presence, which was not an easy thing to do.
The pair continued to walk silently as two Winkie Guards opened the gate for them. It was then just a short stroll to the field. "Wizard", the witch suddenly interjected. "You seem awfully quiet today. What's wrong?" She then took off her hat and started to wave it like a fan slowly in front of her face while she held his hand.
He did not say anything as their hands parted ways as Theodora beckoned him to sit under a large, shaded area. They were in a tranquil area and protected from the Ozian sun by the ample shade that the trees provided.
Despite the beautiful day, the Wizard was sweating and incredibly nervous. He had previously made up his mind to depart the castle and to return to the Emerald City. But he agonized over what to tell her if anything. He remembered the disturbing things that he read in her private diary. Should he simply say nothing is wrong and find an excuse to leave? Should he tell her what happened and hope for the best? He was really frightened. As he sat on the grass, he tried to think of how to respond to her inquiry, but his lips only quivered. A soft breeze then blew part the Wizard's face, which helped little with the sweat that was now rolling down his forehead. He heard birds chirping and a small group of Winkies walk along a nearby path. But this tranquility didn't matter, for his heart was pounding mercilessly inside his chest.
Right after asking him this question and sitting on the grass herself, the witch then noticed that he had something on his white shirt, maybe lint or a piece of food. She then reached over to remove it. As she touched her hand to remove this small object on his shirt, she felt his heart beating a mile a minute. "Wizard, your heart", she exclaimed as she gently pressed her hand on his chest. She then looked him over and noticed that he was gently trembling. Her eyes narrowed. "Wizard, talk to me. What's going on?"
His eyes wide, he finally tried to muster the courage to say what he had been wanting to say all morning. "Theodora, there's something I have to tell you", he said shakily. "There's something I have decided to do."
Both of her eyes looked at him brightly under her red hat as she responded sweetly. "Yes Wizard, and what have you decided to do?"
"I…", he started to speak, but a wave of nausea nearly overtook him as he gulped anxiously. This feeling dissipated, but it did little to quell his overwhelming anxiety. "I decided to…"
She then nodded him on as she smiled at him, and her wide eyes beckoned him to continue. "Yes?"
"I've decided…" He tried to muster up his next words, but he was so anxious and nervous that a pit had formed in his stomach.
Fuck you Finley for not being here, he thought to himself. And fuck you Glinda for encouraging me to speak my mind, not knowing or realizing that it could get me killed!
"I'm going back to the Emerald City!" The Wizard finally blurted out the words frantically as he sank his head on the witch's red jacket and held it with both of his hands. "Please don't kill me! Please don't kill me! Please don't kill me! Please don't kill me! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry", the Wizard pleaded repeatedly in both an anxiety ridden and petrified tone. He was so emotional that he even started to sob.
This made the witch gasp as she opened her mouth with complete shock and surprise. "Wizard! What…what has gotten into you", she asked. "Why on earth would I kill you?"
Her reassurance then made him abruptly stop crying as he looked up at her. "Wait. So, you're not going to kill me?"
She looked at him with utter bewilderment. "No! of course not! Why would you ever think that?"
The Wizard released her red jacket with both of his hands, arched his back and exhaled through his mouth. "Oh, thank God", he said with much relief as he placed his hand on his chest. "Thank God." He then began to wipe his face with his hands. "Thank God, thank God, thank God. I was so nervous."
The witch continued to look at him with much confusion. "What made you think that I was going to kill you?" Her lips were slightly parted, and a hurtful expression was palpable on her face. She held her hands in the air as she shook her head subtly and gently. "I would never kill you."
As she looked at him for answers, the Wizard thought about whether he should confide in her about what he read. But he didn't know if he should bring it up.
Seeing him remain silent, Theodora continued. "You seem to be under a lot of stress, Wizard…"
His hand still covering his face, he moaned tearfully. "I am under a lot of stress…"
This made Theodora sigh. "Wizard…" She stretched her legs out on the grass as she looked at him sympathetically. "I don't mean to cause you all of this stress." She continued to look at him as she slowly removed his hands from his face. As he did so, she continued to talk to him in a soft voice. "I don't think returning to the Emerald City is a good idea for you, Wizard. But killing you because you want to go back? Why would I ever want to kill you? I want you to stay here. Killing you because you wanted to return to the Emerald City would be the last thing I would want to do."
The Wizard sighed. "I thought that because this morning I read your diary and…"
Theodora raised her brow. "My diary? What were you doing reading my diary?"
But the Wizard quickly interjected. "I was only trying to find my bag. I saw that the music box was playing, and I saw it on the table and…"
She interrupted him. "I played the music because it's the three year anniversary of your arrival. But Wizard, why would you read my diary? That is someone's private thoughts…"
"But is it true? Everything you wrote?"
When she didn't answer, his voice cracked and became tearful again as his placed his hand on his face once more. "Oh my god, it's true…"
"Wizard, just because I wrote something as to what I was feeling at a certain point in time, it doesn't mean that it governs who I am or if I feel the same way now. I write when I'm feeling down or depressed or angry and…"
The witch stopped speaking in mid-sentence as she stared at him curiously. The Wizard had been under an intense amount of stress from a multitude of factors, many of which were beyond his control. He had felt the intense pressure of running the Emerald City and assisting those who sought his help, something he felt completely unqualified to do. Then there was Agatha's death. Then the Emerald City and all his old friends turned against him, which included his former mentor. And after reading her private journal and realizing the depths of her despair, he was reminded of her self-imposed banishment, which had consistently haunted him. He was now on the precipice. He wanted to return to the Emerald City, but he also wanted to help Theodora. And protect himself. And the Winkies. All of this was simply too much for him to handle.
For the first time, he simply could not continue to hide his emotions. And as she heard his diaphragm convulse, her lips parted as her voice became one of concern.
"Wizard…you're crying…" This was the first time that she had seen him display true vulnerability. After Evanora told her of his duplicitous ways by claiming that the Wizard gave her a music box and danced with her in her chambers—something that he had denied—and made her bite a magic apple to "see clearly", Theodora believed his "caring" for her after they had been attacked by that Winged Baboon was merely one of his many deceptions. She believed that he was just like everyone else at the Emerald City who had abandoned her and wanted nothing to do with her.
She was shocked that he was really crying.
He wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve and then looked at her. His voice was still teary and his eyes were red. "I'm sorry", he said, trying to regain his composure. "But Theodora…this is some sick shit…"
He then cupped his hands and placed them over his face. "Oh my god", he said as his weeping subsided, and he started to regain his composure. He remembered her earlier journal entries as pangs of guilt started to come over him once more. "I am a horrible person." He then looked up at her, his voice was still quiet. "I'm a horrible person." As he said these statements, the witch started to gently shake her head. "If only I had been more honest and forthcoming", he said. "If only I wasn't such a coward. If only I came here sooner…"
"Shhhh", the witch said, trying to soothe him as he spoke. "It's not your fault, Wizard." A moment of silence passed between the pair before she continued to speak softly. "It's not your fault."
The Wizard sighed as he rubbed his face with his hand. "I just…I just didn't know", he said. He then looked at her again. "I didn't know what you were going through. But then this also means that you agree with everything you've written…"
The witch opened her mouth as if surprised. "Wizard, I told you that it was a feeling in the past and…" But he interrupted her objection.
"No! But this means that deep down you feel this way. And no matter how hard you try to fight it, you can't!"
She tilted her head to the side in annoyance. "Wizard…"
"No, listen to me Theodora, because I think this is finally starting to make sense. You have a lot of…"
As he spoke, the witch locked her jaw and looked down at the grass with a hint of anger in her brow. Her eyes narrowed. But the Wizard caught what was under the mask. "No! Like that! It's just like that", the Wizard exclaimed as he pointed at her. "That's what I'm talking about! It happened again!"
She looked up at him. "Wizard, I didn't say or do anything."
"No, but it's that flash of anger. You didn't say anything, but you lowered that mask and for a split second and I saw it. No matter how hard you try to repress it, you simply can't! You are unable to. It's there. And it's going to be released whether you like it or not…"
"What are you saying?"
"What I'm saying is that you can't hide from your anger anymore. Because it is going to find you. You must accept it or it's going to come out in ways you don't want it to…"
"Wizard, stop…", she said in quiet, but even keeled voice.
"And like what happened with Evanora's curse, it could take over again!"
This made the witch yell at him. "Wizard! Stop it!" She then took a breath as she spoke to him softly once again. "I hear you…" She then looked down at the grass. "Come…let's just enjoy the day…", she said with mild irritation in her voice. Since the Wizard was sitting across from her, she then gave him a weak smile as she waved and beckoned him over. "Come rest on me. Come on…"
But the Wizard didn't move, and her smile disappeared. "I…I think I am okay here", he said. The witch then looked down and plucked some grass near her. "I'm not going to hurt you, Wizard", she quietly and anxiously said. "I'm not going to hurt you…" She then looked up at him. "I want to protect you", she said sincerely and with much earnestness in her voice.
The pair continued to sit silently. After lowering her head and plucking more grass out of the ground, the witch broke the silence. "What do you want to do, Wizard?"
He looked up at her. Since the previous day, he wanted to return to the Emerald City, but since the witch was acting reasonable now, he was more at ease. He was indecisive now. He didn't know what he should do.
She continued. "What you could do Wizard is stay here until the Emerald City arrives…"
"But that would mean there could be a fight! Or a conflict!"
She looked up at him. "Not necessarily…" However, she knew that when the Emerald City came onto her land and tried to attack her castle that she would not hesitate by responding with violence.
She then pursed her lips. "I don't want to place you in a difficult position, Wizard. And just maybe…" She looked down again. "Just maybe you can stay here and help me with the Winkies. There's no rule that says you can't. The Emerald City would have to accept it. And maybe…" She then looked up at him and stared into his eyes with much sincerity in her voice. "…We can be friends…" She gave her best self to the Wizard, hoping that it would persuade him to stay.
While she didn't leave her journal out for him to find intentionally, she knew that if he did stumble onto it, she hoped that he would stay out of guilt, pity, and fear. But when he reacted the way he did, she knew she had to change tactics.
He smiled at her. "I would like that. I would like that very much…" They then both smiled at each other radiantly and chuckled.
"Just do me one thing", the Wizard asked. This made the witch silently raise her brow. "Remember when we were in your bedroom how I said I regretted giving you those flowers, that music box and all of those other experiences, but that you said you never regretted meeting me?"
She nodded her head silently in response.
He looked at her seriously as he said this, hoping she would listen to him as he spoke from his heart. "I need you to remember me, Theodora. And how we are right now. How we are in this place. With the wind blowing softly, the green grass in this field, the deep blue Ozian sky above us and the sun shining. Like how you felt when we danced. Or when we were walking past the sunflowers on the Yellow Brick Road towards the Emerald City. I need you to remember my stay here and to keep all the good times we've had in your mind. I need you to remember these happy moments and to always keep it with you. To never let them go." He paused before continuing. "Promise me that you will only do good by remembering these experiences and to never let happiness go..."
"Are you okay", she asked, having a slightly nervous expression on her face as she hoped that this wasn't his way of saying goodbye.
"Yes…yes", he answered with jitteriness in his voice. "But please, just promise me. Because if you don't promise me then it would be like this conversation never took place. I just want you to be happy and if something should happen where you feel as miserable as you were in the past then I don't think I could ever forgive myself. Just please, promise me…"
She looked at him intensely as he spoke. "I promise, Wizard."
He looked down as he nodded silently. The pair became quiet as a wind blew past them. The Wizard then raised his head and looked at the surroundings. "You know, I had a dream about this. We were in a forest outside of the Emerald City…"
This made Theodora light heartedly chuckle after that moment of seriousness passed. "You always have a dream about us." She flashed him a radiant smile and then looked down meekly. "Wizard", she said in a quiet voice. "What you see in me?"
"I'm sorry", he asked as he gazed at her with mild confusion on his face.
"I mean, what do you like about me", she said as she smiled, and her eyes gazed at the grass.
"Your eyes", he said while nodding. "My eyes", she asked as she looked at him with much pleasantness in her voice. "Yeah", he responded with nervous laughter. "And your smile." This made her grin once more as she looked down and blushed.
"What about you", he asked.
"I don't know", she said as she gazed at him with an aura of mystery and wonder. "I can't quite explain it, but it's like you are different from every Ozian. Like…you aren't so bound by all the rules. And you're just unique, like you aren't from around here. It makes you very special…"
He lowered his head and smiled. As he did so, the witch continued to stare at him with wide eyes. "Who are you, Wizard", she asked in a quiet voice as she gazed at him in awe. She repeated the question. "Who are you?"
The pair was then interrupted by a Winkie Guard. "Mistress, your presence is required at the entrance of your castle."
Theodora turned her head and looked at the guard. As she did so, her light-heartedness turned to angst. Her jaw was locked as her shoulders slumped and her visage conveyed renewed stress. She sighed. "I will be right there." The Winkie Guard then briskly walked back towards the castle.
She then shifted her focus back to the Wizard. "Stay here for a while, okay? I will be back." He nodded at her. As she stood up, the Wizard was still deciding whether to return to the Emerald City or to stay at Theodora's castle. But the witch was acting so delightful towards him, and this is what he missed the most about her.
Maybe he shouldn't run to the Emerald City? Maybe Theodora had a point? Maybe if the Emerald City wanted him so much that they should come to him? He also started to question why he was so adamant about returning. Why should he run back to them if they turned against him at the first opportunity, the Wizard thought to himself. Not once did Glinda even reach out to him. Instead, she sent a former mentor who had completely turned against him. The Wizard truly felt offended over how the city had treated him over the past week.
Him staying might also present new opportunities. Maybe he could truly reconcile with Theodora, and in the process, this could make her into a better person? This is something he had always wanted to do, but he lacked the courage to venture to the Winkie Country because he feared her. Whoever sent him there ultimately did him a favor, even if Evanora was really behind this. It would be sweet revenge if the Wizard made lemons out of lemonade.
Theodora only took several steps away from him when the Wizard called out her name. She turned around and looked at him in response. After dithering about what to do for nearly a full day, he finally decided on a course of action.
"I've decided to stay", he said. This made the witch excitedly flash him a full faced grin. "Really, Wizard?" She was incredibly surprised, but even more so, she was truly happy. "Yeah", he said. "This is who I should have focused on from day one. This is where I should be now." She continued to smile at him. "Wizard, you made me so happy." And with that, the witch turned back to her castle and started to excitedly skip and hop.
They'll just have to accept this, the Wizard told himself. The Emerald City would just have to accept this.
But then Theodora stopped.
Her back turned to him, she briefly paused. "Oh, I almost forget to tell you", she said. "The Winkie Guards have ascertained the whereabouts and location of the Winkie resistance. We know where they are hiding. They won't trouble the land for much longer…" As she finished speaking, a sly smile crept across her face. She then continued to walk back to her castle.
This reminded him to check his pocket watch. Ten minutes until the meeting starts. Once the witch was out of sight, the Wizard pulled out his map and frantically looked around. The sun was now high in the sky as he dashed to the nearest path and entered the forest. Since he decided to stay, this was his first real opportunity to truly make peace between the witch and the Winkies.
He knew he was doing the right thing. Now all he had to do was put his plan into action.