The Wicked Witch of the East: Evanora's Return

[Part 2]

CHAPTER 18: SOOTHE SAYER

-Emerald City-

*~ Evanora ~*

To live with her daughter in the Emerald City Palace.

That had once been her hope, but then her daughter was taken from her and her world slowly, step-by-planned-step, fell into ruin. Now here she is, sat by her daughter's bedside as the two princesses of Emerald City slumber on next to one another in her bedroom. It is far more than she imagined, more than she believed she would have after the fire.

Perhaps… No, there are too many risks. Those who now know her to be the Wicked Witch may hold hostility toward Ozma for being her daughter or claim that Evanora acquired the child to pass off as a royal. Others might even fear the girl and dread the possibility of her following in Evanora's ways.

A sudden change after so many years of them suffering from the consequences of her actions will no doubt be held in suspicion. People may even accuse Evanora of enchanting the rulers of Oz to sway them into permitting her stay.

It would be best for Firefly's station as a princess if Evanora keeps her distance, yet what of the child who so desperately wants to be with her mother? Raising a child in exile is difficult enough when one conceals one's nature as a witch, but with Evanora having a reputation on top of that? No. Ozma deserves better.

Besides, what Evanora should truly be focusing on is the matter with Zurline. Locasta is confident in an attack and Glinda believes that the Wizard's innovations will be enough to catch the former Faerie by surprise at the least. They are both underestimating their enemy, forgetting that she is one of those responsible for the creation and later separation and concealment of Nonestica. Or perhaps it is rather that they are confident of their own Faerie blood.

Regardless, luring Zurline into battle by using Glinda as bait is an obvious and reckless strategy. One that depends on the Faerie-Witch's resentment outweighing her rationality. She's had ample time to confront Glinda these last six years, but each time Zurline has used other means, either indirect or half-hearted with her attempts.

If not for the confrontation between Locasta and Orison that had him flaunting the truth before all of them and the woman's reaction to his taunt, Evanora would have believed her focus on Glinda to be a passing interest. However, Evanora had been present for the encounter and had in fact seen the brief moment that Zurline faltered before hardening.

Zurline valued her sister to the extent of abandoning her child. The fixation on Glinda is strong, but the time she has taken to execute her plans has nothing to do with a lack of help or conflict among her forces.

Zurline is one of the Ancient Faeries, a being who could bring Oz to ruin all by her own power. If bringing all of Oz to ruin was her goal.

With the day's events and the growing headache behind her eyes, it is evident that further thinking will only bring illogical conclusions. So with a sigh on her lips, Evanora rises from her seat beside the bed, makes her way across the room and re-settles before her vanity table to begin her preparations for the night.

Zurline's motives and Locasta's injured heart obscuring her judgement are matters to consider in the morning. The children are with her because they refused to leave and Glinda agreed that they would be safest with Evanora. At the very least the Witch of the East should make an attempt not to disappoint.


The notice arrived early the next morning along with the servants sent to wake the girls: Evanora has been invited to dine with the Queen and Wizard King.

As they each dress and move on to hair styling, she considers declining the invitation, but then both Ozma and the little doll each plead with her to go with them and she ultimately gives in. Evanora chooses to ignore the whispers and amusement of the maids behind her and dutifully picks up the dainty china princess.

The girls chatter along their way to the dining hall and Evanora listens with one ear whilst her mind wanders. It seems an eternity before they arrive, several servants and guards startling at her escort-free presence. Knowing about her and seeing her are clearly two separate concepts. She pretends not to notice.

The dining hall doors open and though Firefly rushes ahead, it is only a few steps before she stops to glance back and motion Evanora and China Girl forward. The table is surprisingly full and none of the guests seem surprised to see her.

At the head of the table is Glinda and her wizard with Locasta to Glinda's side and the flying monkey, Finley, to the Wizard's, followed by the Master Tinker and Knuck.

Upon spotting them, Locasta leaves her seat to approach. "Morning," she greets shortly, taking the china doll from Evanora's arms before turning away and speaking with Ozma. Her volume is too low to make out what she's saying, but Ozma nods and suddenly darts off to the table only to stop next to Locasta's abandoned seat.

"Mother! This is your chair!" She announces, bouncing in place.

Evanora slowly approaches, inclining her head to the others in greeting as the girls take to their seats. By the time that she finally sits down, Locasta has already retaken her place and leans over to her with a smirk. "You look like a spooked rabbit." The witch whispers, amusement apparent.

Evanora keeps her voice equally low in reply, "And you a fox in the farmer's lands."

Glinda clears her throat then makes a toast, though mostly it's a morning greeting followed by other niceties and a welcoming. "Please, enjoy." The reigning witch motions over the waiting female servants who bring with them a dish for each guest.

Evanora's is set down louder than warranted, earning the serving girl a look from Glinda and an instant dismissal from Locasta.

"Wizard, would you please help me?"

"Of course," the Wizard smiles softly and with help from Knuck and the others by his side, manages to transfer China Girl's plate to himself to cut her food.

"Do you need help as well, dear?" Glinda directs the question to Ozma, but Firefly simply shakes her head.

"No, thank you, Miss Glinda. I would rather that Mother help me." Firefly then turns to her, gaze expectant and plate carefully held in both hands.

Evanora takes it wordlessly and cuts up the food the same way she once did for Theodora. When she passes back the plate, Firefly's eyes are bright and her smile is prominent. "What is it?" She asks confused, watching her daughter turn a triumphant look onto Finley.

"See! Told you she knows!"

Locasta waves the comment away with a huff of mirth. "She used to do the same for her sister." Her features stretch back into a smirk. "Come to think of it, Glinda used to beg her to do the same for her as well, despite being fifteen years older than Theodora."

All eyes turn to the queen and Glinda's cheeks flush pink, but she holds her head high and proclaims, "Says the one who was constantly finding excuses to embrace her."

Locasta shrugs. "She's a beautiful woman."

When attention shifts to them, Evanora offhandedly comments, "Still not interested."

Naturally, Locasta almost instantly responds to the old banter, "I can wait."

"You'll be left waiting until your marrow runs dry."

"Fine with me. Anyone who can accept a marrow-dry skeleton is worth the wait."

Unexpectedly, their back-and-forth is broken by Glinda bursting out into laughter. Tears stick to her lashes and the good witch brushes them away, smiling widely. "Oh, I'm sorry, it's just been so long since we all were relaxed like this."

The silence that echoes her words is broken by the Master Tinker, the old man's gaze brushing over each witch. "If I recall, the last time the three of you laughed among yourselves like this was when King Ozgood announced Locasta protector of the north."

Yes, Evanora remembers. That was one of their last meals together.

"There was talk of stealing away the prince's intended." He smiles at them, eyes eventually falling on Ozma. Evanora feels a pang of longing, but it fades quickly.

"Oh, yes!" Glinda laughs heartily, tears returning to her eyes. "When you heard that Andahan proposed, didn't you make a counter proposal, Locasta?"

"I did. Shame that Nora had no interest in going north with me." The Witch of the North smiles easily, the memory a pleasant one for her.

On impulse, Evanora says, "You mean south."

The Wizard chokes, the monkey screeches and Glinda reddens faintly, but Locasta just winks, proud. The Master Tinker laughs and Knuck looks between them, aghast.

"What's so funny? I don't understand." Ozma's innocent question plunges Evanora back into the present and she remembers that there are children present.

"It means she prefers Emerald City, but I asked her to go somewhere else." Locasta deflects without a hint of shame.

Firefly's brow furrows, then she nods. "Adult jokes."

The table stills.

"W-what?" Finley squeaks. It would be amusing if Evanora did not have the same thought on her tongue.

"Mombi used to say that adults have strange jokes that children shouldn't be involved with. Something about how babies are made, I guess."

Evanora struggles to keep her face blank. "Is that exactly what she said?"

"Well, she said adults like to make jokes about making babies, but use different words and then explain it in ways that don't make sense. Miss Casta's excuse didn't make sense because everyone had strange reactions to what Miss Casta and Mother were talking about. It also doesn't make any sense when I think about Mister Tinker talking about Miss Casta asking Mother to marry her."

Locasta smiles wryly. "Perceptive. You got that from your Mother."

Smiling at the praise, Firefly tilts her head and as the seconds tick by Evanora suddenly feels an encroaching sense of wariness as a familiar twinkle comes to her daughter's eyes. "Does that mean Miss Casta loves Mother?"

Yes, definitely her father's daughter.

Locasta stills, blinks, then turns an incredulous expression onto the innocently smiling Ozma. "You have been spending far too much time with me." She sighs. "Though I do prefer women to men and I do love your mother, she is my best friend and I have no intention of taking her as a romantic partner or lover."

Ozma slowly frowns, "You can do that? Love someone enough to marry them, but not in a romantic way?"

Before Evanora can debate how to explain the concept of platonic love, the little china doll clears her throat and pats Firefly on the hand. "There are many different kinds of love. Love between family, love between friends, romantic love and love between people who are like family to you. I believe Miss Locasta is trying to say that Evanora is like family to her and proposed to her as a way to continue being family with her."

Evanora must admit surprise. That was quite the simplification of a complex subject and yet it was well done. She doubts she would have been able to explain it similarly, without confusing both her daughter and herself.

"I see... So, different loves can have different appearances. Like how Miss Glinda and Mister Wizard share romantic love, but don't want to get married yet?"

"Quite right," Glinda smiles brightly, clapping her hands, "Although it does seem as though we have strayed from our original conversation."

The Wizard rises, awkwardly clearing his throat. "Indeed. There was an announcement that Glinda and I wished to make and now seems to be about the right time." He pauses, looking over each person sat at the table. Evanora instinctively leans away. "Four days from now, we will be sending a request of negotiation to the Faerie Witch in the East."

The silence is heavy and thick with unease. Evanora closes her eyes in resignation as she realises they truly do intend to go through with the previously proposed madness.

"Glinda and Locasta have volunteered to speak with the witch and learn her true intentions. If she refuses to end matters peacefully, we intend to launch a surprise attack."

A partial lie like that must mean that the others do not know of Zurline's desire to kill Glinda. Omitting that is understandable when considering she is meant to act as a lure for the Faerie, but Evanora still finds it too great a risk. Zurline's resentment of the Royal Family - as Glinda saw in the Great Book of Records - was fashioned by Orison, though he did not know of Zurline's relation to Queen Lurline initially.

He was the catalyst, but somewhere along the line Zurline began to believe the rumour that Glinda is the love child of King Pastoria and Queen Gayelette, which turned her mind to the thinking that her sister was purposely cast aside to make room for the king's second wife. A rumour Evanora may have once believed as well, if not for having known the king and seen for herself Glinda's Faerie blood carry her through near impossible trials.

Yes, she dislikes this plan. Even so, it appears that the minds of her fellow witches have been set.

"She wants to follow her sister." Ozma's words are calm and sure, offhanded almost, but it draws attention for varying reasons. Evanora wonders how she knew, or if it is her magic coming to the forefront.

"Do you know something, little Princess?" The Master Tinker speaks kindly, gentle and warm. Exactly how Evanora remembers him speaking to her sister all those many years ago. Her heart aches.

"Miss Zurline promised to go wherever her sister went, but someone took her sister away using magic water that made her forget."

Much as Evanora wants to believe it is mere coincidence, the chilling sensation in the back of her head remains alongside Firefly's confidence. Which means ancient blood may be waking and Evanora cannot help fearing what that may mean. "Dear, how do you know this?"

"Did you see it in a dream?" Locasta adds, suddenly serious.

Ozma nods, her features twisting in the tell of displeasure. "The person who did it laughed about it."

Abruptly, memories began flooding back to her of a familiar wizard with control over fire, confident and mocking. Pride and anger warp his expressions as he voices vague threat-like statements. Evanora feels nauseous.

"Do you know who it was?" Glinda presses, an urgency in her voice.

"A bad man. The same one who killed Father."

Another memory, one of heat all over her body: pain enveloping her as her skin is set ablaze, her nerves somehow never losing feeling despite repetition and the passage of time. Unable to defend against the sudden onslaught in sensory and mind, Evanora twists away from the table and doubles over, bile pushing up what little she managed to eat.


-Emerald City-

*~ Glinda ~*

"Evanora!" Though Glinda is the one who's voice is the first heard, Locasta is the first to Evanora's side. While Glinda and Oz rise in alarm, hesitating to approach due to Evanora's flaring magic, the others are rooted in place, startled by the sudden illness. Understandable, but Glinda has seen this a few times before and finds it fortunate that everyone else seems too shocked to react.

Utilising her magic, Locasta summons the essence of water to envelope Evanora and slowly she calms down. Leaning into their sister witch now that she's somewhat recovered, Evanora retains a pale appearance and glazed eyes, not quite seeing them.

Careful of her movements, Glinda makes her way around the table to them. Ozma is looking at her mother with wide, teary eyes, but does neither attempt to speak or approach. She must have instinctively realised that now was not the time. Even so, the poor girl must be distressed. Squeezing her niece's shoulder in a brief show of comfort, Glinda crouches down across from her sister witches, maintaining some distance. "Evanora? "

Despite her state, the Emerald Witch shifts to meet Glinda's gaze and smiles wryly. "That man is a greater curse than my bloodline."

Locasta snorts in amusement, then turns her head to the table with an echoing call of, "She's fine!"

"What happened?" Oscar asks in a relieved sigh, reminding Glinda that a year passed, he witnessed Evanora succumb to the Curse of Vitiation. Her sudden ailment likely brought those memories to the forefront for him.

"Is Mother okay?" Ozma's voice shakes, so Glinda embraces her before pulling her over to Locasta and Evanora, encouraging the girl to go to her mother. "Was it something I said?"

"No, dear one." Evanora cards her fingers through Firefly's hair, features soft. "Remnants of an old curse, little else."

Locasta claps her tongue. "He can be glad your curse did him in, or I'd have his miserable hide."

Evanora sighs. "He seems to have had his hand in everything."

Although she doesn't say as such, Glinda is inclined to agree. That wizard seems to spread discord wherever he goes. Truly a man chosen by wickedness.

Regardless of that, this is the first sign Glinda has found of her mother's survival. A disappearance caused by the Waters of Oblivion. Why hadn't she considered that? Little else is strong enough to affect a Faerie. Of course, with one question answered, more questions rise and Glinda's newest one is this: where is Queen Lurline now?


NOTE: The title "Soothe Sayer" (truth + sayer / speaker) is a play on "Soothsayer" (Seer / Diviner / Oracle).

So the chapters are rolling closer and closer to the end. Be warned, the 'battle' with Zurline won't really be shown as the point of Evanora's Return is in the name. The focus of the story is mostly on her and her relationship with the other witches and her daughter. Thus the matter of Zurline may feel anticlimactic and disappointing.

Even so, I hope you have all enjoyed it to this point.

Only two more chapters left.

Until next time!

– L.L.