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Title: Burning in the Corner (Chapter 2 of ?)
Author: anogete
Fandom: Tin Man
Rating: PG (Rating subject to change in later chapters.)
Warnings: Spoilers for the mini-series, through Part 3.
Pairings/Characters: DG/Cain, Azkedellia, Glitch, Raw, Tutor, Ahamo, the Queen
Summary: DG's feelings surface at the worst possible time. She isn't sure she can handle a new threat to the O.Z. and her developing crush on Wyatt Cain.
Beta Thanks: Big thank yous go out to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mooney_blues for their help with this fic. I appreciate both of you greatly.
Author's Note: The title of this fic was taken from "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" by Jeff Buckley. Specifically, the line, "Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams he had you with him." It's a beautiful song, and I'd be happy to send it to anyone interested in listening to it.
Previously: Chapter 1
CHAPTER 2
DG sat on the divan beneath the window with her arm around her sister while their mother paced the floor. The Queen's lavender dress swept along the brilliant marble floor of the meeting chamber. Ahamo was standing across the room, staring out another window at the twin suns, trekking across the cloudless sky.
"Are they sure, my dear?"
The Queen sighed and stopped her pacing. "Yes. The evidence is irrefutable. Within two weeks, there will be another eclipse. I've called for all of our astronomers from across the realm to explain this unexpected occurrence to me, but they are unable to provide me with any answers."
"And what about Az?" DG asked, pulling her sister closer for comfort.
The Queen turned and shook her head sadly. "I fear I don't know, DG. After the events of last annual, Azkedellia may be in some way connected with the suns' eclipse."
"Am I causing it?" Azkedellia asked. After being seen by the healers, she had regained much of her strength, insisting on attending the impromptu meeting with their mother instead of resting in the infirmary or her private rooms.
Everyone's eyes turned to the elder sister. "I am not certain, Az. I just don't know." The Queen placed a delicate hand over her mouth before abruptly turning away to stand by the window with her husband.
Silence stretched across seconds as the family's eyes turned toward the window panes and watched the suns cross paths, one just below the other. It was only noon, and DG felt exhausted. Finally, the door opened and Glitch rushed in, running his fingers through his mussed hair.
"Any news?" the Queen asked.
"Afraid not. We're still awaiting word from the observatory at the Maanpaleis," he replied before casting a soft smile over to DG and Azkedellia.
"Maanpaleis?" DG asked.
Glitch nodded. "Our largest observatory in the far north."
"Am I doing this, Glitch?" Azkedellia's voice was stronger this time, but tinged with worry and guilt.
"Princess, we don't know. And if this is somehow connected to the incident this morning, then it isn't something you are doing intentionally."
DG gave her sister a squeeze. "He's right, Az. This isn't your fault."
Over the past annual, Raw and several other viewers had spent a great deal of time with Glitch, attempting to reconnect him with his brain and his lost life as Ambrose. They had made many advances, and he no longer had episodes in which he repeated himself, but he would never be quite back to normal. Surprisingly, Glitch seemed to be fine with that, and he insisted on retaining his nickname instead of reverting to his given name of Ambrose.
"Have they agreed on the ramifications of this unexpected eclipse?" Ahamo asked. "Do we even know if it poses any danger to us?"
Glitch shook his head. "This could be a harmless event. After the incident with the emerald and the double eclipse about fourteen months ago, this could simply be a side effect of toying with the universal powers. Perhaps the extended eclipse has thrown off the balance, giving us one every annual now instead of every score of annuals."
"See, Az. Maybe it's nothing."
Azkedellia frowned. "I have a bad feeling about this, Deej. Don't you feel it?"
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
DG felt sick. Something was very wrong in the O.Z., and she was determined to figure things out before she lost her sister for a second time. It had been two days since Azkedellia began to show physical signs of stress by passing out in her room, two days since they had been told about the upcoming double eclipse. Since that time, Azkedellia's health had deteriorated dramatically. Her skin held a sickly pallor; her blood pressure was low; her pulse was weak and thready. It took a great deal of effort for her to get out of bed and walk to the window a few feet away. The Queen had sent for the best healers to attend to the eldest princess, but they were unable to cure her, just stave off the weakness taking over her body.
After quiet bedside conversations with her sister, DG was convinced that something evil was putting these events into motion. They both still remembered the taste of the Wicked Witch's power, that bitter, copper bite on the tips of their tongues while she battled them for control of the O.Z. at the top of the tower. The day following Azkedellia's collapse, they both woke screaming from nightmares of the Witch, their tongues burning with the taste of her evil power. That was when they knew it wasn't over.
DG swore the stable boy to secrecy while he outfitted her horse for a ride to Finaqua. She glanced repeatedly over her shoulder and urged him to hurry. She did not want a long train of guards following her to the family home on the lake. This was something she wanted to do alone. Finally, the boy tied her small pack onto the saddle and led the horse up to her. "Your Highness, Mr. Cain will kill me if I let you leave without him," he whispered, looking up into her eyes and fidgeting nervously.
"He's right. Mr. Cain would be real upset, Princess."
She whirled around at the sound of Cain's voice near the door to the stables. "I--I--this isn't what it looks like," she said, fumbling with her words.
"Looks like you're planning to ride off without a single guard on you," he replied, leaning his shoulder against the door frame.
"Cain, I have to. Az is... well, she's sick. I need to know if this has something to do with the Witch."
He shook his head at her and tipped back his hat. "I'm not letting you go alone. You know that."
"Hey, why are you out of uniform?" DG asked, narrowing her eyes at the head of security.
A corner of Cain's mouth lifted in the beginnings of a smile. He took a few steps into the stable and tossed a light pack to the young boy. "I can't go riding around with you in that uniform."
"What?"
"Azkedellia told me about your plan to visit the cave near Finaqua."
DG shook her head. "I don't believe you two, plotting behind my back."
"I don't believe you not telling me about this, Princess."
DG shifted under his heavy gaze. He actually looked hurt that she had tried to run off without him. "I didn't want you to stop me, and I didn't want you to get in trouble with my mother if you didn't stop me."
"Your father already knows. He'll deal with the Queen. You know I'm not letting you leave the castle without me. There are still Longcoat sympathizers out there, and we still don't know what is going on with the double eclipse. Things just aren't safe for you, Princess."
She looked up into his icy blue eyes. "So, you're coming with me?"
Cain nodded.
"No contingent of guards? No royal carriage?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Just you and me, kiddo. I know that we're on a tight schedule. The eclipse is only eleven days away."
The young boy appeared around the corner with a tall white horse. It was already saddled and Cain's pack was secured tightly on the back of the saddle. He handed the reins off to Cain without a word, his eyes looked intently at the dirt floor of the stable.
"Not a word to anyone," Cain said in a stern voice.
"Yes, sir," the boy replied, looking up at the intimidating head of security.
"The suns will be up in less than an hour. We're wasting time," Cain said, swinging up into the saddle. "Let's go, kiddo."
DG smiled at him and pulled herself atop her smaller brown horse. At least I won't have to do this alone, she thought.
Author: anogete
Fandom: Tin Man
Rating: PG (Rating subject to change in later chapters.)
Warnings: Spoilers for the mini-series, through Part 3.
Pairings/Characters: DG/Cain, Azkedellia, Glitch, Raw, Tutor, Ahamo, the Queen
Summary: DG's feelings surface at the worst possible time. She isn't sure she can handle a new threat to the O.Z. and her developing crush on Wyatt Cain.
Beta Thanks: Big thank yous go out to
mooney_blues for their help with this fic. I appreciate both of you greatly.Author's Note: The title of this fic was taken from "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" by Jeff Buckley. Specifically, the line, "Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams he had you with him." It's a beautiful song, and I'd be happy to send it to anyone interested in listening to it.
Previously: Chapter 1
CHAPTER 2
DG sat on the divan beneath the window with her arm around her sister while their mother paced the floor. The Queen's lavender dress swept along the brilliant marble floor of the meeting chamber. Ahamo was standing across the room, staring out another window at the twin suns, trekking across the cloudless sky.
"Are they sure, my dear?"
The Queen sighed and stopped her pacing. "Yes. The evidence is irrefutable. Within two weeks, there will be another eclipse. I've called for all of our astronomers from across the realm to explain this unexpected occurrence to me, but they are unable to provide me with any answers."
"And what about Az?" DG asked, pulling her sister closer for comfort.
The Queen turned and shook her head sadly. "I fear I don't know, DG. After the events of last annual, Azkedellia may be in some way connected with the suns' eclipse."
"Am I causing it?" Azkedellia asked. After being seen by the healers, she had regained much of her strength, insisting on attending the impromptu meeting with their mother instead of resting in the infirmary or her private rooms.
Everyone's eyes turned to the elder sister. "I am not certain, Az. I just don't know." The Queen placed a delicate hand over her mouth before abruptly turning away to stand by the window with her husband.
Silence stretched across seconds as the family's eyes turned toward the window panes and watched the suns cross paths, one just below the other. It was only noon, and DG felt exhausted. Finally, the door opened and Glitch rushed in, running his fingers through his mussed hair.
"Any news?" the Queen asked.
"Afraid not. We're still awaiting word from the observatory at the Maanpaleis," he replied before casting a soft smile over to DG and Azkedellia.
"Maanpaleis?" DG asked.
Glitch nodded. "Our largest observatory in the far north."
"Am I doing this, Glitch?" Azkedellia's voice was stronger this time, but tinged with worry and guilt.
"Princess, we don't know. And if this is somehow connected to the incident this morning, then it isn't something you are doing intentionally."
DG gave her sister a squeeze. "He's right, Az. This isn't your fault."
Over the past annual, Raw and several other viewers had spent a great deal of time with Glitch, attempting to reconnect him with his brain and his lost life as Ambrose. They had made many advances, and he no longer had episodes in which he repeated himself, but he would never be quite back to normal. Surprisingly, Glitch seemed to be fine with that, and he insisted on retaining his nickname instead of reverting to his given name of Ambrose.
"Have they agreed on the ramifications of this unexpected eclipse?" Ahamo asked. "Do we even know if it poses any danger to us?"
Glitch shook his head. "This could be a harmless event. After the incident with the emerald and the double eclipse about fourteen months ago, this could simply be a side effect of toying with the universal powers. Perhaps the extended eclipse has thrown off the balance, giving us one every annual now instead of every score of annuals."
"See, Az. Maybe it's nothing."
Azkedellia frowned. "I have a bad feeling about this, Deej. Don't you feel it?"
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
DG felt sick. Something was very wrong in the O.Z., and she was determined to figure things out before she lost her sister for a second time. It had been two days since Azkedellia began to show physical signs of stress by passing out in her room, two days since they had been told about the upcoming double eclipse. Since that time, Azkedellia's health had deteriorated dramatically. Her skin held a sickly pallor; her blood pressure was low; her pulse was weak and thready. It took a great deal of effort for her to get out of bed and walk to the window a few feet away. The Queen had sent for the best healers to attend to the eldest princess, but they were unable to cure her, just stave off the weakness taking over her body.
After quiet bedside conversations with her sister, DG was convinced that something evil was putting these events into motion. They both still remembered the taste of the Wicked Witch's power, that bitter, copper bite on the tips of their tongues while she battled them for control of the O.Z. at the top of the tower. The day following Azkedellia's collapse, they both woke screaming from nightmares of the Witch, their tongues burning with the taste of her evil power. That was when they knew it wasn't over.
DG swore the stable boy to secrecy while he outfitted her horse for a ride to Finaqua. She glanced repeatedly over her shoulder and urged him to hurry. She did not want a long train of guards following her to the family home on the lake. This was something she wanted to do alone. Finally, the boy tied her small pack onto the saddle and led the horse up to her. "Your Highness, Mr. Cain will kill me if I let you leave without him," he whispered, looking up into her eyes and fidgeting nervously.
"He's right. Mr. Cain would be real upset, Princess."
She whirled around at the sound of Cain's voice near the door to the stables. "I--I--this isn't what it looks like," she said, fumbling with her words.
"Looks like you're planning to ride off without a single guard on you," he replied, leaning his shoulder against the door frame.
"Cain, I have to. Az is... well, she's sick. I need to know if this has something to do with the Witch."
He shook his head at her and tipped back his hat. "I'm not letting you go alone. You know that."
"Hey, why are you out of uniform?" DG asked, narrowing her eyes at the head of security.
A corner of Cain's mouth lifted in the beginnings of a smile. He took a few steps into the stable and tossed a light pack to the young boy. "I can't go riding around with you in that uniform."
"What?"
"Azkedellia told me about your plan to visit the cave near Finaqua."
DG shook her head. "I don't believe you two, plotting behind my back."
"I don't believe you not telling me about this, Princess."
DG shifted under his heavy gaze. He actually looked hurt that she had tried to run off without him. "I didn't want you to stop me, and I didn't want you to get in trouble with my mother if you didn't stop me."
"Your father already knows. He'll deal with the Queen. You know I'm not letting you leave the castle without me. There are still Longcoat sympathizers out there, and we still don't know what is going on with the double eclipse. Things just aren't safe for you, Princess."
She looked up into his icy blue eyes. "So, you're coming with me?"
Cain nodded.
"No contingent of guards? No royal carriage?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Just you and me, kiddo. I know that we're on a tight schedule. The eclipse is only eleven days away."
The young boy appeared around the corner with a tall white horse. It was already saddled and Cain's pack was secured tightly on the back of the saddle. He handed the reins off to Cain without a word, his eyes looked intently at the dirt floor of the stable.
"Not a word to anyone," Cain said in a stern voice.
"Yes, sir," the boy replied, looking up at the intimidating head of security.
"The suns will be up in less than an hour. We're wasting time," Cain said, swinging up into the saddle. "Let's go, kiddo."
DG smiled at him and pulled herself atop her smaller brown horse. At least I won't have to do this alone, she thought.
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::flails:: My vocabulary has seemed to fail me today, sorry.
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I wonder what's wrong? Maybe the Witch somehow split herself and is now inside both Az and DG?
Can't wait for the next bit!