Tears ran down her face as she tore through the palace to Ambrose's lab that was all the way on the other side of the castle. Why did he have to be so far away?
She finally reached his lab and burst through the doors, startling him and causing papers to scatter all over the room.
He turned around to confront whoever it was and was confronted with the little princess sobbing from lack of breath and trying not to cry.
His anger melted off of him as he knelt down and pulled her to him. "What happened?" he asked with concern.
Between sobs she said, "I was playing…with Az…we went into the woods…there was a cave…and a scary woman was there…we held hands…I let go…she got Az…she got Az!"
Ambrose was confused but before he could ask he heard footsteps approach slowly. They reached his lab and the door slowly opened. Before him stood Azkadellia, but he had never seen such hatred or anger in her eyes before. She smirked at him and looked at DG with her burning look. Ambrose brought DG closer to him to protect her from that look, the look that said Azkadellia wanted to kill her sister.
Azkadellia now looked at Ambrose as she said in a bittersweet voice, "Is the little princess okay? I was so worried when I couldn't find her."
Ambrose hesitantly said, "Yes…she's fine…just startled…"
"I have no idea why she would be startled. I'll take her, you must be so busy what with your new invention and having to help my mother," she spat the last word as if it was poison.
"It's no problem. She can stay as long as she wants. I'll take care of her for now…"
Azkadellia scowled at him and quickly turned on her heel to leave and as she exited she said, "You won't always be there for her…"
Ambrose had never been more scared in his life for DG. He never even thought what this new Azkadellia would do to him, he only worried about the girl in his arms. His only friend in a world that he was in but not a part of. He would always be there for her no matter what. He would never let any harm befall her.
He picked her up and brought her to the bed he rarely used. He was able to pull back the blankets with the arm he had freed by holding her with the other. He gently layed her on the bed and pulled the blankets around her form.
She looked up at him with tear filled eyes, the terror emanating from her and effecting him too. He put a smile on his face that didn't reach his brown eyes, DG saw it.
"It will be okay princess…"
"What did I tell you about calling me that?" she cut in.
She hated it when he called her princess like everyone else, it was too formal and she was constantly reminding him not to call her that. Only in public when it was absolutely necessary, even then she still cringed inwardly at the word when it passed his lips.
"I know doll, I always seem to forget…you just try to get some rest. I'll make sure nothing ever bad happens to you. I swear it."
He got up to leave but the hand pulling on his coat sleeve made him stop. He looked at the small child in his huge bed, a bed he had always thought too big even for him. Her eyes were pleading with him and she desperately said, "Stay. Please. I don't want to be alone…"
He nodded and came back to the side of the bed with every intention to sit in the chair beside it but he heard her rustling and moving over. He gently slid in the bed beside her and she snuggled up against him. He was so warm and his presence made her less afraid. He held her to him and rested his head on hers, gently rocking back and forth. Her breathing soon became rhythmic and he joined her in sleep.
He had never liked leaving her when he had to go to various places in the kingdom for the Queen. She would always look at him with her blue eyes, sparkling with unshed tears.
It was the same every time. He would draw her to him and whisper reassuringly, "I will be back doll. I'm not leaving forever."
But things were different now. Azkadellia had been taken over by something evil, something ancient. DG only knew that something was wrong, she didn't know what exactly it was and her mother, father and Ambrose had agreed it was best not to tell her all the details.
He had barely left her side after the day she had run to him to tell him of the cave. He would not let her go near her sister because he was afraid she would act on the desire he had seen in her eyes. She wanted to kill DG, of this he was sure. He could not forget that look as she walked away and spat at him, "You won't always be there for her…"
Whenever they did pass Azkadellia in the hallways she would hiss at the two as they held hands, only the witch in Azkadellia seeing the light that passed between the two. As long as they were together she could not touch either one.
Ambrose had always spent time with DG but now he spent every waking moment with her as her parents desperately tried to expel the witch in Azkadellia. She would always be in his lab or his room. She had abandoned her own room in order to feel safe with him.
He only worked on his inventions and the letters that had to be sent out and other various matters of state when DG was tucked away safe in his room for the night. He would work until all hours of the night trying to help in any way he could with Azkadellia.
The Queen saw the toll it was taking on Ambrose and she took him aside one day as Ahamo kept a close watch on DG.
"Ambrose I know you want to help…"
"I know there is something I can do for the Princess…"
"Ambrose!" He stood silent as she continued, "You have been helping the Princess," she nodded her head in the direction of DG. "She is the one who needs you right now. Ahamo and I will worry about Azkadellia. I need you to keep DG safe."
He nodded his understanding. DG had seen the stress in everyone's faces but when she saw it on Ambrose's and how it drained him, she felt something deep down that had no name. Ambrose was protecting her and he was ignoring his own needs and she had sworn she wouldn't let him kill himself.
She made him sleep when she did, eat when she did; the two kept each other alive and happy during the dark time. Eventually the stress of the outside world began to recede as they made their own world in the confines of Ambrose's sanctuary, a sanctuary that now belonged to both of them.
There sanctuary was broken though when the Queen finally needed Ambrose's help with Azkadellia. She needed him to go the west and make a peace treaty with the tribes who
mainly kept to themselves. They had something she needed to try their last attempt at freeing her daughter.
Ambrose could not refuse even though he had wanted to when the request had passed the Queen's lips. He had left the Queen's presence as soon as etiquette allowed and felt hollow at the thought of leaving DG alone, he felt like something was going to happen the moment he left her, something horrible that would destroy them both.
He went back to his rooms to tell DG that he would have to leave. When he walked through the door he saw her asleep in his bed, her father watching over her. Ahamo got up and left the two alone, he knew this would hurt his daughter deeply especially after all the time they spent together.
Ambrose smiled weakly at Ahamo as he left the room. He knew DG would sleep until he woke her but there was something he had to do first. He went into his lab and picked up the contraption he had been working on in his spare time and when DG was not looking. He had meant it as a birthday gift for her but he was going to finish it for her and give it to her before he left.
***
DG slowly woke up as the light from the window inched its way up her face. She tried to ignore it and keep sleeping but it wouldn't leave her alone. Exasperated she opened her eyes and instead of being met with Ambrose as she had become accustomed to she was alone in the big room.
The panic started rising in her, threatening to choke her.
She cried out, "AMBROSE?!"
He was by her side in a moment, coming in from the other room as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
The relief was evident in her face and voice, "I thought I was alone…that something might have happened to you…"
This was going to be harder then he thought. How was he going to tell her?
"Doll…there's something I have to tell you…I have to leave for the west today…to get something to help your sister…"
Her face became fearful. "Who will keep me safe?" she was on the verge of crying, he could tell.
"Your parents have arranged everything…they assured me you will be watched as closely as possible…"
DG threw herself at him, almost knocking him off the bed. He wrapped his arms around her comfortingly as she began to cry, harder then she ever had before. Her tears began to soak through his clothes and he could have cared less.
"Shhh….it will be all right," he said reassuring both her and himself as he rocked her back and forth. She clung to him as one does a life raft, she felt her life spinning out of her control and she did not like the feeling of being tossed about.
"DG I have something for you…I know how hard it is for you to fall asleep…" he said it as he reached into his pocket, she leaned back in his arm and looked curiously to where his hand had disappeared.
"Close your eyes," she did as he said. "Open."
When she opened her eyes she was confronted with the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her short life. It was cylindrical in shape; colored with gold, the color of the yellow brick road she realized. It had been decorated with her favorite scenes from Dorothy's adventure. There was the scarecrow using the brain he said he did not have to get the trees to throw apples at them, there was the field of poppies, the wizard's head, the emerald city. Three winged monkeys made up the base, holding up the ball on top. Ambrose slowly opened the lid that had the figure of Dorothy on it with her red shoes.
When it was fully opened a beautiful melody began to play and to her great delight she heard Ambrose's voice fill the room as he recounted the story. He flipped an almost invisible switch and now he was no longer talking but singing one of their songs.
She looked up at him in wonder and once again wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you," she breathed, "It's beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it…" he hugged her close to him and then let go as he said, "I must go DG…I promise I will be back soon…Please don't cry doll…"
She nodded her head bravely as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. He placed the music box on his night table and got up and left the room. He couldn't bring himself to look behind him at the small figure in the bed that was just too big.
***
He had barely begun negotiations with the western tribes when a messenger had come galloping up on a horse foaming at the mouth. He had ridden hard to get there and Ambrose felt fear wash over him as the man came running up with a message that bore the Queen's seal.
He felt his heart beat begin to quicken as he slowly broke the seal and unfolded the letter. For a moment he couldn't think straight enough to read it. He took in a breath and once again tried to read the letter this time with better success.
My Dear Ambrose,
You must come home right away. Do not bother with the item you are currently trying to obtain. It will no longer help. Something terrible has happened and I do not wish to write all the details here as it may end up in the wrong hands.
Come home as quickly as you can. I will explain all on your arrival.
Humbly yours,
Queen Lavender Eyes
Ambrose thought the worst as he called out to any one who would listen for his horse. He mounted up and before he was settled had spurred the stallion into an all out gallop.
He pushed on for a full day and made it back to Finaqua in half the time it should have taken. Before the horse had completely stopped he had dismounted almost tripping over his feet as he ran up the steps and burst through the doors.
He was met with startled faces as he grabbed a hold off the nearest attendant and asked, "Queen?"
The attendant squeaked out, "Your rooms…"
He was off before the attendant could say anymore. He tripped up the stairs and when he came to his rooms he opened the doors with a resounding boom as they swung wide and hit the wall.
He ran to his bedroom and was met with his worst nightmare incarnate. DG lie on the bed as if she was sleeping but he knew she was not sleeping, if she had been she would have been breathing. He rushed over to where the Queen hovered over the dead body of her youngest daughter. She looked into Ambrose's wild and horror stricken eyes.
He did not see the look of pain that flitted across her face at having to deceive him in such a way but it had to be done if her plan was to work.
All Ambrose could say was, "How?"
The Queen turned sorrowful and angry eyes at him, "Azkadellia found her alone for a split second and made her move. She has since fled the palace. We have no idea where she is."
Ambrose only registered that Azkadellia was to blame for this and he berated himself for leaving even though the Queen herself had asked it of him. She must feel terrible for asking, Ambrose thought.
He finally looked at the Queen, saw that she looked like she had aged twenty years in the two days he had been gone. Her eyes were not as brilliant and her dark hair was now almost silver. What had happened to change her features so much?
She saw his look of confusion at her appearance and said quietly, "There are some things I can not explain to you or you might get hurt."
He nodded dumbly at her as he sat by DG's cold body. He could feel the tears starting but he would not let them come. This small girl, the only one he called friend in this cruel world was gone and he could have prevented it. He could feel his heart hardening, he would never let anyone so close again as he had let this small child. He would love no other as he had this small child, never, it wasn't worth the pain when something happened to them.
He closed his eyes and breathed all the emotions back.
"What now your Majesty?"
She was surprised at how harsh his voice had become. "The arrangements have all been made. We wanted to wait for you though."
He nodded his head.
***
The next few days were a blur as the palace and the O.Z. began to mourn the loss of their youngest princess. They had no idea of what had befallen Azkadellia, they would soon enough.
For now the Queen and the consort worried about burying their youngest child, making sure the whole realm knew about it.
Ambrose had withdrawn into himself fully and the Queen didn't know how to help her young advisor which made her cringe at the irony. All the times he had helped her and she couldn't even return the favor by lessening the pain she had helped inflict.
Ambrose stood in the graveyard as DG's memorial began. Soon after the priestess had started it had begun to rain and finally Ambrose let the tears come. The rain hid them from those surrounding him.
It was all too fast; the priestess seemed to talk too fast, they seemed to put flowers on her marble grave too fast, to put her in the ground too fast, to leave the graveyard too fast as if death was contagious.
Only Ambrose remained, staring at the cold marble head stone that declared a little girl was buried here. A girl that was anything but cold and flat like that stone or the stone she was now encased in forever.
The rain numbed him, with the numbness he could no longer feel his body or the pain of thinking that she was dead below his feet. He felt nothing.
He didn't even feel the hand on his shoulder as the voice that accompanied it said, "All is not as it seems."
Annuals passed. In that time Azkadellia had surrounded herself with followers, those who had no homes and those who just wanted to watch the world burn.
Many of the Queen's most loyal subjects had deserted her for the relative safety of following Azkadellia. At least they would not be hunted down like those who were starting to resist.
Ambrose stood in his room, staring out the window at the land that used to be so beautiful. It no longer seemed to glow in the same way, not since she had died.
He was interrupted in his thoughts as a crash came from the lab. He walked into the lab to see the doors were being broken down. He knew this day would come and had been prepared for it.
He had remembered all those annuals back that Azkadellia had seemed too interested in what he had been working on. He had made sure that all the plans were easily accessible in one place so if he had to he could destroy them at a moments notice.
Another crash as wood splinters flew everywhere. They were almost through the door. He grabbed up the designs and took the candle he had forgotten to blow out and pushed it into the paper. He was met with a gratifying crackle as the papers lit. Within moments the flame had consumed them.
He rushed out of his lab as the door finally gave way to the barrage of long coats. He fled to the door that he knew hid a secret passage to the garden, DG had showed it to him the first day she had given him the grand tour.
He was able to hide its existence again as long coats filed into the room, making room for Azkadellia to enter. She saw the fire on the desk of the inventor and anger welled inside of her. No matter, there was always another way.
Ambrose ran through the passage, every second waiting to hear the long coats find the passage and hunt him down. No such noise ever came. He didn't slow though until he reached the end of the passage and the door that led to the garden.
He collected himself as he walked over to the form of the Queen sitting on the bench looking off into the distance.
He kneeled by her side, the worry evident in his voice as he told about more men defecting and Central City falling.
With a small smile on his face he told her, "She tried to steal the plans for the sun-seeder but I was able to destroy the blueprints."
The Queen put a hand on his arm and sadly said, "She will come after you, Ambrose."
He nodded his head sadly as he asked, "Is there nothing you can do Majesty?"
"Too late. The darkness is too deeply rooted in her."
"But your light. You are the most powerful being in all of the O.Z."
"Was old friend. I gave my power, my light to save someone very special," she sadly revealed, "My angel…"
Ambrose had barely heard her whisper those two words but his head snapped up at the implication.
"DG? She's alive? But how? I saw her body? Saw her buried?"
The Queen looked at him and smiled with great sorrow, "I'm sorry Ambrose…you saw what I wanted you and everyone else to see. Azkadellia could not know she lives. She must not find out now either."
The coldness that had surrounded his heart was now gone. DG lived and that was all that mattered. He didn't care what Azkadellia did to him as long as she never touched DG again.
He saw the long coats, led by Azkadellia approach. He got up to shield the Queen and said, "Show some respect…"
Azkadellia cut him off, "The Queen's reign ends today."
The Queen rose and gently pushed Ambrose aside, "Do you have any idea what you are doing?" she asked Azkadellia with barely disguised anger.
"I do," Azkadellia said sweetly, "You need a long rest mother. Take her away. And take him to the alchemist," she said nodding her head toward Ambrose. "If you won't tell me what you know," she continued, "I guess I'll just have to reach in and take it myself."
Ambrose looked at her hollowly, still reeling from the fact that DG was alive. He was fearful about what would happen to him only because he once again would not be able to protect DG. No! I will find her and make sure I protect her, even if I have to give my life to do it. No matter where she is I will find her and protect her from the clutches of the witch.
DG's eyes flew open at the memory that she had seen in the cottage a day ago, Raw had not shown them all of the memory, maybe Glitch had been able to keep it from him. He had been overly anxious about Raw "diving" into his memories.
When DG's eyes had flown open the link between them had broken and Glitch had been flung back. He lay still, breathing heavily, the memories he had just witnessed explained so much. No wonder he had felt such a strong connection with her the moment he had seen her being shoved in the same cage with him. How he had known her name even though she had never introduced herself.
And above all he knew why she made him feel whole. She was a part of him, had always been a part of him, a crucial part.
He realized that nothing would ever keep them apart now. They were too closely linked and DG knew it too in that moment. Knew why she loved to be near him, could never really function right without him close by. She would make sure they never lost each other again.