The Deals We Make - Ch 1 - 3 out of 5
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dg_cainThe Deals We Make
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: CDG
Note: Each chapter is a long drabble, ceiling of 500 words, written for Tinman100. The first three chapters are filled with angst, the last two move slowly onto fluff.
Word count About 1500 words
Summary: The first deal made a queen; the second gave her a body guard, but not all deals can be fulfilled and then hearts can be broken. It will take a devious sister to make things right.
The Deals We Make
by
Lattelady
Ch 1 - The Deal
“You’re going to do what?” DG shook her head trying to make sense out of what her sister had told her.
“I’m stepping aside.” Azkadellia looked over her shoulder to their mother who stood in silent support. “The Witch took too much from me to rule. Most importantly, it is what is best for the Outer Zone.”
“But…but…I can’t be Queen.” Deeg tried to argue. Five months earlier she’d been a waitress at a truck stop and a part-time student. It was bad enough being a princess. To take the throne was out of the question. “I…I was raised on the Other Side. I’m not regal or sedate, and I leaned diplomacy from an ex-tin man who shoots first and asks questions later.”
“You’ll be magnificent, my Angel.” Lavender stepped forward. “The people love you and would do almost anything for you.”
“Wait, wait…I...” Her thoughts were scattered and kept slipping away the harder she tried to gather them back.
“Az, this is really your choice?” Deeg turned to her sister, aware of the dark circles under her lovely brown eyes. “You aren’t being coerced in any way.”
“I…I’m sorry little sister, I know this is a responsibility you don’t want, but I can’t do it.” Azkadellia’s eyes were downcast as she played with a ring on her finger. “Ambrose has asked me to marry him and I’ve said yes. I’ve loved him all my life, despite appearances to the contrary.” She wiped tears from her cheeks and sniffed delicately. “All I want is to live quietly with him; raise children; and maybe make the occasional difficult decision about what to have Cook serve for dinner.”
“I’ll…do it, but…on one condition,” Deeg’s voice broke when she saw the extent of the harm done to her sister by the Witch. “I…I…do not plan to marry, so you must produce an heir.”
“A Queen must have a Consort,” her mother finally broke the silence that followed Deeg’s declaration.
“No. I will not budge on this, Mother.” She held her chin high as if she were already Queen. It helped hide her broken heart. “There will be no suitors, or matchmaking attempts. If there are, the Zone will find itself with one less Royal.”
“The Consort isn’t simply the father of your children. He is in charge of the military.” The Queen reminded her.
“The way Ahamo is?” Deeg’s left eyebrow rose in question. “I’ll appoint someone, as you did.”
“Deeg, aren’t you forgetting about Mr. Cain?” Az looked at her questioningly. She knew her sister’s heart belonged to the Tin Man.
“He would be an excellent choice for the appointment, but he is leaving.” She hoped her voice didn’t shake like her insides.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” Brown eyes met blue that were filling with tears. “Why is he going?”
“He’s been dying a slow death doing nothing but guarding me.” She blinked quickly. “I won’t be another tin suit that keeps him trapped.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ch 2 - Another Deal
The argument between father and son was bitter and harsh. Their angry words were at odds with the beautiful music that was playing in the distance. It was the ball celebrating the marriage of Princess Azkadellia and Lord Ambrose.
“I won’t do it!” Jeb clenched his fists.
“You’re the only one I trust to keep her safe.” There was pain deep in Cain’s chest that made it hard to breath, let alone talk. This wasn’t easy for him, but he couldn’t leave until he knew that the new Queen was well guarded.
“What about you? You’re the one she wants.” And therein lay the problem as far as the young man was concerned. Queen DG was in love with his dad. “And she’s the one you want,” he whispered. Jeb didn’t like it one bit, but it couldn’t be changed. What was - was. He’d learned that lesson from inside a tin suit as he watched his mother’s body laying cold in the moonlight.
“I can’t Jeb. Don’t you understand that? I can’t,” the words ripped out of his soul. He never talked about his feelings, but if that was what it took to convince his son to help him, then he’d do it. “By some miracle I survived all that happened and am still reasonably sane. If I let her in,” his words ran out and he shook his head denying the obvious: she was already in. “I can’t. I’d just end up hurting her.”
“I never thought I’d see the day Wyatt Cain was a coward!” Jeb challenged. His hands were locked on his hips and his feet spread in anticipation of having to duck a punch.
“You think this is easy?” his old man roared. If it had been anyone but his son who called him a coward, he would have responded with fists or bullets instead of words. “Leaving her is the hardest thing I’ve every had to do.”
“Then why are you going? She needs you more than ever and not simply as a guard.”
“It was her idea,” Cain whispered. “She said I needed to be free to put the pieces of my life back together.”
Jeb shook his head. He wasn’t sure he wanted a Queen who was such a fool, then he realized that she wasn’t being foolish. She really believed it was in his father’s best interest to get on with his life. She was being the best Queen he could imagine, taking care of one of her subjects, even if it broke her heart. It was too bad that when it came to Wyatt Cain she couldn’t see the forest for the trees.
“All right,” he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, an unconscious habit he’d picked up from his old man. “I’ll take over your job, but only if you promise to stay in contact with both of us. If a month goes by and the Queen doesn’t receive a letter from you, I’m gone.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ch 3 - Deal Unfulfilled
DG had been queen for fourteen months, when Azkadellia miscarried for the third time. The healers shook their heads in sorrow, but there was nothing they could do. It appeared as if conception was no problem, but she couldn’t carry a child past the second month.
“It’s the Witch’s doing, I’m sure of it.” Az cried as Ambrose held her. “She must have done something to my body so that she didn’t have to worry about there ever being a baby Gale who might someday oppose her.”
“I can carry the child for you.” Deeg smiled. She knew how much the couple wanted a baby. With each miscarriage, Az grew more depressed and DG more worried.
“It can’t be done.” The princess sniffed and held onto her husband.
“Are you telling me that we have the knowledge to remove a brain and then put it back, but don’t know anything about artificial insemination?”
“Ya lost me, Dollface.” Ambrose glitched, it was a sign of how upset he was. That was the only time his personality migrated anymore.
“It’s done all the time on the Other Side. I don’t know the details, but they take the sperm from the man and the ovum from the woman, and once conception takes place, they implant it.”
“Whoa, Your Highness, as much as we appreciate the offer, don’t mention it to anyone.” Ambrose was back and fully himself. “If you gave birth out of wedlock, the child would be declared illegitimate and unable to inherited the throne.”
“But there has to be something we can do.” The young Queen felt her world tilt.
“I’m sorry, little sister.” Az’s eyes swam with tears. “It was the one thing you asked of me and I’m failing you. We’ll keep trying. I promise you.”
“No,” Deeg whispered in defeat. “You have to do what’s best for you. All of this is my fault from annuals ago,” her words rushed together. She turned quickly and ran from the room.
Tears were falling down her face when she opened the door and ran smack into Jeb Cain. He’d been guarding the room she’d been in, as faithfully as he always did. He followed her to her chambers unsure what to say. In all the time he’d known her, he’d never seen her cry.
“You’re to tell no one.” She had her arms wrapped around her body to keep from shaking. “Is that clear, Jeb? No one at all.” Their eyes met and he knew she was speaking about his dad.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
DG fell on her bed and wept. A shadow of fear and pain had swept into her heart. Did she abandon the OZ or force herself to marry and sleep with a man she didn’t love?
Azkadellia crept down the hall, until she joined Jeb at his guard post. “Give this letter to your father. It’s vitally important.” As she handed him the note their eyes met in understanding.
TBC
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: CDG
Note: Each chapter is a long drabble, ceiling of 500 words, written for Tinman100. The first three chapters are filled with angst, the last two move slowly onto fluff.
Word count About 1500 words
Summary: The first deal made a queen; the second gave her a body guard, but not all deals can be fulfilled and then hearts can be broken. It will take a devious sister to make things right.
by
Lattelady
Ch 1 - The Deal
“You’re going to do what?” DG shook her head trying to make sense out of what her sister had told her.
“I’m stepping aside.” Azkadellia looked over her shoulder to their mother who stood in silent support. “The Witch took too much from me to rule. Most importantly, it is what is best for the Outer Zone.”
“But…but…I can’t be Queen.” Deeg tried to argue. Five months earlier she’d been a waitress at a truck stop and a part-time student. It was bad enough being a princess. To take the throne was out of the question. “I…I was raised on the Other Side. I’m not regal or sedate, and I leaned diplomacy from an ex-tin man who shoots first and asks questions later.”
“You’ll be magnificent, my Angel.” Lavender stepped forward. “The people love you and would do almost anything for you.”
“Wait, wait…I...” Her thoughts were scattered and kept slipping away the harder she tried to gather them back.
“Az, this is really your choice?” Deeg turned to her sister, aware of the dark circles under her lovely brown eyes. “You aren’t being coerced in any way.”
“I…I’m sorry little sister, I know this is a responsibility you don’t want, but I can’t do it.” Azkadellia’s eyes were downcast as she played with a ring on her finger. “Ambrose has asked me to marry him and I’ve said yes. I’ve loved him all my life, despite appearances to the contrary.” She wiped tears from her cheeks and sniffed delicately. “All I want is to live quietly with him; raise children; and maybe make the occasional difficult decision about what to have Cook serve for dinner.”
“I’ll…do it, but…on one condition,” Deeg’s voice broke when she saw the extent of the harm done to her sister by the Witch. “I…I…do not plan to marry, so you must produce an heir.”
“A Queen must have a Consort,” her mother finally broke the silence that followed Deeg’s declaration.
“No. I will not budge on this, Mother.” She held her chin high as if she were already Queen. It helped hide her broken heart. “There will be no suitors, or matchmaking attempts. If there are, the Zone will find itself with one less Royal.”
“The Consort isn’t simply the father of your children. He is in charge of the military.” The Queen reminded her.
“The way Ahamo is?” Deeg’s left eyebrow rose in question. “I’ll appoint someone, as you did.”
“Deeg, aren’t you forgetting about Mr. Cain?” Az looked at her questioningly. She knew her sister’s heart belonged to the Tin Man.
“He would be an excellent choice for the appointment, but he is leaving.” She hoped her voice didn’t shake like her insides.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” Brown eyes met blue that were filling with tears. “Why is he going?”
“He’s been dying a slow death doing nothing but guarding me.” She blinked quickly. “I won’t be another tin suit that keeps him trapped.”
The argument between father and son was bitter and harsh. Their angry words were at odds with the beautiful music that was playing in the distance. It was the ball celebrating the marriage of Princess Azkadellia and Lord Ambrose.
“I won’t do it!” Jeb clenched his fists.
“You’re the only one I trust to keep her safe.” There was pain deep in Cain’s chest that made it hard to breath, let alone talk. This wasn’t easy for him, but he couldn’t leave until he knew that the new Queen was well guarded.
“What about you? You’re the one she wants.” And therein lay the problem as far as the young man was concerned. Queen DG was in love with his dad. “And she’s the one you want,” he whispered. Jeb didn’t like it one bit, but it couldn’t be changed. What was - was. He’d learned that lesson from inside a tin suit as he watched his mother’s body laying cold in the moonlight.
“I can’t Jeb. Don’t you understand that? I can’t,” the words ripped out of his soul. He never talked about his feelings, but if that was what it took to convince his son to help him, then he’d do it. “By some miracle I survived all that happened and am still reasonably sane. If I let her in,” his words ran out and he shook his head denying the obvious: she was already in. “I can’t. I’d just end up hurting her.”
“I never thought I’d see the day Wyatt Cain was a coward!” Jeb challenged. His hands were locked on his hips and his feet spread in anticipation of having to duck a punch.
“You think this is easy?” his old man roared. If it had been anyone but his son who called him a coward, he would have responded with fists or bullets instead of words. “Leaving her is the hardest thing I’ve every had to do.”
“Then why are you going? She needs you more than ever and not simply as a guard.”
“It was her idea,” Cain whispered. “She said I needed to be free to put the pieces of my life back together.”
Jeb shook his head. He wasn’t sure he wanted a Queen who was such a fool, then he realized that she wasn’t being foolish. She really believed it was in his father’s best interest to get on with his life. She was being the best Queen he could imagine, taking care of one of her subjects, even if it broke her heart. It was too bad that when it came to Wyatt Cain she couldn’t see the forest for the trees.
“All right,” he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, an unconscious habit he’d picked up from his old man. “I’ll take over your job, but only if you promise to stay in contact with both of us. If a month goes by and the Queen doesn’t receive a letter from you, I’m gone.”
DG had been queen for fourteen months, when Azkadellia miscarried for the third time. The healers shook their heads in sorrow, but there was nothing they could do. It appeared as if conception was no problem, but she couldn’t carry a child past the second month.
“It’s the Witch’s doing, I’m sure of it.” Az cried as Ambrose held her. “She must have done something to my body so that she didn’t have to worry about there ever being a baby Gale who might someday oppose her.”
“I can carry the child for you.” Deeg smiled. She knew how much the couple wanted a baby. With each miscarriage, Az grew more depressed and DG more worried.
“It can’t be done.” The princess sniffed and held onto her husband.
“Are you telling me that we have the knowledge to remove a brain and then put it back, but don’t know anything about artificial insemination?”
“Ya lost me, Dollface.” Ambrose glitched, it was a sign of how upset he was. That was the only time his personality migrated anymore.
“It’s done all the time on the Other Side. I don’t know the details, but they take the sperm from the man and the ovum from the woman, and once conception takes place, they implant it.”
“Whoa, Your Highness, as much as we appreciate the offer, don’t mention it to anyone.” Ambrose was back and fully himself. “If you gave birth out of wedlock, the child would be declared illegitimate and unable to inherited the throne.”
“But there has to be something we can do.” The young Queen felt her world tilt.
“I’m sorry, little sister.” Az’s eyes swam with tears. “It was the one thing you asked of me and I’m failing you. We’ll keep trying. I promise you.”
“No,” Deeg whispered in defeat. “You have to do what’s best for you. All of this is my fault from annuals ago,” her words rushed together. She turned quickly and ran from the room.
Tears were falling down her face when she opened the door and ran smack into Jeb Cain. He’d been guarding the room she’d been in, as faithfully as he always did. He followed her to her chambers unsure what to say. In all the time he’d known her, he’d never seen her cry.
“You’re to tell no one.” She had her arms wrapped around her body to keep from shaking. “Is that clear, Jeb? No one at all.” Their eyes met and he knew she was speaking about his dad.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
DG fell on her bed and wept. A shadow of fear and pain had swept into her heart. Did she abandon the OZ or force herself to marry and sleep with a man she didn’t love?
Azkadellia crept down the hall, until she joined Jeb at his guard post. “Give this letter to your father. It’s vitally important.” As she handed him the note their eyes met in understanding.
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Date: 2008-05-18 06:50 am (UTC)Not to worry, the cliff won't hang for long. The next chapter goes up tomorrow. The only reason I posted all three chapters together like this is because I forgot to post at the Tin Man sites. That's what I get for working late at night.