My dearest Ann,
'No land can thrive without a heroine of some kind. Villainy crawled into the universe since the unknown Great Power was born into our existence. Yet, this persistent evil would only grasp its ugly hand on our world once Lurline brought balance. Both immense goodness and absolute wickedness roamed our world, leaving their unique effects.
One of the effects evil had was a beast with a head for each kingdom in Nonestica, designed by the fairy queen herself. That is all the ancient explorers knew, for they never dared to venture into its rumored cave in the Deadly Desert. Since the creature was purely mythical, no one knew if it truly existed until the rise of the Witches. They confirmed its existence using their magic, and only they knew of its origins and parentage.
In the early days, the creature disrupted the villages and the gardens of the old and almost legendary Nonesticans. However, it got tired of its own terrorizing, retired to its cave, and remained there for thousands of years. The beast did not have to pay for its tyranny but was regarded as evil by the Nonesticans. They hoped that someone would slay it to end its life and their resentment. The Ozians hoped their new queen could rid our world of this supposed monster, but she did not.'
'To be clear, the great Dorothy Gale of Kansas dealt with the beast without bloodshed.'
How did you like this introduction? Isn't it great? I sound like a real historian who talks using fancy words. I hope you like this, my love. I want to write about your mother's history as best as possible. With the unexpected death of your father, I think it is only right to start writing down the love they felt for each other. Generations to come will know how devoted and dedicated they were to each other. I wish you, our children, and our grandchildren all the happiness and love until my return to Oz.
Your loving and adoring husband,
Edward
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"Dorothy of Kansas and the Scarecrow of Oz needed each other like a flower needs soil to grow and bloom."
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"I thought these roses wouldn't grow in the same soil as the sunflowers." Scarecrow admitted, smiling lovingly at his new wife and wiping the dirt off his face. "Though, sometimes flowers bloom wherever they are planted."
Dorothy smiled back at him and kissed his burlap cheek. "Oh, you flirt! You shouldn't compare me to them."
"You're right, Dor. These flowers look hideous when compared to the most beautiful woman in the world." He replied before his mischievous grin reappeared while he was clipping the flowers. "It's unfair to the flowers."
Dorothy laughed softly. "You really are something." She finished pulling out the last weed in their garden.
"A very handsome something, I hope." Crow said, putting the clippers in his bag and taking a step back to look at the garden from a distance. "Shall we take a little walk, Kansas?" He reached his hand out to help her up.
"Oh, definitely, Stitches. We must admire our work." Dorothy took his hand, stood up, and started walking right next to her husband.
After the couple walked into the middle of the garden with different shades of colorful roses, Scarecrow lagged a bit behind on purpose to gently clip one of the blue roses off its stem.
"Our garden is almost perfect now!" Crow observed with a smile while walking a bit faster to catch up with her.
"Almost? What is missing?" Dorothy replied in a playfully confused tone. She suspected he was trying to make some flirt to catch her off guard.
"Why, this, my dear." He took one of the blue roses he clipped off its stem and gave it to his wife. "There! Now that a Kansas rose has an Ozian rose, there is complete harmony in our garden."
This sweet compliment had the opposite effect on his wife than he had intended. The queen was reminded of a responsibility that she had tried to ignore for as long as possible. She said nothing, but the king could tell that his words bothered her.
"I reminded you of the dragon, didn't I?" Scarecrow frowned and held her hand. "I apologize, sweetheart. I should have thought my words through better. The word 'harmony' definitely shouldn't have been used..."
"Don't worry, hun. I've known you long enough to know that you only have the best intentions." Dorothy gave him a small smile, which wasn't enough to alleviate her husband's concern.
Scarecrow sighed and let go of his wife's hand. He went to sit on a marble bench in the middle of the garden, gesturing for her to come and sit next to him. Dorothy obliged and sat beside him, knowing she had failed to conceal her emotions.
"I love you very much, Dorothy. You can tell me what's wrong, even if it is going to make me upset." He reassured, running his gloved fingers through her hair. "I only want to know if you feel comfortable telling me. I want to help make you feel better."
Dorothy looked at him. She had to admit it to him, even if it was difficult. "I'm scared..."
"Scared about what?" Scarecrow asked, trying to comfort her by staying calm. "Being queen and fighting the dragon?"
His wife nodded sadly. "I'm worried something bad will happen to me..." Dorothy laid her head on his shoulder.
"Oh, darling..." He gently hugged her and kissed her on the forehead. "If something does happen, I will never forgive Glinda, Locasta, or the goddesses for letting you get hurt."
Dorothy smiled at him and then closed her eyes. "One thing I know for sure is that I'll miss you. Doing this for you makes it all more bearable."
"I'm a very lucky king to have you as my queen. I couldn't have asked for anyone better to rule with." Scarecrow smiled lovingly at her and then watched the sunset over their country. "Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I want you to remember that you will always be the love of my life and my hero!"
"Aww, that's so sweet, Stitches!" Dorothy said before kissing her husband right on the lips, flustering him.
"You can't catch me off guard like that without consequences, Dor." Crow winked at her and kissed her back. "I love you so much that I hope you don't forget it!"
Dorothy playfully gasped. "Oh, I would have to be the dumbest person in the world to forget your love, hun! I would rather give up blueberry pie for the rest of my life than give up our love, you know that."
"Love is kind of like a freshly-baked pie, and it is one of the best way to show my love for you." Scarecrow was flirting with her yet again. "When you come home from fighting the dragon, I'll have dinner and dessert ready personally. The cooks need a day off anyways, and my farm girl needs to be taken care of, if she wishes it..." He winked at her again, making Dorothy blush profusely.
"I—I...Oh!" She looked at her husband and sighed in defeat. "Alright, you win the flirt battle for today, but tonight I'm going to win!"
"We'll see, Kansas. I am going to be extra lovey-dovey tonight, so it will be difficult." He smiled mischievously at his wife and noticed how dark it was outside. "I think we should go back inside before Jellia starts wondering where we are."
"Well, I'm always up for a challenge!" Dorothy replied with a smile similar to his and then nodded. "Of course, Crow. Even though you can't feel it right now, it's getting a little cold too. I wouldn't want you to catch a cold."
"Oh, I'll be fine, my dear. We can go through the side door into the dining room and wait on our friends there. Though, I do think we need to clean ourselves up first." Scarecrow thought, standing up, but then he smiled flirtatiously. "The last thing I want is to not look at your beautiful self before you leave. We both know this might be the last night we get to spend together for weeks or even months."
As they began to walk towards the palace arm-in-arm, Dorothy didn't let her husband have the last flirt. "We both also know who the strong and sassy one is in this relationship too." She winked at him.
"Okay, you beautiful woman, inside with you!" Crow responded playfully, walking through the door and beckoning her to come inside. "No more fooling around. We need to get ready!"
"Understood, your Majesty!" Dorothy laughed and kissed him on the cheek. "I will always find you attractive though, even when you have dirt and soot all over your face."
"Well, I know that's true because your cheeks become as red as a cherry when you look at me sometimes!"
Dorothy didn't know what else to say except to step through the door into the dining room and then up to their room to get ready. Not another word was spoken between them as they walked up the grand staircase and long hallways. She sat at the desk in their room and took a little book out of her satchel with her gardening tools.
The queen dipped her glass pen in black ink and changed the tally yet again.
"He may have won this time, but I will win at dinner tonight..." She mumbled competitively under her breath.
"Did you say something, hun?" Crow asked, poking his now human head around the bathroom door.
"Oh, nothing, dear. I was just talking to myself." Dorothy replied, smirking playfully.
"I know you don't just talk to yourself, Kansas." Scarecrow remarked, smiling back in the same manner. "I'm smarter than I look, you know."
"Smarter and stronger." She winked at him, and he quickly moved his head back into the bathroom in an attempt to hide his blushing face from her.