The Jester of OZ

Chapter Seventeen

Amber had to admit, the next few days were the happiest days she had ever had in a very long time. The Jester talked to her constantly, asking her questions about Kansas, about her preferences. He seemed to be a people-pleaser when it came to her. She asked him questions about OZ, and about magic. Both subjects fascinated her, and he was happy to answer every single one of them. Usually the conversation always led him to show off more of his tricks and gimmicks. The more they talked to one another, the closer they became. Amber never knew what it was like to have a romantic partner and neither did he, yet they somehow found themselves to be happier than ever before. It almost made her feel as if she was reliving the joys of her childhood. The day always began with her waking up in her room, meeting him downstairs or right outside the door, doing some kind of activity which ended with them both laughing on the floor, talking with one another along with the occasional kiss every now and again, and finally, the day would end with them both going to sleep only to repeat it all the next day. He was still unpredictable, but at least now she could proudly say that he was no longer an enemy.

            One night, after he had gone to bed and had left her to do the same, Amber made her way back up to the tower. She crept passed the guards and was able to find Silas slouched against the wall with his wings wrapped around his body like a warm blanket. The creature was startled to see her, but made no attempt to back away as she approached. "I promise I won't hurt you... I just want to help you." She told him, looking down at his scarred wrist and many bruises that were dotted along his feet and legs. And while she couldn't understand him, he could understand her very clearly. Amber kneeled beside him and began to work. She soaked his wounds with warm water and tried her best to make it better. "I'm really sorry for hitting you back in the forest... it was all I could think of." She apologized. Silas placed a hand on her shoulder as if to say, "I'm sorry too." That night, she bandaged and healed what she could. Silas was very grateful to her, and thanked her with a head bow. Little did they know, the Jester was watching them through the small crystal ball attached to his scepter. He knew he should've been furious with Amber for going behind his back to do such a thing, but he couldn't bring himself to hate her for it. He thought about what she told him over and over again, about the abused becoming the abusers. He kept telling himself that he was greater than the Wicked Witch. He wasn't wicked. He was better than wicked. That was it. As he sat Indian style on his bed, he couldn't think about it any longer. He stood up and tossed his scepter back on the bed carelessly. Just as he made his way out the door, he saw Amber red-handed just before she was able to enter her room.

            She turned her head to look at him, wide-eyed as if she were a child being caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Expecting him to rant, she stood there awkwardly. However, he did the exact opposite. "Amber?"

            "W-What is it?" She replied. He smiled at her and asked, "Do you love me?" The question caused a long pause of silence to echo throughout the corridor. The weight of his voice fell over her like a waterfall. A blush crept across her face, but for the first time in a long time, she felt that she had a firm answer. "I... Yes. Yes I do." Her words caused him to close his eyes and nod. It took only a few seconds for him to bounce back into his joyful, yet tired self. With one swift motion, he did a single cartwheel before landing right in front of her. "Good... It's more fun when you do..." He gently cupped her face whilst his other hand made itself comfortable wrapped around on of hers. Amber thought for a moment, gathering the courage to choose her next words. "Do you love me?" She asked him the same question he had asked her, only it seemed to impact him greater. He paused even though he knew his answer. Why did she have to be so compassionate? Why did she have to be so intriguing? Why was she so relatable but kind? It ate at his heart to know that this angel before him was once pushed around and beaten in that horrid land of Kansas. But he was happy he wasn't alone anymore. "...There's a joker in every deck of cards... sometimes it's hard to play with it when it's always tossed aside for a new game. But you, puppet... I love you. I love you so much that I don't want to play the game anymore." His words might've sounded crazy, but they held truth. When he grinned at her again, she smiled back.