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Nimmie walked through the emerald halls at a brisk, but not panicked, pace. Nick Chopper was not difficult to spot if she knew where to look. When she stepped through the doorway leading out to the balcony, he caught her eye immediately.
The man’s tin frame was polished to a shine that rivaled a mirror, with a smile just as brilliant upon his face as he turned to face her.
Nimmie gave him a quick peck on the cheek in lieu of an embrace, for fear of smudging the pristinely reflective surface. More stunning even than the polish, however, were the small blossoms growing from the gaps in Nick’s metal plating.
It had been a rather dreary affair, in all honesty, placing seeds in the crevices of his body and having to lie still in the soil for nearly three weeks as he waited for the flowers to grow.
But Nick was graciously patient throughout the process, cheered by frequent visits from Nimmie. She sat beside him in the garden, on days and on nights, keeping him company as he lay motionless in the grass.
In all honesty, though, the worst part of growing the flowers was not being allowed to see the Scarecrow. Dorothy had been overjoyed when he and Nick had announced their proposal, insistent that they follow her Kansas tradition of the couple not seeing one another til the wedding day once they began to dress. Since Nick’s decoration was more long-term than simply putting on a suit, they elected to refrain from meeting at all once he laid down in the garden.
In spite of this rule, the two still sent one another letters quite often, which weren’t too much of a bother to deliver since they were still residing in the same building.
Nimmie was kind enough to read them out loud to Nick while he was stuck in the garden, and to write down his replies in turn.
It had been a frustrating ordeal, but standing before him now, she knew it was worth it. The bursts of red, pink, purple, and blue created a lovely effect as they blossomed forth from his shiny tin body.
But now, the time for waiting was nearing its end. In five minutes, Nick would finally see his dear Scarecrow again at the altar.
Nimmie handed him his axe, which he hadn’t seen since first lying down in the garden. It was gingerly wrapped in thin vines sprouting the same flowers that grew from Nick’s joints: the perfect finishing touch.
“No last-minute worries or doubts I need to squash?” she checked.
“I’m afraid not. Apologies, I know you were looking forward to giving the pep talk,” he replied.
Nimmie gave him a wide smile.
“I was, a bit. But I’m happier you’re feeling well.”
Nick grinned bashfully and looked down at the green tile floor.
“Really, the hardest part of this whole endeavor has been not being allowed to see my beloved,” said the Tin Man. “I do so miss the smell of his straw.”
Nimmie nodded in understanding.
“Well,” she replied, taking his hand and beginning to take him out of the room, “Your suffering is finally drawing to a close.”
Nick’s heart thumped in his chest as she led him down to the hall and waited for the music cue to walk him down the aisle.
He took a few deep breaths, quietly venting steam from his hat as he tried to calm his nerves. Nimmie, noticing this behavior, squeezed his hand a bit tighter, running her thumb over his cool metal knuckles.
At last, the musical cue sounded, and the forest-green doors swung open into the hall. The faces of the audience members stared at him with awe and enthusiasm as Nimmie walked him down the aisle. He craned his neck, trying to look forward, but from this angle he couldn’t yet see Scarecrow.
Nick caught glimpses of the Munchkins, many of the Winkies, and even a few Flying Monkeys as he slowly passed down the rows of guests.
Finally, they reached the front of the hall, and Nick caught sight of the Scarecrow. His scarecrow. He looked stunning in his pure white suit; the errant bits of straw that usually stuck out from his seams had each been carefully trimmed, and his eyes had been repainted, their vibrant blue looking more beautiful than anything in the green palace possible could.
Nick was so transfixed that he nearly stopped walking, pausing for a moment at the bottom of the steps before Nimmie gently tugged his hand forward, signaling him to continue his pace.
Nick kept eye contact with the Scarecrow as he stepped up onto the aisle and Nimmie broke off to the side with a gentle pat to his back.
Scarecrow gingerly took Nick’s hands in his own and they stood gazing at each other until Dorothy began to speak.
She had been appointed as the minister of the wedding, since she had been the whole reason Nick and Scarecrow had met in the first place.
She led them through their vows as Wiser, Marshal, Lion, Tik-tok, and Jack Pumpkinhead looked on from the left and Ozma, Nimmie, Patchwork Girl, Billina, and the China Princess looked on from the right. Nick only barely registered their presence though, half-consciously reciting his vows to Dorothy. Scarecrow’s beaming face was garnering the majority of his attention.
He nearly kissed him before the appointed time, leaning forward a bit without thinking, but Scarecrow placed a hand on his polished chest, holding him back as the shoulders of his snow- white suit shook with silent giggles.
When they finally reached the end of their vows, and Ojo had delivered them their rings, the Scarecrow initiated the kiss, closing his sapphire eyes and snaking his arms around the Tin Man’s waist as Nick buried his fingers in the soft straw under his hat.
Dorothy squealed with delight as the hall was filled with applause; the Lion and the Hungry Tiger both roared in approval, the Patchwork Girl wolf-whistled, and Jack’s smiling pumpkin face finally fit his mood.
It was a good day in the Emerald Palace, and though there would soon be hardships to come, those hardships could wait til a later time. Now was a time for joy, and flowers, and love; a wedding the residents of Oz would not soon forget.