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Chapter Text

Fiyero rolled over in bed, smiling sleepily at the woman beside him. Her back was turned towards him, and her blond curls hung like a curtain in front of Fiyero's face. Grinning and still half asleep, he reached out and tugged on one of the curls, watching with fascination as it immediately sprang back into place. Glinda's hair had always fascinated him, ever since he'd first met her.

He turned over onto his back, still smiling, and recalled the first time he'd ever laid eyes on Glinda Upland. It had been a meeting arranged by their parents when he and Glinda were still in college. She'd been attending Shiz University, and he a prestigious school in the Vinkus. Fiyero suspected that the only reason he'd been allowed to graduate hinged on the fact that his father had donated large sums of money to the establishment, but that suited him just fine. Fiyero had never been one to worry much about his studies, his degree, or even his future. He’d found life was much more enjoyable when he didn't waste his energy looking too far ahead. What was the point of living if you never enjoyed yourself? His parents, unfortunately, did not share this philosophy. They'd hoped that an arranged marriage might help their son to mature, and to get his head out of the clouds.

That was how he'd come to meet Miss Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands, who had changed her name to Glinda during their college days for reasons she'd never quite cared to share with him. The two had connected immediately over their shared beauty, wealth and popularity, and it was decided that they would be engaged immediately upon finishing their respective degrees. This was all very agreeable to both parties, and no fault was found with the plan.

However, before the end of their college days, something had happened to Glinda. It had all started with bubbly excitement as she'd informed Fiyero of plans for a trip to the Emerald City with her roommate. Glinda had apparently grown quite close with the girl throughout their first semester, and the two had made plans to travel together for some sort of job opportunity. Fiyero hadn't been able to make the journey to Shiz to see them off, but he’d promised Glinda that he would meet them at the train station upon their return. He’d been surprised when a thoroughly shaken Glinda had stepped off the train to greet him, sans roommate, at the end of the weekend.

Fiyero never did manage to get the full story of what had happened out of Glinda. She’d been sullen for weeks afterwards, and no amount of coaxing on his part could convince her to open up. She'd eventually returned to some semblance of her former, perky self, but there were subtle and permanent differences. She didn't show it very often, but there was a hidden sharpness to her that hadn't been there before. Sometimes he noticed a barely perceptible shift, as though she'd put up a wall around herself. He'd even caught her lost in thought on a few occasions.

One fact Fiyero was aware of was that the girls' trip had coincided with a rather infamous event. It had been during their very visit to the Emerald City that the Wicked Witch of the West had begun her reign of terror. Left to his own devices and best guess, Fiyero assumed that Glinda's friend had been among the Witch's first victims.

Fiyero suppressed an involuntary shudder as his thoughts drifted to the Wicked Witch of the West. He would never admit it, lest he tarnish the shield of bravado he so often hid behind, but he was absolutely terrified of the vile woman. True, he'd never actually seen the Witch in person, but the myriad stories of her treacherous deeds were enough to instill within him a deep a sense of dread. It was said that her skin was an unnatural shade of green and that she possessed frightening power and magical abilities. She flew about on an enchanted broomstick, terrorizing the citizens of Oz and spreading horrible lies about the Wonderful Wizard. If Fiyero had his way, he would never so much as cross paths with the horrible woman. Unfortunately for him, the fact that he was the captain of the very military force assigned to her capture did nothing to aid his situation.

Shortly after college, Glinda had been offered a very prestigious political position, for reasons unknown to Fiyero. He had never questioned it, for Glinda's acceptance meant a promising future for both of them. Upon hearing of Glinda's impending marriage, the Wizard had generously offered her betrothed the influential position of Captain of the Gale Force. This had initially seemed like a great deal to Fiyero, who had always felt somewhat insecure about what his future held.

Fiyero was technically next in line for the throne of the Vinkus, but there had been whisperings in his family about his fitness for the position for as long as he could remember. Fiyero was an only child, but he had several cousins, the eldest of which was studying at the same university that Fiyero had attended. However, where Fiyero had skirted by, his cousin was thriving, managing to juggle a double major in history and political science while still receiving top marks. It was no secret that the majority of Fiyero’s family hoped that Fiyero would abdicate the throne to his younger cousin. Though no decisions had been made yet, Fiyero had always assumed this was an inevitability. He had no business leading a nation. He could hardly handle himself. It would break his parents’ hearts, but it wasn’t as though Fiyero had never done that before.

And so, he had become the captain, which had gone swimmingly until Fiyero learned what the position actually entailed. The Wizard's primary concern at the time of Fiyero's appointment was, of course, the capture of the Wicked Witch of the West. The woman was a dangerous threat, and it was imperative that she be taken care of with extreme prejudice. As the newly minted captain of the guard, that task fell squarely onto Fiyero's shoulders, which meant that he was constantly marching out to the farthest corners of Oz in search of someone he quite desperately did not want to find. Regardless, he put on a brave face and did what he needed to, for he had no choice in the matter. As luck would have it, they'd seen neither hide nor hair of the Wicked Witch of the West in over two years of searching.

Fiyero broke from his musings as the woman next to him began to stir. He rolled over to face her just as she gave a dainty yawn and turned towards him. The two smiled as their eyes met and, after a moment, they shared a brief and rather drowsy kiss. Wrinkling his nose at Glinda's morning breath, Fiyero pulled away and rolled out of bed.

His eyes swept the confines of their rather spacious bedroom as his bare feet hit the carpet. It wasn't even one of the largest rooms in the Emerald Palace, yet it was still the size of a modest Munchkinland home. Almost everything in the room was a stunning shade of emerald green, which was lovely at first, but did begin to grate on the senses. The only other visible color was pink, which seemed to dominate every piece of Glinda's furniture in the form of small trinkets or baubles. He'd allowed his fiancée to redecorate without any sort of opposition, though it was his personal opinion that the pink and green clashed.

Fiyero let out a luxurious yawn and stretched, practically bending himself over backwards in the process. Glinda shot him a look at the slightly boorish display, before stepping carefully out of bed and smoothing the covers. She gave another short yawn, her dainty fingers flying up to cover her mouth, before stepping into the bathroom and shutting the door behind her. Fiyero shook his head with a slight smile as he watched her. Glinda was nothing if not a society girl, and that was part of the reason she was so popular among the Ozians. Fiyero wasn't sure exactly what her position entailed, but it seemed as though she was there to raise the Ozians' spirits through the current period of turmoil. It was an admirable task, in his opinion.

Tearing his eyes from the bathroom door, he allowed himself a reluctant sigh and then headed to his closet to prepare for his own job. The Wizard supposedly had a new lead on the Witch's whereabouts, and he wanted Fiyero to rally his troops and begin the search immediately. Fiyero, ever the perfect soldier, obeyed without complaint, even as he felt a familiar sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. The Witch was excellent at evasion, but she couldn't run forever. Sooner or later, Fiyero and his men were going to catch up with her. He couldn't even bring himself to think of it. What was their plan? Even with their extensive training, would a group of ordinary soldiers be enough to take down such a powerful witch?

Fiyero tried to push the unpleasant thoughts from his mind as he shoved his right leg into the green trousers of his Gale Force uniform. He often felt as though he was the only one who worried about such things. Even the lower ranking guards he commanded didn't seem phased at all by the thought of confronting the Witch. After a pint or two of ale, the rowdier ones would start boasting about the ways they could best her if only given the chance. They chased after the Witch with a feverish determination, always wanting to go the extra mile or search the extra cave. They were thrilled by the prospect of the fame and fortune to be had if they were among the men to bring the Witch to justice. Fiyero quite often found himself wondering if he was the only rational man among them, or simply a coward.

Even Glinda didn't seem to share his worries about the Witch, although her case was a bit more atypical than most. The average Ozian's eyes either blazed with fury or widened in fear at the mere mention of the vile woman, but Glinda was different. Her eyes instead seemed to fill with great sadness, before she would turn away and attempt to change the subject. No one else appeared to have picked up on this, but Fiyero had noticed it after a few months of living together. He assumed that the reaction stemmed, as did many things with Glinda, from that fateful trip to the Emerald City years ago.

Glinda exited the bathroom a few moments later, just as Fiyero was buttoning his green and gold blazer. He marveled at the fact that she could appear as though she'd been primping for hours when she’d only spent a few minutes in front of the mirror. He stepped up behind her as she began sifting through the dresses in her closet, and she jumped slightly as he snaked his hands around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Oh! Fiyero, dearest, you scared me!" she squealed, flashing him one of her bubbliest smiles. He grinned back at her and leaned in for a kiss, catching the minty afternotes of her toothpaste.

As he pulled away, Glinda asked, "Why are you in uniform so early?"

"The Wizard has a new lead. Wants me to mobilize the troops immediately,” he grumbled, careful to keep the trepidation from his voice. “He wants us to find her before she gets word of the expedition and disappears again."

At his words, a familiar sorrow appeared in Glinda's eyes. It lingered only for a moment, before she recovered and said, "Oh! Well safest travels, darling. Now, I really must pick out a dress. Which of these do you like better?" Fiyero watched as she held up what appeared to be two completely identical articles of clothing. Not missing a beat, he arbitrarily selected the dress dangling from her right hand, and Glinda smiled gaily as she disappeared back into the bathroom to put it on.

Fiyero smiled after her one last time, before he remembered the task at hand and his expression hardened. His next order of business was to head to the barracks and assemble his men. Once their preparations were complete, they would report to the Wizard's chamber for further instruction. Fiyero knew the next few days would not be easy. If his luck held, the worst of this venture would be a bit of sleep deprivation and some aching muscles. He and his troops would follow the Wizard's lead, search for a few days, and then return home empty handed. If he was incredibly fortunate, then every mission would turn out that way until his eventual retirement.

Fiyero reminded himself that, even with the less-than-ideal circumstances of his profession, his life was not exactly terrible. He had a beautiful fiancée, he lived in the Emerald Palace, and he was held in highest regard by the citizens of Oz. Considering that he'd very nearly failed his way out of college, he was better off than he had any right to be. Truly, the only problem he had was the fact that he had to go off on these searches every couple of months. Yes, everything in his life would be perfect if it wasn't for the damnable Wicked Witch of the West.

Fiyero turned and reluctantly left the shelter of his bedroom, straightening the collar of his blazer as he made his way through the halls of the Emerald Palace. Despite the fact that the majority of the palace’s residents were still asleep, the day was already in full swing. Palace staff bustled past Fiyero in all directions, eager to get a head start on the day’s chores. He nodded politely to a maid carrying an armful of fresh linens, then turned and made his way towards the kitchen.

He and Glinda usually took their meals in the castle’s large and lavish dining hall, as did the rest of the more important members of the Wizard’s staff. On mornings like these, however, when his time was limited, he preferred to grab a quick bite straight from the source. The kitchen staff were used to his early morning appearances, and hardly glanced up as he entered.

Several delightful smells assaulted Fiyero’s senses as he made his way into the warm cacophony of the morning breakfast rush. He skirted aside to avoid being bowled over by a munchkin carrying a heavy stack of plates, then twisted and stole a still-warm roll off the top of a stack on a nearby counter. A small tray containing a pat of butter and a small mound of blackberry jam slid across the counter and came to a halt in front of him. He glanced up to see Mariam, a portly kitchen maid who adamantly insisted that Fiyero was but skin and bones, smiling at him from across the counter. He snatched the plate and a small knife, nodded at her gratefully in acknowledgement, and then fled the kitchens before he could further impede their morning activities.

Fiyero turned down a back corridor in order to avoid the majority of the morning foot traffic. He deftly sliced open his roll and applied the desired amount of butter and jam before abandoning the small plate and knife on a side table for the maids to retrieve. He then shoved the entire roll into his mouth in a decidedly ungentlemanly manor as he took the steps down to the barracks two at a time. He knew that Glinda would scold him fiercely for such barbarity, had she witnessed it.

The barracks were already alive with the sounds of men talking and going about their morning routine as Fiyero arrived. Most of the soldiers were half-dressed and a few were hastily shoving supplies into their packs in anticipation of the upcoming mission. One by one, they stood at attention and saluted as they noticed Fiyero’s presence.

“At ease,” he said casually, nodding his acknowledgement as he finished his descent down the stairs.

He’d scarcely entered the room when his lieutenant, a large, well-muscled man named Alster Biels, elbowed his way through the crowd and stood before Fiyero with a determined salute. Fiyero had never particularly liked Biels. The man had a considerable amount of unearned confidence and a strong sense of superiority towards those he perceived as beneath him, but was a shameless brown-noser in Fiyero’s presence. This dichotomy meant that he was unnecessarily hard on the men under his command but was deferential enough to Fiyero’s authority to avoid any sort of reprimand for it.

“Preparations are almost complete, Captain,” said Biels, lowering his salute to glance at the men behind him. “Just have to round up the last of the stragglers.”

“Very good, Lieutenant,” Fiyero said dismissively, brushing past him to head towards the armory. The guard on duty saluted his approach and then stepped aside to allow the captain full access. Fiyero browsed the collection of weapons with mild interest. Most of the men elected to carry heavy rifles for their missions, but Fiyero instead selected a pistol and tucked it into the holster at his waist. He preferred a more concealable weapon that was better suited for close combat. He was often at the head of troops as they marched, and therefore in a better position to engage first or surprise the enemy.

His weapon secured, Fiyero returned to the barracks, where the lieutenant and the other 24 men selected for the mission were now assembled and awaiting his command. They didn’t typically travel in large numbers, as it was difficult to feed and account for a larger group of men and would make it difficult to retreat, should the need arise. This was yet another reason that Fiyero dreaded the possibility of running into the Witch. How were twenty-six soldiers with guns supposed to subdue a powerful sorceress?

He tried not to think about it as he moved to stand before his men. If he allowed himself to dwell on such doubts, he would never be able to project the sense of authority required of him as a leader. It was no secret that some of his men regarded him as unfit for his position, no doubt due to the nepotism with which it had been bestowed upon him, and this meant that Fiyero had to work twice as hard to earn their respect and ensure their confidence in his abilities. To that end, it was best if he kept his mind completely blank, a skill he was well-practiced at, and focused solely on the task at hand.

“All right, men,” he addressed them, eyes sweeping the crowd assembled before him. “Gather your weapons and then we report to the Wizard.”

Twenty-five rifles were collected from the armory, and then Fiyero and his men proceeded down the halls of the palace to the Wizard’s throne room. Members of the staff and residents of the palace alike called out to them as they went, cheering on the brave Witch hunters. Some of the Gale Forcers puffed out their chests and preened at the attention. Fiyero kept his eyes purposefully focused ahead.

They stopped and saluted before the heavy emerald doors that led to the throne room. The two guards stationed before it nodded at their approach, and then pushed the doors open to grant them entrance.

A booming voice greeted them as they stepped into the dimly lit room. “Who approaches the great and powerful Wizard of Oz?” it demanded.

“Captain Fiyero Tigelaar,” Fiyero said, with a confidence that he didn’t quite feel. “We’ve assembled a party to continue the hunt for the Wicked Witch of the West.”

The large mechanical head across the room regarded him as he spoke. “Excellent,” it responded. “My scouts have detected possible Witch activity a few hours outside of the city. The estimated location has been marked on the map.” At his words, one of the Wizard’s attendants scuttled forward and pressed the aforementioned map into Fiyero’s hands.

Fiyero studied the map for a moment, taking in the Wizard’s words. He knew the nature of the scouts The Wizard spoke of. They were a strange collection of flying Monkeys that kept him informed of goings-on in the outer regions. They were constantly patrolling and reporting on subversive activity, which was how the Wizard gathered information to fuel the search efforts. Fiyero had heard that the strange beasts had been the very first victims of the Witch's madness, when she'd seen fit to disfigure the poor creatures with her black magic. He supposed that everything had worked out for the best in that particular case. Now the very Monkeys she'd created were the Wizard’s greatest weapons in the effort to capture her.

Fiyero rolled up the piece of paper and placed it into his pack, then stood and faced the Wizard once more. “We won’t let you down, your Ozness,” he said with a salute.

“See that you don’t,” the voice boomed in response. “You are dismissed.” With that, the mechanical head fell lifeless, lolling to the side as the lights around it blinked off one by one.

Fiyero and his men turned and shuffled from the throne room without another word. They had their orders, and the time of their departure was growing near. The last order of business was another stop at the kitchens to pick up supplies for their journey. Fiyero squared his shoulders and led the men across the palace to their destination.

By this time more of the palace’s residents were awake, and there were several seated around the large dining table as the Gale Forcers arrived. Fiyero noted that Glinda was among them, picking daintily at a small plate of fruit that had been set before her. She gave a small wave and blew a kiss in Fiyero’s direction as he swept past into the kitchen. He smiled back at her and ignored the guffaws and pats on the back he received from his men in response.

Their rations and filled canteens had already been prepared and set aside for them. Fiyero noted that there was enough for roughly a fortnight’s journey. He sighed as he retrieved his share and added it to his rucksack. Just two weeks’ time stood between him and a return to his normal life.

The last of their preparations completed, Fiyero led his men out the back doors of the kitchens and into the early morning sunlight. It was hard to feel a sense of trepidation as they stepped out into the palace gardens in the early morning breeze, but Fiyero knew that would soon change in the nights to come. He would spend the next two weeks camping out in the dark forest, suppressing his urge to jump at every rustle of leaves in the quiet stillness. He wouldn’t sleep soundly again until he was safely at home in his own bed.

Pushing the thought from his mind, Fiyero stood up straight, set his sights on the horizon, and gave his men the order to forward march.

Chapter Text

Fiyero swore internally as the leg of his pants snagged on yet another tree root. Almost two years in this profession, and he'd still never quite gotten used to traipsing around in the forest. He was well aware that he and his men were far from stealthy. One could probably hear them crashing through the undergrowth from miles away. It wasn't really a wonder that they had not yet succeeded in capturing the Wicked Witch of the West.

It was the fifth day of their search, and Fiyero was already growing tired of the monotonous marching through the mid-afternoon. They’d started their sweep in a wide arc to the west of the area of suspicious activity and were slowly making their way towards the site of the most recent Witch sighting. They would spend the next few days camping nearby, on the lookout for anything unusual, before marching back to the Emerald City from the east. It was a routine operation and identical to many that Fiyero had taken part in before, down to the uncomfortable nights spent camping and the bland Gale Force rations.

Fiyero halted and held up a hand for his men to do the same as the group neared a large clearing. There had been rumors of subversive Animal activity in the area, which usually meant that the Witch was involved in some capacity. When she wasn’t flying about terrorizing innocent Ozians, she was stirring up trouble and rebellion among the Animals. Fiyero had spent very little time in the company of Animals himself over the past few years, due in no small part to their waning numbers under the Wizard’s Animal bans, but he’d certainly heard enough about them. He knew that they were savage beasts, who believed that their farcical imitations of human speech could be mistaken for true intelligence. They wanted to tear down the peaceful Oz the Wizard had built and create a land of anarchy and chaos in its place. They were a dangerous group whose activity needed to be quelled, but the efforts of the Wicked Witch had steeply increased the difficulty of that endeavor. Once the Witch was captured, subduing the Animals would become a much easier task.

Fiyero squatted on his haunches to give his tired legs a break and scanned the field before him for anything out of the ordinary. His guards stood stock still behind him, rifles cocked and at the ready. Once he was satisfied that nothing was amiss, he stood and motioned for his men to follow. He tried to tell himself that the slight tremor in his legs was just the aftereffects of fatigue as he took a few tentative steps forward.

Fiyero jumped as something shot out of a bush mere feet away from him and took off running. One of the guards fired at it in surprise, but the bullet flew wide and sailed into the distance as the small creature disappeared from their line of sight. The guard who had fired was cowed by the livid glare Fiyero shot in his direction as the sound of the gunshot faded. Every man in the clearing stood stock still, waiting with bated breath to see if the commotion had given away their position. Fiyero wasn't sure if the creature that had fled was an Animal or an animal, but it had appeared to be some sort of wild cat cub. Such beasts were common in this forest, but if it was an Animal, it could mean that the Witch was nearby.

They stood for several moments, poised to spring into action, but there was no further movement in the quiet clearing. Slowly and tentatively, the men lowered their guns and looked to Fiyero for instruction. He was about to issue the order to continue onward, but he snapped his mouth shut as a feeling of unease settled over him. He slowly became aware of an unnatural stillness in the air, coupled with a near complete absence of sound. It felt like the world was holding its breath around them. As though alerted by instinct, Fiyero glanced back over his shoulder, and that was when he saw it. Just beyond the bit of underbrush the cub had emerged from, a streak of green and black appeared for the briefest moment before disappearing into the trees along the right of the clearing.

Fiyero froze, as did a few other guards who had witnessed the disturbance. The men who hadn't seen were darting their heads around wildly, trying to figure out what they'd missed.

Heart pounding in his chest, Fiyero realized that for once they might actually be hot on the trail of the Wicked Witch of the West. It took him a couple of seconds to find his voice but, realizing he had no choice but to give chase, he finally opened his mouth and shouted, "She's headed north, let's move!"

With only the briefest of confused pauses, the guards charged into action. By now they'd lost sight of the Witch, but they kept on in the same direction until they reached another clearing. This one was much larger than the last and was characterized by a system of caves and a small lake a short distance away. Fiyero briefly wondered why the Witch would have fled towards water.

Shaking his head, he returned his attention to the task at hand. There were quite a few caves along the side of the clearing, though many were obviously too small to be inhabited by a human being. The sweep would be quicker if he split the men into groups and had them comb the area. He wasn’t convinced that they would find the location of the Witch’s lair here. It was far too obvious and out in the open. Surely she would choose a more inconspicuous hiding place.

Turning back to his men, he gave them his orders. "Split into groups of five and search the caves," he said, waiting for the men to separate before he continued. He motioned to the group closest to him and said, "You five come with me. Everyone else stay nearby and yell if you find anything."

The guards nodded obediently and marched off in different directions, rifles held at the ready. The group that Fiyero had selected moved towards him, and he motioned for them to follow.

Fiyero took a deep breath, feeling suddenly apprehensive as he stood at the mouth of the cave. He motioned for the others to stop as he peered into the darkness. His men were looking at him expectantly, so he shoved down the lump in his throat and said, "Wait here. I'll go in first and check it out."

The others nodded, muscles tensed in anticipation, as he reluctantly stepped forward into the blackness. He waited a few moments for his eyes to adjust, before slowly moving even further in.

The cave was even larger from the inside, and it seemed to extend back endlessly into pitch black darkness. Biting the inside of his lip, Fiyero pulled out his pistol and held it at the ready. He hoped he wouldn't have to use it, but the weight of it in his hand brought him a small sense of comfort.

He continued on for about fifteen feet or so. Apparently the men outside had lost sight of him, as Fiyero heard a tentative, "Sir?"

"Right here," he responded absentmindedly. He was about to give the men the okay to enter, when something caught his eye. Was it his imagination, or had he seen the end of a piece of black fabric disappear around the corner? Completely forgetting the men behind him, he began to move forward instinctively. Now he could see a strange light coming from just around the nearest bend.

The guards called after him again, but he ignored them this time. He hastened his steps, completely terrified but also somehow exhilarated. His mind wasn't working anymore. His heart was pounding in his ears.

It seemed the other guards had grown worried, and Fiyero could now hear their heavy boots clapping against the damp floor of the cave as they continued to call out for him. He paid them no heed as he turned the corner and was temporarily blinded by a sudden, dazzling light.

What happened next occurred so quickly that Fiyero didn't have time to process it. Two arms shot out and grabbed him, and Fiyero started to cry out in alarm before a hand clamped down over his mouth. Upon hearing his shout, the other guards hastened their footsteps, and their cries became more frantic as they realized their captain was in trouble.

Fiyero struggled in his captor's grasp, but the grip was surprisingly strong. He tensed as a female voice began to chant softly from behind him, and his struggle to escape became more urgent as he realized who it was that held him in a headlock. With a loud groan, a large stone began to roll into place, blocking off the entrance to the tunnel in which Fiyero and his captor were standing. Fiyero tried to call out again, but his voice was muffled by the green hand still covering his mouth.

The Witch kept him there for several minutes, and he could hear the muffled footsteps of his men from the other side of the stone. He prayed to the Unnamed God that they had seen the large stone close off the passage, but it was quickly becoming apparent that they hadn't, for he could hear no attempts being made to move it.

After a few minutes the guards seemed to give up their search, and he could hear them rush from the cave, calling to the others for help. Fiyero listened to their footsteps fade, the last of his hope fading with them.

As the guards retreated, the hand covering Fiyero’s mouth was finally removed. He considered continuing to shout for help, but the effort seemed futile now that his men had gone. Before he could protest, he was shoved from behind into what he now realized was a small living area, his traitorous legs trembling beneath him. The light he'd seen earlier appeared to be coming from a strange glowing orb across the room, which Fiyero assumed had been conjured by magic.

There was no furniture, but a few large rocks apparently served as a table and chairs. Spread across the floor was a carpet fashioned from some type of leaves, which potentially also served as a makeshift bed. A few ratty books stood in a pile in the corner, and an old broomstick leaned against the far wall. A large, leather book lay open on the stone table, though Fiyero could not see what was written on its pages. On the right side of the cave there was a hole in the wall, which seemed to lead to another room.

His heart pounded as he was led into the small space, hands still held firmly behind his back. It seemed he’d finally found the hiding place of the Wicked Witch of the West, but he'd been taken there as her prisoner.

Fiyero tried not to whimper as he was thrown roughly to the floor, but he let out a pained wheeze as the wind was knocked out of him. Instinctively, he curled into a ball like a child expecting to be struck, but the Witch appeared to be ignoring him as she swept past into the small room. After a few moments he lowered his hands away from his face, wondering why he'd not yet been blown up, or disintegrated, or whatever method the Witch used for disposing of her prisoners.

She was across the room now, hanging her cloak on a rusty hook that looked as though it had been clumsily hammered into the wall. Her back was to him, and Fiyero realized that he had not yet seen her face. From here, all he could make out was that she was wearing a tattered black dress and a pointed black hat. He pulled himself up into a sitting position, keeping a close eye on her lest she suddenly turn and strike.

For a moment, Fiyero's eyes darted toward the huge stone that blocked his only escape. He wondered if his men were still out in the cave searching, or if they'd already given up. He examined the stone, wondering halfheartedly if he'd be able to move it himself. He realized with a sinking feeling that it didn't seem likely.

When the Witch was finished putting her things away, she finally whipped around to face Fiyero, causing him to jump and scramble backwards on his palms. He hated that he was acting like a frightened child, but by this point his instincts of self-preservation had taken over. The Witch towered over him from his spot on the floor, and Fiyero registered through his panic that she was indeed as frightening as everyone made her out to be.

Though he failed to stop himself from trembling, Fiyero composed himself enough to ask, "Why did you bring me here?"

He tried to keep his gaze steady, but his mask of bravado slipped the moment the Witch let out a loud cackle. The sound was so bone-chilling that Fiyero completely forgot he'd asked a question and backed up against the wall.

"Why did I bring you here?" she asked, taking a step forward. Her voice was shrill, and it sent a shiver down Fiyero's spine. Her eyes were blazing, and the fact that she was still towering over him did nothing to quell Fiyero's fear. "As I recall, you were the one pursuing me! Well congratulations, you've found my hiding place. And since you so graciously shouted for your guards, I had no choice but to pull you in here before either of us was seen."

Fiyero gulped, "W-what are you going to do with me?"

She took another step toward him, and Fiyero scrambled further up against the wall. He was terrified to let even the hem of the woman's cloak touch him, as though he would spontaneously combust upon contact. There was an excruciatingly long pause before the Witch responded. "Well, I'm not going to kill you, if that's what you're worried about. But I'm certainly not going to allow you to leave,” she said, her tone icy and menacing.

Fiyero ignored the fact that his voice was now quivering and asked, "Well, if you're not going to kill me, then what's the point of keeping me here?"

"And what will you do if I release you? You'll run back to your precious Wizard, gather your troops and be marching back here by sunup. This spot is quite convenient for me right now, and I’m not keen on the idea of having to move. I see no other option but to keep you here," she practically growled as she spoke. Fiyero found himself wishing he'd suddenly wake up in his bed in a cold sweat.

"Y-you can't do this. I'm the captain of the Wizard's guard. My men will-"

The Witch cut him off, "Your men will what? No one can hear anything that goes on in here from the outside, and no one knows this passage exists. There's no way for you to move that boulder by yourself, and I am most certainly not going to be moving it for you. I'd make myself comfortable Captain, because you're not going anywhere for a long time."

With that, the Witch wheeled around, her billowing cloak almost whipping a stunned Fiyero across the face. He had nothing to say to that. She was right. He'd been hunting the Witch for two years now, and he'd always been aware of the possibility that he’d actually find her. He’d never considered his own capture and imprisonment as a potential aspect of that scenario. Now that these circumstances had presented themselves, he really wished he had the presence of mind to do more than cower on the floor at the Witch's feet.

Fiyero kept his eyes trained on her as she crossed the room, not allowing himself to relax even slightly from his position up against the wall. Her back was to him again, and Fiyero was struck by a brilliant idea. His hand flew down to his belt in search of his pistol, but his heart sank back into his stomach as he realized it was missing. He must have dropped it out in the cavern when the Witch had pulled him inside.

Fiyero froze again as the Witch began to chant, her eyes rushing across a page of the strange book he'd noticed earlier. He couldn't understand the words she was saying, but he had enough presence of mind to realize that she was casting some sort of spell. Before Fiyero could make any move to protect himself, he felt a strong wave of energy overpower his body.

Fiyero made to move away, but his limbs would no longer obey him. He cast a glance over to the Witch and saw her moving her arms in a sort of twirling motion, her eyes still trained on the pages of the old book as she continued to chant. After a moment, Fiyero felt a strange tugging on his legs, and his body began moving forward of its own accord. He struggled against the force, but it was no use. He could only stare ahead, powerless to stop himself, as his body moved itself into a separate room of the cave.

The Witch followed behind, still chanting even as she finally tore her gaze from what Fiyero had by now realized was her spell book. She reached the end of the spell and the chanting stopped, but Fiyero remained powerless to move his own body. He assumed that she'd paralyzed him temporarily, though there was no real need for it. Fiyero was in such a stupefied state that he wouldn’t have been able move of his own accord even had he possessed the ability.

The Witch spoke again, her dark eyes boring into Fiyero's blue ones, "This is where you will stay as long as you are my prisoner. Whenever I am out, I will roll away the boulder that blocks this room and you will be free to move around the cavern as you like. You are to report back here the moment I return. You will stay here and be given two meals a day. Other than that, we will have no interaction, and for that you should be grateful. Good night to you, Captain."

With that, the Witch waved her wrist, and a large boulder immediately slid into place. It blocked off the entrance to Fiyero's new cell as effectively as the other had blocked the Witch's hiding place. As the entrance was sealed, Fiyero felt the spell lift from his body. Too stunned to support his weight, he collapsed into a crumpled heap like a puppet with its strings cut. He didn't bother to feel ashamed as he felt a few stray tears roll down his cheeks.

Fleetingly, he thought of his home back at the Emerald Palace, and what he would give to be there at this very moment. He wondered when word of his disappearance would reach the Emerald City, and what measures would be taken to ensure his safe return. Not that it made any real difference. He had a feeling that as long as the Witch wished for him to remain hidden, he wouldn’t be found.

As he curled into the fetal position, it occurred to Fiyero that there was something odd about this situation. Why was the Witch keeping him alive? Certainly that was far more work than disposing of him quickly. Why would she go through the trouble? Was she planning to use him for ransom to get to the Wizard, or was she merely toying with him before inevitably killing him off? Shuddering, Fiyero pulled his knees to his chest and tried not to give in to despair. He knew that whatever the future held in store for him, it would likely not be a pleasant experience.

He stayed like that well into the night, too afraid to close his eyes for fear that the Witch would murder him in his sleep. What he did not see and could not know, however, was that as soon as the boulder had blocked him from view, the Wicked Witch of the West had sunk to her knees, buried her face in her hands, and cried.

Chapter Text

Fiyero had no memory of falling asleep, but before he knew it he found himself blinking his eyes open. Still addled by sleep, he wondered why his bed felt so hard and uncomfortable, and why he could not hear Glinda's gentle snores coming from beside him. It took a few moments, but soon the events of the previous day began to filter through the haze clouding his tired mind and he bolted upright.

Everything flooded back to him in an instant. He'd been captured trying to find the Witch's hideout and was imprisoned in her lair with no means of escape. He had no idea as to why the Witch hadn't killed him yet or what her plans for him were. The heavy weight of despair settled back over his shoulders.

Propping himself up on his elbows, Fiyero glanced around the cavern that served as his prison. He hadn't really registered it last night, but he now realized just how small the space actually was. It was just about the length and width of the dining room table they'd had back at the Emerald Palace. It was enough to make Fiyero feel claustrophobic.

Upon further inspection, he noticed a bowl of fruit and a bowl of water sitting in the corner and realized that the Witch must have left them. The fruit had already been sitting for some time, judging by the way it was browning at the edges. Fiyero shuddered involuntarily as he imagined the Witch standing mere inches from him as he slept. He still couldn't fathom why she'd go through the trouble of giving him food. Why should she care if he starved to death?

Another thought struck him. Was the food poisoned? Had she enchanted it to have some strange effect on him after he ate it? He narrowed his eyes at the bowl, weighing his options. He wasn't very hungry now, but he'd have to eat eventually. Would it be better to take his chances with the food or risk starvation? Neither option seemed particularly appealing.

Deciding to leave the fruit alone for the moment, Fiyero stood up on shaky legs. The stray thought came to him that he wished there was a mirror in the cave. He could tell that his clothes were filthy from sleeping on the floor and he assumed his face and hair were a mess as well. He shook his head to dispel the ridiculous notion. His vanity was the least of his concerns right now.

To his surprise, Fiyero found that the heavy stone blocking the entrance to his cell had been moved aside and it appeared that he was free to move into the main section of the cave. As he thought back on the events of the previous day, he recalled the Witch mentioning that she'd allow him such freedom. He filed it away in his mind as yet another decision of hers that made absolutely no sense.

Taking a tentative step forward, Fiyero thrust his arm through the archway as though expecting to receive an electric shock. When none came, he pulled his arm back to his side and stepped out into the living area.

He was relieved to find that the Witch was nowhere in sight. He recalled she’d mentioned that she would only grant him the run of the cave when she was out doing whatever Wicked Witches did for recreation. He wondered what that entailed, and how long she'd be gone.

Fiyero decided it was best not to puzzle over the Witch's comings and goings for the time being. The woman was half insane, and for all he knew there was absolutely no method to her madness. How could he hope to explain the actions of someone who flew around on a cleaning implement and kept the company of rebellious Animals?

Stepping further into the room, Fiyero noted that not much seemed to have changed since the previous day. The only notable difference was the absence of the Witch's cloak, satchel and broomstick. He briefly wondered again where she'd gone off to and found himself hoping that she wouldn't be caught. If she was, he'd be forgotten and left to rot in this Ozforsaken cave. His eyes trailed next to a bucket of what appeared to be fresh water leaning up against the far wall. Fiyero thought back on the rumors about the Witch. Why would she keep water here if it had the power to melt her? Had she brought it here for Fiyero? How had she drawn it without injuring herself?

Fiyero shook his head and turned towards the entrance to the lair, finding himself face to face with the large boulder that blocked the way. He studied it for a moment, assessing whether he had the strength to move it on his own. Deciding he had nothing to lose, Fiyero pressed his hands firmly against the stone and pushed with all his might. His muscles tensed and strained, but his hands kept slipping against the smooth surface. There was no way for him to get a firm grip, and it was far too big for him to simply roll it aside. Defeated, Fiyero gave up and collapsed against the rock, sliding down against it until he slumped to the floor.

From his position, Fiyero took another look around the small room. His eyes were drawn to the glowing orb in the corner, which was the only source of light in the cave. Suddenly fascinated, he stood and moved closer to examine it. He kept a measurable distance between himself and the orb at first, eyeing it warily, but its soft glow seemed harmless enough. After some deliberation, he reached out and brushed the light with his fingers, watching with fascination as they passed right through, leaving no sensation. Fiyero stood there for a few moments, mildly awestruck by the strange light source. He'd never been this close to something so blatantly magical before. Sure, he'd seen Glinda conjure her bubble, but this was in a different category altogether.

Turning from the light, Fiyero focused his attention on the spell book that still lay open on the stone table at the center of the room. The strange book had to be the source of the Witch's power. He'd witnessed it last night when she'd used it to take control of his body. He wondered what was written in there that could allow the Witch to perform such a feat. She clearly wasn't worried about Fiyero attempting to use it, or she wouldn't have left it out in the open.

He crossed the room and crouched down in front of the old book to examine it. He was surprised to find that he didn’t recognize the writing on the pages at all. The ancient-looking paper was covered with unfamiliar symbols, all swirling around and continuously rearranging themselves. He wondered what type of language this was, and how the Witch could understand it. He flipped through the pages and found that they were all characterized by the same strange alphabet.

Fiyero quickly lost interest in the odd, unreadable book. He stood and decided to continue his exploration of the Witch's living quarters, though he doubted he would find anything he could use against her. Mad though she was, she seemed intelligent enough not to leave any sort of weapon or aid to his escape within reach. As the thought came to him, his eyes fell again on the bucket of water in the corner. Perhaps she wasn’t aware that rumors of her aversion to the substance were well known, or maybe the quantity she’d deigned to leave with him wasn’t enough to kill her.

Fiyero decided to keep the idea of using the water against her in his back pocket for now. Any attempts to harm the Witch would have to be made in the small window when the entrance to the cave was open. If he did manage to kill her while the passage was closed, he’d only serve to trap himself here. If he only managed to wound her, then he shuddered to think of the retaliation she would surely visit upon him. He set the thought aside and instead made the dog-eared pile of books across the room his next destination.

There were five books in the small pile, each rather thick and with a well-worn cover. They'd clearly been read and reread several times over. Fiyero plucked a book off the top of the pile and was relieved to find it was written in normal Ozian language. It was a book on the study of Animals, which was all Fiyero could gather from the title. He flipped through the pages with little interest, wrinkling his nose at the pungent smell of musty paper. He was not a particularly well-read man, and the book may as well have been written in the Witch's strange sorcery language for all he could understand of it. He glanced at the titles of the other books, but they all seemed to be on more or less the same subject. It was not quite as exciting a collection as one would expect from the Wicked Witch of the West.

Fiyero was just about to settle himself on one of the Witch's stone seats, when he spied a trace of green out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he noted what appeared to be a bit of green paper sticking out from under a stone to his far right. Fiyero made his way over to it and bent down to have a closer look. He took the corner of the page between his fingers and gave it a sharp tug, but it wouldn't budge from beneath the stone.

His curiosity piqued, Fiyero decided to move the large rock aside and get a better look. Placing his fingers under the stone, he strained his muscles and managed to flip it over, revealing a sort of secret outlet beneath. Inside was a collection of documents that the Witch had apparently wanted to keep hidden, including two more books. One was small and black and well worn, and the other was a good deal larger with a leather cover. There was also a scattering of what appeared to be assorted letters and documents. Fiyero shifted through the small pile and wondered what the Witch had to hide.

The item that stood out the most among the others was a bright green envelope, which Fiyero assumed had drawn his eye to the secret compartment in the first place. Upon further observation, he recognized it as the type of envelope the Wizard used to send official messages. Fiyero wondered why the Witch would have such an item in her possession. Perhaps she had intercepted it, or maybe it contained official orders to stand down from the early days of her reign of terror. Fiyero reached into the envelope and extracted the carefully folded sheet of paper within.

As Fiyero's eyes scanned the brief message, he found it wasn't quite what he'd expected. Instead of a summons for the Witch, it appeared to be an invitation from the Wizard addressed to someone named Elphaba Thropp. The name sounded a bit familiar to Fiyero, though he couldn't put his finger on why. Was this the Witch's real name? He realized that, up until this very moment, he hadn't really considered that the woman could have a title other than 'The Wicked Witch of the West,” but he supposed she must have had an identity before that.

Fiyero lowered his eyes back to the page in front of him. Whoever this Elphaba person was, she had been invited to an audience with the Wizard over four years ago to discuss her 'extraordinary achievements in magic and sorcery'. Fiyero blinked at the message, not quite sure what he was reading. If he was understanding correctly, it appeared that the Wizard had actually invited the Witch to the palace at some point in the past, but that didn't make any sense. The Wizard wouldn't put himself in a direct line of fire by inviting the Witch into his very home. Had this been an attempt to lure her in for capture?

"Thought you'd have a bit of fun going through my belongings, did you?" came a menacing voice from behind Fiyero. He gave a start and tossed the letter away instinctively, jumping to his feet to find himself face to face with a particularly angry Wicked Witch of the West.

Fiyero felt his legs turn to jelly as he began to stammer, "I-I-I…." He could think of no sufficient explanation. He hadn't considered the possibility that the Witch might return to the sight of him rifling through her personal effects.

"Get back to your cell," she growled, pointing a finger toward the small cavern in which Fiyero had spent the night. Not daring to disobey, he stumbled back into the small cavern as quickly as his shaky legs would carry him. He caught one last glimpse of the Witch's belongings, still scattered across the floor, before the boulder slammed into place.

Fiyero stood there for a few moments, breathing heavily as the adrenaline drained from his body. Then, slowly, he felt the rusted gears of his mind begin to turn. He knew he wasn't supposed to have seen those papers. He was surprised the Witch had not punished him for going through her things.

His mind drifted back to the letter in the green envelope. Was it true that the Wizard had summoned her to the palace? Had it been an attempt at capture or had this occurred before she'd been labeled the Wicked Witch of the West? Perhaps she had only been known as a promising sorceress at the time and had used this chance to get close to the Wizard. Then, once her assassination attempt had failed, she'd fled on her broomstick and had been on the run since. But if that was the case, then why had she saved the letter?

Fiyero found himself wishing he'd gotten a better look at some of the other papers. A glimpse into the woman's past could serve as valuable intel if he ever managed to escape. Perhaps there was something hidden there that could be used against her. He cursed himself for getting caught. Now that the Witch knew he'd found her hiding place, she would move its contents somewhere else. He wouldn't get a chance like that again.

Fiyero's thoughts were cut short as the makeshift door rolled open and the Witch swept in. He eyed her with suspicion and backed up against the wall as she passed him. She paid no mind to his behavior as she dropped a plate of what looked like plain cheese and bread onto the floor. Fiyero eyed it with distrust. She seemed to take notice of this, along with the fact that the fruit from earlier that morning lay untouched.

"Oh, you're afraid I've poisoned it are you?" she asked, whipping around to face him. Fiyero didn't bother to respond. It was exactly what he'd been thinking. He watched as she took a small piece of cheese from the plate and placed it in her mouth. "There's nothing wrong with it, so I suggest you take your chances. Or you can starve to death. It's of no consequence to me either way."

With that, the Witch stalked from the chamber with the spoiled bowl of fruit, leaving Fiyero alone once more as the rock slid into place behind her. Fiyero watched her go, then turned his attentions back to the plate of food she'd left behind. It was true that by now he was beginning to grow hungry. He hadn't eaten since the previous morning and was not accustomed to missing meals. He removed a piece of cheese from the plate and examined it. It seemed ordinary enough. He took a small nibble from one of the corners and waited. When nothing happened, he popped the remainder of it into his mouth and reached for another.

When he'd finished his rather unexciting meal, Fiyero leaned back against the wall of the cavern and thought over all he'd seen in the past two days. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he was missing. The Witch was every bit as terrible and menacing as he'd imagined her, but her actions didn't make any logical sense. If she was as cruel and heartless as she was believed to be, why was he fed and reasonably comfortable? He was still pondering the conundrum when his eyes drifted closed and he let sleep take him.

He awoke the next morning to find the Witch already gone. His empty plate had been removed and replaced by a fresh bowl of fruit, and Fiyero was relieved to find that the food from the night before hadn't had any apparent negative effect. It seemed that he could at least eat without concern for his safety.

As he looked around, Fiyero registered with some surprise that the boulder that blocked off his room had once again been rolled back, allowing him access to the main part of the cave. Fiyero stared at the open doorway in disbelief. He'd been sure that the Witch would never let him leave the small room again after what had transpired the previous day.

Fiyero sat up and stretched, then scooted closer to the bowl of fruit and began to eat. Vaguely, he wondered what time of day it was, as there was no way of knowing in the windowless cave. He wondered if he'd ever see sunlight again, or if he was doomed to live out the rest of his days underground.

Even as the thought came to him, Fiyero acknowledged that being imprisoned by the most infamous fugitive in Oz wasn't quite what he would have expected. She hadn't so much as lain a finger on him, even though he’d been hunting her and presumably making her life more difficult for the past two years. She made sure he had adequate food and water, and even allowed him free reign of her living space during the day. He couldn't help feeling like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Was she keeping him in good condition in the hopes of using him for ransom? Fiyero doubted he was important enough for the Wizard to offer anything of value in exchange for his safe return.

Fiyero finished his meal and stood, brushing the pebbles from the green pants of his guard uniform. He tried not to think about how much he wanted a shower and a fresh change of clothes as he wandered back out into the main part of the cavern. His eyes darted around nervously as he crossed the threshold, anxious that the Witch had set some sort of trap. He relaxed when he realized the cavern was quiet and empty. The Witch was gone.

Though he knew it was likely pointless, Fiyero crossed the room and eyed the stone that had hidden the Witch's belongings. He lifted it away and found nothing but an empty compartment beneath, just as he’d expected.

Fiyero straightened up and glanced around the room. He wondered where else the Witch could have hidden her documents, as there didn't seem to be much in the way of storage space. Fiyero assumed there were probably more hidden compartments like the one under the stone, but there was nothing obviously out of place in the room. Without a lead, he wasn't even sure where to start looking. He gave up on the idea for the time being.

He stood in the center of the room pondering what to do with the potentially lengthy stretch of time before him. He'd already explored the small cavern in its entirety yesterday and was coming up short on other ways to keep himself busy. He took a seat on a nearby stone and stared at the wall across from him for several minutes before he began to fidget. He glanced around the room again and realized the Witch's pile of old books was beginning to look appealing.

Fiyero knew that he must be going mad if he was even entertaining the notion of reading for entertainment. He was fairly confident that he'd never read a book of his own volition in his life. Yet boredom won out eventually, and he soon found himself perusing the Witch’s small collection once again. He picked up the book on top, the one on Animal rights he'd seen yesterday, and examined the worn cover for a moment. He wasn't too interested in the subject matter, but none of the other options looked much better.

Returning to his stone, he took a seat and simply stared at the book for a moment. How did these things work again? He believed you were supposed to start at the beginning, but that seemed rather boring, so he instead opened the book to a page in the middle and began to read the words with little interest.

While it was slow going at first, Fiyero soon found that he was becoming drawn into what he was reading. Most of what he knew about Animals had come from Ozian sentiment and the information handed down from the Wizard. He'd never really thought more critically about the subject beyond what he'd been told. Yet the book he was reading seemed to paint quite a different picture. It implied that Animals were not, in fact, savage beasts, but rather possessed the same capacity for thought and reason that human beings did. The idea seemed preposterous to Fiyero. If what this book said was true, the Wizard would certainly know about it. The ruler of Oz was practically omniscient. He was also a fair and just leader and wouldn't discriminate against a group who had done nothing wrong. The book was clearly some sort of radical propaganda.

Yet Fiyero kept on reading. The book not only described Animals in a new way, but also gave a bit of insight into their history. It alleged that there was a longstanding tradition of discrimination against them, beginning with the Great Drought. People had blamed the Animals for it, and ever since they'd become the scapegoats for a host of societal problems and civil unrest. Fiyero raised his eyes from the pages, shaking his head. It all seemed too far-fetched to believe. He wasn't about to put much stock in literature he'd found in the possession of the Wicked Witch of the West.

He continued to read on anyway, curious about what other fascinating lies the book contained. As he turned to the next page, a small piece of paper slipped from the book’s confines and fluttered to the ground. Fiyero bent over to retrieve it, examining it as he picked it up. It was a small card, with only a few words scribbled on it in an untidy scrawl. It looked like whoever had written the note had trouble operating a pen. It read:

Miss Elphaba,

Thank you for all of your kindness. Remember to never stop speaking out.

Doctor Dillamond

Fiyero stared at the card, puzzled once more. He wondered who this Doctor Dillamond was, and why his note was shoved between the pages of an Animal rights book. That name was there again too. Elphaba. He was convinced by now that this was the Witch's real name, though he still could not reconcile something so ordinary with the evil witch who had imprisoned him. Even if she had been this Elphaba person at some point, she was the Wicked Witch of the West now. That was all that was relevant to Fiyero.

Returning his attention to the card, Fiyero flipped it over to see if anything was written on the back. He was met with the sight of a school crest with the words 'Shiz University' written across it in a neat cursive. Underneath was an address and the words 'Current Headmistress: Madame Morrible'.

This confused Fiyero even further. Why would this Dillamond person have written on the back of a card from Shiz? Had he perhaps been a professor there? His title was 'Doctor' Dillamond, so Fiyero supposed it was plausible. But if this Dillamond character had been the one to present this book to the Witch, did that mean she had attended the university as well?

The notion struck him as ridiculous from the moment it entered his mind. He simply couldn't picture the Wicked Witch of the West sitting in college lectures, jotting down notes like a normal person. And yet it also stood to reason that the Witch had been a relatively normal person before she'd become a fugitive. Why was he so sure that she hadn't attended college?

Fiyero had the sudden realization that he'd never thought of the Witch as an actual person. He'd more pictured her as the personification of pure evil, with all the associated hatred and fear that went with it. While his initial impressions hadn't changed much upon meeting her, he now realized that she was, in fact, a flesh and blood person with her own thoughts and goals and ideas. She had been a person before she'd become the Witch as well. Had she always been evil or had the circumstances of her life brought her to her current state? She had presumably been a child once, with parents and a family just like everyone else.

Fiyero recalled that the Witch at the very least had a sibling. Her sister, the current governor of Munchkinland, was a stern woman who had made her distaste for her sister’s actions known from the very beginning. She didn’t seem to have any of the Witch’s peculiarities, neither the abnormal skin tone nor the magical ability.

Returning his attention back to the Shiz card, he realized that he recognized the name printed next to current headmistress. Madame Morrible had been the headmistress during Glinda's days at Shiz, and she now served as the Wizard's press secretary. She was the one who had made the public announcement after the Wicked Witch of the West's first evil deed. Fiyero wondered if Morrible had known the Wicked Witch as Elphaba at some point.

Fiyero further wondered if Glinda had met the Witch during college. It seemed they'd both attended under the same headmistress, though Fiyero didn’t imagine it was likely they’d attended at the same time. He wasn't sure how old the Witch was, but he was fairly certain she was a great deal older than Glinda. He thought to himself that he should check with Glinda when he returned home, before the unpleasant reality that he might never make it back occurred to him.

Fiyero found he was no longer in the mood to read. He slid the note back into the pages of the book and set it on the stone table beside the Witch's spell book. He dropped his chin into his hands for a few moments and stared ahead, his mind working through all that he'd just seen. He realized that over the course of the past three days he'd done more thinking than he'd previously done in his entire life. Oz, he'd voluntarily read a book.

Fiyero was so lost in thought that he started and fell from his seat as the large boulder at the entrance to the cave flew aside. He picked himself up the floor just in time to see a frantic Wicked Witch rush by in a blur of green and black, holding something that Fiyero couldn't identify in her arms. The boulder almost immediately slammed back into place behind her.

Fiyero expected to be shouted at and ordered back into his cavern, but he froze as he realized there was something wrong with the Witch. Her face held none of its usual malice. If anything, she looked terrified.

She turned to Fiyero, as if she'd just noticed him. Her voice was considerably less piercing as she shouted, "You, bring me some water. I need help!"

Chapter Text

Fiyero stared dumbly at the Witch as she spoke, not quite registering that she’d addressed him. She appeared to grow annoyed at his lack of response and barked, "Didn't you hear me, you idiot? I said get some water!"

That was enough to jolt Fiyero back to reality, and he darted for the water pail. Any thoughts he'd had about the Witch being an ordinary person fled his mind as his survival instincts took hold. He had absolutely no desire to get on her bad side.

Fiyero picked up the pail and carried it over to where the Witch was now kneeling in front of the stone table, trying not to slosh too much water over the sides as he went. The thought of using the water against her returned to him, but he brushed it aside as he realized that the door to the cave was already sealed. The Witch was now placing the bundle she'd been carrying onto the table, and Fiyero noted with some apprehension that there was a large amount of what appeared to be blood staining her green fingers.

Fiyero set the pail down near the table and craned his neck to get a better look. From his new vantage he could see some sort of small animal bundled up in the material of the Witch's black cloak. There was a large gash across the creature's head that was still actively bleeding despite the notable coagulation already present around the periphery of the wound. The small creature was also clearly unconscious, its small body limp against the cold stone as the Witch set it down.

The Witch didn't bother to spare a glance in Fiyero's direction as he set the pail down next to her. Without hesitation, she removed her cloak from around the animal and dipped it into the bucket of water. Fiyero’s brain all but short-circuited when he saw that her hands remained unharmed as she submerged them. The Witch's unnatural aversion to water was a well-known fact, so much so that its use as a weapon against her was covered in Gale Force training for the new recruits. Yet she took the sodden cloak and began to clean the blood from the creature's wound without so much as a grimace, then pressed the black cloth against the gash to stop the bleeding.

Fiyero watched with a blank expression as the Witch doted upon the creature like a worried mother. Her actions were so gentle and her face so full of concern that Fiyero almost forgot who she was for a moment. Now that her face was not contorted with rage or malice, she didn't seem quite the intimidating figure she had before. She also appeared to be a great deal younger than Fiyero had suspected, possibly around his age or even younger. This revelation shocked Fiyero more than anything else he'd seen so far.

For some reason, it had never occurred to Fiyero that the Witch could be a young woman. He realized that he'd never heard anyone specifically mention her age, but it had always made sense to him that she would be a bitter old hag. The fact that she wasn’t unnerved him. How had she become the enemy of an entire nation when she looked like she should still be in college?

Fiyero was shaken from his thoughts as the Witch addressed him again. "Hold this in place. I need to find a spell," she said, indicating the damp cloak that was still pressed against the animal's forehead.

Fiyero blinked stupidly at her and then took over holding the cloak as the Witch made for her spell book. Now that he was closer, Fiyero could see that the animal was a small bear cub. He assumed by its size that it was still very young. He tried not to be disgusted by the copious amount of congealed blood that was matted into the creature's fur.

He could hear the Witch begin to chant from somewhere to his right and felt a familiar sense of dread overcome him as he recognized the strange language she had used to cast her spell over him the night he'd arrived. He sat completely still for a few moments, unsure of what was about to happen. He didn't sense any sort of change, but he still flinched as the Witch turned and rushed back towards him.

"Remove the cloak," she ordered, kneeling beside the table. Fiyero ignored the goose bumps that shot up his arm. Her proximity still made him uneasy, but he wasted no time as he obediently removed the makeshift bandage from the creature's head.

Fiyero registered, with some surprise, that the deep gash had vanished completely. A ring of crusted blood remained, but the underlying flesh was smooth and unbroken. Fiyero nearly toppled onto his side as the Witch elbowed him out of the way to check on the cub. She ran her fingers gingerly over the spot where the wound had been, then hummed softly to herself, apparently satisfied with her work. She dipped the bloodstained cloak back into the pail of water, staining the remaining contents a dark pink, and then began to gently wipe away the rest of the dried blood from the cub's brow. She seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Fiyero was still in the room. He stared at her in disbelief as she doted upon her tiny patient.

The small creature began to stir and emitted a quiet groan and the Witch pulled her hands back, her features lighting up at the sudden movement. The small bear slowly raised its head, its eyes darting around wildly for a moment until they landed on the Witch. The cub sat up, looking confused.

"Miss Elphaba?" the Bear asked in a childish female voice, and Fiyero nearly jumped out of his skin at the unexpected use of human speech. Clearly what he'd presumed was an animal was, in fact, an Animal. “What happened?” the Bear continued, glancing around the cave. Fiyero couldn't get over how strange it was to hear such articulate words coming from the creature's mouth. He'd never heard an Animal speak so clearly before. The Bear Cub's voice was identical to one of a human child.

Even through his shock, Fiyero registered that the Cub had called the Witch by the same name he'd encountered several times among her personal possessions. He wondered how the Witch knew this Animal, where the Cub had come from, and why it knew her real name. Fiyero hadn't really spared much thought to what the Witch did when she went out all day, but perhaps the rumors of an Animal settlement nearby were true.

"You gave me the fright of my life, that's what happened," the Witch scolded, but the relief was evident in her voice as she scooped the Bear off the table and into her arms. Fiyero stood, apparently still forgotten, as the Witch began to chide the Animal. "I told you not to play by the ravine. Do you see what happens when you don't listen?"

The Bear's eyes widened at this. She brought her paw up to the previous site of her injury and seemed surprised when it came away stained with lingering blood. "I fell in," she said quietly. It wasn't a  question. "But nothing hurts," she said, turning her eyes back to Elphaba.

“Small favors," the Witch said, placing the Bear back on the table. The Cubs eyes began to wander again until they landed on Fiyero. She seemed surprised to see another person in the room.

"Who's your friend, Miss Elphaba?" she asked, her voice the picture of innocence.

The Witch froze as she turned to face Fiyero. It was apparent that she'd only just remembered he was there. She gaped in shock, clearly at a loss as to how to answer the Cub's question. She and Fiyero stared at each other in mutual confusion for what felt like an eternity.

Feeling as though he were about to choke on the growing tension in the room, Fiyero decided to answer the cub's question himself. "I'm um…I'm Fiyero," he said lamely. He wasn't quite sure what else to add. It seemed obvious to Fiyero that this Bear had no idea he was the Witch's prisoner.

There were a few more moments of strained silence, before the Witch finally seemed to regain her composure. Turning back to the Bear Cub, she said, "Come Lorgen, we need to get you home. Your mother is probably worried sick about you."

Without sparing another glance towards Fiyero, the Witch scooped up the Bear, who was apparently named Lorgen, and rushed from the room. Lorgen didn't seem to register the Witch's obvious distress, and she gave Fiyero a happy wave as she was carried out. "Bye, Mister Fiyero!"

With that, the boulder slid back into place and Fiyero was left on his own once more. He blinked at the wall before him, waiting for his brain to process all of what he'd just witnessed. Not only had the Witch dropped all pretense of her previously imposing demeanor, she’d also been absolutely doting upon a small Animal. An Animal that, Fiyero noted, had not seemed like an uncivilized beast at all, but rather like an incredibly furry child.

Dropping back onto the stone seat behind him, Fiyero wondered what all of this meant. From the moment he'd arrived, the Witch had been everything he'd anticipated her to be. She'd hit every note from every one of his nightmares, from the imposing aura of malice to the sinister cackle. He realized now that the performance had been almost a little bit too perfect. It was as though she'd known exactly what he'd expected of her, and she had delivered it.

Fiyero was becoming increasingly certain that what he'd witnessed in the past few minutes was the real woman underneath the mask. In the midst of the chaos, she hadn't had time to conceal her very real worry and confusion. Fiyero was unnerved by this. He didn't understand why she was so committed to playing the part of the Witch if she was capable of reason and emotion.

Some time passed, and then Fiyero started again as the boulder swung open and Witch re-entered, looking windswept and completely exhausted. She froze as she locked eyes with Fiyero, who was still sitting in the middle of her living space. He could tell she was trying to slip back into her more menacing persona, but she seemed too tired to manage it. Her face didn't quite hold the same overwhelming malice it had in their previous encounters.

He wondered yet again where this attempt at intimidation was coming from. Why had she not appealed to him with her better nature when they'd first met? And yet, even as the thought crossed his mind, he knew he would only have taken such behavior as trickery.

"Go back to your cavern," the Witch ordered. She was clearly trying to muster up a semblance of authority, but there was no force behind her words. Her voice was no longer the shrill one that Fiyero had become accustomed to. She sounded almost normal.

Fiyero found he couldn't move. It was as if his feet were cemented to the floor. He wanted answers. He wanted to understand what he was missing. The Witch's brow furrowed as he stood staring at her, and she appeared to grow annoyed by his defiance. She stood and began to make her way back towards her spell book. Fiyero realized what she was about to do and vaulted from his seat. He darted in front of the Witch and snapped the book closed, holding it just out of her reach. She glared at him with absolute murder in her eyes.

“Wait…Elphaba,” Fiyero said, with no small amount of trepidation.

The Witch was clearly taken aback by Fiyero's use of her name. She froze in place, a look of obvious surprise written on her face, before she quickly recovered herself.

"That's not my name," she said, eyes narrowing into slits. The thought crossed Fiyero's mind that he should probably just back off, but he set his shoulders and met her gaze. He was suddenly very confident that she wasn't going to hurt him.

"That Cub sure seemed to think it was," he insisted.

"That's not my name," she repeated. Fiyero got the sense that she was trying to convince herself as well. "Perhaps it was once, but people certainly haven’t called me by it in a very long time. I'm the Wicked Witch of the West now.”

Fiyero stared at her hard for a moment and then asked, "Why are you doing that?"

The Witch seemed confused by the question. She continued to glare at him as she asked, "What are you on about now?"

"Why do you insist on making yourself out to be what everyone says you are? I saw the way you handled that Bear Cub just now. You didn’t seem particularly wicked to me," Fiyero challenged.

The Witch seemed to be growing uncomfortable under Fiyero's steady gaze, though her stance did not falter. Her voice grew harsh as she replied, "I don't make myself out to be anything. They call me the Wicked Witch of the West, and so I am the Wicked Witch of the West. That's perfectly fine with me."

Fiyero looked at her carefully for a moment before responding, "No it's not…or you wouldn't be so unhappy."

Whatever the Witch had been expecting him to say, that clearly wasn't it. The surprise showed briefly on her face, before she tore her gaze from Fiyero's. She glanced down at the floor for a moment with an unreadable expression and when she glanced up, she had slipped back into her Witch persona.

"Go back to your cell" she demanded, pointing one long green finger toward the opening of the cavern across the room.

For a moment Fiyero considered just letting the whole matter drop. This woman clearly had some serious issues, and what consequence was it to him if she was really wicked or not? The fact remained that he wasn't getting out of here either way.

But for some strange reason, Fiyero just couldn't seem to leave it alone. Something was still nagging at him. Not understanding things had never bothered him before, yet Fiyero felt a distinct need to know why the Witch-or Elphaba, he supposed-acted this way.

Fiyero didn't budge. "You're not what everyone says you are," he said. It wasn't a question.

The fact that he was no longer obeying her orders seemed to be causing distress, rather than aggravation. "Why are you doing this? I captured and imprisoned you. Isn't that proof enough that I'm a dangerous criminal? Do I have to brutally murder you before you'll be satisfied?"

"I don't think you could," Fiyero replied with confidence. Then he backpedaled slightly, “From a moral standpoint I mean. I don't doubt that you could physically murder me if you wanted to.”

Elphaba sank back onto the stone seat and dropped her face into her hands, looking defeated. The fact that he was comfortable enough to crack jokes around her seemed to be the last straw. "Please, just go back to your cell," she mumbled into her palms.

"What I don't understand is why you chose this life in the first place. Why do you harm innocent Ozians and defame the Wizard? What has anyone ever done to you?" he asked.

Elphaba was on her feet in seconds, looking livid. Her earlier exhaustion seemed completely forgotten, and Fiyero took an involuntary step backwards as the fire returned to her eyes. "What has anyone ever done to me? You don't know the first thing about me!” she spat. “I stood up for what I believed in, and the Wizard and Madame Morrible ruined my entire life. You think I chose this? You think I enjoy the fact that everyone in Oz hates me?"

Fiyero was so taken aback by the abrupt tirade that he was unsure of how to respond. He didn't know if he believed Elphaba's claims. The Wizard had always been a just ruler, and he wouldn’t have called for the Wicked Witch’s capture unless she’d given him a very good reason.

Fiyero couldn't keep the note of suspicion from his voice as he asked, "If everything they say about you is a lie, then why act the part?"

"What else would you suggest I do? People hated me even before the Wizard turned me into evil incarnate. Who's going to believe some green freak over their “benevolent” ruler? If I give people what they expect, at least they stay away from me," she huffed.

Fiyero was about to protest, but the words died in his throat. In all truth she was right. If she'd tried to speak with him like a normal person when he'd first arrived, he would have just thought it was a trick. Years of propaganda and conditioning were a lot to overcome.

"Okay, so say you’re not the evil witch everyone makes you out to be," Fiyero started, ignoring how Elphaba’s eyes narrowed. “Why would the Wizard lie about that? Surely he would rather have you on his side than make an enemy of you.”

"The Wizard spreads lies because he's afraid of me," she answered without hesitation. Fiyero got the sense that she was relishing this opportunity to explain her predicament. He wondered fleetingly how long it had been since she had spoken to another human being. Elphaba went on, unable to keep the note of bitterness out of her voice, "He and Morrible wanted me to use my magic to help them do terrible things. They wanted me to help them suppress the Animals. I refused. In return, they ruined my credibility and turned all of Oz against me.”

“So, this is about the Animals,” Fiyero said. “The Wizard says that they're a dangerous group that needs to be suppressed. I have a feeling you're going to tell me that isn’t the case.”

Elphaba's eyes flashed. “The Wizard keeps his grip on Oz by spreading fear and lies. That’s the reason he's been restricting Animal rights. He admitted it to me himself, when he still believed I was on his side. He told me that the best way to bring people together is to give them a common enemy. He started with the Animals, but I suppose the Wicked Witch of the West is his finest creation."

Fiyero still couldn't wrap his head around everything that Elphaba was telling him. He'd served under the Wizard for two years. The Wizard and Morrible had elevated Glinda to her current position. Fiyero had never had any reason to believe that the ruler of Oz had any ill intentions.

“I do believe that you're not as evil as everyone says you are,” Fiyero said after some deliberation, “but you must be mistaken about the Wizard. He wouldn't oppress a group of innocents without reason. He must not know the truth about the Animals, or maybe they're not all as intelligent as you seem to think they are.”

"The Wizard knows exactly what he's doing,” Elphaba grumbled through gritted teeth. She looked Fiyero up and down for a moment as though deciding whether to continue. She seemed to decide there was no harm and said, “There's a large Animal refugee camp not far from here. It's why this hideout has been such a convenient location for me. The Wizard's goal has been to strip the Animals of their power of speech as well as their rights. I've been working with them to help preserve their knowledge and their ability to speak.”

Fiyero still couldn't quite believe the things she was saying about the Wizard, but he decided not to argue the point further for the time being. Instead, he asked, "So was that Bear Cub one of the Animals you've been helping?"

If Elphaba noticed his attempt to redirect the conversation, she didn't acknowledge it. Instead, she nodded in response. "Yes, her name's Lorgen. She's one of the younger children at the camp. She was playing too close to a ravine, and she fell in and split her head on one of the rocks at the bottom. It was lucky that I happened to be nearby and was able to give her proper medical attention."

"You really care about these Animals, don't you?" Fiyero asked. Regardless of her beliefs about the Wizard, her dedication to her chosen cause was obvious.

"Yes well, Animals are a lot more understanding than most people in this world," she responded.

With that, Elphaba seemed to decide the conversation was over. "Don't think that anything's changed. I've told you all of this because you pose no threat. You're still my prisoner.”

It wasn't as though Fiyero had forgotten that fact, but it was still a bit disheartening to hear it affirmed. And yet, despite the grim reality of his predicament, he found that he suddenly needed to know if what Elphaba was telling him was true. Gathering the remnants of his courage, he asked, "Can I see them?"

Elphaba didn't seem to understand his question. "See what?"

"The Animals,” he responded

Elphaba looked at him as if he were insane. "You must be joking. You can't think I'm that utterly clueless. What would stop you from running off back to the Emerald City the moment I allow you to set food outside of this cave?”

Fiyero stood up so that he was at her eye level and said, "Fine, then cast a spell on me so I can't leave. Do whatever you feel is necessary to ensure I don't escape."

Elphaba stared at Fiyero for what seemed like an eternity, looking him up and down as if trying to determine whether he was lying. He could see that the prospect of dispelling the prejudice in one of the Wizard's men was at war with her common sense. After a long stretch, she said, "Fine, but you will allow me to cast any spells on you that I deem necessary. You will obey any and all orders that I give you, and if you so much as think of harming the Animals, know that the consequences will be far less than pleasant.”

She seemed satisfied when Fiyero nodded in affirmation. “Now get back to your cell,” she said.

Fiyero didn't have to be told twice as he slipped into the separate section of the cave and heard the large boulder slide into place behind him.

Chapter Text

Fiyero awoke the next morning from the most restful sleep he'd had since his capture. He supposed it was due in part to the release of anxiety that came from knowing that the Witch, or Elphaba now, was not going to hex him to death while he slept. Stretching and yawning, he rolled over to find the boulder that blocked his cavern was still firmly in place, suggesting that Elphaba was not yet awake.

Pulling himself up into a sitting position, Fiyero wondered if she would keep her word and bring him along to the Animal camp today. In truth he was equal parts curious about the state of their living conditions and eager to see something other than the bleak walls of his prison. He wasn't entirely sure why Elphaba had agreed to his request, but he wasn't going to question it.

It was only a few more minutes before the boulder swung back from the doorway and Elphaba entered. He twisted his neck to look up at her as she stepped in, a fresh bowl of fruit clutched in her right hand. Her expression was unreadable and did not betray the conversation that had taken place the day before.

She moved across the cavern swiftly and replaced the empty plate from last night with the bowl of fruit. This time, Fiyero didn't scuttle out of the way as she passed, but rather just watched her with mild interest. Elphaba didn't seem as cold and confident as she normally did. In fact, she seemed a bit uncomfortable around him. It was as though she wasn’t sure how to act without the protection of her Wicked Witch facade.

She turned to leave, and Fiyero spoke up. "Were you still planning to take me along today?"

She paused and answered without turning around, "I suppose so. Come on."

She continued into the main section of the cave and Fiyero stumbled along behind her as he scrambled to his feet. He could see that she was headed towards her spell book and felt a bit of apprehension in spite of himself. He still couldn't say that he was at all comfortable around Elphaba’s magic, but he reluctantly stepped forward until he was standing only a few inches from her as she flipped through the book on the stone table. After a few moments she stopped, read something over, and then turned to Fiyero with a nod.

Fiyero swallowed hard as Elphaba glanced at the page once more for affirmation and then began to chant. Fiyero squeezed his eyes shut, not quite sure what to expect. After a moment, he felt something wrap around his waist and his eyes flew open, but there was nothing there when he looked down. Before he could question it, the sensation vanished. He looked up at Elphaba, awaiting an explanation.

She wasted no time in supplying one. "The spell I just cast has tied us together with invisible bonds,” she said. “If you move more than ten feet away from me at any time, you'll begin to feel an uncomfortable tingling. The pain will get worse the further away you go and won't subside until you get back into range"

Fiyero nodded in understanding and then scrambled to stay close to Elphaba as she moved toward the main entrance to the cave. He already hadn't planned on making a bid for his freedom. He wasn't even entirely certain he even knew his way back to the Emerald City from here. It would take time for him to figure out the correct direction, and he was sure that Elphaba could easily recapture him in the meantime. With this spell in place, he was even less willing to leave her side, as he knew that she was most certainly not bluffing about any unpleasant side effects.

Elphaba managed to roll back the boulder with a quick chant and a sweep of her hands, and Fiyero marveled at the ease with which she accomplished this task. It would have taken at least ten of his men to roll the huge rock aside, but then he supposed that magic was a good deal stronger than brute force. He realized now that there had likely been no chance of taking Elphaba into custody with a force of twenty-five men. He wasn't sure if that made him feel better or worse about his current predicament.

The two stepped out into the main cave. It felt strange to leave the cramped living quarters after being cooped up for such a long time. It took every ounce of Fiyero's focus to stay close to Elphaba in the pitch blackness as they made their way to the entrance, and then he was nearly blinded as they rounded a corner and stepped out into the early morning sunlight.

Squinting and shielding his eyes with his forearm, Fiyero took his first look at the outside world in three days. The dazzling sunlight was such a contrast from the dimly lit cave that it seemed to take his eyes forever to adjust. He found himself thinking that colors had never seemed so vibrant.

He was not left with much time to dwell on this, for Elphaba had not even paused in her stride upon exiting the cave. Fiyero began to experience an uncomfortable tingling under his skin, and hurried to catch up to her before the symptoms became more severe. She didn't pay him any mind as he fell into step just behind her.

After about ten minutes of walking, the Animal camp came into view. At the bottom of a sloping hill was a rather large group of tents set up in close proximity to each other. As they drew near, Fiyero could see Animals of every kind walking together and chatting amicably. He marveled at the sight.

Still, he thought it a bit odd that this settlement was completely out in the open. Turning to Elphaba, he said, "Is it really safe for them to be in plain sight like this? I would have thought they'd choose something more covert."

Elphaba turned to acknowledge him for the first time since they'd left the cave together. She scoffed at him as she replied, "Do you think the Wizard isn't aware of this settlement? He's known about it almost since the day it was founded. He knows about several others in the nearby area as well. He also knows that I'm the one watching over them. He won't dare to make a move against them unless he can get me out of the picture first."

Fiyero considered this new information with slight indignation as he walked. If what Elphaba was saying was true, then the Wizard had been keeping relevant information from the Gale Force. Fiyero had been told that there might be Animal settlements in this area, but was it possible the Wizard had known their exact locations all along?

As he and Elphaba entered the village, numerous heads swiveled in their direction. Fiyero felt a growing unease as several wary gazes fixed onto him. Elphaba seemed oblivious.

It wasn't long before a portly Sheep came racing up to them. She glanced at Fiyero, eyes lingering over his rumpled Gale Force uniform, before turning to Elphaba with a questioning gaze.

"He's a visitor, Calla," Elphaba said, as though that were a sufficient explanation. The Sheep did not seem satisfied by such a vague statement.

"It's not that I don't trust you, Elphaba,” she said, wringing her hooves nervously, “but how can you be sure that he's not a threat? Where did he even come from?"

"Don't worry. He's under a spell and won't be causing any trouble. As for where he came from….” she trailed off for a moment before continuing, “He got too close to this place for comfort the other day. I had no choice but to keep him from returning to the Emerald City.”

The Sheep looked incredulous."He's one of the Wizard's men, isn't he? Why on earth would you bring him here? Honestly, I thought you had more common sense than this!"

Elphaba dropped her eyes to the ground, looking for all the world like a child being reprimanded. "Calla, he won't be a threat. I swear,” she said. “I'll keep a close eye on him. You know how careful I am when it comes to these sorts of things.”

The Sheep's gaze seemed to soften a bit. "I know, Elphaba, but you know I feel about outsiders,” she hardened her voice as she glanced towards Fiyero and said, “Especially humans. And this man is one of our enemies. I won't press the matter, but I hope you have a good reason for this. Just be careful."

Elphaba nodded and said, "I always am." The Sheep seemed satisfied with this and, with one last dubious glance in Fiyero's direction, she finally turned and walked away. It was obvious that she trusted Elphaba's judgment enough to drop the argument.

After witnessing the scene, the other Animals seemed more at ease and went back about their business. Elphaba continued walking as though nothing had happened. She still paid no mind to Fiyero, who was tagging along behind her like a small child. He was still thinking about the encounter, and he realized there was a question Elphaba had neglected to answer.

Gathering up his courage, he moved to fall into step beside her and said, "You know, that Sheep had a point. I mean, you obviously have no reason to trust me, and I am one of the Wizard's men. Why would you bring me here?" It was true that he was grateful for the chance to escape his prison for a few hours but, if he was honest with himself, it didn't make much sense that Elphaba had agreed to take him along.

She paused as if thinking it over, before she turned to him and said slowly, "I honestly have no idea." It wasn't a particularly informative response, but the sincerity in her eyes caught Fiyero off guard. In that moment, he realized that Elphaba seemed to be as confused by him as he was by her.

She held his  gaze for only a split-second, and the moment was over before Fiyero could completely comprehend what he’d seen. Elphaba turned away and fixed her eyes on the path ahead once more, leaving a confused Fiyero stumbling along behind her.

The two continued to generate whispers and incredulous stares as they made their way through the camp. Elphaba was pointedly ignoring this, but Fiyero was having a bit more trouble. Each time he glanced at one of the Animals, they would quickly turn away just as his gaze fell on them. He supposed it was to be expected if the camp wasn’t used to human visitors, but it was still unsettling.

Fiyero followed behind Elphaba as she made her way past several identical tents with a determined stride. The settlement was larger than it had appeared from the outside and he marveled that she was able to navigate it so easily. They stopped before a tent that was slightly larger than the others and Fiyero, who had been staring off into the distance, walked directly into Elphaba. She shot him an annoyed glare but said nothing as the two proceeded inside.

The tent turned out to be some sort of learning facility that was occupied almost to capacity with Animals of all ages and species. There were two bookshelves along the far wall, each half filled with tattered books that looked worn from use. The first shelf was stocked with brightly colored children's books, while the second held larger, more substantial looking novels and manuscripts. There were a few tables and chairs scattered about, at which a number of the older Animals were seated. The younger ones seemed content to sit on the floor, some playing with whatever simple toys were available while others read picture books. There were a few Animals moving around the room to interact with the others, and Fiyero assumed these were the teachers. He watched the scene with interest, not sure what to make of it.

Elphaba saw the look on his face and turned to explain as they walked further in. "This serves as the school building for the community. The children come here to learn to read and speak properly, and older Animals who have lost the ability come here to try and gain it back. A few of the older Animals who were educated before the Animal bans were instituted serve as the teachers and pass their knowledge on to the next generation."

Fiyero simply stared ahead, only half taking in what Elphaba was saying. Any remaining doubts he'd had about the intelligence of Animals were rapidly evaporating from his mind. He watched as a young Cheetah handed off a doll to the Antelope sitting next to her and marveled at the strange sight.

Elphaba continued on, ignoring the fact that Fiyero was only half paying attention. She gestured to the meager collection of books and said, "All of the books and toys were donated by Animals who took their belongings with them when they moved out here. They were the smart ones who got out as soon as the bans started. That’s how they managed to preserve their powers of speech."

Fiyero wasn't sure what to say. He knew what had happened to the Animals who hadn't left the cities in time. He'd been down to the dungeons where those poor souls were kept crammed into tight cages. He'd seen the forlorn faces of so many different species and had personally ignored their pleading eyes and silent cries for help. They had been nothing but stupid beasts and not worth his time. He could feel the shame burning on his face and glanced down at his feet, suddenly feeling like a traitor even though he'd never officially subscribed to the cause.

He kept his eyes trained on the floor, even as Elphaba marched up to a young-looking Gazelle and said, "Hello, Sentra, I trust you're well. How is progress today?"

The Gazelle, who had been stacking a pile of wooden blocks, started and turned quickly as Elphaba spoke. "Oh, goodness, Miss Elphaba, I didn't see you come in," she said. Her gaze lingered on Fiyero, but she clearly didn't have the authority to question his presence. Instead, she turned back to Elphaba and continued, "Nothing very new to report. The children are learning as quickly as ever, and the elders are making as much progress as can be expected."

Elphaba nodded, her gaze sweeping over the room before returning to the Gazelle once more. "Has the Wolf who was brought in last week made any progress yet?"

The Gazelle shook her head. "No, still nothing. We have at least one teacher working with him constantly, but there hasn't been any coherent speech yet."

Elphaba sighed. "I suppose that's to be expected. How long did you say he was caged before you found him?"

"Well, there's obviously no way to be certain, but based on the severity of his regression, we've estimated that it was most likely two years or more," the Gazelle said, her eyes hardening.

Elphaba nodded again. "Thank you, Sentra. Be sure to notify me immediately if anything comes up.”

The Gazelle nodded quickly before moving to assist a small Fawn who was holding her picture book upside down. Fiyero glanced over at Elphaba, who once again began to explain as the two made their way toward the door. "This village is not only home to the Animals who live here, but also any escapees who need help,” she said. “There was an elderly Wolf who was found wandering around by the camp last week. We know he's an Animal, but he was in a cage for so long that he's almost completely reverted into an animal. We fear the damage may be permanent, but we're not entirely sure because we've never seen a case this severe."

Fiyero nodded, still in awe of everything that was going on in the room. He had never known that there could be entire communities of Animals living together and helping each other like this. He didn't understand how the misunderstandings about them could run so deep. He was starting to lend more credence to the information Elphaba had given him.

Fiyero found himself wondering what he would do in the event that he was able to return home. With everything he'd learned, how could he continue to lead the hunt for the Witch and attempt to stomp out bands of Animals who were just trying to survive?

And yet, he felt a pit of guilt settle into his stomach as he realized there was a likelihood he would return to his old post. What else could he do? Fiyero wasn’t sure that he had the courage to oppose everything he'd ever known. Maybe Elphaba was brave enough to keep her head up with all of Oz against her, but Fiyero was used to having people admire and respect him. For the first time, Fiyero found himself grappling with the fact that he was not a very good person.

He continued to trail behind Elphaba, trying his best to conceal his inner turmoil. For a moment it appeared as though she planned to leave, but she instead veered in the direction of a group of younger children who called out enthusiastically as she approached. Elphaba bid them all hello, then took a seat in a blue plastic chair as they hastily crowded around her. One of them, a young Zebra, approached her and handed over a thin children's book. Fiyero stood on the outside of their little circle, looking on awkwardly.

Elphaba opened the book and began to read, capturing the children's attention instantly. Fiyero was quite surprised by the easy, almost motherly tone her voice took on as she told the story, even changing her voice a bit for each character. Fiyero soon found himself just as entranced as the children, though he didn't catch a word of the actual story.

Soon enough she'd finished with a firm 'The End', and she snapped the book closed with a flourish. The children gave a polite round of applause, expressed their thanks, and moved on to other activities. Fiyero got the feeling that Elphaba did this sort of thing quite often. She stopped to talk to a few of the children before she finally stood and turned to leave, motioning for Fiyero to follow. She didn't look at him as she passed, but Fiyero could have sworn he'd seen a smile grace her features as he caught a glimpse of her face. A smile which, he noted, was actually quite lovely.

The thought came to him so suddenly that it struck Fiyero like a freight train. He stopped in his tracks, startled, before he shook his head and jogged ahead to catch back up with Elphaba. He decided it must be the shock of the past few days finally catching up with him. Surely he had not just noticed something attractive about Elphaba, of all people. She had green skin for Oz's sake, and he was engaged to Glinda the Good, a woman known far and wide as the most beautiful in the Emerald City. Sure, Fiyero had fooled around a bit in college, but he'd been completely faithful to Glinda ever since they'd become engaged. He shook his head again, chalking it up to temporary insanity or some kind of warped reaction to Elphaba being his captor.

Fiyero forcefully shoved the strange thoughts from his mind and raised an arm to shield his eyes once more as he and Elphaba exited the large tent and stepped back into the sunlight. He wasn't sure where they were headed now, but his curiosity was most certainly piqued. They had just begun to walk when a small, but vaguely familiar voice called out from behind them.

"Miss Elphaba!"

Fiyero turned to identify the source of the voice and recognized the Bear Cub that Elphaba had tended to the day before. Elphaba bent down and scooped the Bear up as the Cub ran straight into her arms.

"Hello there, Lorgen," Elphaba said, her voice light. “How are you feeling today?” She was smiling again. Fiyero forced himself to ignore this.

"I'm fine! I wanted to go to school, but mama wanted me to stay home," the Cub replied, bouncing slightly in Elphaba's arms. Her expression grew concerned as she asked, "Did I miss story time?"

"I'm afraid you did," Elphaba responded. "But I'll tell you what. I'll let you pick the story tomorrow.”

The Bear's eyes lit up almost instantly as she said, "Okay! I already know which one I want to hear!" She clapped her paws together for emphasis, as though this was the most exciting thing that could possibly happen to her. Her gaze fell on Fiyero, and she seemed to perk up even more. "Oh, hello Mister Fiyero!” she said with a cheerful grin. “It's nice to see you again!"

Fiyero smiled back and waved at her in acknowledgment. There was a short pause, before Lorgen's ears twitched and she spoke again, "Oh, I have to go. I hear my mama calling me. I'll see you tomorrow, Miss Elphaba. Mister Fiyero."

With that, the cub leapt from Elphaba's arms, bounding off back in the direction she'd come. Elphaba stared after her, still smiling as she watched the cub's retreating back.

Fiyero cleared his throat and said, with some uncertainty, "You know, it really is amazing. What you do for these Animals, I mean.”

Elphaba said nothing in response, but looked away as Fiyero spoke. It could have been a trick of the light, but Fiyero could have sworn he saw her cheeks flush deep green as she turned away.

Chapter Text

The two did not return to the cave until later that evening, when the sun had long since begun to dip below the horizon. After their run in with Lorgen, Elphaba had visited the medical center to see if there was anyone in need of help. They’d found that most of the patients had only minor injuries, nothing that required her to retrieve her spell book. After that had been a short trip to take stock of supplies, and then they'd finally departed with Elphaba promising to return tomorrow.

They walked in silence as they returned to the cave. Elphaba seemed satisfied by the day's work, while Fiyero was still thinking over all he'd seen. He couldn't get over fact that this place seemed just as civilized as any other part of Oz, or that the Wizard's goal was to stomp it out. Fiyero hadn't seen even a glimpse of the Animals' supposed savagery throughout his visit. Nothing even remotely resembling a fight had broken out over the course of the entire day.

The two entered the cave and Fiyero stepped closer to Elphaba until his eyes adjusted to the light, as her all-black attire made keeping track of her difficult. After what seemed like an eternity of following blindly, Fiyero bumped into her as she stopped before the entrance to the cave.

With a sweep of the hand the boulder rolled back, and Fiyero was blinded once more as the light from the cave penetrated the darkness. He wondered how on earth Elphaba's pupils ever adjusted to such rapidly changing ambiance.

The first thing Elphaba did upon entering the cave was pick up her spell book and recite a brief incantation. As she finished, Fiyero felt the sensation of the bonds he hadn't even noticed before releasing him. With that finished, the two were left standing awkwardly in the middle of the cave, unsure of what to say.

Elphaba turned away and moved to the other side of the room to hang up her cloak. Fiyero took this moment to initiate an awkward conversation. "I uh…thanks for letting me tag along. It really is wrong. What the Wizard is doing, I mean. I'm glad I got a chance to see that."

Elphaba turned, looking pleasantly surprised by his admission. "Yes well, ignorance seems to be the main problem in Oz these days, doesn't it? Perhaps if people knew what was actually going on, they wouldn't be so ready to condemn. Of course, anyone who does fight the Wizard’s lies is immediately denounced as a traitor, so I suppose I see why that option isn't very appealing."

"I'm sorry about what happened to you," Fiyero said softly as Elphaba finished her rant. He was rapidly coming to terms with the fact that the Wizard might be exactly what Elphaba said he was. He couldn't continue to deny it after everything he'd witnessed.

Elphaba gave him an odd look for a moment before she asked, "Why are you doing this?"

Fiyero raised an eyebrow. "Doing what?"

Elphaba rephrased her question. "Why don't you hate me? I kidnapped you. I'm holding you as a prisoner. I've basically ruined your life. Why are you trying to justify that?"

Fiyero thought this over for a moment. In all honesty, he wasn’t sure why he didn't feel more contempt for the woman in front of him. He knew that what she said was true, and yet there was something that made it hard to loathe her. Perhaps it was the fact that she'd obviously had a much harder life than he had, or the fact that she was so passionately working for a good cause. It took Fiyero a few moments to answer the question. "I'm not sure. It's not your fault that you kidnapped me. You didn't have a choice. I was the one trying to capture you.”

Elphaba looked down at her hands and said, "Even so, I'm keeping you here against your will. You're one of the Wizard's men, and you've had his principles drummed into your head your entire life. I honestly find it rather hard to believe that you'd completely change sides in under a week."

Fiyero studied her for a moment, suddenly understanding her line of questioning. She didn't trust that he believed in her cause. He supposed that was a logical conclusion. He was a Gale Force guard tasked with capturing the Wicked Witch of the West. It probably seemed suspicious that he'd so readily become an ally. She probably believed that he'd wanted to see the Animal camp as an excuse to search for a means of escape. But capturing the Witch had always just been orders for him. He'd never chosen it for himself.

While it was true that Fiyero wanted to return to the comforts of his previous life, his imprisonment was beginning to feel like an opportunity for change he hadn’t realized he’d been searching for. When he'd been a part of the Gale Force, he was one in a sea of officers mindlessly doing the Wizard's bidding, but now he was seeing the ugly truths of the country he lived in for the first time. He felt as though there was a hollowness within him that was slowly being filled with principles and the ability to think for himself.

He turned his thoughts to the Witch herself, or Elphaba, as he'd now come to know her. It was strange how much his opinion of her had changed in such a short period of time. Ever since college, he'd heard terrible stories about the Wicked Witch of the West and the way she terrorized Oz. She was almost iconic, the ultimate fear of every Ozian citizen. That had certainly included Fiyero. Ever since he'd first read about the woman in the papers, he'd been scared out of his mind at the prospect of ever meeting her face to face. When he’d become captain of the guard those fears had only deepened, and he’d gone out on each assignment plagued with the thought that he might not come back alive.

Yet now that he'd actually met Elphaba, he couldn't believe how much time he'd wasted living in fear of a person who didn't exist. There was no Wicked Witch of the West, only a passionate, headstrong young woman who'd paid for the Wizard's shortcomings. A woman who, Fiyero had begun to notice, was actually quite lovely once the initial shock of her odd coloring faded.

Once again, Fiyero tried to force the intrusive thoughts from his mind, but he found that the task was growing increasingly difficult. Fleetingly, he tried to think of Glinda, but the thought of his fiancée did nothing to quell the strange feelings beginning to bubble up in his chest. He'd found himself starting to admire Elphaba more and more since they'd left the camp together. He kept trying his best to look the other way, to convince himself that he was only seeing these things because he was male, and she was the only human female in range.

And yet somehow, deep in the recesses of his recently activated brain, Fiyero could sense that this wasn't the case. The strange sensation he'd been experiencing around her was unlike anything he'd ever felt before, even when with Glinda. Whenever he was close to her, he felt short of breath. He could feel his stomach tying in knots. At first, he'd written this off as the aftereffects of his initial fear, but now he couldn't help but think that it might be something more. The thought scared him.

Fiyero broke from his train of thought and came back to reality. He refocused his eyes and realized that he'd been silent for a concerning length of time and that Elphaba was staring at him with a curious expression on her face. He took a breath and tried to recall what they'd been talking about, then responded, "I know you may not trust me, but I honestly do believe in your cause. I don't hate you, Elphaba. I may not be happy with the current circumstances, but I know you did what was necessary to ensure your survival.'

Elphaba gave him a strange look, and her expression suddenly became unreadable. Fiyero soon became uncomfortable with this, and asked, "What?"

"Nothing. I just never thought I'd see the day when one of the Wizard's men grew a conscience," she said. She gave him a weak smile, which he returned.

The two lapsed into silence, though it was not as awkward as he would have expected. Something about the air of the room had turned odd, though Fiyero couldn't quite place it. He stared hard at Elphaba, as if trying to read her mind. For a moment, he thought he saw some of his own muddled feelings reflected back at him in her confused expression. Vaguely, through the haze of his scattered thoughts, Fiyreo took notice of the fact that their faces seemed to be moving closer together.

Time in the room seemed to freeze as the rest of the world faded into white noise. Fiyero forgot his current situation and who the person standing across from him was. All sense of reason fled his mind as he suddenly leaned in and kissed the Wicked Witch of the West.

Fiyero’s capacity for thought abandoned him as he lost all sense of self and rationality. He was not Fiyero Tigelaar. He was not engaged. The woman on the receiving end of this kiss was not the most dangerous fugitive in all of Oz. Fiyero’s hands traveled to the small of Elphaba’s back and he pulled her close against him. He shuddered slightly as her fingers brushed the back of his neck.

Then, as suddenly as they had begun, Elphaba jumped away from him as though she’d been scalded. The abruptness of it surprised Fiyero, and his eyes shot open to the sight of a very flustered witch.

Elphaba seemed shocked by what had just happened. Her eyes were wide, and her hands had flown to her lips as if she couldn't believe they'd just been pressed against Fiyero's. She held this pose for a couple of moments, before a look of anger flashed across her face. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded. Her cheeks were flushed, but Fiyero couldn't say whether it was from anger, embarrassment, or something else entirely.

"I-I-" he stuttered. Reality came crashing down around Fiyero in an instant. He blinked a few times as his mind began to process what had just taken place. He'd just kissed the Wicked Witch of the West. Setting aside how utterly insane that was on its own, he hardly knew this woman. What he did know included the fact that she was both his captor and a wanted fugitive. And he was engaged.

Even as these very rational thoughts began to flood Fiyero's mind, he couldn’t completely shake off the residual feelings of what had just happened between them. His face was warm, and he could feel a strange electricity buzzing just under his fingertips.

Fiyero spared another glance toward Elphaba, who looked distraught as she raked a hand through her disheveled hair. Fiyero knew that this was not something they could leave unresolved. "Elphaba, I-"

She whirled around and cut him off. "Stop calling me that!" she demanded, her voice taking on some of the shrillness it carried when she was playing the Wicked Witch. She threw her hands up in exasperation and said, "You hardly even know me, and I know nothing about you. I have no idea what it is you're playing at, but you can stop it this instant. If you think I'm the type of woman to be unmoored by such things, you are very sorely mistaken. "

Fiyero was not surprised by the outburst. He'd just been mulling over Elphaba's very clear distrust of him, and then he'd gone and made the matter several times worse.

He was at a loss on how to explain any of this. He didn't quite understand what had happened himself. “Look, I'm sorry. I don't know what-” he began, but Elpahaba quickly cut him off.

"That's enough. You-are-my-prisoner. I know I'm not entirely blameless here. I've allowed you too much leeway, and now you're thinking that I'm naïve, that maybe you can exploit my weaknesses to your benefit. I'm not a fool,” she said

Fiyero began to feel as if he was slowly suffocating. He didn't understand anything right now. He felt as though he were back in college, staring in confusion at an exam he hadn't bothered to study for. All he knew was that he hadn't done this out of malice. He wasn't trying to hurt or manipulate the woman in front of him. He just had no idea how to communicate that as Elphaba continued her tirade.

"All of this ends now. There will be no more field trips or blatant errors in judgment on my part. We will return to our previous arrangement. You will remain in your cell at all times, and I would appreciate it if you would just go back to hating me.” She tried to keep her voice low and even, but Fiyero didn't miss the slight break in her words as she finished her last sentence.

Fiyero took a breath to calm himself and responded, "I don't want to hate you, Elphaba. I know that you're a fugitive and I'm aware that I'm a prisoner here, but I don't hate you.” He leveled his gaze at her and asked, “Have I given you any reason not to trust me?"

"You're the captain of the Gale Force!” she shot back. Fiyero had hoped keeping his demeanor calm would help to settle Elphaba's temper, but it seemed to be having the opposite effect. Her voice had risen almost an octave and her hands were balled into fists.

"I know that,” he said, allowing a small amount of frustration to seep into his voice. “But that wasn't even my choice. It was decided for me. Everything in my entire life has been decided for me for as long as I can remember. I've never so much as thought about what I believed, or what I thought was right. I don't want to be that person anymore. I need you to trust me,” he finished.

At his words, Elphaba's eyes blazed, and she responded, "Trust you? What has trusting people ever done but cause me grief? I've been perfectly fine by myself. I would have continued to be perfectly fine by myself if you hadn't been hunting me!"

“I'm sorry, okay? I was just-” Fiyero stopped himself before he could finish with 'following orders'. Somehow, he didn’t think that would be a good enough excuse. He sighed. “I'm not a very good person, okay? You're not wrong about that. I'm spoiled and sheltered and selfish. But I haven't been lying to you. I'm sorry about what just happened. I have no idea what came over me. I won't let it happen again. But please don't shut me out. I want to change,” he said.

Elphaba still eyed him with distrust, but she seemed to have calmed for the time being. Her breathing was still slightly ragged as she searched his face for any evidence of deceit. After a moment, she deflated.

“I've never been any good with people,” she said. “I don't understand them. I've never been particularly adept at sensing ill intentions, so I’ve found it’s easier to just assume them from the start. But I'm tired.” Fiyero could see the truth in her words. There was a depth of exhaustion in her eyes that was far beyond her years. “If you're doing this to trick me, or capture me, so be it. Let trusting you be my downfall.”

Fiyero felt his heart constrict at the sheer defeat in her words. He realized again that Elphaba was just a person. She was a remarkably strong one, but a person all the same. She'd had no one to rely on but herself for years. He wished there was a way to make her believe that he wished her no harm.

“I swear that I'll earn your trust,” he said, infusing as much conviction into the words as he could muster. “You'll see.”

She stared at him for a little while longer, but Fiyero hadn't the faintest guess as to what was going through her mind. After a moment, her eyes darted from his face to the doorway of the small cavern behind him. Fiyero got the message.

Without protest, he turned and made his way back into his makeshift prison. He stood staring at Elphaba from her place across the room, his expression set. Fiyero thought he saw the briefest moment of hesitation, before the boulder rolled into place and blocked her from view.

Chapter Text

Fiyero woke the next morning with his thoughts in turmoil and flinched internally as the events of the previous evening came back to him. He still didn't understand what on earth he'd been thinking. Kissing Elphaba was quite possibly the worst decision he could have made. Setting aside the fact that he still didn't understand why he'd done it in the first place, he couldn't imagine the absolute turmoil he'd cast her into.

Sighing, he dragged himself to his feet and stretched. He glanced across the cavern to the large boulder that still blocked the exit. He wondered what it meant that it was still firmly in place. Had Elphaba already left and decided it was too much of a risk to let him out? Was she still here but making a point of ignoring his presence? He noted that the fruit that usually comprised his breakfast was conspicuously absent. How badly had his actions worsened his current predicament?

Fiyero dropped back into a sitting position and placed his head in his hands. He'd been so sure he was growing as a person, developing a mind of his own. Now he suspected that he was as brainless as he'd ever been.

Fiyero was unsure how long he sat basking in self-flagellation, but eventually he gave a start as the door to his cell rolled open. He glanced up to find Elphaba standing in the doorway, clutching a bowl in her hands so tightly that her knuckles were white.

Neither of them said anything for a long stretch. Fiyero got to his feet and was searching for some way to relieve the tension, when Elphaba thrust the bowl into his hands and said, "Be ready to leave in five minutes."

With no further elaboration, she stepped out of the cavern and crossed the room to retrieve her cloak. Fiyero stared after her, trying to decide what this meant. He knew she'd stated yesterday that she would try to trust him, but he hadn't been sure he believed her. Glancing down at the bowl in his hands, he selected a slice of apple and popped it into his mouth. Absently, he wondered where the fruit she provided came from. He assumed there must be an orchard of some sort nearby, or perhaps she got her supplies from the Animals. Fiyero shook his head as he realized he was merely distracting himself from the matter at hand.

Elphaba glanced back at him as she tied the black cloak around her neck. He could tell that she was troubled, but he was unsure what to say. He finished his breakfast in silence and then made his way across the room to where she stood.

Elphaba recited the same incantation she'd used yesterday, and Fiyero once again felt the invisible bonds settle around his waist. Once that was finished, he turned and followed her without a word. They exited the cave and stepped into the sunlight, and Fiyero realized that it didn't seem to dazzle his eyes quite as badly this time. He fell into step beside Elphaba quickly as she began to move ahead. They both remained silent as they neared the small village.

The pair did not receive as many stares as they had the day before. The Animals seemed to have adjusted somewhat to Fiyero's presence, though he did still receive a few stray looks. Fiyero supposed that he was still an intruder in their eyes.

Elphaba seemed to pick up on some of his discomfort and addressed him for the first time since they'd left the cavern. “It took them a while to get used to my presence too."

Fiyero was relieved that she was speaking with him again. He gave her a small, grateful smile and said, “Then I hope they'll get more used to me in time.”

They walked together in a more companionable silence for a bit after that, until they came upon the same schoolhouse they'd visited yesterday. Elphaba stopped at the doorway and ushered him inside. Even knowing what to expect this time, Fiyero still felt the same sense of wonder as he took in the sight.

After checking up on progress once more, Elphaba led Fiyero to the back of the room, where several eager children were already sitting in a circle. Lorgen was present as well today, and she sprang to her feet as they approached, a colorful children's novel clutched in her paws.

"You said I could pick today, Miss Elphaba," she said with breathless enthusiasm, holding the book out. "This one is my favorite!"

Elphaba accepted the book, smiling at the eager Cub. She moved to take her seat at the center of the circle but halted as though having second thoughts. She turned towards Fiyero, and he tilted his head to the side slightly as her gaze fell upon him.

“You know,” she said, after a moment of deliberation, “why don't we have Mister Fiyero read you a story today?”

There was a small cheer from the children, though they looked a bit confused by the proposal. Fiyero, who hadn't expected to be volunteered in such a way, felt his cheeks flush. He wasn't at all a fan of public speaking, and reading to children was not something he had any kind of experience with. What was Elphaba thinking? Was she trying to punish him? Test his resolve?

Before he could even protest, he found himself shuffled into a tiny plastic chair with the small book in his lap. He stared out at the eager Animal faces with apprehension, unsure of what to do. He was an only child. He'd never been great with children.

Fiyero looked up at Elphaba, who was watching expectantly, and then back down at the book in front of him. It was titled 'The Three Little Bears', a name Fiyero did not recognize. Before he could lose his nerve, he took a deep breath, opened to the first page, and began to read.

The children watched him with rapt attention as he read through the short story, but Fiyero could only concentrate on the page in front of him. He didn't look up until he'd finished, and when he did, he was met with a polite round of applause and several approving smiles. He felt himself relax slightly as he realized his trial was over. His heart rate slowly returned to normal as he rose from the seat and returned the book to the waiting Bear Cub.

As the children dispersed, he turned to Elphaba and asked, "What was that about?"

Elphaba paused before answering. “I thought it might help to make you a part of what we do here. Even in a small way. That maybe you would see some of what I see.”

Fiyero nodded at her explanation. He realized that she was testing him. She wanted to believe what he'd said yesterday, but she needed him to prove it. He had to admit, even such a small contribution had left him with a warmth blooming in the center of his chest. He wondered if that meant he'd passed.

From that point onward, Fiyero could feel Elphaba beginning to loosen up around him throughout the course of the day. There was still a lingering tension, but conversation was coming easier between them. Fiyero supposed that in this place, surrounded by the Animals she cared about, she found it easier to be herself.

When they finally left the village later that evening, Fiyero felt as though some of the walls had begun to break down between them. For some reason, it mattered very much to him that Elphaba feel comfortable around him. He told himself it was merely because she was an extraordinary person who deserved his friendship. He even almost managed to believe it.

After a few moments Elphaba initiated conversation once more. "So, what do you think of the village?” she asked. She paused and then continued, a bit of hesitation in her voice, “I'm sure it doesn't quite compare to the glamour of the Emerald City." She dropped her gaze to the ground as she spoke. Fiyero could sense the unspoken guilt behind her words.

"It’s genuinely one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen,” he said with sincerity. “I appreciate giving me the opportunity to be a part of it, even in a small way.”

He could tell she didn't quite believe him by the way she kept her eyes trained on the ground in front of her. He wasn't sure there was much else he could say to convince her, so he decided to change the subject. "Where did you live? I mean before...everything," he finished, unsure of how sensitive a topic he was broaching.

"I'm from Munchkinland originally," she said. If speaking about this was uncomfortable for her, she gave no indication. "My father was the governor. My sister took over the position after he passed."

Fiyero mulled this information over. He realized that, while it all made perfect sense, he'd never connected the dots before. He knew that Elphaba's sister was the governor of Munchkinland, and that the governor had inherited the position from her father. He hadn't realized that this meant that Elphaba herself was from a political family. No one in Oz really seemed to acknowledge that particular bit of information. Fiyero supposed it was another symptom of having her former identity erased by the Wizard.

Before Fiyero could comment on this, he realized that Elphaba had frozen in place and was staring straight ahead with a look of horror on her face. He followed her gaze and felt a swooping sensation as his heart dropped into his stomach.

There, right outside the entrance to the cave, was a battalion of about sixty Gale Forcers. Based on their position, it was likely that there were additional troops who had already made their way inside. Dozens of heads swiveled in Fiyero and Elphaba's direction as they came into view over the top of the hill. For a few moments nobody moved, and Fiyero could only stare helplessly between Elphaba and his own troops. There was nowhere to run now that they'd been spotted.

Fiyero felt like a complete fool for what now seemed like a glaring oversight. Of course his troops would return to the area of his disappearance to search for him. He was the captain of the guard and Glinda the Good's fiancé. His safe return to the Emerald City would have been made a top priority. The soldiers had likely returned home just long enough to make a full report on his disappearance and gather additional troops before they'd marched right back to find him.

Fiyero chanced a look at Elphaba and could see the shock written across her face. Now that he thought about it, he was surprised that she hadn't prepared for this eventuality. She had to have known his troops would come back for him. With a sinking feeling, he realized that his actions over the past few days had likely thrown her off her guard. She had never planned to let him out of the cave, or to let herself be caught out in the open. He'd inadvertently made himself a liability to her.

The brief period of calm was shattered as the soldiers shook off their confusion. All at once, they began shouting and raced towards the two figures who still stood frozen on the hilltop. Fiyero felt as though he was watching the scene unfold from outside of his body. Elphaba, apparently too stunned to move, made no attempt to flee as twenty of the guards closed in around her. She finally broke from her stupor as two of the guards shoved her arms roughly behind her back. Fiyero watched helplessly as she donned her familiar mask and slipped back into character.

With a few muttered words, the three guards nearest Elphaba went flying, including the two who had been binding her arms. Yet even as she freed herself, the remainder of the guards began to close in on her. She continued to repeat the spell, but for every three guards she repelled, six more took their place. It was obvious she was badly outnumbered and could not access more powerful magic without the aid of her spell book. Fiyero could only look on helplessly as he was shoved away from Elphaba in the ensuing chaos. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Elphaba stopped her chanting. Her chest was heaving with the effort of her frantic resistance. She gave one last look of seething defiance, and then hung her head in defeat. Sensing her surrender, two more guards seized her arms and bound them behind her back with a thick rope. She made no effort to resist this time.

Fiyero watched as she was dragged away. He wanted to shout at the guards, to order them to release her. Yet he knew it was futile. They would never obey such an order. They'd think he'd been placed under the Witch's spell. They would hurt her on his behalf.

He stared after her even as he felt the friendly claps on the shoulder from his concerned comrades. They asked him if he was okay and how he had managed to escape the Witch's lair. He couldn't bring himself to answer. His throat felt as though it had sealed itself shut.

Fiyero caught another glimpse of Elphaba as they pulled her away. She struggled a bit as she turned to face him. He'd expected to see defeat in her eyes but was taken aback as they blazed at him in fury.

Softly, so softly Fiyero that Fiyero almost missed it, she looked into his eyes and said, "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you."

Chapter Text

The march back to the palace was one of cheer and celebration for the Gale Forcers. They could hardly believe the scope of their own success. Not only had they managed to rescue their leader, but they'd finally brought the Wicked Witch of the West into custody. The accolades that awaited them back in the Emerald City were beyond their wildest dreams

Fiyero walked with his head down, practically forgotten in the midst of the revelry and in no mood to celebrate. Elphaba was visible from where he was standing, and he was making it a point to keep her in his line of sight. He wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them and explain himself. He wanted her to know that this had never been his intention, that he hadn’t wished her harm. Yet though she was physically close enough that he could almost reach out and touch her, she may as well have been miles away.

They stopped to make camp a little over an hour later, just as the sky began to darken. Fiyero hoped fleetingly that an opportunity to help Elphaba would arise, but he found with a confusing mix of pride and disappointment that his men were more than competent. They threw Elphaba to the ground and she fell roughly onto her side, unable to catch herself with her hands still bound behind her back. One of the guards stepped forward and bound her feet as well.

The men looked to Fiyero for orders but found him dazed and in no state to provide them. They assumed that their captain was still recovering from his ordeal, and Lieutenant Biels stepped forward to take up command in his place.

“We sleep in shifts,” he barked. “Ten men on the Witch at any given time. Keep your wits about you and alert me if she tries anything funny.”

Fiyero watched helplessly as a group of ten guards closed in around her. One of them gave a kick to her ribs, which she endured silently. Fiyero flinched and turned away.

He made a point to bed down for the night within view of Elphaba, to ensure that he could intervene if the guards got too rough with her. Luckily, they still seemed wary enough that they didn’t attempt anything else. Fiyero kept watch throughout the night while he pretended to sleep. The guards on duty changed shifts four times, but no one else so much as looked at her. Fiyero found himself hoping that Elphaba would be able to pull off an escape, that she would bewitch the guards and disappear into the night, but she only lay on the ground with her back to him, unmoving.

They were up again at first light. The bindings were removed from around Elphaba’s ankles as four guards pulled her roughly to her feet and shoved her forward. The guards broke down the camp and the group continued their march towards the Emerald City. Fiyero’s mind had been racing all night, but he still had no idea how he was going to get her out of this situation.

Word of the Witch's capture must have reached the Emerald City ahead of the party's arrival. As they approached, Fiyero could see that a large crowd had gathered at the gates to welcome the brave heroes home. He felt his blood run cold at the sight. From the corner of his eye, he could see the subtle way Elphaba curled in on herself in anticipation of what was to come.

As they passed into the city, a wall of sound assaulted them. A cacophonous mix of cheers for the Gale Force and curses at the Wicked Witch rang out through the streets. Some of the bolder citizens took it upon themselves to launch items like small rocks and empty bottles at Elphaba, and the guards made no effort to stop it. Elphaba herself remained stone faced, allowing both the jeers and assorted debris to bounce off of her.

They slowly made their way up to the Emerald Palace, guided the whole way by the throngs of Ozians lining the streets. Finally, they ascended the steps up to the heavy front doors of the palace. The guards on duty moved aside to admit them entrance, each casting a cold glare in Elphaba's direction for good measure.

Fiyero was surprised as the party ushered Elphaba straight towards the dungeons upon their arrival. Prisoners were typically brought before the Wizard, who would pass judgment before any further action was taken. Fiyero supposed they weren't taking any chances with Elphaba.

He watched as they overpowered her once more and managed to force her into a cell. By this point she was hardly putting up much of a fight. Fiyero tried to think of something to say, some plausible reason to keep Elphaba out of the dungeons, but he could think of nothing. He was supposed to be the highest-ranking officer among them, but he found himself completely powerless.

Once Elphaba had been secured behind bars, the majority of the Gale Force officers were relieved of duty. Two of them rushed off to tell the Wizard of their success. The rest of the men stayed behind to guard the cell, and Fiyero remained with them as well. He could think of nothing else to do. He glanced back at Elphaba, who was sitting with her legs crossed and a blank expression on her face. She was not going to give the Gale Forcers the satisfaction of showing any sort of emotion.

There was silence for all of about two seconds before one of the more arrogant guards spoke up. "Didn't think you could hide forever, did you?” he asked, a cruel grin on his face. “We were bound to catch up with you sooner or later. This is what you get for all of the pain you've caused." He sneered and spat at her through the bars, but Elphaba didn't so much as flinch. The other guards began to jeer at her as well, they but were cut off moments later as the dungeon door swung open. They all snapped back to attention as a very anxious looking Glinda the Good swept into the room.

With an extremely high-pitched squeal, she bolted straight for Fiyero and enveloped him in a bone crushing hug. "Oh, Fiyero, darling, I'm so glad you're all right!"

Fiyero was startled by the sudden outpouring of affection. He could do nothing but stand still until Glinda was finished, as she'd unintentionally pinned his arms to his sides. Fiyero turned and snuck a look at Elphaba, who had momentarily dropped the disaffected act and was staring at them with eyes as wide as saucers. Her face was a tumultuous mix of emotions. Only Fiyero seemed to have noticed this, as all other attention was fixed on Glinda.

She released Fiyero from her grip a few moments later and turned to address the guards. Speaking in the most authoritative tone she could muster, she said, "I require a moment alone to interrogate the Witch."

The guards protested immediately. "No Lady Glinda! She's far too dangerous. We can't leave you alone with her, even if she is behind bars."

"That's alright. Captain Fiyero can stay with me to make sure nothing happens," she insisted, draping herself across Fiyero's forearm. Fiyero gave a nervous nod of agreement. He was unsure what Glinda was planning, but he was hoping to get her alone before she could speak to Elphaba. He had to convince Glinda that Elphaba hadn't harmed him, that she didn't deserve whatever fate lay in store for her.

The other guards exchanged a look but didn't seem to want to argue with both their captain and his relatively important fiancée. Each of them gave a salute and then excused themselves from the room without further argument.

Fiyero turned to Glinda, intending to appeal to her on Elphaba's behalf, but before he could get a word out, his fiancée turned to the woman in the cell and said, "Oh Elphie, are you alright? What on earth were you thinking?"

"It's nice to see you too, Glinda," Elphaba grumbled, her eyes focused on the floor once more.

Fiyero looked back and forth between the two women, completely at a loss for words. Before he could demand an explanation from either of them, Glinda turned to him and asked, "Fiyero, what in Oz's name happened to you?"

"I-um…I," Fiyero stammered, trying desperately to form a sentence. He wasn't sure whether he was trying to fabricate a lie as to why he'd been missing for a week or ask Glinda why the hell she'd just addressed Wicked Witch of the West as 'Elphie'. He supposed it was whichever of the two left his mouth first.

When Fiyero's pathetic attempts at speech continued to fail him, Glinda turned back to Elphaba and said, "Oh Elphie, I have no idea how we're going to get you out of here! If I let you go, Madame Morrible and the Wizard will know it was me! And I can't ask any of the guards for help. None of them would even consider it! Oh Elphaba…." There were tears in Glinda's eyes now. Elphaba's face had returned to stone.

Fiyero's mind was reeling. Glinda had mentioned Madame Morrible. His thoughts flashed back to the Shiz University card he'd found wedged between the pages of that old Animal Rights book, and he practically felt an audible 'click' as the last few pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

He remembered why Elphaba's name had sounded so familiar to him the first time he'd read it. She was Glinda's college roommate, the friend she'd lost in the Emerald City so many years ago. He recalled the countless letters Glinda had written to him in their college days, first detailing her feuds with her odd roommate, and then their burgeoning friendship. He distinctly did not recall Glinda mentioning that the woman had green skin. She'd only described her roommate as exceedingly peculiar and socially inept. He would have remembered if she'd mentioned the green.

Even so, Fiyero couldn't believe he hadn't connected the dots sooner. Glinda's friend hadn't been killed by the Wicked Witch, as Fiyero had always assumed, she'd become the Wicked Witch. Fiyero had spent the last five days held in captivity by his fiancée’s best friend. He'd kissed his fiancée’s best friend. He felt a strong surge of guilt. It was bad enough that he'd betrayed Glinda, but he knew that Elphaba wasn't going to look favorably on him for this either.

The three of them turned as the dungeon doors swung open once more and Madame Morrible entered. She was flanked by the two guards who had run off to contact the Wizard earlier. The rest of the guards, who had been waiting outside at Glinda's behest, re-entered the chamber as well.

Morrible glanced into Elphaba's cell with a triumphant smirk on her face, before turning to address Glinda. "Well, my dear, I know you probably wanted time to interrogate the witch," she began, in a tone that suggested to Fiyero that she was privy to more than she was letting on, "but I think it would be best if you and the captain retired now and left this matter to the Wizard. After all, your fiancé has been through a dreadful ordeal. It couldn't have been pleasant, being a prisoner of the Wicked Witch of the West."

At Morrible's words, Glinda's expression turned to one of disbelief, and she cast a shocked look in Elphaba's direction. However, she could say nothing with the guards present, and Elphaba appeared unable to look Glinda in the eye. Fiyero wanted to say something, but he knew he'd have to wait until he could get Glinda alone to explain what had happened.

"I'll need ten men to stay and guard this cell,” Morrible commanded, taking charge of the situation. “The rest of you may return to your normal duties. Lady Glinda and Captain Fiyero, please don't worry about this matter any further. It will be sorted out accordingly. Please, go and settle yourselves. You've been through trying times.”

Fiyero didn't see any point in arguing. He took Glinda's hand in his and began to lead her from the room. There was nothing else they could do for Elphaba right now, and the sooner he explained everything to Glinda, the sooner they could formulate a plan to help her.

Yet as Fiyero began to walk away from the cell, he felt a peculiar, yet strangely familiar tingling sensation overcome him. It steadily grew stronger, until he found that he could bear it no more and fell to his knees. In an instant, several concerned guards rushed to his side, trying to gauge what was wrong with him. Yet through the fog of pain clouding his mind, Fiyero already knew what was happening. Elphaba had never lifted the spell she had cast on him the day before.

They were still bonded together.

With the remainder of his rapidly waning strength, Fiyero began to scramble backwards as quickly as he could manage. He wasn't sure if the spell could have any lasting side effects, but he wasn't keen to find out. He dragged himself back into range and then collapsed to the floor in front Elphaba’s cell, looking up at the concerned faces around him as he struggled to sit up.

Ignoring the ringing in his ears, he gave a weak nod in response to those asking if he was all right. He stood up on shaky legs, wobbling slightly as he righted himself. Glinda seemed shocked by the goings on and attached herself to his forearm. Fiyero really wished he'd had a chance to explain before things had gotten so out of hand.

Seemingly satisfied that Fiyero was not in immediate danger, one of the guards turned towards Elphaba. "What have you done to him?"

It seemed that Elphaba had also forgotten about the binding spell, if the look of shock on her face was any indication. She recovered herself quickly as the guard addressed her, schooling her expression into a smug grin.

"I've done nothing," she said, her voice holding a bit more menace than Fiyero had become accustomed to. "It's the effects of a spell I cast yesterday and never had the chance to remove."

"Then remove it now!" the same guard shouted.

Elphaba kept an air of cool indifference in the face of the demand. Fiyero could practically see the cogs turning in her mind as she sized up the guards. Elphaba wasn't a fool. She knew she had the upper hand, and she would play it if it meant a chance at freedom.

"I can't," she replied, narrowing her eyes. "I don't remember the spell to remove it, and my spell book was left behind when I was so graciously escorted here."

The guard appeared to be growing annoyed with Elphaba's flippant responses, and he started to move closer to the bars of her cell. He was stopped by Madame Morrible, who held out her arm in front of him. The man scowled at this, but he didn’t question it as he rejoined the other guards. Morrible stepped up to the bars in his stead.

"I think you had best remove that spell, dearie, if you know what's good for you," she threatened, her voice barely above a whisper. The crowd of onlookers held their breath.

Elphaba stood and moved towards the bars as well, so close that her nose was practically touching Morrible's. "I've told you that I don't remember the spell,” she replied, her voice dripping with an equivalent amount of vitriol. “You're supposed to be so powerful. Why don't you remove it yourself?"

Morrible puffed up as though Elphaba had literally ruffled her feathers. "You know very well there's no chance of my finding the counter spell,” she responded. “Not when you stole the only spell book capable of assisting me, you conniving little thief.” She paused for a moment to let the insult land, and then continued, “I think you're lying. But if you won't remove the spell, then perhaps your death will be swifter than we’d originally intended."

Morrible clearly intended this to be intimidating, but Elphaba only grinned in response. "You wouldn't want to do that," she said with calm certainty. "If you kill me without reversing the spell, then your precious captain dies with me."

A stunned silence met this statement. Even Madame Morrible seemed to have been struck temporarily mute by the audacity of it. Fiyero gaped at Elphaba, his mind reeling. She had certainly never mentioned that particular side effect to him before.

After what felt like an eternity, Morrible regained her bearings and choked out, "You're bluffing."

"Am I?" Elphaba responded, without a moment of hesitation. Her face betrayed absolutely nothing. Morrible sputtered but seemed to have no further response to this. It was clear that she wasn't entirely certain that Elphaba was lying. Fiyero silently hoped that no one was planning to test the theory.

There was another long pause before Morrible spoke again. "The spell book, then," she said through gritted teeth. "Where is the Grimmerie?"

"Somewhere you'll never get to it without my assistance. The entrance to my hideout is well hidden, and only I know the spell to reveal it," said Elphaba.

Morrible appeared to be losing her patience quickly. "Well then? Tell me where it is!" she demanded.

Elphaba crossed her arms.  "I'm sorry, but why would I be inclined to disclose that information?"

Morrible's face had begun to turn an impressive shade of purple, but it was clear she had no response. She had no means of forcing the information out of Elphaba, and she couldn't simply kill the green woman unless she wanted to risk making Fiyero collateral damage. Fiyero wasn't convinced that Morrible cared a lick for his safety, but she couldn't exactly make that known with so many witnesses present. They could consider torturing Elphaba, but there was a chance that such a move could also harm Fiyero. Even if it didn't, Fiyero was certainly ready to pretend it did. There was no easy solution to this predicament. Elphaba had them backed into a corner.

Morrible narrowed her eyes. "Then how do you suggest we get rid of the spell?"

"That's simple," Elphaba said. “Release me, and I'll retrieve the Grimmerie and reverse the spell myself.

It was incredibly likely that Morrible had seen this coming, but she still filled with righteous indignation at the suggestion. "What kind of fool do you take me for? We've waited too long for your capture. We're not going to allow you to slither out of our grasp this time."

"Fine," Elphaba said coolly, "then I suppose the captain and I will be getting rather cozy together. Unless you'd prefer to just kill me and be rid of us both."

Glinda couldn't seem to believe that her friend was behaving this way. She was staring at Elphaba with pleading eyes, clearly bursting to say something. Unable to address her imprisoned friend with so many guards present, she instead turned to Madame Morrible and said, "Madame Morrible, you can't-"

"Do not tell me what I can or cannot do!" Morrible snapped, causing Glinda to take a surprised step backwards. Morrible seemed to realize that she'd gone too far as she registered the looks of shock on the faces of the guards around her. She took a deep breath to compose herself, and then said, in a much calmer voice, "Don't worry, my dear. We're not going to let anything happen to our Captain Fiyero."

Fiyero was immeasurably relieved to hear this. He'd grown rather fond of living.

Morrible turned back to face Elphaba. Resentfully, she conceded, "Fine, you will retrieve the Grimmerie and undo the spell yourself." Upon seeing Elphaba's triumphant smirk, she continued, “But don't think we're just going to let you go. You'll be escorted by a full company of guards, and you will be brought back here directly after the spell is complete."

"Of course," Elphaba replied, though it was clear she was not at all worried. If Morrible was concerned about this, she didn't let it show.

Turning away from the cell, she addressed the Gale Forcer nearest her. "You, go and assemble fifty men to escort the Witch. You are to accompany her to her hideout so that she can undo the spell. Do not let her out of your sight. Do not fall for her tricks. Bring her back here the moment she has released the captain from her clutches, and bring her spell book to me as well."

The guard gave a quick salute and hurried off to carry out Madame Morrible's orders. Elphaba watched all of this calmly from behind the bars of her cell. It was obvious that she was already planning something. Fiyero couldn't help but feel that Madame Morrible was underestimating Elphaba, especially if the green woman was once again in possession of her spell book. Yet he held his tongue, firmly on Elphaba's side. He was desperate to atone for his part in her capture.

The guards Morrible had requested entered a few minutes later and stood at attention. “You leave at once,” Morrible commanded, before sweeping out of the dungeon.

One of the guards stepped forward with a pair of heavy shackles. A group of ten men surrounded Elphaba as they pulled her from the cell and bound her hands in front of her. Fiyero made sure to remain within range of her, not keen on feeling the effects of the spell again.

Glinda did not seem the least bit happy about everything that had transpired. She looked helplessly back and forth between Elphaba and Fiyero, as if waiting for one or both of them to explain themselves. Fiyero cast an apologetic glance in her direction. He felt terrible about leaving without the chance to speak to her, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

Elphaba's face remained expressionless as the guards escorted her from the dungeons and she kept her gaze focused straight ahead. Fiyero couldn't begin to fathom what she was thinking, but he could imagine she was not all too pleased with him.

A few seconds later the dungeons emptied as the last of the guards filed out, leaving only a dazed Glinda standing by Elphaba's now-empty cell.

Chapter Text

The guards marching back to Elphaba's lair were significantly more solemn than the ones who had delivered her to the Emerald City. It was insult enough that the members of the Gale Force had not been rewarded for their success, but now they were forced to escort the Witch back to the very site of her capture. Most of the men hadn't even been given a proper explanation as to why the Witch had been released. There was a steady undercurrent of frustrated grumbling that flowed through the group as they walked.

Fiyero could feel the animosity emanating from Elphaba more palpably than the invisible bonds tying them together. She would not look at him, nor at the guards behind her, instead choosing to keep her eyes trained ahead as though completely unaware of their presence. Fiyero debated whether he could say something to her without the other guards hearing, but decided it was too risky with so many pairs of eyes watching her every move. Instead, he kept quiet and found himself wishing that the intense stare he was boring into the back of her head could impart his intentions.

The journey back to the cave proved to be a rather uneventful, if exhausting, one. They did not stop to make camp this time, as the men who had been sent out with them were freshly rested. The same could not be said of Elphaba and Fiyero, who were making the journey for the second time since morning. Fiyero had at least been offered water and rations, though the same courtesies had not been extended to Elphaba, who was also carrying a heavy pair of shackles around her wrists. Despite this, she betrayed no signs of fatigue or weakness as she marched on at the head of the group.

Fiyero wondered how she intended to escape. He hoped that he could find some time to speak with her before she put whatever plan she had formulated into action. Perhaps there would be an opening after she removed the spell.

The sky was just beginning to grow dark by the time they reached the cave some hours later. The guards looked to Fiyero, who nodded to confirm that Elphaba had led them to the correct location. One of the men stepped forward and seized Elphaba's arm. She flinched at the contact but didn't look at him.

"Okay, Witch," he started, spitting the word as though it were a curse. "We're only here so you can undo whatever hex you've placed on the captain. Try anything funny and you will live to regret it. Do you understand me?"

Elphaba didn’t answer, which seemed to anger the guard. Before Fiyero could say anything to stop it, the man lashed out and slapped Elphaba across the face. She reeled for a moment, and then finally turned to look at him as her eyes narrowed into a glare.

He spoke again, slowly and more deliberately. "I said, do you understand me?"

"Yes," Elphaba answered, her voice dripping with venom. Her cheek was turning an odd shade of purple where he’d struck her. Fiyero felt that he’d be a bit more concerned for his safety right now if he were that guard.

Seemingly satisfied that he'd forced an answer out of Elphaba, the guard let go of her arm and pushed her ahead into the cave. Elphaba and Fiyero moved easily in the darkness while the rest of the guards bumbled behind them on unsure footing. The men were still too close for Fiyero to chance a conversation.

Before long they’d reached the large boulder that concealed Elphaba's hideout. Fiyero could feel the guards around them tense as she began to chant the spell to reveal the entrance, but they relaxed as the boulder rolled away to reveal the room beyond.

Elphaba ignored them and made straight for her spell book, which still lay open on the stone table. Everything in the room was exactly as she had left it. It was as though the journey to the Emerald City had never happened.

Elphaba leafed through the pages quickly, stopping a few moments later when she'd obviously found what she wanted. Fiyero glanced at the page over her shoulder but could make no more sense of the strange writing the first time he'd seen it. After a brief pause, Elphaba began to chant and Fiyero squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the spell's effects. He had a strong suspicion that Elphaba was not doing what she was meant to.

When several seconds passed without incident, Fiyero cracked one eye open. For a moment he thought that nothing had happened, until he did a double take and realized that the guards around them had frozen in place.

He looked back at Elphaba, who stood before him with the spell book still open in her hands. He was surprised that she hadn't cast the spell over him as well.

As if she could read his mind, she said, "Don't give me that look. I would have frozen you too, but I need you conscious to remove the binding spell." Her voice was bitter, and she sounded less than happy with him.

Fiyero knew this was the chance he'd been waiting for and spoke quickly. "You have to know that I didn't intend for this to happen.”

“You almost had me fooled,” she said, ignoring his plea. “All of that talk about wanting to think for yourself and be a better person. I almost believed you. You're one hell of an actor.”

Fiyero was taken aback by the coldness of her demeanor. “I wasn't lying!” he insisted.

“The kiss was absolutely genius too,” Elphaba went on as though she hadn't heard him. “Completely threw me off my guard. I should have realized your men would be looking for you. I should never have let you leave. Apparently one scrap of affection is all it takes to render me a simpering fool. I don't suppose you plan to tell Glinda about that particular facet of your daring escape.”

Fiyero froze. In the chaos he'd forgotten about the camaraderie he'd witnessed between Elphaba and his fiancée back in the dungeons. He was only just beginning to realize how bad this looked. Of course Elphaba believed he'd been manipulating her when it was clear he was in a committed relationship with Glinda.

"Elphaba, you have to listen to me. I didn't kiss you that night because I wanted to trick you. I didn't plan it. It just happened,” he said, his tone colored by desperation.

Elphaba's expression didn't change. Instead, she returned her gaze to the open page in front of her and began to chant. Fiyero felt a familiar sensation as the binding spell released him. Without another word, Elphaba snapped the heavy book shut and crossed the room to retrieve her broom and satchel from the opposite wall.

This was it. She was leaving. He didn't even know why it mattered to him. She would escape and his conscience would be cleared of any part he'd had in her capture. He could go back home and continue to live his life, a possibility that had seemed completely out of reach mere days ago. It was everything he'd wanted since Elphaba had taken him prisoner.

So why did he feel as though he was about to lose something incredibly important.

Before Fiyero could begin to make sense of his inner turmoil, a plume of red smoke sprang up in front of him. When it cleared, Elphaba was gone, leaving a stunned Fiyero behind.

Fiyero sat on a bed in one of the Emerald Palace's many redundant guest rooms, staring at the wall. It had been nearly twenty-four hours since he'd stood in the middle of that cave, mere inches from the spot where Elphaba had vanished. Once she’d gone, the guards around Fiyero had unfrozen almost immediately. Fiyero had enough sense to pretend that she'd frozen him as well, and that he was just as clueless as the other men as to how she'd pulled off her escape.

There had been some amount of frantic searching in the immediate wake of Elphaba's departure. The guards had combed the surrounding area for what felt like hours, a reluctant Fiyero playing his part even though he knew the effort was futile. Once it became clear that Elphaba had, in fact, managed to slip through their fingers, they'd finally called off the search and made camp for the night, somber and silent in anticipation of their disgraced return to the Emerald City.

Fiyero sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He couldn't stop playing the last few minutes before Elphaba's departure over and over in his mind.

He still hadn't spoken to Glinda about everything that had happened. He'd only arrived home a short while ago and had immediately snuck away to get his thoughts in order. He knew that word of his return would reach her soon enough, and that she would seek him out if he didn’t go to her first. He still had no idea what he was going to say to her.  

Deciding that he would put it off no longer, Fiyero slipped off the bed and out of the room. He found Glinda in a nearby parlor, her glazed eyes trained on the pages of a book she was clearly not reading. She looked up as he entered, and then let out a soft gasp. With hardly any hesitation, she threw her book aside and crossed the room to launch herself into Fiyero’s arms. He reeled back slightly as he caught the full weight of his fiancée’s assault.

"Oh, Fiyero dearest, I was so worried!”  Her voice was slightly muffled, as her face was still buried in Fiyero’s chest. She tilted her head to look at him. “Where in Oz's name have you been? How was Elphaba involved in all of this? No one will tell me anything.”

He sighed and guided Glinda into a chair across the room, then took a seat beside her. They stared at each other for a few moments while he tried to think of where to begin.

"I'm fine, Glinda," he said. It seemed like the easiest place to start.

"Where have you been? You've had me so worried," she repeated, her blue eyes shining with concern. Fiyero realized that she must have been worrying over him for almost a week while he’d been missing.

He tried to formulate the most diplomatic response to her question he could manage. "I was captured. By the Wi-“ he cut himself off, remembering that Glinda was in the know, “uh, by Elphaba I mean.”

Glinda gave him a strange look. "How did that happen? Aren’t you the one who was supposed to capture her?”

Fiyero was temporarily affronted by the accusing tone of his fiancée’s voice, so he met it with an accusation of his own. “Why in Oz’s name didn’t you tell me that you’re friends with the Wicked Witch of the West?”

Glinda didn’t seem surprised by the question. She launched into her explanation immediately, as though she’d already rehearsed it. “Dearest, you mustn’t believe everything you’ve heard about her. I’m not sure how she was acting towards you while she had you captive, and I haven’t seen her in a long while myself, but deep down Elphaba is a good person.”  She lowered her voice to a whisper and added, “Most of the things people say about her are lies made up by Morrible and the Wizard.”

Fiyero waited until Glinda was finished and said, “Don’t worry, Glin. I’ve gotten to know Elphaba fairly well over the past few days. I figured out pretty quickly that she’s not what people say she is.” A thought suddenly occurred to Fiyero. “You knew that I’ve been at the head of the hunt for the Witch for two years. You saw me off on my missions to capture her dozens of times and you never said anything. Weren’t you concerned for her?”

“Oh, Elphaba can take care of herself,” Glinda said with a flippant wave of her hand. “Though I’m sure you’ve realized that by now. I heard that she managed to escape from under the nose of all of those Gale Forcers. Madame Morrible is absolutely livid,” she said with a smirk in Fiyero’s direction. Her face grew more serious, and she went on, “But this isn’t something I generally like to talk about. If the wrong person found out, it could jeopardize my entire position.”

Fiyero was mildly surprised to hear his fiancée take such a shallow stance. He knew that Glinda valued her reputation and status above almost all else, he just hadn’t realized that included the well-being of what appeared to be her closest friend.

“So you’ve known that Elphaba was innocent all this time and you’ve never said anything?” he asked.

Glinda must have picked up on his slightly accusatory tone, because she bristled immediately. “And who would listen to me if I did? It’s my word against the Wizard’s and Morrible’s. They would do the same thing to me that they did to her!” she argued. Fiyero couldn’t help but feel that she was trying to convince herself.

Fiyero stared at the woman before him as though seeing her for the first time. Was she really more concerned with her position and appearances than the people she was supposed to care about? Would she cast him aside too if he ever jeopardized her precious reputation? His thoughts drifted, unbidden, back to the green woman he’d spent the better part of the past week with. He thought of her selfless dedication to her cause at the cost of her own happiness, and its stark contrast to the attitude of the woman sitting before him.

Fiyero realized with some shame that he wasn’t much better than Glinda. He too had prioritized his own comfort and security over the wellbeing of others. He’d been complicit in the oppression of the Animals for as long as he’d been in the Wizard’s employ, and he hadn’t spared a thought as to whether any of it was justified. He didn’t want to be that person anymore.

Fiyero must have remained silent for too long, because Glinda was looking at him with a strange expression on her face. “Fiyero? Dearest, is something wrong?” she asked, leaning towards him.

“She doesn’t deserve this,” he said. There was something bothering him. Why did he feel like this was all wrong? Why did he still feel so restless?

Without warning, the image of the kiss he‘d shared with Elphaba flashed through Fiyero’s mind. He felt his breath catch as the tips of his ears went pink, and something suddenly clicked into place.

Oh Oz, he was falling for her.

Fiyero was stuck dumb by the realization. He wasn’t even sure when it had happened. All he knew was that he was home, he was safe, he was reunited with his adoring fiancée, and yet all he could think about was Elphaba.  

Glinda was still looking at him with concern. After what felt like an eternity, Fiyero looked up to meet her eyes and said, “This isn’t right. She’s out there fighting for her life, and she hasn’t done anything wrong. Someone needs to help her.”

Glinda’s look of concern morphed into one of confusion. “Fiyero, what are you talking about? You’re not making any sense. You’ve just been through a trying ordeal. You should really get some rest.”

Fiyero studied the woman in front of him. She felt like a stranger. He’d thought she was perfect once, at least on paper. Yet he was beginning to realize he’d been in love with the idea of her, and with the easy future that their marriage guaranteed him. He’d never been in love with her as a person. How had he never noticed before?

Maybe what he was starting to feel for Elphaba wasn’t real either. Maybe he was just enamored with the thrill of the way she’d challenged everything he thought he’d known about himself. Yet when he thought of Elphaba alone and on the run, probably still hating him for what she perceived as a betrayal, he found he couldn’t stomach it. Fiyero made up his mind.

“I’m sorry Glinda, I really am, but I can’t stay here. I need to find her,” he said.

“What are you saying?” Glinda asked, her tone a mix of hurt and irritation. “You’ve only just come home. We should be celebrating your safe return. Why on earth would you go running off after a woman you met a week ago? I already told you that Elphaba can take care of herself.”

Fiyero shook his head. “This is something I need to do.”

Glinda stood from her chair, looking at Fiyero as though he’d suddenly sprouted another head. “Fiyero, you’re really scaring me,” she said, searching his face for any hint that he was joking. “I don’t think you understand what you’re saying. I’m going to go get the palace physician to come and check on you. Please, just stay here and don’t do anything rash until I return.” She didn’t wait for his response before she turned and hurried from the room.  

For a moment, Fiyero considered waiting for Glinda to return. There was still time to backpedal and pretend that he’d merely been in the throes of delirium due to exhaustion. He had no doubt that Glinda would choose to believe it. He shook his head and set his conviction. He wasn’t going to spend the rest of his life wondering if he’d made a terrible mistake.

Fiyero spared one last glance to the doorway Glinda had just exited through, then turned and left the room through the door on the opposite side. He wouldn’t have a lot of time if he wanted to get out of the palace without attracting unwanted attention. He made a brief stop at the kitchen to pick up some rations, then made straight for one of the less conspicuous exits.

He knew he should have mentioned his leaving to Glinda. He was doing her a grave disservice by slipping out without so much as a goodbye. He wondered if she would break their engagement over this. He wondered if he would care.

Fiyero strode out the doors and onto the palace grounds as though he was meant to be there. No one paid him much mind, likely assuming that he had official business to attend to. Though the rational part of Fiyero’s mind knew that there was no reason for anyone to suspect him, he couldn’t help but feel slightly on edge until he’d put a fair distance between himself and the palace gates.

As Fiyero hastened through the streets of the Emerald City, he contemplated just how rash of a decision he was making. Elphaba had disappeared over 24 hours ago. That was more than sufficient time for a head start, especially on broomstick. She could be anywhere in Oz by now. Fiyero had spent almost two years searching for her with no luck, and it was likely she was no keener for him to find her now than she had been then. And yet, despite all of that, Fiyero knew that he at least had to try. Even if she turned him away and wanted nothing to do with him, at least he would know he’d done all he could.

Though he knew it was most likely pointless, he decided that the best place to start would be Elphaba's old hideout. He was almost certain she wouldn’t go back there, not after everything that had happened, but he had no better ideas. Perhaps he would be able to find some minuscule clue as to her whereabouts. That thought in mind, Fiyero set out on the now-familiar path back to the caves.

Chapter Text

Fiyero kept his pace steady, but not frantic, as he made his way back to the caves. Time was not necessarily of the essence, as there was no guarantee that he would find Elphaba any time soon. She’d had almost a day’s head start, and Fiyero had no leads, only the fragile hope that a visit to her formed hideout would provide him with some sort of clue. It was the first time that Fiyero had made the journey on his own, but he knew the way well enough by now that his legs seemed to carry him there of their own volition.

It took several hours, but eventually Fiyero emerged back into the familiar clearing. He took a deep breath to steel himself, and then continued onwards towards the caves. He didn’t have very high hopes, but it felt like a first step, regardless. He made his way inside and waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness.

He glanced around only for a moment before heading further in. His legs guided him from memory, and it wasn’t long before he found himself standing at the entrance to the former hideout. Yet as he stared into the now-dark crevice, he felt his heart sink into his stomach.

Any hope that Elphaba had returned to this place was dashed in an instant. It was completely dark and devoid of life. The small sphere of light that had once occupied the corner of the room had obviously gone out some time ago, plunging the small cavern into darkness. Fiyero had trouble seeing as he made his way inside, and as a result he stumbled over the stone table that had once held Elphaba's spell book. Catching his balance, he squinted into the darkness in an attempt to improve his vision.

After a quick visual sweep of the main section of the cave, Fiyero carefully made his way over to the smaller room in which Elphaba had kept him trapped. As he moved into the center of the small space, he was reminded of just how cramped it was. It was also as dark and silent as the rest of the cavern.

It was around this time that the reality of the situation really began to sink in. Though he hated to admit it, Fiyero had been clinging to the hope that he would find some sort of clue in his exploration of the cave. What was he supposed to do now? He was just one man on foot, and she was a witch on a broomstick. It was hardly fair. Temporarily overcome by the futility of the situation, Fiyero slammed his fist into the wall before he turned and went back into the main room of the cavern.

He made his way back towards the entrance, sliding his hand against the wall as he went to keep himself from bumping into anything. He paused as he felt his hand catch on something irregular. Backing up, Fiyero ran his hand over the spot again. Something wasn't right. One particular section of the wall wasn't as smooth as the rest. Peering closer, he could see that a small portion of the wall appeared to have been cut away and then fit back in. It was almost imperceptible, and Fiyero could barely see it in the darkness.

He pressed his hand against the right side of the stone panel and was pleased to see the opposite side jut out a little. Taking the protruding side, he managed to pull the stone all the way out. As he did so, a couple of papers fluttered to the floor. Curious, Fiyero set the stone panel down and picked them up.

Fiyero's eyes widened in recognition as he went through the papers. They were the same ones he'd discovered hidden under the rock on his first day as Elphaba's prisoner. He turned a familiar emerald envelope over in his hands, remembering the first time he’d found it. That day felt like years ago now.  

Setting the papers down, he removed the rest of Elphaba's belongings from the space in the wall. He recognized the two books he'd seen the first time and sat down on the floor to examine them. He opened the smaller one first, but it was impossible to make out what was written on the pages in the darkness. After a few moments he stood again, gathered the papers, and exited the cave.

Once outside, he waited for his eyes to adjust to the bright sunlight before turning his attention back to the books. Taking a seat on the grass, he once again opened the smaller of the two. Now he could see that the book was a diary, with entries written in a tidy cursive that he assumed was Elphaba's. He flipped through the book quickly, fascinated as he skimmed the different entries. It appeared that she had started the diary before Shiz and continued writing in it until she'd reached the last page at some point while she was still in college. Fiyero set the book aside, resolving to take a better look at it later, and picked up the larger one.

This book revealed itself to be a binder, filled with what looked like papers and reports from Elphaba's Shiz days. He was impressed by the perfect marks that adorned the top of each page and found himself wondering what Elphaba would have been like in college, before she'd become the Wicked Witch of the West. He imagined she would have been just as passionate and determined as she was now, just possibly with a bit less hostility.

He stopped flipping through the pages as he noticed that one of the papers in the binder had a large red 'F' printed across the top. This was in such contrast to the rest of her grades that Fiyero stopped and read the paper over.

It was an essay on Animals, and Fiyero could find no fault with it. It was well written and Elphaba had argued her points brilliantly. Puzzled, Fiyero flipped the page over, and finally found the reason for the failing grade. There, scrawled in red pen, was a note from whichever professor had graded the paper. It read "Does not complete the given assignment. You were to analyze the differences between humans and Animals and describe the positive effects of the Animal bans."

Fiyero smiled softly, running his fingers over the page. That was why Elphaba had saved one failing grade among her perfect marks. She'd sacrificed her perfect average for the sake of her beliefs. He'd only known Elphaba for a short while, and yet that seemed exactly like her.

Closing the binder, Fiyero gathered the papers and stood up with a new-found determination. It was as though seeing even this little bit of Elphaba had restored his fragile sense of hope. He was going to find her, however long it took. He would not spend the rest of his life wondering what might have been.

Brushing the dirt off his pants, Fiyero thought on his next course of action. The only other lead he had was the nearby Animal camp. She hadn’t attempted a return to the cave, but perhaps she’d deemed the village safe enough to chance it. Without further hesitation, he shoved the collection of documents into his rucksack and set off. 

He reached the town in a matter of minutes and was surprised by what a familiar sight it was, considering he’d only visited twice. He hoped that the Animals would remember him well enough that they wouldn’t protest his presence.

Feeling apprehensive, Fiyero entered the small camp and kept his head down as he went. The Animals eyed him with blatant suspicion, just as Fiyero had feared they would, and he wondered if word had reached them about Elphaba’s capture and subsequent escape. He hoped that they didn't believe he'd had anything to do with it.

Despite the unwanted attention, Fiyero pressed on, trying to decide how best to go about his search. He couldn't very well barge into the Animals' tents, and he wasn't too keen on asking any of them if they'd seen her. He was beginning to feel as if coming here had been a mistake, but he was woefully short on other ideas at present.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted someone familiar. It was the Sheep that Elphaba had reported to the first time she'd brought him into the village. He believed her name was Calla. His heartbeat quickening, Fiyero shuffled his way over to where she was standing. She seemed surprised to see him there, but Fiyero spoke before she could say anything.

“I’m looking for Elphaba. I was wondering if she’s passed through here recently," he said. He tried to suffuse his voice with confidence but suspected he was failing miserably.

The Sheep's eyes narrowed into a glare as she replied, "I haven't seen Elphaba since the two of you left here two days ago. It's very unlike Elphaba to be away for so long, and she was with you the last time we saw her. You’ll forgive me if I'm a bit suspicious."

Fiyero wasn't sure how to respond. Perhaps the Animals didn't know as much as he'd initially suspected. He was reluctant to explain everything that had happened over the past days to the Sheep, especially since he was suspicious that Elphaba didn’t want him to find her. He simply cleared his throat and said, "Elphaba's not in any danger. We were just separated and I’m trying to find her. I need to deliver a message.”

The Sheep obviously didn't buy this. "I thought Elphaba said she couldn't let you go.”

Fiyero wracked his brain for a suitable answer. It failed him and he responded lamely, "I uh…I got off for good behavior."

There was a short pause, before the sheep said curtly, "I've already told you that we haven't seen her. It would be best if you were on your way now."

But Fiyero was no longer paying attention. He was certain that he’d just seen the end of a piece of black fabric disappear into the schoolhouse from over Calla’s shoulder. Feeling his pulse quicken, he turned to the Sheep and said, "Right, uh thanks. I guess I'll just go then."

He brushed past her and walked a short distance away until he felt she was no longer watching him. He checked over his shoulder for reassurance, then doubled back and slipped into the schoolhouse.

His eyes darted around, searching for a flash of green among the Animals crowded into the small room, but it quickly became apparent that Elphaba was not among them. Fiyero stood blinking in confusion, until he saw the Gazelle, Sentra, stocking blankets onto a shelf a short distance away. His heart sank as he realized one of them was a familiar shade of black.

Crestfallen, Fiyero was about to turn and leave, when a small voice called out from behind him.

"Mister Fiyero!"

Startled, Fiyero turned and was met with the sight of a familiar Bear Cub. She smiled cheerily up at him, a small plastic doll clutched in her right paw. Fiyero smiled despite himself, glad to see a friendly face. He said, "Well hello there, Lorgen."

She looked up at him, innocent curiosity written on her features. "What are you doing here without Miss Elphaba?" she asked.

Fiyero's smile dropped. "Actually, I'm looking for Miss Elphaba. I haven't seen her in a couple of days, and I thought she might have come here. Obviously, I was mistaken,” he explained.

Lorgen cocked her head to the side and said, "What do you mean? Miss Elphaba came by just yesterday."

Fiyero's head shot up at this. Could it be possible that Calla had been lying to him? That wouldn’t be surprising, now that Fiyero thought about it. The old Sheep had never exactly trusted him. His voice suddenly urgent, he asked, "Lorgen, do you know where she went?"

The Bear seemed taken aback by Fiyero's sudden change in tone, but she responded, "She was talking with Miss Calla. I don't think I was supposed to hear, on account of they were whispering, but I think she was moving to another camp. Why can't she come here anymore, Mister Fiyero? Did something happen?"

Fiyero wasn't sure how to answer her. The small Bear looked so worried that he simply said, "No, everything's fine, I promise. Lorgen, can you tell me how to reach this other camp?"

Lorgen still seemed confused, but she answered Fiyero's question, nonetheless. "It's not really that far. My mama took me there once for a visit. I think you just follow the road past the hospital and then go straight in that direction the whole time.”

Fiyero nodded, feeling his hopes rising once more. "Thank you, Lorgen. I promise I'll make sure that Elphaba’s safe."

Without another word, he turned and left the schoolhouse with a newfound purpose to his stride.

Chapter Text

Focus. Thirsty. Forward. Hot. Tired. Walk.

Fiyero’s thoughts were almost non-existent. They came in short, choppy bursts, reminding him only of the basic needs he was sorely lacking. It was mid-afternoon, and the sun had reached a high point in the sky. Blood pounded in his ears, matching the half-hearted sound of his stumbling footsteps. Fiyero knew that he was sweating, knew that he was dirty from when he'd tripped and fallen, yet he'd become detached from these facts some time ago. All he was conscious of was a burning need to keep moving and the knowledge that if he stopped, he might not be able to get back up again.

Fiyero had long since lost track of time, but he knew it had been almost a day since he'd left the Animal camp and started walking. He was exhausted, having had only a brief four-hour rest during the night. He'd also had little food, save for a meager portion of the rations he’d brought with him. He was attempting to conserve them as much as possible, as he had no idea how long he would be traveling before he reached the Animal settlement. He’d been cautious with his water as well, and his throat had long since become parched in the fierce heat. For all of his training and his position as captain of the Gale Force, survival skills were not Fiyero’s strong suit.

When he'd fled the palace yesterday, running on nothing but adrenaline, hope, and a measurable amount of stupidity, Fiyero had overlooked several important facts. First, he had brought no tracking supplies with him whatsoever. No compass, no maps, nothing at all that could be of any use to him in his purpose of finding Elphaba. He also hadn't accounted for the fact that he could be on the move for days, and the supplies he had brought with him were proving woefully inadequate. Second, it was a very hot time of year. The sunlight was brutal, and Fiyero could feel his skin turning red as the sun baked the back of his neck. On his previous journeys the thick canopy of the forest had protected him, but he had no such luxury now.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly of all, Fiyero had realized that he was almost certainly being tracked by the Gale Force. He had no idea what was going on back at the palace, but Glinda had likely relayed the story of Fiyero’s strange behavior just prior to his disappearance, and there had to be theories developing in the wake of it. Fiyero supposed the most popular would be that the Witch had cast a spell on him, and that he was currently under her thrall. The belief that Fiyero was a traitor who was quite possibly falling for the Witch was probably a less popular theory around the water cooler. Regardless, men would be sent to look for him, and those men would have greater numbers and more adequate supplies. At the rate Fiyero was moving, it would not take long at all for these hypothetical Gale Forcers to catch up with him if they marched in the right direction. Fiyero could only pray that they had no leads on his whereabouts, because he would never forgive himself if he led them straight to Elphaba.

He had a sneaking suspicion that Elphaba would be at least a tiny bit irritated with him as well.

It was in this fashion that Fiyero pressed on, willing himself forward with every ounce of his strength. After some length of time, during which he seemed to drift in and out of conscious awareness of his surroundings, Fiyero finally stumbled across a water source. There was a small, clear stream snaking through the ground just ahead of him. Not actually caring where the water came from, Fiyero dropped to his knees immediately and stuck his whole head into the stream, reveling in the instant relief from the blistering heat. He took several gulps of the water and washed his face. Refreshed and in slightly higher spirits, but with a heightened awareness of his gnawing hunger, Fiyero set off on his path once more.

Sometime later, when the sun had dipped lower into the sky and the light had become softer, Fiyero paused his forward momentum. Running his fingers through his grimy blond hair, he took a long look around and surveyed his surroundings. There was no perceivable landmark in any direction, just grass and shrubs for as far as he could see. Upon further scrutiny, Fiyero found a small bush nearby that held some ripe-looking purple berries that he thought he recognized as safe for consumption. After a meager and not very satisfying meal, he sighed to himself and sat down to rest for a moment.

Fiyero realized that he was now at a crossroads, with an important decision to make. It was becoming painfully obvious that he didn’t have the supplies or the stamina to continue in this fashion for much longer. He needed proper food and water and a long rest, and he was not equipped to provide those things for himself. Fiyero might have been captain of the guard, but he was accustomed to a very comfortable lifestyle. The most grueling tasks he’d ever undertaken had been his searches for Elphaba, and those had never entailed anything more than a dozen or so nights in a proper camp. Fiyero was not built to survive in harsh conditions, and he had never braved this sort of discomfort alone. As large as his ego was, Fiyero was not too dimwitted to realize these obvious truths about himself.

It was with these thoughts in mind that Fiyero sat on the hard ground, massaging his aching calf muscles. He knew there were two options to choose from. The first would be to turn around now and go back the way he’d come. The journey would take him the better part of a day, perhaps a bit more now that he was so worn out and disheartened, but he would at the very least be able to make it back to the previous Animal camp before he collapsed. He knew that the Animals there were not overly fond of him, but he doubted that they would begrudge him the basic necessities of food and water when they saw the shape he was in. He could rest there and get his strength up.

However, if Fiyero chose this course of action, he risked losing his only advantage. He at least had a lead right now, a bit of information he’d gleaned from a small Bear Cub. Lorgen had mentioned that Elphaba was headed to another Animal camp not far from the one Fiyero had left, but he had no way of knowing whether she was planning to stay at that camp, or if she would just be passing through. If he went back for food and rest, it was possible that he could lose Elphaba’s trail for good.

Not that Fiyero had any confirmation he’d ever been on Elphaba’s trail in the first place. After all, he was taking the word of a child. A child who, for the record, had not even been involved in the conversation she had relayed to Fiyero. Lorgen could have easily misunderstood, or accidentally pointed Fiyero in the wrong direction. There was also the less likely, but still possible, scenario in which the Bear Cub had been lying to him from the start and had sent him on a wild goose chase. Maybe Lorgen was just as mistrustful of Fiyero as the Animals in the camp, regardless of her friendly demeanor.

Despite his doubts, Fiyero knew that his other option was to press on in the same direction and continue his search. Drawbacks to this course of action included the fact that if he didn't reach the other camp soon, he might collapse from lack of food and water. If Fiyero kept going and made it too far out to turn back to safety, he might find himself lost in the middle of nowhere and inches from hopelessness. On top of that, Fiyero didn't know if he was going the right way, or how far he still had to travel. He didn't even know if Elphaba would be at the camp when he got there. If he entertained that possibility, then there was a chance that he would be denied entrance when he arrived. Just because he had seen one group of Animals didn't mean he knew them all. Perhaps he would finally reach the camp only to be turned away and left to rot in the wilderness.

It was with all of these possibilities swirling around in his mind that Fiyero began to feel the cold fingers of doubt creeping up on him. How had he landed himself here? A short while ago, his largest concern had been whether Glinda was hogging the bed covers, or whether a particularly dark stain would come out of his favorite shirt. Those simple times seemed like ages ago now. Back then he never would have seen himself as he was now, tired and dirty and lost, thinking out dozens of different courses of action and their possible outcomes. And yet here he was, and there was only one woman to blame.

Fiyero pushed aside the thought of Elphaba and returned his focus to the task at hand. He found that the decision wasn’t coming easily, and he was so tired that reality was beginning to blur with the fuzzy images of an oncoming dream. Without even noticing, Fiyero transitioned from his sitting position to lying slumped on the ground with his head in his hands. Before he had time to realize what he was doing, he let sleep take him.

Fiyero awoke with a start sometime later, struck with a strong awareness that something was wrong. The last thing he remembered was passing out in a clearing, but a quick survey of his surroundings revealed that he was now lying on a makeshift bed inside a small cave.

Shooting up into a sitting position, Fiyero began to look around frantically for some clue as to where he was or how he had gotten there. His first, incredibly hopeful thought was that Elphaba had found him and somehow relocated him to her new hideout, but he discarded that notion only moments later.

The cave in which he currently found himself was very much not Elphaba's style. The mouth was completely open, not concealed as the last one had been. Looking out through the opening, Fiyero could clearly see the trees of the forest, suggesting that it wouldn’t be hard to find this place should someone come looking for it.

Another glance around further confirmed Fiyero's suspicions. The cave was dark, lit only by the moonlight coming in through the opening. It was not lit by magic, as Elphaba’s previous lair had been. The large spell book and the other stacks of worn and tattered paperbacks were also conspicuously absent.

As Fiyero took all of this in, he remembered the most convincing evidence of all, which was that Elphaba was so angry with him that she likely would have left him for dead had she found him.

So the cave he’d found himself in was decidedly not Elphaba’s. This still begged the question of where he was, and how he’d ended up here.

Fiyero sat up further and stretched, wincing at the soreness in his muscles. His body was not used to the amount of strain he had placed on it the day before. His legs cried out in pain as he swung them over the side of the bed and got to his feet, but he pointedly ignored them.

Fiyero gave another quick scan of the room and confirmed that he was the only one present. He also noted that the cave was hardly furnished. Save for the hard slab of grass-covered rock that he’d been using as a bed and another in the center of the room that most likely served as a table, it was devoid of furniture or decoration of any kind.

Fiyero became painfully aware of his still-present hunger when a growling sound from his own stomach startled him. He thought on his options. He could wait for whoever lived in this cave to return and hope that said person would know where he could find some food, or he could strike off on his own again. Given that he was significantly weakened and had no idea where he was or what direction to head in, Fiyero did not deem the latter a favorable option.

Resigned, he sat back down on the edge of the bed and let his head fall into his hands, questioning once again just how he'd managed to get himself into this situation. After a time, he began to doze off, but he was startled awake by the sound of footsteps from outside.

Whatever he had been expecting, it was certainly not the sight of a large Lion filling the mouth of the cave. For a moment Fiyero felt as though his body had gone into shock. His eyes darted around the room wildly, looking for a weapon or an alternate escape route. His fear soon subsided however, when he noticed that the Lion's arms were laden with apples and pears. Fiyero's senses returned to him as he realized that the Lion was an Animal.

"Oh, y-you're awake," said the Lion, laying his bounty down on the stone table. His voice shook slightly, and Fiyero could swear that he saw the Animal's legs quivering.

Still reeling slightly, Fiyero responded, "Uh, yeah…. Where is this place? Is there a particular reason you brought me here?"

The Lion still seemed wary and was keeping as much distance as he could between himself and Fiyero. Fiyero wasn't quite sure what to make of it. After a pause, the Lion answered, "I found you passed out back there near the edge of the forest. It looked like you'd f-fainted or something, so I carried you back here to my cave. These woods aren't very safe at night, and you didn't seem very dangerous so…." He trailed off, as though he were now nervous about what Fiyero's reaction would be.

Fiyero was a bit taken aback by this information. He apparently hadn't realized what rough shape he'd been in. It was possible he owed the Lion his life for bringing him to safety. Smiling slightly, he said, "Oh, well I owe you my thanks then. I suppose I really wasn’t thinking clearly last night.”

Upon hearing Fiyero's words of gratitude, the Lion visibly relaxed. "Oh shucks, it was nothing,” he said. “I just happened to be passing by on my way home when I ran into you. I have to admit, you gave me a bit of a fright before I realized you were unconscious. I don't do so well in the dark…." The Lion trailed off, then took an apple out of the pile on the table and offered it to Fiyero, who accepted it eagerly.

Fiyero didn't speak again until he'd made short work of the apple. When he was finished, he glanced hopefully toward the rest of the fruit still sitting on the table. The Lion followed his eyes and said, "Oh, help yourself. Please."

Fiyero didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed the nearest pear and settled back onto the bed. As he took a bite of it, he said, "It's funny, I didn't realize Lions liked fruit."

The Lion smiled sheepishly. "Oh, well I'm not sure about other Lions, but I'm not much of a hunter myself."

Fiyero cocked his head slightly. "You don't know any other Lions? What about your family?"

The Lion looked down at his feet and responded, "Oh, I never really knew my family. I've been on my own pretty much ever since I was a Cub."

"Really?" Fiyero said, finishing off his pear and reaching for another apple. "Why's that?"

The Lion seemed to grow nervous again, and his eyes darted from side to side as though he feared someone might be listening. Moving in closer to Fiyero, he whispered, "Have you ever heard of the Wicked Witch of the West?"

Fiyero's eyes shot up. He was suddenly very interested in what the Lion had to say. Wiping his mouth, he responded tentatively, "Yes, I suppose everyone has at this point."

The Lion nodded and continued, "Well, I don't remember this very well, but when I was younger, I was kidnapped and imprisoned. These people…they killed my mother and put me into this strange metal box that had bars all the way around. Most of the details are fuzzy, but I do very clearly remember a green woman. I somehow managed to escape from that place, and eventually I found my way here. I've been living here ever since. I’m too afraid to leave the forest."

"And you think that this green woman you remember is the Witch," Fiyero supplied, watching the Lion's face carefully.

"Well, I can only assume so," the Lion answered. "I don't get out much, but sometimes other people pass by, and I can hear their conversations. I've heard talk of a powerful witch with strange green skin who goes around terrorizing innocent people." The Lion seemed to be frightening himself with his own words. After a moment he paused and changed the subject. "B-But I've been rambling on about myself for too long. What about you? Why were you out in the forest alone so late at night?"

Fiyero, choosing his words carefully, said "I'm looking for a friend, someone I think might be in trouble. I must have pushed myself too hard, and that's probably why I’d passed out by the time you found me."

"Trouble?" the Lion repeated, his voice a mix of fear and awe, "You must be pretty courageous then."

"Oh, uh, yeah I guess so," Fiyero said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I really need to get going, but I do have to thank you for your hospitality. I don't know if I would have made it if you hadn't run into me."

"Oh, you're going already?" the Lion asked, looking forlorn.  

Fiyero looked at him curiously. "You know, there are one or two well-established Animal camps in this area. Have you ever thought about going to one of those instead of living on your own like this?"

The Lion's eyes widened as he said, "Oh, but I'd be too frightened to do that. I've heard that the types of Animals that live in those places are feral and dangerous."

Fiyero had already suspected that the Lion was cut off from his own kind by the way he’d referred to Elphaba, but he hadn't imagined that it ran this deep. "Well, I don't know about that. I've been to a couple of those camps myself, and I can tell you that everyone there was perfectly pleasant,” he said. He knew he was technically lying, as he wasn't exactly an expert on these matters, but from the one camp he had seen and Elphaba's testimonials, he didn't feel as though he was stretching the truth too outrageously.

The Lion's ears perked up at this, "Really? You mean…well…are there others like me then?"

"Mostly," Fiyero replied, nodding. He added, "You know, I was actually on my way to one of those Animal Camps when you found me."

The Lion seemed intrigued. "Really? You wouldn’t happen to…I mean, I wouldn't want to…"

Fiyero smirked and said, "If you'd like, you could come with me and see for yourself." He suddenly felt as though it was his duty to help this poor Lion. After all, it seemed the sort of thing Elphaba would do. It also didn't hurt that the Lion's knowledge of the forest could come in handy.

The Lion, however, still seemed unsure. Wringing his paws together, he asked, "Oh, and you're sure it's safe then?"

"Absolutely," Fiyero said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. This was not actually something he could guarantee, but he hoped it at least sounded convincing.

That seemed to be enough for the Lion. Though he was still shaking slightly, he nodded his head with as much conviction as he could muster. "Alright then, I suppose I could go with you. I admit I have always been curious to see one of these camps for myself.”

Fiyero smiled and responded, "Well then, I guess we should be on our way."

Chapter Text

The sun was up again, though the shade of the forest canopy above provided some relief from the direct heat. Fiyero made sure he and the Lion stayed close to water at all times, eager to avoid problems like the ones he'd faced the day before. According to the Lion’s slightly imperfect memory, they were only about a day's journey from the nearest Animal camp. The news had lightened Fiyero's spirit, and he hoped it meant that he'd been traveling in the right direction.

The two made small talk as they traveled. The Lion was a bit on the twitchy side, but Fiyero decided he was not the worst companion one could ask for. After they had been walking together for some time, a thought occurred to him.

"Hey, I just realized that I never even caught your name," Fiyero said.

The Lion seemed surprised by this comment. "Oh, well…I don't really have a proper one. I suppose you can just call me Lion."

"That's it? You don't have any other name you go by?" Fiyero asked.

The Lion looked slightly ashamed. "Not that I know of. I probably had one once, but if I did then I forgot it a long time ago."

Fiyero smiled sympathetically and responded, "Okay, Lion it is then. My name's Fiyero, by the way."

The Lion nodded. It appeared he hadn’t thought to ask for a name either. The two walked on in silence for a bit longer, before the Lion spoke again. "So…this friend you're looking for. What happened to him?"

"Her, actually,” Fiyero responded, choosing his words carefully. “We were…separated. She's gotten herself into some trouble. I wanted to help her, but we actually aren't on the best terms at the moment, and she wouldn't let me go with her."

The Lion looked nervous again. "Trouble? What kind of trouble?" he asked

Fiyero couldn't come up with a plausible lie, so instead he said, "Oh, it's nothing too serious, don't worry. But I would really like to find her before it gets any worse."

The Lion didn't seem entirely convinced by this, but he let it drop for the moment. "So why are you headed to this camp? Is your friend an Animal?"

"No, but she's been helping them out. I know she spends a lot of time at these camps, and I had a tip that this one might be her next stop," said Fiyero.

The Lion paused for a moment before he said, "It's funny. All of the gossip I've heard about these Animals from passersby seems to suggest that they're vicious troublemakers, not the type you'd want to associate yourself with."

Fiyero smiled bitterly and responded, "Well Lion, if I can give you some advice, you might not want to believe any of that gossip you've heard. The types of people spewing it are almost always misinformed. But you don't have to believe me. You’ll see for yourself when we get there.”

"But why would people be saying it if it wasn't true?" the Lion asked, clearly puzzled.

Fiyero let out a bitter laugh. "Wow, I guess you really don't get out much, huh?"

The Lion seemed a bit confused by Fiyero's reaction, but he said, "Well in truth, I guess I've always been curious about how they could all be so bad. After all, I'm an Animal and I'm not like that. I guess I wondered why there weren't more like me."

The conversation trailed off from there, and the two went back to discussing more trivial matters. They stopped to rest and eat two times throughout the day, and once to pick more fruit when the opportunity presented itself. When the sun began to go down the Lion became visibly more uncomfortable, jumping at every little sound, and Fiyero eventually became so frustrated that he suggested they stop for the night and get some rest.

This too, turned out to be a bit of an ordeal, as the Lion refused to sleep out in the open for fear of being ambushed. Fiyero, who had not seen evidence of man nor beast who could do them harm, was getting fed up. In the end, they agreed to sleep in shifts. Fiyero could only imagine the number of times the Lion had jumped out of his skin during his turn at watch, but he was grateful to have been unconscious for that.

The two set off again at first light, neither completely rested but not much worse for the wear. After only an hour more of walking, they passed out of the forest and began to see the ever-growing shapes of tents in the distance.

Fiyero could feel his heart lift at the sight, grateful to be literally out of the woods. Yet now he had his next problem to face. He knew from experience that these Animals would probably not take too kindly to his presence. He hoped that having the Lion with him would help his case a bit. It was another reason he'd been eager for the large Cat's company.

As they drew closer, Fiyero noticed the Lion's steps growing slower and slower, to the point where Fiyero had to grab the Cat's paw and half-drag him along. As they reached the edge of the camp, Fiyero could already begin to feel the distrustful gazes falling upon him.

It was a Panther who first approached them. Fiyero assumed he must be one of the camp's leaders and stood tall as the Panther drew near, trying not to seem in any way suspicious. The Lion seemed to be trying to disappear behind Fiyero, no small feat for a Cat his size.

The Panther stopped in front of Fiyero and looked him up and down. His voice betrayed his distrust as he asked, "What is your business here?"

Fiyero decided to take it slow and began with a less suspicious answer. "My friend here has heard of your camp and wanted to see it for himself. We've heard that you provide a place for refugee Animals,” he said, gesturing to the Lion behind him.

The Lion gave Fiyero a look of confusion, no doubt wondering why Fiyero had opened with this explanation instead of mentioning his lost friend. Despite this, he said nothing, for which Fiyero was grateful.

The Panther did not seem entirely convinced, and he still clearly didn’t trust Fiyero, but it seemed as though the Lion's presence had helped in exactly the way that Fiyero had hoped it would.

Turning his attention to the Lion, the Panther asked, "Is this true? You wish to join our camp?"

The Lion seemed panic stricken at suddenly having been addressed, but he managed to choke out, "Oh yes, sir. I've been wanting to visit this place for a long time, but I've been too afraid to come on my own. My friend Fiyero here offered to come with me."

The Panther's eyes narrowed at this, but if he didn't believe the Lion's explanation, he made no move to show it. Instead, he called to an Otter who was walking past.

"This is Shannah, she will show your friend around," the Panther said, gesturing to the Lion. The Otter nodded and motioned for him to follow her. The Lion looked from Fiyero to the Otter and back again, worry evident on his face. Fiyero nodded at him, and the Lion eventually went away with her.

Fiyero watched the pair retreat with a sneaking suspicion that he would not be let off the hook quite so easily. Sure enough, when the other two were out of earshot, the Panther turned to address him. "As for you, why don't you come with me? There are a few questions I would like to ask you."

Fiyero nodded, not letting his face betray any of the apprehension he was feeling. The Panther turned suddenly, his tail whipping behind him, and Fiyero followed. They passed by several tents of varying sizes, and Fiyero noted that this camp seemed slightly larger than the last one he'd been to. The memory inevitably summoned thoughts of Elphaba, but Fiyero pushed them down with determination.

They stopped in front of a tent that did not seem much different from any of the others. The Panther held the flap open and Fiyero ducked inside. The tent was sparsely furnished with a table and chairs, a small cot and a bookshelf. The Panther motioned for Fiyero to take one of the seats and then sat across from him.

After a moment, the Panther spoke, "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Filo."

Fiyero nodded and opened his mouth to speak, "I'm-"

Filo cut him off. "I believe I already know who you are. I heard your friend say that your name was Fiyero. You're here looking for Elphaba, correct?"

Fiyero was completely caught off guard by this. He sat gaping and unsure of how to respond. His silence seemed to confirm the Panther's suspicions, and after a moment Filo spoke again, "I don't know who you are or exactly what relationship you have with Elphaba, but she has done much for us. Since she seems to have at least some measure of trust in you, I will offer you the same courtesy."

Fiyero was surprised to hear that Elphaba supposedly trusted him. That hadn’t seemed to be the case at all when last they’d parted ways. He set that aside for the moment and asked, "So she’s been here, then? Is she still here?”

Filo's face betrayed no emotion as he answered, "She was here for two days, but she took off again last night. She received some news that caused her to leave rather abruptly, and I now suspect it was a false report intended to lure her into a trap.

Fiyero could feel fear constricting his chest. "Why do you say that? What was the news?"

The Panther's eyes bore into Fiyero's as he said, "That Fiyero Tigelaar had been taken into custody on charges of consorting with the Wicked Witch of the West and was to be tortured for information and then killed."

Fiyero felt his blood run cold. He couldn't quite wrap his head around what he'd just heard. He opened and closed his mouth a few times but found he could not remember how to produce sound. Filo watched him with a stony expression.

After a few moments, the Panther spoke again. "I take it from your reaction that my suspicions were correct, and you are indeed Fiyero Tigelaar?" he asked.

The gears in Fiyero's brain began to turn again, and he managed to respond, "Y-yes, that's me."

"Then, as I said, it would seem that this piece of news was fictitious. The only reason I can think of for fabricating such a story would be to lure Elphaba back to the city," said Filo.

Fiyero sank back into his chair, his head swimming. He wanted to believe that Elphaba wouldn't have taken any crazy risks on his account, especially when she wasn't exactly thrilled with him. Surely she wouldn't risk being captured to save his sorry hide.

But a nagging voice in the back of his head told him otherwise. Though Fiyero admitted he had only spent a short time with Elphaba, rushing headlong into danger to rescue someone else seemed like exactly the sort of thing she would do. Even if Elphaba believed that Fiyero had betrayed her, something told him she still wouldn’t want to see him tortured and killed on her account. Whoever had spread this rumor knew exactly what buttons to push. Fiyero only hoped he wasn't too late to stop her from falling for it.

Suddenly panicked, Fiyero sprung from his chair and said, "Please, tell me whatever you know. I have to stop her before it's too late!"

Filo looked Fiyero up and down once more, his face still an emotionless mask. It was beginning to grate on Fiyero's nerves that the Cat could be so composed at a time like this.

Finally, Filo stood and nodded. "I do believe you are being sincere," he said, "and I will try to help you to the best of my ability. As I told you earlier, Elphaba left early last night, just as the sun went down."

Fiyero didn't like the sound of that. "Was she planning to travel on foot, or did she have her broomstick with her?" he asked, hoping it was the former. If she'd gone by air, he would have little to no way of catching her.

"I believe her plan was to fly through the forest, where she could use the cover of the trees to avoid being spotted. From there she would continue on foot. Knowing Elphaba, I can almost guarantee she will not act until the sun sets tonight. She will want the cover of darkness."

Fiyero's heart dropped. "It's no good then. It took me more than a day's walk just to make it through the forest and find this place. It’s an additional half day's journey to the Emerald City from there. There's no way I'll be able to make it by tonight on foot.” he said

Filo nodded and was silent for a moment, clearly lost in thought. After a moment he replied, "On foot no, but I do think there may be a way we can help you."

Filo made his way towards the entrance of the tent, motioning for Fiyero to follow, and he did so without a second thought. They weaved their way through more rows of tents, and Fiyero wasn’t quite sure how to keep track of where they were going. He wondered briefly how the Lion was making out, but his train of thought was cut short when Filo motioned for him to stop.

Fiyero was told to wait outside while Filo entered a nearby tent. Unsure of what to do with himself, Fiyero rocked nervously on his heels and stared down at his hands, trying to ignore the strange looks he was receiving from passersby. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Filo emerged from the tent, followed by a young, chestnut colored Horse. Fiyero had never seen a Horse before, and he marveled at how tall the creature was when it stood up on its hind legs.

Fiyero understood immediately, though he felt a bit abashed at the concept. Sure enough, Filo said, "This is Taison. He has agreed to help you reach the Emerald City by nightfall. We Animals know this area well, and Taison is fast. He will be able to get you there in time."

Fiyero wasn't sure what the implications of this were for the Horse. Turning to face Taison, he said, "I thank you for the offer, but are you sure you're okay with this?"

Taison nodded and waved his hoof. "Absolutely. I’ve already agreed to help you for Miss Elphaba's sake."

Fiyero was once again taken aback at how much love Elphaba seemed to have garnered in the Animal community. It was astounding what dichotomous opinions of the woman could be found among the different factions in Oz.

Having heard the Horse's agreement for himself, Fiyero nodded gratefully. Filo disappeared into Taison's tent once more and returned a few moments later holding a leather saddle. Taison dropped to all fours and allowed it to be fastened to his back. He seemed less than happy with the arrangement, but said nothing.

Once the saddle was firmly in place, Taison turned to Fiyero and said, “I’ll be carrying you on my back, but I won't have you digging your heels into my side. You just sit tight, and I'll do the steering. I also won't be wearing reins, so you're just going to have to hold on as best you can.

Fiyero nodded his understanding, confident that he wouldn't have a problem. He was more than comfortable on horseback. He had learned to ride as a boy and had often been mounted on Gale Force missions.

With that, Fiyero placed his feet in the stirrups and pulled himself up onto Taison's back. He marveled at how this felt exactly like riding a regular horse, though he knew better than to voice the thought aloud.

He was about to tell Taison he was ready to leave, when he remembered the Lion once more. He didn't want to waste time going to find the Cat himself, so instead he turned to Filo and said, "The Lion I came here with earlier, can you tell him I've gone to find my missing friend? Don't give him more information than that for now. He's only heard the Wizard's propaganda about Elphaba, and he believes the stories about the Wicked Witch of the West. Just tell him I wish him luck, and that I hope to see him again soon if I'm able."

Fiyero felt bad to leave the Lion on his own in a new place like this, but he'd feel even worse about dragging him along to the Emerald City and putting him in danger. It would be better if the Cat stayed behind at the camp and began to socialize with his own kind.

That taken care of, Fiyero let Taison know he was ready to go, and the Horse took off at a cantor. As they made their way through the camp, Animals who didn’t know what was going on stared open-mouthed at the pair as they went by. They made their way out of the camp, and Taison shouted a quick "Hang on!" before taking off into a gallop that nearly sent Fiyero flying off the Horse's back. He made a wild grab for Taison's neck and held on for dear life until he could adjust to the new speed.

After a few moments, Fiyero regained his bearings and shifted into a more manageable position. Taison had not opted to go through the forest but had chosen a different route that Fiyero didn’t recognize. He was grateful for this decision, as it would have been difficult to maintain their current speed while trying not to flatten themselves against a tree.

They carried on at a brisk pace for the better part of the afternoon, before Taison slowed his gait a bit. A short while later they took a rest, during which Fiyero finished what was left of his provisions and Taison ate some oats from a sack strapped to his saddle.

Once they'd regained their strength, the pair continued their journey. As the sky began to lose its first bit of light, the Emerald City skyline appeared on the horizon. Fiyero could feel the cold weight of apprehension sitting in his gut, but he tried not to think about it as the shining green buildings loomed ever closer.

Just before the city gates, Fiyero dismounted and nodded his thanks to Taison. It wouldn't be safe for the Horse within the city, even if he did remain as inconspicuous as possible. He couldn't enter the palace with Fiyero, and once the prince went in, there was no telling whether he'd be coming out alive again.

Still, the Horse protested. "Let me take you as far as the palace at least."

Fiyero shook his head and said, "No. You've been a greater help than I could have asked for. Thank you, but I need to go alone from here."

After a moment the Horse nodded and said, "All right then. Good luck to both of you."

With that, Taison turned back the way he'd come and set off again. Fiyero watched him retreat until he was out of sight, and then turned back to the task at hand. He briefly worried that he might be recognized within the city, but he was currently more grimy, disheveled and unshaven than he'd even dared to appear in public before, and he was also not in uniform. He doubted he would be recognized by anyone who happened to take a passing glance. With a deep breath, he made his way into the city he'd once called home with a level of apprehension he'd never before experienced.

The last of the sunlight was draining now, and Fiyero was truly beginning to worry. If Elphaba had come to the city to attempt a rescue, then she was going to begin putting her plans into action soon. He had a fairly good idea where he would find her, but he truly hoped he'd be wrong. He hoped that Elphaba had ignored the news of his capture and hadn't come to his aid.

As expected, no one paid Fiyero any mind as he walked briskly down the city streets. He would have preferred to run flat out, but refrained lest he attract unwanted attention. He went around the palace from the back way, secure in the knowledge that the guards' shifts would be changing soon. There would be a small window, when the new guard came to take his post, where they wouldn't be paying as much attention to their surroundings. Fiyero waited for this and then, seizing his moment, scrambled over the green brick wall at the back of the palace, barely managing to keep his grip and avoid falling flat on his back.

Once he was over the gate, he was reliant on the darkness and his own skills as a Gale Forcer to hide him. One of the benefits of having been trained to hunt the Wicked Witch of the West was the wide variety of stealth training that he was now putting to good use. Once he was sure the coast was clear, Fiyero began to make his way towards the dungeons.

Chapter Text

The sky was dark tonight, a fact for which Fiyero was exceedingly grateful. The moon was not very full, and what bit of it was visible was obscured by dark clouds. Fiyero used this cover to his advantage as he crept across the grounds, keeping close to the walls to further hide himself. He knew his way around the Emerald palace well, and he relied on this knowledge as he strained his eyes in the darkness.

The dungeons had several entrances, only one of which led to the outside. Fiyero made his way carefully towards it, trying to formulate a course of action for dealing with the guards that would be watching the post.

As he drew nearer, however, he didn’t find two guards standing at attention as he'd expected to. Instead, the two men lay slumped on the ground, quite obviously unconscious. It was all Fiyero needed to confirm his suspicions.

Hastening his pace, he moved toward the entrance as quickly as he could without disturbing the unconscious guards. The door that led to the dungeons was large and old, made up of warped wood and iron. Fiyero flinched involuntarily as he tugged on the handle, expecting the old door to moan horribly as he pulled it open, but it mercifully wasn’t as loud as he'd anticipated.

It was even blacker inside. Dark as the night was, the glow from the doorway still cast its light over the dungeon staircase. With one last backwards glance to make sure he hadn’t been seen, Fiyero pulled the door closed behind him as silently as he could. He stood still in the darkness for a few moments, hoping his eyes would adjust. When they didn't, Fiyero placed his hand against the wall and began to feel his way down the spiraling staircase.

As he neared the cellblock, Fiyero thought he heard voices and paused to listen. Indeed, there was a pair of voices speaking in low, urgent whispers. Fiyero strained his ears as best he could, but he could make out neither the voices' owners nor the topic of their conversation as he continued to make his way closer. Some light began to reach his eyes now, coming in from the few small windows along the walls by the cells.

The cells were bare right now, at least in this part of the palace where the human prisoners were kept. Most of those wanted for capture these days were Animals, and they were kept in much smaller cells known as "cages."

Fiyero paused as he reached the bottom of the stairs and realized that the voices were coming from around the corner. Though they were still a bit too far away to make out properly, Fiyero registered that they were both female. Their words were becoming slightly louder now. It sounded to Fiyero as though they were having some sort of argument.

Taking a deep breath, Fiyero gathered his courage and poked his head around the corner as far as he dared, hoping that whoever was down here wouldn't notice him.

The first thing Fiyero noted was that four other guards lay slumped around the room in various awkward positions. He supposed it explained why he'd been able to make his way inside unnoticed. Next, his eyes travelled to the two whispering figures standing across the room from him.

The one on the left he recognized immediately. Elphaba's green skin shone noticeably even in the dim light. Fiyero squinted as he tried to make out the other. She was shorter, dressed in a slim but elegant nightgown. Glinda! Fiyero registered with surprise. With all that had been going on for the past couple of days, Fiyero had hardly spared a thought for his fiancée.

Moments later, their conversation seemed to reach its peak, and the two women grabbed for each other's throats. Startled by the sudden display of hostility, Fiyero darted from his hiding place.

The two women nearly jumped out of their skins as they registered his sudden presence. In her surprise, Elphaba threw her hands up instinctively, and Fiyero found himself slammed with an invisible force that sent him skidding across the dungeon on his back.

Fiyero moaned, a bit shocked from the sudden impact. He supposed he should have known better than to rush out like that. Seeing that their unexpected guest was incapacitated, the two women crept towards him to get a closer look. As they neared Fiyero, their eyes widened with recognition.

"Fiyero?" they said, nearly in unison. Whatever they had been about to kill each other over moments before appeared forgotten.

Before anything more could be said, there came a loud knock from the door across the room. The noise they'd made must have attracted attention. Fiyero could see that the door had been barred from the inside, but it strained a bit as something slammed against it.

"Is someone down there?" came a male voice.

All three of them froze, Fiyero still lying flat on his back. Elphaba and Glinda helped him to his feet just as another, harder push forced the door open and half a dozen Gale Forcers came streaming into the dungeon.

"Seize them!" one of the men shouted.

Time seemed to slow down as the guards rushed towards them and Fiyero squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the impact. When it still had not come several moments later, he tentatively opened his eyes.

Fiyero let out an audible gasp as he realized they were no longer standing in the palace dungeons, but rather on the outskirts of the city. Plumes of red smoke were still disappearing into the air, the vanishing remnants of the teleportation spell that had brought them here.

Fiyero twisted around, looking for Elphaba, and was surprised to see Glinda standing close by as well. For a few moments no one spoke.

Glinda was the first to shatter the silence. Turning to glare at Elphaba, she half-shouted, half-whispered, "Oh this is just wonderful! Why in Oz’s name have you dragged me along with you?"

Elphaba still appeared fairly shocked herself, but she seemed to snap out of it when she heard Glinda speak. "Oh, give it a rest, princess. It’s not like I planned this. I panicked. It was an automatic response."

"Well, I for one am not getting dragged into this fine mess you've created," said Glinda, gathering up the bottom of her nightgown so that it would not trail on the ground.

Elphaba grew livid. "The mess I created?" she spat.

Glinda seemed to deflate a bit at this. She let the bottom of her gown drop back to the floor. "I never meant for it to go this far. Really."

Fiyero was completely lost at this point, and the two women didn't seem to be forthcoming with any sort of details. Shifting his feet, he cleared his throat loudly enough to interrupt their conversation.

Elphaba and Glinda both turned to face Fiyero, though neither seemed to know what to make of him. There was another short pause. This time Elphaba spoke first.

"I'm glad you're alright," she said, though her voice was cold. He supposed the fact that she'd attempted his rescue didn't mean she was any less angry with him.

Glinda was even less happy to see him. "Well, I for one don't care whether you're okay or not. You can drop dead where you stand for all I care," she said. Fiyero could see that her eyes were shining. "I don't want anything more to do with this. I'm going back to the palace."

"Oh, that's a wonderful idea," Elphaba said. "I'm sure Morrible and the Wizard won't suspect that you had anything at all to do with this little escape we just pulled off."

Glinda froze, comprehension dawning on her face.

"You're in this as deep as the rest of us now, Glinda," Elphaba said, picking up her broomstick.

"That’s not true,” she said, but her voice wavered. “I'll go back and tell them that you kidnapped me against my will.”

Elphaba scoffed and replied, "And you think they’ll believe that? They’ll already have figured out that you tried to warn me, even if this whole mess was your fault in the first place. Do you think they’ll welcome you back like nothing happened? You already know they’ll have no problem using you as a bargaining chip to get to me, whether you’re ‘Glinda the Good’ or not”

Glinda seemed to be mulling all of this over, but it was apparent by the dawning horror on her face that the reality of her situation was beginning to sink in. She collapsed into a sitting position and dropped her head into her hands. "But I'm not cut out for this! I'm not like you. I can't survive on the run! And you two traitors are the last people I want anything to do with right now!"

Elphaba rolled her eyes at Glinda's tantrum. "Well, you're free to go off on your own then, if you think you'll last more than five minutes out there,” she said

Glinda composed herself a bit and rose to her feet. Dusting off her nightgown, she replied, "But where do you even plan to go? You're at the top of the wanted list, Elphaba. Every guard in the Emerald City is probably already out looking for you!"

Fiyero had a sudden thought. Turning to face the two women he said, "My family has a castle at Kiamo Ko. There shouldn't be anyone there but the guards right now and I don't think anyone in the Emerald City knows about it. We should be able to safely hide out there for as long as we need.”

The two women turned to face Fiyero as though they’d only just remembered he was there. Elphaba narrowed her eyes at him and said, “What makes you think I’d accept any help from you? I may not have wanted to see you killed, but I still don’t trust you.”

“Look, you made a good point just now. None of us can go back to the Emerald City. We’d be better off sticking together,” he said. He continued before Elphaba could jump in and cut him off, “The castle will keep all of us safe while we figure out what to do in the meantime. What reason could I possibly have to wish you harm at this point?”

Elphaba stared him down as if weighing her options. Finally, she seemed to concede that Fiyero had a point. "You're sure it will be deserted, then?" she asked begrudgingly.

Fiyero nodded and replied, "Yes, I'm absolutely certain."

"Let's go then. Glinda's right. The guards are likely already after us. We need to move quickly if we're going to stay ahead of them," Elphaba said.

Glinda looked back and forth between the two of them, seemingly at a loss. After a few moments she seemed to resign herself to her current fate, and all three of them took off into the forest.

Fiyero trailed behind Elphaba and Glinda, still reeling from all that had happened in just the last couple of hours. The two women had not said a word to him or to each other since they'd departed the Emerald City, and Fiyero was practically choking on the tension. He remembered the way the two had been at each other's throats in the dungeons and knew it was probably wiser not to interfere. He had a sneaking suspicion he was to blame for at least a good deal of the anger between them, and that they both had a fair bit of it to direct his way as well.

Yet after another hour of walking in silence, Fiyero found that his curiosity was killing him. He still had next to no idea about what had been going on when he'd found Elphaba and Glinda at the palace, or why Glinda was suddenly along for the ride. If Fiyero didn't speak up soon he was liable to explode.

Breaking the silence tentatively, Fiyero said, "So, does anyone want to explain to me what's going on?"

There was a long pause, during which Fiyero began to wonder if they would answer his question or just continue to ignore him. He supposed it would be fair if that were the case. Both women had justifiable reasons to be angry with him.

Eventually Elphaba supplied a response. "Glinda sold me out," she said. Her voice was even but laced with venom.

As was to be expected, Glinda did not keep silent in the wake of this accusation. "Well, what do you want from me?" she huffed. "You betrayed me first. You and Fiyero! Going behind my back for Oz knows how long!"

Elphaba gritted her teeth. "I've already told you that we haven’t been doing anything behind your back! I had never even met Fiyero before two weeks ago. And even if we had been doing what you’re accusing us of, that would still not be an acceptable excuse for selling me out to the Wizard!" she snapped.

"Well, I didn't really, did I?" Glinda retorted. "If I had, I wouldn't be in this mess. I'd be back in my bed at the Emerald Palace, not traipsing around the forest in my nightdress with you!"

"You should have just stayed behind then! Oz knows I didn't need your help with any of this!" Elphaba shot back.

Glinda huffed, "Oh come on, Elphie. You know I couldn’t stand by and let them capture you. Even if I'm fairly certain I'd like to kill you myself at the moment."

They lapsed into silence while Fiyero struggled to piece together what had happened. He was debating whether to open his mouth again, when Elphaba seemed to realize they'd never answered his original question. "After I escaped, Glinda went to the Wizard and Morrible and told them to use you to set a trap for me. Since I would assume that you'd returned to the Emerald City, it wouldn't be far-fetched that they could take you into custody, and Oz knows they'd have no problems torturing you to get information on me. Then, once they'd lured me to the palace to attempt your rescue, Morrible was planning to catch me with my guard down and take my spell book."

"Yes, but I felt terrible about it! I've been going down to the dungeons every night since so that I could warn Elphaba if she showed up,” she explained to Fiyero, then she turned her attention back to Elphaba and said, “So don't make me out to be a terrible person!"

"Oh, you actually felt bad about effectively sentencing your best friend to death. You're right Glinda, you're an absolute saint," Elphaba shot back.

Glinda sighed and said, "Well either way, I'm paying for it now, aren't I?"

Fiyero still had so many questions that he hardly knew where to begin. He decided to start with Glinda. “Why would you want to help them capture Elphaba in the first place?” he asked.

Glinda puffed up slightly at this and answered, “My fiancé ran off after another woman. I may not be a genius, but it wasn’t hard to figure out what must be going on. And I was right, wasn’t I? Elphaba told me that that you kissed her.” Fiyero could hear the hurt in her voice as she twisted around the face him.

“Glinda it wasn’t like that,” he began, even though he wasn’t fully convinced of it himself.

Elphaba jumped in before he could continue and said, “He was just manipulating me so that he could bargain for his escape.” He could hear the bitterness in her accusation.

“It wasn’t like that either!” he protested. He hated that Elphaba still believed that he’d harbored such ill intentions.

“Then what was it like, Fiyero?” Glinda demanded. Both women were now glaring at him, as if daring him to even attempt an explanation.

“I-I don’t know, okay? It was a very confusing time,” he said, suddenly stressed under the pressure of their collective gaze. “Can we talk about this when our lives aren’t in imminent danger?” He knew he was only delaying the inevitable, awkward conversation, but at least it would buy him some time. Both women kept their gaze on him for a moment longer, then turned back to face ahead. It was clear neither of them was happy with his deflection, but they were willing to let the matter drop for the moment.

They walked on in silence again after that. The night had grown cold, and Fiyero could feel the chill seeping in through his ragged shirt. Elphaba seemed fine in the heavy black dress and cloak she was wearing, but Glinda, who was dressed in nothing but a short-sleeved nightgown, had visibly begun to shiver.

Noticing Glinda's discomfort, Fiyero said, "It's about a three-day journey to Kiamo Ko, and we don't have any provisions or a change of clothes.”

"I still have some supplies," Elphaba responded. "But certainly not enough for a three-day journey."

Fiyero nodded and replied, "Yes, and it also won't do to have Glinda traipsing through the woods in her night clothes and slippers."

Elphaba, who seemed to have been oblivious to Glinda's predicament up to this point, turned her gaze to her shivering friend. She sighed grudgingly and unfastened her cloak from around her neck. Without a word, she held it out to Glinda, who seemed surprised but accepted it gratefully.

Fiyero was pleased to see that the two were at least willing to get along, despite the hard feelings between all three of them. He supposed this was a matter of survival. "So I was thinking, would we be able to pick up some supplies if we stopped at the Animal camp in this direction? The one you were at most recently before you came to the Emerald City to find me. It's not too far out of our way, no more than an extra half day's journey," Fiyero suggested.

Elphaba seemed surprised. "How do you know about that place?" she asked, a small measure of distrust in her voice.

Fiyero was taken aback at her tone. He’d forgotten that she hadn't exactly wanted him to follow her there. "I went looking for you after you vanished. I realize you probably told the Animals at the first camp not to give me any information about where you were going, but I suppose you forgot to give Lorgen the memo," he replied.

Elphaba shook her head and said, "That girl," but Fiyero could still hear the fondness in her voice.

Fiyero continued, "She pointed me in the right direction, and from there I found the other camp." He left out the bits about the Lion, deeming it unnecessary information for the time being. He glanced over at Glinda as he finished his explanation. He knew this was probably not what she wanted to hear, but she said nothing, and her face was unreadable in the darkness.

"Why were you looking for me in the first place?” Elphaba asked. “As far as I’m aware, our business was quite concluded.”

Glinda turned to look at him as well, and Fiyero realized too late that he’d unintentionally backtracked into dangerous territory. There was a pause, before Elphaba seemed to pick up on the tension and changed the subject. "At any rate yes, I think stopping there would be for the best,” she said, “but I think we should continue for as long as we’re physically able for now, then take short rests in shifts. We'll need to stay off of the beaten path as well."

Fiyero nodded his approval, ignoring the fact that the gesture would go unseen in the darkness. He imagined that Elphaba had plenty of experience evading Gale Force guards, but she had also never traveled in a group. He was particularly concerned about Glinda, who had never lacked for comfort a day in her life. To her credit though, she did not protest Elphaba's plan.

And so, as promised, the three walked on for as long as they were able. Elphaba had taken the lead, and Fiyero glanced about with a sort of vague recognition as they went. He could hardly believe he had passed through these woods on his own such a short time ago.

Eventually, the three travelers grew too weary to continue. As was expected, Glinda was the first to give in to fatigue, though Fiyero was not far behind her. By that time, the first light of dawn had begun to creep its way over the treetops, and even Elphaba's steps were beginning to falter.

Before she would allow them to stop and rest, Elphaba insisted on flying up on her broomstick to confirm that there were no Gale Force troops in their immediate vicinity. Taking care to remain out of sight within the tree branches, she did a quick survey of the area that apparently assuaged her fears. There was no way to tell whether they'd lost the members of the Wizard's guard completely or merely gotten a respectable head start but, given their exhaustion, they had no choice but to take a short rest and hope they would remain out of sight.

To no one's surprise, Elphaba volunteered to take the first watch. Fiyero protested out of courtesy, but he already knew any attempts to dissuade her would be futile. The three found a suitably secluded place to sleep and cobbled together a makeshift camp in silence. There was still obvious tension between them, and Fiyero couldn't help but feel that they weren't going to be able to go on like this forever. Eventually the three of them were going to have to talk.

As he finished arranging some leaves into a pile roughly the size of his body, he glanced over and realized that Glinda was already fast asleep, wrapped tightly in Elphaba's cloak. He smiled sadly. On some level, it was his fault that she was out here. He’d never meant for her to get mixed up in this.

Fiyero shook his head and sighed. Glancing behind him, he found that Elphaba had already taken up her post. He knew she must be tired as well, but she still stood tall and imposing, clutching her broomstick at her side. Feeling Fiyero's eyes upon her, she turned to face him.

"You should get some sleep. I'll wake you when it's your turn. I think we should just split the watch between the two of us. Glinda should sleep if we want to keep up our pace tomorrow. I can't really say that I trust her abilities as a guard at all anyway," she said.

Fiyero nodded, already feeling drowsy. "I never got a chance to thank you for coming to my rescue," he said, his voice slurring slightly.

It was still dark, even with the sun beginning to rise, but he liked to imagine that Elphaba was smiling slightly. "Well, I couldn't just leave you to die, could I? I thought we'd already established that I'm not really a wicked witch.”

Fiyero wanted to say more to her, but sleep was already overtaking him. Before he could manage another word, he was snoring softly and Elphaba had returned to her watch.

Chapter Text

Fiyero felt as though no time had passed at all when he was shaken awake by Elphaba's hand on his shoulder. He sat up, still groggy, and then pulled himself onto his feet. He offered his makeshift bed to Elphaba, who was looking fairly worn out herself. She accepted without a word and laid down, her eyes closing almost immediately. Fiyero's eyes lingered on her, perhaps for a few moments too long, before he turned and slumped against a tree.

After that, he had nothing to do but wait and watch the trees of the forest silently as Elphaba and Glinda slept behind him. The sun was high in the sky now, but there was still no sign that they'd been followed, which was a blessing. Fiyero was unaware of how much time had passed, but after a while Elphaba roused behind him. It took their combined efforts to drag Glinda back to her feet, and afterwards they set off towards the Animal camp once more.

It was no more than three or four hours before the trio reached their destination. Fiyero took in the familiar sight of the tents in the distance and was overcome with relief that he was returning with Elphaba and not with bad news. He wondered if Taison had made the journey back all right. He would have to be sure to thank him again.

Some of the Animals saw them coming when they were still a fair distance away, and Elphaba's presence meant that their arrival was met with enthusiasm rather than mistrustful silence. Some of the Animals still shot nervous looks toward Fiyero and Glinda, but their excitement at Elphaba’s presence seemed to dwarf their fear of her companions.

Glinda, who was used to being the center of attention herself and had imagined Elphaba's life to be a reclusive one filled with thankless toil, seemed taken aback by the enthusiastic greeting her friend was receiving. The Animals, who were mostly cut off from the rest of Oz, were vaguely aware of the name Glinda the Good, but had no idea what she looked like, and so Glinda and Fiyero stood back, ignored for the most part, as Elphaba greeted dozens of smiling faces. Once the excitement had died down, she turned to address Filo, who had appeared at some point amidst the commotion.

"These are my friends, Fiyero and Glinda. I hate to ask this of you, but is there any way you could spare them a change of clothes, and give us some provisions for our journey? I would be indebted to you for it," said Elphaba.

Filo trained his eyes on Fiyero and said, "Master Fiyero and I are already acquainted. As for you, Miss Glinda, my name is Filo. It's lovely to meet you."

Glinda, who seemed to be in a bit of a daze, jumped at the mention of her name and responded, "Oh? Oh, yes! It's lovely to meet you too."

Elphaba looked between Fiyero and the Panther, clearly wondering over the nature of their relationship, but said nothing.

Filo merely smiled at her in his cryptic way and said "Of course, it would be our pleasure to help you on your journey. We owe you far more than some food and a change of clothing.” He turned to Fiyero and Glinda. "Why don't you two come with me while we give Elphaba a chance to catch up? We'll see if we can't find you something to change into."

Fiyero nodded and started after the Panther. Glinda, who still appeared a bit dazed by her surroundings, followed wordlessly behind. They were led to a small tent filled with linens and clothing of varying sizes. Filo browsed the shelves for a moment, before pulling out a few articles and tossing them to Glinda and Fiyero.

"I'm sorry if they're not the best fit. We make do with what we can find here. Most of our clothing comes in the form of donations from passing travelers, or from whatever Elphaba can manage to scavenge for us," Filo said.

With that, the Panther turned and retreated from the tent, leaving only Fiyero and Glinda standing there. It was the first time they’d been alone together since he’d fled the palace three nights ago, and, before Fiyero could make an excuse to leave, Glinda rounded on him.

“Fiyero, what is going on? Why in Oz’s name did you run off the other night? And Elphaba said that you kissed her. Is that true?” she asked, and Fiyero could tell that she was somewhat apprehensive to hear his response.

Fiyero sighed. He’d known he wouldn’t be able to avoid this conversation forever. “It is,” he admitted, then added quickly, “It just happened. It wasn’t premeditated.”

“Elphaba said you did it to trick her. Is that what it was? A ploy to escape?” she asked. There was an edge of desperation in her tone.

“No, that wasn’t it,” Fiyero said carefully. He was finally ready to admit something to himself and to Glinda that he’d been trying to ignore for days. He braced himself and said, “I’m sorry, Glin. I think I might be developing feelings for her.”

There was a pause while Glinda let his words sink in, disbelief showing plainly on her face. “Feelings? For Elphaba? Are you insane?” she asked. Her voice began to rise in pitch as she continued, “We’re engaged, Fiyero! Our wedding date is already set for next year. I’ve been ready to marry you since the moment we met. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”  

Fiyero steeled himself in the face of Glinda’s accusations. He’d already realized some time ago that he’d never really loved Glinda, at least not romantically. What did their relationship mean to him? It was an arranged marriage, and a beneficial one at that. His feelings on the matter had seemed inconsequential. Fiyero cared for Glinda deeply, but what he felt for Elphaba was different. He couldn’t quite explain it, but he felt drawn to her somehow. He wanted nothing more than to be around her. She was suddenly more interesting to him than anyone else he knew, though he’d only just met her. Fiyero didn’t know if that was love, or even something adjacent to it, but he knew it was different than anything he’d ever felt for Glinda.

Fiyero knew he needed to navigate this conversation carefully. He’d realized some time ago that he was going to break Glinda’s heart. The least he could do was break it gently. "Glinda, you’re one of the kindest, most beautiful women I've ever known,” he began. He could already see her beginning to deflate at his words. He went on, “But we never chose each other. Our marriage was arranged for us. I really do care about you. I guess I always thought that was enough. But maybe it isn’t. Maybe we both deserve to be with someone we love, who loves us in return,” he said. He saw Glinda open her mouth to respond and quickly added, “I’m not saying that’s Elphaba. I swear that, beyond that one kiss, there’s nothing going on between us. I’ve just realized that maybe I’m not okay with having every aspect of my life decided for me.”

“Please don’t do this,” Glinda begged, her voice barely above a whisper. She raised her eyes to meet his, tears already threatening to spill over. “I love you.”

Fiyero tore his eyes away, suddenly unable to meet her gaze. "I'm sorry," was the only response he could give her.

Glinda’s expression changed from one of sorrow to one of anger in a matter of seconds. “You’re really breaking this off?” she asked. “I can’t believe you! Five years together and you’re going to throw it away to chase after her?”

“Glinda, please, it isn’t like that,” he protested.

“Isn’t it?” she asked, her glassy eyes filled with contempt. She gave him one last, seething glare, then gathered the dress Filo had given her and stalked out of the tent. Fiyero held a hand up as if to stop her, but then let it drop back to his side. It wouldn’t do any good to go after her now, and they were already running short on time.

Sighing, Fiyero stripped down to his boxers and then pulled on the fresh shirt and trousers he’d been given. They hung awkwardly off his frame, as Filo had warned, but they were clean and dry, and that was all that really mattered to Fiyero.

He glanced down at the clothes he’d been wearing, unsure of what to do with them. He supposed he could leave them with Filo as a donation, to replace the set he’d been given. He was still deliberating on it when a loud scream split the afternoon's silence.

Fiyero nearly jumped out of his skin at the unexpected disturbance. Without thinking, he dropped his bundle of clothes on the ground and darted out of the tent. He hoped with all his might that they hadn't been followed here. Dragging these Animals down with them was the last thing any of them wanted.

A small crowd had gathered a short distance away, and it didn't take Fiyero long to determine the source of the commotion. Elphaba stood, looking entirely bewildered, as a fully-grown Lion lay whimpering on the ground before her. His shaggy head was partially obscured by his paws, and his whole body was trembling pitifully. Fiyero felt the terror drain out of him at the sight.

Two other Animals were already dragging the Lion to his feet as Fiyero approached. Elphaba still seemed to have no idea what she'd done to induce such a reaction. Fiyero mused that the near heart attack he'd suffered was worth it just to see the look on her face.

In his struggle to escape the two Animals now supporting his weight, the Lion twisted around wildly until he laid eyes on Fiyero. The recognition seemed to calm him somewhat, and he stopped fighting for a moment.

"Fiyero?" he asked skeptically.

This seemed to snap Elphaba out of her confusion. She looked back and forth between Fiyero and the Lion with one eyebrow raised. "You two know each other?" she asked.

The sound of Elphaba's voice seemed to send the Lion into a panic again, but Fiyero stepped forward. "This is my friend Elphaba, Lion," he began, casting a glance at Elphaba as the word "friend" left his mouth. He felt self-conscious explaining this in front of her. "She's the one I was looking for."

The Lion's eyes widened as they darted back and forth between Fiyero and Elphaba, "B-but…she's…" he stammered, unable to voice a coherent thought.

Fiyero sighed and responded, "I think maybe we should talk."

It took a fair amount of time to calm the Lion down enough so that he would speak in Elphaba's presence, but eventually he seemed to gather just enough nerve to recount the story of his traumatic childhood. Fiyero could see some sort of realization dawning on Elphaba's face as the Lion spoke, but she remained quiet until he'd finished the whole story.

There was a length of silence afterwards, during which no one seemed to know quite what to say. After what seemed like an eternity, Elphaba looked down at her hands and said, "I'm sorry. I never meant to frighten you."

The Lion watched her speak with an expression of nervous confusion. She went on, "That day you're talking about, I was only trying to help. The new professor brought you in. He had you in a cage and was explaining the benefits it would have in keeping the Animals from learning to speak. I lost control. I grabbed your cage and ran, and I set you free in the woods. I didn't stop to think how much the whole affair must have frightened you."

The Lion didn't seem to know what to make of this alternate version of the story. Voice shaking, he averted his eyes from Elphaba and said, "B-but I've heard what they say about you. The c-call you a wicked witch!"

Murmurs of disapproval rose into the air from the group of Animals that had gathered around them. Elphaba kept her expression neutral, but Fiyero could tell that hearing that title from the mouth of an Animal had hurt her. He said quickly, "Lion, those are just rumors. I know because I believed them once too. But if you get to know her a little, you'll see that none of it's true."

Fiyero could feel Elphaba's eyes on him as he spoke, but he refused to look at her. He could feel his face growing hot under the scrutiny

It was clear the Lion wasn’t completely convinced, but he did seem to trust Fiyero, and that was enough to calm him down for the time being. A couple of the other Animals took advantage of this and led the Lion away. Fiyero supposed he'd have to have another word with the Cat later.

The rest of the crowd dispersed now that the scene was over, leaving Elphaba and Fiyero on their own.

"You didn't have to defend me back there," Elphaba said eventually. She was obviously still perturbed by what had just taken place.

Fiyero shrugged. "I'm sure what you said is true. You never meant to frighten the Lion.”

This did not seem to lift Elphaba's spirits. She sighed and responded, "It doesn't matter what my intentions were. I seem to make an absolute mess of everything I touch whether I'm trying to or not." This seemed to remind Elphaba of something, and she raised her gaze to meet Fiyero’s. "Why didn't you tell me you were engaged?" she asked. He could tell she had been waiting to spring this on him for a while.

Fiyero swallowed hard, not sure what he was supposed to say. He’d known this would come up eventually, but he hadn’t realized it would come directly on the heels of breaking the very engagement she was questioning him about. He took a few moments to muster some courage and decided to go with the truth. "I didn't think it would matter," he said.

Elphaba didn't seem to know what to do with this information. "You didn't think it would matter?" she repeated, her tone suggesting that this had not been the correct answer.

Fiyero was hasty to elaborate. "What I mean is that I had no idea you and Glinda knew each other," he took a deep breath before continuing, "and to be fair, you had me locked up. Indefinitely. I didn't even know if I was going to see her again, so what did it matter if I told you about her?"

Fiyero knew he had a point, but he still regretted the words almost as soon as they'd come out of his mouth. Elphaba looked as though she'd been struck. She stood staring at him for a few moments, as though waiting for him to say something more. The look she was giving him was making Fiyero profoundly uncomfortable. It was as though noticing something important for the first time. He squirmed a bit under her gaze.

"Oh Oz, I never meant for this to happen. I never wanted to be what they said I was. But you’re right. I held you against your will for days. I was furious at you for deceiving me, but I see now that I left you no choice,” she said. She seemed distraught.

Fiyero wanted to tell her, yet again, that he hadn’t been trying to trick her, and that he didn’t hold his imprisonment against her. He knew she'd only been fighting for her own survival against a guard sent to capture her. He opened his mouth to say as much, but Elphaba had already continued speaking.

“For what it’s worth, I would have let you go eventually. I was planning to move on in a few weeks, once I was sure the camp would be able to get on alright without me. I would have disappeared in the night and left the entrance unblocked. I wasn’t exactly planning to drag you around with me for the rest of my life.”

Fiyero was surprised by the revelation. He hadn’t spared much thought to the logistics of his imprisonment, but the thought that Elphaba would want to share her living quarters indefinitely with a potentially hostile Gale Forcer did seem a bit far-fetched in hindsight.

Elphaba was still rambling with no sign of slowing down. "I am sorry for what I put you through. And I'm sorry I've dragged you and Glinda into this mess with me," she said, glancing up to meet Fiyero's eyes. She went on, "But Glinda is here now, and you can set things right with her. You can tell her what really happened, that you were just trapped and confused and-"

Fiyero cut her off before she could continue. "Don't you ever let anyone else talk?"

Elphaba looked indignant at his interruption but fell silent. Fiyero seized his chance and said, “I know you’re convinced that I kissed you that day to manipulate you. But I’ve already told you that wasn’t the case. I don’t know what it is, but ever since I met you, everything I thought I knew has been turned on its head. I’ve already spoken to Glinda. Our engagement is off.”

Elphaba seemed shocked by his words. “What are you talking about? Why in Oz’s name would you do that?”

Fiyero took a breath and said, “I realized that I don’t want to settle for a relationship with someone I’m not in love with,” he gave her a pointed look and then added, “and I think I may be falling for someone else.”

She stared at him in confusion for a moment, before her expression morphed into one of shock as the meaning of his words set in. “Fiyero-” she started.

He cut her off. “Look, I know this sounds completely crazy, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since you disappeared the other day. That’s why I went looking for you. I couldn’t bear the thought that I might never see you again.”

Elphaba took a step back, eyeing him warily. “Clearly I have more to apologize for than I thought,” she said. “My holding you prisoner seems to have deeply disturbed your sanity.”

“Your holding me prisoner made me feel as though my eyes are open for the first time in my life,” he said emphatically. “You’re the strongest, most passionate person I’ve ever met. I’d be insane not to be attracted to you.”

“People aren’t attracted to me, Fiyero,” she said with a hint of frustration. She gestured a hand over her form as if to emphasize her point and added, “I’m me.”

“Well, I suppose I’m not people then,” he retorted, taking a step towards her.

She took another step backwards in response. “This is absolute insanity,” she insisted. “I haven’t the faintest idea of what you hope to gain from this, but you need to stop. Now.”

“I don’t want to gain anything! Elphaba-” he started.

She interrupted him this time. “No, that’s enough! I don’t want to hear another word of this. Gather your belongings and be ready to leave at sundown,” she said, and then she turned and bolted in the opposite direction.

Chapter Text

Fiyero mentally kicked himself as he stared after Elphaba's retreating back. It was almost impressive that he’d managed to send two women running from him in the span of under an hour. Yet even as the frustration set in, he knew that he hadn’t handled that well. He should have realized that the confession of his burgeoning feelings would be enough to scare Elphaba away. He sighed. He’d always had an easy time with women. He suspected this was going to be different.

When Elphaba had vanished from sight around a corner, Fiyero pondered what he should do next. He decided it would be better to give both Elphaba and Glinda some space for the time being. He would have to set things right with both of them soon, lest their continued travels together become a waking nightmare, but that was a problem for the future. For now, he decided to see about a meal and some rest before they left camp.

Fiyero didn't know his way around, so he simply picked a direction and began to walk. He was once again struck by the fact that places like these camps could exist so close to the Oz he knew. These Animals had been living out here for so long and most Ozians were oblivious. It was amazing how much ignorance had been bred by the Wizard's lies.

He wandered past a group of children playing with a slightly deflated ball. One of them was a Bear Cub, and Fiyero found his thoughts wandering to Lorgen and the other Animals at the previous camp. He wondered how they were doing. His visits there with Elphaba seemed like a lifetime ago now.

Fiyero watched their game for a few more moments before approaching them with the friendliest smile he could manage. Upon seeing him, their giggles turned to silence and their expressions grew wary.

Fiyero gave a short wave and said, "Hi there. I was just looking for a place to get something to eat. Think any of you guys can help me out?"

There was a short pause, before a small Goat pointed shyly to a tent on Fiyero's left. Fiyero glanced over, then flashed another winning smile, thanked them, and continued on his way.

Fiyero entered the small tent and looked around for signs of either Elphaba or Glinda, but neither woman was in sight. Fiyero supposed they had gone off in a different direction than he had, which was honestly a relief. The inside of this tent appeared to be some sort of canteen. There were a few Animals scattered about at makeshift tables, some carrying on animated conversations as they ate.

Fiyero gratefully accepted a chunk of bread and an apple from the Cow behind the front counter, suddenly aware of how much time had passed since he’d last eaten. He took a bite of his less-than-satisfying meal and sighed internally. The sooner they made it to Kiamo Ko, the sooner he would be able to get his life back to some semblance of normalcy. At the very least, he would no longer have to scrounge for food.

Fiyero glanced around the room for a vacant seat, but he could already feel himself attracting unwanted stares. Not wanting to finish his meal under such scrutiny, he made his way back outside, biting into his apple as he went.

He wasn’t sure what to do with the remaining time he had to kill. It was only midafternoon, and there were still a few hours before the sun went down. Fiyero decided the best course of action would be a quick nap. He had just set off to find himself suitable accommodation when he heard some rather loud and vaguely familiar sobbing coming from a nearby tent.

Fiyero followed the sound and poked his head in. As he'd expected, he was met with the sight of a rather distraught looking Lion. Startled by Fiyero's sudden appearance, the Lion yelped and toppled backwards off the stool on which he'd been perched.

"Lion?" Fiyero asked, somewhat confused as to why the large Cat was crying alone in his tent.

Oh, F-Fiyero," he stammered, looking abashed as he straightened up and replaced the toppled stool.

"Everything alright?" Fiyero asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow as he noticed the Lion had begun wringing his paws again.

The Lion paused for a moment, looking unsure as to whether he wanted to answer, before he once again burst into loud and exaggerated sobs. "No everything's not alright," he choked. "I know you said that witch lady is your friend, but I can't help how s-scared I am. I've heard the stories they tell about her. They say she can kill you with a snap of her fingers! I've been jumping at every little sound. It's driving me out of my mind."

Fiyero shook his head, once again awed by the seemingly boundless scope of the Lion's cowardice. Although Fiyero could hardly fault him for being afraid of Elphaba. It was, after all, a fear Fiyero himself had suffered from only a short while ago.

In an attempt to calm the sobbing Cat, Fiyero said, "Well if it makes you feel any better, I don't think Elphaba's snaps are actually lethal. And anyway, it doesn't really matter. We're going to be leaving at sundown and then you can relax."

Fiyero's words didn't seem to have the effect he'd intended. Upon hearing them, the Lion's head snapped up and he said quickly, "Wait, you're leaving already?"

Now Fiyero was genuinely confused. "I thought you just said-" he started, but the Lion cut him off.

"Well, I-I know. But just because I'm scared of the Witch doesn't mean I wanted you to leave so soon," he said.

Fiyero rolled his eyes at the Lion's insistence on referring to Elphaba as 'the Witch,' but gave up on trying to correct him. Instead, he responded, "Well I went out of my way to find her, so I'm not exactly going to let her slip away again. We're going to be traveling together from now on."

The Lion began twisting his tail between his paws, looking as though he wanted to say something more. Fiyero waited a few moments to see if the Cat would work up the courage on his own, but when he remained silent Fiyero prodded, "Yes?"

"Well…I was wondering if you'd mind terribly if I left with you?" he stammered.

Fiyero had no clue how to react to that. He was finding the Lion to be a somewhat contradictory creature. "You were just moaning over how afraid Elphaba makes you, and now you want to travel with her?" he asked incredulously.

The Lion seemed embarrassed. He twisted his tail around a few more times before responding, "I don't think the other Animals like me very much. I hear them whispering about me behind my back when they don't think I'm paying attention. They think I'm too cowardly for my age, and they got angry when I was too afraid to go into the woods to help gather food. I don't think I can pull my weight the way they want me to. I don't want to stay here."

Fiyero did feel a bit of sympathy for the Lion's plight. He might be an insufferable coward, but he'd grown up alone and isolated from his kind and couldn't really be faulted. Fiyero knew he should probably consult Elphaba first, but against his better judgment he said, "Well…I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of a problem for you to come with us. But you are aware that you’ll be traveling with Elphaba too?"

The Lion gulped and nodded reluctantly. Fiyero stared at him for another moment. "Well, alright then. We're going to be leaving at sundown. You might want to pack some supplies, because I think Elphaba's only gathering enough for three. I'm going to find somewhere to get some rest and I'll meet up with you again before we head out."

The Lion seemed nervous at the prospect of Fiyero leaving. "You can sleep here if you want. I don't mind," he said.

Fiyero glanced at the small cot in the corner, then back at the Lion, before giving a tired shrug. He supposed it was easier than searching for an alternative. Without another word, Fiyero climbed into the cot, sighing in relief at the much-needed rest for his aching muscles, and dozed off as the Lion began busying himself with packing supplies.

By the time Fiyero awoke again, the sky had begun to grow dark. He'd forgotten where he was and startled as he noticed the Lion sitting a few feet away, which in turn caused the Lion to jump.

Fiyero shook his head slightly and stretched his aching muscles. The Lion's cot might not have been ideal, but it was still worlds better than dozing in a pile of dried leaves. Still slightly groggy, he poked his head out of the tent and took a brief look around. He noted that it would most likely be time to leave soon, and that he should head out and find Elphaba and Glinda. He wasn’t sure which woman he was less thrilled about facing, but also he was sure it was Glinda.

"We should get going," he said, voicing his thoughts aloud to the Lion before strolling out into the cooling dusk air. The sound of footsteps behind him confirmed that the Lion had followed with some measure of reluctance.

It only took Fiyero a few moments to spot the two women a short distance away. Each was carrying a small satchel, and Fiyero noted that Glinda had traded the slippers she'd been wearing for a pair of more practical hiking boots. She and Elphaba were having a muted conversation, but they stopped abruptly at Fiyero’s approach. He could see that Glinda’s eyes were red and puffy as he drew nearer to them. That did not bode well.

Glinda looked away pointedly as he joined them, suddenly fascinated by a patch of dirt near her right shoe. Elphaba ignored this and turned to face Fiyero. "Are you ready to go?" she asked, slinging her satchel over her shoulder. She cast a confused look somewhere to Fiyero's right.

Following her gaze, Fiyero turned and remembered that the Lion was standing behind him. He was standing a bit too close for comfort, actually, and his large frame was shaking slightly. Fiyero supposed there was no hope that the Cat would speak up for himself.

"The Lion has asked to accompany us," Fiyero offered.

Elphaba seemed surprised by the news, but she recovered quickly. For a moment it seemed as though she wanted to question the Lion, but she seemed to think better of it. "Well, I suppose one more can't make much of a difference."

With that she brushed past Fiyero and began to say her goodbyes to the Animals that had gathered to see her off. As they set off toward Kiami Ko, the Lion stayed pressed nearly against Fiyero's back, whimpering to himself all the while. Elphaba was out in front, leading the party as she always did, and Glinda had fallen slightly behind. It seemed she had not yet figured out how to walk properly in her new, bulky footgear. Fiyero took a glance around at the lot of them and shook his head, wondering how in Oz he'd found himself in such strange company.

If Fiyero thought their travel situation had been tense before, it was nothing compared to the aftermath of two awkward conversations and the addition of the Lion. Neither of the women seemed to want to acknowledge Fiyero at all, content to walk on in determined silence.

That just left the Lion, who had practically attached himself to Fiyero’s back. The large Cat seemed wary of Glinda and was absolutely terrified of Elphaba, even though she had shown him no ill will since he'd joined their party. Of the three of them, she seemed to have the most patience for the bumbling Animal, yet the Lion continued to act as though she were about to turn and attack him at any given moment. Fiyero was rapidly growing annoyed.

They did their best to travel under the cover of darkness. There was no telling if the Gale Force was still out looking for them, but it seemed very likely now that Glinda was involved as well. Thus far they had seen no sign of soldiers, and they were hoping to keep it that way.

Their first stop for rest passed rather uneventfully. The had Lion put up a fuss at first, apparently too terrified to sleep while Elphaba was keeping watch. Upon seeing that his protests were going largely unnoticed, however, he eventually gave in and settled for sleeping with one eye open. They still elected not to give Glinda a shift on guard duty, and she didn't seem inclined to argue. No one said aloud that it was because they didn't trust her skills as a sentry, but the unspoken truth was well understood.

They instead split an eight-hour rest into three shifts between Elpaba, Fiyero and the Lion, and afterwards they ate a quick meal and continued on their way again. For all of their personal squabbles, it was uncanny how well the group could get along when they needed to. There wasn't a lot of speaking, but the ever-present threat of capture served to keep them working together.

When they stopped to sleep again after the second night of travel, Fiyero decided that he would finally find some opportunity to speak with Elphaba. It somehow seemed the less terrifying of the two conversations he was fated to have, and it would be easier to get her alone while Glinda and the Lion were sleeping.

Elphaba always volunteered for first watch, without fail. She never said anything, she simply stood quietly while the others prepared their makeshift beds and then she took up her post. Fiyero curled up on the ground and waited until Glinda and the Lion had fallen asleep. Once he heard their breathing grow even beside him, he crept silently from his spot on the grass.

Elphaba jolted and whipped around as Fiyero approached her, then visibly relaxed when she spotted him. “You should get some sleep," she said. "You have the second watch in a couple of hours."

Fiyero nodded, but responded, "Actually, I just wanted to talk to you for a minute." Elphaba seemed less than thrilled by the suggestion. Fiyero continued, "Look, I know I made you uncomfortable back at the camp. I’m sorry about that.”

Elphaba studied him for a moment and then shook her head. "It's alright," she said. She didn't offer anything else, to Fiyero's disappointment. Not sure what else to say, he fell silent, and the two stood like that for almost a minute.

Fiyero was still searching his mind for the proper way to break the silence when Elphaba spoke up. "You confuse me," she said simply. Fiyero glanced over at her in surprise, but she wasn't looking at him. She was staring straight ahead.

Fiyero watched her for a moment before responding, "Well, I can't say I've exactly got you all figured out either."

At that, Elphaba turned to face him. Her face grew serious again as she said, "Honestly though, I really don't understand you. Most people aren’t inclined to show me a scrap of kindness even when I haven’t done anything to wrong them. I captured you, terrorized you and held you prisoner, and you don’t seem to hold any ill will towards me at all.”

Elphaba spoke about the matter casually, not letting her voice betray any emotion. She was as offhanded as though they were discussing the weather. Fiyero wasn't quite sure how to respond, but he was glad she finally seemed willing to at least talk to him. He tried to hide his eagerness and thought carefully about what to say next, not wanting to ruin this chance.

"For what it's worth, and I know you may not believe me when I say this, I never lied to you." At the pointed look Elphaba gave him, Fiyero added hastily, "So I never told you I was engaged, but that wasn't really a lie so much as an omission. Everything I said to you, I truly meant."

Elphaba looked at him for a moment and then replied, "You never mentioned that you were a prince either."

Fiyero was surprised by her comment. It was certainly not what he'd been expecting. Apparently, she’d managed to piece together that particular aspect of his identity on her own. He supposed he should have figured that out when she'd shown no surprise that his family owned a castle. He was once again unsure as to the proper response. "It never came up," he offered lamely.

Elphaba hardly seemed thrilled with this answer. "So now I've kidnapped the crowned prince of the Vinkus and Glinda the Good. Oz only knows what Morrible and the Wizard are saying about that," she sighed.

Fiyero supposed he hadn't really thought about it, and suddenly found himself wondering how the events of the past few days were being explained to the general public. He pushed the thoughts aside, wanting to get back to their initial conversation. "Look Elphaba, I still- I don't know, I think I have feelings for you," he said quickly.

Elphaba looked down at her hands. Fiyero could tell he was making her uncomfortable again. After a moment she said, "I used to listen to Glinda talk about you all the time back at Shiz, after your families had decided that you two would be married. We were roommates, you know."

Fiyero nodded. He’d already recalled that particular bit of information. She was changing the subject again, but Fiyero knew so little about Elphaba's past that he let it go and waited for her to continue.

"After I became the Wicked Witch of the West, I wasn't sure I'd ever see Glinda again, and I never imagined I'd actually meet you, let alone kidnap you. It's very strange trying to reconcile you with the Fiyero I used to hear so much about. You're not quite like how Glinda used to describe you."

Fiyero winced. He could imagine how Glinda might have described him back then. "I'd like to think I've changed a lot since college," he said, though in the back of his mind he acknowledged that this had been a fairly recent development.

"I imagine we all have," Elphaba said, and then fell silent.

They stood like that for a few more moments before Elphaba spoke again. "What's your castle like? Kiamo Ko?"

Fiyero was disappointed that they'd veered so far from what he so desperately wanted to discuss, but he decided to let it go for now. He supposed this was progress, at least. "Well, I haven't spent a whole lot of time there. We don't live at Kiamo Ko, though we did stay there a few times when I was younger. That's why it should be safe. The only people at the castle full time are the guards, and they're loyal to my family, not to the Wizard."

Elphaba nodded. "If you don't stay at Kiamo Ko, where does your family live?"

Fiyero was slightly abashed as he answered, "We have another castle."

Elphaba only stared at him, then shook her head and said, "Of course you do."

Fiyero continued, encouraged by the easy conversation, "I think you'll like it though. It's sort of old and ominous."

"What are you implying?" Elphaba responded. For a moment Fiyero thought he might have offended her, but he realized that she was smirking at him.

For a brief, fleeting moment Fiyero was tempted to kiss her again, but he shook his head to clear the thought away.

Instead, he decided to play along. "Well, just that if you happen to be a discerning witch in the market for an evil lair, it's a prime piece of real estate."

Elphaba's eyes narrowed a bit at that, but she was smiling. Fiyero went on, "When I was younger and my cousins used to stay with us, we used to take turns locking each other in the north tower."

Elphaba's eyes lit up. "There's a tower?"

"It has a spire and everything,” Fiyero responded, amused by her enthusiasm.

Elphaba seemed about to respond again, when suddenly her face grew serious and she held up a hand, signaling Fiyero to be quiet. Startled by the sudden change, he obeyed.

A look of concentration passed over Elphaba's face. After a moment she whispered, "Do you hear that?"

Fiyero strained his ears and after a moment he heard the sound she was referring to. It was the sound of boots on leaves. His heart rate quickened.

The look on Fiyero's face seemed to give Elphaba her answer. "Stay here with Glinda and the Lion. I'm going to take a closer look.”

And before Fiyero could respond, Elphaba had hopped on her broom and flown off.

Chapter Text

Fiyero was shell shocked. That seemed to happen quite a lot when Elphaba was involved. One second they'd been having a perfectly pleasant conversation, and the next she was gone. Now he stood frozen, trying not to panic as his mind raced.

He couldn't run off and leave Glinda and the Lion on their own. They were fast asleep and would be unable to run or to defend themselves if someone found them. Despite knowing it was foolish, Fiyero was itching to run off after Elphaba. He knew it was the last thing she'd want him to do, but he supposed now was not the time to start taking that into account.

After a few moments Fiyero finally convinced his legs to move. He turned and ran back toward Glinda and the Lion. "You two! Get up! Someone may have found us," he said. He tried to keep his voice loud enough to rouse them, but low enough that it wouldn't carry. He crouched down, placed his hands on Glinda's shoulders, and gently shook her awake.

Glinda's eyes fluttered open. "Fiyero?" she mumbled. He could hear the confusion in her voice. To their right, the Lion shot up into a sitting position.

"Whozzat?" he shouted in alarm. Fiyero shushed him.

"Get up. We may be in trouble. There were footsteps nearby. Elphaba flew off to check it out," he said in a hushed voice.

The two were on their feet in seconds. Fiyero turned his head wildly, straining his ears for any sign of what might be going on. He could hear shouts coming from somewhere nearby.

The three looked at each other. Before anyone could react, Fiyero shouted, "Wait here!" and ran off towards the sound of the disturbance.

Fiyero sprinted for all he was worth. He stumbled as his foot snagged a tree root, but it didn't deter him. He stopped and glanced around frantically, searching for something to tell him which way to go. He heard the shouting, slightly louder now, ahead and to the left. He took off running.

Fiyero was already breathing heavily by the time he could make out figures in the distance. As he came upon the scene, he leaned up against a tree for support and kept out of sight.

It was members of the Gale Force, just as they had feared, but to Fiyero's relief it appeared to be a scouting party. There were only five guards in the group. There were likely more men in the nearby area, but Fiyero hoped to be far away before they could call for backup.

The guards had their gazes fixed on the sky. Looking up, Fiyero could see Elphaba perched on her broomstick high above them, and his heart rate quickened. Apparently she hadn't been able to avoid being spotted.

Fiyero wasn't sure what to do. He wasn’t a match for five guards on his own, especially without any kind of weapon at his disposal. He could run back and attempt to take Glinda and the Lion to safety, but that might mean losing track of Elphaba again. Fiyero couldn't bring himself to risk it.

He was still running frantically through various scenarios in his head when the sound of a gunshot made him jump. One of the guards was pointing a smoking rifle skywards. He had clearly panicked and fired his weapon without orders, for the men around him seemed as startled by the sudden noise as Fiyero was.

Fiyero glanced upwards at Elphaba and was relieved to find that the guard had clearly missed his target. She hovered in place for a moment, and then in the next second she swooped down in front of the guards, clearly intent on taking advantage of their confusion.

The next few moments were a blur of panicked shouts and motion. The one guard who had his rifle out had not yet reloaded, but the other members of the party were already reaching for their weapons. Fiyero found himself preparing to dart from his hiding place.

It was the sudden change in the air that stopped him. All at once, it seemed to have taken on some sort of static charge, and the hairs on the back of Fiyero's neck stood up. He could see that Elphaba's hair and cloak had begun to whip around her, though Fiyero could not detect even the slightest gust of wind from where he was standing.

The guards had frozen in place, though it seemed to be from fear and not from magic. Fiyero could see now that they were all fairly young, possibly just out of training. Some of them were clutching their guns close to their chests, but they seemed to have forgotten how to use them. Elphaba, for her part, looked as menacing as Fiyero had ever seen her. She had pulled the brim of her hat low so that it cast an eerie shadow over her face, and the unnatural wind whipping at her clothes and hair only added to the effect.

Without warning, five rifles went flying in five different directions, and the last of the guards' courage seemed to go with them. Abandoning all sense of duty, the five men practically stumbled over each other in their haste to turn tail and flee. Fiyero found himself slightly appalled by their cowardice. Clearly whoever had replaced him as captain of the guard wasn't running a tight enough ship.

A loud crack split the air and Fiyero flinched and turned away involuntarily. For a moment he thought it was another gunshot, but when he turned back to the scene it was to find Elphaba with one hand raised in the air and the five guards sprawled across the ground in uncomfortable looking positions.

Elphaba began to look around wildly, as though she couldn't remember what direction she'd come from. Fiyero took that as his cue and stepped from his hiding place.

"Elphaba!" he shouted, waving her over. She seemed aggravated by his presence but not entirely surprised. She hastened her steps.

"Where are the others?" she asked. He could see that she was out of breath and her hair was windswept.

"I woke them up and told them to stay hidden," Fiyero said, though he was not quite paying attention. He was distracted by the sight of the guards still lying in the clearing.

After a moment he asked tentatively, "Are they…." He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence. He didn't want to imagine that Elphaba could casually murder five men in cold blood, but he realized he didn't quite know what she was capable of.

It seemed to take Ephaba a few moments to gauge his meaning, but when she did, she looked affronted. "Of course not!" she said, as though it were the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. "They're unconscious."

Fiyero nodded, trying not to let the relief show quite so plainly on his face. Without another word, he turned and began jogging back toward where he'd left Glinda and the Lion. He could hear Elphaba following behind him on foot, her broom tucked under her right arm. Fiyero realized how much this was slowing Elphaba down. She could have hopped on her broom and been miles away by now if she didn't have three tagalongs to keep an eye on.

They reached Glinda five minutes later, and Fiyero thanked the Unnamed God that he'd managed to find the way back. She seemed anxious, and Fiyero noted with some apprehension that the Lion was nowhere in sight.

As he drew closer, Fiyero could see that Glinda was less than pleased with him. "Fiyero Tigelaar, how dare you wake us up and then go running off and leave us here!" she huffed, hands placed on her hips.

Fiyero winced and responded, "I'm sorry! I didn't really have time to think clearly."

Glinda didn't acknowledge his apology, but instead turned and directed her attention to Elphaba. She seemed to grow concerned when she laid eyes on her friend. Elphaba had paled considerably, and she was still breathing heavily from their brief jog through the forest. She looked like she was about to collapse, and it seemed whatever Glinda had been about to say was momentarily forgotten.

In the small stretch of silence, Fiyero finally voiced his concern. "Where's the Lion?" he asked.

Glinda threw her hands up, exasperated. "He ran off! A whole lot of good he would have been if something had happened! He left me on my own without a second thought. We heard gunshots or something. It scared him senseless, and he ran off into the forest.”

Fiyero glanced around, but he knew it was impossible to look for the Lion now. The Cat was faster than they were, and they had no idea which direction he'd gone. Fiyero could only hope the Lion had managed to get to safety and would be able to take care of himself.

"What happened anyway?” Glinda asked.

Elphaba managed to answer Glinda's question in between her gasps for breath. "Just a small group of Gale Forcers, but there may be more nearby. We need to move," she said. She was staring off into the forest, and Fiyero could tell she too was conflicted about leaving the Lion behind.

He could also see the state Elphaba was in. He imagined that her display of magic must have taken a lot out of her, given her lack of proper food and sleep. "Are you sure you're up for that right now? You look like you need to rest,” he said

Elphaba only narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm fine, and we don't have a choice. We need to put a fair amount of distance between us and the guards back there. We'll stop to rest as soon as possible, but if we don't go now, we'll almost certainly be caught."

Fiyero saw the truth in her words, but he was still reluctant to agree with them. Elphaba wasn't the only one looking worn out. None of them had really had a proper rest since the day before, and even then, only for a few short hours. He wondered how long they could push themselves like this before someone gave out.

There was no use arguing about it right now, and so Fiyero slowly began forcing his reluctant legs into motion. With one last glance behind to make sure they weren't being followed, the three of them set off toward Kiamo Ko once more.

They walked quickly and in complete silence for what seemed like an eternity, though whether the silence was a product of fear or exhaustion was anyone's guess. They hadn't seen any signs of Gale Forcers since they'd left the other group behind, but they all knew that didn't guarantee their safety. They tried to veer left and right in their attempt to throw off any pursuers, but the strategy also added time to their journey.

Everyone was looking a bit worse for the wear by this point. They had been eating very meager meals and hadn't slept in almost 24 hours. Glinda, in particular, looked as though any step might be her last, though she hadn't said much in the way of complaint. Fiyero imagined she didn't have the energy for it.

It wasn't until they'd been walking for two or three hours that Elphaba halted their progress and deemed it safe enough for them to rest. It wasn't clear to what extent she believed it, but it was plain to see that their small group couldn't go on much longer in their current state.

When they stopped to make camp, Fiyero silently moved and took up his post for the first watch. Elphaba eyed him for a moment as though she might protest, but Fiyero held his ground, and she eventually sighed and began to make up a bed without complaint. Fiyero knew she would never admit it, but it was clear that the magic she’d used earlier had taken a lot out of her. She needed the rest more than he did.

When they began walking again several hours later, everyone seemed to be in slightly better spirits. Elphaba was the first to speak. "So, I got a bit of information from those guards back there," she said, directing her attention towards Glinda. "They kept shouting at me, asking where I'd taken you. It seems that Morrible and the Wizard have told everyone that I broke out of the dungeons and kidnapped you against your will. They haven't implicated you in my escape at all. If you want to, it should be safe for you to return to the Emerald City. If Morrible and the Wizard have opted to make you a victim in all of this, they can't very well turn around and arrest you when you get back. If you play along, they should be forced to restore you to your old position."

Glinda seemed to take a moment to process this new information, but after a time she responded, "I don't think that's the best idea right now. We've traveled a long way, and I don't exactly feel up for heading all the way back on my own. I’ll stick with you two for now and consider my options later."

They passed out of the forest not long after that. Being out in the open without the dense trees to hide them seemed to make them all a bit ill at ease, but thankfully it didn't last very long as they soon passed into the rocky, mountainous region of the Vinkus that would bring them up to Kiamo Ko. Fiyero knew the path well, but the terrain was still difficult and made for slow going.

They decided to sleep again when night fell, as it was too difficult to find their footing in the dark. They managed to find a cave to hide out in for the night, which served to put their minds at ease, even though they were quite certain no one had followed them out of the forest.

When they finally saw Kiamo Ko looming over them in the distance, Fiyero could feel the relief well up inside his chest. There had been times on this journey when he'd been sure they'd never make it, but now the end was in sight. The next ordeal was going to be explaining his presence, and the strange company he was keeping, to the guards on duty.

"Who goes there?" someone shouted as they drew nearer to the front gates. Fiyero was aware that Elphaba had tensed and seemed ready to bolt at any moment. Swallowing his own apprehensions, Fiyero tried to look as authoritative as was possible in his current shabby state.

"Prince Fiyero Tigelaar," he shouted back, his voice belaying a confidence he didn't quite feel.

Luckily, it seemed that even unshaven and dressed in someone else's mismatched clothes, Fiyero still looked enough like himself for the guards to recognize him. "Prince Fiyero!" one of them said as they snapped to attention.

Fiyero waved off the formalities and nodded to the two guards manning the entrance. They were familiar but he didn't know their names. They seemed surprised to see him, but it was nothing compared to the expressions on their faces once they laid eyes on Elphaba. Still, they said nothing, obviously trying as hard as they could to keep their attention focused on Fiyero.

"My uh…friends and I were planning to stay here for a while. I trust no one else has been here?" Fiyero said, ignoring the guards' discomfort.

For a moment it seemed that the men hadn't heard Fiyero, before one of them seemed to snap out of his daze and responded, "Uh, no sir. No one's been through here for months now."

Fiyero nodded again and beckoned for Elphaba and Glinda to follow him. The two guards opened the heavy doors for them, and then scrambled out of the way as Elphaba moved to pass them. Elphaba seemed to be caught somewhere between embarrassment and frustration, but she said nothing as she and Glinda followed Fiyero into the castle.

The entryway looked exactly as Fiyero remembered it from the last time he'd been there, probably when he was around fifteen or sixteen years old. He pushed down the feelings of nostalgia and turned to face his travel companions, who had now become his guests.

"There are a fair number of rooms in the castle, so you can pretty much pick whichever ones you’d like. I'm going to go talk to some of the guards, and then I'll see if any of my family members have left clothes here that I can offer you," said Fiyero.

Glinda nodded, her continued annoyance at Fiyero barely masking the fact that she was overjoyed to be inside an actual building again. “Restroom?” she asked curtly, glaring at him.

Fiyero sighed and pointed her in the right direction, which left him and Elphaba standing awkwardly in the entryway. She seemed almost shy now, as though she didn't know how to act in someone else's home.

"So, which way is that tower you mentioned?" she asked.

Fiyero smiled. "I thought you were joking.”

She returned his smile with a small one of her own and responded, "I would never joke about such matters."

They held each other’s gaze for perhaps a few moments too long, before Fiyero cleared his throat and said, "Take the first right upstairs, go to the end of the hall and then follow the ominous, winding staircase all the way up. You can't miss it."

Elphaba nodded at him, and then turned and began to make her way upstairs. He watched her retreat as the reality of the situation finally started to settle in. He was staying in his family castle with his ex-fiancée and a witch he had strange and confusing feelings for. He shook his head to clear the thought away and then decided to focus on finding the head of the castle guard.

It didn't take long. As Fiyero watched Elphaba disappear at the top of the stairs, the portly captain, whose name was Torvok, came stumbling up to Fiyero, confused and out of breath.

"Master Fiyero," he said, panting slightly as he straightened up and saluted. "Forgive me sir, we had no idea to expect you. Last we'd heard, you were being held captive in the Emerald City."

Fiyero was surprised by the news. He knew that rumors of his capture had been spread to lure Elphaba into the city, but he hadn't realized that meant the public would believe them as well.

"Is that the last word anyone's had of me?" he asked, wanting to know exactly where he stood in the public opinion.

The guard looked slightly nervous as he responded, "Yes, sir. Last I heard, anyway. They said you'd been arrested for aiding the Wicked Witch of the West."

Fiyero wasn't quite sure how to respond to that, so he decided to just be blunt. "Her name is Elphaba Thropp," he said, "and she's going to be staying with us for the time being, so try to treat her like any other guest."

The captain seemed confused by Fiyero's statement.  "I'm sorry, sire. Who is Elphaba Thropp?"

"The Wicked Witch of the West, as you called her." he responded, ignoring the look on the guard's face. "Her real name is Elphaba Thropp." He let that sink in for a moment, and then he added, "Lady Glinda, my former fiancée, is with us as well. I believe she's just headed off to the bath chambers."

The guard sputtered a bit, still clearly trying to come to terms with what Fiyero was telling him. Finally, he managed to choke out, "I'm sorry, sire, you'll excuse me if I'm a bit confused."

Fiyero sighed, not feeling at all up to the task of explaining everything just now. After a slight pause, he responded, "Is it alright if I explain everything later? We've had a very long journey and I'm completely exhausted. For now, please inform the guards about our guests and tell them to be on their best behavior." With that, he turned on his heel and began to make his way up the stairs, leaving the baffled captain in his wake.

Chapter Text

Fiyero stood at the base of the staircase that led up to the north tower, holding a few simple dresses that had once belonged to one of his cousins and debating whether he should make his way up. He waited for a few minutes, chewing his bottom lip in thought, before he shook his head and began to climb the stairs. He soon found himself staring at a heavy wooden door. He took a deep breath and rapped on it three times.

There was a rusting sound, before the door opened and Elphaba was standing before him. She seemed slightly confused by his presence. "Oh, Fiyero. Is something wrong?"

"Just wanted to see what you thought of the tower," he said awkwardly, struggling to sound casual. “And I found some clean clothes I think will probably fit you," he added, holding them out for her.

Elphaba stepped aside to allow him to enter the room. "Well, I have only been here for five minutes," she said as she accepted the proffered clothing. Fiyero had searched all of the castle's wardrobes for the darkest colors he could find in Elphaba's size. He was suspicious that some of the dresses had been intended for funeral wear, but he doubted she would mind. After a moment she added, "I like it. It's spacious."

Fiyero stepped past the threshold and into the room. It looked exactly as he remembered it, down to the heavy layer of dust coating every surface. While there was limited staff on hand to ensure that the castle remained clean, so few people ever came up here that it had been fairly neglected over the years.

Fiyero glanced around and could see that Elphaba had already unpacked the few belongings she had with her. Her large spell book lay on the bed, next to her cloak and a few items of food they had not finished off on the journey. There were a few smaller books and papers stacked neatly on the desk, and her broomstick was propped up against the far window. Other than that, the room was bare.

"Spacious is one way to put it," Fiyero said.

Elphaba moved across the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. She began to unlace her heavy boots and pulled them off her feet, a look of relief spreading across her face.

"Oh, thank Oz," she said, wincing as she rubbed her left foot. "I don't remember the last time I took these boots off." She allowed herself to collapse backwards onto the bed.

Fiyero hesitated for a moment, and then moved to sit on the bed next to her, leaving a reasonable space between them so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. Elphaba looked up at him as he sat but didn’t protest.

"So, what's the plan now?" Fiyero asked.

Elphaba closed her eyes for a moment. "You seem to be assuming that I have one," she said with a sigh.

"Well like I said, we should be safe here for the time being. That gives you plenty of time to come up with one," Fiyero responded.

Elphaba opened her eyes and stared at him curiously. "And what exactly is your plan?"

Fiyero smiled slightly. "Well, considering the way my plans have turned out up until this point, I thought I'd leave that to you."

Elphaba had a strange look on her face again. "Aren't you going to go home? I mean, I appreciate your letting me stay here, but there's no reason for you to remain in hiding with me. Even if you're still wanted by the Emerald City, you're the heir to the throne of the Vinkus. Surely you’ll be safe as long as you’re here."

“It’s possible, but that's not my primary concern. For now, I want to stay here and make sure you're alright," Fiyero responded.

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. After a moment she said, "But don't your parents and the rest of the Vinkus believe that you're still locked up in the Emerald City? Don't you think that might cause some political tension?"

Fiyero considered her words. It was true that he hadn't really considered how his people or his parents would take the word of his imprisonment. He wondered if it was enough for his parents to consider taking some kind of action against the Emerald City. The Vinkus was a proud land, and the people had always considered themselves mostly self-sufficient, even though they technically fell under the Wizard's jurisdiction. Fiyero knew they would be affronted to learn that their prince had been locked up without trial and without their consent.

"I'll send word to my parents as soon as possible," Fiyero decided. "I'll let them know what's happened and that we're staying here. It should at least put their minds at ease to know that I've made it back to the Vinkus."

Elphaba nodded but didn't press the matter further, though she was obviously still confused by his actions. She closed her eyes again and said, "I think I'd definitely like to take a bath whenever Glinda's finished. I don't even think I can remember the last time I had something more than a quick rinse in the river."

As she said this, Fiyero's mind jumped back to the time when he'd believed the rumors that water would melt her. It seemed absurd now that he'd ever thought that possible. He chuckled involuntarily at his own stupidity.

Elphaba glanced at him, looking slightly offended. "What? You think just because I'm a fugitive I enjoy being covered in a layer of grime?"

"Oh no, it's not that," Fiyero said quickly. "I was just remembering something the Ozians used to say about you. It seems ridiculous now that I look back on it."

Elphaba propped herself up on her elbows, suddenly looking interested. "What do the Ozians say about me?" she asked. She was trying to sound casual, but Fiyero could see in her eyes that the question was more important than she let on. He was slightly taken aback. He hadn't thought Elphaba cared about public opinion all that much.

He felt sheepish, but he knew he couldn't deny her the information now that he'd brought it up. Feeling awkward, he said, "Oh, it's so stupid, really. I can’t even imagine where they came up with it. Some of them believe that water can melt you."

He could tell that this surprised her, though she was still doing her best to hide it. After a beat she asked, "What else do they say about me?" Her voice was softer than Fiyero had ever heard it. He could kick himself for bringing this up.

"It's all stupid, Elphaba, and none of it’s true. It doesn't matter," he said in an attempt to backpedal.

Elphaba's eyes bore into his own. She looked extremely serious all of a sudden. "Just tell me,” she said. Fiyero squirmed slightly under her gaze.

He sighed and looked away, not wanting to see how his words would affect her. "Just stupid things. That you have an extra eye. That you can shed your skin. That you mutilated a bunch of Monkeys or something…"

"I did mutilate those Monkeys," came her quiet reply. Fiyero glanced back over at her in surprise and could see how completely dejected she looked. Elphaba continued, "It was an accident, but I did it. It was the day I met the Wizard. The day they branded me the Wicked Witch. He and Madame Morrible tricked me into performing the spell. They didn't tell me what it would do. It gave all of the Monkeys wings, but it hurt them terribly in the process. I tried to reverse it, but it was already too late."

Fiyero didn't know what to say. He'd already assumed something had happened between Elphaba and the Wizard to have her labelled as a public enemy, but he hadn’t expected there was any measure of truth to the rumors he’d heard. Elphaba looked so torn up about it that it broke Fiyero's heart. In an attempt to console her, he said, "It sounds like it wasn't your fault then. It’s the Wizard and Morrible who were responsible. You didn't mean to."

Elphaba's smile was rueful. "Intentions are irrelevant, Fiyero. It's the actual consequences of our actions that we have to live with."

Fiyero was sympathetic. Elphaba had clearly been keeping all of this bottled up for some time. He hoped talking about it might help. "How many monkeys were there?" he asked.

Elphaba looked down at her hands. "I'm not really sure. Some of them were hidden from view. About a dozen, I think."

Fiyero was a bit surprised and asked, "So you gave a dozen monkeys wings without even knowing what you were trying to do?"

He said it with a measure of awe in his voice, but Elphaba seemed to take it as a condemnation. She nodded slowly, unwilling to meet his eyes. The guilt was still clearly written across her face.

"Elphaba that's incredible," he said, genuinely impressed. "Exactly how powerful are you?"

She seemed embarrassed now that she had gauged his meaning. This was a subject she clearly didn't like to talk about. "I'm not really sure," she said. He could see a slight blush rising in her cheeks. "I've always been good at magic, ever since I was younger. At first, I wasn’t able to control it properly, but I think I've mostly gotten the hang of it now. That's why the Wizard wanted to see me in the first place. He wanted to use my abilities towards his own ends.”

Fiyero was confused by this. "But why would the Wizard need your magic? Isn't he powerful enough on his own?"

Elphaba let out a laugh so bitter that it startled Fiyero. "The Wizard has no real power at all. He's a fraud who uses nothing but fear and lies to keep control over Oz.”

Fiyero was surprised yet again. He remembered that Elphaba had said some less than pleasant things about the Wizard before, but the idea that the most powerful man in Oz had no actual power was almost too much for Fiyero to wrap his head around.

Something dawned on him. "So, wait a minute. If you have all of this power and the Wizard has none, why haven't you used it to fight him? Why have you spent all this time on the run? You have that spell book and all, surely they wouldn't be able to stop you if you decided to..." he chose his words carefully, "…enact a regime change."

The way that Elphaba immediately began shaking her head suggested to Fiyero that she had followed this train of thought before. "Just because I may have the ability, doesn't give me the right. I may hate the Wizard and everything he stands for, but I could never take his life," she said. She was looking straight into his eyes, her expression gravely serious. It sent chills down Fiyero's spine. "And even if I did, what good would come of it? Oz would be left without a leader, in a state of complete chaos, and then I'd really be a monster."

Fiyero was struck again by how young Elphaba was. She looked so much like a girl right now. She was younger than he was, and she was sitting here discussing the moral implications of assassinating the leader of their country.

"What about Glinda?" Fiyero suggested, only half joking. "The people of Oz definitely respect her. I'm fairly certain they'd all throw themselves off a bridge if she suggested it."

Elphaba smiled sadly. "Trust me when I tell you that Glinda wants no part of any of this. I asked her to come with me, you know. That day, before I ran. I practically begged her. It was ridiculous, of course. She stayed behind to marry you, and I went off and became the Wicked Witch of the West, for all the good that's done.”

Fiyero hadn't known this either. He'd never heard any of this from Glinda in all the time he'd known her. "I hadn't even realized Glinda was with you when you met the Wizard. She never mentioned any of it.”

"Yes well, I imagine she was trying to forget," Elphaba said sadly, looking back down at her hands. Suddenly feeling bold, Fiyero reached out and took one of her hands in his. She looked up at him in surprise and her wide brown eyes met his own. Fiyero felt his heart rate quicken.

"Listen, Elphaba, I know you may not believe me. It seems like you've spent your entire life trying to convince yourself that all of the awful things that have happened to you are your fault. That you somehow deserved it. But that’s not true," he said, willing her to believe him.

Elphaba looked away, pulling her hand from his as she did so. A curtain of hair fell over her face, hiding it from Fiyero's view. Without a second thought, he reached out and brushed the stray hair behind her ear. She seemed surprised by this action and turned back to face him. Their eyes met again, and he could see how desperately she wanted to trust him.

His determination growing, Fiyero continued, "You are not evil. You're not wicked. You're strong and you're determined and you're beautiful, and just because most of Oz can't see that doesn't make it any less true."

She ducked her head away again. "You don't have to lie to me," she said softly.

Fiyero placed one finger under her chin and gently lifted her head until their gazes were locked once more. "I’ve already told you that I would never lie to you," he said. His heart was aching with desire for so many things: for her to believe what he was telling her, for the ability to wipe away all of the pain and insecurity that had accumulated over the course of her difficult life, to be able to kiss her right now and not have her pull away.

He knew that wanting all of those things at once was nigh on delusional, but Fiyero was shocked to find them at least partially attainable as, with one quick motion, Elphaba closed the short gap between them and kissed him.

It was the first time she had shown him any open affection, and the abruptness of it took him completely by surprise. The kiss was brief and shy, but there was a note of desperation in the way she pressed her lips to his. Fiyero understood it because he felt it too.

He was utterly disappointed when Elphaba pulled away from the brief kiss only moments later. She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes nervously searching his own. A small smile graced her lips, and then she slid from her place on the bed and the moment was over.

Elphaba smoothed her tattered dress, then said, "I really should go take a bath. I'm sure even Glinda must be almost finished by now."

Fiyero nodded, his mind still buzzing from the brief and unexpected contact. “There’s more than one bath anyway,” he said absently, ignoring the way that Elphaba scoffed at the frivolity of the rich. She made her way towards the door, grabbing one of the clean dresses Fiyero had provided for her in the process. She turned back around to face him.

"I don't really know my way around…" she trailed off. Fiyero smiled at her unspoken question, hopped off the bed, and followed her out of the tower.

Chapter Text

Once Fiyero had shown Elphaba to one of the bath chambers (and scurried away before his mind could drift to what would be happening in there) he set off in search of his other travel companion. Glinda had never been to Kiamo Ko either, but the woman knew her way around a castle. Fiyero was certain she would have already laid claim to one of the larger bedrooms. Sure enough, he found her in the master suite, already rifling through a large armoire.

“Go away,” she grumbled, not even bothering to extract herself from among a collection of his mother’s old dresses.

“Glinda, we should really talk about this,” he said, moving further into the room.

“What’s there to talk about?” she snapped, her face finally appearing around the heavy wooden door. Her hair was still wet from her recent bath, and her blond curls clung to the back of her neck. “I’m stuck in a musty old castle with the man who dumped me and the woman he did it for.”

Fiyero braced himself against the force of her anger. “I already told you that this isn’t about Elphaba,” he insisted. He sighed and continued, “I’m sorry, okay? I’m not doing this to hurt you.”

She turned away from the armoire to face him fully. “Well doesn’t that just make me feel better?” she said. “I did everything I could to be perfect for you. Perfect for us. And even that wasn’t enough.”

“Maybe there’s more to love than being perfect,” he responded. “Maybe there’s more to life than just doing what we’re supposed to.”

 “And what’s wrong with doing what we’re supposed to?” she asked, stamping her foot like a petulant child. “What’s wrong with wanting a perfect happily ever after? Who wouldn’t want that?”

“You know who wouldn’t,” Fiyero replied.

“I thought you said this wasn’t about Elphaba,” Glinda said, narrowing her eyes.

Fiyero didn’t have an immediate response to that, and the two stood staring across the bedroom at each other for a few tense moments longer. Finally, Glinda seemed to deflate, apparently conceding that her words weren’t getting through to him.

She gave a short sigh and said, “I suppose there’s no changing your mind?”

Fiyero shook his head. “No,” he answered sadly.

Glinda held his gaze forcefully for a few seconds longer, before the rest of the fight visibly went out of her. “This would be a lot easier if I wasn’t stuck in a castle with the two of you and could pretend that you no longer exist.”

Fiyero smiled sadly at her and then, gathering up what remained of his courage, he closed the distance between them and pulled the woman before him into a hug. “Would it help if I let you keep the master suite?” he asked gently. He chuckled despite himself as he felt the blond start nodding into his chest.

They stayed like that for almost a minute before Glinda finally pulled away, sniffling softly. Fiyero could feel the damp marks she’d left on his shirt. “Where do we go from here?” Glinda asked, raising her eyes to meet his.

“I have no idea,” Fiyero answered truthfully. “At least not for myself. I’m through with the Emerald City. I’ll probably stay here in the Vinkus for now, where it’s safer for me.” He didn’t add ‘and Elphaba’, but he could tell from the slight shift in Glinda’s expression that the unspoken words were understood. He took another long look at the woman before him and said, “I think you should go back.”

Glinda seemed both sad and indignant at the suggestion. “Trying to get rid of me already?” she asked. He could tell she tried to play it off as a jest, but there was a distinct note of bitterness to her voice.

“Of course not,” Fiyero said earnestly. “You’re welcome here for as long as you’d like. But you heard what Elphaba said. The Wizard and Morrible have made you a victim. You can go back to the palace and continue your work as Glinda the Good. You’ve never needed me to achieve that.”

Glinda chuckled bitterly at the suggestion. “Why does it feel like getting what I want always seems to come at the cost of the people I care about most?” The question appeared to be rhetorical, for she went on without waiting for an answer. Wiping a stray tear from her cheek, she said, “You are right of course.” Her voice was still shaky but suffused with whatever confidence she could muster. “The people do need me. Who else will lift their spirits during these troubled times?” Her face became more serious after a moment, and she added, “If we can find a reliable way to stay in touch, I can keep you updated on what the Wizard and Morrible are up to.”

Fiyero was momentarily surprised by the offer, but he recovered and said, “I’m sure we can think of something.”

With that, Glinda had apparently decided that their conversation was over. Her expression changed to one of frustration and she pushed off of Fiyero’s chest with a light shove. “Now get out,” she demanded, though there was no real force behind her words. “I need to make myself presentable.”

Fiyero had no time to formulate a response before he was ejected into the hall and the door slammed shut firmly behind him. He turned back to stare at the heavy wooden door for a moment, contemplating the trajectory of his conversation with Glinda. He supposed that, all things considered, it could have gone worse.

Feeling as though a weight had lifted now that the dreaded confrontation with his ex-fiancée was behind him, Fiyero strolled the halls of Kiamo Ko aimlessly. They had been traveling for so many days just trying to reach safety and, now that Fiyero was here, he found he was coming up short on what to do next.

Fiyero rounded a corner and found himself back at the main staircase near the entryway. The two guards on duty jumped slightly at his sudden appearance and then stood at attention. Instead of the usual stony, respectful expressions Fiyero expected, the guards eyed him warily as he passed. Fiyero supposed the mysterious circumstances of his arrival, and the even more bizarre company he was keeping, must have set them on edge.

Fiyero recalled his earlier conversation with Elphaba and realized it would be best to set the record straight as soon as possible. Taking the stairs two at a time, he made his way up to the bedroom he’d frequented the few times his family had visited the castle. He pushed the heavy door open and ignored the flutterings of nostalgia that assaulted him as he stepped into the room. It looked exactly as the teenage version of himself had left it years ago. A few small books and some arrowheads lay scattered across the surface of the desk against the far wall, along with a small, lumpy wooden wolf that had resulted from one of Fiyero’s feeble attempts at whittling. His old hunting spear and a pair of boots, definitely too small for him now, lay propped in the corner near the window. Fiyero ran a hand over the spear as he glanced out the window over the grounds, remembering past days spent tumbling in the grass with his cousins under far less grueling circumstances.

The last time his family had visited Kiamo Ko had been for his grandfather’s funeral. There had been a large burial ceremony in honor of the late king, and Kiamo Ko had been the most central location for the family to retire to afterwards. Fiyero had two sets of aunts and uncles, both on his father’s side, and six cousins, three male and three female. When they were younger, Fiyero’s cousins had looked up to him because he was the oldest. He’d been the leader in all of their games and adventures. Yet as they’d grown older and Fiyero had proven himself a disappointment, the dynamic between them had shifted.

Fiyero sighed, turning from the window to take a seat at the desk. He pushed away some of the clutter with the back of his hand and retrieved a piece of paper and a fountain pen from the small wooden drawer in the front. He stared down at the blank page for a few moments, trying to wrangle his turbulent thoughts into something coherent, and then he began to write.

Dear Mother and Father,

I hope this letter finds you both well. I know there has been some concerning news as to my whereabouts the past few weeks, and I wanted to write you to assure you that I’m fine and that I’ve made it safely back to the Vinkus. I’m sure that by now word has reached you from the Emerald City that I’m a traitor, but I hope you trust in my character enough to realize that’s not the whole truth. I won’t say anymore here, on the off chance that this letter is intercepted, but I hope to find time to explain myself in person very soon.

Fiyero chewed the back of his pen in thought, debating, before he steeled himself and added.

Also, I thought it only right to inform you that I have ended my engagement to Glinda Upland. I understand that this was a set arrangement, and I deeply regret any difficulty or embarrassment my actions may cause you.

Your Son,
Fiyero

Fiyero signed the letter with a flourish and stuffed it into an envelope before he could second guess himself. He knew what he’d written was vague and would probably leave his parents with more questions than answers, but it would at least serve to set their minds at ease regarding his whereabouts and safety. The rest of it could be explained in time.

His task finished, Fiyero sealed the envelope and dropped it onto his desk for the time being. He slid his chair back and stood, stretching as he took another glance around the room. He realized that he was still wearing the oversized clothes he’d received at the Animal camp three days ago, along with a fine layer of grime that had accumulated from his travels. He decided it might be best to follow his female companions’ lead and get himself cleaned up.

Fiyero crossed the room to the armoire and tugged the wooden doors open with some effort, the hinges resisting him after years of disuse. He cringed inwardly at his teenage self as he rifled through its contents. At fifteen he’d fancied himself a hunter, as evidenced by the several articles of traditional tribal wear that occupied the hangers. Fiyero pushed them aside and pulled out a simple pair of brown trousers. He held them against his waist and found that the legs only reached midway down his calves.

Fiyero replaced them with a sigh, realizing he was going to have to borrow something belonging to his father or one of his uncles. He exited his old room and went searching through several of the guest rooms until he managed to scrounge up a pair of grey trousers and an old sweater that fit him well enough. He returned to his bedroom to retrieve the letter to his parents, and then made his way back down the stairs to the main hall.

The guards snapped to attention once again as he appeared at the top of the stairs, still watching him with a bit more trepidation than Fiyero would have preferred. He stopped before them, shifting the bundle of clothes in his arms slightly, and held out the letter.

“I need this letter delivered to the king and queen at once,” he said with all of the authority he could manage in his shabby state.

“Right away, Your Highness,” one of the men said as he accepted the envelope. Without another word, he turned and retreated down the hall. Fiyero gave a short nod to the remaining guard, and then turned and continued on to the bath chambers.

The chamber he’d guided Elphaba to earlier was empty, but there was still residual steam in the air and clinging to the glass of the mirror, so she couldn’t have been gone for long. Fiyero closed the door behind him and dropped his bundle of clothes onto the sink, sparing only a quick glance into the foggy mirror at the disheveled hair and unkempt beard that had resulted from several days of travel. He turned the taps, stripped off his dirty clothes, and waited somewhat impatiently for the large tub to fill.

Fiyero sighed deeply as he slipped beneath the warm water, the last of the tension finally fleeing him as his aching muscles relaxed. It seemed like an eternity since he’d last been able to let his guard down completely. The events of the past few days drifted through his tired mind in fits and spurts as he half dozed beneath the water.

He emerged from the washroom sometime later, scrubbed clean and freshly shaven, and nearly walked directly into Torvok. The captain of Fiyero’s household guard was standing directly outside the washroom door, apparently waiting to ambush him. Fiyero just managed to hold back a frightened yelp at the unexpected presence.

“Master Fiyero,” Torvok said, clearly a bit nervous. “Forgive me, Your Highness, but the men are a little bit on edge. There’s been a lot of conflicting information coming in about you over the past few days. First we heard that you’d been captured by the Wicked Witch of the West, then that you had been imprisoned in the Emerald City for aiding her. Now you’ve shown up without warning, with both the Witch and Lady Glinda in tow. We’re just a bit confused.”

Fiyero pushed his wet hair away from his forehead as he contemplated how best to explain the events of the past several days. “It’s all been a bit…complicated,” he started, disregarding just how much of an understatement that was. “As I’ve mentioned, the Witch’s name is Elphaba. She’s a friend of mine, and she’s really not what the rumors make her out to be. I promise no harm will come to any of you on her part. You know I wouldn’t have brought her here if she posed any sort of threat.”

The captain still seemed uneasy. He was wringing his hands in a way that reminded Fiyero of a certain Lion, and he would not meet the prince’s eyes. “Well, there’s just some worry, Your Highness…I mean some of the men are concerned that you’ve been…bewitched.” He dropped his voice low as he said the last word, finally turning to face Fiyero.

Fiyero merely blinked at him. “Bewitched,” he repeated.

“Erm, yes, sire,” Torvok said with some uncertainty. “You and the Lady Glinda. This is just so unlike you both.”

Fiyero was still trying to wrap his head around the accusation. He supposed he understood where it came from, but he didn’t exactly know how to dispel it. “And if I were bewitched, do you think I would be inclined to admit it?” he asked slowly.

Torvok gaped at him for a moment, clearly not having considered that vital piece of information. “No, I suppose not,” he said, confusion evident on his face.

“Torvok,” Fiyero said pointedly.

“Yes, sire?”  he responded, seeming more and more sheepish as the conversation went on.

“I’m not bewitched,” Fiyero said flatly. For good measure he added, “Lady Glinda is a powerful witch herself. Do you think she would allow either of us to fall under someone else’s thrall?” He knew he was stretching the truth of Glinda’s abilities by quite a wide margin, but the captain certainly didn’t.

“No, of course not, Your Highness!” Torvok said quickly, clearly not keen on the prospect of insulting Glinda, “You’re right, of course. I wasn’t thinking. I’ll speak with the men and set their minds at ease.” With that Torvok saluted, turned, and disappeared back down the hall to Fiyero’s left.

Fiyero couldn’t help but worry that this particular issue was not yet fully resolved, but he knew the guards were merely looking out for his safety. He supposed it was rather suspicious that he’d arrived, unannounced, in the company of Oz’s most infamous fugitive. Fiyero didn’t think his men were versed enough in the goings on of the Emerald City to know that he had been tasked with her capture for the past two years, but it still must seem entirely strange to them.

Deciding that he could worry about the castle’s rumor mill later, Fiyero next set his sights on the kitchens. It had been entirely too long since he’d eaten a meal that hadn’t involved pre-packaged military rations. There were no regular cooks on duty when the castle wasn’t in use, but Fiyero was certain that even his own meager and neglected culinary skills would be enough to cobble something together.

To his surprise, he found that the kitchens weren’t empty when he arrived. Elphaba and Glinda were both already present, the former standing awkwardly off to the side while the latter rifled through the pantry. Fiyero was pleasantly surprised to find Elphaba out and about. He’d thought she would want to stay holed up in the north tower until she’d gotten her bearings. He supposed Glinda had likely had a hand in dragging Elphaba from her chosen refuge.

Both women turned to look at him as he entered. They had both traded the familiar travel clothes Fiyero had grown used to for fresh outfits. Elphaba had swapped her heavy black dress for one of the simple navy ones Fiyero had provided earlier, and her previously wild hair had been noticeably tamed. The effect made her look about five years younger and not even marginally as imposing as she’d seemed with her cloak and pointed black hat. Glinda had donned a short lavender dress that Fiyero had never even seen before. She’d likely made short work of combing through the various rooms of the castle for the choicest fashion options.

“Oh good, there you are, Fiyero. Be a dear and peel these,” Galinda said, thrusting an armful of potatoes at him. She had clearly chosen to act as though their earlier conversation hadn’t happened. Fiyero wasn’t prepared and fumbled as he accepted the produce, wincing as a potato bounced off his shoe and rolled across the kitchen floor.

“What’s going on in here, then?” he asked, depositing the armful of potatoes onto the countertop as he darted after the one that had escaped.

“We’re making dinner, obviously,” Glinda said as she fished an onion out of the panty. “Since this is apparently the sort of castle that doesn’t have proper kitchen staff.”

“No one lives here,” Fiyero said incredulously as he plucked the stray potato off the floor and cleaned it on the leg of his trousers. Glinda gave him a look of vague horror as he did so.

“What about the guards?” Glinda countered as she continued to busy herself about the kitchen.

“You want my family to employ a chef to feed twenty or so household guards?” Fiyero asked.

“Well, it’s not as though you couldn’t afford it,” Glinda said matter-of-factly. She turned to Elphaba, who until this moment had been making herself scarce in the corner, and said “Elphie, be a dear and pass me one of those knives.”

Fiyero had heard Glinda utter the nickname before, but the circumstances at the time had been so dire that he hadn’t quite registered it. Now, in the warm safety of the castle kitchens, he allowed himself to feel deeply amused. “You let her call you ‘Elphie’?” he asked, unable to keep the laughter out of his voice as he turned to face Elphaba.

She had just removed a rather large chef’s knife from the counter behind her and the blade drew level with Fiyero’s chest as she turned back around to face him. Fiyero didn’t suppose he could have chosen a worse moment to ask that question.

“Yes,” she said, brandishing the knife with a note of warning in her voice, “and it’s a non-transferable privilege.”

Fiyero held his hands up in front of him in a gesture of surrender, just as Glinda flitted past and plucked the knife out her friend’s hand. “Thank you, Elphie,” she chirped, using the cutesy nickname again for good measure. Elphaba’s cheeks flushed as her hand dropped back to her side. Glinda hefted a large cooking pot onto the counter and Elphaba dutifully began to fill it in the kitchen sink without another word.

The rest of the meal preparation went by uneventfully. Fiyero found himself surprised by the easy camaraderie he felt as the three of them bustled about the kitchen. He had lived with Glinda for two years and had never seen her like this. She seemed so unpolished and relaxed and casual. It dawned on him that perhaps she hid behind the mask of her public persona in much the same way that Elphaba did, and that even he had never seen beyond it in any meaningful capacity. It occurred to Fiyero that he had come exceedingly close to marrying a complete stranger.

His rapport with Elphaba somehow felt like the complete opposite. Though he’d only known her for a little under two weeks and had spent a significant portion of that time worried that she would hex him to death, he felt as though she’d been in his life for much longer. Elphaba, for her part, still seemed uneasy within the walls of the castle. She was clearly on edge, and Fiyero noted the way her eyes seemed to sweep the room every few moments as though making herself aware of the exits. He supposed that there were habits borne of being on the run for so long that were not easy to simply shrug off.

Still, as the three of them set their steaming bowls of lentil stew around the far-too-large dining table adjacent to the kitchen, Fiyero watched as some of the tension in her shoulders finally released. The three of them ate in companionable silence for a while, enjoying the first warm meal they’d had in days, before Glinda finally spoke. “Elphie and I were discussing a way that I might be able to keep in touch after I return to the Emerald City,” she said casually, as though discussing dinner plans and not what could invariably be classified as treason.

Fiyero looked up from his bowl with interest at her words, waiting for her to continue. Instead, it was Elphaba who said, “The flying Monkeys. You reminded me earlier that I still haven’t made up for what I did to them. I’m going back to the Emerald Palace with Glinda and I’m going to set them free.”

Fiyero’s eyes widened at the prospect, and he almost choked on a bite of his stew. “Are you insane,” he gasped. “You’ve narrowly escaped being captured at the palace twice in the past two weeks. They’ll be ready for you if you return. They won’t let you slip away again.”

Elphaba held her head up defiantly in the face of his skepticism. “They won’t even know I’m there,” she said. “We’re going to use Glinda’s return as a distraction. While she plays the escaped damsel for the guards at the gate, I’m going to sneak into the Wizard’s throne room and release them.”

“And you don’t think there will be guards in the throne room?” Fiyero asked.

“I can handle a couple of guards,” Elphaba said, in a way that suggested that she wasn’t bragging but merely stating a fact.

“There will be more than a couple,” Fiyero argued. “The palace is extremely well guarded, especially around the throne room. Even if you distract the guards at the front gate, there would be more than enough to stop you if they catch you up there.”

“Then I’ll be certain that they don’t catch me,” Elphaba responded defiantly.

“This is insane!” Fiyero stammered. He turned his attention to entreat Glinda instead and asked, “You can’t seriously think this is a good idea?” He expected his ex-fiancée to acquiesce as she so often had when they were still together, and so he was surprised when he met her gaze and found that it held almost as much stubborn determination as Elphaba’s.

“I haven’t always been a great friend,” she said, pointedly ignoring the way Elphaba opened her mouth to respond. “I was selfish and a coward the first time around. I still am in a lot of ways. I’m certainly not as willing to give up everything I have as you two seem to be. But I’ve had a lot of time to regret my decisions the past two years. And if this is what Elphaba feels we must do to make some of it right, then I’m willing to help in any way I can.”

Elphaba seemed temporarily dumbstruck by her friend’s words. “Glinda,” she started, her voice thick with emotion.

Fiyero cut her off. “Then let me come with you too,” he said stubbornly, glancing back and forth between the two of them.

Elphaba shook her head immediately and said, “You’ll only slow us down. Glinda has her bubble and I, my broomstick. Either of us is capable of escaping on our own if something goes wrong. If you were to come, we’d have to keep tabs on you constantly, and you would slow our retreat. It’s best if you stay here in the Vinkus where you’re safe from the Wizard’s reach.”

“So, you’re saying I’m useless then,” Fiyero said, unable to keep the frustration out of his voice.

“Not at all,” Elphaba responded. “Someone will need to explain to your guards when I return with a dozen flying Monkeys.”

Fiyero’s eyes widened further, if that were possible. “You want to bring the Monkeys here?” he asked incredulously.

“Well, where else are they going to go?” Elphaba asked, as though he was the unreasonable one. “It would only be temporary,” she pleaded. “Just until it’s safe enough to integrate them into the Animal camps.”

Fiyero sighed and dropped his head into his hands. He’d already realized that this was a fight he wasn’t going to win. “And when do you two expect to put this plan into action,” he grumbled through his fingers.

Glinda answered this time. “In three days,” she said. “Enough time for us to rest and for Elphaba to memorize the necessary spells.”

“You’re not bringing your spell book with you either?” Fiyero groaned. He was hating this plan more and more by the second.

“I can’t,” Elphaba responded. “Morrible would love to get her hands on the Grimmerie again. I’m not willing to risk it. I’m going to trust you to look after it while I’m gone.”

Fiyero couldn’t help but feel that she was only trying to flatter his ego. He also found that it worked. “How long do you think you’ll be gone?” he asked, conceding once again.

“If all goes well, no more than two days,” Elphaba responded.

“You must realize that if I don’t hear anything from either of you in that amount of time, I will most certainly be coming after you,” he said.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Fiyero,” Elphaba said. “What could you possibly do to help me in the event of my capture?”

“You forget that I have the entire military power of the Vinkus at my disposal,” Fiyero shot back. He was stretching the truth just a little. Technically it was his father who commanded the army, but if it came down to it, Fiyero would find a way to rally the troops to his cause.

“You’d start a war over me?” Elphaba asked, a healthy amount of sarcasm apparent in her tone.

“Wars have been started for less,” Fiyero shot back, narrowing his eyes.

The two glared at each other across the table for a few moments longer while Glinda glanced silently back and forth between them. Elphaba broke first. “Men,” she grumbled with annoyance, rolling her eyes as she pushed her chair back and stood. Without any further argument, she collected her plate and disappeared into the kitchen.

Chapter Text

The next three days seemed to pass by in a flash, and Fiyero admittedly hadn’t seen as much of Elphaba as he would have liked. Once she’d noticed the mistrustful glares from the guards as she moved about the castle, she’d relegated herself almost exclusively to the north tower. They’d been able to coax her down to the kitchen for mealtimes, if only under the guise of needing her help with the cooking, but other than that she had made herself scarce.

Fiyero kept busy by refamiliarizing himself with the layout of the castle and all of its hidden entrances and exits. He planned to provide a comprehensive list to Elphaba before she and Glinda left so that she could slip in or out without being seen should the need arise. He’d also taken to cataloguing all of the displaced possessions his family had left behind over the years, sifting through them for anything that might be of use. He needed some way to channel the restless energy building within him as he awaited Elphaba and Glinda’s departure.

Finally, a few hours before sunset, Fiyero found himself at the base of the staircase to the north tower once more. He and Elphaba had still not spoken a word about the kiss they’d shared on the day of their arrival at Kiamo Ko, and Fiyero couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving before they’d addressed it. He’d rolled the idea around in his head for hours, debating whether such a conversation would fluster her too badly before her journey. But this was Elphaba, and Fiyero couldn’t imagine she’d be rattled by something as paltry as his feelings.

And so, with a deep breath, Fiyero slung his rucksack over his shoulder, gathered his courage and ascended the stairs. He paused only briefly before the heavy door before he gave it three sharp knocks and then stood back, digging his fingers into his palms as he waited. After a few moments, Elphaba appeared in the doorway.

“Oh, Fiyero,” she said, stepping aside to allow him entry. “We won’t be ready to leave for another few hours yet.”

“Oh, yes, I figured,” Fiyero said, slipping past Elphaba and into the room, “but I wanted to make sure I caught you beforehand.”

“Oh, okay, sure,” she said awkwardly. She closed the door and sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at Fiyero expectantly.

Fiyero cleared his throat and twisted his rucksack around so that he could reach into it. He pulled out a single piece of paper and offered it to Elphaba, who took it with a look of confusion. “It’s a rough sketch of the castle and its various entry and exit points, including a couple that not even the guards know about. I thought it might be useful for you to have. Just in case.”

Elphaba studied the page for a moment and then lifted her gaze toward him. “Thank you,” she said, in a tone that belayed her suspicion that this was not the only reason Fiyero had come. “That’s very useful.”

Fiyero nodded and reached back into his pack. This time he pulled out two books and a stack of papers. Elphaba briefly studied them in confusion, before a look of recognition dawned on her features and she reached for them eagerly. It was the personal effects that he’d retrieved from her hideout when he’d first set out to find her.

“Where did you get these?” she breathed, running her hand over the cover of her journal.

“I stopped at your old hideout before I went by the Animal camp to ask about you. I found your secret compartment. Potentially not as secret as you’d intended it to be. You realize I’m two for two at this point,” Fiyero said with a cheeky grin, feeling bolstered by Elphaba’s positive reaction.

Elphaba was already shuffling through the rest of the papers Fiyero had given her. “Really, thank you,” she said, her voice filled with sincerity. “I’d thought these were lost. They’re the last remnants of my former life, the only evidence of who I was before they took it from me. It’s silly, but sometimes I feel that if the last proof of Elphaba Thropp vanishes, all that will be left is the Witch.”

Fiyero moved to sit beside her on the bed. Elphaba didn’t even look up to acknowledge him, still staring down at the collection of papers in her hands. “I’m truly sorry for what the Wizard did to you, and for believing it myself for so long. You don’t deserve it,” Fiyero said softly.

Elphaba gave him a shaky smile but didn’t respond. Fiyero went on, “It’s funny. When we first met, I’d wondered why you would play the part of the Witch if it wasn’t the real you. But I think I’ve come to realize recently that we’re all doing that to different degrees. You, Glinda, even me. People have seen me as a vapid pretty boy for so long, I guess I eventually leaned into it. There was no point in trying if people already expected me to fail. My own family doesn’t even want me to succeed to the throne. They don’t think that I’m fit to rule,” Fiyero said with a sigh. He’d never actually admitted that to anyone before.

Fiyero shook his head, realizing that he’d sidetracked the conversation by talking about himself. “What I mean is, I understand the fear of losing yourself to the way people perceive you. But for what it’s worth, I think Elphaba Thropp is an amazing person. Even if you lose the physical proof, I promise that’s not going to change.”

Elphaba’s gaze found his and Fiyero felt it yet again, a static charge that seemed to permeate the air between them. Fiyero raised a hand tentatively towards Elphaba’s face and, when she didn’t stop him, gently cupped her cheek. Elphaba leaned into his touch, and then turned her face towards his. They stayed like that for a few more moments, their eyes locked, until they slowly began to gravitate towards each other. Fiyero moved his hand from Elphaba’s cheek and gently brushed her hair behind her ear, before he leaned in and closed the remaining space between them with a kiss.

This kiss held none of the confused urgency of their first or the shy trepidation of their second. It was simply the inevitable result of two people unable to deny their feelings any longer. Fiyero moved his hands down to the small of Elphaba’s back and felt heat rise to the back of his neck as she threaded her fingers through his hair. He turned from his place at her side and leaned over the bed to straddle her, dipping her backwards so that she rested against the headboard. He ran one of his hands up and along her back and tangled it in the hair at the base of her neck, feeling a rush of satisfaction when she pressed her body closer to his in response. Emboldened by his success, Fiyero lowered his other hand to the skirt of her dress and slipped it under, pushing the material up to caress the outside of her thigh.

He broke from his trance as he heard Elphaba’s breath catch, one of her hands flying up to still his own. Abruptly, she pulled away from him, and Fiyero’s eyes flew open to see the fear and uncertainty in hers. Her hair was messed, her face flushed, but she had frozen in place, her hand wrapped tightly around his wrist to keep it from progressing any further.

Fiyero jumped backwards at once, pulling his hands back to his sides as if burned. His face was hot, and his heart was pounding. He’d forgotten where he was for a moment.

“I’m so sorry!” he said quickly, rocketing backwards onto his knees so that he was no longer pressed on top of her. “I didn’t mean-”

“No, it’s okay,” Elphaba said quietly, pushing herself up into a sitting position with her elbows. “It’s just that…I’ve never…” she tore her gaze from his, clearly too embarrassed to finish the sentence, but Fiyero took her meaning.

“I didn’t mean to get so carried away,” he said hastily. He swung his legs back over the side of the bed and hunched over with his hands in his lap, attempting to calm himself. “Oz, Elphaba, I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this before,” he said breathlessly. “This is new for me too.”

Elphaba sat up and joined him, settling close enough that their shoulders were touching. She looked up at him with questioning eyes. “But surely you’ve…”  she trailed off yet again. Fiyero thought fleetingly that no one in Oz could possibly fear the Wicked Witch of the West if they could see how hard she was blushing right now.

“Oh yeah, I mean, I have,” he said awkwardly, “but not like this. This is different. This feels…like it matters more, somehow.”

She was still looking at him in confusion. “I don’t understand,” she said, searching his eyes.

Fiyero wasn’t quite sure how to best explain himself. “I mean…I’ve been with a lot of women,” he started, then hastily added, “Not a crazy number or anything! It’s just that I was young and handsome and stupid, and that part came easily to me. But never with someone I cared about like this. I’ve never actually been in love before.”

Elphaba’s eyes widened at the word ‘love’, and she opened her mouth to speak. Fiyero jumped in again before she could, worried that he was about to scare her off. “Not that I’m saying I’m in love with you, or that we’re in love,” he said frantically. “I know that we hardly know one another. I don’t want to rush anything, so don’t think I was trying to pressure you just now. This is just different and deeply confusing for me.”

Elphaba let out a small laugh, clearly amused that Fiyero seemed almost as frazzled as she was. “It’s different and deeply confusing for me too,” she said with a small smile. She tentatively placed one of her hands on Fiyero’s knee, and he moved to cover it with his own. They sat like that for a while, both unsure of what else to say.

It was Elphaba who broke the silence. “Your family is wrong about you,” she said quietly. Fiyero glanced over at her in confusion, and she elaborated, “You said your family doesn’t think that you’re fit to rule. I think they’re wrong about you.”

Fiyero blinked at her for a moment. He’d forgotten that he’d revealed that bit of deeply personal information. “I don’t know about that” he said, pointedly studying the palms of his hands. “I’ve always sort of been the family screw up.”

“Fiyero,” Elphaba said pointedly, in a tone that convinced Fiyero to lift his gaze to meet hers. “In the short time I’ve known you, I’ve seen you change your entire world view when contradictory evidence was presented to you. I’ve seen you rally to a cause you knew almost nothing about just because you saw injustice being done. You’re intelligent and kind and resourceful. You were even willing to give me the benefit of the doubt, when I sincerely doubt anyone else in Oz would have. You can’t convince me that anyone would be a better choice to rule the Vinkus.”

Fiyero was mortified to feel the hot prickle of tears behind his eyes at her words. He had so rarely been complimented on anything other than his looks, the overwhelming praise she had leveled his way caught him entirely off guard. Uncomfortable with the sudden rush of emotion, he attempted levity. “Wow, would you mind repeating all of that for my parents sometime?” he said around the lump in his throat, flashing what he hoped was an easygoing smile.

He got the sense that Elphaba could see right through him, but she didn’t remark on it. Instead, she gave his hand a squeeze and said, “I’m just saying, don’t sell yourself short. And don’t give up on yourself just because others tell you to.”

Fiyero didn’t protest this time. He simply squeezed her hand back, still not fully believing her words but grateful for them, nonetheless. Suddenly, he remembered something and jumped up from his place on the bed.

“Oh! There’s one other thing I’d wanted to give you,” he said, snatching his rucksack from its place on the floor. He dug through it for a moment and produced a silver pocketknife with a small compass in the hilt. He held it out for her to take. “I found this while I was rummaging around the past few days. I think it belonged to my grandfather. I thought you might like it. You know, for your journey.”

Elphaba gently accepted the small knife, turning it over in her hands to admire the craftsmanship. “Oh Fiyero, I couldn’t take something that was your grandfather’s,” she argued, holding it back out towards him.

Fiyero shook his head. “If you won’t allow me to come with you, then you at least need to accept this. If you’re that worried about it, you can give it back to me when you return.”

Elphaba seemed to accept this and gave a slow nod as she placed the pocketknife on the bedside table. “Thank you, then,” she said sincerely. “I’ll be sure to take great care of it.”

“Just please be sure to come back safe,” he said, stepping towards her once more.

Now that the heat of the moment had passed, Elphaba seemed reluctant again. She took a step backwards as he moved towards her and said, “And then what?”

Fiyero stopped and looked at her curiously. She continued, “It’s not that I haven’t enjoyed the change these past couple of weeks. Being here with you and Glinda has brought me more happiness than I’d thought I’d ever feel again. But what future is there for us, realistically? I’m still Oz’s most wanted fugitive. Even here, I see the way your men look at me. Their loyalty to you doesn’t override their hatred or mistrust of me. It would be the same for the rest of Oz. Being anywhere near me guarantees nothing but a life of hardship and strife. I can’t ask that of you,”

“You’re not asking anything of me,” Fiyero said, unable to keep a slight note of annoyance out of his voice. He was frustrated that she was backpedaling when they had finally been making progress. “I’m a big boy and I can make my own decisions. I’d rather brave a life of hardship with you than go back to the one I had before. You know that if you don’t return to this castle, then I’m bound to go off and get myself killed looking for you.”

She let out a short huff, but Fiyero could tell that she was smiling. “I suppose I can't argue when you’ve already presented overwhelming evidence in support of that fact.”

“That’s right,” Fiyero agreed, glad that he seemed to have tabled any doubts she might have, at least for the moment. “Besides, where else are you going to find a temporary home for a dozen flying Monkeys?” he joked.  When Elphaba didn’t respond, he said, “Look, just worry about freeing the Monkeys and getting back here safely. We can figure the rest out later.”

Elphaba nodded at that, though she still seemed somewhat uncertain, and her gaze was purposefully fixed on the floor.

“Hey,” Fiyero said, closing the gap between them and gently lifting her chin so that her eyes met his, “We will figure this out. Just be careful, okay? I’ll be here when you get back.”

With that, he stole another quick kiss, collected his pack, and left her to her preparations.

Chapter Text

Before Fiyero knew it, he found himself standing across from Elphaba and Glinda in the castle’s foyer. The guards had made themselves scarce, as they had in Elphaba’s presence since the moment of her arrival. Fiyero hugged Glinda goodbye first, unsure of when he’d see her again and still regretting the way things had turned out between them.

“I’m sorry again,” he said as he hugged her tightly, giving her an affectionate squeeze for good measure.

“Oh, stop it, Fiyero,” she groused, batting at his arms. “I’m already over you, you know. It’s on to bigger and better things for Glinda Upland. One day you’ll look back and be absolutely riddled with regret that you ever let me slip away.”

Fiyero laughed as he released her, smiling fondly, and said, “I have no doubt.”

Glinda flashed him one more of her winning smiles before she turned to stand by the front door, waiting for Elphaba to say her goodbyes.

Fiyero felt almost shy at Elphaba’s approach. He tried to focus on the moment and not on the memories of their bodies pressed together in the north tower only hours ago. He cursed internally as he felt his cheeks grow pink. He felt like a schoolboy.

From the look on Elphaba’s face, she was having similar conflicted feelings. She had shirked the more casual clothes she’d been wearing around the castle and donned her signature black dress, cloak and pointed hat. The more imposing stature they provided warred with the uncertainty in her eyes as she stood before him.

Fiyero felt that they’d already said what they’d needed to say when he’d visited her earlier, and so he simply pulled her into a tight hug and said, “Be safe.” There would be time for more when she returned.

Elphaba nodded as she pulled away from his embrace, her gaze lingering on his, before she turned and joined Glinda. The two of them stood in the entryway for a moment longer, and then they were gone and Fiyero was alone. He felt a deep uneasiness settle over him as he stared at the empty space they had occupied. He’d grown so used to their company over the past two weeks that their abrupt departure left an emptiness he hadn’t anticipated.

With a sigh, he turned away from the front door and made his way back into the castle. The guards had reappeared now that Elphaba had departed and were taking up their posts near the entrance. They saluted Fiyero as he passed, and he gave them a nod of acknowledgement in return. He hadn’t explained to any of them where Elphaba and Glinda were going. He trusted his men, but the less people who knew about their scheme the better. He hoped that the eventual return of Elphaba and her Monkeys wouldn’t unsettle them too badly.

Fiyero spent the remainder of the day doing anything he possibly could to distract himself from thoughts of where Elphaba and Glinda were and what they were doing. He knew that they could handle themselves, or at least that Elphaba could handle herself well enough for the both of them, but the lack of information was slowly driving him mad. He spent over an hour rearranging the books in the library, first by height and then by color, and then another leafing through the pages of some dry historical tome without actually taking any of it in. He explored the bedrooms for the third or fourth time and collected more clothing in his size for future use. Once he’d grown tired of wandering through the castle’s many rooms, he took to pacing the halls, not particularly caring whether or not the guards thought he was a madman.

He prepared a meal for himself in silence, missing the camaraderie he had grown to associate with the castle’s kitchens, and then drew himself a bath. By the time he emerged, thoroughly pruned, the water had long grown cold. He toweled off his hair and then finally allowed himself to climb into bed, where he lay awake and worrying for an indeterminate amount of time until sleep finally claimed him.

He awoke the following morning feeling even more restless. Sleep had done little to calm his fraying nerves, and the knowledge that Elphaba and Glinda might have reached the Emerald City by now sent his thoughts into turmoil. His attempts at distraction became more desperate. Feeling starved for companionship, he sought out and made small talk with the two guards stationed at the castle’s south entrance. All of the men seemed much more at ease now that Fiyero was the castle’s sole occupant, and they chatted briefly but amicably about the weather and the state of affairs in the Vinkus. It served to remind Fiyero how long he’d been away from home.

Once he’d clearly exhausted the guards’ patience for conversation, Fiyero found himself wandering the castle aimlessly once more. Eventually, he found that he had inevitably drifted to the base of the stairs that led to the north tower. Fiyero didn’t necessarily want to invade Elphaba’s privacy by wandering around her chosen living space while she was away, but he reasoned that the tower was the last part of the castle he’d yet to check on in her absence. He would just take a quick look around to make sure everything was in order.

That thought in mind, he ascended the winding staircase to the top of the tower and pushed open the heavy wooden door. Light streamed in through the large windows, casting mid-afternoon sun across the stone floor. Most of Elphaba’s belongings were conspicuously absent but, as promised, she’d left the Grimmerie sitting inconspicuously upon the small desk in the corner with the rest of the documents Fiyero had retrieved for her stacked neatly beside it. They were the only indications that the room had been inhabited at all.

Fiyero stepped forward and ran his hands over the Grimmerie’s heavy leather cover then flipped it open to find that the strange language was no more comprehensible to him than the first time he’d seen it. He snapped the book closed and then dropped backwards onto the bed with his arms spread wide to either side of him. He lay staring up at the ceiling for several minutes, focused on keeping his mind blank. When he tired of that, he stood again and made his way over to the window.

He glanced out over the hills surrounding the castle and then froze as the blood in his veins ran cold. He backed away from the windowpane and blinked a few times, willing the sight before him to vanish. Yet it was no use. When he opened his eyes, the scene was unchanged. There was a horse drawn carriage rapidly approaching the palace gates, flanked on all sides by what appeared to be a small army.

Fiyero’s mind raced as he backed further away from the windows. The guards must have seen this coming from much farther away. Yet even now, as the group was almost upon them, no one was sounding the alarm. It was likely the men had known about this and had kept Fiyero in the dark. He realized with a sinking feeling that perhaps the guards of Kiamo Ko were not as loyal to him as he’d initially hoped.

Heart pounding, Fiyero turned and raced from the tower and back down the stairs. It was too late to flee the castle now. He didn’t have a method of flight like Elphaba or Glinda did, and it would be difficult to attempt any type of stealthy escape in broad daylight. There were guards posted at all of the main exits, and Fiyero now had a sneaking suspicion that they wouldn’t be eager to aid him. He was aware of a few passages that would be unguarded, but that didn’t solve the issue of where he would go even if he were able to make it out.

As Fiyero barreled down the stairs and back into the main hall, it was becoming abundantly clear that he was not going to be able to flee. The guards had subtly begun to surround him the moment he’d departed the tower and were now blocking any possible route of escape. Fiyero realized with a sinking feeling that his only option was going to be to confront this head on and attempt to talk his way out.

The army was close enough now that Fiyero could hear the sound of heavy boots as they ascended the pathway up to the castle. The guards behind Fiyero moved in closer, surreptitiously herding him towards the front door. He squared his shoulders and raised his head high as the group slowed its approach and then ceased its marching. He took a deep breath and hesitated for only a moment before he reached for the door handle.

“Hello, Mother,” Fiyero said stiffly as the heavy front door swung open to reveal the woman before him. Allina Tigelaar appeared at the head of a group of about 40 Vinkun soldiers, each standing at attention with a tall spear pointed skyward. She was dressed in traveling clothes that were plainer than the finery she wore at home, but she was still the picture of regality as she stood framed in the doorway. At the sight of Fiyero her eyes grew wide, and she quickly stepped across the threshold and placed her hands on his shoulders.

“Fiyero, thank Oz,” she said, her eyes searching his face as though looking for signs of illness or injury. “We’ve been hearing all sorts of worrying rumors about you from the Emerald City. And then we received that cryptic letter. You couldn’t have let us know you were staying here?” she chided him.

Fiyero flinched at the tone in his mother’s voice, familiar as he was with being scolded. “I was hoping not to invite this exact scenario, actually,” Fiyero said, a hint of annoyance in his voice as he gestured to the small army slowly spilling into the foyer.

“Oh, as though Torvok doesn’t keep us updated about the goings on at Kiamo Ko,” Allina said, releasing his shoulders as she took a step backwards. Her gaze fell somewhere behind Fiyero, and she narrowed her eyes at him. “Is there anyone else staying here?”

“Not currently,” Fiyero said, grateful that he wasn’t lying. He wasn’t sure how much the guards had told his parents about the company he’d been keeping, but he assumed by the number of men his mother had brought along that she was anticipating some sort of trouble. In an attempt to change the subject, he said, “Where’s Father? Did he not want to attend this touching reunion?”

His mother placed her hands on her hips at his tone. “You know how busy he is, Fiyero. It wasn’t exactly easy for me to make the journey here myself, but I needed to be sure that my only son isn’t utterly destroying his life,” she said with a huff. Fiyero was well acquainted with the note of disappointment in her voice, but he found that it stung regardless. As if to drive the knife in further, his mother added, “Please tell me that you didn’t really break your engagement to Lady Upland.”

Fiyero sighed and glanced around at the dozens of guards who were watching them with interest. “Is this a conversation we could take somewhere more private?” he asked somewhat irritably.

Allina didn’t seem pleased by Fiyero’s evasion of the question, but she nodded her assent to his request. Without another word, Fiyero turned and retreated down the hall to the kitchens. His mother and two of her personal guards followed behind him. The rest of the men she dismissed with a wave of her hand before leaving the foyer.

Fiyero clenched his fists as he made his way down the long hallway. He knew that he shouldn’t be overly surprised by his mother’s appearance at Kiamo Ko. Part of him had hoped that she and his father would simply write back to him, but he supposed with all of the news surrounding him recently they’d wanted to check on him in person. He would be flattered if he believed it was out of concern for his wellbeing and not worry that he was about to besmirch the family name.

Allina and her men took a seat at the long dining table, while Fiyero continued into the kitchen and snatched the teapot off the stovetop. As he began to fill it with water, his mother said, “You don’t want to have the servants do that?”

“I don’t need the servants to make a pot of tea,” he said, perhaps a bit too harshly, as he snapped the top back on the teapot and lit the stove. His mother seemed slightly surprised by his words, though Fiyero wasn’t sure if it was from the tone of his voice or the revelation that he was capable of boiling water all by himself.

There was silence for several minutes while Fiyero busied himself in the kitchen. Only once he approached the table with two steaming cups of tea did his mother finally say, “You never answered my question earlier. Did you break your engagement to Galinda Upland?”

“Glinda Upland,” Fiyero corrected. “She changed it remember?”

“Fiyero,” his mother said, a note of warning in her voice.

Fiyero sighed and stared into the depths of his teacup in favor of meeting his mother’s gaze. “Yes, I ended our arrangement. We’re no longer engaged.”

His mother must have already anticipated that answer, but she still slammed her teacup back into its saucer with a bit too much force as she said, “Fiyero, you swore to us when we arranged this marriage that you were going to take it seriously. You made a promise to Lady Upland, her parents, and to your father and me. Don’t you ever tire of bringing shame onto our family?”

Fiyero struggled to keep his expression neutral at her words. “I couldn’t marry Glinda, Mother. I don’t love her.”

“Love?” his mother asked with indignation. “What does love have to do with an arranged marriage, Fiyero? Do you think I loved your father when we were wed? We hardly knew each other. We didn’t have the three-year engagement period that we’ve so graciously allowed you. If you’re lucky, friendship and love develop later, but this marriage is about your duty to your people.”

“And what is my duty to my people?” Fiyero asked bitterly, finally raising his eyes to meet his mother’s gaze. “It’s a poorly kept secret that I’m not the one the majority of our family would like to see on the throne.”

To her credit, Allina didn’t try to deny it. “Well can you blame them, Fiyero? Gallivanting about during your college days, never taking your studies seriously, moving to the Emerald City, of all places, to become a lap dog for a ruler who has never prioritized the needs of our people. Your father and I want nothing more than for you to claim your birthright and succeed us on the throne, but at every turn you’ve thrown our hopes for you back in our faces,” she said, her voice suffused with a mix of sadness and frustration.

Fiyero was certain they’d had this exact conversation at least a dozen times before, but this time felt different. Over the past few weeks, he had slowly come to the realization that he did want to lay claim to his birthright; that just because he’d been a bit frivolous in his youth and wasn’t as academically inclined as his younger cousin didn’t mean he was an utter failure. He had so many other qualities that would serve him as a leader – he was reasonable, he had a strong sense of justice, he was adept at problem solving. It had taken someone believing in him for the first time in his life for Fiyero to see that.

“I didn’t break my engagement to Glinda lightly,” he said, struggling to keep his voice even, “I’ve met someone else. Someone who makes me want to be a better man. To be someone worthy of the expectations placed on me.”

At his words, his mother’s expression softened somewhat. “Fiyero-” she started, but her words were interrupted by the sudden, low drone of the castle’s war horn. The guards seated behind Allina sat up at attention as the warning call continued. Someone was sounding the alarm.

Fiyero suddenly had a very bad feeling as he leapt from his chair and bolted to the window. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the windowpane, cursing internally at the terrible timing. There, just over the horizon, was a rapidly approaching group of winged Monkeys, with a green witch on a broomstick leading the charge.

Chapter Text

“Oh, sweet Oz,” Fiyero mumbled under his breath as he took in the sight of Elphaba and the approaching Monkeys. The castle alarm continued to sound, mobilizing the guards for an impending attack. Fiyero was beginning to regret his choice not to inform the castle staff about what Elphaba had been up to.

“Fiyero, what-” he heard his mother start to say, but he had already sprinted from the dining room before she could finish her sentence. He’d included an entrance on the roof of the castle in the hastily scribbled blueprints he’d given Elphaba before her departure, and he had to assume that’s where she’d be heading now. With any luck, he would get to her before she had a run in with the guards. Fiyero wasn’t exactly sure who he was protecting from that encounter, but he was fairly certain it wasn’t Elphaba.

He took the steps up to the roof two at a time, ignoring the burning in his lungs as he urged his body forward. With a final push, he burst through the hatch that led onto the rooftop just in time to intercept Elphaba as she alighted on her broomstick.

“Fiyero?” she asked in confusion as she noticed him doubled over and gasping for breath on the castle rooftop. The Monkeys she had brought with her were already landing amongst the parapets behind her.

Before Fiyero could catch his breath enough to attempt an explanation, the sound of boots reached them from the staircase below. A few seconds later, Allina burst through the hatch with two guards flanking her on either side, and it was clear there were more men waiting behind her in the stairwell. She took in the scene before her – her son in distress and gasping for air before the Wicked Witch of the West and a veritable army of mutated Monkeys – with wide and fearful eyes.

Elphaba reacted instinctively to the appearance of what she perceived as a threat. Without a moment of hesitation, she dropped her broomstick at her side, whipped her cloak behind her, and positioned herself between the guards and Fiyero, one arm held out protectively in front of him. Fiyero could feel the same strange change in the air that he’d noticed when Elphaba had used her magic on the Gale Forcers in the forest. Realizing what was about to happen, he sprang forward and grabbed her hand.

“Elphaba, wait!” he shouted. Her hand prickled against his skin as though charged with electricity, but Fiyero didn’t let go. The action seemed enough to startle her, but she didn’t turn to face him. She kept her eyes trained on Allina and the additional guards that were now emerging from the stairwell.

“Okay, everyone just calm down,” Fiyero said slowly, releasing Elphaba’s hand and moving to stand at her side. She shot him a confused sideways glance.

“Fiyero, get away from her,” Allina said, fear evident in her voice. The guards took another step towards them.

“You’re going to have to trust me here, Mother,” Fiyero said, and Elphaba finally turned to look at him in shock. Fiyero ignored her confusion for the moment and said, “This is Elphaba. She’s been staying here at the castle with me and Glinda. She just escorted Glinda back to the Emerald City.” As he finished his hasty explanation, Fiyero noted the unease with which his mother and her guards were eyeing the Monkeys now roosting on the castle walls. “I uh- told her she could bring the Monkeys,” he added sheepishly.

There was a confused pause at his words, before his mother completely disregarded him and instead turned her attention to Elphaba. “What have you done to him?” she demanded.

Elphaba, for once, seemed to have been struck silent. She gaped at Allina, completely at a loss as to how to answer her question. When Elphaba remained silent, Allina continued, “The guards warned me that something was amiss here. If you’ve got him under some sort of spell-”

Fiyero cut his mother off before she could finish her sentence. “I am not under a spell!” he said irritably. He realized he had not nipped that rumor in the bud quite as effectively as he’d hoped, and it was going to be even harder to dispel it now that they didn’t have Glinda around to corroborate.

“Fiyero, you are obviously not thinking clearly,” his mother said. “Do you know who that is?”

Fiyero took a few more steps towards his mother so that he was positioned between her and Elphaba. “I know this seems strange,” he said, “but just give me a chance to explain.” When his mother’s expression remained defiant, he doubled down.

“Okay, look,” he said, moving backwards so that he was standing beside Elphaba once more. He reached down and picked up her broomstick from where she’d discarded it, ignoring her look of indignation. “We can either go back inside and discuss all of this like civilized people, or Elphaba and I are going to get on this broomstick and leave.” He was bluffing, of course. He had no idea if Elphaba would allow him to ride her broomstick, or even if it could support both of their weight, but he hoped the threat would be enough to shock his mother into submission. In a worst-case scenario, he knew that Elphaba at least had a teleportation spell that could get them off the roof.

The standoff seemed to last an eternity, but finally he saw his mother’s shoulders slump in defeat. “Stand down,” she said to the guards, and they obediently dropped their spears to their sides at her command. She fixed Elphaba and Fiyero with a hard look and said, “All right then. Let’s talk.”

Fifteen minutes later found Allina and Fiyero seated back around the dining room table, this time joined by a reluctant and somewhat wary Elphaba. She and Allina each sat at the heads of the table, as far from each other as possible, while Fiyero claimed a chair in the center between them. Five guards flanked the table on all sides, blocking the exits. They were making Fiyero deeply uneasy.

To her credit, Elphaba had been surprisingly amenable to Fiyero’s request that they explain everything to his mother. He supposed the fact that she had nowhere else to go with her newly acquired Monkeys had played heavily into her decision. He could tell that she too was very uncomfortable in the presence of so many armed guards, but Fiyero assumed she wouldn’t have agreed to stay unless she was certain she could take them if necessary.

Allina was still staring at Elphaba with very apparent fear and mistrust. Fiyero had no idea how he was going to convince his mother that he wasn’t under a witch’s thrall. He had even less of a clue how to explain his burgeoning feelings for said witch, especially when said witch was seated at the table with them.

Fiyero cleared his throat nervously and then fidgeted in his seat as the women on either side of the table turned to face him. “So…” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, “I suppose I should just start at the beginning? It was my job as the head of Gale Force to capture the Wicked Witch of the West. She ended up capturing me instead. We have since realized that the whole thing was a big misunderstanding.”

Fiyero could tell by the way his mother was staring at him in confusion and the way Elphaba was glaring at him that his recounting of events was not well received.

Fiyero’s mother spoke first. “Fiyero, what in Oz’s name are you talking about? There’s word out that you’re wanted by the Emerald City for conspiring with the Witch. You expect me to believe that you’re aiding a dangerous fugitive of your own free will?”

Fiyero opened his mouth to respond, but he was cut off when Elphaba spoke up to defend him. “Maybe your son has enough of a brain in his head to make decisions for himself, instead of believing the lies being fed to him. Maybe you should give him more credit,” she snapped. Allina turned to face Elphaba, clearly livid at having been spoken to in such a way, but still too wary of her to do anything about it.

Fiyero could see from the look on Elphaba’s face that she was tempted to slip back into her Wicked Witch persona as a defense mechanism. That was the last thing he needed while he was actively trying to convince his mother that the green woman across the table wasn’t a sociopath. He waved his hands in front of him to draw attention back to himself and said, “What Elphaba means is that she’s been unfairly slandered by the Wizard and his press secretary. They were threatened by her and ruined her credibility. You and father have always said that you didn’t completely trust the Wizard.”

Allina crossed her arms in front of her, clearly not swayed by Fiyero’s argument. Changing the subject, she asked, “And where does Lady Upland fit into all of this? The guards informed me that she was with you when you arrived at Kiamo Ko.”

“We were all traveling together for a while before she returned to the Emerald City. She and Elphaba are old friends,” Fiyero began to explain.

“She was my college roommate,” Elphaba grumbled from across the table.

That seemed to spark some sort of recognition in Allina, and she leaned forward to stare at Elphaba as though seeing her for the first time. “You’re Elphaba Thropp. The late governor’s daughter,” she said, as though it had just dawned on her. Fiyero realized that either he or Glinda must have mentioned the identity of Glinda’s roommate to his mother at some point in the past. The woman never forgot a political connection.

Elphaba seemed surprised by the sudden use of her name, but she recovered quickly and responded, “Yes, the older one. He never spoke about me much for…obvious reasons.”

Now that she had a name and an identity to put to a face, Allina seemed to visibly relax a little. She still didn’t seem completely comfortable in Elphaba’s presence, but curiosity seemed to have replaced her earlier trepidation. “Why would the Wizard want to create an enemy for himself?” she asked.

Fiyero felt an odd sense of déjà vu as he found himself on the opposite side of a conversation he’d already had once before. Without waiting for Elphaba to answer, he said “Because he’s a coward and a fraud. Elphaba has real power, and the Wizard knows it. When he couldn’t use her for his own ends, he ruined her reputation instead.” Fiyero chanced a look at Elphaba as he finished speaking and found her staring at him with an unreadable expression on her face. He hoped that he hadn’t overstepped by answering for her.

Allina was now looking back and forth between Elphaba and Fiyero as though another realization had just dawned on her. Yet whatever it was, she had apparently chosen to keep it to herself for the time being. After a moment, she stood from her seat and said, “Very well. Miss Elphaba and her…companions can stay for the time being. I have more questions for both of you, but it’s growing late, and I’ve had a long journey. We will resume this conversation tomorrow.”

Fiyero was surprised that his mother had given in so easily, but he knew better than to complain. Following his mother’s lead, he rose from his seat and glanced towards Elphaba. She too seemed surprised by Allina’s sudden change of heart and was gazing at her in suspicion from her place at the head of the table.

Fiyero moved towards where Elphaba was sitting, hoping that she would catch on and follow him out of the dining hall. “Uh, great,” he stammered at his mother, “then we’ll see you tomorrow.” With that he turned and quickly made his leave. He glanced over his shoulder and was relieved to find that Elphaba had indeed followed him out into the hallway.

Without thinking, Fiyero let his feet carry him back towards the north tower. He kept his gaze straight head, but Elphaba’s steady footsteps reassured him that she was right behind him. Once they’d ascended halfway up the spiral staircase to the tower, he turned to face her,

“I am so sorry about all of this,” he said in a hushed whisper. “She just showed up unannounced. I didn’t have any way to warn you about it.”

Now that they were alone, Fiyero could see just how exhausted Elphaba looked. She had likely escaped one ordeal at the Emerald Palace just to walk into an ambush at Kiamo Ko. Still, she gave him a tired smile and said softly, “It’s not your fault. She’s just worried about you.”

Fiyero scoffed as he continued his ascent up the staircase. “She’s only worried that I’m out to sully the family name,” he said bitterly.

Elphaba gave him a sympathetic look as she brushed past him to push open the door to the tower. She swept inside and crossed the room to the table that held her spell book, a look of obvious relief on her face as she ran a hand over the cover. Fiyero followed her into the room and pulled the door closed behind him.

“I don’t think I can stay here any longer,” Elphaba said, turning to face him. “You guards don’t trust me and your mother doesn’t either, even after your very chivalrous defense of my character,” she said with a smirk.

Fiyero had been worried that she would want to flee, especially after the ordeal on the rooftop. He knew that he would join her should she choose to leave, but he wasn’t keen to be back on the run when the Gale Force was likely still searching for them. At least in the Vinkus they were somewhat beyond the Wizard’s grasp.

“I know this is a bit overwhelming,” he said, crossing the room towards her, “but you’re safe here. My mother is not the type to say one thing and mean another. She wouldn’t make a move against you after giving her approval for you to stay.”

Elphaba still seemed doubtful, but he could tell that her exhaustion was beginning to cloud her sense of self preservation. Hoping to set her mind at ease, he said, “If you want, I could stay here with you tonight. That way I’ll be here to play mediator if anything happens.” He noted the look of surprise on her face and added, “I can sleep on the floor, of course. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Elphaba seemed to be considering his offer as she crossed the room and removed her hat and cloak. When she was finished, she turned back to face him and said, “I’d like that.” She flashed him a sly smile and added, “And you don’t have to sleep on the floor.”

Chapter Text

Fiyero awoke with some confusion, then smiled as he rolled over and took note of the woman sleeping beside him. He still marveled at the fact that Elphaba had taken him up on his offer to stay the night, but he wasn’t about to complain in the face of her very blatant show of trust. The arrangement hadn’t involved anything more scandalous than sharing a bed for the night, but he’s still felt his heart flutter as Elphaba had settled into the bed beside him. He was surprised to be up before her, but he supposed the exhaustion of the past few days had finally taken its toll.

Very carefully, so as not to disturb the sleeping witch, Fiyero crept out of bed and smoothed the covers behind him. He was very much hoping to have words with his mother alone before she insisted on revisiting their conversation from the previous night. He kept his footsteps light and silent as he carefully pried open the wooden door and slipped out of the room.

He made his way down the stairs and set off to find his mother. He was certain she was already awake. The woman was usually up with the sun. He found her taking her breakfast in a small sitting room on the second floor. He stepped between the two guards standing outside in the hall and cleared his throat in the doorway.

“Ah, Fiyero, good morning,” said Allina, glancing up at him as she spread some jam on a slice of bread. Fiyero wondered absently if she’d brought cooks and attendants from their other castle with her. He couldn’t imagine his mother preparing her own breakfast.

“Good morning, Mother,” he responded, crossing the room to take a seat on the couch across from her. “I trust you slept well?”

“Yes, quite,” she responded. “I imagine you must have as well,” she said, fixing Fiyero with a look that had him wondering exactly how much she knew about his present sleeping arrangements.

He cleared his throat again, suddenly feeling self-conscious, and said, “Look, about Elphaba. I know you must still be a bit concerned. I just wanted to reassure you again that she really is here at my invitation, and that I’m not under any sort of spell.”

His mother gave a short laugh at this and responded, “Oh don’t worry, dear. I’m quite aware you’re not bewitched. At least, not in the way I’d initially suspected.”

When Fiyero only blinked at her in response, Allina went on. “I’ve met someone else. I suddenly want to be a better person and live up to all of your expectations,” she said in a mocking imitation of the words Fiyero had spoken to her the night before. “Please, Fiyero, I’m neither blind nor an imbecile.”

Fiyero felt his face grow hot as he realized the implication of Allina’s words. “Mother-” he started, but Allina cut him off.

“Are you out of your mind?” she demanded, the volume of her voice increasing slightly, “She’s the most wanted fugitive in Oz. You gave up a very favorable marriage to Glinda Upland, and for what? I know you’ve made it your mission in life to defy your father and me at every turn, but this may just be your finest work to date.”

Fiyero could already feel the rage beginning to burn in his chest at his mother’s words. “Did it ever occur to you that I don’t make every one of my life’s decisions with the intention of disappointing you?” he said through gritted teeth. “I’m sorry that my feelings for Elphaba don’t come with favorable political gains, but that doesn’t mean I regret my decision to break off my engagement to Glinda.”

“Political gains?” his mother scoffed, “Political gain should be the least of your worries, Fiyero. How do you expect this to play out? Do you expect your people to accept this union?”

“I think we’re a long way out from discussing any unions,” Fiyero bit back, “but I would expect to have the support of the king and queen of the Vinkus behind me should that possibility ever arise.”

“I hope you’re not arguing on my account,” came a sarcastic voice from the doorway. Both Fiyero and Allina whipped around to find Elphaba standing outside the sitting room with a winged Monkey perched on her shoulder. The two guards at the door were standing in front of her, the shafts of their spears crossed to bar her entry. Fiyero was surprised that Elphaba had both the courage to seek him out while in the company of his mother and to interrupt their conversation. He wondered if his show of solidarity last night had emboldened her and felt a rush of self-satisfaction at the thought.

Allina had the grace to at least seem embarrassed that she’d been overheard by the very person she’d been discussing. She gave a nod to the guards, and they backed off to allow Elphaba to enter the sitting room. Fiyero shot his mother a sharp look, then scooted over on the couch so that Elphaba could sit beside him.

“Who’s this?” Fiyero asked with a nod to the Monkey, hoping to derail the trajectory of the previous conversation.

“His name is Chistery,” Elphaba responded, apparently willing to ignore what she’d so obviously overheard in the same way she was pointedly ignoring the way Allina and the guards were eyeing Chistery with barely concealed disdain. “He’s going to deliver a letter to Glinda for me, to let her know that I made it back safely. The Monkeys have agreed to help us keep up correspondence, since we have to assume the Wizard and Morrible are keeping tabs on the mail going into and out of the Palace.” she explained. The fondness she felt for her new winged companions was apparent in her tone.

“Elphaba does a lot of work for Animal rights,” Fiyero supplied when he saw the look on his mother’s face morph into one of confusion. He knew that it was barely a fraction of the explanation required to understand anything Elphaba had just said, but he didn’t really see the point in diving into the full backstory at present.

“Yes, I had heard that Animal rights had come under fire recently in certain regions,” his mother said carefully. Fiyero could tell that, even amidst the bizarre situation Allina had found herself in, she couldn’t resist the discussion of politics.

Elphaba, it seemed, was of a similar nature. “Is that not the case in the Vinkus?” she asked with curiosity, one hand reaching up to absentmindedly stroke the head of the Monkey still perched on her shoulder.

Fiyero suddenly found himself interested as well. He was embarrassed to realize that he’d spent so much time awash in the tide of Emerald City sentiment, he didn’t actually know what stance his own people took in their perception of Animals.

“We don’t make a habit of senseless oppression in the Vinkus,” his mother said with a measure of pride. “We’ve never been a top priority for Oz’s beloved ruler, it seems. It’s important that every resident of the Vinkus, be they human or Animal, feels a sense of community and duty to our people first.”

Fiyero could tell by the look on Elphaba’s face that his mother’s commitment to equality and denouncement of the Wizard had endeared Elphaba to her immensely. Fiyero had never seen the green woman look so impressed. A though occurred to him, and he turned to his mother and asked, “Would it be possible for the Vinkus to provide a safe haven for Animals displaced under the Wizard’s regime?”

Allina seemed less than thrilled by the suggestion as she responded, “Refugees, Fiyero? We barely have the resources to ensure the livelihood of our own people.”

Fiyero shook his head at his mother’s dismissal.  “These Animal groups already have a lot of their own infrastructure in place. They’re living in established camps as it is. All we’d need to do is allow them to relocate within our borders.”

Elphaba seemed to realize the implications of what Fiyero was proposing and said eagerly, “I would be happy to help with such an effort. I’m already involved with several of the camps Fiyero mentioned, and I would be happy to continue to aid in supplying them. They needn’t be a drain on the Vinkan economy.”

Allina was now staring at both of them with a curious expression on her face. Fiyero realized that this was the first time he’d had any kind of discussion about the politics of the Vinkus with either of his parents. After a moment, his mother asked, “And what of the political tension this would bring between the Vinkus and the rest of Oz? We may not enforce the Wizard’s Animal bans, but we’re able to remain inconspicuous because he doesn’t pay us much attention. If we begin harboring wanted Animals from outside of our borders, we would be inviting a new level of scrutiny, and openly opposing the Wizard’s law.” She paused to regard Elphaba for a moment and then added, “Not to mention working with a known fugitive.”

If Elphaba was offended by Allina’s comment she didn’t let it show. “I can be discreet when I need to,” she responded.

Fiyero crossed his arms and leaned back into the couch, considering his mother’s words. He glanced over at Elphaba and then another thought occurred to him. “What if we weren’t going against the entirety of the rest of Oz with this decision? Anti-Animal sentiment comes from the Wizard, right?” he asked, sparing a glance in Elphaba’s direction. She nodded at him in response, clearly pleased by his analysis of the situation but unsure of where he was going with it.

Fiyero continued, “The rest of Oz has gone along with the oppression of Animals because no one has stood up to oppose him.” Elphaba cleared her throat loudly at his words, and Fiyero quickly amended, “Almost no one has stood up to oppose him. But we have a unique opportunity here. We’re the ruling family of the Vinkus and Elphaba is the sister to the governor of Munchkinland.  Glinda is already established as an important figurehead in the Emerald City and comes from a respected family in the Gillikin. Between the three of us…” he trailed off, hoping that his mother and Elphaba would catch his meaning.

His mother spoke first. “Fiyero, you can’t possibly be suggesting-” she started, before Elphaba’s protests overlapped hers.

“My relationship with my sister isn’t exactly rosy,” she said, “and what on earth makes you think that Glinda would want to get mixed up in something like this? She’s already made it quite clear where her priorities lie.”

“We don’t have to rely on your personal relationship with your sister,” Fiyero said, recalling that the governor had made many a statement denouncing the Wicked Witch of the West, “We only need to use it to get in the door. What we’d be proposing is a purely political alliance.”

“And what possible reason could she have for agreeing to such an alliance?” Elphaba asked skeptically.

Allina joined in the rebuttal. “You seem to be assuming that the Vinkus would be willing to commit to such a thing as well. We need to think of our of own people first.”

“We’re talking about the oppression and quite possible eradication of an entire group of Ozian citizens,” Fiyero argued. “Setting aside the moral implications, that’s thousands of Animals who would be loyal to the side that stands up to fight for their rights. If we position ourselves alongside them, we’re already bargaining from a place of strength.”

“What you’re suggesting is treason,” his mother said in shock. “I understand that you want to help the Animals, but what you’re suggesting could incite a war throughout all of Oz.”

“And what are wars fought for, if not for this?” Fiyero asked. “You’ve said yourself that the Wizard isn’t a ruler with the best interests of the Vinkus at heart. What do we gain by continuing to facilitate his lies and oppression? Wouldn’t you rather fight to see someone who cares about the good of all of Oz on the throne?”

“Fiyero, where on earth is all of this coming from?” his mother asked, clearly confused by his sudden passion for political justice. Allina’s eyes flickered over to Elphaba in that moment, and Fiyero was slightly mortified as he saw the comprehension dawn on his mother’s face.

He ignored it and went on. “I’m going to be king one day,” he said decisively. He knew it now in a way he’d never had the confidence to know it before. He got to his feet and continued, “This is the kind of king I intend to be. I know my duty is to my people first, but we’re a part of Oz, and we should use the power we have to stand against a corrupt regime. How can we take pride in ourselves as people of the Vinkus if we’re just going to roll over and allow the Wizard to make us complicit in his injustice?”

He searched his mother’s face for a moment longer, before he said, “You and Father have been telling me for years that I need to get my priorities in order if I want to be king someday. Well, they’re in order now, and if you still want me to succeed you on the throne, then I’d take some time to think about it.”

With that he nodded, turned on his heel, and exited the room, leaving a stunned Allina in his wake before she could say another word in protest.

Fiyero let his momentum carry him forward as he exited the sitting room and made his way down the hall. He kept his eyes focused ahead and his shoulders back, not daring to even glance behind him. It wasn’t until he reached the kitchen that he slammed his hand down on the counter, doubled over and allowed himself to release the breath he’d been holding.

“What was all that about?” came a voice from behind him. Fiyero let out a yelp and nearly smacked his head against the counter at the unexpected presence. He hadn’t realized he’d been followed.

He turned to find Elphaba, sans Monkey, standing across from him with her arms crossed in front of her chest. Her tone was confused but not accusatory as she met his gaze.

He gave her a weak smile as he straightened up to his full height and answered, “I guess you gave me more to think about than I’d realized these past few weeks.”

“So, you listen to one or two of my Animal rights spiels and now you’ve decided that we’re going to stage a coup?” she asked incredulously. “Setting aside how utterly insane that is, your plan has a few gaping holes in it.”

“Oh, and what are those?” Fiyero asked. In truth, he knew he had been rash in springing this idea on his mother over breakfast. It was as though he hadn’t been able to stop himself once he’d started speaking. Still, now that he’d put it out there, he was growing more and more convinced that he wanted to see it through.

“First, as I mentioned before, my younger sister is far from endeared to me at present. Even if you had a sound political reason for an alliance, she’d likely spurn your efforts on my involvement alone. Second, there is no world in which ‘Glinda the Good’ brings any sort of risk upon herself to go up against the Wizard. And finally, while you may be heir to the throne of the Vinkus, you’re not the one in charge yet, and your mother hardly seems eager to align herself with my cause” she said, listing each argument off on her fingers as she went.

Fiyero met her defiant gaze with one of his own. “Well, to answer each of your complaints in order: First, I would be the one to present my arguments and ask for your sister’s assistance. I’d like your help, obviously, but she can hardly turn away another political leader. She at least has to hear me out,” he said.

“So, we’re just going to just waltz into Muchkinland and drop in on my sister? Are you forgetting that we’re both wanted fugitives?” Elphaba asked.

“I thought maybe you could fly us there, if possible. You managed to avoid the entire Gale Force for years while we were searching for you. Surely you can manage a trip to Munchkinland and back,” he said.

Elphaba seemed momentarily stunned by his audacity. “Am I mean to be your chauffeur?” she asked irritably.

“If you’re against the idea then I can make the journey myself,” he said, attempting to call her bluff. “I just think that, despite what you say about your sister, your being there can only help our case. You’re still family after all.”

“I think you’ll find that family ties have never quite been to my advantage,” Elphaba said bitterly.

Fiyero ignored her and continued, “Second, I think Glinda may surprise you. I know she didn’t go with you the first time you asked, but she’s had years to regret that decision. And besides, she wouldn’t have to do anything overt to help us. She could be our woman on the inside, pulling strings from behind the scenes.”

“You do realize this is Glinda you’re talking about?” Elphaba asked, one eyebrow raised. “She’s hardly a master of subterfuge.”

“Third,” Fiyero went on, “This is our cause now. You’re the one who said I’d make a great leader, and my parents have been urging me to take more of an interest in my future position for years. I really think that if I present them with a sound argument, they’ll stand behind us.”

Elphaba seemed to be growing frustrated by Fiyero’s immunity to her very sound and rational arguments. “If I’d have known a little bit of encouragement would escalate this quickly then I never would have given you those compliments,” she grumbled. “I really think you need to take a step back and think about this. You know that I want to help the Animals and put a stop to the Wizard’s lies more than anyone, but I can’t allow you to drag the entire Vinkus into this.”

“And what’s the alternative?” Fiyero shot back. “You keep fighting on your own until you’re eventually captured and killed, and then the Wizard finishes rounding up the rest of the Animals with no opposition?”

Elphaba opened her mouth as if to respond, but clearly could think of no satisfactory argument. Emboldened by her silence, Fiyero continued, “I know that you’ve been fighting on your own for a long time, but you don’t have to do this alone anymore. You started this fight, but we can finish it together.”

Elphaba held his gaze defiantly for a moment longer, and then her expression softened. “I don’t want to see anyone get hurt on my behalf.”

“Sometimes sacrifices have to be made in the name of change,” Fiyero said. “I would think you’d understand that better than anyone.”

She searched his eyes for a moment, as though trying to find some reason to doubt his sincerity, before she said quietly, “No one’s ever offered to help me like this before.”

Fiyero felt the remainder of his frustration evaporate at Elphaba’s words. She usually projected such an air of confidence that it was easy to forget how much guilt and self-doubt she harbored. Without thinking, he reached an arm around her shoulder and drew her close. She tensed slightly at the sudden contact, but then relaxed against him a moment later. Fiyero took the opportunity to rub her arm gently in reassurance.

“From now on you’re going to have to accept that your days of flying solo are over,” he said.

“Why is it that you seem incapable of taking ‘no’ for an answer,” she murmured from her place against his shoulder, but there was no bite to her words.

“Oh, it’s definitely the royalty,” he responded.  “I haven’t heard the word often enough to understand its meaning.”

They stayed like that for a while longer, until Fiyero felt compelled to break the silence. “So, what do you say about paying a visit to your sister?”

Elphaba pulled away from his embrace and turned to face him. She was clearly still uncertain, but she nodded and said, “I still think this is a fool’s errand, but if you want to try, then I’m willing to go with you. I actually haven’t seen my sister in some time. Not since…” she trailed off and then shook her head. “At any rate, it might be easier to face her again if I’m with…” she paused for a moment, as if trying to choose the correct word, “an ally.”

Fiyero supposed he would take it.

“Have you met her husband yet, then?” Fiyero asked. He didn’t expect the absolutely stunned expression that flashed across Elphaba’s face.

“Nessa is married?” she asked incredulously. Fiyero wasn’t quite sure how to answer. He knew Elphaba had said that she and her sister were out of touch, but he hadn’t quite realized the extent of their estrangement.

“Yes?” he said uncertainly.

“When did that happen?” Elphaba asked, her voice sounding a bit strained.

“A little over a year ago, I think?” Fiyero responded, wracking his brain for any additional information. “She married some Munchkinland baron or something around the time she became the governor. Did you really not know?”

“It’s been a bit hard to keep up on current events,” she said. She still seemed a bit dazed by the news.

“Well, I guess this trip will serve the secondary purpose of introducing you to your brother-in-law,” Fiyero joked nervously.

Elphaba gave him a look that suggested she’d rather be painfully dismembered. “Meeting with Nessarose is one thing,” she said, sounding exasperated. “I’m fairly certain she’ll at least hear us out, once she gets through screaming at me, but adding in a complete stranger complicates things. For all we know, he’ll be inclined to shoot me on sight.”

“You don’t know that. Maybe your sister has told him the truth about you?” Fiyero offered.

“I’m not convinced that any truths Nessa would be inclined to share would paint me in the most flattering light,” Elphaba answered ruefully.

“Well, we won’t know unless we try right?” Fiyero said, hoping not to completely lose Elphaba’s already tentative enthusiasm. “I’ll still be going with you. Maybe I can introduce myself first, smooth over some of the initial awkwardness.”

“Awkwardness,” Elphaba repeated, in a tone that told Fiyero she thought he was really underselling the possible reactions to her presence. She shook her head and said, “What I wouldn’t give to have an iota of your confidence.”

“It is entirely unearned, I assure you,” he joked, content that she hadn’t revoked her agreement to accompany him.

Seemingly resigned to her fate, Elphaba heaved a sigh and asked, “And when did you want to leave on this ill-fated excursion?”

“Ideally as soon as possible,” Fiyero answered. “I think you’ll agree that Kiamo Ko has been feeling a bit…crowded recently.” Elphaba didn’t make any move to protest that statement. Fiyero thought for a moment and added, “Though I know you just got back from your trip to the Emerald City. I wouldn’t want to push you if you need more time to rest.”

“No, it’s fine,” Elphaba said, waving a hand in front of her as if to dismiss his concerns. “I’m used to being on the move. I haven’t exactly spent a lot of time in one place over the past few years.”

 “How long do you think the journey will take?” Fiyero asked.

“If we go by broomstick?” she paused to think it over, ignoring the look on Fiyero’s face at the suggestion. “Around two days. We would travel for two nights and rest during the day in between. We’d likely arrive just before dawn on the second day.”

Fiyero nodded at this, pushing down his apprehension at the thought of flying. “And how soon do you think you could be ready to leave?” he asked.

“As soon as this evening,” she responded.

 “It’s a date then,” he said. “So, I’ll be picking you up around eight?”

Elphaba seemed to be repressing the urge to roll her eyes at him as she said, “Yes, that’s fine. I’ll be ready.”

Chapter Text

Fiyero was in his bedroom, sorting through the piles of clothes he’d amassed during his stay, when he heard a soft knock on the doorframe behind him. He looked up expectantly, but disappointment must have shown on his face a moment later, for his mother smiled at him and said, “Expecting someone else?”

“Just packing,” he answered curtly, not in the mood to hear any more of his mother’s admonishments. To his surprise, she merely stepped further into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. Her usual guards were conspicuously absent.

“I’m sorry if I was too hard on you this morning,” she said. The apology was so unlike her that Fiyero abruptly dropped the sweater he’d been folding. Allina sighed and continued, “Your father and I have always just wanted what’s best for you, but we may not have been the most adept at showing that over the years.”

“That’s a bit of an understatement,” Fiyero said bitterly as he retrieved the sweater and began folding it once more.

His mother watched with curiosity as he shoved the sweater and a pair of trousers into his rucksack. “Are you going somewhere?”

“We’re going to pay a visit to Elphaba’s sister,” he said, not looking up from his task.

“You’re really serious about this,” his mother said. It was more of a dawning realization than a question.

“Yes,” Fiyero said, glancing up to meet his mother’s eyes. “I am.”

Allina paused for a moment and then shook her head. “This girl has really done a number on you, hasn’t she? I’ve never seen you this single-minded about anything that didn’t involve booze or parties.”

When Fiyero only frowned and returned packing at her words, Allina sighed and said, “I won’t pretend that I have less than a dozen questions about this entire situation, but I also won’t lie and say I’m not relieved that you’re finally showing some initiative. I just wish that you’d chosen to do so on behalf of someone a little less universally reviled.”

“She’s a good person,” Fiyero said sharply, shoving a pair of socks into his pack.

His mother’s expression softened somewhat as she said, “Be that as it may, it’s not the way the rest of Oz sees it. You’ve already gotten yourself into trouble with the Emerald City by allying yourself with her. I didn’t say it before just to hurt you, Fiyero, but people are not going to readily accept this.”

Fiyero zipped his pack and slung it over his shoulder, then turned to Allina and asked, “What about you? Can you accept it?”

Allina regarded him for a moment as she rose to her feet. “I have a feeling that my acceptance has very little bearing on the decisions you’re about to make,” she conceded. The stubborn glare Fiyero fixed her with only seemed to confirm her suspicions. She went on, “Just be sure you know what you’re getting yourself into, because it may not be so easy getting out again.”

“Have you thought on what we spoke about earlier?” Fiyero asked, ignoring his mother’s warning.

Allina regarded him thoughtfully before responding, “You aren’t wrong to be concerned about the Animal bans. One has to wonder what group the Wizard will turn his attention to next once he’s effectively stomped them out. If you can get the Munchkins to stand with us, then we can bring your proposal to your father’s attention.”

Fiyero nodded at his mother’s words. It was a start.

“We’re leaving tonight,” Fiyero responded. The news didn’t seem to surprise Allina.

“Then I’ll take my leave as well,” she said.  “When you two have finished your business in Munchkinland, come home and report to your father and me. I’ll be sure to give the castle staff ample warning, so they know what to expect.” She paused for a moment and added, “Maybe leave the Monkeys here though. That may be a bit too much at once.”

Fiyero was surprised, but he tried not to let it show on his face. “Thank you,” he said sincerely, recognizing his mother’s offer for the olive branch that it was.

His mother stepped forward in response and wrapped her arms around him in a short hug, which Fiyero returned awkwardly. As she pulled away, Allina said, “Just be careful. If you get into trouble with the Emerald City, there may not be much we can do to help you.”

“Elphaba is a pro at this,” Fiyero reassured her.  “She won’t let us get captured.”

“And you really trust her?” his mother asked.

“With my life,” Fiyero said with surprising conviction. It seemed inconceivable, but he found that it wasn’t a lie.

Allina held his gaze for a moment longer, then gave his hand a final squeeze and turned and left the room.

True to her word, Allina and the men she’d brought with her departed Kiamo Ko mere hours after her conversation with Fiyero. He saw his mother off at the front door with one more promise to keep himself safe, and then she was gone. As much as her sudden arrival the day before had unmoored him, he found that her absence now left a confusing pit in his stomach.

The light was just beginning to fade from the sky when Fiyero stepped into the kitchen to find Elphaba already packing supplies for their journey. She looked up at him as he entered the room and said, “Just about ready.”

Fiyero nodded and helpfully loaded some of the gathered supplies into his own pack. “How are you feeling?” he asked, looking her over. She seemed to be rested enough, but Fiyero supposed she was well practiced at hiding fatigue.

“Like a particularly stupid lamb about to wander into the lion’s den,” she responded, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

Fiyero gave her a sympathetic smile and asked, “Have you thought about what you’re going to say to your sister?”

Elphaba shook her head. “I haven’t really thought much beyond the ‘breaking into her home and ambushing her’ aspect of this little venture.”

Fiyero grimaced. “But you do have a plan for that?” he asked hopefully.

“As much of one as can be expected,” she responded.  “It involves getting as close as we dare under the cover of darkness and then teleporting inside. With any luck we’ll run into Nessarose first and not her question mark of a husband.”

“And if we do run into him first?” Fiyero asked nervously.

“Then we hope that the panicked screaming will cover our hasty retreat,” Elphaba said sarcastically.

Fiyero swallowed hard at that. The idea of returning to his parents empty handed was not a pleasant one. Without the support of Munchkinland and the Vinkus, Elphaba would likely return to her life on the run, and the oppression of the Animals would continue to its inevitable conclusion. Elphaba must have noticed the look on his face, because she took a step closer to him and said, “I’ll be sure to find us a suitable hiding place. We shouldn’t have trouble concealing ourselves until the appropriate moment.”

Fiyero wasn’t sure if he felt much better, but he nodded at her words all the same, grateful that she was trying to ease his nerves when she was clearly just as anxious. He tamped down on his feelings of dread and asked, “Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose,” was her response as she crossed the room to retrieve her broom from where she’d propped it up against the kitchen counter. Fiyero eyed it with trepidation as he followed her out into the foyer.

Elphaba threw open the front door, inviting the early evening chill inside. She took a deep breath, then stepped over the threshold and thrust the broom out in front of her. “Get on,” she said, turning to face him.

Fiyero glanced from the broomstick to Elphaba and then back to the broomstick again. Elphaba sighed in frustration, then grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her. She straddled the broom herself first, then pulled Fiyero up behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist.

“Hold on tight,” she said, her tone serious. “If you fall off, I’m not entirely confident I’ll be able to turn around and catch you.”

He hardly had time to gulp at the insinuation, before Elphaba kicked off the ground and they sped off into the night.

Fiyero tried to ignore his discomfort, both mental and physical, as he clung to Elphaba for dear life on the back of her broomstick. The wind whipped at his hair and tears blurred his vision as he tightened his grip around her waist. Fiyero had no idea how Elphaba could see well enough to keep their cover beneath the treetops as she steered them through the dark forest. They flew on for the better part of the night, until Fiyero had long since lost track of time completely. Certain parts of his anatomy were not faring as well as he’d have liked against the unforgiving handle of the broomstick, but he bit his tongue and kept his complaints to himself.

 After what felt like an eternity, Fiyero felt a swooping sensation in his stomach as Elphaba brought them into a controlled dive towards the forest floor. He stumbled as his feet connected with the ground unexpectedly and then he pitched forward into Elphaba, nearly bowling her over. She turned to shoot him a look of annoyance as she straightened up.

Fiyero hardly noticed, still reeling as the world righted itself around him. He was immeasurably glad to be back on solid ground. He was now quite certain that he was not built for flying.

Elphaba watched in amusement as Fiyero placed his hands on his knees and took several deep, steady breaths to calm himself. She leaned her broomstick against a nearby tree trunk and said, “I suppose that wasn’t terrible for your first time. You managed to hold on at least, despite all of the whimpering.”

Fiyero shot her a deeply offended look as he straightened his shirt. “There was no whimpering.”

Elphaba smirked in response. “My mistake,” she said, in a tone that suggested she didn’t actually believe she was mistaken. “Must have been the wind.”

Fiyero bristled slightly in the face of her teasing, but she had already turned away and was rummaging in her bag. She had packed everything she owned for the journey, as they wouldn’t be returning to Kiamo Ko right away. Fiyero caught sight of the spine of her Grimmerie among the bag’s contents as she drew out their provisions for the evening. It gave him some measure of comfort that she had her spell book with her in the event that they ran into trouble.

Fiyero set about gathering leaves into the closest approximation of a bed that he could manage, glad he’d at least had the foresight to pack a blanket this time. The nights were not unbearably cold at this time of year, but there was somewhat of a chill in the air as the sun went down.

Elphaba was across from him, gathering scraps of wood into a pile. When she was satisfied with her work, she conjured a fireball with a flick of her wrist and set the kindling alight. Fiyero watched the ease with which she performed the task with a small measure of awe.

“What’s it feel like?” he asked, moving to crouch beside her. At her questioning look, he wiggled his fingers in imitation of the hand gestures she sometimes used when casting spells. “Magic,” he elaborated.

Elphaba seemed to think on his question for a moment. “I don’t really know,” she said, staring into the depths of the flames she’d created. “It’s something that’s just always been a part of me. I can’t really explain it.” She didn’t seem as self-conscious as she had the last time he’d asked about her magic, which Fiyero took as a positive sign.

“It’s amazing,” he said sincerely, as he too stared into the crackling fire. Feeling suddenly bold, he turned to Elphaba and added, “You’re amazing.”

He didn’t miss the way she turned and ducked her head away at the praise. He’d spent enough time with her by now to know that she couldn’t take a compliment.

“Hey,” he said softly, scooting closer so that their shoulders were touching. “You are, even if you can’t see it yourself.”

Elphaba chuckled at his words, shaking her head slightly. “It’s absurd,” she said. Fiyero watched in confusion as she progressed into outright laughter, her shoulders shaking with the effort to contain it. “Absolutely absurd.”

“What is?” Fiyero asked, unsure if he should be feeling hurt by the sudden outburst.

Elphaba turned back to face him. Her eyes were shining, though whether from mirth or from something else entirely, Fiyero wasn’t sure. “My entire life, I’ve only ever tried to do what I thought was right. I dedicated everything I had to making good, and yet every single time I’ve tried, it’s completely blown up in my face,” she said. Fiyero waited patiently for her to continue, unsure what about this she was finding funny. She went on, “Then, I go and do what is possibly the most wicked thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. I kidnap and imprison the captain of the Wizard’s guard, and now he’s sitting beside me, paying me compliments. How am I meant to interpret that?”

She had stopped laughing now and was staring at Fiyero beseechingly. Without thinking, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close so that her head was resting on his shoulder. “Maybe…maybe we accept that people come into our lives for a reason,” Fiyero said thoughtfully. “I spent years absolutely terrified of running into the Wicked Witch of the West, but then when I finally did, it turned out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“You were terrified of me?” Elphaba asked from beside him.

Fiyero was about to reassure her until he recognized the note of pride in her voice. Instead, he chuckled and said, “I’m still terrified of you, actually, but in an entirely different way.”

She lifted her head to look at him, apparently confused. Before she could misunderstand, he clarified, “We’ve known each other for, what, a few weeks now? Yet somehow, I can’t seem to remember what my life was like before I met you, and I don’t want to imagine it without you either. I don’t think I’ve ever had anything I’m this terrified to lose.”

He felt Elphaba’s weight disappear from beside him as she straightened up and then sat back on her knees. She turned so that she was facing him, and Fiyero shifted to match her position. They stared at each other for a moment, the warm glow of the campfire casting their faces half in shadow. Elphaba was looking at him strangely again, as though she couldn’t quite believe he was real.

“There are certain things I’d grown to accept that I would never experience in this life,” she said softly, casting her eyes down to where her hands were folded in her lap. “There was too much evidence to the contrary to believe that anyone could ever…” she trailed off, seemingly unable to voice the thought aloud.

Fiyero caught her meaning anyway and moved closer to take one of her hands in his. “Hey,” he said softly, willing her to look at him. Her eyes shifted upwards to meet his, and Fiyero fretted for a moment over whether he was about to scare her off again. Yet he felt the truth of it so strongly that he strengthened his resolve and said, “I love you.”

There was a sharp intake of breath at his words, and Elphaba pulled her hand from his as though he’d stung her. “I-” she started, but her words seemed to die in her throat. She was staring at him in what Fiyero could only interpret as wide-eyed horror.

 “Hey, it’s okay,” he said, quickly, rocking backwards on his knees to give her more space.  “You don’t need to say anything. I just wanted you to know.”

She seemed to relax slightly at his words but was still looking at him as though he was some sort of alien being. Tentatively, she raised the hand she’d pulled from his and brushed her fingers gently across his cheek. “You’re so beautiful,” she murmured, and Fiyero felt a heat rise to his face that had nothing to do with the still-crackling fire beside them.

He reached up to cover her hand with his own. “So are you,” he said breathlessly, willing her to believe it. While she didn’t say anything by way of argument, it was still clear she had rejected the notion.  

Fiyero regarded her for a moment longer. He took in her tender but slightly pained expression, her windswept hair, the soft glow of orange flame against the green of her skin. He felt his heart swell with unbridled affection in tandem with the pull of an almost gravitational force that drew him towards her. Instead of attempting another verbal response, he swept forward and pulled her into an almost desperate kiss, hoping to impart what he knew she would deny if he attempted to put it into words.

She kissed him back eagerly, all hesitation seeming to melt away from her in an instant. Fiyero wrapped his arms around her and drew her towards him, emitting a soft moan as he felt her fingers wrap around the back of his neck and then travel upwards to gently tug at his hair. He placed a hand on the back of her head and pulled her tighter against him, enjoying the curve of her body against his own. He could feel the heat of her skin, smell the hint of campfire smoke that had already entwined its way into her hair. He could feel himself rapidly becoming overwhelmed by it.

He pulled away abruptly, afraid of losing control and scaring her the way he had last time. Their faces were still so close together that he could feel the warmth of her ragged breath on his lips. “Is this okay?” he asked, searching her face for any hint of resistance.

“Yes,” she breathed, without a moment of hesitation. Her hands were still looped around his neck, and she pulled him forward to bridge the short gap between them once more. Fiyero reached out and undid the fastening on her cloak, the dark fabric sliding down to pool around her knees.

Responding in kind, Elphaba began fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, apparently having some difficulty without the aid of sight. Fiyero smiled against her lips and then reached down and undid the last few himself, shrugging the garment off so that it landed somewhere behind him. He felt a shiver run down his spine as Elphaba gently raked her nails along the exposed skin of his back.

Suddenly overcome, Fiyero rose up on his knees and then gently lowered Elphaba down so that she was lying on the soft grass beneath him. He leaned over to place a soft kiss on her neck, and then drew back and hovered over her. Her eyes fluttered open at the loss of contact and met his once more.

“Still okay?” he asked breathlessly, realizing that they were fast approaching a point of no return. Elphaba held his gaze for a moment, a hint of uncertainty showing briefly on her face, and then she slowly nodded her assent. It was the last bit of reassurance that Fiyero needed before he gave in and let the night take them both.

Chapter Text

Fiyero awoke just as the soft light of dusk was beginning to descend. He sat up and stretched, working a crick out of his neck that had developed during his uncomfortable stay on the forest floor. They’d hidden themselves away in a thick grove of trees well off the beaten path for the better part of the day. Elphaba stood a short distance away from him, staring straight ahead from her position between two thick tree trunks.

Fiyero had volunteered for the first watch as dawn had broken over their campsite earlier in the day. He had insisted in the face of Elphaba’s weak protests, sure that he would be unable to sleep after everything that had happened between him. He’d spent the next few hours of his vigil replaying the scene over and over in his mind and casting subtle glances towards the sleeping woman behind him, grappling with the inexplicable feeling that she would vanish if he took his eyes off her for too long.

Fiyero ran a hand through his messy hair and got to his feet. He made his way over to Elphaba, making sure his footsteps were heavy enough that his approach wouldn’t startle her. She turned to face him as he drew nearer.

He was struck by how beautiful she looked, standing silhouetted against the backdrop of the forest in the evening light. If Fiyero hadn’t already known that he was helpless before her, then he certainly knew it after last night. She had a power over him that had nothing to do with her magical prowess.

Words suddenly didn’t seem like enough as Fiyero struggled with what to say. Finally, he decided on, “Hey,” as he sidled up beside her.

“Good morning,” she said, then paused and amended, “Or good evening, I suppose. We should get moving if we want to make it to Munchkinland by sunup.”

Fiyero was disappointed but not particularly surprised that she was all business as she gathered her cloak and broomstick. Feeling suddenly self-conscious in a way he rarely had on mornings-after past, he said, “So last night. Was it…was that…okay?” The words sounded lame to his own ears even as they left his mouth, and he cringed internally.

Elphaba paused in the gathering of her belongings and turned to look at him. She seemed suddenly uncertain and answered slowly, “It was…unexpected.” Fiyero felt a slight blow to his pride, before she continued hastily, “But not in a bad way. I don’t exactly have much point of comparison but…it was good. It was nice.” She wouldn’t meet his eyes as she stumbled over her words, clearly still flustered.

“Oh, well that’s good,” Fiyero responded lamely, unsure of what else to say.

Elphaba gave him a small, slightly pained smile in acknowledgement of their mutual awkwardness, then held her broom out in front of her and said, “Are you ready?”

Fiyero was sure the horror he felt at the prospect of another night of flying showed plainly on his face, for Elphaba’s smile widened slightly as she swung her leg over the broomstick and waited for him to climb on behind her. Fiyero sighed, resigned to his fate, and wrapped her arms around Elphaba’s waist in anticipation of take-off.

The second night’s journey did prove to be a bit easier now that Fiyero knew what to expect. It was still uncomfortable and abjectly terrifying, but at least his head wasn’t spinning quite so badly this time around. They flew on for a few hours, until they reached the edge of the forest. Elphaba took them down and they dismounted, still hidden among the cover of the treetops.

“We should travel the rest of the way on foot,” she said quietly, glancing around to ensure their location was secure. Fiyero nodded his assent, and they reluctantly left the cover of the forest to travel the rest of the way into Munchkinland.

It was still the very early hours of the morning, and the sun had not even begun to poke above the horizon. Even the most ambitious of farmers were not yet awake, and so they met no opposition as they stalked quietly through the cornfields towards the governor’s mansion. Fiyero glanced at Elphaba as they made their way deeper into her former homeland, wondering if she felt any sense of nostalgia for it, but her face remained an unreadable mask.

The first rays of dawn had just begun to bleed into the sky when Elphaba held out a hand to signal Fiyero to stop. He slowed his gait beside her as she glanced out around a corn stalk and then nodded to him.  He stepped closer, and in an instant the fields around them vanished in a familiar plume of red smoke. Fiyero suddenly found himself standing very close to Elphaba in a cramped space, both of them encased in complete darkness.

He waited for his eyes to adjust, then shifted in an attempt to find a more comfortable position. Something brushed the back of his neck and almost caused him to jump. He reached behind and found that it was a dress on a wire hanger, and that there were several other articles of clothing hanging behind it. Fiyero turned to the side and could just make out the outline of a small table and chairs through the thick mesh window of the wardrobe in which Elphaba had chosen to hide them.

He turned back to face her. They were standing so close together in the cramped space that Fiyero was certain she could see his questioning expression even in the dim light. An apologetic shrug was her silent reply.

They stayed that way for some time, Fiyero trying to ignore the steadily worsening cramping in his calves. Slowly, the room around them came into sharper focus as early morning light began to spill in through the windows. After what felt like an eternity, the approaching sound of wheels against the wooden floor reached their ears, and he heard Elphaba’s sharp but quiet intake of breath as her sister appeared in the doorway.

The governor of Munchkinland sat straight-backed in her extravagant chair, her light brown hair pulled back into a tight bun. She wore a simple and modest black dress that still flattered her delicate frame. Fiyero thought he could see the slight resemblance between Elphaba and her sister, despite the fact that the governor’s skin was pale and fair.

Before Fiyero could register what was going on, Elphaba pushed open the door on her side of the wardrobe and stepped into view. The governor wheeled around, clearly startled by the sudden, unexpected presence, and then gaped at Elphaba in shock.

“Nessa,” Elphaba said with quiet uncertainty.

Nessarose opened and closed her mouth a few times, clearly too stunned by the sudden appearance of her prodigal sister to form words. Finally, her confused expression morphed into one of anger. “Elphaba? What in Oz’s name do you think you’re doing here?”

Elphaba held up her hands in front of her defensively and responded, “Nessa, I’m sorry I haven’t visited sooner. You must know that I’ve wanted to see you for some time, but it was too dangerous.”

Nessarose still seemed to be trying to come to terms with her sister’s audacity. She wheeled her chair towards Elphaba and said bitterly, “Too dangerous to visit your sister, but not too dangerous to go flying around Oz helping Animals you’ve never even met. You didn’t even bother to make an appearance when father died. Tell me, why have you chosen now to grace me with your presence?”

Fiyero took this as his cue to step out of the wardrobe behind Elphaba. If Nessarose had been confused at her sister’s sudden appearance, it was nothing compared to the sight of the prince of the Vinkus stumbling out from amongst her formalwear.

Fiyero was suddenly very self-conscious about the rumpled state of his clothing and hair after two days of travel. He tried to smooth some of the wrinkles from his shirt, then extended his right hand towards Nessarose and said, “Fiyero Tigelaar, crowned prince of the Vinkus.”

The governor simply gaped at him, her eyes shifting between him and Elphaba as Nessarose struggled to comprehend the sight in front of her. When she didn’t make any move to shake his hand, Fiyero let it drop awkwardly back to his side.

Instead of acknowledging Fiyero, she turned back to Elphaba and said angrily, “You’ve enchanted the prince of the Vinkus? Are you out of your mind?”

Fiyero was beginning to grow offended by the number of people who had assumed Elphaba had him under a spell. Did he really appear so weak-willed that it was everyone’s immediate assumption?

“Hey, hey, no one is enchanted here,” he insisted, “Elphaba and I are…” He didn’t think the word ‘lovers’ would go over well with either of the women standing before him.

“Working together,” Elphaba finished hastily. Nessarose didn’t seem to notice the slight blush rising in her sister’s cheeks, but it wasn’t lost on Fiyero.

“You expect me to believe that the prince of the Vinkus is suddenly working with Oz’s most wanted fugitive?” Nessarose asked, the pitch of her voice rising slightly.  “Isn’t this the same Fiyero Tigelaar who was captain of the Gale Force and engaged to Glinda the Good?”

Fiyero blinked at her for a moment. “It’s been an eventful few weeks,” he said sheepishly, ignoring the look of exasperation that Elphaba shot in his direction.

“Are you talking to someone, darling?” came the sudden sound of a male voice from somewhere down the hallway. Both Elphaba and Fiyero froze in place, and Elphaba turned as though to make for her hiding place in the wardrobe. However, before she could move from where she was standing, another figure appeared in the doorway.

The governor’s husband was a tall, bespectacled man, with wavy dark hair that was combed neatly atop his head. He appeared to be a few years older than Nessarose, and was still dressed in his nightclothes, clearly not having expected visitors at such an early hour. His face paled considerably as his eyes glided right past Fiyero and landed on Elphaba.

“Sweet Oz!” he shouted, stepping further into the room. His eyes darted around wildly until they fell upon a letter opener on a nearby desk. He snatched it and pointed it towards Elphaba as he positioned himself between Nessarose and her sister. His hands were quite noticeably shaking as he shouted, “Get back, Witch!”

Elphaba, clearly used to this type of reaction, scarcely changed her expression as she flicked her wrist towards the weapon he was pointing at her. It went flying from the man’s hands and lodged itself point-first into the wall to his right. “I’m not going to hurt you,” she said carefully, holding her hands up in front of her in a gesture of surrender.

Still trembling, Nessa’s husband turned to her and said, “Nessa, get out of here. I’ll handle this.”

Nessarose seemed caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, but quickly recovered herself. “It’s alright, dear,” she said, wheeling herself forward so that she was at her husband’s side. “My sister is all bark and no bite. She isn’t going to hurt us.”

Elphaba seemed mildly affronted by her sister’s statement, but she did not refute it as she lowered her hands back to her side, watching Nessa’s husband warily.

Nessa sighed and rubbed her fingers along her temples. “Elphaba, this is my husband, Lord Gallien Maitland. Gallien, my sister, Elphaba,” she said irritably, gesturing between the two.

Gallien seemed completely baffled by his wife’s flippancy towards the presence of the Wicked Witch of the West in their home. He glanced back and forth between the two women, apparently unsure of whether to retrieve his weapon and fight or turn and flee back down the hallway. After a moment, he seemed to notice the fourth presence in the room and turned his eyes to Fiyero with a look of confusion.

Fiyero, upon feeling all of the eyes in the room land on him, cleared his throat and awkwardly repeated, “Fiyero Tigelaar, crowned prince of the Vinkus.” He extended his hand again and this time Gallien did move to shake it with a dazed expression on his face.

“My sister was just about to explain what in Oz’s name she thinks she’s doing in our home,” Nessarose said irritably, leveling a glare at Elphaba.

Elphaba didn’t seem surprised by her sister’s aggression. Sighing, she steeled herself and said, “We’ve come to ask for your help.”

Predictably, Nessarose did not take kindly to this. She let out a sharp, bitter laugh and said, “Help? Where were you when I needed help, Elphaba? You abandoned me without a thought to go flying off on whatever ridiculous mission you’ve been busying yourself with for the past few years. You weren’t here when father died, or when I took up the position of governor. If I hadn’t met Gallien, I can scarcely imagine where I would be right now.”

Elphaba seemed completely cowed by her sister’s accusations. Fiyero had never seen her look so unsure of herself. Deciding to try a different angle, he stepped forward and said, “We’re here to propose a political alliance that I think would be beneficial to all of us.” Nessarose turned towards him, looking as though she couldn’t believe he’d had the gall to interrupt her tirade towards her sister. Fiyero went on, “The Vinkus requests that Munchkinland stand with us in opposing the Wizard’s corrupt regime and unfair Animal bans.”

Nessarose let out another laugh at this and shot a knowing glance at Elphaba as she said, “The Animals again.” She turned to Fiyero and continued, “I don’t know what my sister could possibly have done to you to get you to agree to this, but you’re both unhinged if you think Munchkinland wants any part of what you’re suggesting.”

Fiyero straightened up to his full height, attempting to call upon any sense of authority he could muster. “As the future ruler of the Vinkus, I must insist that you at least hear me out, Madame Governor,” he said.  “Is there somewhere we can talk?

Chapter Text

Fiyero and Elphaba found themselves seated across from Nessarose and her husband on a plush couch in one of the mansion’s many sitting rooms. Gallien was positioned across from them in an armchair, with Nessarose’s wheelchair perched beside it. The doors had been locked to bar any of the staff from accidentally wandering in and catching sight of the governor’s rather unconventional choice of company.

Gallien fidgeted in his seat, still eyeing Elphaba with nervous apprehension but otherwise subdued. He seemed to have sensed that his wife held the real power in this situation and had deferred to her for the time being. Nessarose herself sat stock-still in her chair, a stern expression of displeasure on her face. “Well,” she said, glancing between Elphaba and Fiyero, “You’ve asked for an audience with the governor, and I’ve granted you one. So talk.”

Fiyero looked over at Elphaba first, but when she made no move to obey her sister’s request, he took the initiative instead.  “The Wizard is a liar and a fraud. He’s oppressing an entire group of Ozians just to distract people from that fact. That’s what your sister has been fighting against.”

Nessarose did not seem swayed by Fiyero’s appeal as she responded, “And why is that any of our concern? The Wizard has caused no harm to the citizens of Munchkinland. Why would we want to stand against him?”

“Are there no Animal citizens of Munchkinland?” Elphaba asked irritably, speaking for the first time since they’d entered the sitting room. Her sister’s frown deepened at her words, but Elphaba went on, “And why are you so sure that the Wizard won’t set his sights on the Munchkins next, once the Animals have been all but eradicated?”

“Don’t be so dramatic, Elphaba,” Nessarose said, rolling her eyes at her sister.

Elphaba leaned forward in her chair at her sister’s flippant response. “Dramatic?” she asked, disbelief evident in her voice. “You think I’m being dramatic. Surely it can’t have escaped you that Animal presence in all corners of Oz has been dwindling for years. Why do you think that is?”

“I’m sure that any Animals who have found themselves on the wrong side of the bans are those who were sentenced justly by the Wizard,” Nessarose said with a good deal of self-righteousness.

“No,” Fiyero said softly. He ducked his head away as the two sisters turned to look at him, unable to meet Elphaba’s eyes as he spoke. “I’ve seen it firsthand, back when I used to work for the Wizard. I’ve…been complicit in it. The Animals are being rounded up indiscriminately. It doesn’t matter if they’re perfectly law-abiding citizens, they end up in cages just the same.”

Nessarose seemed to grow further irritated that he was taking Elphaba’s side. She turned to her skittish husband with indignation and said, “Gallian, what about those clients of yours? That Cheetah couple?  The Rossens?”

Nessa’s husband startled at having suddenly been addressed. He fidgeted with the wedding ring on his finger as he answered, “Oh er…well no, I actually haven’t seen them in some time. I believe their house was on the market a couple of months ago.”

Nessarose didn’t seem to have a response to that, and the surprise at her husband’s statement showed plainly on her face. Elphaba took this as a cue to continue her appeal. “This isn’t something I’m just making up, Nessa. Do you think I’ve let my entire life be destroyed on a whim?” she asked bitterly.

Nessarose schooled her expression back into a scowl as she answered, “Well, you certainly never did know when to quit, Elphaba. Do you think I was surprised when the Wizard’s press secretary made the announcement about you? There goes Elphaba again, doing whatever she pleases and never stopping to think about how her actions affect anyone else!”

Fiyero was surprised by the amount of vitriol in Nessarose’s statement. From what little he knew of Elphaba’s family life, he’d gathered that it hadn’t been the warmest, but the amount of spite her sister was leveling at her seemed excessive. Elphaba’s penchant for self-deprecation was suddenly starting to make some sense.

Elphaba had balled her hands into fists at her sister’s words and seemed to be doing her best to control her temper. “Oh, I’m the selfish one, am I?” she asked through gritted teeth. “I spent my entire life doting on you and doing anything you asked of me, and apparently that still wasn’t enough.”

“And where were you when I needed you these last four years?” Nessarose asked, wheeling herself forward towards her sister.

Elphaba was on her feet now. “Fighting for my life against a tyrant who would see me dead,” she bit back angrily. She took a step towards Nessa and her voice took on a note of pleading as she continued, “Do you not understand how very sincerely they want me dead, Nessa? If they capture me, they will execute me.”

This at least seemed to shock Nessarose into temporary silence. Fiyero stood up and placed a hand on Elphaba’s shoulder. She was still breathing heavily, but allowed herself to be guided back down onto the couch as Fiyero turned to address Nessarose again. “This is about the Animals, but it’s about your sister’s life too. As long as the Wizard is in power, she will never be safe.”

Elphaba was staring pointedly at the ground as Fiyero spoke. He knew that she would never ask for help on her own account, but she also had to acknowledge the truth in his words. Fiyero continued, “Please, if you care about your sister’s wellbeing at all, help us stand against the Wizard.”

Silence hung in the air between them, before Nessarose begrudgingly asked, “And what would have me do?” Elphaba’s head shot up in surprise at her sister’s words. She clearly had never expected Nessarose to even consider their request.

Nessa’s husband seemed equally baffled by his wife’s acquiescence. “Darling, you can’t seriously be considering this,” he said nervously, chancing another glance in Elphaba’s direction.

Fiyero was ready with his response. “We’re planning to harbor displaced Animals in the Vinkus, against the Wizard’s orders. The Wizard will likely call on the rest of Oz to turn against us when the time comes. We ask that Munchkinland stand in support of us instead. We’re going to try to work with Glinda to garner sympathy for our cause in the Emerald City as well.”

“Glinda the Good?” Gallien asked, turning his attention to Fiyero. He seemed unsurprised that his earlier objections had gone unnoticed. Fiyero was beginning to suspect that the man didn’t typically have much say in his wife’s decisions as governor.  

“We haven’t actually asked her yet,” Elphaba grumbled, clearly intending to remind Fiyero of that fact.

Fiyero waved his hand in front of his face to dismiss her concerns. “She’ll help us,” he said confidently.

“Isn’t she your ex-fiancée?” Nessarose asked skeptically.

“She’s a very forgiving person,” Fiyero said decisively, “and she’ll want to help Elphaba, regardless.”

At Gallien’s look of confusion, Nessarose reluctantly acknowledged, “She and my sister roomed together in college.”

Gallien turned to look at Elphaba again with wide eyes, clearly not yet accustomed to the rapid succession in which he was receiving these mind-blowing revelations. He was further mystified when Elphaba simply crossed her arms and said, “She snores.”

Nessarose did not seem amused by her sister’s antics, but her earlier anger seemed to have dissipated somewhat. Returning to more important matters, she asked, “So, you wouldn’t need us to make any sort of declaration or official statement regarding this agreement?”

“Not verbally,” Fiyero responded. “At least not right away. I may need some sort of written agreement to bring before the king and queen, but we can sort that out later.” He paused thoughtfully and then added, “Although it would be best if you could cease any public denouncement of the Wicked Witch of the West.”

At Elphaba’s wounded look, Nessarose flinched, then said angrily, “Well what would you have had me do, Elphaba? I couldn’t be seen as supporting a wanted fugitive, I’m an unelected official! People knew we were related. They were watching us very closely.”

“You don’t need to come out in overt support,” Fiyero said. “Just maybe take a more neutral stance on the subject for the time being.”

Nessarose seemed to consider his words, then, rather reluctantly, she nodded her assent. She was still glancing between Elphaba and Fiyero with a questioning look in her eyes, and after a moment she turned her attention to Fiyero and asked, “Why are you working with my sister, anyway? I was under the impression that ‘of the West’ was a misnomer.”

Fiyero thought this over for a moment while Elphaba began to fidget nervously beside him at her sister’s question. He had, in fact, always wondered why she’d been associated with the Vinkus from the early days of her infamy. As though sensing his unspoken question, Elphaba said, “I spent a lot of time hiding out in the mountains when I first went on the run. I imagine the fun alliteration helped the name stick.”

Fiyero smiled slightly at the exasperation in her voice, then realized that they hadn’t answered Nessarose’s question. In truth, he wasn’t quite sure how to. The truth was several leagues more ridiculous than any lie he could possibly construct.

 “We met at work,” he said carefully. He could tell by Nessarose’s dubious expression that she had already seen through the thin veneer of truth around his words. Undaunted, he went on, “I was impressed by her work with the Animals. Once I realized that all of the Wicked Witch propaganda was lies, it was easy to get behind the cause.

Fiyero could tell that both Nessarose and her husband knew he was leaving out a great deal of pertinent information, but neither pressed the issue. Gallien was clearly still uncomfortable with the situation, but the fact that Elphaba had not yet turned him into a horned toad or set the sitting room on fire seemed to have eased his nerves considerably.

Nessarose looked Fiyero up and down, then did the same to Elphaba. After a moment she let out a sigh and said, “Very well, if it comes down to it, you’ll have our support.” Gallien said nothing at Nessa’s declaration but fixed her with a look that suggested they would have words once their unwanted guests had departed.

Elphaba seemed overwhelmed by her sister’s support. She rose from her place on the couch to crouch beside Nessarose’s wheelchair, one hand placed on the armrest and the other on her sister’s knee. “Thank you, Nessa,” said affectionately. Nessarose seemed to be trying to keep her expression stony in the face of her sister’s gratitude, but it was clear that she was pleased by it.

Fiyero rose to his feet as well. “On behalf of the royal family of the Vinkus, I thank you for your support. If there’s ever any way we can come to your aid, please let us know.”

Seeing that their business was all but concluded, Elphaba stood from her place at her sister’s side. She looked back down at Nessarose and said, “For what it’s worth, I have missed you dearly.”

Nessarose turned her head away at her sister’s words, but then grumbled, “I suppose it is nice to have confirmation that you haven’t gone completely feral over these past few years.”

Elphaba seemed to take her sister’s words as the closest thing she would get to true reconciliation for the time being. She leaned down and placed a kiss upon her sister’s cheek, then rose back to her full height once more. She set her sights on Gallien, who had risen from his seat as well and looked as though he was wishing to suddenly wake up and find that he’d dreamed this entire affair. Elphaba took a step towards him, and he took a nervous step back in kind.

“As for you,” she said, with a glare that had no real menace behind it. She took another step closer, and then her expression softened. “Take care of my sister.”

Gallien let out a strangled sound and nodded at that, clearly not a fan of being under Elphaba’s direct scrutiny. Apparently satisfied by his response, Elphaba turned and crossed the room, her cloak whipping behind her.

Fiyero took that as his cue as well. “Well,” he said jovially, holding out his hand for Gallien to shake once more. “It was a pleasure meeting you. You too, Madame Governor. We should all really do this again sometime.”

With that he crossed the room to stand at Elphaba’s side, and in a plume of red smoke, they were gone.

Chapter Text

Elphaba and Fiyero reappeared in the thick of a cornfield some distance from the governor’s mansion. The sun was high in the sky by now, and it was dangerous for the two of them to be out in the open. Wasting no time, Elphaba pulled Fiyero onto her broomstick and they shot off into the sky. If any unsuspecting Munchkinlanders caught sight of them, the pair was already long gone by the time their presence had registered.

They dismounted once they’d reached the cover of the forest once more. Elphaba seemed more skittish than usual at having to travel in daylight. They were a good way off from the Emerald City, so Gale Force presence was less likely, but it was still possible that the Wizard had sent scouting parties out to search for them.

“We should find cover until nightfall,” Elphaba said, glancing around nervously. Fiyero knew she must be feeling terribly exposed. Her all-black attire did little to hide her without the cover of darkness.

He followed obediently as Elphaba led him to a small hollow cut into the side of a cliff face. It wasn’t completely secluded but would at least serve to keep them out of sight of anyone traveling on the main road. Elphaba removed her hat and cloak as the two of them settled in to wait until nightfall.

“So, I thought that went well,” Fiyero said casually, placing his hands behind his head as he reclined back against the stone wall behind him.

“It…actually did,” Elphaba conceded with a small amount of disbelief. She glanced over at Fiyero and said, “Thank you for talking me into it. I don’t know that I would have ever had the courage to do that on my own.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” he said with a cheeky grin, relishing the fact that he’d been able to make himself useful. “What did you think of your brother-in-law?” he asked a moment later with a hint of laughter in his voice.

Elphaba huffed immediately and said, “I don’t think he’s good enough for Nessa.” At Fiyero’s knowing look she relented and said, “But it’s just important that she’s happy. Though I doubt he’ll agree to have me over for family dinner any time soon. He kept looking at me like I was about to reach across the room and rip his still-beating heart from his chest.”

Fiyero let out a laugh at that and said, “Well you can be a bit…” the words died in his throat at the look on Elphaba’s face. He cleared his throat and finished, “intimidating.”

She gave him a pointed look, but there was a hint of a smile on her face. “So where are we going from here?” she asked after a pause. “You’re going to have to point me in the right direction.”

“My family’s main castle is a bit further into the Vinkus than the one at Kiamo Ko,” he said thoughtfully, “but that shouldn’t make much of a difference on broomstick. If we fly southwest from here, we should make the journey in roughly the same amount of time.”

Elphaba fidgeted, looking nervous all of a sudden. “Are you sure this is the best idea?” she asked. “It was one thing to stay at Kiamo Ko with your mother, but to be at your family stronghold with your parents…with all of their guards and household staff…”

“Hey,” he said, scooting closer to her.  “I know you’re worried, but I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t think it was safe. I may not have always had the best relationship with my parents, but they’re still good people. They’ll hear us out.”

“Us,” Elphaba repeated faintly, still looking down at her hands.

“That’s right,” Fiyero said with a nod. “If anyone wants to get to you, they’ll have to go through me as well.”

Elphaba raised her head at his declaration, looking perturbed. “And what is ‘us’?” she asked, her tone slightly accusatory.

Fiyero was caught off guard by the sudden shift in her demeanor. “What do you mean?” he asked.  “I already told you that we’re in this together.”

“Right,” Elphaba said slowly, “but to what extent? What are you planning to tell your parents about the nature of our…relationship,” she said. He didn’t miss the catch in her voice as she said the last word.  

Fiyero grew silent as he took in her meaning. In the whirlwind of their dealings in Munchkinland and their meeting with the governor, he supposed they still hadn’t found the time to properly discuss all that had happened between them. “I thought I’d made it clear what my intentions were, but if there’s any ambiguity then let me state it plainly now” he said carefully, taking a deep breath. It seemed suddenly more difficult to discuss his feelings freely in the light of day than it had that night by the campfire.  “I love you. If you’ll allow it, I want us to be…” he searched for a word that wouldn’t alarm her, “partners.”

She was already shaking her head as he finished his sentence. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“Really?” Fiyero scoffed. “I’m fairly sure I’ve got a pretty good snapshot after the past few weeks.”

“Then you know that my life is incredibly dangerous,” she said. “By even associating yourself with me, you’re putting yourself in danger.”

“And we’ve been through this before,” Fiyero said, his stubbornness matching her own.  “That’s the point of all of this, to get more of Oz on your side. On our side.”

“And what happens when you come to your senses and grow tired of this, hm?” she demanded. “When the novelty of all of this wears off and you realize there’s just…me.”

“Elphaba, what’re you-”

Her expression hardened and she continued over his protests, “I don’t do love. I don’t do partners. All I do is try to stay alive and not destroy every single thing I touch. You’re a prince, Fiyero, you could have any woman you want. Sooner or later, you’re going to realize that you can do a lot better than me.”

 “You think I don’t already know that?” Fiyero said irritably. Elphaba seemed to have been momentarily stunned by the declaration. Realizing how it had sounded, Fiyero amended, “That came out wrong. What I meant is that women have been throwing themselves at me for as long as I can remember. Before my engagement to Glinda, I’d probably already been with more women than most men are in their entire lives.”

“You’re really making a case for yourself here,” Elphaba deadpanned beside him.

“So do you really think I can’t tell the difference?” he asked, exasperated. At Elphaba’s clear look of confusion, he went on, “I’ve tried my hand at relationships. Hell, I was ready to marry Glinda just because I thought it was what I was supposed to do. I’d given up on ever finding a deeper connection, on falling in love. If anything, I should be the one who’s worried. You’re brilliant, possibly the most powerful person in Oz. What if being with me only convinces you that you can do better.”

Elphaba rolled her eyes at this and said, “Don’t be preposterous, Fiyero. As if anyone else in Oz is lining up to court me.”

“Well, you forget that I’m a fugitive now too,” he responded. “Maybe we need to accept that we’ve become each other’s only option.”

Elphaba still seemed troubled, so Fiyero reached out from where he was still reclining against the wall and pulled her towards him to settle her against his chest. Elphaba stiffened slightly but didn’t protest. He tilted his head into hers and said, “Let’s just focus on making it back alive for now. We can figure out the rest later.”

The light was already beginning to drain from the sky when Fiyero blinked his eyes open hours later, roused by the sudden sounds of approaching voices and twigs snapping underfoot. As he awoke, he realized with a start that they had, in an uncharacteristic lapse in judgement, fallen asleep together. Fiyero leapt to his feet immediately, jostling Elphaba awake beside him, and swept his eyes around their immediate vicinity. The sounds seemed to be growing ever closer to their partially concealed hiding place.

“Wait here and stay out of sight,” Fiyero whispered. Before Elphaba could argue, he darted around the cliff face and into the path of a couple of Munchkin travelers.

His sudden appearance seemed to startle them, and they broke from their conversation as they turned to face him. They appeared to be a young husband and wife, each sporting a large travel pack. They were clearly cutting through the forest in hopes of making it to the nearest village by sundown.

“Oh, hello there,” the husband said cheerily. “Are you alright?”

Fiyero was relieved that his appearance was not entirely disheveled. His hair was messy, and his clothes slightly rumpled from sleeping on the ground, but nothing out of the ordinary for a perfectly normal traveler. Flashing one of his winning smiles, he said, “Yes, thank you. I just seem to have been turned around. Which direction is the Emerald City from here?” He shuffled his position slightly as he spoke, placing himself between the Munchkin couple and where Elphaba was hiding.

The woman spoke this time.  “The Emerald City? That’s a long way off from here,” she said with some concern. “You’d want to head back the way we came and then take the Yellow Brick Road the whole way. But it’s a few days’ journey at least.”

 “Oh, is that so?” Fiyero said, attempting to keep his voice casual. “In that case I suppose I’ll have to…” he trailed off as he realized the husband was suddenly staring at him very intently.

“Don’t I know you from somewhere?” he asked suspiciously, looking Fiyero up and down.

“Oh, no I doubt it,” he said, waving his hand dismissively.  “I’m nobody important. Just have one of those faces.”

The Munchkin didn’t seem to be buying it. He took a step away from Fiyero and said, with dawning certainty, “Wait, aren’t you that Winkie prince who was working with the Wicked Witch of the West?”

Fiyero was floundering now. He hadn’t realized the extent of the infamy he’d acquired in his brief time on the run, or that he could be recognized easily by random travelers. Upon seeing Fiyero’s rather suspicious reaction to the question, the couple had very clearly begun to panic. The man dropped a hand to his waist, clearly reaching for a concealed weapon.

“Now let’s wait just a minute,” Fiyero said nervously, holding his hands up in front of him in surrender. “Let’s not do anything-”

His sentence was cut short as a loud and ominous cackle sounded from the forest behind him. “Rash,” Fiyero mumbled to himself as Elphaba burst onto the scene in a flurry of wild hair and billowing cloaks. At the sight of her, the Munchkin couple seemed to forget Fiyero entirely. Without so much as a pause, they turned tail and fled screaming down the path from whence they’d come.

Fiyero watched their rapidly retreating backs and then turned to Elphaba with a sigh. “I had that under control,” he said irritably.

“Really? Because from where I’m standing it looked like you were about to get yourself shot,” she said calmly, readjusting her pointed hat.

Fiyero couldn’t really argue with that, but it didn’t make him any less annoyed at the situation. “You know, if we’re going to work on rebranding you, we’re going to have to really tone down all of this,” he gestured wildly in her general direction, “witchiness.”

“Rebranding me?” Elphaba asked, sounding genuinely confused.

“Yeah, of course,” he said. “That’s part of this entire plan. If we can unite enough of Oz against the Wizard, we can also convince them that all of the Wicked Witch of the West business was a lie.”

“That is astoundingly optimistic,” Elphaba said. “There’s no rebranding me, Fiyero. People would hate me even if I wasn’t a wicked witch. They always have.”

“I don’t believe that,” Fiyero said. “Not if they really got to know you. If we had the support of the Vinkus, Munchkinland and the Emerald City behind us, we could show them that you can be a force for good. That you can be rehabilitated.”

“Rehabilitated?” Elphaba repeated doubtfully.

“I think you underestimate how influenced people can be by public opinion, and how quickly they forget. It wouldn’t be all at once, but over time I’m confident we can at least achieve acceptance. But it will require a lot less traumatizing of random civilians,” he said pointedly.

“That wouldn’t have been necessary if we hadn’t fallen asleep without keeping watch,” she grumbled. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and said, “That was careless. I’ve gotten careless.”

“All the more reason to get back to the Vinkus as soon as possible,” Fiyero said, kicking himself for the oversight as well. He knew that his own lack of survival instinct was likely dragging Elphaba down.

Without further argument, Elphaba retrieved her cloak and broom, and then they resumed their journey by air. The rest of their travels remained mercifully uneventful. They stopped to make camp once more the following day, taking care not to let themselves be distracted from sleeping in shifts. After that they flew on until dawn, when the imposing silhouette of Fiyero’s family castle had just begun to appear on the horizon.

“Maybe we should approach the castle on foot,” Fiyero shouted over the roar of wind in his ears. He knew that his mother had said she would warn the castle’s residents of their arrival, but a more inconspicuous approach couldn’t hurt their cause. Even if the guards knew to expect them, they might still get skittish at the sight of two figures on a broomstick barreling towards the ramparts.

Elphaba didn’t make any verbal acknowledgement that she’d heard him, but a few seconds later they began to lose altitude as she brought them into a controlled descent. They dismounted far enough away that the guards would have plenty of time to notice their approach and then began their slow ascent up the slope to the castle’s entrance.

Elphaba had pulled the brim of her hat low to hide her face, but she was hardly anonymous in her billowing cloak and pointed hat. Fiyero could see the guards at the door grow nervous at her approach even from a fair distance away.

“Who goes there?” one of them called out reluctantly. It was clearly a matter of protocol, as Fiyero was quite certain they already knew.

“Prince Fiyero Tigelaar and a guest, Miss Elphaba Thropp,” he called back confidently. They crossed the short remainder of the distance up to the castle and both men on duty banged their heavy spears against the ground twice in recognition.

“Welcome home, your Highness,” one of them said, keeping his gaze focused ahead. “The king and queen have been awaiting your safe return.”

“Have they now?” Fiyero asked, one eyebrow raised. “Well, I suppose we musn’t keep them waiting.” If the guards found his flippant response odd, they gave into sign as they turned and opened the doors to grant Fiyero and Elphaba entrance.

If Fiyero thought the nostalgia of his visit to Kiamo Ko had hit him hard, it was nothing compared to the feeling that washed over him as he stepped into the entryway of his childhood home. He hadn’t been back to the castle since just before his college graduation two years prior. His parents had made their displeasure at his choice to move to the Emerald City plainly known, and Fiyero hadn’t wanted to deal with the barbed comments and thinly veiled criticism that a visit would have invited. Now the mingling scents of stone and wood and the lilacs that his mother favored hit him so powerfully that he paused in place as he stepped over the threshold.

The foyer looked much as he remembered it. Portraits of kings and queens past lined the walls and a plush, deep blue carpet ran from the entrance and continued into the hallway ahead of them. Two more guards stood at the base of an ornate staircase on the left side of the room, and they nodded respectfully as Fiyero and Elphaba stepped further inside.

Before Fiyero could attempt to make a break for one of the castle’s many guest chambers, both of his parents appeared at the top of the staircase. They practically floated down the steps together, the picture of regality as their practiced steps somehow fell completely in sync with each other. Fiyero hated it when they did that.

“Fiyero, Miss Elphaba,” Allina said as she and her husband glided to a halt in front of them. She stepped forward to press a kiss to Fiyero’s cheek, then nodded towards Elphaba before returning to take her place at her husband’s side.

“Mother,” Fiyero acknowledged, finding that he was happy to see her again despite himself.

“Your Majesty,” Elphaba said, her head held high as she returned the Queen’s greeting.

Fiyero chanced a glance at his father, who was watching the proceedings with a stony expression. He wished he had any insight into what the man was thinking, but King Rothian Tigelaar had always been impossible to read.

After a few moments of tense silence, the King inclined his head to Fiyero and said, “Son.” He did not make any move to acknowledge Elphaba’s presence, to Fiyero’s annoyance. He continued, “I trust your journey was worth its while.”

The question seemed innocent enough, but Fiyero didn’t miss the edge of doubt hidden beneath his father’s words. Electing to ignore it, Fiyero squared his shoulders and replied, “Yes, in fact, we were able to secure an alliance with Munchkinland. I can draw up a more official agreement to send along to the governor for review, if you require more than verbal proof.”

Rothian’s only response was a slight raise of the eyebrows, but on the stoic King it was akin to a verbal exclamation of shock. Fiyero held his father’s gaze with a pointed glare, daring him to say something to belittle his efforts. Allina, sensing the tensing between her husband and son, took it upon herself to step forward and say, “Well, that’s wonderful, dear.”. Then, casting a pointed look at her husband, she said, “Isn’t it, Rothian?”

While Fiyero appreciated his mother’s efforts, he felt rather like a child being praised for a finger painting. When Rothian remained stoically silent beside his wife, Fiyero said irritably, “We’ve had a long journey and we’ve been traveling most of the night. Allow me to get Elphaba settled and then we can discuss the matter further.”

“Of course, dear. Feel free to use any of the guest quarters,” his mother said. It sounded genteel enough, but Fiyero didn’t miss the pointed look that went with it. Fiyero resisted to the urge to roll his eyes. It wasn’t as though he was some teenager trying to sneak his girlfriend into his bedroom. At least not on the first day.

“Thank you, Mother, Father,” he said, bowing politely.

With that he turned and strode from the foyer into the hallway beyond, Elphaba right on his heels. He motioned her into a furnished bedroom towards the end of the hallway, then closed the door behind him and promptly slid down against it and onto the floor.

Elphaba raised an eyebrow at him as she unfastened her cloak. “I see I don’t carry the exclusive rights to family dysfunction then.”

Fiyero looked up at her from his place on the floor and asked, “Was that not already painfully obvious from the time you’ve spent with my mother?”

Elphaba crossed the room and offered him her hand, which he took. “I don’t know, your mother seemed almost pleasant just now,” she said, helping to hoist Fiyero back to his feet.

“She did, didn’t she?” he mused. It was a bit odd. He was so used to his parents being a unified front in their blatant disappointment with him. It was strange to see his mother playing mediator.

His train of thought fizzled as he realized he and Elphaba were now standing quite close together, her hand still gripping his own from when she’d helped him up. As tempting as he found their proximity, he didn’t want to give his parents, particularly his father, any more fuel to use against him. Reluctantly, he extracted his hand from hers and took a step backwards.

“Right,” he said awkwardly.  “Well, you must be tired. Feel free to rest up here for now. My room is right upstairs if you need me.”

Fiyero could tell that she was anxious about being on her own in a new place but, in classic Elphaba fashion, she didn’t voice these concerns. Fiyero, sensing this, gestured across the room and said, “The windows aren’t locked.”

“Should I expect that I’ll need to flee through them at some point?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Fiyero backpedaled.  “No, I just thought you might feel less cooped up knowing that you’re not trapped in here.”

Elphaba smiled ruefully and responded, “Well, I suppose you’re already a better host than I am. I certainly didn’t extend you the same courtesy.”

Fiyero, deciding that enough time had passed since his imprisonment to make light of it, put a hand over his heart and said fondly, “Our first date.”

Though she seemed to be trying to suppress it, Elphaba gave him a small smile. Fiyero hoped that she was finally beginning to believe him that he no longer held anything against her.  After a moment she said, “Do you think it would be an issue if I took a trip over to Kiamo Ko after it gets dark? I want to make sure the Monkeys are doing well and see if Glinda has written back yet.”

Fiyero supposed he shouldn’t be surprised that she had no intention of taking a break. “Did you want me to come with you?” he asked, ignoring the way his stomach churned at the thought of getting back on the broomstick so soon.

Elphaba must have sensed his reluctance and responded “No that’s fine, I can go myself. Do you think it will be an issue for the guards if I show up without you?”

Fiyero thought it over and then said, “Let me write up some official orders so they don’t give you any trouble. I just have to find a wax seal.”

“And your parents won’t mind?” she asked a bit nervously.

“My parents don’t have to know,” he responded.

With that he turned and grasped the doorknob. He cast one last fleeting look in Elphaba’s direction, and then he opened the door and slipped out into the hall.

Chapter Text

Fiyero was in his bedroom, rifling through his desk drawers for a pen and some paper, when a sudden appearance in the doorway made him pause. He sighed and ceased his pursuits, turning to face his father. He’d been hoping to avoid this confrontation for at least a while longer, but it seemed that the king had other plans.

Wordlessly, Fiyero followed his father down the hall to his study, where they took a seat across from each other in two high-backed chairs. They sat staring at each other for what felt like an eternity, before Rothian finally spoke. “Your mother tells me you’ve had an eventful few weeks,” he said calmly, steepling his fingers as he looked Fiyero up and down appraisingly.

Fiyero wasn’t quite sure what to make of such a vague underestimation. “That’s one way of putting it, I suppose,” he answered, keeping his expression neutral. In truth there was so much that needed to be addressed that Fiyero had no idea where to start.

Rothian reclined back in his chair slightly and said, “You know, you’ve caused us quite a bit of trouble by breaking your engagement to Miss Upland. Her family may not be royalty, but they are very influential, and we assured them that their daughter would have a very favorable match in your upcoming marriage.”

Fiyero had been anticipating this and had his response at the ready. “Glinda has already achieved an extraordinary amount of power and status completely independent of me. She’s still young and could have any suitor she desires. Surely her family can’t be devastated that she’s no longer promised to a fugitive.”

His father’s eyes darkened. “Yes, let’s talk about that as well, shall we? How do you think it looks that the crowned prince of the Vinkus is wanted by the Emerald City? They’ve sent men here looking for you, you know. Your mother and I have already implicated ourselves by telling them we had no idea where you were.”

Fiyero felt a pang of guilt in tandem with a rush of gratitude. Of course the Gale Force had come knocking on his parents’ door. No one in the Emerald City knew about Kiamo Ko, but they knew of the Tigelaar family castle. A part of Fiyero was surprised that his parents hadn’t given him up. He’d always suspected they would cut him loose if he caused enough damage to the family reputation. He supposed he was certainly testing that theory now.

“I didn’t intend for things to go this far,” he said. It was the truth. He’d only set out to help Elphaba. It wasn’t as though he’d been oblivious to the consequences, but that was beside the point.

“And then you bring that…that woman here,” Rothian went on, clearly being diplomatic in his choice of words. “If it’s discovered that the two of you are hiding here, this could escalate into war with the Emerald City.”

“And you’d bother going to war on my account?” Fiyero asked with an edge of bitterness to his voice. Part of him still didn’t quite believe that his parents would stand behind him if it came down to it.

He was surprised then when his father said, without hesitation, “Of course we would, Fiyero, you’re our son.” Rothian slumped back in his chair with a sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Fiyero watched him with mild surprise. He had expected his father to be angry, but instead he just looked tired. “This is not something to be taken lightly. The Emerald City has a larger army. They’re better funded. It will be a lot to ask of our people to fight on your behalf, especially if you continue to ally yourself with the Witch.”

“Her name is Elphaba,” Fiyero said stubbornly. “And I’m not asking our people to fight only on my behalf, or hers. The Wizard is keeping his grip on Oz by marginalizing its most vulnerable citizens. I want to put an end to that.”

“And how do you expect to go up against the most powerful man in Oz,” his father asked, sitting up straight in his chair once more.  

“The Wizard isn’t powerful. He has no actual power at all. He’s only dangerous as long as he’s the one in control,” Fiyero responded.

“And the Witch told you this,” Fiyero’s father said, clearly doubtful.

“Yes, Elphaba told me this, but Glinda has corroborated it, and she’s closer to the Wizard than most. I can have her write to you, if you’d find her testimony more convincing,” Fiyero said irritably.

Rothian crossed his arms, clearly mulling over Fiyero’s words. “Perhaps,” he said pensively, “but that still doesn’t change the fact that war with the Emerald City would not be a trifling affair.”

“We have the support of Munchkinland as well,” Fiyero pointed out.

“You have the support of their governor,” his father countered. “How do you know her people will rally at her command? Hatred of the Wicked Witch of the West is higher in Munchkinland than in most other parts of Oz.”

“We can keep Elphaba’s involvement quiet if needed. The Munchkins don’t need to know. The governor and her husband are both well respected, there’s no reason to believe their people won’t follow them,” Fiyero said.

“And what if I said I intended to avoid this business altogether and turn the Witch over to the authorities? They only want you because they believe you’re aiding her. If we are complicit in her capture, they will pardon you easily,” Rothian said, his voice far too casual for what he was suggesting.

Fiyero’s blood ran cold at his father’s words, and he was on his feet in an instant. “You can’t do that,” he said, eyes already darting towards the door. He was on a different floor of the castle and there were a fair number of guards between him and Elphaba, but surely he could find a way to alert her to the danger. She could immobilize the guards and at least escape on her own. He would take whatever punishment his parents saw fit to dole out as long as he could ensure that she was safe.

Fiyero’s father chuckled from across the room, and Fiyero’s eyes immediately swiveled back to him, livid that he could be making light of the situation. However, a moment later Rothian said, “Settle down, son,” beckoning Fiyero back into his chair. “Your mother told me, but I have to say I didn’t quite believe her. Though I suppose you always did have a penchant for being as difficult as possible.”

Slowly, Fiyero lowered himself back down into his seat, not taking his eyes from his father as he waited for him to continue. “You really care for this woman?” his father asked, studying Fiyero carefully. Fiyero nodded, trying to calm his still-racing heart as the adrenaline drained from his system. His father sighed and said, “Well, I suppose I must admit that it’s encouraging to see that it’s possible for you to care about anything at all. I do believe this is the first time we’ve had any sort of discussion regarding the future of the Vinkus, even though I wish it were under different circumstances.”

Fiyero allowed himself to relax as he finally grasped that his father was not about to call for Elphaba’s capture, but he still felt testy about the fact that Rothian had dangled the possibility in front of him as some sort of test.  “This isn’t a game to me,” he said irritably. “I need to know where you stand. I already discussed with mother that I want the Vinkus to harbor some of the Animals displaced by the Wizard’s bans. Will you allow it?”

“And are you asking this as a favor or proposing it as future ruler of the Vinkus?” His father asked. “Are you willing to deal with the fallout of such a decision, or will you go gallivanting back to the Emerald City when all is said and done?”

Fiyero held his father’s gaze and said, “I propose it as the future king, and I plan to accept any and all consequences that may arise as a result.”

This was apparently the correct answer, for Rothian broke into a small but genuine smile as he reclined back into his chair. “Well, I suppose I will enjoy the look on your uncle’s face when I tell him that my son will be the one to inherit the throne after all.”

Fiyero blinked at his father, unable to believe it was that easy. “And you think the rest of the family will be okay with this?”

“And what choice do they have?” Rothian asked, “The throne is your birthright. They can gnash their teeth all they want, but they’ve always known that. I have always wanted you to succeed me one day. I had just begun to lose hope that you were ever going to want it. If this Elphaba has finally managed to achieve in a month what your mother and I have been unable to in twenty-five years, then I have no choice but to offer you both my support.”

Fiyero felt a weight he hadn’t even been fully cognizant of lift from his shoulders at his father’s words. “Thank you,” he said sincerely.  “I swear that your trust in me won’t be misplaced.”

“That will be a refreshing change of pace,” his father said, but the laughter in his voice and recent vote of confidence kept Fiyero from taking it too personally. His father’s face grew more serious as he continued, “You may begin the relocation of your Animal refugees, but this will be entirely your responsibility. You will need to explain it to the other tribal leaders, and deal with any discontent that should arise as a result. If you have ambitions for the throne, it’s time to start taking on more responsibility.”

Fiyero nodded and said, “Yes, I can do that. Elphaba will help with the efforts as well. She’s already well acquainted with several of the Animal groups in question.”

At the mention of this, the king’s expression shifted. “Let me ask you one more question,” he said.  “What exactly are your intentions for this woman, Fiyero? The Wicked Witch rumors are not as strong here as they are in the Emerald City, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t known to our people. You may be making things unnecessarily difficult on yourself.”

Fiyero felt his cheeks flush as he hastily stammered, “It’s far too soon to be talking about those types of intentions.”

The king raised his eyebrows and responded, “You’re hinging far too many volatile decisions on this woman to not at least have thought about it.”

“The only thing I’m thinking about right now is keeping her out of the Wizard’s clutches. There will be room to worry about other things once her life isn’t in immediate danger,” he said stubbornly.

“Very well,” Rothian said, rising from his chair, “I will leave you to it then. I had best go and debrief your mother. I expect I’ll find her with her ear pressed against one of the walls.” He extended his hand and said, “Good talk, son.”

Fiyero shook his father’s hand with a dazed expression and stood watching as the king left the room. All the years he’d spent feeling terrified of the man, and suddenly he seemed like just another person.

Remembering that he’d had a task to complete before he’d been sidetracked, Fiyero made his way back down the hall to his bedroom. He retrieved a pen and paper and hastily scrawled the orders for the Kiamo Ko guards to give Elphaba free reign of the castle. He heated the wax and pressed his family’s seal against the folded paper, and then dropped the finished product back onto his desk for the time being.

Fiyero suddenly found that he was completely drained. He and Elphaba had been traveling since the previous evening, and the conversation with his father hadn’t exactly been relaxing. He heaved a sigh as he collapsed backwards onto his childhood bed, his legs dangling over the side. Surely it would be fine if he just rested his eyes for a moment.

When Fiyero next regained consciousness, it was to find that the sky outside his bedroom windows was already growing dark. He jolted upright, then bounded out of bed to swipe the letter off his desk. He crossed the distance to Elphaba’s guest room at a steady jog, ignoring the strange looks he was receiving from the household staff, and paused before the door to knock. The door cracked open slightly and one of Elphaba’s eyes appeared in the opening, before she caught sight of Fiyero and moved aside to allow him entrance.

“I was beginning to think you’d forgotten,” Elphaba said as she accepted the folded piece of paper he offered her.

“Sorry,” Fiyero mumbled, still not quite at full coherence. “Fell asleep.”

Elphaba gave him a small smile as she crossed the room to store the paper in her satchel. “Have you spoken with your parents yet?” she asked. She was trying to sound casual, but Fiyero could sense the hint of anxiety in her words.

“Yes, actually,” he answered. “Well, with my father anyway. It went better than expected. He’s agreed to allow us to grant the displaced Animals protection in the Vinkus.” Fiyero decided it would be best to leave any of the details they’d discussed about Elphaba herself out of it for now.

Elphaba’s eyes lit up at that. “That’s wonderful,” she said, her face breaking into a genuine smile. “When I return maybe we can start discussing logistics.”

Suddenly feeling nervous at the prospect of her leaving, Fiyero asked, “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

Elphaba shook her head. “I think it’ll be best if I go alone for now. I didn’t have a lot of time to get reacquainted with the Monkeys before we left for Munchkinland. I’d like to spend some time with them before introducing them to anyone new.”

Fiyero nodded reluctantly. “Well, just be careful then,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Elphaba looped her satchel over her shoulder and then turned to face him. “I’ll be back by sunup,” she said softly, taking another step closer. Fiyero took a step in kind, bridging the short distance between them. Their eyes met for a moment, before Fiyero finally leaned in and kissed her. They lingered that way for several seconds before they finally pulled apart.

Fiyero brushed a stray strand of hair behind Elphaba’s ear and said, “I’ll be here.”

 She lingered for only a moment longer, before she turned and retrieved her broom and her pointed hat from across the room. She threw open the large window, allowing the chill night air to spill into the room, then mounted her broomstick. She spared one more glance in Fiyero’s direction, and then took off into the night. Fiyero watched her go, staring after until her silhouette was no longer visible, and then he closed the window and left the room.

True to her word, Elphaba returned early the next morning from her trip to Kiamo Ko, alighting through the open window to find Fiyero attempting to seem nonchalant from his perch on the corner of her guest bed. She came bearing news from Glinda in the Emerald City. Apparently, the Wizard had appointed a new captain of the guard. The call was still out for both of their arrests, but there was reluctance to send a full military force into the Vinkus and risk the resulting political tension. As far as Glinda knew, the Wizard and Morrible had not yet caught wind of where Elphaba and Fiyero were hiding, and their ability to gather such intel had been greatly impeded by Elphaba’s emancipation of the flying Monkeys.

Elphaba had written a response to Glinda to inform her of their updated plans and upcoming efforts to help the Animal refugees and had sent it off with one of the Monkeys before returning to the Tigelaar’s castle. Perhaps it was risky to send that type of sensitive information into such close proximity to the Wizard, but the Monkeys knew their way around the Emerald Palace and she trusted them to make sure her letters only made it into Glinda’s hands.

The next few days passed in relative harmony. With the blessing from Fiyero’s parents, he and Elphaba began to discuss the logistics of relocating some of the more vulnerable Animal groups to the Vinkus. Once the Wizard figured out that Elphaba was no longer in close proximity to the camps, it was only a matter of time before he made a move against them. The issue lay in how best to get the word out for the Animals to begin moving west. The flying Monkeys were an option, but if word had not yet spread that they were no longer under the Wizard’s control, the other Animals might not trust them. Elphaba could go and get the word out herself, but with increased Gale Force presence around the Emerald City and surrounding areas that was not without risk. In the end, they decided to wait for Glinda to write back and see if she could offer any suggestions.

Fiyero found, to his surprise, that he was having a much easier time getting along with his parents these days than he had since he was a child. He was unsure if it was the fact that he was older, that he no longer craved their approval, or that he’d finally earned it, but he found he’d gained the ability to hold a conversation with them that didn’t devolve into a mess of wounded pride and hurt feelings. Against all odds, they even seemed to be warming ever so slightly to Elphaba. Once the initial shock of her presence in the castle had worn off somewhat, Fiyero had forced a meeting over dinner. What started out in chilly silence soon devolved into a spirited discussion of politics and Vinkun culture. Fiyero suspected that, given enough time, his parents might start to prefer Elphaba’s company to his own.

Fiyero still felt strange to be back at his family’s castle under the current circumstances. He’d long ago given up on returning, but now it was as though he’d somehow hit a reset button on his life’s trajectory. Suddenly he found himself wandering into the throne room and staring up at the twin seats perched on the dais, imagining a future where he would be seated there. Imagining who might be seated beside him.

Elphaba, for her part, seemed to be climbing the walls after two days cooped up within the castle. She took another spontaneous trip to Kiamo Ko on their third night but neglected to tell Fiyero that she’d gone, which led to a minor panic in the morning when he knocked on her door to find the room empty. The immediate consequence of this was Fiyero’s decision to slip into her room on their fourth night and personally see to it that she was too busy to consider leaving. It was also why, when she went back for a third visit on the fifth night, Fiyero decided to accompany her.

The flight to Kiamo Ko was mercifully much shorter than the one to Munchkinland, only a little over an hour if the wind was in their favor. They touched down on the roof and were immediately bombarded by almost a dozen excited, chittering Monkeys.

“Woah, woah,” Elphaba laughed as they swarmed her, practically knocking her over. “Use your words remember?” She did a quick head count and the asked, “Where’s Chistery?”

“G-Glinda,” one of the Monkeys managed, pointing a finger east towards the Emerald City. Elphaba nodded and turned to Fiyero. “Chistery stopped by the Emerald Palace a couple of days ago, but Glinda didn’t let him in. Must have been busy. He’s probably gone to see if she’s finished writing back yet.”

Fiyero nodded, his attention diverted by the dozens of pairs of eyes that had fallen on him once the excitement of Elphaba’s appearance had worn off. Elphaba must have noticed this, for she turned back to the Monkeys and said, “This is Fiyero. Can you all say Fiyero?”

Fiyero was treated to the sound of several Monkeys stammering something that vaguely resembled his name. He was both flattered and a bit disturbed by the spectacle.

Introductions complete, Fiyero and Elphaba made their way over to the hatch that would grant them access into the castle. As they slipped inside, several of the Monkeys took off from the roof and went swooping along the sides of the castle.

“They seem to prefer being outside on the roof, but I’ve left the windows to the north tower open in case any of them want to come inside,” Elphaba said. “The hatch is a bit heavy for them.”

“That’s fine, no one really goes up there anyway,” Fiyero said, secretly wondering how the castle’s guards were taking all of this.

He got his answer as they descended the staircase into the main hall. The two guards on duty saluted him with a fervent look that suggested they were beyond relieved to see any living soul that wasn’t either Elphaba or one of her Monkeys.

“Your Highness! Welcome back. It’s good to see you again,” the younger of the two said eagerly. Fiyero got the distinct impression that, even though he’d sent Elphaba with his official orders, the guards were suspicious that she’d murdered him and stashed his corpse in the walls somewhere.

“Er, yes, at ease men,” he said awkwardly as he and Elphaba shuffled past and down the hallway.

“They’re not overly fond of me,” Elphaba said with a smirk, “but they haven’t given me any trouble.”

They took the spiral staircase up to the north tower as they had many times during their previous stay. As they entered the room, Fiyero noted that half a dozen Monkeys were already making themselves at home. Elphaba seemed unsurprised by this and crossed the room to retrieve a dog-eared book from the nightstand. “I borrowed a few books from the library,” she said as she removed the page-marker. “I hope that’s okay. I thought we would get a head start in their lessons,” she said, gesturing to the Monkeys who had gathered around her.

“Of course,” Fiyero responded. “They’ve only been gathering dust on the shelves for the past few years anyway.”

Elphaba settled herself on the bed and read the first paragraph from the book herself before passing it to the Monkey seated to her right. It was a book of children’s nursery rhymes, and the Monkey sounded out each word with pained precision. When he’d finished, he passed the book along and the process repeated. They were halfway around the circle when they were suddenly startled by a loud screech from outside the window.

Everyone in the room looked up just in time to see a very frazzled Chistery come careening through the open window to crash land onto the bed behind Elphaba. Elphaba leapt to her feet immediately. “Chistery!” She said with concern, placing a hand on the Monkey’s back to help him into a sitting position. His fur was completely rumpled, and he was still out of breath.

“What happened?” Elphaba asked with concern. Chistery took another few seconds to get his bearings, before he wordlessly held out a crumpled piece of paper. Elphaba took it from him with a questioning look, but then gasped as she unfolded it. Fiyero gave her a questioning look, and then accepted the paper as she passed it to him.

His heart skipped a beat as he took in the short message. There were only two words on the page, hastily scrawled in what was unmistakably Glinda’s bubbly handwriting.

Stay Away

Chapter Text

“Elphaba, wait, can we talk about this?” Fiyero asked, following her path around the room as she began hastily repacking the contents of her satchel.

“Talk about what, Fiyero?” she asked, whipping around to face him. “You saw the note. That was not written in a normal frame of mind. Glinda is in trouble, and we need to help her.”

Elphaba was practically frantic, and Fiyero took a step forward and placed his hands on her shoulders. He held her gaze, willing her to see reason. “The note said ‘stay away’. That is the exact opposite of what you’re suggesting right now!”

“She wouldn’t have written that unless there was some sort of danger to stay away from,” Elphaba insisted, taking a step backwards to free herself from his grasp. “We should never have let her go back on her own. What if the Wizard and Morrible have decided she’s too much of a liability?”

“And what if this is a trap?” Fiyero countered. “What if the Wizard and Morrible wrote that note in the first place and it’s all another ploy to lure you back to the Emerald City?”

Elphaba shook her head stubbornly. “That was Glinda’s handwriting.”

“Okay, so what if they forced her to write it?” Fiyero asked, voice rising slightly in pitch. “We can’t just go flying in there with no idea of what we’re walking into. Can’t we try talking to Chistery again?”

They had questioned the Monkey once he’d recovered from his chaotic arrival, but he’d been too shaken for coherent speech. He’d only managed to choke out the word “Glinda”, before he’d retreated to the roof and had refused to say anything further.

“Chistery is clearly upset by whatever happened. Pushing him now could lead to regression in the little progress he’s made, and we don’t have time to sit around waiting for him to recover,” Elphaba said. She turned and snatched her broomstick from the bed and then turned back to face Fiyero. “You don’t have to come with me, but you can’t stop me,” she said defiantly.

Fiyero knew she was right, but he was desperate for her to heed his warnings. He had a really bad feeling about the entire situation and a rising terror that, should Elphaba run off now, he might never see her again. He stepped forward and placed his hand over hers where she was clutching the handle of the broomstick.

“Please, just take a second to think about this,” he begged. “Shouldn’t we at least write to my parents and your sister? Let them know where we’re going in case something happens? What was the point of garnering their support, of trying to help the Animals, if we go and throw it all away now?”

Fiyero knew it was a dirty move, but mentioning the Animals seemed to have just the sort of effect he’d intended. Elphaba’s shoulders slumped, and she relaxed her grip on the broom handle ever so slightly.

Relieved that he finally seemed to be getting through to her, Fiyero went on, “I’m not saying we shouldn’t go and help Glinda. I just think we need to take a step back and come up with some sort of plan.”

“And what if Glinda is being imprisoned or tortured while we spend time coming up with this plan?” Elphaba asked.

“Glinda is tougher than she looks,” Fiyero insisted, “and we’ll be more use to her if we have some semblance of an idea where we’re going. If we have to spend time searching the entire palace, there’s a much higher chance we’ll be caught.”

Elphaba seemed to begrudgingly acknowledge the truth of his words. “So what do you suggest we do then?” she asked, making no attempt to mask her frustration.

“Let’s send word to my parents and your sister first. Then, I know you said you don’t want to burden Chistery, but I really think we should see if he can point us in the right direction.” As Elphaba opened her mouth to protest, he continued, “He doesn’t need to speak. I can draw up some blueprints of the Emerald Palace. Maybe he’ll be able to give us an idea of where to start.”

Elphaba snapped her mouth closed, apparently unable to find fault with Fiyero’s plan. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll write a note to Nessa, and you take care of your parents, but I want to leave before the sun is up.” The ‘with or without you’ was left unspoken.

Fiyero sighed and nodded, supposing it was the best he was going to get. He crossed the room to the desk and hastily penned the letter to his parents, informing them of the situation with Glinda and letting them know that he and Elphaba would be traveling to the Emerald City to investigate. He felt a twinge of guilt for doing something so reckless when he’d only just begun to earn their trust again, but there was no helping it now.

When that was finished, he grabbed a fresh sheet of paper and began a rough sketch of the Emerald Palace from memory. Even after living there for two years, he wasn’t aware of every redundant sitting room and parlor, but he had at least a general idea of the layout. When he was satisfied with his work, he glanced up to see Elphaba folding her own letter over by the nightstand.

Without a word, Elphaba crossed the room to the open window, leaned out, and whistled. A pair of Monkeys came swooping into the tower a moment later. Fiyero handed his letter to Elphaba as she addressed the Monkeys. “Please take this letter to the governor of Munchkinland, and this one to the king and queen of the Vinkus,” she instructed them, handing each a letter in turn.

The two Monkeys nodded silently, but Elphaba didn’t bother to protest at their lack of speech as they turned and departed out the window. She watched them disappear into the distance, then turned to Fiyero and said, “Happy now?”

“Immensely,” he deadpanned, rolling up his map of the Emerald Palace.

They ascended back to the roof, sidestepping the guards in the hallway. They found Chistery perched in the corner, being doted on by a few other concerned Monkeys. “How are you feeling?” Elphaba asked as they approached. He gave them a small, tired smile, but said nothing.

There was a pause, and then Fiyero unfurled the map and spread it out on the ground. “Would you be able to help us figure out where Glinda is being held?” he asked gently. Chistery leaned forward to study the paper with interest, then he met Fiyero’s eyes with a shy nod.

Encouraged, Fiyero pointed to the dungeon where the human prisoners were kept first. He was mildly surprised when the Monkey shook his head emphatically. Next, he pointed to the Animal dungeons but received the same response. Puzzled, he turned the map around and slid it towards Chistery. The Monkey studied it for a moment longer, and then pointed to a room on the third floor.

Fiyero furrowed his brow as Elphaba turned to look at him expectantly. Chistery had pointed to the bedroom that Glinda and Fiyero had shared for the better part of two years.

“Well, that doesn’t make any sense,” Elphaba said as Fiyero explained the location to her. She turned back to Chistery. “You’re sure that’s where she is?”

“Yes,” he managed with a short nod.

Fiyero turned to Elphaba. “What do you think it means?”

Elphaba folded her arms across her chest and said, “I’m not sure, but at least we know where to start looking. The question is how we’re going to make our way into Glinda the Good’s personal quarters without being stopped by the guards.”

“Can you teleport us in?” Fiyero asked.

Elphaba thought it over for a moment and then responded, “I don’t think so. I’ve never been to that part of the palace. I could probably get us into the general vicinity, but we could just as easily appear in a hallway full of guards.”

Fiyero nodded and continued to study the map in front of him. “It would be risky to try to fly in on broomstick. The guards would be bound to notice us if we got that close to the palace, even under the cover of darkness.”

“Perhaps I could cast a spell to render the guards on the outside temporarily unconscious,” she said pensively.

“Would you be able to enchant that many at once?” Fiyero asked. “There are usually about twenty men on the perimeter at a given time.”

“The spell itself won’t be a problem, but it’s risky if anyone from the palace steps outside and sees the unconscious guards. It’s why it was safer to use Glinda as a distraction when we freed the Monkeys. My magic can’t reach everyone inside the palace, especially if I can’t see them,” she answered.

Fiyero thought over their options again. “I think that may still be our best bet. We only need to go unnoticed long enough to slip in through Glinda’s window. Even if someone notices the spell afterwards, it buys us time while they sound the alarm and search for us. I don’t think we’d have a better bet trying to get all the way to the third floor on foot.”

Elphaba nodded her agreement, seemingly happy to at least have settled on a plan. “Are you ready?” she asked, untucking her broomstick from under her arm to hold it out in front of her.

“Shouldn’t we wait? The sun will be up in a few hours. By the time we even get close to the Emerald City it’ll be broad daylight,” Fiyero said.

Elphaba shook her head. “It’s too dangerous to travel during the day. It’s safer if we get in range of the city now and then find somewhere to hide out until nightfall.”

Fiyero didn’t bother to argue. Elphaba was the expert on such matters. Instead, he simply heaved a sigh and climbed onto the broomstick behind her.

“Stay out of trouble,” she said with one last look towards the Monkeys, and then they were off.

They flew for the last few hours until dawn, and the Emerald City skyline had just begun to appear on the horizon when they touched down to wait out the daylight. Fiyero briefed Elphaba on his map of the Emerald palace and then they took turns dozing in the shade of a grove of thick-trunked trees. The moment the sky began to darken, they resumed their journey.

They touched down again outside the city gates. There were too many Ozians still out and about in the early evening to risk flying over the entire city on broomstick. Instead, Elphaba removed her cloak and wrapped it around her head to hide her face, and the two crept their way up to the palace along the city’s back alleys.

The Emerald Palace loomed over them in the darkness as they poked their heads out of a side street a short distance from the palace gates. “Okay, it should be a straight shot from here,” Fiyero said, pointing towards a window on the third floor. “The window may be locked. Will that be a problem?”

Elphaba shook her head and then, satisfied that they were alone, pulled the cloak down and away from her face. She took a quick survey of the guards that were visible from their current vantage, and then began to chant. The four men on the main entrance wavered on their feet, before each of them toppled over in turn and slumped to the ground. Hopefully the spell would have the same effect on the guards around the periphery.

 Her spell in place, Elphaba removed her broomstick from where she’d been partially concealing it under the hem of her cloak. The two of them mounted silently and then shot towards the third floor of the palace like an arrow loosed from a bow. The window flew open before them, but their momentum was too great as their feet hit the carpeted floor within. They pitched forward and fell from the broomstick, each rolling to a stop at the foot of a massive canopy bed.

“Who’s there?” came a voice from above them. Elphaba and Fiyero looked up just in time to see a confused Glinda poke her head over the side of the bed, her sleep mask still resting on her forehead. At the sight of them, her expression grew cross.

“What are you two doing here?” she demanded in a frustrated whisper.

Elphaba stood up, fixed her rumpled dress, and then quickly crossed the room to close the window. “We got your letter,” she whispered as she turned to face Glinda.

“The letter that said ‘stay away’?” Glinda half-whispered back. Fiyero shot Elphaba a pointed look.

“What’s going on Glinda? Chistery came back completely shaken and couldn’t tell us anything. Your letter was hardly helpful for details,” Elphaba huffed.

Glinda placed her hands on her hips, still kneeling at the edge of her bed. “Well, I’m sorry that I didn’t have time to write a novel with the guards nearly on top of me. I was barely able to get Chistery out with any type of correspondence at all. Luckily the guards are still somewhat endeared to me. I convinced them to let him go on the grounds that he was simply confused and looking to revisit his old home.” she said. Noticing the blank looks on Elphaba and Fiyero’s faces, she sighed and sat back against the covers to elaborate.

“Three days ago, the Gale Force brought in a group of Animal prisoners. The Lion was among them,” she ignored the looks of surprise on her friends’ faces and continued. “I happened to be passing through the entrance hall while they were being marched in and the Lion spotted me. He started shouting and flailing and generally making a scene. I couldn’t do anything to help him then, so I tried to play it off as though he was confused and unstable. I thought I was rather convincing, but apparently it still raised alarm bells. That night I snuck down to the dungeons to see him, but the guards were already waiting for me.”

She paused to let all of this sink in before she went on. “You were right about the fact that Morrible and The Wizard couldn’t just turn on me outright. The people adore me, you see,” she said, pausing to toss her hair before she continued. “So they’ve placed me under house arrest instead. They still parade me out to make speeches and public appearances, but other than that I’ve been trapped in here. There are four armed guards right outside the door.”

At this Elphaba’s eyes flew to the doorway, clearly cognizant of the noise from their recent crash landing. At the look on her face, Glinda said, “I tried casting a spell to mute anything that goes on in here from the outside. It seems to have done the job well enough, but I would still keep your voices down. Oz knows I never had your talent for sorcery.”

“Why haven’t you tried to escape?” Elphaba asked.

“And how would I do that?” Glinda huffed. “There are guards on my room at all times and I’m surrounded whenever I’m allowed to step foot outside. My bubble is too large to fit through the window, and I’m not exactly built to scale a three-story building.”

Elphaba didn’t seem to have a rebuttal to this. “Why would you tell us to stay away if you were in trouble?”

Glinda rolled her eyes. “Because I knew you’d come flying in here just like this and put all of us in danger. I considered not writing anything at all, but I thought complete silence would be even worse. Apparently, I overestimated your ability to take a hint.”

At the look on Elphaba’s face, Fiyero stepped in and said, “Well, we’re here now. What can we do to help?”

“You can turn around and go back the way you came,” Glinda said. “I can manage on my own for now.”

“And what if the Wizard and Morrible change their mind about you and decide you’re no longer useful? It’s not as though they haven’t done it before,” Elphaba countered.

“And who’s going to keep an eye on the goings on in the Emerald City?  Weren’t you just asking for my help spying on The Wizard while you two relocate the Animals?” Glinda asked.

“Inside information isn’t worth your life,” Elphaba argued. “And besides, you’re hardly of any use under house arrest.”

When Glinda remained silent, Fiyero added, “We’ve already come all this way. Let us get you out of here.”

Glinda still seemed torn. She glanced back and forth between her friends and the door to her room a few times, before she finally squared her shoulders and asked, “Alright then, what did you have in mind?”

Chapter Text

It didn’t take long for Elphaba to dispatch with the guards outside of Glinda’s chambers in the same way she had the ones around the periphery of the palace. There were not normally guards stationed in the residential wings, and the ones outside of the bedroom were an anomalous factor of Glinda’s imprisonment. They were unlikely to run into more in the immediate vicinity.

That still left the issue of how they were going to get out of the palace unnoticed. The third floor might be relatively devoid of Gale Force presence, but it would certainly be stronger on the lower levels and around the entrances. Unfortunately, as Elphaba’s broomstick couldn’t hold all three of them and Glinda needed open space to conjure her bubble, it appeared they had no choice but to find a way to navigate around the guards.

As though deciding that wasn’t complicated enough, Elphaba stepped out into the hallway and whispered, “We need to find a way down to the dungeons to help the imprisoned Animals.”

 Fiyero and Glinda turned to her with twin looks of exasperation. “I know you want to help them, but I don’t think there’s anything we can do right now,” Fiyero said. “There are probably dozens of Animals down there, and some of them will be in rough shape. Even if we could somehow manage to get them past the guards and out of the palace, they’ll be in no condition to travel.”

Elphaba did not seem thrilled by these revelations, but she appeared to grasp the truth of Fiyero’s words. “Fine,” she said, “but what about the Lion then? Surely, we can at least help him. We can find a way to get the rest of the Animals out later.”

Fiyero sighed and rubbed the back of his neck with a fleeting wish that he’d fallen for someone a little less stubborn. He had a feeling that if he denied her, Elphaba was just going to attempt the Lion’s rescue on her own. He looked to Glinda for support, but she merely shrugged at him. Resigning himself to his fate, Fiyero said, “There’s a servant’s stairwell that we can use to take us down, but you might need to knock out more guards at the dungeon entrance.”

At Elphaba’s nod of assent, the three of them began to creep their way down the dark hallway, but all three froze in their tracks as they became cognizant of panicked shouting coming from somewhere behind them. A moment later, the palace alarm began to sound, and all three of them exchanged a look.

“Well, this rescue attempt is going swimmingly,” Glinda said with a roll of her eyes.

Fiyero ignored her. “They must have found the unconscious guards,” he said, turning to Elphaba. “We can still try to make it down to the dungeons, but we have to hurry.”

They hastened their steps down to the end of the hall, Fiyero in the lead. He was almost certain there wouldn’t be any guards stationed in the servant’s passage if they could just make their way in without being spotted.

However, as Fiyero turned the next corner, he nearly ran headfirst into a trio of guards led by none other than his former lieutenant. He skidded to a halt, nearly tripping over his own feet as his momentum carried him forward. He had just enough time to cast a warning glance over his shoulder at the two women behind him before the guards on either side of Biels stepped forward and seized his arms. Mercifully, Elphaba and Glinda seemed to understand his signal and remained out of sight around the corner.

“Well, this is quite a surprise, isn’t it?” Biels chuckled as he took a step closer to Fiyero. “I know you were never the brightest, Tigelaar, but I thought even you would have enough sense not to show your face around here again.”

One of the guards twisted Fiyero’s right arm roughly behind him and he bit back a groan of pain, not wanting to give them the satisfaction. “Ah, Biels,” he said with a slight wheeze. “I take it you’ve missed me then?”

Biels didn’t seem at all amused by Fiyero’s quip. He took a few steps closer until he was leering over Fiyero and said, “In all honesty, I’m glad that you showed your true colors and turned traitor. You did us all a favor. Taking orders from a spoiled little rich boy was starting to get old.”

“Funny, I didn’t pick up on any of those sentiments when you were busy licking my boots,” Fiyero bit back. The comment earned him a punch to the gut that sucked the air from his lungs.

While Fiyero stood gasping to catch his breath, Biels sneered down at him and said, “Let’s see how tough you are when we’re torturing you for information. I can’t wait to find out what brings our former captain back to the Emerald City.”

Fiyero flinched away as some of Biels’s spittle landed on his cheek. He could only hope that Glinda and Elphaba had used this chance to escape.

Those hopes were dashed mere moments later when a shrill voice sounded behind him. “Let him go.”

Fiyero raised his eyes to the ceiling, praying to whichever gods would listen that Elphaba wasn’t about to do something completely reckless.

His prayers, as usual, went unanswered.

Elphaba appeared from around the corner, holding Glinda out in front of her with the blade of a knife pressed against the blonde’s neck. “Let him go,” she repeated, “Or explain how the Wizard’s men watched while Glinda the Good was slain.”

The three men surrounding Fiyero froze in place at the sudden appearance, and Biels’s snide expression fell as the color drained from his face. Glinda, for her part, was putting on quite a show. She whimpered pitifully, fanning a hand in front of her face as though she were about to faint. “Please, just give them what they want,” she cried dramatically. Fiyero could practically see Elphaba resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

The guards released Fiyero’s arms and turned to Elphaba, drawing their rifles in the process. Elphaba simply tightened her hold on Glinda, pressing the knife so close to her neck that she drew a trickle of blood. The guards glanced nervously back at Biels, awaiting his orders.

It was clear that Biels did not think Elphaba was bluffing. Sweat was already beginning to bead on his brow when he stammered, “Stand down.” The guards on either side of him reluctantly lowered their rifles.

Elphaba took this opportunity to slowly make her way around the guards to the other side of the hallway, keeping Glinda and the blade between them at all times. Fiyero took her lead and slipped away behind her. The guards stayed frozen in place as the three of them backed down the length of the hallway. Only once they’d turned the corner did Elphaba finally release Glinda from her grasp, and then the three of them took off at a sprint.

“Elphaba, if this leaves a scar I am going to kill you,” Glinda hissed, wiping the spot of blood from her neck where Elphaba had pressed the knife against it.

“It needed to look realistic,” Elphaba argued. “Oz forbid I blemish your perfect skin in my desperate bid to save our lives.”

“Down here,” Fiyero said, wrenching the door to the stairwell open and shepherding the two bickering women inside. He slammed the door shut and barred it behind them. “This won’t buy us much time. We need to hurry.”

They raced down the spiraling staircase that led into the dungeons. They were lucky enough not to encounter anyone else on their descent, though the fading sound of the Gale Forcers pounding on the door behind them followed them down.

They burst from the stairwell straight into the path of the two men guarding the dungeon entrance. Without even stopping, Elphaba thrust her hands out and slammed the two unsuspecting guards full force into the wall behind them. The dungeon doors flew open as the men slumped to either side, clearly unconscious.

The rage and disbelief showed plainly on Elphaba’s face as the three of them stepped into the damp and crowded room. There were roughly thirty Animal prisoners being held, each in a cage so small they could barely stand and turn around. Many of them whimpered pitifully or cowered back against the bars at the sight of the human visitors.

“What is this?” Elphaba gasped, practically rendered breathless by the horrors before her. Glinda and Fiyero kept their eyes trained on the ground, both clearly feeling the guilt of their complacency. They had both been down to the dungeons before, and neither had attempted to help its pathetic residents.

“H-Hey over here,” came a familiar voice from across the room. The Lion waved at them weakly, doubled over in his tiny prison. His larger stature clearly made for more cramped conditions.

The sound of his voice seemed to break Elphaba from her state of paralyzed shock. She cast one more horrified, helpless glance around the room, then crossed to kneel in front of the Lion’s cage. The Lion made a clear attempt to back away at the sight of her, but there was nowhere for him to go.

“This is horrible,” Elphaba said quietly as she fiddled with the locking mechanism on the front of the cage. “We need to do something.”

Before she could expand upon the thought, her hands were stilled by the sound of pitiful bleating coming from behind her. Elphaba turned towards the source of it and froze in place, one of her hands flying up to her mouth in shock. Glinda too seemed to be taken by surprise and let out a startled gasp.

Fiyero glanced between the two women and the source of the disturbance, an elderly Goat in a tattered tweed jacket. He had crawled to the front of his cage, his hooves pressed against the bars, and was bleating at Elphaba with a look of desperation.

“Doctor Dillamond?” Elphaba breathed, crossing the short distance between them to rest a hand on the bars of his cage. The Goat bleated again, more softly, at the recognition.

Fiyero wracked his brain for a reason the name sounded so familiar. His memory conjured the image of a Shiz University card with a note scrawled on the back in an untidy hand. He began to connect the dots just as Elphaba rose to her feet, hands shaking as she gripped her broomstick tightly enough to turn her knuckles white.

Glinda seemed to sense the imminent storm that was brewing. Stepping forward, she said tentatively, “Elphie, now just calm down.”

“Calm down?” Elphaba said through gritted teeth. She turned to face them, the rage and grief in her expression each warring for dominance. “How can you look around this room and tell me to calm down? You expect me to just turn a blind eye to this type of cruelty? This goes against everything I stand for!”

The hairs on Fiyero’s neck stood on end as he slowly became aware of a rising sense of danger. The air around Elphaba was suddenly charged, as though she’d imbued it with the very force of her anger. If they didn’t act soon, she was going to do something rash. “Elphaba, please, I understand how much you want to help these Animals-”

She cut him off, her eyes blazing. “Do you?” she snarled. “Do either of you really understand? I have given everything for this cause, to put an end to the Wizard’s oppression, and yet here’s the glaring evidence that all of my efforts have been for nothing.”

Fiyero was shocked by the amount of vitriol in her words. He held his hands up in front of him, as though trying to coax a frightened animal, and said, “How can you say that? You’ve done more for the Animals than anyone. Think of all the Animals in the camps who are alive and speaking because of you.”

His words did little to calm Elphaba’s temper. “And what good is that when for each one of them there’s another suffering under the Wizard’s thumb?” she spat. She turned to glance at the figures in the cages behind her once more, and when she turned back to face them her expression was stone. “The Wizard has gone too far this time. If he wants the Wicked Witch of the West, I’ll give him the Wicked Witch of the West.”

Her declaration was punctuated by the sound of heavy boots and shouting coming from down the hallway. Elphaba turned to throw out her hand and the dungeon doors slammed shut. The sound of heavy pounding came seconds later as the guards began trying to force their way in.

Elphaba straightened up to full height and turned back to face them with a familiar look of stubborn determination. “Get the Lion out of here,” she said, “and don’t try to follow me.”

Fiyero opened his mouth to argue, but before he could Elphaba vanished in a familiar cloud of red smoke. Fiyero’s unspoken protests morphed into a loud groan of frustration.

He turned towards Glinda, who was standing beside him looking equally confounded by Elphaba’s abrupt departure. “Where could she be going?” he asked urgently.

“If I had to guess, probably the throne room,” Glinda answered, confirming his fears.

The pounding on the dungeon doors grew louder. They were running out of time. They could either obey Elphaba’s directions and escape with the Lion or ignore them and follow her further into the palace. He met Glinda’s eyes and could see that she also didn’t find the decision to be a difficult one.

“Hey, is anyone going to let me out of here?” came a voice from somewhere to their right. Two heads swiveled in the direction of a distraught looking Lion. He gave the bars of his cage a half-hearted shake.

Fiyero felt a twinge of guilt, but he pushed it down and said, “We’ll come back for you, I promise.”

Another loud bang sounded against the dungeon doors, and the hinges buckled slightly under the pressure. “We need to go. Now.” Fiyero said with some urgency. Without another look back, he grabbed Glinda’s hand and the two fled across the dungeon to a stairway on the opposite side.

Chapter Text

Fiyero and Glinda took a main stairway back up to the first floor and skirted down a narrow hallway. The palace was certain to be swarming with guards by now, but Fiyero hoped he could rely on his knowledge of its many winding stairways and corridors to guide them. Luckily, the bulk of the Gale Force had been diverted to the dungeons and the entrances to prevent their escape, and so Glinda and Fiyero met no opposition as they instead made their way further inside. Fiyero guided Glinda down a series of winding hallways, then into another servant’s passage that would take them up towards the Wizard’s throne room. Fiyero only hoped that their assumptions about Elphaba’s intended destination proved correct.

His fears were assuaged when they ascended the stairs into another hallway and found the throne room doors thrown open wide and the half dozen guards who had been manning the entrance unconscious outside. Elphaba’s voice carried through the open doorway into the hallway, but she was too far away for Fiyero to make out her words.

Without pausing to catch his breath, Fiyero stepped over the unconscious guards and into the throne room, Glinda close on his heels. The sight that greeted them was not altogether surprising. The Wizard stood across the room in front of his mechanical head, hands raised in surrender as Elphaba threatened him with the point of her broomstick handle. Fiyero had only seen the Wizard in person a handful of times before. As captain of the Gale Force, he’d been briefed on the Wizard’s true appearance so that he could protect Oz’s ruler in case of emergency. Fiyero supposed this was the exact type of emergency he’d had in mind.

Madame Morrible was on the scene as well, standing just behind the Wizard with a furious expression on her face. It was clear from her stance that she wanted nothing more than to reach out and throttle Elphaba, but she was clearly too wary of the green woman to actually attempt any violence. All three heads swiveled towards Glinda and Fiyero as they appeared in the doorway.

Elphaba seemed to recover herself first. “What are you two doing here?” she growled, clearly annoyed at having been interrupted. “I told you to take the Lion and go!”

Fiyero stepped forward, unhindered by the frustration in her tone. “And leave you here to do something completely reckless?”

“I have this under control,” she argued back, but that statement proved itself to be false mere moments later.

In turning to address Fiyero, Elphaba had taken her eyes off the Wizard for a split second, and that was when Madame Morrible seized her chance. With a speed that was surprising for a woman her age, she lunged and made a wild grab for the satchel hanging around Elphaba’s shoulder. Elphaba reacted to the sudden movement immediately, dropping her broomstick in favor of clinging to the bag with both hands. A desperate tug-of-war ensued while the Wizard, Fiyero and Glinda watched frozen from the sidelines.

There was a loud tearing sound as the material of the bag started to give way under the continued assault. A few papers fluttered to the ground, followed by a loud thud as the Grimmerie slipped from the bag and fell open on the floor between them. Madame Morrible made to pounce on the spell book but Elphaba, her hands now freed from their struggle, hit the older woman with a blast of magic that repelled her back across the room.

Elphaba knelt in one swift motion to gather the large book into her arms. As she did so, the remaining contents of her torn satchel went spilling onto the floor. Fiyero noted the diary he had recently returned to her, as well as the small pocketknife she’d used to threaten Glinda, which he now recognized as the one he’d given her back at Kiamo Ko. A small green bottle that Fiyero had never seen before also rolled out from among the bag’s contents and slid across the floor to stop at the Wizard’s feet.

Elphaba took several steps backwards, the Grimmerie clutched protectively in her arms. Madame Morrible groaned from where she lay prostrate across the room but made no attempt to rise. The Wizard stooped down to pick up the small green object in front of him, a look of confusion on his face. He rose back to full height and turned the small bottle over in his hands with a look of wonder, before turning back to face Elphaba.

“Where did you get this?” he asked. His tone was not demanding, but bewildered.

Elphaba seemed caught off guard by the strange question and her expression was guarded, but it was clear by the way she had angled her body towards the Wizard that the object he held was important to her. After a pause, she said begrudgingly, “It was my mother’s.”

At Elphaba’s statement, the Wizard’s eyes grew wide, and his free hand rose to clutch at his heart. After a moment, the hand traveled further into the folds of his tailcoat, and he produced an identical looking green bottle.

Fiyero heard Glinda and Elphaba gasp in tandem at the appearance of the second bottle, and he glanced back and forth between them in confusion. The significance of the moment was lost on him, but clearly it meant something to the two women beside him.

Elphaba’s voice shook slightly as she demanded, “Where did you get that?”

 The Wizard took an excruciatingly long time to answer the question. His gaze drifted from the twin bottles clutched in his hands to meet Elphaba’s eyes. “This was mine,” he finally answered, twirling Elphaba’s bottle between his fingers. His voice sounded dazed and somehow far away. “I gave it to a woman in Munchkinland…a long time ago.”

Elphaba took a step backwards, clearly working through some sort of hidden meaning in the Wizard’s words. Her face had grown pale, and her hands were shaking where they clutched the Grimmerie.

The Wizard took a step towards her, staring hard, as though he was just seeing her for the first time. “Elphaba, how old are you?”

Whatever the implication of that question, it seemed to be the last straw. Elphaba let out a strangled gasp, and then she turned and bolted from the room.

Surprised by her sudden departure and painfully aware that there were still Gale Forcers patrolling the halls, Fiyero shouted, “Elphaba, wait!” and sprinted after her.

Mercifully, the only guards directly outside the throne room were still unconscious. It seemed that the Wizard had been caught unawares and had not yet been able to call for backup. Fiyero found Elphaba a few paces down the hall to his right, leaning back against the wall and taking deep, ragged breaths. He jogged to catch up with her and then grabbed her hand and pulled her into an empty parlor across the hall, slamming the door shut behind them.

“What was all that about?” he asked as he turned to face her. His tone betrayed the irritable confusion he was feeling, but that evaporated once he saw the look on Elphaba’s face. Concerned, he stepped forward and said more softly, “Hey, are you okay?”

Elphaba’s gaze was haunted as she turned to face him. “The Wizard…he’s…” she paused as though unable to get the words out. Fiyero waited patiently for her to continue, but whatever he was expecting, it wasn’t for Elphaba to finally finish that sentence with, “my father.”

“What?” Fiyero asked incredulously. Whatever had just taken place in the throne room, there must have been a hell of a subtext.

“That…that man, that awful man, he’s my father,” she repeated, clearly still in disbelief herself.

“I though the governor of Munchkinland was your father?” Fiyero asked, desperate to clarify at least some of his confusion.

“So did I,” Elphaba whispered, clutching the Grimmerie closer to her chest. “But my mother…. There were rumors, when I was young, but I never thought…” she let the thought trail away. She was clearly still in shock, and her half-mumbled explanations were not particularly informative.

Fiyero had about a dozen questions he wanted to ask, but before he could decide which one took precedence, a booming voice filled the silence around them.

“Attention all guards and personnel. Call off the search immediately and return to your quarters. The situation has been handled.”

Fiyero and Elphaba exchanged a look as the sound of the Wizard’s mechanical voice faded. In its immediate wake came another, daintier voice from outside in the hallway.

“Elphaba? Fiyero? Where on earth have you two run off to?” Glinda called, her voice slightly muffled from behind the parlor door. Fiyero spared a glance in Elphaba’s direction, then turned and wrenched the door open to poke his head into the hallway. Glinda spotted him immediately and hustled towards him with a huff.

She pushed her way past Fiyero and turned to face Elphaba. “And you say I have a flare for the dramatic,” she said, hands on her hips. “What were you thinking, running off at a time like this?”

Elphaba didn’t attempt to bicker with her friend as she normally would have in the face of such an accusation. She didn’t seem to have the energy. “Glinda, he’s…” she couldn’t seem to bring herself to say it again, but Glinda clearly took her meaning.

Realizing that Elphaba was well and truly rattled in a way that was uncharacteristic for her, Glinda deflated slightly. Yet her voice was still authoritative as she said, “Yes, I know, and the Wizard is willing to do anything to make all of this up to you.”

This seemed to finally cut through the fog that had been clouding Elphaba’s thoughts, and her face darkened. “Make it up to me? Make it up to me? How in Oz’s name could he ever hope to make anything up to me?”

Glinda’s demeanor remained calm as her friend’s grew more frenetic. “I don’t know,” she responded, “but it seems that’s up to you to decide. The Wizard is waiting to speak with you in the throne room.”

Elphaba’s breathing was still slightly heavy from her outburst, but Glinda’s decision to remain cool and collected seemed to be having the intended effect. Fiyero stood off to the side of the two women, still trying to wrap his mind around the implications of all that had been said. After a long pause, Elphaba drew herself up to her full height and schooled her expression into something more neutral. “Fine,” she said, her voice low, “if he wants to talk, then we’ll talk.”

Fiyero stuck his head out into the hallway first and then, noting that the coast was clear, nodded to the two women behind him. Cautiously, they left the safety of the parlor and made their way back down the hallway to the throne room. The unconscious guards outside the door were now conspicuously absent. Fiyero supposed they’d been dismissed once Elphaba’s spell had worn off, but the stillness in the corridor around them still set him slightly on edge.

It was Madame Morrible’s voice that drifted out to meet them as they approached. “Your Ozness, think about this. Surely you can’t truly be considering…,” came her strained protests. The three of them entered to find Morrible hovering over the Wizard, who was perched on the edge of his mechanical head with his face in his hands. He didn’t seem to be registering his press secretary’s words, but he glanced up hopefully as the three of them entered the room.

At the sight of Elphaba, he was on his feet in an instant. He took two steps toward her, but froze in place as Elphaba took a hasty step backwards in response. Hands outstretched in front of him, the Wizard entreated her, “Elphaba, please. I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but things are different now. I want them to be different. I want to fix our relationship.”

It was clear that Elphaba was having trouble keeping her cool now that she was face to face with the Wizard once more. Though she had tried to keep her expression neutral, she couldn’t mask the fire that blazed in her eyes at the Wizard’s words. “Fix our relationship? What relationship? The one in which you’ve branded me a terrorist and have been calling for my capture and execution for years? You’re delusional if you think this changes anything. You’re still a tyrant and I remain opposed to everything you stand for.”

“I can change,” the Wizard pleaded, his voice sincere. “Just tell me what I can do to make it up to you.”

There was a long pause, before Elphaba narrowed her eyes and said, “Leave.” Her tone was low and threatening, and the single word hung in the air between them like the fading of a gunshot.

The curt demand clearly wasn’t what the Wizard had been expecting to hear. His expression morphed into one of confusion. “What?”

Elphaba met his question without hesitation. “Leave Oz. Leave and never return,” she said, her voice growing stronger with each word. At the Wizard’s pained expression, she went on, “You ask what you can do to make it up to me. This is the only way. Leave Oz and allow it to begin healing from the many wounds you’ve inflicted.”

Madame Morrible began to puff up with righteous indignation on the Wizard’s behalf. “Impudent girl,” she spat, “you can’t possible expect-“

“Fine,” came the Wizard’s reply, effectively cutting off whatever tirade Morrible had been planning. His eyes were filled with sadness, but his expression was determined.

Madame Morrible sputtered before regaining her composure. “Your Ozness,” she began, but the Wizard cut her off again. His attention was focused solely on Elphaba, as though he hadn’t even heard his press secretary’s protests.

“If that’s what you want. If that’s the only way to right some of the wrong between us, then I’ll leave,” he said.

Elphaba, for once, didn’t seem to have a reply. For all of the force behind her demand, it was clear she hadn’t expected the Wizard to agree to it so easily.

It was Glinda who seemed to immediately grasp the weight of this decision, and she stepped forward without a moment of hesitation to capitalize on it. “You’ll make the announcement at once,” she said matter-of-factly, stepping forward to stand at Elphaba’s side, “that the strains of Wizardship have been too much for you, and you’re taking an indefinite leave of absence.”

The Wizard nodded sadly at Glinda’s words. He glanced up to meet Elphaba’s eyes one more time, but clearly didn’t find what he was looking for. Without further protest, he turned and left the room.

“Guards!” Glinda called, giving Elphaba and Fiyero a pointed look as she did so. Fiyero picked up on her meaning. He grabbed the still-dumbstruck Elphaba by the hand and dragged her around the back of the Wizard’s mechanical head just as half a dozen Gale Forcers came barreling into the room. They seemed surprised to find only Glinda and Madame Morrible present but stood quietly at attention all the same.

“The Wizard is leaving Oz,” Glinda said with an authority that did not befit her small stature. She turned to Madame Morrible, her eyes narrowed, and said, “This woman is a traitor. Take her to the dungeons until I can decide how she will be dealt with.”

There was a heavy pause as the guards in the doorway exchanged a look. Fiyero held his breath as he awaited the result of Glinda’s gambit. It was bold to weigh her authority against Morrible’s without any sort of official decree, but Glinda was well loved by the people and Madame Morrible, with all of her pompous air of superiority and demanding nature, was not.

It took the guards only half a minute to decide, and they swept around Glinda to seize Madame Morrible by the arms. The older woman seemed shocked by the turn of events. “Wait, you can’t do this,” she protested as the guards began to drag her from the room. “She’s lying. She’s the traitor! I’ll have your heads for this!”

The rest of Morrible’s threats faded inaudibly as she disappeared down the hall. This left two guards standing before Glinda, and they saluted as they turned to face her.

“The Wizard will need help setting up for his departure, and a crown will surely begin to gather. See to it that there are sufficient men on the scene to keep things under control,” she said. Her tone was curt and left no room for opposition. The two guards heeded her orders and turned from the room without any attempt to question the strange turn of events they’d just witnessed.

Once they’d gone. Glinda closed the door behind them and then slumped against it with an audible sigh. Fiyero and Elphaba, sensing that the coast was clear, reappeared from their hiding place behind the Wizard’s mechanical head. The three of them simply stared at each other, each clearly at a loss for what to say.

It was Fiyero who broke the silence. “What just happened?”

Glinda rose from her place against the door and smoothed her dress with a somewhat dazed expression. “I think we just overthrew the Wizard’s regime.”

Elphaba seemed equally stunned from her place at Fiyero’s side. “The Wizard is leaving,” she said tentatively, as though worried that speaking it aloud might render the statement false.

Fiyero nodded and gave Elphaba’s hand a squeeze. He imagined her emotions must have run the full gambit from rage to relief over the course of the past hour, and she still seemed to be working to process them. After a moment, he turned back towards Glinda and addressed the room.

“So, what now?”

Glinda drew back up to her full height and fixed Fiyero with an exasperated expression. “I think I’m going to need at least a few minutes to process before I can even begin to figure that out.”

“Fiyero? Glinda? I think you’ll probably want to see this,” came Elphaba’s voice from across the room. She’d stepped over to the window and was gazing out with a look of shock on her face.

Fiyero moved to stand beside her and immediately felt his breath catch. The sun was just beginning to rise and there, converging from the east and west out in the far distance, were twin armies from Munchkinland and the Vinkus, respectively, both apparently en route to the Emerald City. In all of the chaos of the past two days, Fiyero had forgotten that he and Elphaba had written to Nessarose and his parents about their intention to rescue Glinda. If there were any lingering doubts that they had strong allies in Munchkinland and the Vinkus, those were now soundly dispelled.

The three friends stood together, shoulder to shoulder in the early morning sunlight, slowly coming to terms with the fact that the Oz they knew was about to become a very different place.

Chapter Text

“Woah!”  

“Hey, let me help you with that!”  

Fiyero grabbed onto one half of a teetering supply crate just before the Gazelle on the other end of it toppled over. Once they’d stabilized, he helped her gently guide the stack of heavy boxes onto the ground.  

Sentra let out a sigh of relief and then turned to face him. “Thank you, Fiyero. I seem to have overestimated myself for a moment there.”  

Fiyero simply flashed her one of his winning smiles as he popped the lid off the crate to reveal the impressive stock of canned and dry goods housed within. Sentra took in the contents with a look of awe for a moment, then met Fiyero’s gaze with a matching smile.  

“We really can’t thank you enough for all your help. The extra aid from the Vinkus and the Emerald City has been invaluable,” she said breathlessly.  

“Hey, don’t thank me,” he said with a wave of his hand. “You know as well as I do that this is all Elphaba’s doing.”  

Sentra gave him a knowing look but didn’t press the issue further. The two began to unload the crates in amiable silence for a few minutes, before Fiyero said, “Speaking of Elphaba, have you seen her around yet?” 

Sentra glanced up from her work with a thoughtful expression and responded, “I think I may have seen her a little while ago over by the medical tent.” 

Fiyero nodded his thanks and then, seeing that the Gazelle had the rest of the restocking under control, stepped outside into the afternoon sunlight. The tents of the Animal camp rippled slightly in the breeze as he stretched and took stock of the world around him. He could scarcely believe that it had been almost a year since he’d first set foot in this very settlement; almost a year since his entire world had been completely turned on its head.  

Not wanting to spend too long lost in his musings, Fiyero turned and started towards the medical tent. Elphaba had wanted to stop off at Filo’s camp before meeting up with him here. The Lion, Doctor Dillamond, and a number of the other Animal prisoners from the Emerald City had taken up residence there after their liberation from the palace dungeons. The larger camp had more teachers and a better variety of learning materials, and they’d volunteered to provide the intensive rehabilitation needed by some of the Animals who’d had longer periods of incarceration. The Lion, for his part, seemed to have decided there was safety in numbers after his capture, and was doing his best to get along with his kinsmen for the time being.

The plan had originally been to relocate all of the Animal camps to the Vinkus, but Glinda’s new position of power in the Emerald City and the beginning of her plans to dismantle the Wizard’s Animal Rights bans had meant that was no longer necessary. Instead, Elphaba and Fiyero delivered monthly packages of supplies – food, clothing, books - whatever they could collect in donations from Oz’s more sympathetic citizens or spare from surplus without alerting suspicion. Eventually they hoped to be able to integrate the Animal population back into normal society and dismantle the camps altogether, but Ozian sentiment took time to change, and that type of acceptance was still far in the future.  

Fiyero turned a corner, lost in thought, and was startled when he was nearly bowled over with a cry of, “Mister Fiyero!” He managed to catch his footing at the last second before he and a somewhat over-eager Bear Cub both toppled to the ground.  

“Hello, Lorgen,” he said with a breathless chuckle as he righted himself. The Cub had grown a substantial amount since their initial meeting and now stood almost as tall as Fiyero. She seemed sheepish at having forgotten her own strength when she’d crashed into him.  

“Is Miss Elphaba here yet?” she asked eagerly, eyes darting behind Fiyero as though trying to answer the question for herself.  

“Not sure,” he answered. “I was just on my way to check.” 

“Oh, okay,” she said, bouncing on her heels. She still seemed so overeager that Fiyero couldn’t help but smile. “But you have to tell me after you find her!”  

“You’ll be the first to know,” Fiyero promised. This seemed to appease the Cub, who nodded and then bounded back down the row of tents behind him.  

Fiyero continued to make his way through the camp, exchanging a few smiles and waves with other Animals who were busy unloading the latest aid shipment. It was a far cry from the suspicious glares he’d received when he’d first set foot in town, but he supposed he’d more than proven himself an ally in the eyes of the Animals by now. The more casual greetings he received at the camps also made a nice change from the bows and salutes he’d become accustomed to since returning home to the Vinkus.  

After the Wizard’s departure, Fiyero, Glinda, and Elphaba had found themselves with very little time to figure out their immediate course of action. Glinda was already poised to take up the mantle of ruler of the Emerald City, a fact that did not surprise Fiyero in the least, but which Elphaba still seemed to be in shock about. The arrival of supporting forces from Munchkinland and the Vinkus had only cemented her claim. If there were any dissenters among the Gale Force that opposed Glinda’s rule, they had quickly become vastly outnumbered.  

Elphaba’s own plans had been uncertain. Glinda couldn’t exactly begin to clear her name immediately, not without significant backlash or those accusations of bewitching that Fiyero had grown so fond of. Instead, Fiyero had invited her to join him back in the Vinkus, to continue the work they’d set out to start. They were in a better position to begin dismantling the Wizard’s regime than they ever would have dreamed, and Fiyero’s parents had already extended the invitation for Elphaba to stay with them.  

Instead of trying to clear her name outright, Elphaba would work quietly from the Vinkus for now – just visible enough that people knew where she was, but out of public consciousness to the point where her notoriety could begin to fade. They hoped that, in time, Glinda would be able to claim to have rehabilitated Elphaba in the same way the Wizard had once promised to, except with the obvious lack of ulterior motive.  

In the meantime, there was plenty of work to be done, but Fiyero had something else on his mind in the immediate future. He spotted a familiar flash of green skin emerging from the medical tent and promptly snuck up behind Elphaba to snatch her and spin her off her feet.  

“Fiyero! What in Oz’s name?” she shrieked, batting at his arms. He set her back on her feet with a laugh and swooped in for a quick peck on the lips to silence any further protests.  

Rather than appearing annoyed by his behavior, Elphaba seemed thoroughly confused. “What’s gotten into you?” she asked with one eyebrow raised as she readjusted her signature pointed hat. 

“Are you free right now?” Fiyero asked, ignoring the question.  

“I suppose so,” she answered skeptically. “Though there’s still plenty of unloading that needs to be done.”  

“We can get to it later,” Fiyero said dismissively, taking one of her hands. “Come with me?”  

“Am I going to deeply regret this?” Elphaba asked with an exasperated sigh, though she was clearly smiling.  

“Highly unlikely,” Fiyero said immediately, already tugging her along towards the edge of the camp.  

“Fine,” Elphaba said begrudgingly, “let’s get on with whatever this is then.”  

Fiyero only smiled at that and began to pull Elphaba along with renewed determination. They passed out of the camp and onto a familiar path that Elphaba clearly recognized, if the furtive looks she was shooting in his direction were any indication, but Fiyero kept his gaze focused pointedly ahead.  

It took only about ten minutes before they entered a familiar clearing; one they hadn’t revisited together since Elphaba had fled from Gale Force capture months ago. Predictably, Elphaba stopped walking as they crested the top of the hill and turned to face him. “Fiyero, what-” 

Already anticipating her protests, Fiyero cut her off. “Just come on. Trust me?” he entreated her, and it seemed enough to quiet her protests for the time being.  

They made their way into the dark confines of the familiar cave that led to Elphaba’s former hideout, footsteps careful in the dark now that they were no longer accustomed to it. Before long, they passed the large boulder that marked the entrance to the passage, and Fiyero stopped in front of it to motion Elphaba ahead. He couldn’t make out her expression as she stepped past him and into the cave, but he could certainly imagine it.  

Fiyero swept past Elphaba and pulled a box of matches from his pocket. In a series of smooth motions, he lit a match and then used it to ignite a series of simple wax candles that had been conveniently positioned around the room. In the dim glow, he could suddenly make out the irritation painted over Elphaba’s features.  

“Fiyero, I swear, if you don’t tell me what you’re up to-” 

Her words were cut short as Fiyero dropped to one knee in front of her. 

“Elphaba,” he began, noting with only the tiniest amount of smugness that he’d managed to render her speechless for once, “ever since the day we met, I knew you were different.”

Even through her very apparent shock, Elphaba still had the presence of mind to shoot him a look of pure skepticism.

“Okay, so maybe not from the day we met,” he amended with a small smile, “but very soon after that. I’d been lost for so long and I didn’t even know it. My life had no purpose, no direction. I thought I was content to float through it doing only what was expected of me, but then I ran directly into you.”

Fiyero paused for a moment to glance up at Elphaba’s face. She was watching him expectantly now, so he continued, “You have changed me for the better in every possible way. You’ve given me a cause to fight for, the courage to take my rightful place on the throne, and the type of love I quite honestly didn’t believe was possible. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I have enough sense to realize what I have. So, Elphaba Thropp, will you do me the absolute honor of marrying me?”

With that, Fiyero removed a small box from his back pocket and snapped it open. Inside was a simple silver band with a small blue diamond set in the center. He’d had the distinct impression that Elphaba wouldn’t want anything flashy, and Glinda had been all too excited to help him pick something that suited her taste.

Elphaba didn’t say anything immediately. Instead, she took Fiyero’s hands and gently helped him back to his feet, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She took all of it in for a moment – the sincerity on his face, the ring in his hand – and then said, “Fiyero, you’re one of the best men I’ve ever had the fortune to meet. I truly can’t even begin to express how much your love and support have meant to me, but I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life trying to show you.

Fiyero could feel the tears beginning to pool in his own eyes now, but he still managed a cheeky smile as he asked, “So, is that a yes?”

Elphaba batted him lightly on the shoulder with a small laugh, before she took his hands again and said, “Yes. Of course it’s a yes.”

Suddenly overcome with joy, Fiyero swept Elphaba into his arms and pulled her against him in a euphoric kiss. He could feel the salt of the tears on their cheeks mingling as he held her close, secure in the realization that he’d never have to let her go again.

Maybe their story wasn’t one out of a fairy tale, and maybe they’d had a rockier journey than most, but it looked like, against all odds, they’d found their way to ‘Happily Ever After’ in the end.