Her eyes lift in hope when she hears the sound she has been waiting days to hear. A smile breaks across her face and she lifts her arms to assist him in pushing the heavy trapdoor out of the way, the light momentarily blinding her eyes after several days of darkness. "Fiyero!" she cries, certain it is him. Who else could it be? "I thought you'd never get here!"

He sits on the edge of opening, smiling softly at her and her own smile suddenly fades as she sees him for the first time. In her mind, she knew what her spell had done. She knew that his human body could not have handled what he had been through and that his had been the only way, but did he truly deserve this? He had been nothing but wonderful adn sweet and kind to her in her darkest hour and this was how she repaid him? How can he still love her after this? She reaches a hand out to touch him, then hesitates, unsure if she even has that right anymore.

He senses her reluctance and nods slightly. "Go ahead and touch. I don't mind." She can tell he is trying his best to put on a brave front for her, not wanting her to sense his self-consciousness or discomfort from being this way. She gently touches his face, an unspoken apology lighting her eyes. He sees this, of course and is quick to reassure her. "You did the best you could. You saved my life."

She closes her eyes momentarily, willing herself not to cry at his gentle acceptance of her. After all this, he is thinking of her feelings and thanking her when she should be groveling at his feet for all he has done for her. The least she can do is reassure him that she stills finds his the same, no different from the dashing prince who stole her heart all those years ago. "You're still beautiful," she says, squeezing his hands. And he is. Straw or no, he is still the same man inside and no spell could ever change the fact that she loves him beyond reason.

He smiles sadly, clearly not believing a word of what she says, though his gaze is appreciative of her efforts. "You don't have to lie to me, Fae."

She shakes her head again, leaning forward to briefly press her soft lips to his straw ones. "It's not lying. It's looking at things another way." She can tell he is upset from this, although he is trying very hard to not let her see. Still, the guilt is gnawing at her heart and she sighs deeply. Pulling one hand from his grasp, she lays it against his face, her eyes trailing his frame from head to toe. "Yero, I'm so sorry. If there had been any other way."

It's his turn to shake his head. "No apologies, Fae. You did what you had to do. I"

"No!" She denies vehemently, the tears she had been working so hard to restrain now running freely down her face. "No, Fiyero! I didn't have to do this! If I had just left well enough alone, we wouldn't be in this mess. If I'd just-"

"Fae, don't say that. You know I love you. I know you love me. Nothing-"

"And this is how I show my love? By turning you into a Scarecrow? I can't-"

"Elphaba!" She is suddenly silent as he shouts her name, surprised by his outburst and grateful that no one is around to hear them. "Listen to me. I love you."

"But-"

He places his own hand over hers, meeting her gaze intently so she is certain to hear his words. "I love you." is all that he says.

But in those three words lay the promise of an eternity.