A/N – This will be a rather dark story, I'm in that kind of mood. Rated M for adult themes. By the way, I own nothing.

Glinda the Good sat at the desk in her office, pouring over the latest request from the neighboring jurisdiction. As new ruler of Oz, even if was simply as an interim ruler since the Wizard's sudden departure, she was forced to address many issues that did nothing more than create a bothersome headache. Issues such as, the Quadlings finally protesting against the ruby mining, the Winkies requesting an increase in the price of exports to the Emerald City, and the quelling the constant fears and rumors of sightings of Oz's number one enemy; the Wicked Witch of the West.

Glinda took her new position seriously. She was determined to finally do some good with her life, finally improve the lives of the citizens of Oz. While she was disgusted at their blind faith and acceptance of the Wizard and Morrible, Glinda knew the Ozians lives were far from easy and often full of fear and discontent. She did truly want to make a difference and improve the lives of those around her. It was the least she could do. She owed to her if no one else. Her Elphie.

Elphaba had narrowly escaped the siege on the tower. The water that the little farm girl had thrown had left serious burns but nothing that wouldn't heal over time. Had Glinda not been hoping for a miracle when she returned from ousting the Wizard and throwing Morrible into prison, she might not have noticed the outline of the trapdoor.

While the Ozians were celebrating their victory, Glinda was attempting to nurse her friend back to health from the burns and the fall through the floor. Elphaba did have a difficult time for a number of days. Glinda was by her side, leaving only when her duties as the new ruler required it. She felt relatively comfortable leaving Elphaba in Chistery's hands for the few hours she was away at a time.

After Elphaba's recovery, she insisted on carrying out her original plan of leaving Oz. Glinda begged her to stay. She insisted she would make Oz safe for her Elphie again. When it appeared all attempts to sway Elphaba to remain would be unsuccessful, Glinda finally acknowledged the true reason she couldn't let the Witch leave.

"I love you Elphie!" Glinda had cried, all but throwing herself at the feet of her friend. "How can you leave me again? How can you forget all that we had? The trip to the Emerald City, Elphie? You said you loved me. So don't leave me! Please Elphie."

By the end of her speech, Glinda was reduced to tears, sobbing on the floor. Elphaba could never leave with her friend in such a state. So, she did all she could do. She gathered the small blonde into her arms and rocked her until Glinda had calmed down.

"There, there now my sweet." Elphaba had whispered. "You know I would only leave to keep you safe. It's why I didn't discuss my escape plan with you. It's too dangerous for you Glinda. I'm too dangerous for you. And as much as I'm certain I shall regret it, I'm not sure I could stand to be apart from you either." And so the Witch remained.

Glinda would return daily to check on her, perhaps to ensure that her Elphaba had in fact kept her word and not disappeared. The two were hesitant in the beginning to rekindle their love affair. But they soon found they were not able to resist.

Glinda would spend the nights in the tower with her lover and return to the City in time to perform her duties as leader of Oz. Their schedule was exhausting. Mostly for Glinda. Elphaba was free to spend her days as she wished while Glinda was trying to balance her professional duties and her desire to spend every waking minute with Elphaba. But the sooner Glinda was able to settle the unrest within the nation, the sooner she could begin to change the peoples hearts and mind with regards to the Wicked Witch of the West. Until then, they were forced to live the hectic lives of ruler and fugitive.

All Glinda asked was that Elphaba remain hidden and not wander out too far and risk being seen. However, as the civil discontent continued to grow, Glinda was more and more required to remain in the City. Chistery was always available to relay messages back and forth between the two but their nights together were far fewer than either would have liked. Elphaba was becoming restless with nothing to occupy her time. What harm could there be in one quick broom flight?

********

And so Glinda sat, alone in her office, pouring over the documents before her. She heard a bustle on the street below. Before she could investigate, her assistant, Cork, came scrambling into the office.

"Lady Glinda! Did you hear the news?" He exclaimed, rather breathless. "The Witch lives! But have no fear, she has been apprehended!"

"W-what? How do you…? I don't understand…" Glinda stammered. How could it be? How could Elphaba have been captured? Oz only knew what would happen now.

"Apparently she really did survive the attack at Kiamo Ko. No surprise really, she probably bewitched the soldiers or sold her soul to the Kumbric Witch herself. No matter, we have her now. She attempted to intervene in capturing a renegade Animal and they were able to nab her. Shot her right off the broom from what the rumors are! And her captors should be entering the City gates with her momentarily!" Cork was rather proud of himself for being the first to inform the Lady of the glorious news.

Glinda herself was doing all within her power to keep from being physically ill. She rushed to the window. Sure enough, a crowd was beginning gather in the streets. Glinda strained to see to the end of the square. And then, there she was. Her Elphie was being pulled through the streets in a cage on the back of a wagon. The citizens lining the streets were hurling taunts and threats. Some even hurled objects. Glinda felt her stomach clench as a bottle made it through the cage bars and hit her Elphie. She turned on her heel and headed down to the square.

The Witch's captors clearly intended to parade her around in front of the Palace, hoping for a commendation from their glorious leader, Lady Glinda.

By the time Glinda raced through the Palace and reached the square in front, Elphaba had already been dragged off the wagon and pulled up onto the raised platform so all could have a view of the captured Witch.

"What is the meaning of this?" Glinda cried upon reaching the crowd. She tried to catch Elphaba's eye but the Witch wouldn't meet her gaze.

"Lady Glinda, I am Cravin and I am honored to stand before you with the Wicked Witch of the West. This she-devil apparently had us all fooled into thinking she was defeated but we have her now. She can terrorize us no longer!" The man who spoke was large in stature and most would have found him quite appealing. As his words ended he jerked the rope securing Elphaba and she fell to the ground at his feet and he swiftly kicked her in the ribs causing her to grunt in pain.

Glinda took a step toward them but was quickly blocked by her royal bodyguard. "Please Lady Glinda, it's not safe. Who knows what the Witch is capable of." By the time Glinda could step around him, Elphaba was on her feet. She finally met Glinda's eyes. Glinda knew the look she saw there. Elphaba was silently pleading with her not to become involved. Oz would surely turn on her should Glinda attempt to intervene to protect the Witch, especially now that the citizens were in such a frenzy at having her finally before them.

"Elphaba…" Glinda started, fear on her face. Before she could continue, the Witch spit at the ground in front of Glinda. Cravin, outraged, backhanded her and sent the Witch to the ground again. Upon seeing such blatant disrespect for their beloved Glinda, the crowd began to practically foam at the mouth to see the Witch receive the beating she deserved. And Cravin was more than willing to comply. He grabbed Elphaba by her hair and pulled her to her feet, only to smash his fist into her face again. She fell again and attempted to scoot away from him to think of some option of escape. But he was too fast and gave another kick, this time to her stomach.

"Stop!" Glinda screamed. "What do you think you're doing? Stop this at once! You sir are an animal, she's bound and can do you no harm." Seeing Cravin only smirk at her words, Glinda turned to the crowd. "Ozians, I ask you, is this what have become? Will we really stand by as a defenseless woman is beaten in front of our eyes?! We are better than this!"

Cravin stepped up behind Glinda and began to shout over her. "Our beloved leader, Glinda the Good is so good that she cannot stand the sight of any living thing injured. No matter how vile that thing may be. Glinda, in her goodness, would extend mercy to the Kumbric Witch herself! But Ozians, this is not the time for goodness, this is the time for vengeance! We shall pay this Witch back for her evil, wicked deeds!" With that, he turned back to Elphaba and continued his assault.

Glinda was becoming desperate to put a stop to the madness that was ensuing. "People of Oz, I ask you, what has she done? Other than speak out against the mistreatment of Animals? Has she so much as laid a finger on a single one of you? Has she slaughtered your livestock, or burned your fields? No! I defy any one of you to name one single misdeed of this woman. And not just some rumor of a cousin or neighbor's horror. What has she done?"

If the crowd heard Glinda, they did not acknowledge. The cheered as Cravin left Elphaba in a heap in the middle of the platform, bleeding, red marring her green skin. Glinda rushed to her fallen friend. "Elphie", she whispered. "Please look at me. Elphie?"

"Go away Glinda." The Witch muttered weakly. "Leave me be. If I can do nothing else with my life, at least let me protect you." She pushed herself away from Glinda and once again pulled herself to her feet. The crowd began to yell and point as Cravin had turned away. He quickly picked up a rock and leapt at the Witch swinging the rock at her head, determined to show his dominance over her. The blow nearly sent her toppling over the side of the platform. She was down before ever lifting a finger and didn't move. And then it happened.

An old lady, standing near the platform approached the downed Witch with a mere spoonful of water and held it to the Witch's lips. A hush fell over the crowd as they expected the Witch to hex the old woman or at the very least, smack the spoon away. When neither happened, the old woman wiped the Witch's brow with her sleeve. Cravin, sensing the shift in mood, let out a low growl. He charged the old woman and kicked her away. Elphaba summoned what strength she had left rose, and slapped him, raking her nails across his face. This did little more than enrage him as he backhanded her across the platform yet again.

Glinda, seeing the exchange, again tried to sway the crowd. "Cravin is the monster here! He abuses a defenseless woman and now, one of your own, who was only showing a bit of kindness. Do not be mindless any longer! Stop this madness!"

As much as Cravin would have loved to strike the Good Witch, he knew to do so would be sealing his own fate. As much as they hated the Witch, they loved Glinda. Instead, he pulled up the Witch by her bindings and drug her back toward his wagon. "Do as you like, but she is going to Southstairs where she belongs!"

Glinda cringed as her Elphaba was flung into the wagon. And so her next goal as Glinda the Good, beloved leader of Oz, was to gain the release of her love, no matter the cost.