A/N: Sorry this took so long. I hope you like it. :)
Chapter 2
The soliders picked the lock and opened the door to the little home. Forcing their way inside, they hoped to catch the inhabitants off guard but they didn't find anyone.
"This place is empty," Krueger said.
"So it would seem. Check every cupboard and closet," their commander, Captain Fiir, ordered. A thorough search didn't take more than a few minutes and the three came to report.
"Men's and women's clothing in the closet," Thad told his comrades.
"And nothing but enough dishes for two in the cupboards," Jacques informed them.
"All right. We crossed Oz's border not long ago but I don't need to remind you that if we are caught what that means," Fiir looked to his men.
"Yes, sir," they nodded.
"Jacques, you will look for any trace of our quarry. Should you find anything, continue the hunt and then sent word. The rest of us must retreat to Oz," the Captain ordered.
"Yes sir," Jacques took his order and watched as his comrades left him in the woods, alone. The first thing he did was to remove anything that tied him to the Ozian army. Next he headed out into the waning moonlight to look for tracks.
Elphaba, Fiyero, Mrs. Dillamond, and the two lions arrived at the Village just as dawn was breaking. Everyone was exhausted at the pace they had kept and Fiyero hoped that they hadn't led whoever was after them directly to them. In their haste it would have been easy to leave tracks.
"We'll get you two set up in the emergency cottage after I get these two to their other family members," the goat gave a slight smile and quickly left with the two cubs. Elphaba put her sack of spell book s down and leaned slightly on Fiyero.
"You ok?" He asked.
"Tired but I'll be fine. We'll need to call an emergency meeting with everyone. What happened tonight needs to be discussed and a plan of action made," she told him.
"What kind of action are we to take Fae? How are we going to get the others from the party freed without endangering everyone here? They maybe in danger already with us just standing here," he looked at her unsure where her head was.
"Are you expecting me to give up?" Elphaba asked, lifting herself back into the standing up position. The look in her eyes explained the hurt she felt and he turned to her.
"I would never ask you to do that. Oz knows when you set your mind to something, you get it done but is saving four and destroying everything else worth it?" Fiyero put his arms on her shoulders and hoped she'd understand.
"All right you two come on," Mrs. Dillamond had returned and they stopped their conversation.
"We'll get you set up over there," the goat pointed to the house toward the bend in the main road. It wasn't actually a road but more like the beaten path. They followed her and she handed them the keys.
"Get some rest. I'm sure you'll want to discuss everything soon," she said.
"Yes, we'll meet with everyone as soon as we can. Spread the word that there will be a town meeting in an hour," Elphaba nodded. Mrs. Dillamond was going to object but she knew that the green skinned girl was right. The longer they waited the worse the situation could get. Quickly the goat headed off and the two closed the door to their new living space. Immediately Elphaba picked up where they had left off.
"I see your point but I can't leave those two cubs without their parents," she told him.
"I know but we have no allies in Oz anymore. Everyone there thinks I'm dead and if I reappeared this time they'd do their best to make sure I was. You know what they would do to you if you showed up," he pointed out. She sighed and leaned into his chest. He was right. Scooping her up, Fiyero walked over to the bed that stood near the far wall.
"Get some sleep and I'll wake you soon," he smiled and kissed her lips gently. She nodded and tried to relax but her mind was swarming with ideas. Most weren't plausible and very dangerous. Then she focused on what he'd said to her. They had no allies in Oz. Of course that wasn't entirely true.
To Be Continued…
