Chapter 4
Elphaba said nothing during the trip to the Vinkus. Isabelle was still unconscious and she thanked Oz for that. Avantador stayed focused on his night flying and before they knew it they were landing at the Vinkun Palace. Avantador asked the guards to wake Baki and they quickly did so while other guards got a stretcher to help hold Isabelle.
"I need your opinion. Can you smell that?" The dragon asked.
"Magical constipation with a side of…" Baki paused and frowned. He put his nose closer to the unconscious girl's head. He breathed in deeper and then shook his head.
"I'm no medical professional but it smells like a tumor," Baki admitted.
"As I was afraid of," Avantador frowned.
"A tumor?" The color drained from Elphaba's face and a guard caught her as she was suddenly unsteady on her feet.
"I'm afraid so. While I can diagnose, there is no way for me to heal her. Something of this nature would require direct access to the affect area," Baki let that thought settle in. The only way to save Isabelle was to open her skull.
"There has to be another way," one of the guards spoke up. The Palace guards had watched the children grow up and though they did not know them personally, no one ever had anything bad to say when it came to the royals and how they treated their subjects.
"Even I need direct access. I'm the most powerful person in Oz and I can't help my daughter," tears started to trail down Elphaba's face.
"We will find a way Princess. I will fetch Doctor Magi," another guard said and he was off like a shot.
"Perhaps it is time to retrieve the Grimmerie. It may be the only hope that we can offer," Avantador suggested.
"The spells are permanent. If I make a mistake it could only make things worse," Elphaba said as the guard helped her stand on her own two feet.
"Ah but you see the spells are only permanent when you don't have a dragon to assist. The spell you used on Fiyero was easily reversed," the dragon pointed out.
"But…" Elphaba started.
"And the prophecy was wrong regarding the Dragonlords. Your son is well on his way. We are in control here Elphaba. We can do this," Avantador urged.
"We could kill her!" The green woman argued.
"If we do nothing, she dies anyway. I know we're talking about your daughter but we have to try," Avantador argued. Elphaba slumped her shoulders. He was right. No matter what happened, now they must do everything they can to try and save Isabelle even if it might kill her.
"I need Fiyero and the Grimmerie," she said.
"I'll be back as quickly as I can. Move everyone inside," the dragon told her. She nodded and watched as he flew off. The soldiers quickly moved Isabelle inside and one of them told her that the Queen and the Doctor would meet them in the infirmary. Elphaba gave a slight smile and thanked them for their help.
"How bad is it?" Adalet asked once they had settled Isabelle into the infirmary. Both she and Elphaba sat on either sides of the bed, holding the girl's hands.
"Very. Baki and Avantador believe that she has a brain tumor. No one has ever successfully removed one and had the patient survive. Avantador believes that magic is the only way to save her," Elphaba heaved a sigh.
"You don't?" The Queen wondered.
"While a general healing spell does not need to be specific, when it comes to sensitive areas such as the heart and the brain, the spell must be specific. A magical miss will more than likely kill the patient. While we were in school, we were always told to collaborate with a medical professional on such cases or to move onto others that we knew we could save. It's a cold thing to do but for the greater good, it is a necessity," the green woman explained.
"And Isabelle?" Adalet gave her a look.
"I have no choice. I must try. If I don't and she dies, I'll never forgive myself," Elphaba said.
"And if you kill her?" The Queen wondered.
"I'll never forgive myself," she sighed.
To Be Continued…