Chapter 7

"Set her down, nice and easy," Glinda instructed Fiyero, Balfour, and Connor. The soldiers had helped to cut the spear that had impaled both Morrible and Elphaba. Once the green woman was no longer attached to the dead Grand Vizier, the three men helped move her onto a stretcher being held by two medics.

"Ok nice and slow we need to get her into the medical tent. Someone fetch Doctor Magi. We will need his help," the blonde said. One of the soldiers quickly ran off to get the doctor while everyone started moving toward the Palace walls.

"Yero…" she sounded like a scared little child, something that Elphaba never was.

"I'm right here Fae. You'll be feeling better in no time," he tried to reassure her. The Prince could not imagine the pain that she was in and as they moved along he took her right hand again to let her know he was right beside her.

"The Wizard will pay for this," Connor clenched his fists and frowned as he followed the medics.

"That he will," Balfour nodded. The large wooden doors closed behind them and most of the group split off to get back to their positions. Queen Ayla came running toward the moving litter.

"We'll have you patched up before you know it," she tried to reassure her. Elphaba only nodded; the pain was getting worse.

"Another hundred feet and we'll be in the medical tent. Then we can get that thing out of you. Hang in there Elphie," Glinda was trying to reassure her too. Inwardly, the blonde wondered if she could really help her friend. She knew she wasn't as powerful as the green woman and that frightened her.

"You can do this Glin. I know you can," it was as if Elphaba was reading her mind.

"I'll be helping, so not to worry," Doctor Magi winked as he joked. The doctor had buzzed past the medical tent to meet the stretcher.

"There is not a lot of blood is there?" The green woman suddenly asked.

"No but that's a good thing. It means that the spear is holding everything in place. Once we remove it, that will be a different story," Magi admitted.

"Glin, you'll need to cast the spell quickly once he does that. I'm fairly certain that the wound is close enough to my axillary artery that I could…" she didn't finish the thought.

"As quick as a bunny. I've got it," the blonde nodded as they finally entered the medical tent.

"All right everyone but the medics out!" Doctor Magi ordered once they reached the operating area. Despite wanting to stay and help, they all knew they couldn't, and quickly headed out of the room. Fiyero started pacing outside and his mother took a seat on an empty bed. Balfour heaved a sigh before opening the letter that had supposedly been passed on from Sergeant Khalil.

"Balfour, while I don't doubt that some of the men would have taken the Queen's offer, I think their fear of the Wizard is more than I initially realized. As I figure you might have guessed, we were given separate orders by the Wizard. Now we march back to the Emerald City and my guess is that the Wizard will try to isolate the Vinkus by either troop movements or by turning political allies back into his favor. However, I highly doubt Queen Ayla hadn't already thought of that. I expect that without assistance Morrible will meet her fate out near the Palace walls and the tide of Oz has been turned. I ask you for your help. While the entire Gale Force will not turn on the Wizard, a full show of force from the countries surrounding the Emerald City may get them to change their minds. I will not hesitate to lead them into battle against the Wizard but I cannot do it alone. Good luck my friend and Godspeed, Khalil." The former Gale Force Lieutenant read the letter out loud. Fiyero stopped his pacing and looked at his friend. The Queen looked up from her spot on the empty bed and could not believe what she'd just heard. Before they could say anything however, Doctor Magi walked out to them with a look on his face.

"What happened?" Fiyero asked.

To Be Continued…