A/N: I know this might be moving a little slow. I appreciate everyone sticking with me. :)

A/N 2: A shout out to James Birdsong. Thanks for the review! :)


Chapter 9

"Fae? Can you hear me?" Fiyero asked, wishing she would answer. She'd been unconscious for the entire night and now with the morning half gone, he had hoped she'd be awake.

"Fiyero, please come here. We need to speak," the Scarecrow turned and saw Mrs. Dillamond standing in the doorway. He nodded and left Elphaba's side despite the want to stay with her. The Goat closed the door and walked into the kitchen of the modest home. There at the table sat the Doctor and Brrr.

"This feels like an intervention," Fiyero, all too familiar with the scenario, commented as he took a seat next to the Doctor.

"Nothing of the sort my son. We are concerned for Miss Elphaba and only wish to discuss her condition. That and the presence of Mr. Brrr," the Doctor said. The Lion looked at the Goat, completely caught off guard.

"We must talk. Does anyone else know she's here?" Fiyero asked.

"The village has been informed. They are ecstatic and everyone is doing their best to keep her in their thoughts. That being said, I'm afraid if her fever has not subsided by this afternoon, she could be in great danger. I am having the village's carpenter, Mr. Underhill, fashion a horse trough and the town is collecting the cool water from the river. We will try to cool her down that way," Dillamond explained.

"The river? Not the one we came from, I hope," Brrr spoke up.

"No, there is one about a mile's walk from here. We are working to divert some of it a little closer for our needs but it is a slow go and that is why everyone is doing their best to get the water here. We are thankful for the fall air as it has kept the water cool," the Doctor said.

"Even if we break her fever, what do we do about the rest of her symptoms?" Fiyero wanted to know.

"We keep her warm and dry and we nurse her back to health. That is about all we can do. We have very little medical supplies here," Mrs. Dillamond told him. He nodded and then rose from his seat.

"Now as for Mr. Brrr…" Dillamond started.

"I am right here!" The Lion protested.

"You were not part of the original agreement. I was not expecting a third party. Are you sure that you were not followed?" The Doctor asked.

"I believe us to be safe but that does not mean Glinda has not sent troops looking for us. We have been gone longer than I imagine Brrr was expected to be," the Scarecrow pointed out.

"Indeed. I do not believe they will venture as far as this but we must be on our guard nonetheless," Dillamond nodded.

"Indeed we should be," Fiyero agreed.

"Good thing, I have this for you," Mrs. Dillamond smiled as she left her chair and from behind the pantry door pulled out a rifle. It wasn't just any rifle either.

"How did you get your hands on my rifle?" Fiyero asked, surprised at its condition. It had been left out in the fields that day when he'd been strung up and left for dead.

"A Groundhog by the name of Sam found it and restored it. He's quite good at it and has helped the blacksmith, Mr. Smythe, build us more," she smiled at him.

"Good. We will need protection from those goons in the Gale Force. I know Glinda does not want any part in hurting Animals but the Council still has its talons in most of the Gale Force and they will do anything they are paid to do," Fiyero shook his head.

"Then it is a good thing I am here with my brothers and sisters," Brrr smiled.

"You hunted down Miss Elphaba. Can you be trusted?" The Doctor asked.

"Fiyero has filled me in on the exploits of Miss Elphaba and Morrible. I now understand what really happened and I know what he speaks to be true. I trusted him with my life when going up against Miss Elphaba and I trust him now. I have seen firsthand that Miss Elphaba is not a terrible person as she was made out to be. I will defend this village to the end," Brrr told them.

"Then welcome aboard," Dillamond smiled.

To Be Continued…