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Elphaba forced herself to remain awake the rest of the night, not caring that she had to participate in the Coliseum Duel the next day. She stared at the glowing embers as Hephaestus worked throughout the night, lost in her thoughts. Only when she heard the rhythmic pounding of his hammer stop did she look up.
"Have you finally finished?" she asked.
"Yes, impatient one. Your weapons are repaired," Hephaestus replied, holding out her blades. Elphaba took them from him and wrapped the chains back around her forearms. She gripped the handles, feeling the familiar weight in her hands.
"Hephaestus, I have one last request," she said.
"Still you ask more from me?"
"It will only take a few minutes. Make a weapon from this."
Elphaba held out the Hydra fang, which the smith god took and examined.
"It will not be as useful as your blades, or a sword," he said.
"That's fine."
After a few minutes, Hephaestus handed the fang back to Elphaba and she saw that he had made a sort of curved dagger out of it.
"I appreciate your service, but now I must depart," Elphaba said, starting for the portal.
"Do not forget your promise to me, Green One," Hephaestus said after her.
"Rest assured, Hephaestus. Ares will die."
"Wake up."
Galinda opened her eyes wearily and saw Elphaba standing over.
"What?"
"It is time for us to depart. The Coliseum Duel begins soon."
The blonde sat up and Elphaba handed her the dagger. Galinda looked at it questioningly. "What is this?"
"It's exactly what it looks like. You need to have something to protect yourself with in case of the event that I should be apart from you. Now, get up. We must depart for Marathon."
"Is that where the Duel is being held?" Galinda asked, standing up.
"Yes," Elphaba said as her eyes fell on Galinda's outfit. "You will need a change of clothes… Aphrodite!"
"Yes?" the goddess mumbled, eyes still closed.
"Galinda needs traveling clothes," Elphaba said.
"All right. Have my attendants get them for her."
The goddess's attendants appeared out of nowhere and led Galinda behind a curtain, where she emerged from a few minutes later with a new outfit.
"Let's go," Elphaba said, leaving the cavern, Galinda behind her.
"Hold on, Green One!"
Elphaba growled and turned towards the offending voice. Fiyero was following them as well.
"What do you want? Have you not pestered me enough?" Elphaba said.
"I will not leave you alone with Galinda. Where she goes, I will go."
"No. No, I was sent to retrieve Galinda only. I cannot afford to have you slow us down."
"I can take care of myself."
Elphaba went to draw her blades, but Galinda stepped in between the two.
"Elphaba, just let him come along. You won't have to worry about him," the blonde said.
The green woman glared at Fiyero. "Keep up. If you fall behind, you will be left behind."
Elphaba turned back around and continued walking, cursing under her breath.
"Whatever my faults, I don't deserve this."
The sun was halfway through the sky when the trio reached the cliffs of Marathon.
Elphaba looked up at the blazing ball of fire. "It seems the sun god lives," she said, more to herself than anyone.
"Elphaba, are we almost there?" Galinda asked, holding onto Fiyero for support.
"Almost. Once we ascend the cliffs, we will be at the Coliseum, which are at the top," the green woman replied.
"Why so high up?" Galinda said, her voice laced with exhaustion.
"It allows the gods easier access from Mount Olympus," Fiyero replied. Elphaba merely nodded.
"It will take all day to climb these cliffs!" Galinda said, looking up and finding that she could not see the summit.
"For him, yes. For us, no," Elphaba said. She grabbed the blonde around her waist and her wings emerged from her back. "Hold on this time."
Galinda wrapped her arms around Elphaba tightly and the green woman grinned at Fiyero, who was practically bristling with jealousy. Elphaba beat her wings and took off, leaving Fiyero behind to fend for himself.
"Elphaba, you can't just leave him," Galinda said.
"He can take care of himself, just as you said. Besides, it's hard enough to fly while carrying one person. I doubt I could do it with two."
After about ten minutes of flying, the two reached the summit.
"There it is. The Coliseum," Elphaba said, pointing at the massive structure that was about a half-mile away.
"Elphaba-"
"I'll go find him."
The green woman back flipped off the cliff, diving straight down. The wind rushed past her as her keen eyes scanned the cliffs. She threw her wings out as she spotted Fiyero.
"Having fun?" Elphaba asked. He turned and glared at her.
"I don't need your help."
"Good, I wasn't offering it."
Fiyero went to step on to another portion of the cliff, only to have the rock crumble under his foot. He started to fall, but Elphaba grabbed his forearms. The green woman struggled to hold him up.
"Could you be any heavier?" she asked, her voice strained.
"I thought you were supposed to be strong!"
"Sure, on solid ground!"
Elphaba beat her wings fiercely and started for the summit. She could feel herself losing her grip… she was only a few feet away. She finally reached the top and threw Fiyero onto the rocks before she crashed to the ground a few feet away.
"Happy? Your boyfriend almost got the both of us killed!" Elphaba said as she stood up. She grimaced as she retracted her wings back into her body. "Now, can we continue without any further delays? I've had enough drama to last me the rest of my life."
