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Disclaimer: If I was Stephen Schwartz, Gregory Maguire or Winnie Holzman do you really think I would be suffering through law school right now?

Now onto the meat and potatoes:

Chapter eleven

Glinda Upland awoke at her usual time, eight in the morning. Cursing the sun for coming up only minutes after she had finally dozed off, the good witch arose and pulled on her bathrobe. Breakfast would be served in her small privet dining area and nothing sounded better than a piece of toast with marmalade and a strong pot of coffee, heavy on the cream and sugar.

Glinda opened her door and found that her newspaper had already been delivered. She took in the morning headlines as she walked down to breakfast. "Body of owl found in Tillia Lake; authorizes unsure if it is Animal or animal "," Ozdust Ballroom closes its door forever after owner dies" and "Bodies of five dead Gale Force guards found on the outskirts of Oz."

It was the last headline that caught Glinda's attention. Why hadn't she been informed of this? If her men had engaged in a fight, she should have been the first to know. Glinda sighed as she opened the paper and scanned the rest of the contents. There were the usual letters to the editor and editorials but Glinda was mildly surprised to see that Killian Shroud had yet to publish anything. The week was already halfway through and still nothing.

"Perhaps he's given up his cruel taunting," Glinda muttered more wishing than knowing it was true.

Daley Arjonias was the Gale Forcer sitting in Glinda's dining room when the good witch entered. He had been sitting down but immediately got to his feet when she entered. Glinda had been raised with servants but Daley was a Gale Force officer and not a servant. He was also the closest thing she had to a friend on the inside. Daley was five years younger than she was but he was easy to talk to. He had joined the Gale Force to help out his family. They were farmers in Munchkinland and their farm was struggling to stay afloat. The Gale Force had been Daley's last choice of positions but it paid extremely well and it offered benefits in addition to his lump sum payment. Still, despite the fact that Glinda found him easy to talk with, he still maintained a formal relationship with her. This included jumping to his feet whenever she entered teh room.

"Don't get up," Glinda said far too late. "Sit back down," she added and the officer obeyed. Normally, Glinda wished that she didn't need a guard to stand by for she wished to breakfast alone. Today, however, after the startling headlines in the paper, she was glad for the company. She was equally glad that it was a Gale Forcer, especially Daley, for maybe he could answer some of her questions.

"Daley," Glinda asked calmly as she buttered a piece of toast and reached for the marmalade. "Have you read the paper this morning?"

The officer shook his head in the negative. "No, my Lady," he answered verbally. "I was told to arrive here by seven this morning and the paper isn't delivered until half past the hour."

Glinda glanced at the guard. Daley was mildly good looking with thick locks of black hair and bright blue eyes. He was rather short for a Gale Forcer and Glinda assumed that as he was raised in Munchkinland, he most likely had a relative down the line who was a Munchkin that married into height. However, his uniform showed that he took his job seriously and worked to keep his body in top shape.

"Well, take a look at my copy," and the blonde handed the newspaper to her protector. "The headline near the bottom. It's a bit disturbing, don't you think?"

Daley read and his eyes grew rather wide before he looked up at Glinda. "Who was it, my Lady? Who did it?"

Glinda shrugged as she offered her guard the plate of sausage which the blonde never touched. Sausage made her stomach queasy. "I'm not sure. That's why I'm asking you."

Daley looked alarmed at this revelation. "You're not aware of this, my Lady," he asked and when Lady Glinda shook her head in the negative, Daley felt his stomach turn. Why wouldn't Captain Gopta inform his commander in chief of a possible conflict that ended in bloodshed?

"Captain Gopta and his men were called to a possible emergency in the Badlands," Glinda explained to Daley. "They were unsure what the emergency was but felt that it was their responsibility to go forth. We've heard rumor that there's an Animal community living in the Badlands. I wanted to make sure they weren't in any real danger," Glinda trailed off as if lost in thought. Daley watched her nervously for he wasn't sure what to do or say. This was only his second month in the Gale Force and he didn't quite know his place. Daley mostly served as Glinda's guard during the evening hours meaning that he was more of a companion than a guard. Still, while he wanted very much to call her a friend, he knew that they ran in different crowds.

She has her circle of friends and I have mine, Daley told himself whenever he felt too comfortable around his sovereign. You're the hired help and nothing more.

"Captain Gopta's very good about keeping me informed even when he and his men are miles from home so this worries me."

Daley's thoughts were pulled back to the table as Glinda took back her paper and proceeded to read the entire story. It only disturbed her more for the bodies looked to be over or about two days old. Surely Gopta would have found a way to inform her of their trouble. Unless they were still in danger! As Glinda read on, she wanted to close her eyes and cry. Her rule was getting worse by the day. None of her subjects were content and Glinda feared that a revolution was on the horizon.

The people of Oz trust their rulers completely, Glinda often told herself in an attempt to remain calm. But according to some of the reports I've received, Killian Shroud's articles are becoming more popular and his fans more emphatic.

There was little Glinda could tell herself in order to remain calm. Her laws were followed but grudgingly. The new electoral system was corrupt and there was not one Animal representative in their quasi-Congress. Her judicial system was far from perfect as well. Corrupt judges and lawyers were often biased against Animals and handed down stiffer penalties for misdemeanor offenses. But the humans still saw themselves as having their rights squashed in favor of the minority.

Glinda was pulled out of her revere by a knock on the door. Daley hurried to open it and Salmi, Glinda's handmaiden, entered carrying a stack of envelops.

"Your mail, my Lady," she said with a small curtsy and a smile before handing the mail to Daley.

"Thank you," Glinda said with what she hoped was a warm smile. She smiled so rarely these days, except when greeting her subjects, that Glinda was slowly forgetting what a genuine smile was. "Would you care for a bite to eat, Salmi?"

"No thank you, my Lady," Salmi answered and left with a quick curtsy. As soon as Daley had closed the door behind the handmaiden, he brought the mail to Glinda. He watched as she opened each letter, her eyes flying across the pages.

The last letter, however, was much larger. It bore the name Miss Glinda Upland of the Upper Uplands rather than Lady Glinda. The blonde witch opened the letter and her eyes moved back and forth across the page. For a second, Daley thought that he saw his sovereign falter and her mouth open a bit in surprise. Then, the guard convinced himself that he had imagined it for Glinda continued to read. After a minute, she put the letter aside and stood up.

"I'm returning to my quarters, Daley. Tell whoever cleans up that I'm completely finished and will take lunch in my room."

Daley watched his leader with worry etched on his face. There was no doubt in his mind now that her voice had become slightly higher in pitch as she finished her orders. Something was wrong and when Daley caught a look at her face he saw that her eyes were glistening with tears. She didn't let them fall though. Glinda the Good was putting on a strong face.

"Lady Glinda, is there anything I can…" Daley began but quickly stopped as Glinda shook her head and turned away. Daley could see her reach up and hastily wipe her eyes. He felt his heart ache and quickly had to remind himself of his place. As a Gale Force officer, it was his job to protect Glinda. It wasn't his job to comfort her. Still, it took everything within Daley to remain within his Gale Force shell.

"No, thank you, Daley, but I must be off."

Quickly, Daley walked Glinda back to her room noticing that she left her newspaper and the rest of the mail on the table by her plate of half eaten toast and coffee. She didn't look at him but muttered a quick word of thanks as she opened her door.

"My Lady? Glinda…," Daley knew it was out of line to address her so informally but the look on her face told Daley that she needed a friend right now more so than a protector. "If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask."

Glinda looked back at him and her eyes were completely dry. In the place of tears was a mixture of joy and fear. Daley wracked his brain to try and determine what would make Glinda the Good happy and afraid at the same time.

"Thank you, Daley," she answered without an admonishment for his informal behavior. In fact, Glinda silently wished that it were proper for her to associate with someone beneath her in rank. Daley was a poor farmboy. Her 'friends' were diplomats and the members of Court. And they associated with her to gain more wealth and power. She had no true friends.

"I know I can always count on you," Glinda finished before reaching out and laying her hand upon his arm. She let it rest there only for a second but it communicated so much to both people. Daley cared about her. He wasn't just a royal suck up schmoozing with her, hoping to get himself promoted. He was a friend and a true one. That put her number of true friends up to two.

With one last nod, Glinda shut the door and Daley knew better than to knock. His lady wanted to be alone right now. However, he pressed an ear to her door even though eavesdropping carried the penalty of death by beheading (or at least it had under the Wizard). Perhaps he would overhear something that would allow him to help her. However, what he heard made absolutely no sense to him.

"Oh, Elphie, how could you?"

--

The fight with the Animals had forced the renegade Gale Force to take a different path to the Emerald City. It had taken them an extra three days to arrive. Fiyero wondered where they were taking him and was slightly surprised when they took him down to the dungeons in the Emerald Palace itself. Had Liken been lying when he said that Fiyero and Elphaba weren't prisoners of the state? Fiyero certainly wouldn't put it past him. But to what end?

There were only a few other prisoners in the dungeon but Fiyero was pleased to see that it was far better kept than it had been under the Wizard. Rats, cockroaches and other vermin were known for infesting the prison during the Wizard's campaign and while it didn't hold the luxury of the Emerald Palace (or even the tiny cabin he and Elphaba had shared in the Badlands) at least it was pest free.

"Glinda's work," Fiyero said aloud to himself with a smile and a feeling of pride. Elphaba couldn't have been more right in asking Glinda to continue the fight. She was doing her job and returning Oz to its greatness. Fiyero only wished that he and Elphaba could be a part of it. He knew it would mean the world to Elphaba.

Elphaba…

Fiyero couldn't have been more relieved when the Animals had taken her away. He had watched them fading into the distance from the wagon, Elphaba's green skin made her the last one to vanish into the darkness. At least she was safe. Whatever they did to him now, he could rest easy knowing that they could do nothing to her.

And what could they do to him? He couldn't die or feel pain. Torture wouldn't work and the only way to really kill him was through fire. And burning had been deemed cruel and unusual punishment by Glinda the Good and outlawed. The good witch had fought to end the death penalty completely but capital punishment remained a favorite form of deterrent in Oz so Glinda only allowed firing squads, hangings and beheadings.

"You'll make them as quick and painless as possible. This is a deterrent and not revenge," Glinda had informed anyone carrying out an execution. Glinda detested the death penalty but also felt that for the time being it was best to also listen to the will of the people. A mob would not rule Oz but Glinda knew better than to turn everyone against her by completely changing the laws they knew.

"Am I to stand trial," Fiyero asked Liken as they chose a cell for him.

Liken had said nothing but simply secured the door and left Fiyero to himself. The Scarecrow glanced around at his fellow prisoners. The Winkie was silently grateful that he didn't have a cellmate for the others looked like tough customers. But at least it wasn't the high security prison, Southstairs.

"Wonder if that's where they'll send me if I'm found guilty? Or will they just cut my head off? Not that that would do much good," Fiyero thought out loud.

The other prisoners were watching him with interest and Fiyero at first thought it was because he was talking to himself. Then he remembered what he looked like to those not familiar and used to him. He was a walking and talking scarecrow. Of course they would stare. Everyone he had encountered since being nailed to that pole in the corn field stared and wondered how such a thing was possible. Scarecrows were inanimate objects used to keep crows from eating the crops. They didn't walk and talk and certainly didn't go to prison.

Wonder how long I'll have to wait until someone comes to interrogate me? Fiyero had the sense not to say this out loud. Being quiet was the best policy right now. At least until someone came. Instead, his thoughts turned back to the events after the fight with the Animals.

They had taken flight for at least twenty minutes and probably only stopped out of sheer exhaustion. Five Gale Force officers had been killed, including Jak Con. If Liken had been angry before, Jak's death had made him completely irate.

They hadn't lost the battle per se nor had they won. The Animals had gotten what they had come for and had fallen back. Liken, panicked that he would lose his prisoners and suffer the wrath of his leader, had decided to take off as well. Once he had seen to the welfare of his men, Liken had checked on his prisoners only to find that the plural form was incorrect. His eyes bulged and went from fearful to furious in about five seconds. The witch was gone and only Fiyero remained. Liken had climbed into the wagon and kicked Fiyero in the face.

"Ouch, that didn't hurt," Fiyero said in a fearless voice. "But it does feel strange so kindly cut it out." His face was twisted into a smile. They had no leverage for him now. Elphaba was gone; the Animals had outsmarted the Gale Force.

"Where is she," Liken had shouted with such ferocity that little flecks of spit landed upon Fiyero's straw face. The Winkie smirked to see Liken so angry. The smirk wasn't an intelligent move for Liken then punched him twice in the nose. It didn't hurt in the slightest but Fiyero didn't care to have himself picked apart at the moment.

"Where's who," Fiyero asked feeling the need to rub in Elphaba's successful escape. "It's always been just me hasn't it? Or maybe that kick gave me amnesia."

With a growl of rage, Liken had drawn his gun and pointed it at Fiyero. "It's ready to fire! Now tell me where the Wicked Witch is or do I empty a round of bullets into you?"

Fiyero bit on his lip and assumed a look of deep concentration. After a minute, he looked at Liken with a small smile.

"Let's go with the bullets. I've always wanted to know what it feels like to be shot. And if I'm lucky, one will ricochet and hit you."

With one last snarl, Liken climbed from the wagon and gestured to another Gale Force guard.

"Secure him to something to make sure he doesn't try and run off after the witch. The rest of you, help get our wounded in the wagon and let's move out."

It had taken almost a full day to tend to the wounded, secure Fiyero and move all those unable to walk into the wagon. But their trek was still slowed and it had taken an extra two days to reach the prison. Liken hadn't spoken to Fiyero since threatening to fill him with bullets. It seemed that he had reached defeat.

For three days, Fiyero half expected Elphaba and a rag tag group of Animals to pull a surprise attack on the caravan but to his happiness there was no other commotion.

"This is the new prisoner the Gale Force brought it. Liken says he was behind the massacre of Captain Gopta and the others."

"What's his name?" Fiyero was quickly pulled from his thoughts and back to the prison by the second voice. He knew that voice. It belonged to someone he had long hoped to make peace with. It was the voice of Glinda Upland.

Fiyero's eyes went up until he saw her, Glinda, standing on the staircase. She was standing beside a young man decked out in a Gale Force uniform. As per normal, she was completely dressed in pink but her blonde hair wasn't perfectly curled. It looked almost as if she had attempted to curl it but had her thoughts elsewhere.

"He won't say," the young Gale Force officer answered. "Liken says he won't say a…"

"Fiyero, Glinda! I'm me, Glinda! Fiyero Tiggular!" The Winkie's chest heaved as he pounded on the bars to draw her attention his way. Elphaba wouldn't rest until Fiyero was safe and the prince wasn't willing to let her risk her life for him. Glinda could get him out of his predicament and then he would set out to find her before she died on his behalf.

Both the young Gale Force officer and Glinda turned to watch him as he bellowed his name. The officer looked confused but Glinda looked angry. Perhaps she wasn't ready to forgive him for suddenly abandoning her all those years ago.

"Fiyero Tiggular's dead, you lying mean thing! You helped Dorothy but still saw fit to kill my men!" she snapped before turning back to the Gale Force officer.

"Tell the clerk of the court to set up a docket for whoever this is," she said in a harsh voice that Fiyero wouldn't have thought possible of the blonde three years ago. "I have some announcements to make tomorrow morning and then I'm sure I'll be gone for the remainder of the day."

With one last look at Fiyero, Glinda and the Gale Force officer turned to leave the dungeons. Fiyero watched, wracking his brain on how to get Glinda to stay with him. He needed her to believe him, to know he really was who he claimed to be. He only wished he could tell her of Elphaba but he couldn't. Not if he wanted to keep the green witch safe.

"I see that dancing through life is no longer your mantra! Is it, Galinda?"

It was the Gale Force officer who turned around first, a look of pure anger upon his face.

"You'll call her Lady Glinda, you unseemly piece of garbage. Show the proper respect for the ruler of Oz."

Fiyero, however, didn't hear a word the young man was saying. His eyes were on Glinda who was looking at him in a questioning manner. To his surprise and relief, Fiyero saw comprehension dawn in her eyes.

"Thank you, Daley," she said calmly. "I think I can handle it from here."

She then began to ease her way back down the stairs all the while never taking her eyes off of Fiyero. Could this really be the Winkie prince from Shiz? The one who had loved her best friend so deeply? But he was dead! He had been murdered by the Gale Force. If he truly was this…this…Scarecrow than that would mean that he had been under her nose the entire time and she hadn't recognized him.

"My Lady, perhaps I should…"

"Just go," said Glinda in a tone that was harsher than the situation called for. Daley, however, seemed to get the hint. He bowed and quickly exited, leaving Glinda and Fiyero alone.

The good witch slowly made her way up to the bars and looked the scarecrow over. He was clearly a scarecrow and not in disguise. Yet when she looked into his eyes…

"Glinda, it's me. It's Fiyero and I'll tell you everything if you'll just hear me out."

Glinda still looked unsure but she nodded for him to enthrall her with the tale of his transformation. So Fiyero told the tale, beginning when he was dragged away by the Gale Force and ending after he, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy and Toto arrived at the Emerald City. He wanted to leave Elphaba out of the picture. There was no need to force Glinda to relive those moments at Kiamo Ko or to lie to her once again.

"It's really you in there, isn't it, Fiyero?" There were tears in Glinda's eyes now and suddenly she reached through the bars and pulled him into what would have been considered a rib crunching hug. If he had ribs that is.

Didn't know she was so strong, Fiyero thought with a smile as he returned the hug. The last time he and Glinda had seen each other, Fiyero had put a gun to her and threatened her life in exchange for Elphaba's. He had yelled his apology but that still didn't mean she had forgiven him. And she certainly wouldn't once she discovered that he had been lying to her for three years.

"Fiyero," Glinda's voice was hesitant. "There's much to say but I have a startling piece of information that just came to my attention two days ago."

Fiyero couldn't have been sure what she was about to say. However, what came out of the blonde's mouth was so far from what Fiyero thought she would say that his jaw dropped when she said it.

"Elphaba's alive, Fiyero! She didn't melt!" Glinda paused and took in his expression. "I know! I was shocked, hurt, sad and happy all at the same time."

Question and after question entered Fiyero's mind. However, now wasn't the time for questions. Now was the time for the truth. He couldn't respond to Glinda without lying. Nor could he simply change the subject after a revelation such as this.

"I know, Glinda."

The good witch's eyes grew wide but she said nothing and simply waited for him to continue.

"Glinda, Elphaba's death was a plan she and I put into action so she and I could be together. She wasn't accomplishing anything as the Wicked Witch and she knew you were far better suited to help the Animals than she was."

Glinda didn't look angry at this. On the contrary, she looked hurt, betrayed even. And how could she not, Fiyero thought to himself. We all but lied to her and a lie by omission is still a lie.

"Glinda, Elphaba and I have been living together in the Badlands until we were captured several days ago by the Gale Force and dragged back. A group of Animals attacked after we returned to Oz. They took Elphaba away! I don't know where she is but I know she's safe."

At this, Glinda got to her feet and glared at Fiyero. Her eyes were blazing and Fiyero had never seen the blonde this heated before. Not even when Fiyero had declared that he was leaving the Emerald City with Elphaba. She was shaking in a mixture of anger and fear.

"That's not true, Fiyero, and you know it!" At least she had accepted him as Fiyero but why would she not believe what he told her about the Animals and Elphaba's rescue? It made little sense. Unless Glinda knew something he didn't…

"You want to know how I know that Elphaba's alive. Huh?"

Fiyero quickly nodded, his stomach tightening in fear. Perhaps the Animals had been ambushed as they had fled with Elphaba. Perhaps Elphaba had been killed, dead for days and he never knew. She would die without hearing an apology for his behavior in the wagon. If Fiyero had needed to breathe, his breath would have caught in his throat in fear.

"Because I've seen her, Fiyero! And she isn't with any Animals! A man by the name of Marius had me come to him in the dead of night by bubble. He let me see Elphaba but wouldn't let me speak with her."

Fiyero recognized the name Marius. Ka had spoken of him during Elphaba's check up. In fact, the green witch had written a letter to him that very same day. His response was supposed to come via Charis's brother the day after the wedding.

"She was chained up and he hurt her, Fiyero!" Tears were cascading down Glinda's cheeks and she hurriedly wiped them away. "I didn't get a chance to speak with her but I heard her voice and I saw her! We have to resuce her, Fiyero! We just have to!"

The prince watched Glinda for several seconds trying to digest the news. Elphaba wasn't safe. She was in danger and there was nothing Fiyero could do.

"What did he want, Glinda? What did this Marius want?"

"Changes, he said. Substantial changes for Animal rights." Glinda wasn't looking at Fiyero properly and there were tears in her blue eyes. "I told him that I already passed substantial legislation regarding Animal rights but he said it wasn't good enough. He said that my new changes need to give Animals some dominion over humans. Said it's long overdue to the Animals."

"But you can't do that, Glinda," Fiyero said gently. "You'd just be doing to the humans what the Wizard did to the Animals."

"I know this, Fiyero," Glinda snapped coldly. "I'm not the blonde bimbo everyone thought I was, damn it!"

"I know, Glinda," Fiyero said, trying his best to calm the blonde down a bit so they could think through a plan rationally. "I didn't mean to imply…I was just voicing my anger out loud. You aren't going to do it are you?" And Fiyero suddenly remembered what Glinda had been saying to her Gale Force officer before attempting to leave. Something about announcements.

"Glinda," Fiyero asked cautiously. "You didn't..."

"What choice do I have, Fiyero," Glinda cried and her voice was now one of confusion and desperation. "Marius said that if I don't have these new laws in place by the start of the week, he'll kill Elphaba. He'll torture and kill my best friend, Fiyero! I can't let that happen!"

Fiyero's blood was now boiling. He knew that Elphaba was only one person and the citizens of Oz were many but he suddenly knew why Glinda had made the decision she had. He reached through the bars and squeezed Glinda's hand in what he hoped was a comforting way. He had to get out of here. He had to find Elphaba and rescue her before this Marius did something truly horrible to her.

"Glinda, let me out of here and we'll find a way to save Elphaba before tomorrow morning when you have to make the announcements."

Glinda shook her head but suddenly her eyes brightened with hope. "Fiyero, I don't have the keys. Only Gale Forcers do."

Fiyero opened his mouth to argue but Glinda quickly shushed him.

"Tonight, Daley's to be my guard. He'll help me get you out of here, Fiyero! We can then find a way to get to Elphaba. Do you have an idea where she might be?"

Fiyero nodded and a plan started to form in his mind. "I think she's being held in an Animal community. I seriously doubt that the Animals are behind this plot but one of the Animal's sisters lived near Elphaba and me. She mentioned a Marius and that he was a crusader for Animal rights. If we can find a way into the community and find out where he lives, we'll find Elphaba."

"She's being held in a cellar of sorts," Glinda said with a smile, the first Fiyero had seen on her face all day. "I'll bring something substantial to cut the cuffs with." Her smile suddenly faded and Fiyero became alarmed.

"What's wrong?"

"Where will we go, Fiyero? Once Elphaba's free?"

For once Fiyero didn't know what to say. Where would a scarecrow, Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West hide?

"We'll figure that out once we're free. We can go to Kiamo Ko at first and then decide."

Glinda still seemed unsure but she nodded. It was the best plan so far and it was better than passing the new laws she had put together the night before with Marius. The clock on the wall read a quarter after two in the afternoon. There were meetings to attend and while Glinda would have preferred to spend the afternoon resting up for their heist that evening, she would rather not arouse suspicion in her household. She would simply have to do her best unprepared.

With a plan in place, Glinda and Fiyero spent the next hour catching up. After all, they hadn't seen each other in three years. Glinda told him vague details about Marius's laws and what was going on in Oz. By three, Glinda had to return to her duties. After a quick good-bye, Glinda promised to return just before the bewitching hour. There was a smile on her face when left the dungeon. She felt elated; salvation was just around the corner...

--

What both Glinda the Good and Prince Fiyero never took into consideration is the possibility that walls have ears. And even if they don't, Fiyero's fellow inmates in the dungeon did and they were always looking for a way to shorten their sentences.

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.