Chapter 12

Elphaba inhaled and exhaled before stepping out onto the balcony and the crowd went silent. Well almost silent.

"It's the Witch!" Someone shouted. This only made Elphaba heave a sigh before she began to speak.

"Good people of Oz please let me speak before passing your judgment,"

"Why should we? You're the Witch!" Another person shouted.

"This may be true but for the moment I am your Queen and as such I should be afforded the opportunity to speak," she retorted.

"Let her speak!" A third person called out to his fellow citizens. When silence followed Elphaba took the opening to begin.

"First let me say that everything you read in the paper was true. Neither the King nor myself deny it. I know it is a hard thing to swallow but the truth often is. That being said, we do not intend to hold anything back from you. Honesty will be the new policy. Equal rights and freedom will come with it but first we must face an ugly truth,"

"And that would be you right?" The crowd got a rise out of that comment made by a spectator with some laughing and others giving dirty looks.

"Partly but the real ugly truth is that the Wizard walks among you. He made an attack on the palace with his Emerald Resistance Army. In the process he hurt the soldiers who have been protecting you and my husband," she paused expecting someone to say something but there was not a peep.

"It seems he is stronger than ever and we will need every citizen to be on their guard. He and his men have already proven they are not afraid of death with the attack on Councilman Malaki only yesterday and the attack today. Let it be known that anyone harboring the Wizard or any members of the ERA will be arrested and charged with treason. Those who wish to turn themselves in will be treated with leniency. A reward will be offered for good information regarding these terrorists that leads to an arrest. For your own safety, do not approach the Wizard on your own. Find the nearest soldier and report what you have seen," she emphasized the last part hoping no one would do something stupid and get themselves killed.

"What of the King? Will he survive?" The nice question surprised her and she answered to the best of her ability.

"Fiyero is on the mend but the doctors say he isn't out of the woods yet,"

"The Wizard sat you were all powerful. Told us what you had done to the good citizens of Oz and now we are expected to believe you?" A man in the front row asked.

"He made me out to be something I was not. I have great powers and with them come a great responsibility not only to myself but others. He wanted to use me to get what he wanted. I refused and he then used Morrible to do his dirty work," she replied.

"What about Morrible? If Glinda supposedly banished him, then isn't it possible she could come back too?" A woman a few rows back wanted to know.

"I know there are rumors surrounding Morrible's disappearance. I can tell you with great certainty that the İzmir's handled her and she will no longer be a problem," Elphaba explained. It wasn't exactly the whole truth but it would do.

"Now please continue on with your day. As soon as I have word from the doctors and he is able King Fiyero will address you himself," she concluded hoping that wrapping things up now would end any chance of hostilities. The crowd began to disperse and she released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Councilman Malaki came up to her and ushered her inside.

"I will gauge public reaction, you go be with your husband," he smiled.

"Thank you. Bring any and all updates to us immediately. With any luck we can nip this in the bud," she gave a smile back. If only she had known how wrong she had been.

To Be Continued…