Chapter 14: KotF

Elphaba was admiring her sword when Avaric banged on her cell bars. "You have a visitor, green one, so you better be on your best behavior."

Avaric then unlocked the cell door, and Sappho walked in. She bowed to Avaric to show him thanks and to cast him away. It wasn't long before the two women were alone.

The emerald warrior pulled herself to her feet, but rested all her weight on her good leg so as not to bring unwanted pain to her wounded one."Sappho? By the gods, is it really you?

"No, I'm Hephaestus, craftsman of the gods!" Sappho replied sarcastically before pulling Elphaba into a lengthy embrace. "Of course it's me, you green fool!"

Elphaba was overjoyed at seeing her old friend. It no doubt lifted her spirits. "Oh, Sappho, it's grand to see you, and you haven't lost your wit!"

"I can't afford to in these troubled times," Sappho said, as she peered over her shoulder to make sure no one was around. "What has happened? Why is this Avaric controlling things in Rome?" Her voice was soft so no one could overhear.

Elphaba let out a forlorn sigh, as she took a seat back on her cot. "What I tell you now must not get out, or my family will pay the price. You see, Avaric has my family and me as his hostages. Not too long ago, the military parade was interrupted by bandits storming the royal box. I stopped the ones I could, but I was knocked out, and when I awoke Avaric explained all to me. I would fight once again as a gladiator, or my family would suffer. The royal guards suspect nothing, so we are trapped here at the mercy of Avaric and his deranged plot."

"I knew something was wrong when I was brought to see Avaric and not you or Glinda," Sappho said, as she sat down next to her green friend.

"Are Gongyla and Cleis with you?" Elphaba questioned.

Sappho nodded her head. "We are staying with friends who live in Rome, so they're with them." Suddenly a new topic struck the poet. "Where is Trism? Where is my son?"

The emerald gladiator shifted uneasily and cleared her throat before answering, "I'm sorry to say this, Sappho, but I do not know. I haven't seen him since the capture of my family."

The poet remained silent for what seemed like hours, but in reality it was only seconds. She stood up suddenly and began to pace. "My son...could be dead."

Elphaba shook her head as she spoke with assurance. "Sappho, do not lose hope. Avaric doesn't kill for no reason, so Trism could still be alive."

The poet's eyes then narrowed in focus as she sharply turned to Elphaba and said, "I will help you defeat Avaric. I'm meeting with Glinda very soon in a private setting, so talking freely shouldn't be a problem. Take heart, Elphaba, that Avaric doesn't have all the cards. We'll trick him so well that he will play the joker card only to meet with our card...a queen."

...X...

"So did the meeting with Elphaba suit your needs?" Avaric asked, as he lead Sappho through the hallways of the palace.

"She is sure much more beautifully wicked than I imagined," Sappho answered with a purr just to witness Avaric's reaction.

"Then just wait until you see the lovely Empress of Rome. She will light a fire in your loins that you won't soon forget." Avaric blushed when he realized what he just said. "Um, that is to say, she has amazing beauty that even the goddess of love is envies of." They soon arrived at the door and Avaric motioned for the poet to enter. "I will be back in fifteen minutes. I'm sure that will give you plenty of time to introduce yourself to the grand Empress of Rome."

"Thank you, Avaric, I will make great use of this time with the Empress. Maybe I will be inspired to write a poem about her."

Avaric chuckled. "Trust me, Sappho, if you are as captivated with the Empress' beauty as much as I am, you will want to do more to her than write a poem about her."

"You speak boldly," Sappho pointed out as one of her eyebrows rose, and she let a crafty smirk form upon her face.

Avaric only shrugged his shoulders. "Censorship is highly overrated." He then walked away leaving the poet at the entrance of the door.

Sappho knocked on the door. When there was no answer she knocked louder. "Come in!" A feminine voice replied.

The poet entered the room with great haste. When she caught Glinda's gaze the Empress blinked from shock and surprise. She then slowly closed the gap between them, and was clearly lost for words.

"Sappho?" Glinda stuttered after a moment of silence.

"Empress..." Sappho was only allowed this one word before she was pulled into a tight hug. The poet was beyond happy about the reception she was given by the blonde woman.

"Oh, Sappho, seeing you fills my heart with such joy! There is so much dire events going on and seeing you..."

"Shh," The poet cooed. "You don't have to say another word about it. Elphaba told me everything that Avaric has put you and your family though."

Glinda's breath caught in her throat at this information. "You spoke to Elphaba? When?"

"Not too long ago," Sappho answered.

"How is she?" The Empress was shaking like an empty butterfly cocoon in the wind.

The poet's eyes softened in concerned for her blonde friend. "She's fine, expect for the burn on her leg."

"She's okay? She's not lingering between life and death?"

"No quite the opposite. From the brief time I spent with her she was very well. Why do you ask?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. Oh, Sappho, you bring such great news to my suffering heart," Glinda peered into the poet's eyes and sighed out from happiness.

"I come to bring you more good news. I plan to work undercover, so Avaric gets defeated."

"Oh bless you, Sappho, you're amazing." Glinda voice was soft from emotion. She then noticed the sudden sadness in the poet's eyes. "Sappho?"

The poet wet her lips as she looked down at her boots. "You wouldn't know if my son is still alive would you?" Glinda shook her head to show she did not know. "I thought as much."

"But I can try to find out," The Empress assured her friend as she took her hand and lead her to sit on the bed with her. They then began to discuss how to try to break this seemingly unbreakable hold on Rome.

...X...

After meeting with Glinda, Sappho informed Avaric that she would be investing in the gladiatorial games here in Rome. But she would only give generously if she and her family were guaranteed a room next to Glinda's in the royal palace. Avaric was very pleased that Sappho decided to become an investor, but he wasn't so sure of her rooming so close to the Empress.

Sappho only had to work her charm and Avaric's worries were quickly put rest. Within hours Avaric had his minions prepare the room. That evening he had Fiyero give Sappho and her family the grand tour as he visited Glinda.

"That Sappho is a wonder, isn't she?" Avaric asked, as he clapped his hands together in a pleased manner. His eyes were bright like he had just awoke from a ten hour nap.

Glinda nodded in agreement. "It will be such a joy to have her around." The Empress' eyes than hardened and her brow came together in anger. "Sappho also told me about how she met the great green Elphaba, and how even with her leg wound was as extremely upbeat and healthy! You lied to me you bastard! You told me that Elphaba was dying!"

"That's right I lied!" Avaric's eyes quickly changed from bright to wild as he slightly twitched in a deranged manner. "I control everything, so I have ever right to lie because I can get away with it!"

"How dare you play with my emotions like that? Who do you think you are?" Glinda growled.

"I'm the man who is keeping the royal Roman family hostage!" Avaric barked. "You think you still have power, well, you're wrong! I hold all the cards and you just can't take it. I'm not leaving until at least March of next year the earliest. And who knows...maybe I'll stay longer. Now that I have a wealth investor I can do a lot more." He then gave a cocky grin as he shrugged his shoulders like he was saying, 'How do you like that?'

The Empress just gave him a dirty look and hoped that Avaric's confidence would be his downfall.

...X...

Back in her cell Elphaba was trying to peel her bandages from her wound to see how it looked. Her skin still stung but the wound was healing nicely.

"You really shouldn't pick at it," A familiar voice rang out.

"When did you start caring about what I do, Scarecrow?" Elphaba asked, as she continued to peel back the bandage.

Fiyero bit his bottom lip. "I still care about you, Elphaba, please know that. I still see you as my friend, and even though I did wrong, I'm going to try to help you beat Avaric at his own game. I now see the true degree of Avaric's ill-will. "

"Well look who finally got a brain!" Elphaba exclaimed, with a shake of her head. "I must admit, Fiyero, it's a nice thing to see." A sparkle could be seen in her deep brown eyes and the ex-bard could have sworn he saw a smile play upon her lips.

Fiyero grinned widely, and as he walked away the ex-bard began to feel a small tingle. There was still hope at mending this broken friendship between him and the green woman. After all Elphaba did call him Fiyero instead of Scarecrow.

...X...

The next morning Elphaba was pleasantly surprised to find out she could now put all her weight on her wounded leg. The wound only stung now with a faint pain, and that made the green woman's mood was quite cheerful because of that.

Elphaba headed over to Lexa's cell to tell her the good news. She found the Amazon sitting on the cold floor in a deep prayer. Her right fist laid on her heart as she whispered words out loud. The emerald gladiator was going to leave, but as she turned to go Lexa instantly broke from her trace.

"Leaving so soon?" the Amazon inquired.

"I didn't want to bother you," Elphaba replied her voice soft.

"I was just praying to Artemis to watch over my wife and daughter." Lexa then took a deep breath in as a gust of wind flew in from the window. "I can see it now...my daughter playing with the other girls in my tribe. A sharpened stick in her hand as they play some sort of warrior game. My wife washing her hair in the river before the afternoon hunt. My fellow Amazon sisters practicing battle techniques and discussing topics of the day. Will I ever see them again? Will I ever teach my daughter how to string a bow and shoot an arrow? Will I ever make love to my wife again under the moon? To not know these answers is almost maddening."

Elphaba touched her friend's shoulder as she spoke, "You are a grand fighter Lexa, and I know you will not fall easily. You driven to win...to live. Keep that strength and you will never die in the arena."

"The glory of the arena is a mixed blessing at best," Lexa added, as she looked back to the window like she wanted to break down the bars and escape. "How many gladiators must we kill to gain our freedom?"

Elphaba let out a sigh as she answered, "Too many."

...X...

"So, did your meeting with the investor go well?" Candle asked, as she caressed Avaric's chin. Avaric swatted her hand away and itched the area where she had touched.

"Very well; she's a brilliant woman with beauty and charisma. I wonder if she can fight? Ha! What a gladiator she would have been!" Avaric was musing and Candle was growing indifferent as she rolled her eyes. "Oh don't give me that look. You're only bored because the brat in your womb wears you out far more quickly than normal."

Candle suppressed a yawn. "This brat is my ticket to sway Liir, so he will choose me instead of his current lover. Speaking of which... can we kill Trism now?"

Avaric shook his head and frowned. "No, I don't kill just for the sake of it. Besides, if I lose a lot of gladiators next month, he might get volunteered to join the ranks."

Candle let loose a deep scoff. "Trism is no fighter. I bet he never picked up a sword in his life."

Avaric shook his head. "Oh, my dear Candle, not all gladiators are expected to fight. More often than not, their purpose is to die."

...X...

A little over two weeks had passed, and Avaric announced that Elphaba had made a full recovery. He played up the notion that it was because of the people of Rome and their generous gifts, as well as prayers, that allowed their champion to pull through.

To celebrate, Avaric said that starting tomorrow Elphaba would be back in the arena and fighting for their amusement. The masses were overjoyed and excitement flooded over them like a unruly horde of locusts.

Avaric was so excited, about the up coming match, that his good mood even benefitted the gladiators. They were no longer given bland gruel, but tasteful meals full of rich breads, fresh fruit, and hardy beans. Their cells were also cleaned which helped rid the area of stink and unwanted grit.

That whole afternoon, Avaric had all the underground slaves preparing the arena for Elphaba's return. They decorated the Colosseum with lavish items, such as colorful banners, extravagant paintings, well-crafted statues, and expensive marble. The slaves also cleaned for hours without a break and barely a meal to silence their gripping hunger. By the time darkness fell onto the arena, it was cleaned and set up perfectly.

"Have you seen an arena look so fancy?" Avaric asked Shenshen will a proud sigh.

Shenshen nodded her head in approval. "The masses will truly appreciate it. It looks so luxurious."

"That's what I was going for," Avaric replied as he clapped his hands. "Ooh, I cannot wait for tomorrow's match. The Roman citizens will be talking about it for years to come."

...X...

The next morning, Elphaba was awakened by a horrified scream. She leaped from her cot and wondered what on earth was going on. Within seconds, Shenshen unlocked Elphaba's cell and motioned her to come quickly.

"Shenshen, what is going on?"

"It seems you won't be fighting in the arena today, or anyone for that matter," the trainer answered, as she let the green woman out on the arena floor.

As soon as Elphaba walked out into the area, she pinched her nose. Not only was the arena floor absolutely trashed, an awful smell lingered all around.

Avaric was shouting profanities as he checked the degree of the damage. It looked like a tornado hit the Colosseum and things were beyond atrocious now.

"What one person could do all this?" Avaric ranted. "By the gods, the smell..." And what a smell it was. It was as if someone had taken rotten eggs, poured them onto fifty dead corpses and, to top it off, soaked it all in a pile of cattle droppings. "It will take months to get this back to normal and to get rid of the stink!"

Shenshen studied the damage carefully before saying, "I don't think it was just one individual who did all this, and I don't think it was even a person."

Lexa, who had joined them only a few seconds ago, spotted four letters written on one of the arena walls, which read: KotF. "What strange initials."

Elphaba walked over to the Amazon to get a better look. She studied the initials before grinning widely, for she knew she had another ally on the outside. Lexa noticed the emerald woman's grin. "You know what the letters stand for?" Lexa asked.

The green gladiator nodded before whispering, "King of the Forest."