(A/N: Let's see...last update...a year ago? I don't even know...but I was looking through my computer and saw that the next chapter was already half finished anyway, so I just finished it up. This is like my only super dark story which is nice, cause I don't always like just writing the same thing. When I'm in a bad mood I will turn to this, especially if I'm feeling murderous or something. LOL, okay, now I sound weird. Enjoy the update!)

Elphaba began to heal nicely, and soon she was able to walk, even if it was only for a little while before she became exhausted. It had been a whole week at the castle without any interruption or panic from the Wizard. Fiyero was always at Elphaba's side. Elphaba secretly adored being Fiyero's top priority, it made her feel so…so…cared for and above all loved. It wasn't the kind of love she and Glinda shared, but it was the kind she thought she'd never get in her entire life. It wasn't until two weeks later that Elphaba was truly back to her old self. She sat next to the fire with Glinda. It was the dead of winter, the snow was falling outside. Fiyero was in the kitchen making hot chocolate.

"Fiyero's never going to forgive me." Glinda muttered, staring into the fire. Elphaba took her hand.

"You can't honestly believe that." Elphaba said quietly, "Fiyero cares about you very much. Of course he'll forgive you."

"I doubt it." Glinda said, "You don't know half of the things he said to me when we first got here." she mumbled. Fiyero had taken to avoiding her at all costs and when he spoke to her, it was cold and frigid.

"What did he say?" asked Elphaba.

"Nothing." Glinda whispered as she felt a single tiny tear forming in the corner of her eye.

"Glinda, tell me what he said-" Elphaba said, but Fiyero walked in then. He set hot cocoa in front of Elphaba and Glinda.

"You made me one?" asked Glinda in surprise.

"Why wouldn't I?" Fiyero said gruffly, sitting next to Elphaba and pulling her into his lap.

"I thought you hated me." Glinda said softly. Fiyero didn't respond and Glinda sighed resignedly. Elphaba looked down at her hands, winding together. Fiyero took her hands, warming them up with his own. Elphaba kept looking down. What Glinda had said before bothered her. What could Fiyero have said to make Glinda so upset? Finally, her curiosity got the best of her.

"Fiyero," she said quietly.

"Yes, love?" he asked, kissing her cheek lightly.

"What did you say to Glinda when we first got here? While I was…unconscious?" asked Elphaba. Glinda's head snapped up and she stared at Elphaba with wide eyes. Fiyero looked startled for a moment.

"I...I…" he didn't know what to say.

"Whatever you said hurt her very much…" Elphaba said, still staring at her hands.

"He didn't say anything Elphie," said Glinda, "Don't worry about it."

"Fine." Fiyero finally said, "I told her she was a monster and that she couldn't be trusted. I accused her of trying to kill you."

"Fiyero!"

"It's not like isn't not true Elphaba! If it weren't for her, you wouldn't have gotten captured, and we all would've been just fine! Nessa would still be alive; hell, you would be able to walk for more than five minutes without your legs crumpling beneath you!"

"That's not true Fiyero…" Elphaba said quietly.

"Yes it is." Glinda murmured, "And I've said I'm sorry, and I know that will never be enough. But I am sorry and regretful and-" she was cut off by a loud bang on the door. Fiyero turned cold eyes on Glinda.

"What did you do?" he growled, "Did you give away our place?"

"Glinda! Elphaba!" they heard a voice yelling.

"They know my name?" Elphaba asked to herself, "My real name?" She got off of Fiyero's lap quickly and ran to the door.

"Elphaba!" Fiyero yelled, "You don't know who that is! It could be the wizard!"Galinda quickly stood up and followed the two to the door. By the time Fiyero and Galinda reached the door, Elphaba was letting in a guard from the gale force, wrapping a blanket around his shivering shoulders.

"Elphaba!" Fiyero yelled, "Why did you let him in?" he hissed, "Can't you see he's a gale force-"

"No—no, I'm on your side!" the guard said, shivering, snow began to melt in his hair from outside.

"How did you find us?" asked Elphaba, helping him to sit down in front of the fire.

"You guys have to get out of here!" Jerome said, "The Gale Force will be here in…ten minutes at the most!"

"What?" Fiyero yelled, "How do you know?"

"I'm in the Gale Force, remember?" Jerome said, "Now c'mon, you've got to hurry! They're coming!"

They were back in the forest, running again. The swarms of angry gale force member's iron boots pounded the ground all around them. Fiyero looked to his side and saw that Elphaba wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. She couldn't outrun them, she didn't stand a chance.

"Just a little further Elphaba." he whispered to her, grabbing her hand. She nodded and he could see her fighting tears. She must be so exhausted. Fiyero gently tugged her hand to keep going and they ran a few more yards before Elphaba collapsed onto the forest floor, gasping for breath.

"I—I can't-" she gasped for breath, clutching at her tight chest.

"Shh." Fiyero whispered, he turned to the others, "Elphaba can't run anymore. We'll have to-" before he could get another word out, the pounding of the gale force was ultra clear to his ears, they were nearly upon them. Jerome leapt forward, grabbing Elphaba and pulling her behind a thick brush with him across the clearing. Fiyero started to protest but before he could join the two, a soldier circled into the clearing and Fiyero jumped back in surprise.

"Over here! I think I saw something!" he heard a man yell. Fiyero cursed and grabbed Galinda's hand jerking them into the shadows in a bush opposite where Elphaba and Jerome were hiding. Fiyero glanced at Galinda and held a finger to his lips. She nodded silently, eyes wide with fear. Soon, Fiyero could see the dark shadows of about 15 men walking cautiously through the area. Flashlights were clicked on and Fiyero crouched further into his hiding place. His heart was pounding so loud he swore the Gale Force could hear it.

"You three, check over there." he heard the gruff orders being handed out and feet scurried to his right. "Yes sir!" Fiyero heard them. His eyes searched for Elphaba's and he found them, yards away from him across the clearing. Oz, he'd never been so scared in his entire life. She couldn't go back to them, she'd never survive. As her eyes found his, they shared a scared look before Elphaba was pulled by Jerome deeper into the shadows and Fiyero could no longer see her. He stole another glance at Galinda and saw that she was absolutely freezing. She shivered violently, but still tried her very hardest to keep quiet. Noticing her made Fiyero realize that it actually was freezing outside and he wrapped his arms around himself, trying to keep warm. The crackling of leaves beneath the feet of the soldiers sounded like the dropping of lethal bombs in Fiyero's ears and he could hardly stand it. He peered through the branches and saw to his horror that the guards were about to check the brush that Elphaba and Jerome were hidden in. Fiyero's breath quickened and his stomach dropped.

"Check here." he faintly heard one of the guards say.

"No." Fiyero breathed. He strained his eyes to see if he could make out either of the other two and his eyes found the dark and shadowed face of Jerome. Fiyero's eyes told Jerome everything he needed to know. Jerome nodded and that was all the reassurance Fiyero needed to know he would do everything he could to keep Elphaba safe. A final nod and Fiyero sprang from the brush, making a mad dash away from the scene, as far away as he could get, knowing they would follow him. He would never make it, not with 15 men on one, but it was worth it. As long as Elphaba was safe, it was worth it.

Elphaba's heart felt like a ticking bomb in her chest, ready to explode as the beats got faster and faster. She could see them coming now, closer and closer to where she and Jerome were. She felt Jerome's arms tighten around her. Whether to keep her still, or to comfort her she didn't know. All she knew was that it was over. They had found her and she was going to have to go back to the wizard. But before anything could happen, she saw Fiyero, sprinting away from his hiding place. Immediately the Gale Force's attention was deflected and all 15 of them chased after Fiyero, shouts of alarm ringing throughout the forest. Galinda foolishly abandoned her shelter next and shot after Fiyero. Elphaba began to stand too but she felt strong arms, circling her waist, preventing movement. She pushed at Jerome viciously but he was far from weak.

"Let-" Elphaba started to scream but Jerome clamped a heavy hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming at him. Elphaba doubled her efforts for freedom, and Jerome grunted, trying to keep her still, his arm tightening around her painfully, digging into her ribcage. Elphaba let out a muffled cry of pain and Jerome immediately loosened his hold as Elphaba doubled over, clutching her abdomen in pain. Jerome felt a stab of guilt but he quickly grabbed hold of her again as he saw she about to run after Fiyero.

"You can't go after him Elphaba." he whispered into her ear urgently as he tried to gently still her struggles. The sounds of the Gale Force grew more and more distant and Elphaba felt half her heart slipping away from her as she envisioned terrible outcomes for Fiyero and Galinda.

"Let me-" Jerome let his hand cover her mouth again. His stomach dropping at the volume of her voice and he struggled to listen for any indication that the Gale Force might have heard. But the Forest was silent now. The Gale Force far gone now. And Fiyero and Galinda too.

(A/N: I know, I separated Fiyero and Elphie :( I'm sad too, but it had to be done for this silly little element called plot. PSH. )