A/N: Sorry this took so long. Hope you like it. :)
Chapter 21
"A well placed poison dart is the culprit, I'm afraid," Doctor Mallard held the offending object in his gloved hands.
"How did they shoot Glinda with it? I was standing next to her the whole time!" Elphaba was very upset.
"My guess is that they got her upon entering the city walls. I found it buried in the folds of her dress. The tip had found its way to her backside," Duckie explained.
"Do you know what kind of poison?" Captain Khalil asked, desperately hoping his fiancée would be all right.
"I know the typical poisons used by the Scrow. I'm having my assistant, Freddy, analyzing a few drops that were stored further up in the dart. You see the Scrow like to make the darts hollow to fill with liquid and then the tips are small with holes. They only reserve these incredibly hard to make darts for the worst of their enemies. I worry about our safety," Duckie told them.
"I'll have the men strip searched if need be. We'll find the guy who did this," with that Fiyero stalked out of the room.
"Can you cure her?" Khalil asked, looking at both Elphaba and Duckie.
"Magic can do a lot of things but poison is not something I can handle. There isn't one spot that is affected. Her whole body is affected. I could try to target the location that the dart went in but I can't guarantee that will work. Doctor Mallard will be better equipped to handle it," she looked at him apologetically.
"Freddy and I are on it. Not to worry," Duckie smiled and headed back to his assistant. Khalil dropped down into a chair next to a now unconscious Glinda. He scooped her tiny hand into his larger one and bent down and kissed it.
"This is my fault," Elphaba murmured before she took the seat on the other side of Glinda.
"Here we go," Duckie spoke up, breaking them from their thoughts. He and Freddy carefully extracted Khalil and then pulled the blonde into a sitting position and poured a foul smelling liquid down her throat via moving her lower jaw.
"What was that?" Khalil asked, gagging.
"Some nasty stuff that is going to clear this troublesome poison up; just like mother used to make. She'll sleep for the rest of the night. Now when she wakes up she'll probably have a nasty headache but I think she'll be ok," the doctor explained.
"I'll keep watch," Khalil said and everyone knew that his butt would not leave the seat, as if someone had nailed him to it. Once again his hand found Glinda's.
"If you'll excuse me, Fiyero may need my assistance. And even if he doesn't, I'm sure my presence is required," Elphaba spoke up and then turned to head toward the door. She didn't get far as Khalil's unoccupied hand grabbed hers. Standing, he pulled her close and whispered in her ear,
"You find the bastard and you do what you have to." She nodded and was gone. Duckie watched her go and then turned to the Captain.
"Why does Elphaba think this is her fault?" He asked.
"It's a long story that I can't speak to. Just know that she feels like she has to fix it and when she gets like that I pity the fool who stands in her way," Khalil said. Duckie gave him a look and somehow he knew what he meant.
To Be Continued…