Note: Hello?? Are my faithful readers still out there? I've been a delinquent author and I offer you my humblest and most sincere apologies. Hopefully, I will be able to update more frequently. In the meantime, happy reading!! :)

That was how Selzar found her the next morning, battered and defeated. She was still slumped in the chains. At the sound of the gate opening, she straightened up. Her brown eyes were wide with fear. Selzar hated the haunted expression on her face.

"Elphaba! What happened?" he exclaimed, rushing to unchain her.

He gingerly lowered her arms one at a time. Her wrists were scraped and bleeding. Elphaba numbly let him tend to her.

"Elphaba…Elphaba," Selzar said quietly in an attempt to get her attention. She kept her gaze on the floor. Her silence worried him.

"I'll be right back," he told her.

He locked the gate behind him and hurried away to get some medical supplies and food. Elphaba stood still, her eyes never leaving the floor. Ten minutes later, Selzar returned. He set the food and supplies near Elphaba's feet and helped her sit.

When she was settled, he began cleaning her wrists. The antiseptic he was using should have stung, but she didn't even flinch. He frowned at her before drying her wounds and wrapping her wrists in gauze. Next, he gently dabbed at her face with a dry cloth as he inspected the damage.

"Sweet Oz, Elphaba. What happened to your face?" he asked in a voice gone soft with horror.

Her eyes slowly lifted to meet his. "Water burns my skin," she croaked, her throat dry from crying.

His eyes widened in surprise. He quickly spread some salve on her face to protect the burns so they could heal. Satisfied with his work, Selzar handed her some bread, cheese and a mug of tea.

"You need to eat," he gently urged her when she only stared at it. "Think of the baby."

That statement made her eat. She didn't realize how hungry she was until she took her first bite. She ate with renewed fervor after that. When she finished, her body was more refreshed, but her psyche still ached. Every time Selzar moved, she jumped. It was foolish, but the abusive guard had ruined the easiness she used to feel around her ally. The mere sight of his uniform turned her stomach. She tensed whenever he got too close. Selzar noticed and slowly stood up.

"I'll leave you by yourself for now. I'm going to find out what happened and who is responsible for it. I'll check on you later."

Elphaba nodded. "Thank you for helping me," she whispered.

"It's no trouble at all," he said before locking Elphaba in once more. "I just wish I could get you out."

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"We've been hiding out in the city for days now. When are you going to make your move?" Pagani asked Fiyero.

Fiyero paid him no mind. In the three days since they arrived in the Emerald City he had done nothing except monitor the guards' patrols around the palace. "I told you before, I can't just waltz in there and set her free. I'll have to sneak in," he explained.

"Okay, okay! I get it! I'm just tired of hiding out."

"So am I! It kills me that she has to be locked up in that awful place until I can rescue her!"

"You really love her, don't you?"

"Yes, and I intend to get her back as soon as possible. I think tomorrow night we can make our move."

"We?"

"Yes, 'we'," Fiyero said with a smile. "Who else am I going to use as a distraction?"

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Instead of her usual visitor that night, Elphaba was graced with the presence of Madame Morrible herself. The relief she felt at seeing her nemesis there instead of the abusive guard spoke volumes about her condition. That's not to say she wasn't wary.

"Are you enjoying your stay with us, Miss Elphaba?" Morrible asked with faux sweetness as she loomed over Elphaba. Elphaba looked up at her and blinked slowly twice. "Oh, dear! What happened to you?" Morrible asked when she saw her face.

"Why don't you ask the guard assigned to the night shift?" was Elphaba's reply.

Morrible examined the battered, green woman. Annoyance began to build as she took in her raw wrists, burned face and defeated posture. She was pleased to see determination still burning in her former student's eyes. There was hope yet.

"Idiot guard," thought Morrible. To Elphaba she said, "I see. I will ensure that a new guard is assigned at once. You have something of great value that I want. We can't have anything happening to you in the meantime. That would be tragic."

Elphaba was certain, in that moment, that Morrible was aware of the child in her womb. She also knew she had to find a way out of there if she hoped to keep her baby safe.

"I'll see that you get a proper dinner. We have to keep you strong and healthy." Morrible told her before leaving the dungeon.

Twenty minutes later, Selzar appeared with a plate of grilled chicken, brown rice, and an assortment of vegetables. Elphaba ate everything except for the meat. She pushed the plate away from her with a sneer. She knew Morrible had ordered the chicken purposefully.

"Is something wrong with it?" asked Selzar.

"I'm a vegetarian," she explained.

"I'm so sorry, Elphaba. I can get you something else if you're still hungry."

"It's ok. I ate enough," she assured him.

"I don't know why you are suddenly getting improved treatment, but I would take advantage of it before someone changes their mind."

"They won't. Trust me. I have something the Wizard and his press secretary want."

"What could you possibly have?"

Elphaba touched her slightly protruding belly and gave Selzar a pointed look. Comprehension dawned on his face.

"Oh, Elphaba…no," he said.

"They seem to think my baby will be very powerful given my genetics. I think they are making me out to be more powerful than I am, magically speaking. In reality, I'm just intelligent and determined enough to be a nuisance to the Wizard's agendas. I'll be ok. Don't make it your problem."

"I'm your new guard. It's my duty…"

"You are one of the Wizard's men not matter how much you disagree with some of his motives. Your duty is to remain loyal to him. Part of that duty is making sure I don't escape," she said, interrupting him. "You can't help me out of this. The best you can do is keep your head down and make sure I don't get attacked by that guard again."

"He has been reassigned to gate duty. He won't be anywhere near you anymore."

"Thank Oz," she whispered gratefully.

"I don't like this one bit, but I will take your advice for now. Get some rest. You need to recuperate from the hell you've been through. I heard the other men talking about what he did to you. I'll be at my post," Selzar said gently.

Elphaba nodded without meeting his eyes. She felt an irrational wash of shame. It was one thing for him to know she had been attacked. It was another matter entirely for him to know the sordid details. She lay on the shabby cot and closed her eyes. For once, she had a dreamless sleep.