Chapter 25

Elphaba landed quietly on the balcony, which led to the bedroom she and Fiyero shared. A maid by the name of Sophia was inside the room quickly opened the door to let her in.

"How did you know I was coming?" The Queen asked having fully expected she would have to pick the lock.

"Did anyone see you milady?" Sophia wanted to know.

"I should think so but what's going on?" Elphaba asked.

"Councilman Malaki has ordered the palace be locked down. Prince Liir's life was in danger but something strange happened and the next thing I knew I was ducking for cover," her story was incomplete but at the mention of her son's name, Elphaba froze.

"What happened to my son?" She demanded.

"I'm honestly not sure. There was a loud noise inside his room and the troops sealed it off before I could check on Mrs. Malaki. They told me to hide in here and they'd tell me when to come out," Sophia explained. With that the green-skinned woman headed for the door and slowly opened it.

"Sophia! Please stay back!" One of the soldiers, whom Elphaba recognized as Sergeant Balac, urged. If he was there, Sergeant Nizam was nearby which meant that Malaki had pulled the Special Forces group up from their leave.

"Sergeant, Sophia is safe. Let me pass," she told him. Immediately the soldier opened the door.

"My Queen! I…" Elphaba stopped him.

"No need to panic Balac. I appreciate you looking out for the staff. Now what is going on with my son?"

"I'm not entirely sure, milady. We were just ordered to assist with closing off the castle. Nizam has the front gate sealed," he said. Elphaba nodded and he let her move toward the door to her son's room. She took hold of the handle and slowly opened the door. Inside was a scene she did not expect to see.

There hadn't been a window in the room but now there was due to some sort of explosion. The furniture had been thrown about and Councilman Malaki stood in the center of the room looking around.

"Where is my son?" She asked; the frustration in her voice was evident as she closed the door behind her.

"Queen Elphaba!" The Councilman jumped.

"I came to bring you news and I find the palace sealed off and no one wants to tell me about my son. Now will someone please tell me what happened?" The green one wanted to know.

"Someone attempted to kidnap Prince Liir. There was an explosion," he pointed to the hole in the once solid wall and she moved toward it. Looking out she saw soldiers surrounding a body on the ground.

"Please tell me that is not your wife," Elphaba said.

"Unnamed God be praised she is in the infirmary. Some cuts and bruises but nothing too serious. The more serious news is that I believe…" Malaki paused and swallowed hard before carefully moving toward her and whispering in her ear,

"I think Liir did this." Elphaba shook her head. Her son had powers; she knew it. More than once she'd caught him levitating himself in his crib, something even full grown adults struggled with, but this? How was it possible?

"Where is he?" She asked. Malaki pointed to the wardrobe, which she had just noticed had remained completely intact, despite the devastation to the rest of the room, and quickly she made her way over to it. Elphaba opened the doors and found Liir smiling and giggling.

"Baby, what have you done?" She asked as she scooped him up. He cooed and reached out for a piece of hair, which had fallen from the bun she had put up. Surprisingly he seemed perfectly fine and she turned to Malaki,

"Whether Liir did this or not, I want a story released saying that it was an assassination attempt. Now come, we have much to discuss." With that they left the room and headed toward the Council Room.

To Be Continued…