A/N: A shout out to ExoticPeachBlossom. Hope you're feeling better and staying warm!

Chapter 26

The morning came and Elphaba was gently shaken awake by a now fully functional Fiyero. She had stumbled into her room last night, completely drunk, and had promptly punched him until she passed out. Well it had only taken one punch and it wasn't a very good one. The Scarecrow left the room after making sure she was settled into bed and found Zetti sitting on the floor in the hallway, having never made it to his room. He tried to ask the Sergeant what had happened but all he got was nonsense.

"Wha' 'appened?" Elphaba's speak was still slightly slurred which bothered Fiyero.

"You got stinking drunk and came back here," he didn't sugar coat it.

"I think Doctor Dillamond must have gotten onto something because I don't remember much of last night," she held her head in her hands; a raging headache was already forming.

"I'm just glad I can't smell anything. You really should eat more before you drink," Fiyero said.

"How bad was it?" She asked.

"Let's just say, I'm glad there was a bucket handy," the Scarecrow would have chuckled if he wasn't so worried about her. He grabbed the cup of coffee he'd snagged from the kitchen and passed it near her noise.

"Have some of this and then we'll see if you can stand up," he told her. Carefully she pulled herself into a sitting position and gratefully took the hot liquid. Managing to get the whole cup down in a few minutes, she realized that she could open her eyes without needing to squint.

"There isn't much in your stomach so we better get something in there before we head off for our unfriendly neighbors to the North," he smirked.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," she said.

"Then perhaps you'll need to cure yourself of a hangover using your magic," Fiyero offered.

"Doesn't work that way. Even magic can't get rid of a hangover faster. All I can do is calm my stomach," she told him.

"Well do that then. I will go out and see if people are prepared to ride," he smiled slightly and headed out of the room. Elphaba put the cup on the floor and slowly stood up. She wobbled a little but managed to get to the bowl of fresh water on the table near the mirror. She splashed her face and got a rude awakening when the water turned out to be barely room temperature.

"I think I'm cured," she said to no one in particular. Her eyes were as big as saucers. Slowly she chanted the spell to cure upset tummies and then headed out the door.

"I take full responsibility," Doctor Dillamond said as Captain Khalil looked at his men who were definitely worse for wear.

"I'll cure their upset stomachs. The freezing air outside will help them get back to reality," Glinda smiled. The two of them had not gotten much sleep the night before but a little coffee and the blonde was as perky as ever.

"Yes, I imagine so," Khalil chuckled before turning to Dillamond,

"Glad you figured the hooch situation out." He winked.

"Yes well I wish everyone hadn't gone so crazy last night," the Goat frowned.

"What is going on out here?" Fiyero asked.

"It's ugly," Glinda shook her head.

"The hooch was a bit stronger than people thought it was," Khalil chuckled again.

"Ah. That explains why Miss Fae is in such rough shape," Fiyero said.

"Oh no. Her too? She swore to me she would never drink alcohol again," Glinda looked saddened.

"Ugly college days?" Khalil asked.

"Well not all of them," Glinda had this smirk on her face that neither Fiyero nor the Captain could understand.

"Right…" the Scarecrow made a mental note to talk to Elphaba about it later.

"Are we ready to go?" Lieutenant Ronin asked as he approached the group.

"Oh Lieutenant! You shouldn't be out of bed," Glinda was surprised to see him. It might have been three days but the spell that she and Elphaba used usually kept people from being on their feet for a while.

"I feel fantastic. No scars and no pain. I will join everyone," Ronin smiled.

"Good to have you back! We need someone to whip these men into shape. Zetti is in no condition," Khalil pointed to the Sergeant who was using his rifle to keep him upright.

"Doctor Dillamond finally got the alcohol right I see," the Lieutenant smirked.

"I guess so. Good thing I'm allergic to peaches," Lieutenant Balfour spoke up as he dragged a few men with him from the back of the group.

"Yes it is Balfour. Good to see you," Ronin smiled.

"And you, on your feet. Miracles do happen although I might be more inclined to believe in them if we could get the men onto their horses," Balfour chuckled.

"I know what will fix that," Elphaba came up from the hallway. Despite being just as inebriated as the soldiers the night before, she was looking very much sober. Fiyero couldn't believe it and was about to ask what she meant when she said,

"Find them a snowbank. That'll fix them."

"Right! Come on then Lads! You heard the Lady!" Ronin barked some orders and most of the men covered their ears at the sound.

"Good grief. How are we to ride into possible battle when three quarters of the troops are hung over?" Khalil asked.

"Trust me, it won't last. The temperature outside is barely above zero. They'll wake up. Besides jostling around on their horses will help too," Elphaba smirked and head outside.

The trip to the village was not an easy one. The trail was covered in deep snow and the temperatures made it difficult to keep moving. Glinda and Elphaba spurred on the horses with their magic. They knew that despite the conditions, if the male population had dwindled so much as they expected it had, the villagers could be in real trouble.

"Well here we are. We don't have much time before it gets dark," Khalil said.

"Follow me," Mr. Brown told them.

To Be Continued…