A/N: Sorry this took so long. Hope you enjoy it. :)
Chapter 38
"Here they come!" A cry went up at the wall surrounding Ozkan's once beautiful palace. Quickly the gates were opened and the Munchkins escorted in. Fiyero quickly stepped out of the royal tent and approached the group. Glinda quickly released the horses from their spell as the gates slammed shut behind them.
"You made excellent time," Fiyero smirked at Glinda and his wife, who quickly transformed her horse back into her broom.
"That we did but we could not have done so without Glinda's help," Elphaba smiled and then turned to the Munchkin behind her.
"May I introduce Councilman Bartholomew and his band of merry men," she said.
"Councilman, it is good to meet you. I am sorry for the way it had to be done but you must understand, we are at a loss," Fiyero walked up to him and extended a hand in friendship. Bartholomew shook the King's hand, much to the amazement of his men.
"I can understand why things needed to be done this way. No offense to the Queen but she couldn't exactly show up as herself," the Councilman smiled slightly.
"No offense taken. I needed honesty and I got it," Elphaba smiled.
"Come, let us discuss the terms of surrender so that we may end this foolishness and bring Oz back to her former glory," the King gestured to the royal tent.
"That sounds good your Highness. Apparently we were all being lied to and I hope that we can change the image of the Munchkin people. Can my men rest somewhere? It has been a very trying day," Bartholomew told him.
"Of course. General Tulak, would you have your men escort these gentlemen to the mess?" Fiyero asked.
"At once, your Highness," Tulak smiled and immediately pointed to a Captain and his men to lead the wary guards away.
"Thank you. Now as far as surrender goes, you do in fact have Ozkan in your possession?" The Councilman wanted to know as they took some seats around the large table.
"We do. He refuses to speak to us and refuses to say anything about his second in command," Fiyero said as food was brought in for Bartholomew.
"I have never met his second in command but Gavbin is a slimy weasel along with Ozkan's right hand man Erman. If you should find them, dispatch them both without second thought. All of the orders signed by Ozkan were brought to me but Erman and I did not trust as far as I could throw him," Bartholomew explained as he looked at the food and slowly tucked into it.
"Good to know but I fear both of them escaped the palace grounds before we could capture them. Or it is quite possible that they are among the dead. We got a little excited with the use of the cannon the troops had left behind and collapsed the tower," Fiyero told him.
"It is possible. That being said, I have no choice to assume command of the Munchkins and give you our complete and total surrender. Although I wish to see what Queen Elphaba had seen in the capital city," the Councilman said.
"You shall see it. I ordered my men to leave it as evidence. I intend to take Ozkan back to the Emerald City and try him for war crimes along with the attempted assassination of my wife. Many innocents are dead because of him and I will make an example of him," the King spoke evenly but Bartholomew could see the anger in his eyes.
"And if what you say is true, I will support you in any way that I can. I will not stand for the murder of my own people," the Councilman said.
"Neither will I," Elphaba spoke up and the Munchkin took a good look at her. She suddenly seemed frail and her skin had changed from a deep rich green to a pale yellowish-green.
"Forgive me for saying so, but you do not look well, my Queen," he said.
"The after effect of casting spells when one is not one hundred percent. My husband did not mince words when he said that I was almost assassinated. Without Glinda, I would not be here today," she told him.
"That being said, you rest while I ride with the Councilman to the capital and show him just what exactly Ozkan was up to. General Tulak, please perform another sweep of the city while we're gone. Alert everyone that no harm will come to them if they come to us," Fiyero said.
"Yes your Highness. I certainly hope you'll be taking a party along with you," the General said.
"Of course. Besim, would you fetch Lord Upland and bring him and some of his men along?" Fiyero smiled.
"Right away," the former Gale Force soldier smiled.
To Be Continued…