Chapter 3
The two days flew by and soon Fiyero, Elphaba, and Zara were meeting their friends at the Palace's front steps.
"It is good to see you. It has been awhile hasn't it?" Elphaba asked.
"Too long Elphie. It would seem like Lurlinimas was forever ago," Glinda hugged her best friend.
"It's only been three months Aunt Glinda," Zara chuckled.
"Yes well things have been surprisingly dull in the Emerald City up until Barty's announcement," the blonde was her usual bubbly self.
"You will have to tell us all about it over dinner. I'm guessing that Bart had to stay in the City to give the usual whirlwind tour of the Council chamber and introducing his future bride?" Fiyero spoke up.
"Actually he had a test he could not miss and will be here in a few days. The journey is a little longer by horse," Glinda stepped in before her husband of the last fifteen years could speak up. Everyone noticed that Isabelle had been awfully quiet; something the almost as bubbly as her mother girl, was hardly ever seen being.
"Right, well why don't we let you guys get settled and we'll meet down in the dining room in half an hour?" Fiyero wondered.
"That would be great. I'm quite parched," Balfour winked at the Prince.
"I have no doubt. My father has been itching to open the bottle of scotch in his cupboard and celebrating an engagement seems like the best time to open it," Fiyero winked back. They all headed into the Palace and showed their friends to their rooms. Then the three Tiggulars headed for the dining room.
"Something is really wrong," Zara finally voiced her opinion.
"You bet there is. Isabelle didn't even ask if your brother was here," Elphaba frowned. Semir, Zara's younger brother, was off learning to hunt in the Thousand Year Grasslands with the Arjiki elders. It was his rite of passage in Vinkun culture to not only prove to the elders that he was worthy of the title Prince but also as a future King. He would be back just in time for Zara to go on spring break. Isabelle and Semir were close in age and had always enjoyed engaging each other in a friendly game of chess along with learning how to bake.
"She didn't even say "hi". Something is really wrong and Glinda and Balfour seem to be dancing around the subject," Fiyero frowned.
"What could be the worst thing I ever tell you?" Zara suddenly asked.
"What?" Fiyero was confused.
"In your minds – what is the worst thing you could hear me say?" His daughter tried again.
"Honey, nothing you say or do would be bad enough for us to pull you out of school early and travel halfway across Oz. Nor would it be bad enough that we'd try to marry you off," Elphaba gave her a look.
"You're sweet but if I came home and said I robbed a bank, you wouldn't just brush it off," Zara pointed out.
"Well I can say for sure that Isabelle and Bartholomew certainly didn't do anything that Glinda and Balfour would take such measures," her mother shook her head.
"I'd actually prefer that to the thought I just had," Fiyero swallowed; both ladies looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"One of them could be sick and not the "oh I have a cold" kind of sick," the Prince finished.
To Be Continued…