Author's Note: Sorry this has taken such a long time…I've never actually written a fight scene before and well…I had an interesting time with it. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 8

"I am telling you that what you are doing is unsafe. I beg you to listen to me or you will be putting the lives of everyone around you in danger!" Gerema's eyes flashed dangerously, and she took a deep breath as though trying to inflate herself to larger than normal size.

Elphaba regarded her coolly, careful to keep the anger that was boiling in her stomach from showing on her face. Getting angry, she thought silently, was the fastest way to lose an argument. Boq and Fiyero stood looking on silently, as though afraid to get caught in the crossfire.

"And I am only saying that if we don't have some way to monitor them, we won't know when it's safe to leave again. We can hide down here all we want, but let's face it, we're almost out of food as it is, and we'll suffocate," said Elphaba flatly.

Gerema threw her hands up in the air.

"You are risking the lives of everyone around you for your own foolish purposes."

Elphaba bit back a sharp retort, her mind racing. She knew stubbornness had always been her biggest weakness, and she wondered for a moment if maybe Gerema was right. But she knew also that if no one monitored the advance of the party of beings that was quickly approaching them, they would have no way of knowing when it was safe to leave the tunnels and search for much-needed food. She also knew that she was the only one with the experience required to spy on them from the tower.

"I really don't think you are in a position to judge the level of risk I am taking," said Elphaba slowly, "as I have spent more time here than you. I know this place inside and out. But I don't need to justify myself to you. I'm going up to that tower to watch. Now if you want to stop me, go ahead and try. But talking incessantly isn't going to work."

With that, she turned and started up the staircase, leaving the others staring after her. For a moment she thought she would escape without further argument, but then she heard the shuffle of feet from behind her. Elphaba didn't turn, but instead walked the rest of the way up the staircase and through the trapdoor into the tower of Kiamo Ko. She walked all the way over to the window and knelt down in front of it before turning. Fiyero was standing behind her, arms crossed over his chest.

"What?" she asked sharply.

Fiyero shrugged and put his hands up in surrender.

"Nothing. I'm just not going to let you be up here by yourself."

Elphaba glared at him, forcing herself to remain at least somewhat calm.

"So now you don't trust me?"

"I didn't say that! Fae—"

"Don't call me that!" Elphaba shrieked before she could stop herself. She turned away from him and planted her hands on her hips, then went back to the window. The party was continuing to advance, moving quickly. They were within a few feet of Kiamo Ko, close enough for Elphaba to see what they were.

"Tiktoks," she murmured under her breath.

"What?" asked Fiyero, coming up behind her.

"Tiktoks. Five of them. And they've got…" Elphaba gasped at what she saw.

The leader of the group had stepped forward and was holding what appeared to be a captive. It raised an axe over the figure's head.

"Show yourself, Witch!" it called in a tinny voice, "Or your little spy dies!"

Elphaba stiffened as it brought the axe down closer.

"You have two minutes."

"Chistery," she grated through clenched teeth. Elphaba turned and started down the main hallway out of Kiamo Ko. Fiyero ran after her, close on her heels.

"What are you doing?" he yelled after her. "Elphaba!" Fiyero caught up to her and grabbed her by the arm, his hand so tight on her wrist that she was sure it would leave bruises.

"I have to go down there." She pulled out of his grasp with a wrenching effort. "I can't just let them kill him. Enough innocent lives have been lost because of me as it is!"

She turned and raced down the main staircase. She was nearly at the door before Fiyero caught up to her again.

"I thought you didn't believe in innocent casualties. As I remember, you said it was all part of the cost."

Elphaba whirled on him, her long, flailing black hair giving her a wild appearance.

"That was different!" she turned back and pulled up the heavy latch on the door, her heart pounding.

"Elphaba!" She could hear Fiyero shouting from somewhere behind her, was determined not to listen. "Stop! It's suicide!"

Maybe it's better that way, she thought as she flung open the huge door.

The sun blinded her momentarily; she hadn't realized how dark it was in the tunnels. A small tremor of movement went through the five tiktoks, what would have been surprise if they had been human…or even living.

"Let him go!" cried Elphaba, all thoughts of her own safety vanishing.

"Surrender, Witch!" cried the tiktok.

Elphaba crossed her arms over her chest and stood her ground.

"I said let him go."

"Surrender," the thing repeated.

"No." She could see now that they were all carrying axes, knew that they could easily overpower her.

The tiktok raised the axe above Chistery's head, preparing to bring it down.

"Stop!" cried Elphaba. She threw up her hands, knowing she was sacrificing her life. Her heart was pounding in her ears, but her mind was made up. She didn't care anymore.

In the next moment, Elphaba saw Chistery flying away toward one of the towers, felt the tiktoks take hold of her arms. She kicked at one of them, and it struck her a glancing blow across the back of her hand. She winced on impulse, but was surprised at the lack of pain. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Fiyero come running out of the castle, Boq and Gerema close on his heels.

They were going to get killed. They were all going to die. There would be more killing and it would be her fault. The thoughts raced through Elphaba's mind, tumbling over one another in a dizzying rush.

The tiktoks faltered for a moment, perhaps thrown by the sudden appearance of the others. Fiyero was at Elphaba's side in an instant, kicking at the tiktoks and using a large piece of wood as a makeshift club. Elphaba broke free and turned just in time to see the leader of the tiktoks strike a long blow across Fiyero's shoulder. The tiktoks were no longer fighting to capture. They were fighting to kill. Elphaba heard herself cry out as Fiyero sank to his knees.

"Get out of here!" cried Boq.

"I can't," she protested, "This is my fault, I—"

"Elphie, just go!"

His voice was so adamant that she turned and ran headlong toward the castle, not even stopping to look back.

Don't hurt me…please don't hurt me…::ducks to avoid large object she knows is about to be thrown by Risa:: REVIEW OR THE TIKTOKS WILL GET YOU!