Chapter 9

By the following week, similar graffiti were sprayed on several other walls in the Emerald City. The citizens were panicked. No one could guess who would do such a thing. Glinda and Elphaba felt obligated to summon everyone to an emergency meeting in the City's square.

"But how can people do that?" asked one woman with a baby in her arms.

"If we could answer that, everything was simpler," said Glinda. "I'm afraid we can't, not just yet."

"The best thing for you to do is take care of yourselves," seconded Elphaba. "Don't be in the streets after the sun sets, watch your children, make sure they'll stay around you all the time. I can assure you that we are doing everything we can to stop this, and catch the person responsible."

"This is someone who does not want you alive," remarked an Ox in the audience.

Elphaba nodded. "That's right," she said, as calmly as she possibly could. Some people and Animals gasped.

"Please, people, there is nothing to worry about," said Glinda. "Just do as Elphaba says, take care of yourselves and your families. We are doing everything we possibly can to solve this. Go back to your homes now and sleep soundly tonight," she ended and looked at Elphaba, who nodded. There was nothing else they could do at the moment.

When they got off the podium, someone bumped into Elphaba. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss," said a kind male voice.

She raised her head to look at the man who bumped into her. His eyes had an interesting and unique shade of emerald. His expression was kind. He was handsome, and as tall as she was. She nodded. "That's fine, nothing happened."

"My apologies," said the stranger, offering her a small smile, which she returned, a bit hesitantly. "I hurried up here to talk with you before you leave…" his voice trailed off when he noticed Fiyero, who was approaching Elphaba.

"Fae, are you coming?" Fiyero stopped short when he noticed Elphaba wasn't alone. He glanced suspiciously at the handsome man who stood next to her.

"Darling, just hold on a moment, this man here-"

"Luke," said Luke and extended his hand to her. "I heard so much about you. I am proud to finally meet you in person, Miss Thropp."

"That's Lady Tiggular now, my friend," Fiyero corrected him with a small smile, wrapping his arms around Elphaba's waist.

She raised an eyebrow at this possessive motion and the unmistakable malice in his tone. She turned to shoot him an incredulous look. Could he possibly be jealous? She wanted to say something to protest against his ridiculous behavior, but decided against it. Sometimes, one look was enough.

He didn't seem the least intimidated by the glare she flashed at him. "What, that's who you are now," he said, defending himself. Yes, it wasn't the most gentlemanly thing to do, and he wasn't at all proud of it; but he didn't like her talking with this strange man… well, this handsome strange man, which made things even worse.

"Whatever your name is, Miss Elphaba," Luke interrupted, a charming smile lightening up his face. "I'm happy to meet you at last," he kissed her palm, and then shook Fiyero's hand. "Glad to meet you too, Master Tiggular."

"Where are you from?" asked Elphaba.

"I live in Gillikin, but I was here in town visiting an old friend when I've heard of these problems you are having here lately. I wonder if I could be of any use here."

"Anything at this point would be helpful."

"Though I don't see how could you help us," said Fiyero. "There isn't a thing we haven't done yet."

"Well, I'm very good at mingling," said Luke, "and from my experience, people at pubs talk a lot. I might find out something."

"If you really want to help, you are very welcome," Elphaba said gratefully. "I'm afraid we have to go now, but we'll probably meet again soon, Mr.-"

"Oh, please, Luke is enough," replied Luke, smiling.

To Fiyero's amazement, Elphaba returned his smile. "Then I'm Elphaba," she said. Fiyero smirked. What in Oz-

Luke nodded. "Alright, Elphaba. Then I won't keep you here any longer," he said, stealing a glance at Fiyero, who couldn't quite decipher what was hidden in that glance. He could care less.

"Thank you for suggesting your help. Have a good night," said Elphaba.

"You too," answered Luke and watched them as they disappeared among the crowd. He sighed. This was going to be much more difficult than he expected. No one told him how remarkably beautiful she was. He couldn't take his eyes off her, yet he had to be careful, for that Fiyero didn't take his suspicious glares off him. Yes, the Winkie prince would be another major problem. Luke knew he had to ignore Elphaba's piercing beauty, though, in order to complete what he had come for. And he would complete his task, he thought. No matter what, he would take his revenge on the Wicked Witch of the West.

"Elphaba, come on, talk to me!" said Fiyero the moment he closed their bedroom door. She didn't say a word all the way back to the castle; she even snapped on Glinda, who tried to ask what happened that made her so upset. Fiyero knew exactly what was wrong. He wouldn't let the issue go. Just like Elphaba, he could be stubborn too.

"Fiyero, just forget it, okay? And please go, I want to be alone."

He stared at her, momentarily speechless. She had never used such an icy tone while talking to him. "I don't believe you're doing this! Don't be so childish, Elphaba!"

If looks could kill. "Childish?" she echoed, now furious. "Well, look who's talking, right? Fiyero, you acted like… like-"

"Like your husband perhaps?" She tried to turn away from him, but he quickly took hold of her wrist, looking at her seriously. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? You're right, it was childish, and I shouldn't have done that. But he was-"

"A perfect gentleman, comparing to you?"

"What? I am a gentleman, and a prince!"

"Well, you weren't acting like one earlier, that's for sure!" She snapped, storming away from him.

"Will you lower your voice please? I rather leave Boq and Glinda out of this, not to mention the children."

He had a point. She nodded briefly, avoiding looking at him. "I'm sorry."

He sighed. She had every reason to be furious with him, but what was he supposed to do? Did she really expect him to stand aside while she was speaking with that… that- "Look, Fae, I didn't mean it, okay?" he said gently, slowly approaching her. "It's just that I was… well-"

"Jealous?" she asked seriously, looking directly at him. He looked away, and she knew it meant this was just the case. She sighed. "Oh, Fiyero… Do I really need to assure you that you have no reason to be jealous?"

"No, of course not, that's not the point."

"Then what is the point?" she asked, her voice softening in spite of herself.

"We've never been there before. I've never needed to compete with someone else on your attention, your heart-"

"Now wait just a clock tick! My heart? Fiyero, he offered his help, nothing more, remember?"

"Well, I saw the way he gazed at you!"

"Did it even cross your mind that he gazed at me because he has even seen a green woman in his life? Green people are very rare at Gillikin, you know."

"Stop being sarcastic, you know exactly what I'm talking about!"

"Fiyero, I love you," she said in the most serious and honest tone she could manage. "And once you promised me that we are going to be together always. Now I am the one who makes this promise. I will never stop loving you, no matter what. Okay?"

"I know that. It was a brainless behavior, I'm sorry," he said, wrapping her in a tight hug.

"That's alright," she murmured into his shirt. "We all have our days."

"I love you too," he said, looking at her. "Let's go playing with Deanne, okay?"

"I want to apologize to Glinda first. You go, I'll join you in a moment."

"Okay," he whispered before he pulled her for a tender, lingering kiss. "Come back soon," he murmured once their lips parted.

Elphaba nodded, then touched his face gently. He still had a small scar on his right cheek, which brought her back to that far away day at Shiz when they released the lion cub. "I will," she smiled and left the room.