Chapter 23

"Who did this?" asked the Wizard once the initial shock had subsided.

"I guess… I did…" stammered Glinda and then, when it finally dawned on her what was it that she had done, a small squeal of satisfaction escaped her. "I did it!"

"Yes, you did," said Fiyero. He looked at the Wizard, his expression cold and serious. "The only reason you're here is because we need your help. The last thing we wanted to do was bring you here again, but we had no choice."

"I'm afraid I'm not following you, young man. Fiyero, was it?" asked the Wizard. Fiyero nodded. "Why don't you all tell me what I'm doing here instead of having dinner in my house?"

"This is about your daughter," said Glinda. "About Elphaba."

The Wizard's jaw nearly dropped. He sat on the closest armchair. "Is she alive?" he whispered. Glinda nodded. "Oh, thank goodness-"

"Too soon to be happy," Fiyero cut him off abruptly. "She has been taken captive."

"By whom?"

"By a person we heard you know. We were told that you'd be able to tell him to bring her back," said Boq.

The Wizard looked puzzled. "A person I know? But who could that-"

"His name is Luke," said Fiyero. This seemed to surprise the old man even more. He looked very pale all of a sudden.

"Sir? Sir, are you all right?" asked Boq, concerned, and sat beside him.

The Wizard nodded. "Yes, I'm fine…" he said weakly. "Luke, you said?"

Fiyero nodded. "That's right."

"Who told you that?"

"Your former press secretary, Madam Morrible," said Glinda. "But I would like to know how is it that you of all people can tell him to-"

"I'm his father," said the Wizard. Glinda gasped. Fiyero and Boq looked just as shocked.

"You are what?" exclaimed Fiyero. This was unbelievable!

"I'm his father. Which means that he is Elphaba's half brother."

"He doesn't know that, does he?" asked Boq, at the same time Glinda and Fiyero figured that out themselves. Suddenly, Madam Morrible's warnings seemed even more alarming.

"I guess not, or he wouldn't have taken her," said the Wizard miserably. "I have to talk with him."

Fiyero shook his head. "We don't know where he is, or we would have tried to save Elphaba already." said Fiyero.

"I guess we'll have to work according to Morrible's advice anyway," said Boq. "We can spread a rumor about her release."

Fiyero nodded, distracted. He didn't care if Luke was Elphaba's half brother and therefore his brother-in-law. If he'd put one finger on her-

"Daddy?"

They all turned at the sound of a child's voice at the doorway. The Wizard stared at Dawn, who walked into the library. Fiyero forgot about the Wizard as he bent to take his daughter in his arms. "Baby, what are you doing up?" he asked and took her to the couch.

She snuggled closer to him. "Scary thunder," she said sleepily.

The Wizard was still staring at her. She was all Elphaba; no doubt about that. He didn't even realize that she was married by now… to that Winkie prince? Weren't he and Glinda engaged? That didn't even suppose to matter; that was his granddaughter, for heavens' sake!

"Don't you worry about these storms outside, okay, Deanne? They can't hurt you because you're here, and you have us to protect you. Now go back to bed, okay? Do you want me to take you upstairs?" Fiyero suddenly realized that Dawn wasn't paying any attention to him at all. She was looking back at the old man sitting across from her. He couldn't stop himself from wondering if she recognized him from her dream.

"Hi, little one," said the Wizard and offered her a weak smile. "What's your name?"

"Dawn," she whispered, before Fiyero had any chance to object.

"That's a beautiful name, sweetheart. You better do as your father tells you and go back to bed now."

"Want stay here," Dawn insisted.

"Like mother like daughter," muttered Glinda.

Fiyero stood up. "Come on, baby. I'll take you upstairs. Say goodnight." He picked Dawn up and left the library with her in his arms.

Glinda glanced at the Wizard, who looked completely shocked. She felt the least sorry for him. "Congratulations, you have just met your granddaughter," she said dryly.

"She's beautiful," he said quietly. "How old is she?"

Glinda gave him an accusing look. "She'll be four next week. Do you know what she said when Fiyero asked her what she wanted for her birthday? She said she wanted her mama back."

"She'll get her back. I'll talk to Luke, I'll-"

"How? We don't even know how to find him," said Boq.

"We have to find him," the Wizard's voice was determined. The thought of Elphaba being a prisoner of her own brother made him shiver. He turned his gaze to Glinda, who was watching him. "I know what you're thinking about me, Miss Glinda, but I can assure you I am not the same man that I was when I left the Emerald City. I have changed."

"With all due respect, sir, we all have," said Glinda. Her tone softened.

He nodded. He could see that she had. They all had, of course. "When I realized that Elphaba was my daughter, I felt as if my world was shattered into pieces. I've lived by myself since I went back. No family, not even close friends. I didn't see a reason to live anymore. That is what loneliness does to you, I guess. But coming here, hearing that she is still alive… I'll do everything I can to win my daughter's trust again."

"Well, I should warn you. It won't be easy. You betrayed that trust, several times. Elphaba doesn't easily forgive."

"I understand that. I'll do everything to be a worthy father for her."

Fiyero re-entered the library and heard these last words. "Just help us find her, bring her back here alive. You owe her that much."

The Wizard shook his head and turned to look at him. "No, I owe that much to my granddaughter."

They sat in silence for several minutes. They could hear the raindrops hit the windows full force. "I don't suppose you have anywhere to stay?" asked Glinda finally.

The Wizard shook his head. "You summoned me here. Luckily I have some baggage with me but no, I haven't made any arrangements."

"So you'll stay with us. We have plenty of empty rooms, I'll ask the servant to open one of them for you," said Glinda.

"Tomorrow we'll start again," said Fiyero. "We'll talk to the chief and ask his advice about Morrible. I just hope it'll work."

"It will work," the Wizard promised and looked at the three of them. "It has to work."