A/N; I'm sorry for the unexpected hiatus friends. Covid and isolation really did a number on my writing. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. I love you all

Tell me it's not true

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Fiyero groaned quietly, listening to the ramblings of his ministers delegating their agendas for the coming week, his ears perking up when he heard them mention their queen and her ludicrous idea to accompany her husband on the trip across the lands to deal with the uprising. "Gentlemen, if I may, anybody who wants to tell Elphaba that her idea is entirely ridiculous, may I suggest you plan your funeral now," he smirked slightly. "I have already spoken with the queen, I've tried to make her see reason, and I've only just escaped with my eyebrows intact."

"Your Highness, apart from the fact that she has already broken tradition when it comes to the queen staying out of matters concerning the king-"

"I know, I'm fully aware. But I think you'll all agree that she's held her own and she's helped us out of situations that could have ended differently." Fiyero reminded them, and the sound of reluctant murmurings of agreement could be heard. "I've had her promise that she stays out of sight until absolutely necessary, but I promise you now if you tell her she has to stay here, she will ignore you and she will follow me or at least find a way to keep watch over me." She would probably send Chistery after me... he thought. "Whatever loophole you think you have, I've already thought of it. I don't want her there any more than you do, I love her too much to see her hurt, or worse, leave my children without one or both parents."

"Right... as you wish, Your Highness... Now, moving on to the farming taxes-"

He drifted off again after that, only coming back into the room when the meeting was dismissed, although he couldn't tell exactly how much time had passed. After shaking the hands of the men in the room, he left the room, his growling stomach making him head towards the kitchens.

"Oh! Your Highness! You know you shouldn't be in here!" The cook admonished, flicking a tea towel in his direction, which he laughed at.

"Cookie you know I can't resist the sweet treats you bake!" He tried to pout before his grin split it. "Please? I skipped breakfast because of those boring meetings with the ministers."

"You always had a sweet tooth." She scoffed, her tone was endearing. "Fine, fine. ONE Bakewell Tart! One won't spoil your lunch. The Great Unnamed knows you could eat a desert full of food."

He grinned and took one from the pantry. "Thank you." He left the kitchens, taking a bite out of his cake as he went, heading towards his wife's study only pausing to knock on the door and enter when she beckoned.

Elphaba looked up wearily when she heard the door open, and a flicker of a smile tugged at her lips as she tried to shake away a headache. "Managed to escape did you?" she picked up her cup and grimaced as the cold tea touched her tongue.

Fiyero nodded with a smile as he popped the remnants of the cake into his mouth before heading over to her. "You look worn out, Fae. Why don't you take a walk with me?"

"Yero, I can't, I have all of these alms to sort out and I'm nowhere near done with the Glikkun treaty, and there's the charitable festival to complete-"

"Neither of which is due in the near future." he cut her off, already taking hold of her hands.

She sighed in defeat, admittedly too brain tired to argue and she allowed him to lift her from her chair and lead her out of the stuffy room. "Where are the children?"

"With Tibbett, he wanted to take them into the village." he walked with her through the corridor and down a set of stairs that would lead them out into the courtyard.

"He pulled himself away from flirting with the guards then?" she smiled.

He shrugged. "They have to have someone with them so maybe not." he chuckled. "Y'know, I don't remember seeing him this content."

Elphaba nodded, though admittedly, hadn't noticed the change in their old friend. "The children adore him. I think if he and Crope wanted to, he'd make a wonderocious father." she said softly as they walked.

He nodded, making a sound of agreement in his throat, the scents of the rose bushes permeating the air around them.

Elphaba took in a deep breath, taking in the cool air and the floral scents around them and felt the weight lift from her shoulders and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Yero."

"Hmm?"

"What happens if we don't come to an agreement with the rebels?"

He tried to repress a shudder, but the tremors in his shoulders made her look up at him. "I don't know." he sighed heavily. "I don't remember it ever getting this far." For all he knew, it could end with their heads on spikes.

"Is there no one we can turn to for advice? This seems a bit too heavy for us to deal with alone."

"Fae, our ministers don't even want you coming along. I don't think-"

"Then what about your mother? As a child she would have shielded you from the worst but maybe she knows where we can go from here if it doesn't go our way."

"Let's hope it doesn't get that far." he tightened his hold around her.

She nodded. "You're a good and just leader, Yero. The people love you."

"I just hope that's good enough." he sighed. "We could always send Chistery to gain some intelligence."

Her stomach twisted uncomfortably at that. "I don't know..."

"It would be different to what he wanted to use them for. We're not using him for evil, Fae, we'd be using him to help, to find out what it is they want."

"Is there any other way?"

He shrugged. "We wait until we're surprised."

"Okay... okay I'll ask him." she trailed off into her own thoughts.

Later in the evening, Fiyero went to find his mother, and Elphaba tracked down Chistery, her faithful, constant friend.

"Miss Fae." the winged creature leapt from his spot at a window and landed with ease at her feet.

She knelt before him. "Chistery, I must ask something of you."

Sensing her discomfort, he stood tall and confident. "Anythimg you wish, Miss Fae."

She swallowed her anxiety and heaved a deep breath. "As you know, we have other tribes threatening an uprising..." Oh, I wish I wasn't about to ask this... "Fiyero and I thought you could help us... Could you fly out and see what information you can find out? Find out what they want from us."

The Monkey nodded enthusiastically, happy to help in any way. "Of course, Miss Fae. I would be most happy to do as you wish." He leapt up to his perch again.

"Wait-!"

He turned to face her.

"Please be careful. Be safe."

"Of course, Miss Fae." he told her before flying out.

She watched him until he was just a speck on the horizon with a heavy heart, wondering if she has just sent a friend to his death.

Fiyero had taken his carriage to his mother's manor cottage and waited to be admitted inside.

"Her Royal Highness will see you in the library, Your Majesty." a servant bowed before leading him through the cottage, knocking the door and entering when bidden.

"Fiyero, son, what brought you here?" Eleanora asked, looking up from her stitching and motioned for him to sit beside her.

"Fae and I might need your help," he admitted. "I... we, are worried about the uprising. Fae made a point that we haven't seen it get so far that we've been unable to contain it." he sighed. "Have you or Father ever seen it get so bad?"
She nodded. "Only once." she said softly. "It happened in your great-grandfather's reign. I forget what it was all over now, the family story is a distant memory, but the Arjiki tribe rose up under his command. Men and boys were sent to their deaths because he was such a pig-headed man, he couldn't see his people, his country was suffering. The battles went on for months... Lessons were learned from that terrible time. Your grandfather swore to put things right, and your father and I did. But you will do better, my boy. You're better than we were. Your family is adored by the people, and I can't remember a time where that was possible."
"So what can I do?"
"Don't send your people to war, Fiyero. Don't repeat history. Find resolutions."
He nodded. It may not have completely cleared up his mind, but it did help. "Thank you, Mother."
She smiled, resting a hand on his arm. "Anytime. Now... how are my grandchildren doing in their schooling?"
He chuckled at her ability to change the subject, and told her everything that had been going on since her ball.