A/N: Shout outs to my anonymous reviewer and James Birdsong. Thanks so much!

Chapter 18

The next two days of the trial went without a hitch, which completely surprised everyone. Although, secretly, Elphaba wondered if the Wizard's supporters were just waiting for the verdict. Fiyero had tried to be reassuring but she could tell that he was just as nervous as she was.

"What do you suppose that Kahui has up his sleeve? I expect you'll be called back into court soon," he said as they sat inside the small dining room eating breakfast. While he probably should have been with his parents, he had quickly skipped out of his room before they came to get him and made his way to find his beloved.

"I have no idea. There is no way he has proof of anything that would prove me to be a villain and he certainly has no proof his client is innocent. I'm guessing it was just a stunt," Elphaba shrugged. The door to the room opened and in walked Queen Ayla. Elphaba practically tripped over her own feet attempting to stand up and bow. Ayla quickly waved her off.

"I wondered where my son had gotten to. I can see why he felt the morning company needed to be better," she said.

"I'm… I…" Elphaba stumbled over her words, very nervous given what happened before when she was confronted in the medical tent.

"Odd that you seem to lose your confidence when I'm in the room," the Queen said as she took a seat next to Fiyero.

"Mother…" he gave her a look. Not wanting to seem like he was cautioning her but also wanted her to know that he was concerned about how his mother was affecting the green woman.

"What? In the short time I have known her, she has stood up for everyone else but when it comes to her, she struggles," Ayla gave him a look.

"I'm trying my best to do what I am supposed to. You are royalty and as such, should be treated appropriately. Of course, I suppose that little voice in the back of my head that says you're going to throw me in jail, has a tendency to come to the surface," Elphaba finally managed to come up with her reasoning. Ayla was about to say something when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," the green woman called without looking up from her breakfast. She was quickly losing her appetite. The door opened revealing Private Schultz.

"Good morning Private," Elphaba smiled as she turned in her seat to face him.

"Good morning ma'am. Prosecutor Doruk needs to see you at the courthouse," he explained.

"Of course, he does. Have you eaten?" Elphaba wanted to know.

"Yes ma'am. Thanks for asking," the Private smiled as she stood from her seat and headed for the door.

"Good luck," Fiyero said.

"To you as well Captain," the witch gave him a quick look and was out the door with the Private. Ayla immediately turned to her son.

"You love her and yet you hide it – or at least have everyone else convinced that you don't," she said.

"A few know but we're keeping it quiet. No point in having people believe I'm enchanted during all of this," he told her.

"A wise idea. Hopefully this will be all over soon," Ayla smiled at him.

"I can only hope but I worry it will not be so easy," Fiyero admitted. He wasn't wrong. Over at the Prosecutor's office, Doruk said he'd been informed by Kahui that he intended to call the green woman back to the stand. Elphaba asked him what he thought the defense lawyer had on her. Admittedly, the green woman had no idea what she could be asked. Unfortunately, neither did the prosecutor. The Private suggested that extra guards be placed in the courthouse in case it was a stunt. Perhaps Wizard supporters just wanted her in the courthouse to try to get to her. Or maybe the floundering defense lawyer was hoping that Elphaba would slip up – say something that could prove some sort of damaging thing. Both Doruk and Elphaba thought that he was onto something with the first thing he mentioned and asked him to provide more backup for security reasons.

"Doruk, the judges want us back in court," a man standing at the office doorway announced. It was prosecution second chair lawyer Emil. He was not as experienced as Doruk but was learning a lot from the elder lawyer.

"Of course. Let us go and be quick about it. The judges won't like tardiness," he said. Emil nodded and headed back out to his desk. Private Schultz quickly moved out of the office and headed for the front door, hoping to clear the way for the three people behind him. He peered around the street. Troops were not that far away but something felt off to him. He couldn't put his finger on it. The people behind him were coming out and he put up his arm to stop them. Quickly, he put his thumb and index finger in his mouth and whistled loudly.

"What's going on Private?" Elphaba asked.

"Something feels very wrong," was all he said as some of Vinkun troops approached them.

"What's up?" It turned out to be Lieutenant Dilek and a few of his men.

"I just can't shake this feeling. We need more assistance at the courthouse, and I think…" Schultz didn't get the words out when a shot rang out.

"Everybody inside!" Dilek shouted. They moved into the building and Elphaba realized that Schultz wasn't moving that fast.

"Private Schultz!" she called out and that's when the others noticed what she noticed – blood.

To Be Continued…