A/N: A shout out to my anonymous reviewer! Glad you liked it. More on what is next now. ;)


Chapter 33

Elphaba decided that she needed to go with Glinda in an attempt to use her magic to perhaps make the patients more stable. Against Bayram's better judgement, he agreed to stay behind and make sure the prisoner was guarded appropriately. The last thing they needed was for Jinjuria to escape custody.

The two women flew back to the troops and their temporary camp. Fiyero greeted them and quickly took them to the wounded. Elphaba was worried that the Munchkins would panic but she knew that if she was going to gain their trust, she had to try and help them.

"How bad is it?" The green woman asked the medic. He went by the name Mesud.

"It's not good. I had to amputate what was left of this one's leg. He's in the worst shape. There are two others with gut shots, but I was able to patch them up fairly well. My bigger concern with them is infection. Nasty wounds like that have a tendency to get infected and not heal well. The last two took shrapnel wounds – one to the face and the other in the arm, his arm broke and I can only splint it. I'm sure that I removed all of the pieces but again, it's just another chance for infection," Mesud looked very tired, but he refused to leave his patients.

"Have you had any help?" Elphaba was worried that the medic was about to need a hospital of his own.

"Privates Roth and Schultz. They are good men to have by my side," Mesud smiled slightly. Elphaba was slightly taken aback; surprised that Schultz had joined the troops. She wasn't surprised that Private Roth followed him.

"I'm glad to hear it. Let's start with your worst patient and see what I can do to help," she smiled back at him. While Elphaba was working her magic, Fiyero was trying to work out some details with Glinda in his tent.

"Elphaba's magic will be drained after she helps Mesud with the wounded. So, any delivery of supplies in the way you were describing will be delayed. Now that Jinjuria is in our custody, I would hope that resistance will be less, but I cannot guarantee it," the Vinkun told the blonde.

"Do what you have to do. Press on toward the capital. I have worked up this decree for you to read to the crowds or to post on any boards or poles for people to read. I just have to multiply it, so you don't have to have your troops hand copy them," Glinda said.

"What do we do once we reach the capital? Any thoughts of sending backup?" He wondered.

"No. There isn't any backup coming. The Quadlings are not keen on sending troops but even if they did, it would take them quite a long time to reach Munchkinland. Momsy and Popsicle's troops have been redirected to the Glikkus. They intend to make contact and let them know that the Emerald City and the rest of Oz doesn't take kindly to their actions," she explained.

"Oh, that will be interesting," Fiyero gave her a look.

"Well, the Munchkins cannot be seen as the only ones being punished for their deeds," Glinda reminded him. The Captain nodded; she was right of course. All parties must be dealt with and as fairly as possible. They didn't get much more conversation in as they heard the sentries shout. Fiyero told Glinda to stay put as he grabbed his trusty rifle. No one outside of their troops should know that the blonde was there.

"What is going on?" Fiyero asked. Lieutenant Zetti had come from his tent to join his commanding officer.

"Movement down the road, sir. Cannot see what, but it looks like a large bunch of vehicles. We heard hooves," one of the corporals said.

"Archers! Assemble!" Fiyero bellowed. Men quickly tumbled out of their tents and formed their ranks right on the Yellow Brick Road.

"Light your arrows! Fire ten yards ahead!" Fiyero barked. The archers did as they were told and the Yellow Brick Road became lighted almost in a straight line across the road.

"Halt in the name of the Gale Force!" Fiyero yelled to the vehicles down the road.

"We mean no harm!" The call came back from a male Munchkin.

"What are you doing on the Yellow Brick Road at this late hour?" Fiyero demanded.

"Trying to escape!" Came the reply. Fiyero looked to Zetti, who could only shrug. The Captain turned to his troops and instructed them to proceed with caution toward the group and to bring them to the arrow line.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Zetti said.

"As do I, as do I," Fiyero nodded.

To Be Continued…