A/N: Fae'sFlower - you don't trust Khanija and Korèl? Interesting...

Guest – I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far!

The next day at lunch, Elphaba was forced to serve, something she had thus far managed to avoid. Mareem had taken a bad fall that morning when she arose to unlock the house, stumbling on the staircase in the dark, and now had a vividly purple swollen foot to show for it. The apothecary had agreed to check it out that afternoon. For the meantime, however, Mareem was very limited in mobility, and carrying a tray full of food was simply out of the question. Elphaba had left her mending some curtains that had long since required attention, with her large foot wrapped up on a stool.

Elphaba herself was hardly in a fit state to be taking over affairs after the previous day's beating. Bruises seemed to have blossomed all over her body overnight, creating discolouration that looked very odd against her green skin. The bruises climbed all the way up her arms and torso, back and legs. The only part of her he had left alone was her face. This, he had said, was because her face was ugly enough without his aid. Elphaba suspected, however, that at least part of it was also unwillingness to cause Nessa alarm.

These bruises, however, she had no problem covering up with one of her usual black frocks that hid most of her skin, except her face and hands. She didn't appear to have broken any bones this time – at least, not as far as she could tell – and walking around, though unpleasant, was manageable. So, she withheld her discomfort and tried to maintain a straight posture as she served the Governor, Nessarose and Fiyero a platter of cold meats, cheese, grapes and sandwiches.

Fiyero, as far as she knew, was in the dark about what had happened yesterday. Good. It was better that way. She still had her pride, and she didn't need someone else knowing about her problems. She had slipped up too much around him already.

And that was another thing that frightened and bewildered her. For eighteen years, she had kept the details of her life locked up inside of her from everyone except those it was impossible to hide from. Yet somehow, this infuriating prince from the Vinkus, who had seemed able to do nothing but annoy and baffle her from the moment he waltzed in their door, had pulled secrets from her that she never intended to share with him, and had never wanted him to know. She had known him less than two days, for Oz's sake! And the brainless idiot hadn't even seemed aware initially that Governor Thropp had a second daughter. Everyone in Oz knew about the Thropps' green embarrassment. How this knowledge had escaped the man Nessa may soon be promised to was beyond her.

She would say this much for the prince. She had yet to see any evidence of his playboy ways and other unsavoury habits – beyond his remark the previous morning about the women of Munchkinland falling at his feet. She was hardly fool enough to believe that those rumours had come from nowhere. It might be true that not everything is as it seems, but every rumour had a grain of truth to it. She studied him carefully as she placed the platter in the centre of the dining table.

She moved to pick up a serving fork and jumped as Fiyero lifted his eyes to meet hers. There was a strange look in his eyes as they made eye contact, and Elphaba quickly lowered her gaze, puzzled. He had questions, she knew. Questions she would have to answer sooner or later. And he knew about the matter with Khanija. She thought she could trust him to keep quiet about that, but then...

"Elphaba!"

Elphaba jumped, a squeak escaping her lips despite herself, as she almost dropped the fork.

Frex was looking at her sternly across the table. "Stop loitering and move!"

Elphaba nodded fearfully and hurried to serve Fiyero from the platter.

"Elphaba, are you alright?"

Her gaze snapped to the prince, who had addressed her. Her jaw grew slack, and she felt rather like a fish as her mouth opened and closed. She was painfully aware of Frex's fist balling on the table. Never was she spoken to during a meal, except to be given an order. It wasn't done.

"Fine," she muttered in a faint voice, quickly moving on and praying that he wouldn't speak to her again.

"No, you aren't fine. I can see it in the way you're moving. Are you hurt?"

Elphaba's hands began to shake, and she scrambled to serve Nessa, frightened now beyond reason. What her Father would say to this...

"You needn't concern yourself, Your Highness." Frex's voice was cold, and there was a layer of command underneath the civility.

Elphaba watched from the corner of her eye as Fiyero turned to look shrewdly at the Governor, and the blood rushed to her face. "I only meant to inquire after Elphaba's wellbeing, Your Governorship."

"I know what you meant. I repeat that you need not concern yourself. If there were anything the matter with her, I would know."

Elphaba shuddered at the implications of his words, and left Nessa, hurrying to serve him so she could get out of here.

But Fiyero continued, his words like steel. "Forgive me, Your Governorship. I was asking Elphaba."

Elphaba began to shake more visibly, taking a sharp intake of breath. A loud bang sounded, and she realised Frex had hammered his fist against the table.

"Father," Nessa's quiet voice spoke up. "Please." Her blue eyes were wide.

Frex ignored his youngest daughter. "Elphaba, you are dismissed."

Elphaba dipped a curtsy and fled the room.

Mortification flooded her as she put as much distance between herself and Fiyero as she could. She had barely taken ten steps however, when she heard the door banging behind her, and she whipped around, eyes wide.

"Elphaba, wait!"

Fiyero ran up to her, and she found her feet were suddenly glued to the floor facing him. Had he left the table alone to chase after her? Breathless, he halted in front of her and opened his mouth, only to shut it again. He tried again, and again closed it. He was more of a fish than she was, Elphaba observed wryly.

Finally he got out, "Are you sure you're alright?"

Elphaba stared at him. "Yes, I'm alright." The words came out harsher than she had intended, and Fiyero winced.

"I didn't see you yesterday after... you know."

Elphaba nodded. She did know.

"Mareem said you were indisposed."

She didn't like where this was going. So she ignored it. "You oughtn't to have spoken to me just now."

Fiyero frowned in confusion. "Why? I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

Elphaba felt her frustration growing, starting to choke her. "But you mustn't speak to me during dinner. Fiyero, listen. You mustn't. Father doesn't approve."

Fiyero scowled darkly. "Why? And for that matter, why were you serving us at all, instead of eating with us? You're the Governor's daughter!"

"Yes, I know I am!" Elphaba exclaimed breathlessly. This man made her want to tear her hair out. And then tear his hair out. "Go back, Your Highness. You can have nothing more to say to me."

"I have so much more to say to you!" he almost shouted. "I have questions!"

"Questions I won't answer!"

Fiyero closed his eyes and scrubbed his face. "I didn't even know the Governor had two daughters! All I knew was that I was being sent off to meet a girl, and that marrying her would be the answer to political problems I have no idea about. And it turns out she isn't even the firstborn daughter, and the true firstborn I was given to understand was no more than a common servant!"

Elphaba trembled with rage and humiliation. And something else she couldn't put her finger on. "And what," she spat, "makes you think I should trust you enough to give you any of the answers you're demanding of me?"

Fiyero deflated. "You have no reason to trust me. You barely know me, and I haven't given you any reason to."

"No. You haven't." Elphaba was about to turn on her heel, when Fiyero suddenly changed tack.

"Are you going to go to the Munchkin City Tower?"

Elphaba faltered, bemused by the sudden jump in topic. "Yes, when I can."

"How about tonight?"

Elphaba frowned. "Tonight?"

Fiyero nodded emphatically. "Yes. When do you finish your duties?"

"Fiyero," she spoke slowly, spelling it out. "I finish late at night, well after your pretty little head will be asleep on your pillow. And I rise early. I'd never be able to do my work if I went gallivanting off at night."

Fiyero's shoulders slumped. "Well then, when?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Why do you care?"

"Because I want to help you."

Elphaba's breath hitched. He wanted to help her? Why? "Why?" she asked him aloud.

Fiyero shrugged. "I'm bored."

She huffed, considering him carefully. "If I let you get involved, will you tell Father?"

"What? No!" he looked horrified.

"Then why is this so important to you?"

"I told you, I'm bored! I have nothing to do here, and as much as the whole thing freaks me out, it's the most interesting thing that's happened in my life. And quite possibly the best." He muttered that last part, almost to himself.

Elphaba was about to answer him when she heard heavy footsteps from inside the dining room – which was only a few paces away – and she realised her Father was leaving the room. "Quickly!" she hissed, grabbing his forearm and pulling him into the nearest storage cupboard. There was barely enough room for the two of them, and the cupboard stank of cleaning materials, but she held her breath, going very, very still so Frex wouldn't discover their hiding place.

They heard him walking right outside the door, muttering angrily when he didn't find either Elphaba or Fiyero where he had thought them to be. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Fiyero opening his mouth, and hastily she slapped her hand over it. She continued to hold her breath until he passed by them, and then slowly let it out. Turning, she suddenly became very aware that she was alone in a tight cupboard with Prince Fiyero. Face flaming, she stumbled out of the cupboard, Fiyero almost tumbling after her.

"Well, that was... interesting."

Elphaba huffed but couldn't think of anything to reply to that.

Fiyero drew his hand through his hair. "Seriously though, Elphaba. I want to help."

Elphaba bit her lip. "I don't know if I can trust you."

Fiyero softened. "I know. What do you need me to do to prove it to you?"

Elphaba's eyes flickered to him in surprise. The gentleness in his tone caught her off guard. "You swear you won't say anything?"

"I don't need to swear it," he said seriously. "When I say I won't, I mean it."

Somehow that convinced her just enough to take a gamble. "Alright."

"Alright?"

She let out a breath shakily. A part of her couldn't quite believe she was trusting him this easily. But it would be nice, she admitted to herself, to have him along. She had never had anyone, apart from Nessa and Mareem, to do anything with. And this was different than either Nessa or Mareem. "Meet me tonight at midnight in the stables." She would survive one sleepless night. She hoped.

"Fabala?"

Both Elphaba and Fiyero whipped around to hear Nessa's gentle voice coming from the dining room door. Nessarose sat in the open door, her hands in her lap, looking puzzled.

"Nessa!" Elphaba ran beside her little sister, kneeling to take hold of her hand. "I'm sorry, my pretty. We didn't realise you were there."

"We?" Nessa's brow furrowed, looking at Fiyero. "What were you doing?" Her eyes flickered back and forth between them.

"Nothing. We were just talking."

"Oh," she said quietly. Nessa looked down at their joint hands, green on creamy white, thoughtfully. She was wearing the dress, Elphaba noticed. The green one she had wanted to wear the day before.

Fiyero noticed too. "I like the colour of your dress, Miss Nessarose." The compliment seemed genuine.

Nessa looked up at him, beaming, her cheeks blossoming a delicate pink. "Thank you, Your Highness," she breathed charmingly.

Fiyero sent her a small smile back. The sight, for some reason, made Elphaba want to gag. "Where's Father?" she interrupted.

A small frown creased Nessa's forehead, although even that managed to look winsome. "He was looking for you and Prince Fiyero. You left the table so abruptly."

"Let's return to the table then, Miss Nessarose," Fiyero spoke.

"Yes, let's." Her face was glowing. She didn't move, however, and slowly she began to look very troubled. "Fabala," she began, "you know you ought to be more careful. Father was very angry at the scene you caused just now."

"Scene?" Fiyero's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. "She didn't cause any scene."

"And then there's the matter of what happened yesterday," she continued, frowning in mild disapproval.

Fiyero gaped. "What? What happened yesterday?"

"Nothing," Nessa spoke abruptly, noticing the colour drain from Elphaba's face.

"I'm sorry, Nessie. I didn't mean to leave you on your own."

"I know you didn't, Fabala. Just please be careful."

Elphaba squeezed her sister's hand and kissed it, trying to hide the discomfort she felt discussing the subject, and the fact that she suddenly found it much harder to ignore the ache all over her body.

"Elphaba," she felt Fiyero's hand on her shoulder. "What happened yesterday?"

Internally she moaned. Nessa had the decency to duck her head, looking sheepish. "I don't think my sister wishes to discuss it, Your Highness. I'm sorry. I ought not to have brought it up."

Elphaba flashed her little sister a grateful glance, and Nessa returned it with an apologetic smile.

Fiyero was silent, but then sighed in resignation. He seemed to accept the fact he would find out no more information just now. "Let's go back in, shall we?"

Nessa nodded, brightening again, and Elphaba pushed her chair back to its place at the dining table.

"Fabala," she looked up at Elphaba beseechingly once her chair was neatly tucked under the table. "Can you stay with us?"

Fiyero looked up at them as he sat down in his seat, nodding his head in agreement. "Yes, stay. Surely your work can wait, can't it?"

Elphaba huffed at them. "Don't you think I'm in enough trouble already?"

"Father isn't back yet! Just for a little while. Please, Elphaba?" Nessa pouted, and her wide blue eyes begged her to stay.

"But, I..."

"Elphaba," the prince spoke firmly now, and it caused her to look up at him in surprise. His vivid blue eyes were more serious-looking than she had ever seen them thus far, and she squirmed, suddenly feeling like a naughty school-girl under the gaze of unquestionable authority. But at the same time, it wasn't like that. There was that gentleness again, beneath the firmness, and she could tell he was not telling her off, but rather compelling her to relax. Unwittingly, she felt herself immediately respond before he said another word, and she knew that when he opened his mouth again she would sit down without argument.

"Elphaba," he repeated her name a second time. "You never give yourself a chance to relax." There – she was right about what he intended to say. "Stay with us a while."

She did, of course. The chair rose up to meet her, and she trained her eyes on her lap, finding it very difficult now to look at him.

"Wow!" Nessa's exclamation sounded. "I must say, Your Highness, I am impressed." Impressed, she sounded indeed. Thoroughly and infuriatingly.

"Why?" Fiyero peered at her over the top of his tea cup that he had just lifted to his lips, brow furrowed.

"Why?" Nessa parroted in amazement. "You may be the first person to ever convince my sister to do anything so easily, besides Father of course."

Elphaba flinched hard.

Fiyero said nothing to that, but Elphaba could tell he was mulling the statement over, and she didn't like it one bit. After a moment, he spoke. "Elphaba doesn't seem like the kind to easily lose an argument."

Elphaba scowled into her lap, unhappy about being talked about as if she wasn't even in the room.

"She isn't, Your Highness."

"I'm right here," Elphaba snapped finally.

Fiyero looked guilty. "Sorry. We didn't mean to leave you out."

Elphaba huffed and crossed her arms, but considerably mellowed. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Fiyero grin and her scowl deepened.

"Prince Fiyero, what was it like growing up in the Vinkus?" Nessa asked, sipping her tea.

Fiyero looked surprised at the question, but then looked into the distance thoughtfully. Elphaba lifted her head, watching him, interested to hear his answer despite herself.

"It was... well, I don't know that there's much to say about it."

"Well, is it different from Munchkinland there?" Nessa prompted.

"The climate is much colder in the Vinkus," Fiyero replied. "It snows frequently. I used to sneak out of the castle whenever my Father tried to get me to sit in a political meeting or debate, and I would spend the day having snow wars with my cousins while Dad got in a twist searching for me." He flashed them a lopsided grin.

"I've never seen snow," Elphaba sat up, unable to stop the curiosity from leaking into her voice. "What's it like?"

"It's cold and wet – brilliant for thrusting down the necks of unsuspecting cousins when they think they have one up on you." He winked and Elphaba rolled her eyes.

"But what does it look like?" Nessa asked enthusiastically.

Fiyero paused. "When it snows, it looks like the whole world has been painted white."

Elphaba closed her eyes, imagining what that would be like.

"It sounds beautiful," Nessa breathed.

"I suppose it is beautiful," Fiyero conceded. "I still think its greatest merits lie in prank potential though." He grinned.

Elphaba laughed softly, and Fiyero looked taken aback to hear it. She blushed faintly and quickly looked back down.

"I'd love to see it someday," Nessa said shyly, looking up at the prince beneath her eyelashes.

Fiyero coughed. "Well, who knows?" He said in a bright voice that sounded false.

Elphaba bit her lip. Was she the only one who could taste the thick tension in the room?

Silence fell. Elphaba broke it. "I should go."

The reaction she got was almost comical. Both the heads of Fiyero and Nessa snapped up, and she would have laughed had it not been so irritating. Nessa's face, without saying anything, was already the embodiment of a whine, and Fiyero... well, honestly, Fiyero was no better.

They opened their mouths in synchronisation and Elphaba held up a hand, stopping them. "I have to work. And Father will be back soon."

Nessa's mouth snapped shut. She knew it was true. But still, Elphaba could see the war going on in her will. "Your Highness..." she started, seeming to appeal to Fiyero for help, and he responded immediately.

"You don't have to go, Elphaba."

Despite herself, she smiled a little sadly. "Actually yes, I do. The kitchen won't clean itself, you know. And Mareem can't walk right now."

His face fell. "Couldn't I help you?"

This time, even Nessa looked surprised. But not as surprised as Elphaba.

"Fi- Your Highness, you want to help with the chores? Pardon me for saying so, but I was unaware that cleaning kitchens was part of the crown prince job description." She didn't mean that in a derogatory way, but the thought of the Prince of the Vinkus helping her with the household chores was simply – absurd.

"Well, it isn't," he replied, shrugging. "But if Mareem is off her feet, you could use the help. I'm sure you could use the help even if she was able."

"Do you even know how to clean a kitchen?"

He grinned. "Can't be that hard, can it?"

Discretely, she rolled her eyes. "But..."

"I'm helping." He was beside her now, lightly cupping her elbow with his hand. "No buts."

Elphaba glanced significantly at his plate. "You haven't even eaten yet. You ran after me before you could even touch it."

Fiyero looked back, as if suddenly remembering about his food. He ran back to his place, grabbed as much as he could in a table napkin and cradled it to his chest precariously as he jogged back towards her. "I can eat on the job."

Nessa had her jaw open. "Your Highness?" she asked in a squeaky tone. "Are you sure?"

He nodded seriously, as if accepting some grandiose task or noble quest. Elphaba couldn't help it. She sniggered. Then she did something that surprised herself. She rose up on her tiptoes and planted a brief, but grateful kiss on his cheek.

Fiyero looked so shocked he might drop his food on the floor.

Elphaba bit her lip, suddenly very embarrassed at her boldness. She coughed. "Thank you. You don't have to do this."

The prince recovered quickly. "I want to. Now, where's the kitchen?"

Laughing, she beckoned for him to follow her. "You are just full of surprises, aren't you?"

Fiyero's beam threatened to split open his face.