A/N: A shout out to James Birdsong. Glad you liked it! :)

Chapter 20

The conversation had gone about as well as could be expected. Elphaba could not yet use her powers as she was still drained from speaking with the dragon. Glinda offered to be her stand in until such time that the green woman was well enough. The King and Queen laid out what battle plans they had put together with their Generals and Balfour seemed to think that there wasn't much else they could prepare for.

Now as the clock chimed seven, a shout from the walls surrounding the Palace could be heard. Zixi had been true to her word and the troops she'd loaned the Vinkus had arrived. Lieutenant Ash quickly took charge of getting them hot meals inside of the large tents that had been set up for their arrival. The King went down to converse with the leader of the troops and Fiyero went with him. They picked up Balfour on the way and had some discussions on what the plans were and who would be following whom once the battle began.

This left Elphaba to get some rest after feeding Zara again. Since she didn't have her strength back, it was decided that she should stay in the infirmary so she could get help from Havva or the nurses should Zara need to be changed of fed. Chistery tagged along, not wanting to leave the two females alone. Elphaba could sense his concern and knew that if he was on edge, so were the other Flying Monkeys.

"Elphie, do you think you can talk for a little bit?" Glinda asked as she approached her friend's bed in the infirmary.

"As long as you don't mind me keeping my eyes closed," the green woman smiled.

"Of course not," the blonde replied before taking a seat in the chair that Fiyero had vacated some time ago.

"I know you're worried about something and I don't think it has to do with the possibility of a dragon. Though at this point in our lives, I'm not sure what could be scarier than a dragon," Elphaba told her. She lay on her back, faced toward the ceiling.

"How can you tell?" Glinda asked her.

"That look on your face during our meeting earlier. What is going on? Everything ok with you and Balfour?" Her friend wanted to know.

"I…" the blonde paused not sure she wanted the whole room to know what she was thinking. Instead she grabbed her best friend's hand and placed it on her own stomach. It only took a few seconds for Elphaba to respond,

"That's a very nice dress but I'm not sure what I should be looking for here."

"So it's not what I think it is?" The implication was there and Elphaba knew what she meant.

"I don't think so but then again my powers are kind of low. Have you been feeling different?" The green woman asked.

"More and more I feel the need to be overly protective of Balfy and I don't know why. That seems to be it but then again my whole body seems to be in upheaval. I get nervous and sweaty and sometimes the thought of food makes me sick," Glinda explained. This made Elphaba open her eyes. She knew that performing a healing spell without knowing what was afflicting her friend could be incredibly dangerous.

"I suggest you pull Doctor Magi aside. We have to be sure you're one hundred percent if we're to really face off with a dragon and a bunch of Nomes," Elphaba told her.

"I suppose you're right," Glinda nodded. That's when the doors to the infirmary opened and in walked Kelebeck. She immediately moved toward the women and bowed her head,

"Princess Elphaba, Ruler Glinda, I was hoping to find you here."

"You were? What's going on Kelebeck?" Elphaba asked.

"Queen Zixi has arrived. She claims that the trap inside the tunnel connecting the Vinkus and Ix has been sprung. My father and my Uncle Bahadir have gone to confirm it," the young Griffin explained.

"So it begins then," Elphaba frowned.

To Be Continued…