AN: Thanks again to everyone reading. Sad to say that the next chapter is going to be the last (I mean, I did say it was only going to be six chapters, so it shouldn't be a surprise)
The grasslands he had grown used to were speckled with yellow. The heat having taken its toll on it. The sun was slowly setting and the smallest breeze ran through the grass. He felt it through his body and it made him shiver.
His parents castle was further ahead, mighty and dark. He didn't feel anything upon seeing it again. He thought he would feel something.
That was his home after all, this was his village; his people.
Plenty of people were outside in celebration of their returning husbands or wives. There were people dancing in the streets and he was happy for them. He traveled by, seeing a few of the houses with their lights turned off and their blinds shut. Those were the ones who had someone who didn't return. There was a lot of those houses.
His jaw trembled and Fiyero let his mind fill with El. Her face, her smile, her beautiful skin; the intensity of her eyes when they were together. He couldn't get her out of his mind and he didn't want to. She could be the sun shining in his desolate mind.
"How far are we going man?" The woman who had picked him up asked. When he saw her pass by he thanked almost every God in existence and swore how he would repay El for the money she had given him. What he thought would take days of traveling only took one whole evening.
"Right up to the Tiggulars castle." He said.
She gave him a look, "I'm not going to get myself arrested for a few coins buddy."
"Alright then, just leave me at the road that leads to it."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"You completely sure because I don't think they'll let you up there. It's a waste of a trip?"
"I'm completely sure."
She shrugged, "Your decision pal."
She stopped exactly where he asked and Fiyero got out—not without almost falling on his face, but he made it. He handed her all the money he had and she took it.
"Good luck pal."
He smiled at her, " Thank you."
…
He didn't look like himself and he knew it. He was a mess of a person; dirty; sweaty, and the exact opposite of what he left as. He wasn't at all surprised when he was met by guards when he walked up to the castle. He knew those two and he was glad to see they hadn't decided to join the war.
"May I ask what your business is coming up here?" One guard, Grey was his name, asked calmly, never bringing out a weapon.
Fiyero smiled sadly when they didn't recognize him, "I'm here to see my father and mother."
He looked at him in suspicion, "And who would you say is your mother and father?"
"The king and the queen. " He said simply.
The two looked at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"You're Fiyero Tiggular?"
He smiled and nodded, "Yes and you two are the idiots who always let me out when my parents said not to. Usually with a simple bribe."
"Yeah," He enunciated "bribed with women—which ended my life and my savings."
The other one, Arri, tapped him on the shoulder, "I thought you loved her? "
Grey shrugged, "I do, doesn't make it any less true. It was Fiyero's fault."
"Which is why I'm glad I didn't hit it off with the girl he chose for me."
Fiyero rolled his eyes, "That's because I didn't know you swung more the other way."
"Hey! I swing either way, I just didn't like…"
Fiyero just stood there with a small smile when they both stopped talking and looked at him.
They looked him over in disbelief.
"I feel terrible that I missed your wedding, Grey. "
Grey laughed," Don't worry about it, I wouldnt have invited you. You'd of made a big spectacle. Probably ended up stealing my wife."
Fiyero chuckled.
"It's good to have you back, Fiyero. " Grey opened his arms wide to hug him. Fiyero didn't register his hug. It felt strange.
"Holding him a little too long there aren't you, Grey?" Arri said, shoving Grey to the side to squeeze Fiyero. The air in his lungs was pushed out at Arri's strong grip.
"You smell terrible man." Arri wrinkled his nose when he stepped back.
"He looks it too. "
"Stop blabbing like two gossips and let me go see my parents. "
"Yes, the King and Queen will be overjoyed to see that you've made it home without any trouble."
"I don't know about that," he shrugged, glancing at his foot, "but it will be great to see them after everything."
"Come on then, we've got a job to do out here and you need to shave and bathe."
He rolled his eyes but smiled.
They opened the gates, and Fiyero followed them in, all the way up to the front of the castle where they called out to open the large door.
"Your prince has returned, open up!" Arri shouted up to the others.
The doors opened quickly, a group of guards were chattering amongst themselves when he walked into the great room of his childhood home.
It felt foreign to him, the inside was bright and nothing had changed, it was the same as always, but to Fiyero it was different in some way.
A line of people stood in the entrance bowing their heads at him. Fiyero acknowledged him with a nod, not bothering to hear their whispered words.
His mother, beautiful as ever, was the first person he truly saw. Tears in her eyes and a warm smile on her face. She glanced for a moment at his foot.
"My little boy." She whispered, opening her arms to him.
"Mother." He replied walking into her arms. She felt her mothers tears wet his shoulder. He hanged onto her. He held himself from trembling.
"Your father will be so happy to see you." She said into his shoulder.
Fiyero pulled away to look at his mother, "Will he?"
"Why wouldn't he? Fiyero, your father has missed you."
"He seemed quite eager for me to join this war."
"You were quite eager to join..." She shook her head, brushing something off his shoulder and stepping back, "Now Fiyero, let me get a good look at you, let me see your foot. When did the doctor say it would be healed?"
He didn't know how to respond to that.
"And you've lost weight my son, you're looking pale, have you had anything to eat?"
Fiyero's lips turned up at all her questions.
"Don't coddle the boy. He came back from a war, he doesn't need you to protect him." His father came into view.
"Father." Fiyero regarded him with a bow of his head.
"Fiyero, I am quite surprise to see you appear like this. I was certain I would hear word of you reacquainting yourself with the local whores."
"Hienry!" His mother looked at him in horror.
The king did not acknowledge her, "They wouldn't take you looking like you are. You need to go upstairs and wash. You are a Prince not a streetrat."
He nodded,"Yes, father."
"Enter my study as soon as you are done. There is a lot to do." It was all his father said before walking away. Fiyero looked at his mother.
"He seems to have missed me a lot."
The queen sighed, "You know how your father is."
"I'm going upstairs. You heard him, I look like a street rat."
"And that is of no fault of your own my son. I would have sent someone for you so you wouldn't have had to come home on your own, but he didn't tell me."
"I know you would have. I would never doubt you mother."
"Are you able to go up the stairs alright?"
"It's a surprise." He smirked, hiding the panic of not really knowing if he would make it up.
His mothers lips were in a thin line, "No, surprises. Take my hand and I'll walk you up."
He smiled at his mother's kind offer but he shook his head. "I have to learn to do it myself."
"But you don't have to learn right now." His mother whispered taking his hand tightly in hers.
And for another time in his life Fiyero felt like crying.
…
The moment he saw his bed Fiyero wanted nothing more than to lay down. He wanted to see if he had a pen and paper somewhere in his room to write to El. He wanted to tell her that he made it home safely, but he knew he had to find time for that later. His father asked to see him and he had to do what his father said.
"Fiyero, would you like me to send in someone to help you? "
He shook his head, "No, this I could do myself, but thank you mother. "
"Are you sure? "
He wanted to roll his eyes but didn't want his mother to feel bad. She only wanted to help.
"Yes, I am perfectly capable of washing myself. "
"I don't want you to be here by yourself." He could hear the worry in her voice.
"And I won't be, I'll yell for any of the dozens of maids we have running around if I have any problems."
His mother gave him a disapproving look. He didn't mean it in that way, but he couldn't fault her for thinking that of him.
"I'll be careful mother." He reassured her.
"If you are in actual need of help. Call for help, don't abuse that."
He nodded.
His mother wrapped her arms around him again, cradling him like a baby."I'll have the chef prepare you something to eat." His stomach grumbled but it was not as bad as before. El had been kind and gave him plenty to eat.
"Okay," he answered.
She gave him a kiss on the cheek, "I'll see you after you speak to your father okay." She said pinching his cheek.
Little gestures like that made him feel like he was a little kid again.
"Do you know what he wants?" He asked.
"He doesn't tell me anything. You know that my son."
Anger flared through him, "And that pisses me off. He doesn't bother telling you anything."
His mother was used to him, even now, her calm demeanor never wavering. "He's loyal and true to his country. Everything he has done has been for the good of the Vinkus." She said it proudly.
"I know he is a great leader mother. I just wish he would include us."
"Maybe today he will." His mother smiled.
He snorted, kissing his mothers hand, "That would be a miracle."
She smiled again and shooed him into his bathroom. "Go my handsome little boy. You've always tried to get out of bathing by talking a lot."
It was true.
Fiyero tapped his mothers foot with one of his crutches as he walked away.
"I almost thought father would call me before I made it into the restroom, darn." He joked.
He heard his mothers soothing laughter as he shut the bathroom door behind him.
Everything was different as he walked in, it didn't feel like he belonged there although it was his room. It was clean and shiny, his toothbrush replaced (he wondered how often his mother had that changed.) Towels were in a small table and the floor squeaked as he walked across it.
His jacket was the first thing to fall to the floor as he walked to the tub, filling it with warm water.
His shirt (that felt as if it was a part of him now) was pulled off and tossed to the side. He was more careful with his pants, having to sit at the edge of the toilet seat to take them off. He took deep and steady breaths when he pulled it over his foot to ease the pain. He would have to keep his foot out of the bath, he didn't want to know what would happen if he got the inside of the bandage wet.
He pushed himself up and went to the bath, putting his foot inside and holding onto the side in case he slipped.
The warm water quickly made him relax. His other foot hanging out of the tub.
He wanted to lay there and not open his eyes again. Sure, he was bathing in his own filth, (he could see it swirling in the water as he scrubbed his arms) but it eased the pain in his muscles. If he had a choice, he would lay there and do nothing for the rest of the day. He would let his mind wander to warm glistening green skin that created goosebumps on his skin. Her lips had been so soft on his rough chapped ones and the way she looked at him, sweet Oz the way she stared was enough to get him to shudder even now.
He wanted to see her again, touch her and kiss her. He wished she had accepted his offer to come with him.
A knock came at the door, "My prince, your Queen mother has asked to know if you are well."
He sighed, "I am well, I would yell for help if that changes."
"Alright my prince."
He heard footsteps walk away. Fiyero wondered for a second if he should have asked for help to get out, but he used his arms to grip the side of the tub and get himself out. It wasn't easy but he did it.
He had to sit on the edge, careful not to slip as he reached out for a towel. Fiyero got up taking extra care not to fall and wrapped it around his waist. Grabbing his crutches again he went over to the sink to shave. Oz knows he needed it, a haircut too.
Shaving didn't go as well as he hoped, his hands had started to shake at the sharp blade in his hands and he had cut himself. At one point he wanted to close his eyes and shave but he didn't think that it would be the greatest idea. He was clean shaven afterwards, with a few cuts that he smothered with paper to stop from bleeding. He held the razor blade up, the grip was digging into his palm and he stood still before taking it across his hair. When he was done with that he simply slicked it to the side.
He looked almost the same as before when he was cleaned up, but something in his eyes was different. He didn't want to look at himself much.
He worked his way towards his closet, picking out something clean and simple to change into. He dressed relatively quick, heading back out of his room. He thought he might have some trouble getting back down the stairs. Fiyero was always fond of taking two steps at a time when he had someplace to go (usually to some girls house, or some party that he had to go to), never once had he fallen or tripped despite all the times his mother warned him he would. Now he was heeding that warning and he was actually afraid of falling. He could break his other foot and that was the one thing he didn't want. Fiyero quickly came to the conclusion that coming upstairs in the first place was a terrible idea. He stood at the top wondering how on Oz he would get down.
"My prince, will you need some assistance?"
Fiyero turned behind him, he didn't recognize the girl. She was young, and red headed, smiling brightly at him. He admired how easily she smiled.
"Thank you, I think..." he had been about to decline her help, but he decided that the little pride he had left would do him no good. " I think I do need some help. "
She smiled even more at that. He smiled only a little.
She came closer and she took his crutches. "Let me just get these down first. "
He watched her go down and come back up.
Fiyero placed one hand on the wall, the other went around her shoulder.
It was a strange thing to him to have a young beautiful woman in his arm and not be flirting relentlessly with her.
"My prince, if it's not to improper to ask, I'm wondering what happened to your foot?" She asked once they took a step down.
He gulped painfully and with a blink of his eyes, Ryen was sitting next to him with Kay on the other side, underneath a tree in the night sky. They had recently marched from the great kells where they had won a battle. He couldn't get the eyes of the Animals and the people living in the forests out his head. He kept on wondering how many had died on accident by his hand?
Ryen broke apart a biscuit in his shaking hand, and with a frown that now seemed permanent on his face, tossed the other part at him.
"When I get home," Ryen started, chewing on his dry biscuit, "I'm going to have a big breakfast. Sausage, eggs, bacon, pancakes, and I'm going to eat until I throw up."
"Munckinland is pushing the Gale force back into their shit filled city. If we keep these assholes in kellswater bay, the munchkins will come soon and we can take the city. Then we'll be home." Fiyero said, he couldn't wait for the day he could go home.
"With the majority of the Gillikins switching sides we'll all go home and Kay you'll have woman and men throwing themselves on you, you'll be a Vinkun hero."
Kay smiled, "There's only person I want to be a Vinkun hero for."
"Still on that girl you met that night?"
Fiyero, with his mouth full of bread, said, "I thought you forgot all about her."
"I didn't. She's still writing and I think when I get home I'm going to marry her."
Fiyero shared a look with Ryen before bursting into laughter.
"Marry? After knowing her one night? That had to be some great sex!"
Kay scowled, "You wouldn't understand, neither of you would."
"I can't really argue with that." Fiyero said, not wanting to fight with his friend, "And I don't want to."
"Well I do want to understand why. So why?"
"You guys know I wasn't looking to do anything like that that specific night. I didn't want to get attached to anyone especially when I was going off to fight. But I met her and we talked, we talked a lot, and I really hit it off with her. She's been writing and so have I and we really understand each other. And I don't know about you two, but with everything going on, someone who can understand me, even without being here, is someone I want to be with."
Fiyero looked at Ryen and they both shook their heads at the same time, "Nope can't say I understand one bit of that. I can just think about all the girls that are going to see the uniform and be dazzled."
Kay shrugged, "To each their own I guess."
"I can drink to that." Ryen raised his glass.
"Yeah, enjoy your muddy water."
They all laughed.
Fiyero's eyes followed towards the camp where a few of the men were running about in alarm. He tapped on Ryen's shoulder.
"Get your rifle ready and stay with me. Kay go to the tents and be ready to wake the captain and the other men. Go." He jumped to his feet, his pistol in his hand. He found it more practical and easier to reload. Ryen was next to him as they rushed towards camp.
"What's going on?" He asked one of the privates that was running about.
"A group of Gale force soldiers were spotted coming to the bay Sir, the captain went with some men to flank them but they've been spotted. They need us over there."
Fiyero rushed over with Ryen and shortly after Kay found them again. The captain and his troop had kept the others back.
But not all of them fled, some were still hidden in the trees unseen in the dark.
When they rushed out they were ready. Ryen with his frown, shot down man after man. Fiyero's aim was onpar with Ryen's and his smaller weapon made it easier to see his surroundings.
"Watch it!" Kay shouted as a Gillikin jumped out at Ryen.
Ryen with quick reflexes threw him over his shoulder and Fiyero shot the man before he fell to the floor.
"Stupid idiot, still fighting on their side. " Ryen growled, shaking the pain from his shoulder.
Fiyero looked around them, "We should get out of here. We're in plain sight. "
Ryen grinned, but he could see the fear of the close call in his eyes. "We don't win by hiding. "
"But we do live a little longer. " Kay replied.
Without so much as a sound, a small man fell from a tree directly on top of Ryen. Fiyero jumped forward but was pushed to the ground.
He yelled out in agony, his foot bursting with pain. He was lucky he had his pistol in his hand. The man on top of him didn't see it coming when he shot him.
The man was pulled off of him and Kay offered his hand. He took it and he had to bite down into his lip to stop himself from bursting into tears at the pain in his foot.
"Oh my fucking god." Kay swore, hunching over beside him. Fiyero looked to where he was looking and he had to look away because the tears were really coming out now.
He didn't need to look twice to see the dagger in his friends neck.
He didn't want to see more blood. He closed his eyes and when he opened them he was shaking. He was back on the stairs, now sitting at the bottom.
The maid was staring at him, clearly shaken.
"How did we get down so fast? " He tried to make himself sound alright, but he didn't really know what that meant anymore.
"I thought I offended you with my question and that's why you weren't responding. I'm sorry I didn't mean to be so rude."
"You weren't," He didn't even look at her as he spoke, "Thank you for your help. I'll take my crutches now. My father wants to see me."