AN: So here is the last chapter of this short story.
Ravencurl: Thank you for reviewing! I found it really hard to get into the hurt and comfort mindset but I think that's the only way my stories can go.
Fiyero didn't want to enter his fathers study. He would have waited a bit longer to go in, but his fathers personal guards were outside the door and when they saw him they opened the door. He muttered a stiff thanks and entered.
His father was sitting down in front of his great desk, a thick heap of papers in his hands. His father didn't put the papers down but freed one of his hands to point to a chair. Fiyero had just taken a seat when his father spoke.
"A lot of our people lost sons and daughters in this war. Many are angry." His father paused to stamp something on one of the papers. "They don't want this war to end in terms of peace. They want those who hurt their families to atone. Our people don't see that our children also slained children of the City, Glikkuns, and Gillikins."
Fiyero sat in silence. What could he possibly say? What could he possibly do about it?
"If the only thing our people want is to condemn themselves into more bloodshed...when does it end?"
He gave a weak shrug, "I don't know. "
"I refuse to see my people asking for more blood spilled. The Gillikin people were the wizards secondary source of power in this war, you understand this." His father looked at him.
Fiyero nodded once, "Yes, there were plenty on the field."
"With this war over we have to prove that we may not be from the same country but we come from one land, and that we are all one despite the fights and disagreements. "
"Yes. "
"We have to move forward in this new age. I may rule but one country, and I am unsure what steps other leaders are taking, but I choose to unite one another again. Which is why you will travel to Gillikin and be joined in marriage with a daughter of a noble clan."
Fiyero froze, fisting his hand. This was what his father wanted, for him to marry?
He couldn't, he wouldn't. It filled him with dread just to think of it.
"I'll send over the doctor to evaluate that foot of yours and you should be ready to go in two days time, agreed?" His fathers eyes flitted over to him before turning back to his papers.
His throat felt dry. Call it infatuation or obsession...but he only had El in his head. She was the only woman who might understand him now. No one else.
"I said are we agreed?" His father asked again.
He blinked and without a moment's hesitation he shook his head, "No father. I don't think we are."
His father didn't react any particular way, it was actually as if he had not heard him.
"She's a young woman, a beauty with a family that is powerful in the Gillikin. You've had plenty of time for fun. Now it's time to focus on things that truly matter."
"I understand that, but I am not going to marry the girl you want me to marry."
"No, it appears you are not understanding…as always. You have no choice. We are trying to bring our land back as one and this is a great step towards that."
"My mother is Gillikinese. We are already united with Gillikin. I am a child of Gillikin and The Vinkus. We don't need a marriage to reinforce that." His fingers were shaking.
"We need to reassure and remind everyone that we are still united."
"So marry mother again! I have already chosen a bride."
The King blinked slowly, and with an amused expression he had rarely seen on his fathers face he said, "You've already chosen a bride?" It was in a tone he only ever heard as a child when he had done something wrong.
"I have." There was no hesitation in his voice, although inside he was screaming at himself for saying it out loud.
"Who is your intended bride to be?"
"Her name is El."
"And where is her family from?"
He couldn't answer that.
"Last name?" His father questioned.
"...I...don't know."
His father nodded, "I think you're done with your excuses, Fiyero. This may still seem like a joke to you, but we are in dire need of an alliance now more than ever."
His face grew hot, "She isn't an excuse. She's real."
"And this El said yes without telling you her last name?"
"She doesn't really know I'm marrying her yet."
"Which whorehouse did you find this El? "
He had to grip onto his chair to stop himself from lashing out. What good would that bring him to lash out to his father. Fiyero had to calm himself, hold himself back, and not let it affect him.
"She isn't a whore," He said as calmly as he could muster, "I haven't touched foot in a brothel father. You know that. I never have."
"No, because you always bring them into this house. You make a mockery of the Tiggular name. You don't take this seriously, you never have. You aren't just any other boy, you can't marry just anyone, you are the Prince of the Vinkus!"
"And unfortunately your only heir."
His father was silent, his face as still as a stone, masking the anger he knew brew behind his eyes.
"My only heir indeed."
And just like that he found the confidence he needed.
"I am leaving today father. I don't know where I'm going and I don't know when I'll return, but I need to go and figure out my life."
His father tapped one finger to his desk, "Do you think marrying a girl you hardly know is going to bring you a happy life?"
"I don't know, I'll have to ask you?"
His father's face never changed but he did move his neck. A move he noticed he only did when he was annoyed with him.
"I knew of your mother, I courted her for months before I married her."
"And I will do the same, if she is okay with it."
"You would so freely abandon your country when it requires your help the most?" His father said plainly. "Is that how you made it back? By running away and letting others do the work?"
He felt a knot form in his throat, and he felt the prick of tears in his eyes. Yet he kept himself levelheaded.
"The Firens must be proud that their son died fighting for our peace. Kay Firen is a hero to the Vinkus. You Fiyero, are far from that."
Fiyero shut mouth tightly, the pressure on his teeth bringing him pain. He stood up, his hands cramping from the force he was holding onto his crutches, and he walked out.
His father called back for him but Fiyero wasn't able to turn back.
Not anymore.
...
He was staring at the floor, letting his feet take him where he needed to go, and where he needed to go was not anywhere in that castle. From the corner of his eye he saw his mother, sitting in front of the fireplace, book in hand.
"Mother."
She looked up with the same smile as always, but it fell when she took in his expression.
"Fiyero, come, what's wrong?" She patted the seat next to her.
He went to her and sat down.
"What did your father want?" She asked, taking his hand.
"He wanted something of me that I was unwilling to do. He wanted me to marry some Gillikin girl."
His mother sighed, "I thought that he would try that."
"I refuse to do it. I already found someone."
His mother's eyes lit up, her smile making Fiyero smile.
"My handsome boy, you've fallen in love." His mother touched his cheek.
He held his breath for a moment, "I don't know...but I want to know."
"And you're thinking of leaving...aren't you?"
Fiyero frowned but nodded.
His mother's eyes grew wet. "Tell me about her?"
"She intelligent. She's brave. She's been through a lot in this war, like me...And she's beautiful, her skin is green. It's perfect, she's perfect."
His mother didn't even bat an eye when he said it, but her eyes were watering and soon she started to sniffle, holding back tears.
"Are you going to cry?" He asked her.
His mother laughed and shook her head, but her tears were already coming out.
"Stop, you're going to make me cry." He joked, but then when his mother hugged him he had to close his eyes together so he really wouldn't cry.
"I want to tell you to wait until you're healed and healthy again, but you've never been one to wait. So I want you to promise me you'll write to tell me where you are. I want to know if you are okay, and I have to meet this green girl when you get to her."
He laughed, "I don't even know if she feels the same mom."
His mother took a deep breath, "Then go and found out my son."
"Father is going to be angry, and I might be disinherited if I leave." He smiled sadly.
"And that scares you? You've never wanted this crown."
"He'll have no successor."
"He will always have a successor. This will always be your home and I know you will return, and with the luck that seems to follow you, you'll return happy."
"Not if he doesn't let me."
"Don't worry about that. Let him try and turn you away." She laughed brushing her fingers on his cheek, "I love you my son."
"I love you too, mom."
He held his mom tightly. She gave him a kiss on the top of his head.
"I'm going to get the cook to bring you food in here. Will you be okay?"
He nodded, feeling so much love for his mother, "I am so undeserving of you mother."
"Hush, you're my son. Even when you were at your worst I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world."
He didn't know what to say.
"Now wait here for me."
He nodded and she left.
Fiyero stared off into the fire for a second before looking down to his hands.
The pad of his fingers were dry and flaky, and when he rubbed his fingers together it was so rough it felt like he was cutting himself. His fingers had been smooth once, but he wasn't sure how long ago it was now since they had been. They hadn't bothered El, or if they had she hadn't made any note of it.
He smiled at the thought of the green woman and his mind went to the words his mother spoke minutes before.
'My handsome boy, you've fallen in love? "
Could it be true? He never understood when others talked about it. He wasn't sure if love was the right word to describe what El made him feel.
The understanding between them, their physical compatibility and attraction, his initial connection to her that was difficult to explain even to himself. He wanted to go back to her as soon as possible and drown in the serenity her presence gave to him. He wanted to know more of her and of her past and he wanted her to know him—the real him—the one that had been hidden away for so long.
Fiyero sighed and rubbed his face. How would she react when she found out he was a Prince? He didn't think she would care but then again he didn't know her. They both held off on telling each other who they were. Fiyero set his forehead to rest in the palm of his hand and he dozed off thinking of green skin and bewitching eyes.
He woke with a heavily beating heart and images of blood.
He had to wipe his face of all of it. He had to scrape it off of himself.
It was when he felt the pain on his face that he stopped himself and froze.
He was not surrounded by blood, no one was screaming around him. He repeated that in his head many time before his body became less rigid. The fireplace was burning and candles were lit in the room. A blanket had fallen off of him when he woke and a small table was pulled close to the sofa with a covered tray and a cup beside it. Fiyero took the cup and drank just enough of the water to coat his throat, then he took the tray.
He ate little of the food that was on the tray before losing his appetite. His eyelid still lowered with sleepiness but he forced them to open again. He needed to leave, it was the only way he could sleep in peace. This was not home anymore.
He got up from the sofa, taking the crutches and moving away from there to find someone. The castle was quiet but there was always someone around. He did find someone in the hall and they were surprised to see him, even more surprised when he asked them to go and get his mother. Nonetheless, they agreed and went away in a hurry.
Fiyero moved around in the hall, trying to shake the sleep from his eyes and body.
There were quick footsteps coming from the stairs and his mother appeared wearing her sleeping robe and a wild look in her eye.
"Fiyero," She said breathlessly, "What's wrong? "
"I'm leaving." Was all he said.
She blinked, confused, "At this time? "
He nodded his head.
"Wait until morning. "
"I can't sleep well. I rather use the time that I'll waste and get somewhere where I can sleep. "
"So then go sit down and write a list of essentials to bring with you. You have no need to leave unprepared."
"I only need myself and the clothes on my back...and maybe a carriage. Everything else I can work to get. "
His mother sighed, "Oh my son. My stubborn, stubborn, son."
'I don't feel right here. I need to get away."
"This is your home. " His mother said softly.
"It doesn't feel like it anymore. "
His mother was speechless, her eye beginning to water. She covered her face with her hands and leaned back against the wall. He saw her shoulders move and Fiyero went to hold her. His mother cried and he felt guilty, it was his fault.
"I thought you were okay with me leaving. I told you I was. "
"I didn't think you were going to leave tonight. You just got here."
"I know. " He looked down but his mom lifted his chin up.
"Don't feel so guilty. This has never been the life you've wanted. This place has never brought you happiness, and if this girl that you want to return to can make your eyes shine bright once more... Then I will let you go happily. "
"Thank you. "
"As long as you can tell me that you'll be okay, you'll stay safe, and that you'll take care of your foot, I'll let you go."
"I will be okay, I promise you mother."
"I've been waiting for so long for my sweet boy to return. He is here, he is alive, and now he must go."
"I will write as soon as I can. "
"I will hunt you down if you don't."
"I don't doubt that mother. " He laughed lightly.
"Never..." His mother took in a trembling breath,"Now wait for a few minutes. You need clothes and a bit of money even if you think you don't. Give me a second. "
His mother left and returned a few minutes later with a large bag.
"Take any of our carriages and take care. "
"Always. "
"Good luck out there my boy. Find your happiness and let me see you soon."
Teary eyes and shaking, he smiled.
And with one last kiss and hug from his mother, Fiyero was off.
…..
He left.
He had refused what his father asked of him. Was it a mistake to leave? He tried not to think about it, and it wasn't hard not to. He had a way to push things out of his mind, and he had perfected it. He was numb of everything but navigating the horse drawn carriage through his birth land.
Merchants with their goods always preferred night travel as their products would be kept cool and fresh. For him, it meant having the chance to put his entire mind into handling the carriage and not falling over a cliff in the dark.
He traveled that way for a long time, never stopping to eat or to sleep. There was something in him that made him keep going—a feeling in his gut that if he stopped he would never make it to where he was going. There was for a second, a thought in the back of his head. Why was he going to her? Why was he really going back to a stranger that he could very well leave as his first happy memory of a post war life.
'Because I want to see her again. I promised her,' was the first thing that popped into his head.
She hadn't believed him, in fact he was certain she thought he would never appear before her again. But he was going to her and he was hoping he wasn't turned away.
What was he to do if she turned him away? Where was he to go? He couldn't bear the thought of going back to his father and having to marry someone because it was his job to do so. Then again, even those thoughts were better than any other he knew he could think of.
Sometimes he really wished he didn't have to think at all.
...
The sky was still dark and his eyes were heavy with exhaustion when he started to recognize the terrain. The hills and the little mound hidden so carefully that he was still surprised he found it the first time. Fiyero rode towards it, stopping to tie the horses to a tree. He put out some hay for them to eat and then straightened his shirt nervously. He could feel his heart pumping loudly—he could almost hear it.
He wasn't sure why. He wasn't sure of anything but her and that made him even more nervous. He went up to the front door and knocked. When no response came he knocked again and waited. And again he knocked, much louder this time. It came to him at that moment that it was late in the night... and he was knocking on her door. He suddenly felt like an idiot. An idiot standing outside knocking on a woman's door in the middle of the night.
He could call out for her until she woke up but he didn't want to wake her. Fiyero went back to the carriage, leaving his crutches on the side of it. He didn't bother to waste the energy to get back in the carriage so he sat down under the tree on the other side of where the horses were. He laid his head back and looked at all the stars. Fiyero attempted to count them and he made it to fifty-seven before his exhaustion took over.
He startled awake with a gasp but not because of what he was dreaming at all. His body shuddered at the sudden loss of heat and he tried to get a grasp of the tree to stand up. Water dropped down off his body. He felt frozen to the spot.
"Unless you feel like being ripped apart I would head back into your carriage. Cougars don't care which one of you they get and your horses hardly care if they trample you to run away." She said, before turning away.
He almost smiled. Almost. If he wasn't so cold he would have.
"You see a poor fella just sleeping outside next to a tree and instead of shaking him awake you decide to throw cold water on him?"
"Water throws your scent off and only an idiot would sleep on the ground when you have carriage a foot away ."
"I know you were expecting a letter and not me, El, but geez, I don't need to add a cold to my list of problems. "
She stared at him, tilting her head in confusion.
He shivered, "It's just a trim and a shave. And maybe nicer clothes, but it's still me. "
She pulled down the scarf covering her face, " Yero? "
He nodded, "Hi." He said, holding onto the tree to reach for his crutches.
"...Hello..." she replied softly, looking him over.
"Do you mind if I come inside?"
"Yes," She closed her eyes and shook her head, "I mean, no...come on in. " She turned sharply and he followed her.
"How did you even see me out here? "
"I told you— cougars. I've grown used to the sound they make. " She said, going around her little room and tossing him a towel.
"Oh. " He said, terrified knowing that he could have been killed that easily.
"Why are you here? "
He gave her a gentle smile," I told you—I wanted to see you again. "
"I don't believe that. "
"I'm here aren't I? " He began to remove the drenched shirt.
She stared at him before looking away.
"I'm not staying here if you think that this is a place to stay."
"Going to look for your family?" He asked, drying his hair and his chest. "I'll go with you."
She looked at him again, a lot longer this time. "I've seen your face before. I know I have," She closed her eyes deep in thought, "not just here... where have I seen your face before? "
He thought it would take longer, maybe days, until she found him out. But he didn't have days. He had now.
"Maybe in a newspaper." He tried but she was still looking at him, trying to place him.
Fiyero sighed, he had nothing to hide if he wanted to be with her.
"I am Fiyero Tiggular."
"Fiyero Tiggular..." She said it slowly and then her eyes widened. "The Vinkun Prince."
Her entire demeanor changed. The soft lines on her face turned to creases, she was looking down in anger.
"Of course it's you, " She whispered to herself, sitting down and covering her face with one hand. "I've heard of you. "
Fiyero knew what she had heard of him. It was the same thing everyone had said of him, things even he had said of himself.
"And you've come back to what? Make fun of me? "
"I didn't come to make fun of you."
El took a deep breath, "You need to get out before I throw you out. " she pointed at the door..
"I'm not the man that you heard of..." He tapped his fingers to his thigh wondering how he was supposed to explain it. "Not anymore at least. I haven't been him for a while. "
She scoffed, "I don't want to hear your life story. Get out! "
He didn't want to leave, "Listen to me. Please. "
"You are the last thing I need right now. " She turned away.
He had to be careful with what he said. He saw her power, he didn't want to be on the receiving end of it.
"We've both survived this war and we've seen people we cared about die in front of our eyes. "
She trembled. "Go. "
"I don't know if you felt the connection that I did," He stumbled to find the right words, "I don't know if you want to get to know me like I do you, but I'm being honest with you when I say I don't think I can live without you."
Fiyero felt the floor shake and he shut his eyes, keeping himself from panicking.
"I want to say it was because of you that I am different, El. I wish I could say meeting you was what changed me, but I can't. I would be lying."
The floor only shook more.
"I've killed people that had families that they will never come home to. There is a girl in the Vinkus who has a lover who she will never see again...There is a King and a Queen in the Vinkus that have a son that left...left for a women that the son thinks might complete him... "
The floor stilled almost as quickly as it had started.
"I am Fiyero Tiggular, El." He let his shaking hand go forward and he looked at his hand just waiting. "And I want to help you find your family."
The room was quiet.
So quiet that Fiyero was sure he was about to be blown across the room in any second.
But then he felt it..he felt her fingers touch his and his eyes started watering.
"Elphaba..." She said softly, "My name is Elphaba Thropp." She held his hand.
He blinked at the mention of the name. He had a faint recollection of that name but unlike her he couldn't quite place it.
He had a puzzled look on his face when he muttered the name, "Thropp."
Elphaba Thropp. Thropp, Elphaba.
She rolled her eyes, "Thropp third descending. Munckinland."
He blinked when it came to him, "Of the Nest Harding...You're the heir to the Munchkin Eminency!"
She had the smallest smirk on her face, "I thought that was implied with the Thropp third descending."
Fiyero smiled brightly, bowing to her, "Hello, Elphaba, Thropp Third Descending."
She smiled back with a nod, "Hello, Fiyero, Prince of the Vinkus."
Annnnnnd thank you for reading everyone! I really believe that this was the best place to end the story (I could have written so much more. I totally had more ideas for it too) But I would have lost the original meaning (intention?feeling? I can't think of the word right now.) that I wanted... I wanted them to find each other and that was it.
Happy ending hopefully implied. :)
thanks!