Announcer: *In booming voice* Now announcing, Her Royal Majesty, Queen Nia the First.
*Queen Nia enters* Hello, my fellow Ozians and other loyal subjects. Welcome to another chapter of Silver and Gold.
I'mFlyingHighDefyingGravity: If you call the Nia Hunters, I'll just call the Sydney Hunters! How's that? *Snaps fingers in 'Z' formation*
woodland59: Who are you killing? Me? Kill Arlis instead!
Elphaba'sGirl: Happy? I don't do happy. At least, not in this story. Sorry.
Elphaba Thropp of Fiyero: One day, indeed. Just… not soon.
Also, Elphabalover101 told me of something special (that I will not reveal at the moment) she planned for her story 'Invisible'. So, she is in this story as… Princess Elisa! Everyone, read, review, follow and favorite 'Invisible'. It's an AMAZING story and all of you will LOVE it! I promise! Queen's honor.
Fiyero and Elphaba were in their bedroom, spending some quality time together. Elphaba snuggled against Fiyero, humming softly to herself. Fiyero laid his chin on top of Elphaba's head, breathing in her sweet scent.
"Yero," Elphaba whispered, snuggling closer to him.
Fiyero kissed the top of her head, making the green girl smile. A knock on the door interrupted their moment.
The couple quickly sat up. "Come in," Fiyero called. The door opened, revealing General Vanadium.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Your Highnesses," Vanadium bowed.
"Not at all, General. Is something wrong?" Elphaba asked.
"I have just received this letter," Vanadium said, handing Fiyero a small envelope.
Fiyero took the envelope and slowly opening it. He held his breath and bit his lip as his eyes scanned the paper.
"Yero, what does it say?" Elphaba asked, gripping Fiyero's arm.
Fiyero was at a loss of words as he folded up the letter. He looked over at his wife, who was giving his direction a very worried look.
"Yero?" she whispered. "What is it? What's wrong? What does the letter say?"
Fiyero took a deep breath. "Well… it seems there's been an attack. The outsiders are beginning to attack Oz."
Elphaba gasped. "Where?"
"The Quadling Country. They're starting to recruit every able-bodied male to the war. The general there, General Rubidium, is starting training as soon as possible."
"Where there…" Elphaba couldn't even say it.
"The letter doesn't say anything about causalities."
"And another report says that the outsiders are moving towards the Vinkus," Vanadium said.
Elphaba inhaled sharply, trying to calm herself down. "What does this mean?"
Vanadium gave the Crowned Prince a short nod. Fiyero closed his eyes, knowing what he had to do. "I have to go off to war."
"What?!" Elphaba all but shrieked.
"I'm sorry, Fae. It's my responsibility to lead our troops in battle. There's nothing I can do about it."
"No!" Elphaba protested, wrapping her arms around Fiyero. "Please don't leave me!"
"Fae," Fiyero said gently, kissing her head. "It's my duty. I must go."
Elphaba sniffed. "When?"
Fiyero looked up at General Vanadium. "As soon as possible would be best," Vanadium said, looking from Elphaba to Fiyero.
Fiyero nodded. "Next week."
Elphaba clung to Fiyero even tighter, almost stopping him from breathing. Fiyero rubbed circles on her back, soothing her. "It's okay, Fae," he whispered. "I'll be back before you know it."
Elphaba nodded, her face buried in the crook of Fiyero's arm.
"I promise to return," Fiyero whispered, rocking her in his arms.
"Alive and in one piece?" Elphaba whispered, her face still buried in Fiyero's arm.
Fiyero chuckled softly. "Alive and in one piece."
"Any news from my father?" the young Princess Elisa asked, running down the long hallway of Riscelena Castle. Her straight brown hair flew behind her and when she stopped, the ends of her hair met a spot on her back a few inches below her shoulders. Her shinning blue eyes were enchanting, almost magical.
"Not yet, Your Highness," General Osmium bowed before the fourteen year old princess.
"Oh," Elisa said, sounding very disappointed. She missed her father and wanted him to come home from the war soon. "Why did Father have to go to war?"
Osmium knelt before the young princess. "He was needed on the front lines."
"But why Oz? What's going on there? We live in Ev. The Rose Kingdom, to be exact. Why would we care about something that happens in Oz?"
The general sighed. The princess was so full of questions. He knew he wasn't supposed to tell her the real reason, so he had to make up a lie. "Because that's just the way it is."
Princess Elisa narrowed her eyes at the general, not fully believing him. "You expect me to believe that?"
"It's the truth."
The princess rolled her eyes and gave her an exasperated sigh. "Fine." She picked up the long, full skirt of her pick ball gown and walked away back to her room.
"You're WHAT!?" Galinda asked Fiyero over dinner that night.
"I have to join the front lines in the battle against the countries beyond the Badlands," Fiyero said calmly.
Galinda was not calm. "B-But you can't leave!"
"I'm also going," Elenus said.
Galinda wasn't having any of this. "You can't go, too!"
"Glin, I have to."
"No, you don't!" Galinda almost cried.
"I'm needed to train new recruits. We need everyone we can get. Their armies are larger than ours, and we don't stand a chance unless we work together."
"I'm writing to the Wizard tonight, asking for his help," Fiyero said, slipping his hand into Elphaba's.
"Okay," Elphaba whispered.
Lanie remained silent during the entire conversation, staring at her plate of untouched food.
"Lanie?" Fiyero asked, looking at his daughter.
"Yes?" Lanie asked without looking up from her plate.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes," Lanie lied. Why would her father ask such a question? How could she be alright when he was saying that he was going off to war?
Fiyero slowly slid his free hand into Lanie's, but she pulled away.
"I'm sorry," Fiyero whispered.
"M-May I be excused, please?" Lanie whispered, still refusing to look at her father.
Elphaba noticed how upset and confused Lanie sounded and for the first time since their argument, wasn't angry with Lanie anymore. "Yes, Lanie."
Lanie quickly stood up and ran out of the room. Elphaba sighed as she heard Lanie's footsteps grow softer and softer. "I feel so bad for her."
Fiyero and Galinda both gave Elphaba a shocked look. Pitying Lanie was the last thing they expected Elphaba to do at a time like this.
"I know it sounds crazy, but with everything that happening right now, our argument doesn't matter anymore," Elphaba said, explaining her thoughts.
"And this confirms the rumors. The outsiders are trying to attack us," Fiyero added.
"You don't think it's because of the jewels, do you?" Elphaba asked.
"It might be. The Vinkus is known for mining 95% of the jewels in Oz. If the outsiders overthrow us, they will have total control over our mines. With that amount of money, they would be able to take over all of Oz. We can't let that happen."
"Fiyero's right," Elenus spoke up. "And I would be honored to help you defend our country."
"Thank you, Elenus," Fiyero smiled.
Galinda hung her head. She couldn't accept the fact that Elenus was leaving her.
"Don't worry, Galinda. As soon as I come back, we will have the biggest wedding you can image," Elenus reassured her, tenderly kissing her hand.
"With doves?" Galinda asked.
"With doves," Elenus smiled.
"And pink?"
"Yes."
"And flying horses?"
Elenus gave her a hearty laugh. "Anything you wish, my love."
"Okay," Galinda nodded. "I guess I can wait. Not forever, of course, but I can wait."
Elenus smiled and kissed his fiancée. "I promise, Galinda. We will have the wedding of your dreams when I return."
Elphaba made her way to Lanie's room that evening to check up on her.
"Lanie?" she whispered, knocking on her door. Not hearing anything, she turned the knob and pushed the door open. She heard silent cries coming from Lanie's bed and walked towards the sound. Lanie was lying on her bed, crying into her pillow and obvious to her mother's presents. Elphaba sat on the bed beside her and rubbed her back.
Lanie, upon feeling her mother's touch, jumped up. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she turned away, obviously still upset with her mother.
"Lanie," Elphaba whispered, reaching for Lanie again. "Please talk to me."
"There's nothing to say," Lanie whispered. Her voice was so quiet, Elphaba almost didn't hear her.
"Please don't shut yourself away from me. I just want to talk to you."
Lanie didn't turn around, not ready to speak to her mother yet.
"This isn't what we wanted for you. You don't deserve this. The thing your father and I were trying to protect you from is happening and there's nothing we can do to stop it."
Elphaba waited for Lanie to respond. It was so quiet, she didn't know if Lanie was listening to her, or if she was even there.
"Lanie, please talk to me. I'm so sorry about everything. I understand how you're feeling right now."
"No," Lanie whispered.
"I do. I know you think I don't, but I do. I know how much you're hurting right now and I want to help you."
"I don't need any help," Lanie muttered.
"You do. I know you do. I know you're feeling hurt and broken. I know our argument is making everything worse and it's the reason you're still not speaking to me."
Lanie sighed. She knew her mother was right. She just didn't want to admit it.
Elphaba slowly stood up and walked towards Lanie. Finding her hand, she grasped it, hoping for Lanie to return to her. Instead, Lanie violently pulled her hand away.
Elphaba wasn't surprised by Lanie's reaction. She tried again. Lanie pulled away with even more force. After a few seconds, Elphaba gently wrapped her arms around Lanie and tried to kiss her forehead, but Lanie pulled away for the third time, causing the younger princess to fall to the ground.
Elphaba knelt beside her in an attempt to help her up, but Lanie crawled away into the corner of her room.
"No," Lanie said, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs.
"Lanie, please don't build these walls around yourself. Believe me, it's not healthy," Elphaba said, standing up.
"Go away," Lanie muttered, very close to tears.
"I just want to talk to you."
"No. Go away."
Elphaba sighed before turning around to leave. "I'm leaving. But just remember this. Lanie, if you ever need to talk to someone, when you feel like talking, I'll always be here for you." And with that, Elphaba left the room, closing the door behind her.
Princess Elisa was in her room, reading as one of her maids brushed her hair.
"How would you like your hair today, Princess?" the maid questioned.
"Down is fine. With the pink headband," Elisa said, pointing to the hot pink headband on her dresser.
"As you wish," the maid said, putting the brush down and taking the headband. She carefully placed it in the princess' hair, making sure not one single hair was out of place.
"Thank you," Elisa said, giving her maid a short nod and skipping out of the room.
The maid curtsied and started to clean up the rest of the room.
Elisa skipped down the hall, singing a random tune she just made up in her mind. As she was skipping, she past General Osmium's private office and heard a voice coming from inside. Firmly placing her ear to the door, she wondered what the general was talking about.
"This war… deaths… the king… jewels…" Osmium muttered to himself.
General Osmium talks to himself? Ooh, this is juicy! Elisa smirked. She suddenly stopped. What was this about deaths, her father and jewels? What was really going on?
Lanie looked out the window at the two horses waiting to take her father and Elenus off to war. She wished they didn't have to go.
"Lanie?" Fiyero asked, standing in the doorway of Lanie's room.
Lanie turned around as her father entered the room. She allowed him to give her a hug, but her arms remained limp at her sides.
"I wish I didn't have to leave you here like this," Fiyero whispered, kissing her forehead.
"Wishing is stupid," Lanie said, her voice sounding dark and cold. "Wishing is for people who can't see reality."
Fiyero stood there, shocked. What happened to his Lanie? "Lanie?"
"Wishing is for people who live in darkness, longing for light but are too lazy to try and get it."
"What's wrong, ma fleur délicate?"
Lanie looked up at her father again, tears quickly filling her eyes. She ran to her father and hugged him. "I don't want you to go!"
This is my Lanie, Fiyero thought, hugging her back. "I don't want to go either, baby. But you must understand why I have to go."
"I do. But that doesn't mean I'm okay with it."
"I know. I promise to be back before you know it."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Lanie nodded and released her father. "Lanie, I need you to promise to be a good girl for me."
"I promise."
"Good girl," Fiyero smiled. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Lanie smiled softly as she watched her father leave. She knew he would return. He had to. He just had to.
I know. It's sad. But it's angst for a reason. Don't forget to read, review, follow and favorite 'Invisible' by Elphabalover101. If you won't do it for her (which you should), do it for ME because I'M IN IT! That's right. I'm a character in the story. So read and review it! Please?