Chapter 22.

A/N An update! I'm going on safari for the next two weeks, so I won't be able to post. I hope, therefore, that those that are still following this story, will be appeased with this chapter :)

As always; thank you so much for reviewing! I promise I WILL respond to them as soon as I am back in civilization.

"You promised."

"It was a moment of weakness."

"A promise is meant to be kept, husband."

"Not if they don't make sense."

"And this one doesn't?"

"It did when I thought I would be proven right."

Raina stared at her husband from across the room, her face incredulous. This was a King, a father, a husband. In short; a grown man. An adult.

"I swear, sometimes you're worse than Fiyero."

"I resent that, seeing as how he's the one that got us into this mess."

He stood behind his desk, too restless to sit down, but he felt better at his desk, more in power.

"If he's the one to blame, then why are you so adamant in refusing to talk to her?"

"I blame her too! In what world does a man wake up to find that his son has eloped with a terrorist?"

"They did not elope! They're not married yet."

She hesitated.

"Wait. Are they?"

The King shook his head wearily.

"No. At least I don't think so. He's mentioned something about a marriage in the future."

"Are you sure?"

"Quite. I remember distinctly my son telling me he would abdicate the throne if her name couldn't be cleared or if she didn't want to be Queen of the Vinkus."

"I suppose we should have seen that coming."

"Should we have?"

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Something in the boy changed, Liir. You see that too. It's hard to miss. And whether we like it or not, she's the one that caused that change."

"My point exactly. That's why I don't like her."

"That's not her fault! And besides, it's not a bad thing."

"It's not a bad thing? Did I not mention that he wants to abdicate? For her?"

She sighed deeply. Sometimes she simply could not understand that she'd managed to be married to this man without trying to kill him in his sleep.

"Oh, Liir. Fiyero was never that eager for the throne. This has just made him even less so. And you said that he would do it, if she would."

"So the future of my people is in the hands of a green witch? That's comforting. I can't wait to tell them that."

His voice had the petulant tone it had when he didn't get his way.

Men.

"Stop it. You're acting like a child. It's not her fault. Fiyero loves her. That's her part in all this. I don't believe she's forced him into any of this."

"You can't know that."

"I can. And so can you. Fiyero could never be forced into anything. We have to face it, darling. He loves the girl."

"I have trouble understanding why you are so accepting of all this."

"It's because I don't like the alternative."

"What does that mean?"

Why did women insist on speaking in riddles?

"It means that we have a choice, and quite a simple one at that; We either deal with this and accept that she is going to be our daughter-in-law and we try to make the best of it, or we lose him."

And why were men supposed to be able to decipher them?

"Why are those the only options?"

"Because there are no more! And if we force him to chose, he won't chose us."

She hesitated for a moment, but went on.

"And..."

He leaned over his desk, intrigued despite himself. As always, his wife was way ahead of him.

"And what?"

"And...I think that it is time we face something else. Something I like even less."

He threw his hands in the air as he fell down in his chair.

"Well, don't kill me with the suspense."

She looked straight at him.

"It's the green that makes us so reluctant to accept that Fiyero loves her. And that she might not be what they make her out to be."

He got up again.

"It is not! It is her reputation for being the terror of Oz that has me doubting our son's mental health. Her color has nothing to do with it."

"Doesn't it? I don't like admitting it either, Liir, but I've spent a lot of time thinking about this and trying to twist it every way so that we would not come out prejudiced but I can't. If she'd been a 'normal' color, would we have been as quick to judge?"

"Yes!"

Really. As if he was that shortsighted.

"Really? Because I've talked to her. She's just a girl, Liir. Defensive and twitchy and uncomfortable and green, but a girl regardless. I didn't see that until I saw her with Fiyero, though. All I could focus on was everything that made her alien."

"And?"

"And it's not fair. That is not the person I want to be. If she'd looked like Glinda, we would have been quicker to give her a chance."

He didn't want to admit it, but, as so often, his wife had a point.

"Alright. Fine. The green doesn't help. It just seems unnatural."

"Yes, that's what I felt...but..."

"I hate it when you say 'but' in that tone. It usually means that I have to change my mind about something."

She smiled a soft smile.

"But...my little conversation with her and seeing her with Fiyero has pointed out to me that she is, in fact, quite normal. It surprised me. I didn't like that."

"You don't like that she's normal?"

An exasperated sigh. Why did this man have to make everything difficult?

"I don't like that that surprised me."

"Why not?"

"Because it's proof of my own prejudice! I was genuinely surprised to find her so human. She's peculiar, for obvious reasons but, honestly, everything else seems to be the result of a sadly lacking childhood and a stubborn nature."

"You got all that from one conversation?"

"I'm pretty good. It's why you married me."

"Hmm...A decision I'm starting to regret."

Her laughter rang through the office.

"Come on, let's go."

"Go where?"

"You're going to talk to her and see if I'm right."

"You mean see that you are right."

"Exactly."

"Glinda"

The sickly sweet smile on Morribele's face made the blonde freeze. Oh dear.

"Madame Morrible."

"I have had the most interesting visit with Miss Thropp just the other day. Governor Thropp, that is."

"Have you? How is Nessa? I have not seen her in too long."

"Oh, I'm afraid she's not doing very well at all. You see, her sister came to see her."

"Elphie went to see Nessa?"

"It's still Elphie, is it? Yes, the stupid little thing went looking for support, I believe. She failed in that aspect, but she did share some surprising news."

"And what would that be?" But she was growing anxious and she knew Morrible would be able to see it. Like a bloodhound, the woman could smell fear.

"Well, it seems she believes your fiance is with her not through any spell at all, but out of his own free will! In fact, she apparently believes the boy loves her."

"Is that so?"

Morrible took a step forward and looked down into Glinda's eyes, Threathening. Intimidating.

"Yes. That is so."

Her tone was mocking and filled with accusations.

"You don't seem shocked, Miss Upland."

"Well, that might be because I'm not. Fiyero and Elphaba were always really good friends. I have no trouble believing that he loves her, or even went with her without being magicked into it."

"Really good friends? I don't believe that is how Elphaba meant it. Or at least Governor Thropp didn't"

"Well, Nessa has always had a way of seeing what she wanted to see."

"Yes, that may be, but this, miss Upland, is not something she wants to see. This is something that was told her by Elphaba."

"Well, then that gives me even less reason to doubt it. Elphie never lies."

The words were clear cut and left no doubt as to how Glinda meant them. She was tired of being afraid of this woman.

"But you do."

And with those words, Morrible swept from the room.

Glinda let the breath she'd been holding escape.

Oh dear. This was not going well at all.

She needed to get to Keegan and let him know not to say a word to Morrible, but she couldn't go now, because the old witch would be sure to have her monitored.

Oh damn it. Elphie. Why had she gone to see Nessa? Didn't she know by now that for all the love that Nessa might have felt for her sister, she would never choose her side?

She would go and see Nessa. Morrible would find out, of course but she could claim she wanted to hear about Fiyero and Elphaba from Nessa herself. That wasn't so hard to believe.

Yes, she would go and see Nessa. But she would try to see Keegan first, just to be sure.

The strangest thing was happening.

Drakin liked her.

She didn't know why and she didn't know how she knew either, but he did.

He still came to check on her every day, and even though she groaned every day and told him she was fine and would be fine and didn't need anything, he still came. He brought her herbal tea that she didn't want but drank anyway and he talked to her.

She didn't say much in return, didn't volunteer any information but he told her stories of his children, one still in college, the other recently married, and of life in the Vinkus. He told her about the Royal family and stories of Fiyero growing up. She didn't want to be interested but she was and he must have been able to tell, because he told more and more of those as he checked her wound, took her temperature and complained that she was too thin.

Elphaba was not used to being taken care of and had no clue how to respond to this old man who fussed over her. He seemed to know that too, though, because he never lingered and he never asked her about herself. He hadn't asked about her skin, about her relationship with Fiyero, or about her reputation as the Wicked Witch. But this morning, after he'd told her she was doing fine and she could try some exercise at least, though nothing too strenuous, he'd paused in the doorway and turned back. He'd looked at her till it made her want to crawl under the sofa just to get away from his prying eyes, and then he'd smiled at her.

"The green suits you. No reason to hide it."

She'd blushed, blushed and stared at him, trying to decide if he was mocking her. No one, aside from Glinda and Fiyero had every said anything nice about her skin. And Glinda, she was pretty sure, had only said it to be kind. And Fiyero...well..Fiyero...he told her all sorts of things that men like him didn't say to girls like her.

But Drakin had said nothing else. He'd nodded at her and left.

What was in the water in this place?

She'd fallen into a quiet sort of strange routine here in this palace where she ate what Fiyero brought her (because she refused to order anything from the kitchen. She didn't live here.) and she let her body heal.

Being cooped up drove her crazy only when she was forced into it, but now that Drakin had declared her healthy enough to move around and get back to what she was used to (except flying, he'd added with a straight face), and now that both the Queen and Fiyero had repeatedly told her she was free to move around the castle, save for the King's offices, as that were the most frequented quarters, she felt less inclined to do so.

As a child, she'd spent nearly all of her time in her room, her nose in a book, hiding from her father. At Shiz, she'd spent most of her time in the library, hiding from her fellow students. Until she'd become friends with Galinda and Fiyero, she'd spent her time locked in rooms filled with books, so this wasn't much different, except that now Fiyero was there too, and people wandered in and out to talk to her. She knew Raina was still mostly testing the waters, but she was friendly in doing so and she was never fake about it. And Drakin, of course, tested her boundaries several times a day but did it in such a way that made it impossible to dislike him.

She had yet to see Fiyero's father though.

She suspected that he was even less eager to meet her than she was to meet him. Which is why she was quite surprised when she turned back from the huge window she'd been in front of, to find the King just inside the room, staring at her, his face all business.

"Miss Thropp."

She didn't say anything.

"My wife is convinced it would be a good idea for us to get to know each other."

Here was the next hurdle, then. How many would there be?

"You mean she thinks it's a good idea for you to get to know me."

"That's what I would have thought, but no, she seems to think it's a two way street."

He was blunt. In a way that differed from the Queen's bluntness. Raina's had been a way to find even ground, to show her that she would not be intimidated. The King's direct manner was something that belonged to him. It was his way. She knew this immediately without having to wonder why.

"Clearly, you disagree."

"I do. I don't believe I owe you any answers."

It was almost a relief. Bluntness and curtness was her way too.

"But I do you."

"Well, you have captivated my son. In such an intense manner that he is willing to give up the throne to run around Oz with you, a fugitive."

"Then I would think it is your son that owes you answers, not I."

"You take no responsibility in this matter?"

It was thin ice she was treading on. Contrary to Raina, Liir would not be appeased only by Fiyero's feelings toward her. He wasn't only judging her as the woman his son loved. He was judging her by her character too.

"I take all the responsibility for my own actions. Not your son's. I didn't ask Fiyero to come with me. I didn't know that he was looking for me."

"Are you trying to tell me that you had no idea what he was after?"

"That's exactly what I'm telling you. I didn't know any more than that he was engaged to Glinda and Captain of the Gale Force, trained to capture me."

"I see. And when he did find you and insisted you make him part of your fugitive life, you did not think to say no?"

"I did. Repeatedly. Your son is not as easily deterred as he seems. Nor as flighty."

The King nodded in acknowledgment, but not satisfaction.

"So it seems. You insist on keeping this up then, this life on the run? Or on a broom, as seems to be your way."

He was goading her.

"You speak as if I have a choice in the matter."

"You do. You could turn yourself in."

Yes. He really was goading her.

"I could. I won't."

"Because you're innocent?"

It was a genuine question, but it was something else too and he didn't bother to hide the skepticism in his voice.

"Not innocent, no. but not guilty of what the Wizard accuses me of."

Another nod, but a different one this time. She couldn't tell how she knew, but her answer had been the right one.

"Then what, if I may ask, is your plan, exactly?"

Not that it mattered. He would fire more annoying questions, she was sure. She was tired of this already, and for some reason, felt comfortable enough to let it show.

"You can drop the fake polite forms. You expect me to answer anyway."

He felt a smile tug at his lips. He should have been offended, but Oz help him, she was good.

"Alright. What is your plan and how is my son involved in that?"

"My plan is to leave here, break into the palace, set free those monkeys they say I have maimed and tortured and do it all without being caught."

Other than the raising of his eyebrows, he didn't show any sign or surprise.

"And the Wizard? As long as he is in power, you will remain the Wicked Witch."

Her turn to smile, though it was a grim one.

"I'm working on that."

"You plan on killing them?"

"If I have to."

"That would make you a terrorist."

"I already have the name. I might as well deserve it."

The little tilt of his head told her he understood her reasoning.

"And Fiyero? You plan on making him one?"

"Fiyero won't be a part of that."

"Really? Does he agree with that?"

"What he thinks about that doesn't matter. This is my fight."

"That hasn't stopped him so far."

"I won't allow him to risk getting hurt. He's done enough."

Sweet Lurline, it was like an oral exam.

"But you love him."

"I do."

Somehow, it was easier to admit to the King than to the Queen.

"Then why would you not want him by your side."

"I do. But not then."

"And if your name is cleared?"

Her eyebrows rose.

"I have no such delusions. Even if the Wizard and Morrible would...disappear, Oz would still see me as the Wicked Witch. They won't forget that easily."

He nodded again but impatiently. Oz, this man had a million different nods. How did Raina interpret them all? Did Fiyero have this many?

"But if it were to happen...would you stay by Fiyero's side as Queen?"

She wanted to say that they had never discussed that, that she wasn't sure they ever would, that it would probably never come to that, but she knew it was useless. The man wanted an answer and trying to talk around it would only make her appear weak.

"In the highly unlikely case that that would happen, if Fiyero would take the throne and if he wanted me to stay...I suppose that I would."

"Really? And you're not saying that because you're convinced it will never come to that?"

Again, only honesty would suffice. As far as she could offer any, anyway.

"No. I have to admit I am very skeptical about it, but if we have to take everything into account, then that too."

"Alright. Good."

He turned towards the door, but not to leave. He directed his words to the servant outside the room.

"I am in need of some coffee here. And tell Drakin to throw in some of that pecan pie he's hiding in the kitchen."

He turned back towards Elphaba.

"If he asks, I'm putting it on you. The man insists on feeding me carrots and leafy things. Something to do with them being healthy, whereas pecan pie is not."

She recognized his sudden change of demeanor for what it was. It wasn't tentative, like Raina's, nor was it peace-keeping, like Fiyero's often was. He was simply done for now, satisfied with what he'd heard. She supposed that she was too, so she went along with it.

"He does seem rather fussy. I'm actually not allowed coffee."

"He cut you off? Ha. He tried that with me, but I'm the King. Coffee isn't optional." He looked at her and took it a step further. He was still testing her, after all, but it was a different kind of test.

"I wouldn't have pegged you for the type to be cut off."

He really was testing her character. She took the bait.

"At least he didn't cut me off pie."

There was a smirk then that reminded her of Fiyero so much it made her smile back.

"He thinks I'm too skinny."

Liir took her in from head to toe, appraising her without a hint of shame.

"Yes, there is not much to you, is there?"

Her eyebrows went into her hairline.

"Being a fugitive does not lend many opportunities for gluttony."

He laughed at that. It surprised even him.

"Alright. Sit down, Elphaba Thropp. The hard part is over."

Her eyebrows stayed where they were, but she complied.

Liir looked at the girl opposite him, a thin body folded into a chair, big eyes looking straight at him. Daring him. Ready for whatever challenge he threw her way. Good. He was ready too.

"So. Fiyero tells me you are interested in politics..."

Two hours later, Elphaba was still in that same seat and Liir seemed to have no intentions of leaving soon. He'd ordered more coffee, more pie and had a rather amusing confrontation with Drakin about the second helping of pie, in which the latter had frowned disapprovingly at the coffee mug in Elphaba's hand. She'd talked, and been talked to, about politics, books, the culture of the Vinkuns, art, history and economics. He'd asked her questions and evoked opinions. It seemed like a conversation and she couldn't be sure if this was simply a King's way of making small talk, but it truly felt, at times, like an examination of some sort. Luckily, she'd always been a great student and with opinions aplenty, exams had never proven a problem.

She didn't know what disturbed her more; the fact that the King was still there (didn't he have a province to run or something?) or that she didn't mind. She hadn't been this comfortable with Raina. She'd never been this at ease with anyone, except Fiyero and Glinda. Maybe not even them.

But Liir was easier to talk to than his wife. Raina meant well and she was friendly, but she saw, and tried to see, too much. Liir didn't try to read between the lines that hard. He took her words and built on them, instead of focusing on what she didn't say. He was brusk and had an odd sense of humor but he was intelligent, alert and open-minded enough to allow her to answer honestly. He was, she thought, a good King and a kind man. And it was obvious that he really wanted his son to be the one to follow him as leader of the Vinkuns.

She hoped for his sake, that Fiyero would be able to some day. She just didn't see how she could be a part of that.

I'm hoping there will be some reviews waiting for me when I return :) I really am trying quite hard to find internet connections as I go.

Thanks for reading in any case! Amazing that people actually have this on alert and everything!