A/N: A shoutout to ExoticPeachBlossom. Miss you. :)
Chapter 8
The guards fumbled with the keys as they watched Elphaba's magic work. Soon Olaf's screams quieted and he fell unconscious. Elphaba wobbled in her stance and Fiyero let go of Olaf and grabbed her before she fell over. He was about to ask her if she felt all right when the door to the cell busted open and the guards swarmed in.
"Back against the wall! All of you!" The leader of the guards shouted. Fiyero gingerly helped a still woozy Elphaba up against the wall. While the majority of the guards held their spears at the prisoners, the medic in the group checked over Olaf.
"He's just unconscious. What did you do to him?" The medic asked.
"What did I do to him? Why don't you ask your fellow guards what happened to him? If I hadn't stepped in he'd be dead," Elphaba spat or rather she tried to be venomous but her weakened condition didn't do much for her cause. The medic gave her a look and was about to say something when someone that most of the prisoners had seen before intervened.
"That's enough. I want all the guards out of the cell this instant," the portly older gentlemen ordered. They all turned and looked at him.
"We don't require your services Doctor Mallard," the leader almost growled at him.
"Oh you don't huh? Well then I shall take it up with the Queen who sent me down here. How many of you would like to get busted down to digging privies for the next five years?" He raised a thick white eyebrow. The guards muttered under their combined breathes and began exiting the cell. Prison guard was only a step up from those on the bottom of the military totem pole who dug the outhouses and no one wanted to go backwards for fear of never getting out.
"That's better. Now what in Oz's great Oznesses is going on in here?" He asked, adjusting his glasses.
"The lighting in here is terrible. The young lady looks green," he commented before anyone could say anything as he cleaned his spectacles.
"That's because I am green," Elphaba said quietly.
"Dear me. Well then at least I know you aren't sick," he gave her a wink before introducing himself properly,
"I am Doctor Mallard, Royal Physician." He smiled.
"Duckie!" Fiyero hugged the old man who almost had a fright. The others looked at each other and gave a smile. Perhaps he was their ticket out and they moved a little closer with Zetti helping Elphaba.
"Prince Fiyero! What are you doing down here son?" The Doctor asked.
"I believe that it is my fault," Elphaba spoke up.
"Your fault? Well I always knew that my little scoundrel of a nephew would get himself in trouble over a beautiful lady. I just never figured he'd end up in prison," Duckie smirked.
"May I introduce my wife, Elphaba; the two Gale Force soldiers are our friends Sergeant Zetti and Private Roth; and poor Olaf, our driver is on the bed," Fiyero made the introductions.
"A pleasure to meet you all. Now what seems to be the problem? Your mother was worried about you and your missus," Duckie said.
"Well Olaf was beaten by the guards and Elphaba used her powers to save him so that's why he's unconscious. As for her specifically well she had one of her moments upstairs and is pretty tired especially after saving Olaf. I'm fine," Fiyero quickly explained.
"Moments?" The older gentlemen asked, once again raising his eyebrow.
"It's a long story that I would prefer to not go into at the moment," Elphaba said.
"Ah well let me check you over and then if you look ok to me then I'll make sure the Queen knows," Duckie smiled again.
"How is Mother? Is she all right?" Fiyero asked.
"She'll be fine. The bruises should heal and so will the cut on her lip," the doctor was nonchalant, not realizing that Fiyero did not know what his father had done.
"What? How'd she get those?" Fiyero wanted to know.
"She said she was careless and walked into an open door but I know better," Duckie admitted.
"My father did that didn't he?" Fiyero asked.
"Yes I'm afraid he did. His temper has been short of late. He's never hit your mother before but it seems like he has been short with people lately. He may be the King but there are those who are calling for him to be removed from the throne," his uncle told them.
"Why?" The Prince was growing concerned.
"Probably because Sarima and her family were not just some people that your father dealt with in his council. They are from a different tribe. It would have eased the tensions between the tribes and shown that your father is really trying to fully unite the Vinkus. Now you're alive and you're married to another, no offense Miss Elphaba, and they are very unhappy," Duckie explained.
"How unhappy?" His nephew raised an eyebrow.
"Start a war unhappy," the Doctor admitted.
To Be Continued…