Chapter 13

"This meeting has been called because the fate of the Vinkus hangs in the balance. I want to help in any way that I can but let me be frank, if an agreement cannot be met, I will not hesitate to remove the support of the Emerald City and her allies. The Vinkus will once again stand on its own. We all saw what happened to Munchkinland," Glinda spoke to the group as they took their seats in the rearranged Dining Hall. There was a head table at which the King and Queen sat with Lady Glinda and Captain Khalil. Off to the left was a table for the Marek family and on the right sat Fiyero, Elphaba, Sergeant Zetti, Private Roth, and Olaf.

"Lady Glinda, it is an honor to see you here but I must confess I'm not sure why," Senator Marek asked. He was surprised that the leader of Oz had made her way out here for a tribal dispute.

"I am here because despite my explicit instructions to the contrary, King Havel tried to execute Prince Fiyero and Princess Elphaba. I expect both of them to attend my pending nuptial to Captain Khalil," the blonde explained. It was odd to call her best friends by such titles but it was appropriate, no matter how much either protested.

"He tried to murder my betrothed?" Sarima could not believe the words that left Glinda's lips.

"He charged them with treason, skipped the trial, and went right for the punishment," the blonde nodded.

"We had no idea…" the Senator spoke before anyone else from his table could.

"It seems he felt it the only way to still fulfill his promise to you and your family. With Fiyero gone, your family would ascend to the throne upon the passing of the King and Queen," Glinda continued to speak as if the King was not there. Fiyero could see that it was angering his father and he smirked.

"Well certainly there is another way. We are grateful that the Prince did not die as the reports said during the reign of the Wizard. I must confess to my confusion about the current situation we find ourselves in. Prince Fiyero, you are married to Miss Elphaba?" Senator Marek asked.

"I am. Lady Glinda and Captain Khalil witnessed it at the Emerald Palace in the Spring," Fiyero acknowledged.

"Did anyone know of your commitment to Sarima?" Marek wondered.

"No. I had no intention of returning to the Vinkus and I figured that once rumors of my death had been spread, she would find another," Fiyero explained.

"No intention of returning? What of your mother and father?" Marek asked.

"I thought it best they not re-live the pain of my supposed betrayal and death. I wanted no part of the kingdom. My heart is set to follow Elphaba, wherever she may go," it was the truth.

"You must forgive me for what I am about to say but how do we know that Miss Elphaba has not put you under a spell of some sort? The Wizard might have been a liar but no one can dismiss the power that she possesses," Marek said. Fiyero reached under the table and took Elphaba's hand in his, giving it a squeeze.

"If you truly knew Elphaba, you would not say such things so I will forgive the supposition. For you see, without her, I would not be here right now and we would most certainly not be having this discussion," the Prince told them.

"Please, enlighten us, if you can," Marek asked. Elphaba could see that Sarima was not handling the pace her father was setting. Her anger shone brightly in her eyes and her father being the good politician was not something she was fully tolerating.

"The Gale Force had captured me after I helped her escape by threatening Glinda. She cast a spell which turned me into a scarecrow so that I could still live. Much to my chagrin, I was forced to go around with the Tin Man and King Brrr, hunting her down afterwards. As I discovered later however, only the Tin Man had an axe to grind while Brrr was looking to save his people. You see Elphaba has always had a kind and gentle soul despite all that has happened to her. That is why I love her. She is a passionate woman who always thinks of others and who tried to do what was right, despite the Wizard and his attempts to rule with an iron fist. She is a very powerful witch but she could have used it the moment we got here. She has not done anything to anyone here except save our driver Olaf's life and aided my mother," Fiyero squeezed her hand again as Marek nodded.

"True love is not something to be squashed but I believe that we are bound to not only our people but the deal your father and I struck. Do you have a proposal?" Marek asked. Before Fiyero could answer however, Sarima's tongue finally lashed out of her mouth.

"A marriage of a royal is not complete until it has been consummated. What proof do you have of this?"

"We have no proof and I think I speak for both of us when I say that we do not need one," Fiyero's anger was returning as he could see the look on Elphaba's face. It was the one thing they had not done since their marriage. Fiyero had been patient. He had been everything that she dreamed a real man would be but now it may ruin them.

"I must apologize for my daughter but I am afraid she is right. Given that you've been married for longer than a few days, I believe we can stipulate that your marriage to Elphaba is complete," Marek said.

"I cannot stipulate and I will not stipulate. Our people deserve what was promised them. I deserve what I was promised. I want proof!" Sarima again spoke out of turn, standing as she did so, and the King now stood as well.

"You will receive only what I grant you to receive. I will not have my son and his bride paraded around for your benefit!" He barked.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please," Glinda spoke up, knowing that this was getting out of control. She could see that despite her best to keep a calm front that Elphaba was beginning to lose it and Sarima might end up as a frog in short order.

"Is it not enough that I love my husband? Is it not enough what we have gone through to even get this far? I have loved Fiyero since Shiz and I will not stand by as you try to smear his reputation," Elphaba finally spoke which effectively silenced the room.

"His reputation? He had one long before you met him. I have no doubt that you were just another in his long line of screws!" Sarima barked at which Fiyero stood from his chair.

"Elphaba has been my one and only! How dare you suggest otherwise!" He shouted.

"ENOUGH!" Glinda now stood and from that tiny frame unleased the words for all to hear.

"SIT DOWN!" They all turned to the blonde, who had a look of murder in her eyes. Quickly, they all sat down.

"I will have you know, that we did not engage in any activities while we were together. He may have left me for Elphie but he was always a gentleman. He intended to wait for marriage, no matter what the rumors say. Fiyero is a great man and I am sure that he has had enough of this as much as I have. Sarima, you have lost the right to be Fiyero's wife. The contract that King Havel and your father signed is null and void. Now, before I change my mind, get out of this meeting, so that we can conduct business," Glinda said. Sarima looked at her father who only pointed toward the door. Incensed, she rose from her seat and stormed out of the room.

"I will get what I want. No one stands in my way," she said to herself as she headed toward her father's carriage.

To Be Continued…