Chapter 18
Morning came all too quickly and despite the sun outside, the day would not be a cheerful one. Fiyero had slipped from the bed about an hour before sunrise. After dressing quickly, he scooted down to the kitchen, finding the cooks hard at work. They quickly made him up a tray of food and he scooted out of their way and back up to his room.
Elphaba was still sleeping when he waved a piece of toast under her nose. Her stomach growled and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Hello sunshine," he smirked.
"Hello yourself," she smiled. Fiyero handed her the toast after she sat up and then put the tray down on the bed. They shoveled the food in as if they hadn't eaten in three days.
"You slept pretty well last night," he commented in between spoonfuls of eggs.
"I did," she realized.
"How do you feel?" He wanted to know.
"Pretty good. Better if we weren't about to going into battle," she admitted. Fiyero nodded. One good night of sleep was certainly helpful but they'd have to hope that after the war that they'd be able to keep it up. The lack of sleep was affecting the green woman more than she'd care to admit and Fiyero knew it.
"Better get dressed," Elphaba said, removing herself from the warm blankets and ducking into the bathroom. Fiyero could hear the water running and was half-tempted to join her but they didn't have the time. That became all too evident when he heard the trumpets at the city's walls sound. The Scrow were already here. Elphaba must have heard them too as the water in the bathroom stopped. Fiyero got up off the bed and went to the door.
"I'm going to find my father. Get dressed and head for the throne room," he said before heading out the bedroom door.
"What is the plan?" Fiyero asked his father upon entering the throne room. His mother, Glinda, Khalil, Zetti, and Roth were already there. Olaf was there too but he was in no condition to fight. The man was obviously still not fully recovered from Elphaba's spell. Everyone reacted to magic differently and it seemed Olaf was not as charged as he should have been.
"I have to make an attempt to offer them the chance to go home and if they refuse then we fight," Havel explained.
"I thought they made it pretty clear they were ready to fight," Fiyero said.
"Tradition is something you mustn't forget my son. This is how we've always done it and it will still be that way today," the King told him.
"Traditions are good but they can make us stodgy and rigid. Sometimes new ways are necessary for the growth of our peoples," the Prince argued.
"That may be and when you rule you can make changes but I rule by the way my father ruled and his father before him," Havel gave him a stern look and headed out of the throne room.
"He's going to get himself killed," Fiyero muttered as he hurried after him. Khalil turned to the Queen and asked,
"Where would you like me and my men?"
"General Thrin will need your assistance. He has the most recruits and some of them are pretty green," she responded. Kahlil nodded.
"Zetti, Roth, with me," he said.
"Yes, sir!" They saluted and were about to head out when Glinda jumped onto her fiancé.
"You stay alive out there," she told him.
"I'll do my best," he kissed her quickly and then set her down before heading for the door. Elphaba had just walked in and she gave them each a nod.
"Are you ready Glin?" She asked.
"When you are," the blonde nodded.
To Be Continued…