A/N: A time jump next chapter and then only one or two more chapters after that. Hope you like it!

Chapter 30

"I'm afraid you're dirtier than when you came in here," Efe chuckled after the witch helped him get all cleaned up. Her dress had mud all over it up to her knees and despite trying to stay dry, she hadn't managed it.

"That might be true," Elphaba smirked, knowing that she hadn't exactly been smelling like a rose before and now the added smell of wet dog was just charming.

"Forgive me Princess but would you like me to assist you to the servants' quarters? They could help you get cleaned up before you head inside the Palace," the stable boy offered as he came by to make sure that Efe was getting fed. Griffins typically feasted on a fresh kill of deer or elk but the best the Palace had was some rabbits. Though a hunting party was being assembled and they promised to be back with something more suitable for their honored guests.

"That might be a good idea. I certainly wouldn't want to get anything on the Palace floors," Elphaba shook her head at the thought.

"Right this way then," the boy smiled and Elphaba said goodbye to Efe. She followed the stable boy out to a structure directly behind the Palace and one of the maids quickly let her in.

"I do apologize for this inconvenice but I smell awful and am covered in mud," the green woman said as the maid helped her get her shoes off and hold up her skirts so they didn't touch the ground.

"Nonsense, your Majesty. We'll get you cleaned up in no time," she smiled. The maid then led the Princess to a communal bathroom where they started to try and peel her dress off.

"Well can I at least have your name so I can thank you?" Elphaba wanted to know. The maid opened her mouth but instead of her speaking, the door to the main building slammed open. Both ladies looked at each other confused before the maid stood at the door and poked her head outside of the room, careful to not expose the now half-naked Princess.

"Ernest! What are you doing? I have the Princess in here!" She yelled at him.

"Prince Fiyero has gone off the rails! The Gale Force just had to restrain him! He tried to kill the witch!" Ernest explained through his heavy breathing. It was obvious the man had hauled butt to get out of the way of the Prince who was obviously not having a good day.

"Find the Queen and tell her that I'm helping the Princess clean up. Then tell her we'll get her over to the Palace as soon as possible. Tell Betsy to bring me some clean clothes for the Princess," the maid ordered. Elphaba couldn't see what happened next but she assumed the man nodded and then took off as the outside door shut once again.

"I need to go," the green woman said.

"Nonsense. You need to clean up. I'm sure that it isn't as bad as Ernest makes it sound," she brushed it off but Elphaba had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that wouldn't go away. The fastest way to get to Fiyero was to get in and out of the tub.

In the infirmary, Asli walked in after hearing all the hullabaloo. He was much cleaner and feeling refreshed right up until he saw Fiyero chained to a chair surrounded by Gale Force and the Queen. He wanted to know what happened but he wedeled his way past the crowd and found his beloved.

"Glinda how are you feeling?" He asked, taking a seat in the chair next to her bed.

"Better now that you are here. The doctor isn't sure how our baby is doing. He said it is too early to tell," the blonde was on the verge of tears. Asli slipped from his chair and sat down on the bed before leaning down and gently embracing the small woman.

"You are not alone. We will get through this together," he promised after he pulled away. Glinda carefully moved her hand and cupped his cheek.

"How did I get so lucky?" She asked.

"How did I?" He smiled at her.

"Fiyero just stormed in here and tried to kill the lady in the cell. Who is she and why would he do that?" She wanted to know; knowing that her husband would have the answers and that he wanted to know what was going on. The blonde knew him too well already and they hadn't been together that long.

"She is his grandmother and she killed the King," he told her.

"Where is Elphie?" Glinda asked, suddenly very concerned for her friend.

"She is fine and my guess is that she's on her way given what Fiyero has just done," Asli told her. He looked over at the woman in the cell, who seemed to be enjoying the Queen berating her son. Then the Captain turned his gaze to Fiyero, the seething rage was still evident. Asli leaned down and kissed Glinda's forehead and promised her that he'd be back.

To Be Continued…