AN: One more chapter after this. I promise. This chapter is dedicated to Exotic Peach Blossom because she is awesome and I love her dearly, no matter what.
The day of Frex's execution dawned bright, with delicate sprinkles of golds, pinks and blues throughout the sky. The air was bitterly cold. Elphaba rolled over as the sun shown bright through her windows. "A day like this should not look so pretty." She closed her eyes, trying to block out reality for just a little while longer. It was not to be however as her door opened, and Chistery scampered in, followed by Melena. She kept her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep as the two made their way over to the bed.
Melena padded softly over to Elphaba's bed, a sad smile on her face as she watched Elphaba sleep peacefully for the first time in days. She sat on the edge of the bed and just listened to Elphaba's soft breathing for a while before gently shaking the girl's shoulder to wake her up. She smiled as Elphaba rolled over and opened her gorgeous chocolate colored eyes.
"Elphaba, sweetie. It's time to get up. Today is important." Elphaba sat up slowly. She smiled a little as Chistery jumped into her lap. She grabbed the little monkey and cuddled him to her chest as she looked at her mother.
"Mama, do…do I have to go? I don't want to. I don't want to see him ever again! Not even for this! I'm scared. What if he flees? What if the guards can't catch him if he does get free? He'll come for me and hurt me again!" Elphaba looked at Melena with fear shining in her dark eyes.
Melena wrapped her arms around the teenager and rocked her as she would a small child. "Shhh my darling. I know you are scared, but trust in your father's men. Even if he did get free, you will be protected. There will by high security there since we will all be there for you: me, your father, Fiyero, the Captain. Now come, dry your tears and let's get you ready for the day. Surprise your father and show him what a beautiful young woman he has as his daughter." She held a hand out to Elphaba, who hesitantly took it after gently placing Chistery on the bed. The young girl smiled as she felt him scramble up her arm to perch on her shoulder. Melena led her to the sitting room of her suite where breakfast was waiting on a small table.
Elphaba picked at her food, not ready to actually go out there and face the day. She knew what was expected of her, and finally just gave up, shoving her plate away.
She stood up as one of the maids came in to help her dress. Normally, she would just throw on a dress and pull her hair back in a braid, but today she was expected to look like the princess she was. Soon there was a knock at her door and she opened it to reveal her father. When he stood there without speaking for a moment, she looked at him quizzically. "Papa? Is everything okay?"
Oscar shook his head for a moment as if to clear it before smiling. 'I'm sorry. You look beautiful today Elphaba. Sometimes I forget you are almost a grown woman." Elphaba smiled slightly at him, knowing he was distracting her from the task set before her today. "You know, Papa, even when I am grown and have children of my own one day, I will still be your little girl and I wouldn't have it any other way, Wizard or not."
"You think you will have children someday, after, well you know?" Oscar asked as gently as possible. This was still a touchy subject. Elphaba's face darkened at the mention of her assault. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before answering. "Someday, yes. I can't promise when…but I refuse to live with this fear the rest of my life…and…I know it will take time, but I will be okay again."
Oscar nodded, as Melena came up behind Elphaba, with Chistery in her arms. The little monkey chattered at seeing his mistress and reached out for her like a small child. Elphaba reached over and took him, settling a kiss on his furry head before turning to her parents. "I guess it's time?" Melena nodded. "Fiyero and the Captain are already there waiting for us.
The city square was packed. It seemed as if the entire city had turned out to see the execution of the man who dared to harm their beloved princess. The gallows stood empty and a pregnant pause filled the air, with only the hangman waiting. The noose swung gently in the wind. Fiyero stood on the elevated platform with the Captain, waiting for Elphaba and her parents. Suddenly a voice rang out above the crowd. "Announcing our Glorious Wizard of Oz and Princess Elphaba!" Elphaba emerged from the carriage, followed by Oscar and Melena. Chistery was perched proudly on her shoulder. She was not about to give up this small source of comfort for this horrible day.
The Ozians gathered all melted at the sight of Prince Fiyero reaching for Elphaba's hand, giving her a gentle kiss before pulling back and whispering something to her. She nodded in return and he wiped a tear off her cheek. Elphaba took the offered hand and followed Oscar and Melena to the platform. For the citizens gathered, who were used to seeing the carefree young girl they had all come to love, the sight of Elphaba today startled them. Today, she looked every inch the princess she was. She stood regal in a long sleeved, velvet black gown with delicate silver threads winding through in a pattern reminiscent of the wind. A cloak of the same material sat around her shoulders, and in her hand was the scepter of her position. It would be used in the upcoming hour. Her long black hair was pulled back in a severe up-do, holding her tiara in place. Her face was a mask of stone. Fiyero was the only one who knew how scared she truly was, judging by the death grip she had on his hand. The necklace Fiyero had given her before her kidnapping was the only jewelry she wore.
Suddenly, the prison carriage clattered into the square, causing a buzz to rise in the gathered crowd. As it stopped, two prison guards emerged, dragging a bound Frex behind them to the gallows. He was quickly strung up and stood there, hatred oozing from every pore. The square erupted in cries of hate. "Kill him! Monster! Bastard! Death to the traitor!" Oscar stepped out before the crowd became too violent. He stood there, looking very sharp and severe in his formal emerald robes, with a gold circlet around his brow. His voice boomed out, immediately silencing the crowd. "Citizens of Oz, today we gather to condemn this man for his crimes against the throne. Captain Reed, would you please begin the proceedings?"
The Captain of the Guard stepped up and began to speak. The crowd was silent, waiting with baited breath to hear what he would say.
"Frexspar Thropp is a man with no morals. He abused his position as head of an orphanage, even going so far as to beat the children under his care when he was angry. That was not enough. When Princess Elphaba was reunited with her father, this man grew unstable and orchestrated a kidnapping of our beloved princess. He sold her into slavery and it was only through her bravery and intelligence, as well as the help of one very special person that the princess stands here today. Frexspar Thropp you are hereby convicted of treason, assault and kidnapping. You are to be put to death unless Princess Elphaba speaks for you today, in which case, you will live out the remainder of life in prison."
Frex stood there, the noose around his neck, and his hands bound behind his back. He spat at the ground before speaking. "I should have killed the little bitch myself." He lunged forward and Elphaba flinched before the rope pulled him back as he continued to rant and rave.
"Silence!" Captain Reed's voice rose above the ranting. "Gag him." The hangman nodded and tied a cloth around a struggling Frexspar's mouth, effectively silencing him.
The Captain turned towards Oscar who nodded, gently laying a hand on Elphaba's arm in a silent message of support in what was to come. She nodded, handing Chistery to Melena and moved forward so she was visible to every man, woman and child in the square. She raised her scepter. At this, the entire population bowed in her direction, in awe of the power she radiated. She would make a wonderful queen someday. The Captain stood, and the crowd followed suit.
"Princess Elphaba, what is your ruling on this man? Do you condemn him to death, or is he to spend the remainder of his life in prison?"
Every person was silent, waiting. "Frexspar Thropp made my life a living hell for as long as I can remember. It is through his actions that I was held in captivity for two weeks, starving and sold to a man with a sick obsession with young women. He showed me no mercy. As such, by the power vested in me, as Elphaba, Princess of Oz, Daughter of our Glorious Wizard, I condemn Frexspar Thropp to die by the hangman's noose!" Her voice rang clear throughout the square as she lowered her scepter.
Fiyero stepped up and she grabbed his hand. The Captain signaled to the hangman controlling the lever that would end in Frexspar's death. He pulled the lever and as Frex's body fell, snapping his neck. Elphaba turned her face into Fiyero's shoulder, tears soaking his jacket. He had just wrapped his arms around her when her knees buckled, sending a cry of alarm through the crowd. Oscar moved swiftly over to her, giving a sigh of relief when he saw she was conscious and unharmed.
'Papa!" She reached for him and he pulled her up into a tight hug, pressing a gentle kiss in her hair as she stood wrapped in his arms, sobbing. He looked over at Melena who wanted nothing more than to do the same, but as her relationship with Oscar and Elphaba was not yet public, she had her public duty to attend to. She moved forward speaking. "The princess is okay, just shaken by the events of today. She is still recovering from her ordeal." She backed away and moved with Fiyero and the others back to the carriage that would take them back to the palace. Fiyero had moved forward and taken Elphaba in his arms, offering his own comfort, and Elphaba leaned on him heavily as they walked away. The crowd watched as he grabbed her in a gentle kiss before entering the carriage.
The royal family never looked back.
