AN: Kudos to PrincessKadenceOfMusic. Yes, the title is 'The letter' :P.

Musicgal3: No, Elizabeth, you can't do anything :P. And yes, you should be worried.

Just a warning: this story is going to get angsty. Like, major character death - angsty. Not Fiyero or Elphaba, I can promise you that much... but no-one else is safe. *ominous music* *dun dun dunnnn...* *smirk*

This chapter, though, is mostly fluff. Sad fluff, I guess, but still fluff.

Chapter 8. The letter

It arrived in the middle of the afternoon one Friday after classes.

The weekend had begun and Elphaba, Galinda, Nessarose, Boq, Fiyero and Gazilon were having tea at the Primrose Café, lounging on the couches and pillows in their usual corner. Elphaba was, of course, sitting next to Gazilon, with their fingers entwined and her head on his shoulder every now and then; which caused Galinda, who was sitting across from her roommate, to squeal and/or 'aww' loudly every time she caught sight of it. Nessa, who was sitting in between Galinda and Boq, kept giving her sister approving glances; while Boq and Gazilon were caught up in a heated discussion about Munchkin law and farmer's taxes and how much it differed from the other provinces.

Fiyero, meanwhile, had made himself comfortable on a pile of pillows next to the couch Elphaba and Gazilon were sitting on, practically at Elphaba's feet - which was proving to be amazing as well as infuriating. They were too careful to exchange secret glances in a public place such as this one; but Elphaba couldn't help it that every time she leant forward to pick her cup of tea up from the table, her fingers brushed Fiyero's shoulder. Or that every time he leant back he was actually leaning against her legs and she had to resist the urge to run her fingers through his hair. She loved being so close to him, even though they couldn't do anything in public; but she hated it at the same time, because it was driving her crazy and she felt like she was blushing all the time. She hoped people would think that to be because of Gazilon.

Suddenly Gazilon gently grabbed her chin and turned her head towards him, then pressed his lips to hers in a long kiss. She could almost feel Fiyero stiffening next to her.

"What was that for?" she whispered a bit irritably once they broke apart.

"To give you an excuse for the fact that your face looks like a tomato," he muttered in her ear. He was smiling, giving the others the impression that he was whispering something sweet into her ear.

The fact that Elphaba's face flushed an even brighter red at his words only contributed to that idea.

"I'm green," she hissed, smiling as well in an attempt to fool anyone who was looking. "I couldn't turn the colour of a tomato to save my life."

"Trust me," Gazilon said with a grin. "You just pulled it off."

She scowled at him and shoved him, making him laugh. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, planting a kiss on the top of her head as he whispered in her ear, "Just be a little more careful, okay? I'll gladly help you, you know that, but it would be easier if you two would just save this for when you're alone." He kissed her again briefly. "Date tonight?" he asked her casually, his eyes flicking towards Fiyero for a moment.

She smiled, knowing what he meant, and she nodded. "I'd love to," she said softly. "Thank you."

Galinda started squealing again. "Aww, Elphie, are you thanking him for taking you on a date? That's so incredibly sweet!"

No, Elphaba corrected her silently, I'm thanking him for going through all this trouble in order for me to have some alone time with the guy I really love. But of course she didn't say that out loud.

Fiyero cast a quick glance in their direction, which Elphaba answered with a smile. He got the message and grinned at her before turning around again.

Just then, one of the waiters approached them, carrying something.

"Excuse me?" he asked when he reached the friend group. "I'm looking for Prince Fiyero Tiggular?"

"That's me," Fiyero said, looking confused.

The waiter handed him an envelope. "This just came in for you," he said. "A servant brought it to me – he couldn't stay to give it to you himself, he seemed to be in a hurry. He looked quite panicked, actually."

Chills ran down Fiyero's spine as he accepted the envelope. "Thank you," he said, his voice sounding a bit strangled.

He turned the envelope around in his hands. "It's from the Vinkus," he mused softly, more to himself than to the others. "But it's not from my parents – it doesn't have the royal seal." He frowned. "It looks official, though. Why –"

"Just open it!" Galinda said impatiently.

Boq chuckled. Elphaba rolled her eyes.

Fiyero took a deep breath and opened the envelope, pulling out the letter that was inside. His eyes flew over the first words, taking them in quickly. He frowned, confused and worried.

"It's from General Waldin," he said, looking up. Everyone present could see the worry in his eyes. "Why would General Waldin send me a letter?"

"Isn't he second in command?" Elphaba, who knew a bit about the Vinkun government system, asked him softly.

He nodded, still looking dazed. "My father is first in command," he said. "He's the king. But why… why would the general write to me?" He bit his lip. "Unless something… something happened to my father…"

"Fifi," Galinda said sternly. "Don't draw premature conclusions. Just read the Oz-damned letter."

"Galinda!" Nessa was clearly shocked to hear such language from her friend, but no-one paid attention to the girl in the wheelchair. All eyes were on Fiyero as he nodded faintly, then unfolded the letter and started reading it.

Everyone was watching him anxiously as his eyes widened and he blanched visibly upon reading the message that was in the letter.

Elphaba laid her hand on his shoulder. "Yero?" she asked softly. "What is it?"

"Are you alright?" Nessa chimed in, eyeing the prince worriedly. "Did something happen?"

"It's…" Fiyero swallowed, but the lump in his throat didn't disappear. "I… I need some air," he choked out, before rising to his feet and all but fleeing the café.

The others looked at one another, puzzled.

"Bad news, I take it," Boq said redundantly.

No-one responded.

Elphaba was staring at the door, longing to run after him right now, but not sure if she could.

"El?"

She looked at Gazilon.

He smiled and squeezed her hand. "You can go after him, sweetheart," he said, keeping up the act at the same time as letting her know that it was okay. "You're his friend. He needs you right now."

She nodded, dazed, and flashed him a small but grateful smile before hurrying after Fiyero.

She found him in the alley behind the café, sitting on the ground with his back against the rough, stone wall and his face buried in his hands.

She slid down next to him and put one hand on his arm. "Yero?"

He glanced at her once; then he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her neck as he started crying.

She held him, rubbing soothing circles on his back. She still had no idea what was going on or what had been in the letter, but he was shaking with sobs and the mere sight broke her heart.

"It's okay," she whispered, feeling him clinging to her like a small child clinging to its mother. "Ssh, it's okay, Yero… calm down. I'm here for you, I promise." She pulled away slightly, wiping his tears away with her thumbs. "I love you," she said, softly enough so that only he could hear. "Please tell me what's wrong."

He choked on another sob. The letter was stained with tears by now and he crumpled it in his fist, news tears spilling over.

"There… there's been an attack," he choked out. "The Glikkun people… on my family…"

Elphaba suddenly felt icy cold. "Oh, Yero…" she whispered, tears filling her own eyes upon seeing him like this. "I'm so sorry."

He sniffled and pulled away, wiping his tears away. She sat on her knees, looking at him.

"Are they…"

"I don't know," he said hoarsely. "There… there was an explosion. The entire castle caved in…" He shuddered. "Eleven deaths so far." He blinked back more tears. "Llor, our cook, is dead… he always treated me like his son. He taught me how to bake." He sniffled. "And Raina, my mother's favourite maid… along with seven other staff members I grew up with. All gone…" He shook his head, as if he couldn't believe it.

"They found my Mum," he said, his voice sounding strange to his own ears. "She… she's still alive, but the letter doesn't say what condition she's in. The found my father, too, but… they don't think he's going to make it."

Elphaba hugged him. He buried his face in her hair.

"Some got out alive," he said. His voice was muffled by Elphaba's hair, but she heard him anyway. "Eight more staff members, though they're probably all hurt… and then there's three people still missing. Two more staff members and my little sister. The general writes that he's 'sorry for my loss'. I guess he presumes them dead… I mean, how long can a person survive under a pile of rubble that used to be an enormous castle?"

"There's still hope," Elphaba insisted. "Maybe they'll find them alive."

Fiyero shrugged listlessly, clearly not believing her. "Maybe."

She held him tightly.

When there came a knock on the door that night, Elphaba opened it to reveal Gazilon.

"You should be careful with that," he warned her. "If I had been someone else, it would have led to a lot of questions as to what you are doing in Fiyero's dorm room."

She bit her lip. "Sorry. I wasn't really thinking."

He gave her a small smile. "I understand."

She looked over her shoulder to where Fiyero had fallen asleep on his bed. "I don't really want to leave him right now," she confessed, looking back at Gazilon worriedly. "But…"

"You can stay with him," he assured her. "That's why I came, actually. To tell you that I told Galinda you'd be staying over at my place tonight." He shrugged. "I figured you'd want to stay with Fiyero tonight. Galinda is going to pester you tomorrow to get you to tell her the 'details' of you sleeping in my room, but…"

On an impulse, she leant up and kissed his cheek. "I love you," she said. "And that's the first time I said it that I actually mean it, too."

"You know? The fact that you're saying you love me, just because I made sure you could stay with another guy tonight, kind of ruins the sentiment," he teased her lightly.

She made a face at him. "Sorry."

"Oh, stop it. I was just joking." He squeezed her shoulder. "Good luck tonight. I'll pick you up in the morning for breakfast, okay? Don't worry, it's with the entire group," he reassured her when he saw her biting her lip a bit anxiously.

"Okay," she said. "I just… I don't want him to be alone. Not now and not tomorrow, either."

He smiled at her. "I get it." He blew her a kiss. "Bye."

She chuckled. "Bye." She closed the door behind him and turned around.

"What did he say?" Fiyero croaked from his bed.

Elphaba jumped. "Oz, Fiyero!" She exhaled slowly. "I thought you were asleep!"

"Sorry."

Elphaba sat down on the edge of the bed, touching his shoulder. "He's covering for me," she said. "I'm staying with you tonight."

He rolled over to face her. "Really?" he asked. "I mean… I'd really like for you to stay, but I don't want you to if it'd get you in trouble."

She leant over and kissed him. "It won't. I'll be fine. I'm not leaving you alone right now, Yero."

She stroked his cheek and he turned his head to kiss her fingers. "Thank you."

She sat next to him, trailing random patterns on his back. He was lying on his side in the foetal position, clutching her hand as if it was his lifeline, playing with her fingers.

"Yero?" she asked him softly. "Is there anything I can do for you? Do you want something to eat, to drink, or do you want to talk?"

He shrugged. "Not really."

"But I want to help you."

He looked up at her. "You are helping," he said quietly. "Just… just stay with me. Please?"

"Of course." She ran her fingers through his hair. "I already told you, I'm not going anywhere."

She picked the letter up from his nightstand and skimmed through it again. He had showed it to her when they had still been in that alley behind the café. The general had kept his letter very practical; a list of names of people who had survived, a list of those missing and a list of those who had died, along with a short explanation of what had happened and a brief message in which he conveyed his condolences.

"What if my father dies?" Fiyero whispered suddenly.

Elphaba put the letter back and lied down beside him. "Yero…"

He met her gaze. "General Waldin says it's unlikely that he will survive."

"Unlikely," Elphaba said, cupping his face. "But not impossible."

He sighed. "No, but…" He bit his lip. "'Unlikely' still isn't good, is it? And… and my Mum… the general doesn't even say what condition she's in. What if they both die, Fae? What if my entire family will be dead within a few days?" He choked on a sob. "Maybe they're already gone – it takes a while for mail to travel from the Vinkus to Shiz. Maybe I'm an orphan right now and I don't even know it yet."

Elphaba's heart broke when she saw the look on his face.

He put his head on her shoulder, holding her to him tightly.

"If he dies," he whispered. "If my Dad dies… that means I'll be King."

Elphaba hadn't even thought about that.

"How can I be King?" Fiyero whispered, on the verge of tears again. "I can't rule a country… Especially not without my Dad. I don't know the first thing about being King. I don't have any skills whatsoever. Sure, I know how to dance through life and organise parties and hold down my liquor, but…" The tears started falling from his eyes. "I've been the worst son – and prince – ever. All I did was make it even harder for them. They must be so disappointed in me…"

"Yero, no!" Elphaba cradled his face between her hands, forcing him to look into her eyes. "They're not disappointed in you," she said firmly. "They're your parents. They love you. Don't think that, Fiyero!"

He buried his face into her shoulder and cried. "But I've been so horrible!"

"Yero…" She wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Everyone feels the need to dig in their heels sometimes. That doesn't mean you disappointed them or you've been a bad son! They love you, I'm sure of that. You told me yourself in one of your letters over the summer that your father said that he was proud of you for staying at Shiz for so long and getting good grades."

Fiyero sniffled and nodded. "He did," he said quietly. "He did say that. He thought it was a miracle that I had actually studied enough to pass all my exams…" He laughed softly. "It wasn't a miracle – it was you."

She smiled and wiped his tears away from his cheek, kissing the wet trails they left on his skin. "I love you, Yero. And your parents do, too. You didn't disappoint anyone – don't think that. And don't… don't worry too much about your family until you receive more news, okay? Maybe… maybe they'll be okay."

He sighed deeply. "Maybe."

She kissed his temple and pulled the blankets over him. "Try to get some sleep," she said softly.

He tightened his grip on her hand. "Stay with me?"

"Always," she promised him, allowing him to pull her under the blankets with him and press her to his chest.

She wrapped her arms around him and held him as he pressed his cheek to her hair, breathing in her scent.

"I'm not going anywhere," she murmured.