"Are you sure you're alright?" Fiyero asked as he kissed her on her forehead.

Elphaba looked at him with red eyes and her brows furrowed.

"I'm fine," she mumbled.

"I should have warned you to stay away from Gillikun alcohol, but it slipped my mind. I'm sorry," Fiyero said as he kissed her on her hair. He smiled when she did not push him away.

"We're going to be late, but tonight, we should sit down and have a good talk. "

"No," she replied without thinking.

Fiyero laughed. "Yes, we should. "

He passed the reins of her horse to Gerward, while he pulled Elphaba up onto his horse. He was not going to let her ride Munchkin when she was so hung over. She'd fall off the horse before the first hour was up.

"Don't fall off," he teased her as he wrapped his arms around her.

She responded with a soft ugh.

They started off and Elphaba groaned when the rays from the rising sun hit her eyes.

"Just close your eyes," Fiyero advised. "I had hangovers before. I know how terrible it can be."

She squinted her eyes instead. Despite the pounding in her head and the pain between her eyes, she was curious about her surroundings. Every bounce was like a hammer to her head, but the feeling of his solid chest behind her and his arms around her did make her feel a bit better. Not that she'd ever admit to him.

Prince Avon came up to them on his horse. She knew that she had spent some time chatting and drinking with the prince the night before. She tried to recall what they had talked about but everything was a blur. She really should stay away from the potent wine.

"Good morning," the Glikkun prince greeted them.

"Good morning, Prince Avon," Fiyero replied diplomatically.

"Isn't this a lovely morning, Princess Elphaba?"

"Yes, it is," she managed to say.

They stopped for a late lunch when they found a good resting spot near a stream. Elphaba splashed the cold water on her face and drank from the running water, and she felt much better.

She turned around and Fiyero was there watching her.

"Feeling better?"

The refreshing drink had also renewed her strength and her resolution to remain angry at him.

"I'm feeling much better. In fact, I think I'd ride Munchkin when we set off again."

Fiyero frowned. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," she said as she marched off to join the rest.

The members of the two tribes took their lunch, and then some of them took a nap under the trees as there was nothing much to do until they set off again.

Gerward and Fiyero went to the stream with their waterskins.

"How long have you been married?" Fiyero asked the man.

"Almost two years now. My little girl will be one year old next month."

"Her name is Gerrie, isn't it?"

Gerward smiled, glad that the prince remembered her name. "You're right, Prince Fiyero."

"How's marriage life for you?"

"Gerrie's mother and I grew up together. She's a kind and beautiful woman, and a wonderful mother to Gerrie. I'm the most fortunate man in Vinkus. We couldn't be happier. We're going to welcome another child into the family in a few months' time."

"Really? Congratulations!"

The two continued to talk; Gerward was unable to stop talking about his family once he started. Fiyero could not help but envy how happy and content he was. A child, with another on the way. He wondered if he'd ever be so lucky. His mother had managed to conceive a few times, but had miscarried all but one, while his father only had a sibling who passed away a few years ago. He looked at Elphaba as Gerward continued to talk. The green girl was talking to Munchkin and brushing its mane with her hand. They might not be sharing a bed anymore if he did not clear up the misunderstanding between them soon.

Suddenly Gerward stopped mid-sentence as he looked behind Fiyero.

"Your Highness…"

Fiyero turned around. Less than twenty feet away was a lion, looking at them. They had been so engrossed they had not noticed the animal approaching.

Fuck.

Fiyero looked around. There were a few rocks around his feet, but there was no other weapon to protect himself. He raised his arms, trying to make himself look larger.

"Prince Fiyero…"

"Stay back, Gerward." They might be able to escape unharmed if they were lucky.

The lion looked at the two men, one further away than the other, and it padded forward.

Fiyero could see the hunger in its eyes.

He only had time to grab the rock at his feet when the lion was suddenly on him. It roared as it pushed him to the ground. Fiyero swung the rock at the lion's face but it bounced off harmlessly. Its claw swept across his chest, and Fiyero felt a burning pain as his skin was torn open.

Gerward threw a rock at the lion, distracting it momentarily, and Fiyero took the chance to roll away. He stood up, his hand pressing the open wound, just in time to see the lion coming at him again. The animal pounced on him and knocked the air out of him. He tried to grip the face of the lion by its whiskers, but it turned away before turning back, its teeth snapping just inches from his face. The lion pressed a paw on him, pinning him down.

"No!" Gerward shouted.

The lion roared again as it swiped at Fiyero's scalp, turning his face to the side. The impact jarred all the way from his head to toes. As he began to lose consciousness, he saw that the team was standing a distance away. Prince Avon took a step forward, and then he realised what was in the prince's hands. It was a bow with an arrow nocked. Elphaba was standing behind Prince Avon, watching calmly as the Glikkun prince aimed the arrow at him.

The lion struck another strong blow from the side and his whole world turned black.

"Get off me! Help!" Manek cried out as he tried to push Liir away.

"Children, what do you think you're doing?" Elphaba shouted but Fiyero was faster. He wrapped his arms around Liir's torso and pulled him off his brother, with Liir's legs kicking the air.

"Let go of me. I want to fight him. Let go!"

"Not until you stop this nonsense and apologise to Manek."

"Why should I? He's in the wrong!" But Liir ceased his struggling. Fiyero put him down and pushed him towards his brother.

"Come on. "

Liir muttered something under his breath.

"I can't hear you. "

He muttered again.

"What?"

"I'm sorry for hurting you, Manek."

"I'm sorry for saying those things to you."

Fiyero knelt and ruffled their hair. "Now that's my boys. So tell me what happened."

"Manek has admitted it. He threatened me."

"Manek, did you threaten Liir?"

"I didn't threaten him. I just told him that I'll tell you what he did with Sarima!"

Elphaba gave Fiyero an alarmed look.

"I told you to keep your mouth shut," Liir shouted.

"Liir, I think we need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about, Papa."

"Come on." He pulled his older son away towards his study.

"Liir, I believe we have spoken about this before." Fiyero said when Liir was seated on his favourite seat.

"Sarima is not what you think, Papa. She likes me."

Fiyero sighed.

"How did you know?"

"I just knew. It's something that you just know. Just like how you know that mama likes you?"

"Liir, has Sarima ever indicated that she likes you?"

"Of course."

"How? Would you like to share?"

"She's always smiling at me, asking me to do things, praising me. I know she's older than me, but she appreciates the vigour of a younger man. "

Fiyero rubbed his face.

"Did she say that?"

Liir kept quiet.

"Liir…"

"With all due respect, Papa. I know that she has rejected you before, but that's you and I'm me. You can't be jealous of your own son."

"What?" Fiyero was rendered speechless. "Son, what makes you think that I'm jealous of you?"

"Because you didn't get to choose. Because you have to marry Mama."

"Yes, I have to marry Mama because it's an arranged marriage. But if I were given the choice, I will still choose your mama."

"You're lying."

"Why would I lie?"

"Because you didn't get Sarima. You don't want to see me happy with her and be reminded of the fact that you didn't get her."

"This is preposterous!"

"You and Mama always think that I can't think independently. I know what you adults are thinking. You always pretend that you're wiser and you know better, but that's what you think."

"Liir." Fiyero growled warningly. "We only have your best interests in mind. "

"That's what you always say."

"Because that's true."

"I don't believe you. "

"Liir - "

"You're a liar, Papa. And I hate you!" Liir ran to the door and opened it. Elphaba was outside, about to knock on the door.

"Liir?"

"I hate you too!" He told his mother too and he ran off.

"What happened?" She asked her husband.

Fiyero shook his head.

"I think I screwed up. He thinks that I'm against Sarima because I'm jealous that he could be with her while I couldn't. "

"He really thinks so?" Elphaba put a hand on his chest.

Fiyero gave a bitter smile.

"I think I need to improve my communication skills with teenagers."

"Maybe I can go talk to him?"

"Let him cool down. I'll try again tomorrow."

"Let's do it together tomorrow. "

"That's a good idea. How's Manek?"

"He's alright. He's in Irij's room playing with treasure hunt."

"That sounds fun. Let's join them," Fiyero suggested, and Elphaba agreed.

They were walking along the corridor when someone knocked on the main door, and a servant went forward to open it.

"Is Prince Fiyero or Princess Elphaba in?" A familiar voice said.

"Gerward," Fiyero called his name and waved from above. They went down to meet him.

"What brings you here?"

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but is Princess Nor or Gerrie here?"

"Nor? Isn't she at your place? With Gerrie?"

Gerward shook his head.

"I don't know. My wife went to Gerrie's room just now and they weren't there. They were not in the garden too. And then we find this letter on her bed." He passed a folded piece of paper to Fiyero. "It seems, " Gerward swallowed. "I was hoping that they'll be here, but it seems that they've run away. "