A/N: A shout out to my anonymous reviewer. Glad you liked the last chapter. :) Thanks!
Chapter 2
"Fiyero! It is so good to see you, my son!" King Tahir hugged the Prince upon him exiting the carriage. Normally, the King was more stoic but admittedly they had missed a lot of time together.
"It's good to see you too Dad," Fiyero hugged him back.
"Your mother tells me you can only stay for two weeks," Tahir said.
"I'm afraid so, but we thought that would be better than not being able to come. I need to ask a favor of you," the younger Vinkun gave him a look.
"Ah yes. Well, more on that later. First, we must dine. I have no doubt that long ride made you hungry," Tahir smiled.
"Indeed," Fiyero smiled back at him. While the two Tiggular men chatted, Elphaba had exited the carriage to find Queen Ayla waiting for her. She quickly curtseyed but soon found herself in the arms of the royal. The green woman hugged her, but it was awkward for her and the hug was not as tight as one she would have given Fiyero or Glinda.
"Elphaba, how are you?" Ayla wanted to know as they pulled out of their hug. The Queen could feel that the green woman was a little out of her element. Given everything she'd been through Ayla was surprised.
"I have to admit, nervous," Elphaba was not one for lying, especially when it came to royalty. Though she had been forced to do it in the past, it was easier when everyone feared her and didn't want to look her in the eyes.
"Why? You are most welcome here. Lieutenant Dilek has passed the word of your good deeds onto every Vinkun he could find. Plus, what was released by the Emerald City, means you are safe here. I want you to feel like this can be your home," Ayla told her.
"That was very sweet of the Lieutenant and I appreciate everyone trying so hard. I guess I…" she didn't get a chance to finish as Sergeant Schultz carefully butted in.
"Miss Elphaba, are you ok? I do not mean to interrupt you, your Highness," the young man bowed to the Queen.
"Son, your worry for Miss Elphaba is admirable, do you not worry about interrupting. My son tells me that you have been promoted and have an eye for one of our soldiers," Ayla had a smirk on her face.
"Yes, your Highness. I am a Sergeant now and I have come to surprise Corporal Kaplan with the news," he bowed again.
"You can stop bowing. Without you, I wouldn't be talking to Miss Elphaba. I cannot tell you what that means to not only me, but of course, Fiyero. The Vinkus owes you. So that said, I can make sure that Corporal Kaplan has some time off during your visit," Ayla winked at him.
"Thank you, your Highness," Schultz smiled and shot a look to Elphaba. She gave him a smile and a nod and the young man left the two women alone. His first task was to get the carriage into the barn, followed by helping the newly promoted Corporal Roth with the horses and bags.
"He adores you, almost to his own detriment. Another royal would have lost their composure at his interruption," Ayla smirked to the green woman.
"He views it as his duty to protect me, despite my abilities. I think that moment in the Council Chamber was a moment that cemented it in his head. It didn't matter how powerful I was in that moment, I might have become another victim to the system that had been against me since the Wizard took power," Elphaba admitted.
"Fiyero tells me that he has no one else. Perhaps in a way, he views you as the mother he could not protect," the Queen wondered as they moved to follow the men inside the Palace.
"Perhaps. We share a lot in common and that has forged our bond. He wanted to belong to those who cared and when his mother died, there was no one who would actually care for him. I know that feeling, all too well. It is also why it took so long for Fiyero to break the barriers I had put up. I do not want him to waste time. That is why I am so glad that he and Corporal Kaplan have found each other," the green woman explained.
"I make no move to replace anyone you've lost. I only look to add to the list of those you consider family," Ayla told her, hoping that would help put Elphaba at ease.
"That means more than you know," the green woman smiled as they entered the Palace.
To Be Continued…