Snow blew into town and with it more who wanted to try to better their fortunes in Kiamo Ko. Galinda had hired a lot of them to work in the castle. Fiyero found it easy to keep busy though he still often turned to ask Elphaba for her opinion despite her no longer being there.

No one in town asked after her, but expansions were going underway to make room for the new arrivals. Some from the grasslands were more than happy to make their homes in yurts on empty land, just adjusting them for the colder temperatures.

More livestock was brought in, more tradesmen, more craftsmen. It wasn't all smooth sailing, and while Galinda was great and did her best, it just wasn't the same as having Elphaba there.

Trouble struck when they were in town and the soldiers decided to make a strike. The alarm horn blew and the market place went into bedlam as sellers snatched up their wares and ducked into buildings for safety.

"Alright," said Fiyero, turning to Galinda. "Time to show off your magic! Chase them off!"

She tensed and fumbled for her grimoire.

"We've been patient!" said one. "The time for games is over!"

"We aren't afraid of you," said Fiyero.

"Where's the she-troll?"

"I will say your new witch is a better sight for sore eyes than the other one," the lieutenant said, smirking.

Galinda threw a spell but only conjured a shower of bubbles.

The men laughed.

"Is that all you got?"

A cloaked figure broke out of the crowd and raised a hand. The leader of this bunch clucked and started flapping his arms around. His horse twitched and started hopping around. Its ears grew larger, its body grew smaller, and its front teeth elongated until a little white mouse scurried around on the ground.

The figure threw back their hood, revealing Elphaba.

"How many times do I have to teach you this lesson?" she demanded.

"You little—" one fired a shot from his crossbow and the bolt was transformed into a flower, hitting Elphaba in the chest before bouncing uselessly to the ground.

With flourishes of her hands, the soldiers were quickly chased off with their tails between their legs. Some with tails that had not been there before.

The crowds stood in astonishment before breaking into applause and cheers.

Elphaba put her hood back over her head and picked up her shopping basket.

Fiyero broke out of his trance and ran to her.

"Fae!"

She looked back at him in vague surprise.

"You're still a scarecrow," she said.

"You're still green," he joked.

She narrowed her eyes and mounted her broom.

"Wait! Where are you staying now?" he asked. "It's been months but I haven't seen you around town."

She seemed thinner than usual and her green skin had a greyish tinge to it. Her hair looked dull and couldn't seem to stay in its bun.

"You don't have to be polite," she sighed. "I should get home."

"Wait," he said. "At least tell me why you left."

"I thought my letter was perfectly clear."

"It was not, why would you think you didn't belong with us anymore?"

"It was obvious to me," she said dully and kicked off into the sky.

"Can't blame her for leaving," said Avaric.

Fiyero scowled at the man.

"And what do you know about it?" he snapped.

Avaric smirked in that irritating way of his.

"A lot more than you, apparently," he scoffed. "I mean, if my family forgot me and left me in the cold and dark, I'd be hurt, too."

"She's the one who left," said Fiyero.

Avaric scoffed incredulously.

"You never realized?" he said and laughed mirthlessly. "Well, no wonder she got so mad at you that last day."

Fiyero narrowed his eyes. "Start making sense."

"The second night of the Harvest Festival—or was it the third?" he mused. "There I was helping clean up when Miss Elphaba comes out of the darkness asking if she saw you. Well, I saw you, Dr. Dillamond, Chistery, and that gorgeous Miss Galinda get into the carriage and had assumed she flew home. I guess you all came to the same conclusion and never checked to see if she made it home safe."

Fiyero felt as if all the straw in his body curled up at once.

"Is she living here in town?" he asked.

"No," he said and seemed certain of it. "She comes by once a week for groceries and to dole out that potion the old folks like for their bones and then leaves."

"Do you know where she goes?"

He snorted. "Why would I? We're not friends. Like I said, she just comes once a week to the market."

"Is it consistent?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, weather vane?" Avaric strode off.

Ass.

Fiyero went back to the others, thinking. Elphaba was a creature of habit. She hated having her routine interrupted, so she would come to town again eventually. However, she also took the crystal ball with her so she was likely keeping an eye on the soldiers.

Was today a coincidence or a planned visit? Was she watching all of them?

If she was, she might have at least reached out to Chistery who seemed to miss her most of all.

More snow would be blowing in and there could be blizzards this time of year. Where was she staying? Was she warm enough? She didn't look well.

He didn't even get a chance to ask her opinion on the children's shelter. They all seemed to be doing alright in the castle but they also seemed uncomfortable with it, like they were afraid to act like kids. He didn't know if it was him or the trauma they experienced from their lives being uprooted, but maybe if there was an official building in town, one homier and more child-friendly than a crumbling castle, it might work out better.

After collecting the paperwork, he returned to the castle and got started on it. Permits, estimates, tax recommendations. He was rich and it was his fault all this happened in the first place so he could fund expanding infrastructure. Ensure rent remains low and then discuss taxes at a later date to fund public works. No one liked taxes, but he was sure Elphaba could convince them that everyone paying a small portion to keep the doctors in business was better than having to pay out of pocket each time.

A year, he decided. Get the money circulating, people comfortable, and the trades more or less set.

"Fifi, do you have a moment?" Galinda asked.

He nodded and looked up at her.

"Lurlinemas is in a few weeks," she said. "I was thinking you should host a ball for that night. It's a little short notice, I know, but Castle provides food so I'll just need to plan a menu and hire on a decorator!"

"We don't festivate Lurlinemas," said Fiyero. "Fae and I never really acknowledged the holiday and Chistery never asked about it. When I was human, I observed the Festival of Lights."

The Festival of Lights lasted from the winter solstice to the new year. Lurlinemas was observed on January 6th.

"But it's so much fun! We could decorate and do angels—oh that's a gift exchange everyone picks a name from a hat and they are their angel to bestow a gift on them just as Lurline did for people!"

Fiyero had no idea what Galinda was talking about.

"I suppose we could do the lantern release," he said. "Each night we light a candle because the days are getting longer after the solstice and on the new year we write a wish in a paper lantern and release it."

"And gifts?"

"Children receive gifts; usually practical things, like socks and a scarf. I hated getting socks when I was a kid."

"You're a prince, you didn't get everything on your wish list?" Galinda laughed.

"I did. I just also got socks that I hated." He wiggled his pen over the paper.

He got out a new sheet and wrote a note, then copied it, adjusting where he saw fit. He used the ink blotter, folded them up, and stamped them with his newly made royal seal, which was a pumpkin.

"Can you send these out?" he asked.

She nodded, then hesitated.

"Elphaba won't be mad forever," she said.

He scoffed and pulled his paperwork back to him.

"You don't know Elphaba," he said. "She can be mad as long as she wants. And before we had a mutual loathing. Just strangers. Now…"

She was abandoned by her family twice. How could he ever make up for that? He didn't want to think about it.

"What happened today?" he asked. "Did you freeze up?"

"Hm?"

"When the soldiers tried to stir up trouble," he said. "I mean, you're a witch, I've seen you do magic."

"Oh! You know, just taken by surprise," she laughed lightly. "I'll do better next time."

Fiyero looked back down. It took Elphaba time to build up her skills, but Galinda said she was formally trained so he'd just have to trust that.

He missed his best friend.

Over the next week, he kept an eye out in town for her. He picked up Chistery from school and they walked around town to look at the solstice preparations. Paper lanterns were being sold as were traditional foods fried in oil.

"Why don't you pick a lantern, Chistery?" Fiyero asked. "You write a wish in it and we release it on New Years' Day."

Chistery half-heartedly looked at the lanterns, then around the square. He suddenly took off. Fiyero looked up in the sky and saw Elphaba flying away on her broom.

She was too fast even for the Monkey's powerful wings, but he was giving a valiant chase.

Fiyero ran after them, glad he couldn't tire. He held onto his head as he bounded over rocks and fallen trees, trying to keep his eye on the skies.

He stopped short, having slammed into a wall.

Shaking his head, he backed up to see the mountainside cut off as if a giant axe had split it centuries ago. The face glimmered almost silver, though the minerals within could very well have been worthless for all they sparkled. Plants clung to the surface as if their lives depended on it and tree roots from the flat surface at the top wove down.

Fiyero raised his hands to climb then lowered them. They would be long gone by the time he scaled that. He moved this way and that trying to see if there was a way around but one way kept going up and the slope downward was too gradual the other way.

Elphaba would never let Chistery get hurt.

Hoping that he would find both of them there, Fiyero headed home. He told Galinda and Dr. Dillamond of Chistery's whereabouts.

"Perhaps he can persuade her to—if not return—at least visit," said Dr. Dillamond.

Fiyero nodded and paced around the castle restlessly, eventually ending up in the tower. He scanned the skies and mistook several birds for his friend.

Just as the sky began to darken, a flying figure came and landed next to him. Chistery shivered and scampered over to the fireplace, dusting the snow off his fur.

"Where is she staying, Chistery?" Fiyero asked eagerly.

"Not saying."

"What?! Why not?"

"I promised not to say." He took a small cake out of his pocket and ate it, clutching his feet together as if he could squeeze the cold out of them. "Baba said I could visit her whenever I liked if I didn't say where."

"Chistery—"

"No!" Chistery hugged his knees. "I'm not saying."

"Will you at least bring her letters?"

Chistery nodded.

That cake he had eaten… they weren't sold in town, which meant Elphaba had access to a stove.

And then he felt like an idiot.

Of course she would go there.

Now he knew. Did he go after her or just leave her be? He didn't know.

~o0o~

Fiyero felt like an idiot trudging through the forest with a bouquet of flowers in hand and a present tucked under his arm. As if he were going to suck up to a girlfriend who was mad at him.

Still, he wanted Chistery's wish to come true and have Elphaba be at the castle in the morning for breakfast.

Maybe it was wrong to sneak a peek at the lantern wish, but he wanted to see if he could grant it. He'd get down on his knees and beg Elphaba if he had to.

He just wanted all of this awkwardness and uncomfortableness to stop.

He also wished he would have realized where she went sooner. He could have guessed. After all, she did say that she had always wanted to run away to a small cottage that was her own.

It was difficult to get to the lake on foot, but he couldn't tire nor did he feel the cold.

The wind was pretty annoying though. Shrieking and howling and trying to knock him over. The snow was falling heavily, making it difficult for him to walk.

He wove between the trees, finally coming upon the lake. The cottage was a beacon in the grays and blues of night, the warm orange glow of the fire painting the snow around it.

Skidding on black ice, Fiyero hurried as quickly as he could towards the cottage. He hauled himself up the steps and pounded his fist against the door.

Moments later, Elphaba answered. Fiyero pushed his way in before she could slam the door in his face.

"Fiyero, come in, make yourself at home," said Elphaba, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The cottage had been cleaned from top to bottom and the fireplace was crackling warmly. A cauldron bubbled on the stove and a bed loaded with blankets was pressed against a wall. Books were stacked up on spare spaces away from the fireplace and she appeared to still be working on potions and experimenting with magic.

The small table was cluttered with her research and an empty bowl with remnants from her dinner.

"Nice place," he said.

"Why are you here?" Elphaba asked.

She looked more ashen than last time.

"It's New Year's," he said and handed her the flowers and the present. "Happy New Year!"

"What do you really want?" she sighed and sank into her chair.

She looked truly exhausted. He was reminded of when she had taken it upon herself to clean the whole castle.

Fiyero sat down in the rocking chair opposite her. Cajoling, teasing, and beating around the bush wasn't going to help his case.

"Chistery's wish for the new year was to wake up and have you there," he said.

"I see. And you thought you could bribe me with presents?"

"Well, this is our third New Year together," he said. "You missed releasing the lanterns—"

"I saw them from here."

"I wanted to get you something," he said, holding them out.

She took them, but clearly wasn't placated. She slowly pulled off her mittens so she could unwrap the present. Her hands were chapped and shaking. She didn't sound sick, her nose wasn't stuffed and she wasn't sniffling or coughing more than anyone else in winter.

Yet there was still something about her that seemed… ill.

"Socks," she said, holding them up. "How practical."

"That is tradition," he said.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth and she stooped over to put them on. Her own looked to have been darned too many times to count. She put her slippers back on and settled back.

They sat quietly. Fiyero wasn't sure what to say next and Elphaba didn't seem to have the energy to speak.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Elphaba, I'm so sorry I left you behind. That I didn't dance with you at the gala, that I left you alone at the festival, and that you were forced to walk back to the castle because all of us were too wrapped up in ourselves to notice you were still in town. I was an idiot of epic proportions."

He stood, then knelt down in front of her, taking her hands in his.

"You are missed every day," he said. "No one else in town is going to tell me if they think my ideas are stupid and why, Chistery is beside himself—We're the only family he has ever known, Fae. And Dr. Dillamond has his hooves full with all those students and let me tell you I don't think all of them are as smart as you and he's getting agitated at them."

"So it's all gone to hell without me?" she asked.

"We manage—" he stopped himself short. "I mean—it's a struggle. A nightmare of… epic proportions."

She huffed softly in amusement.

"No one can replace you, Fae," he said. "Dr. Dillamond never gave up on you, he just thought you could start on your own research and talk to him as an equal not a mentor. Socialization is good for Chistery but he still needs help with schoolwork. And I need you, too. You're my best friend and I am so lost without you."

He touched her cheek, and in that moment realized he loved her. The stories said now would be the time for a kiss that said everything it needed to.

Instead, he bowed his head, placing it into her lap.

"Come home," he begged. "When spring comes if you still feel out of place I'll help you move back out here myself. I'll pay to have a road paved to make it easier to visit you. And you can still keep it and maintain it if you just need some time away from us."

Elphaba was quiet, but she rested a hand on his head. Her calloused thumb running along one of the ridges.

"Why are you still a Scarecrow?" she asked. "I… I saw Galinda kiss you and… it didn't work?"

"Well, it has to be true romantic love's kiss and she made it clear she'll never love me like that." He laughed wryly. "I guess the Bog Fairy was just giving me false hope."

"I'm sorry," she said. "I know you were feeling human again when you were with her."

"I said I felt like my old self," he said. "And that bastard is the reason why I'm in this mess in the first place. He's selfish, self-absorbed, and shallow."

"I don't think he is," she said. "Not really. So, no Galinda?"

"I'm still keeping her on," he said. "She does know how to keep a castle running, but I don't think she's cut out for Court Wizard."

"That bad?"

"Well, she wants to reorganize the library by color."

"Sweet Oz."

Elphaba sighed and sat up. Fiyero sat back on his heels and watched her stand. She took out a carpet bag and started stuffing clothes into it.

"Just a few days," she said.

Fiyero grinned and nodded.

"We're kinda full of guests at the moment," he said. "But you can sleep in my bed."

She jerked her hands back and looked at him.

"Fae, I don't sleep," he said. "And you look dead on your feet, you shouldn't have to remake your bed in the tower especially if you're only staying a few days."

She nodded and got her toothbrush and hairbrush out of the wash basin.

"Just a few days," she said and hesitated on putting out the fire.

"The moon is bright tonight," said Fiyero.

She waved her hand and the fire went out, as did the stove. There was an odd shimmer in the air and Elphaba doubled over, shivering.

Fiyero tipped his head.

"Have you been using magic to keep your cottage warm?" he asked.

She nodded.

No wonder she looked so frail. If she was using this much magic constantly…

Fiyero gave her his coat, helped her put her cloak on, and they stepped out of the cottage.

"We'll have to fly low," said Elphaba above the wind.

Fiyero nodded and mounted the broom behind her. He held onto her bag so she could focus on steering.

The snow streaked around them like shooting stars and they wove around trees, branches scraping their faces.

A shriek cut through the air. Otherworldly, inhuman, inanimal. It seemed to come from every direction.

Elphaba flinched and the broom dropped suddenly.

"Fae!"

She gained control, but they still skidded along the ground, coming to a stop. Elphaba stumbled and Fiyero couldn't stop himself from slamming into her. They tumbled and landed in a snow drift.

Fiyero pushed himself up and checked Elphaba over.

The clouds parted allowing silvery moonlight to flood the small clearing.

"Are you okay?" he asked and saw a cut on her cheek.

"I'm alright," she said and her expression fell away into horror.

He followed her gaze and if he had a stomach it would have dropped.

Just beyond the line of trees was a creature unlike any Fiyero had ever seen. The closest was the illustration of the Jabberwock from Chistery's book.

Jabberwock was as good a name for this creature. It had a long, serpentine body and its eyes glowed with an orange fire. It nearly blended in with its surroundings seeming to be part flora and part fauna. An amalgam of countless living things. Its skin was scales and fur and something pitted like a wasp's nest or beehive. It had many rows of teeth, its lip curling up in a snarl. Or maybe it had no lips at all.

Fiyero frowned upon seeing blood, almost black but glistening in the moonlight.

The creature made that low, baleful sound again and struggled, it's insect wings fluttering and buzzing. Thin wires glinted like silver and cut into its skin.

"It's trapped!" said Fiyero.

Elphaba followed his gaze.

"We should help," she said, scrambling to her feet to go towards it.

Something swooped in, knocking her back several feet.

"Elphaba!" Fiyero ran to her.

She looked to have just had the wind knocked out of her.

Another creature similar to the first stood its ground. While the first looked to blend in with the land, this one was bright and stood out. It had a crest of feathers dark and speckled, a face like a mandrill's bright blue with a red nose, two antlers like twisting trees, lion's paws instead of eagle claws, and eyes that burned orange.

Its roar was haunting as it faced off with Fiyero who stood over Elphaba protectively.

A male and female. The She-Jabberwock lowed and struggled. If they left them alone she would probably die.

"Oz dammit," he huffed. "Fae, when I give the word just run for the broom and go on without me."

"Fiyero?"

"I need to help," he said.

"He'll crush you before you can," she said. "I'll help."

"Fae."

"Fiyero!"

She was just going to help when he rushed in anyway.

"Fine. One… two… three!"

She bolted for her broom and Fiyero charged in.

The Jabberwock bellowed and raised his bird-like wings. Elphaba launched into the air and threw a ball of light into his face.

Fiyero couldn't watch, focusing on the She-Jabberwock. She hissed and swiped at him, catching his back. He fell to the ground but recovered quickly and looked at the trap. It looked like silver wire made from some sort of magic. Whoever set it wanted to catch this creature or something akin to it. Dragons lived north of Munchkinland but this was the first Fiyero heard of the Jabberwocks.

No, that wasn't true was it? The soldiers claimed they were fighting against them, but no one else really seemed to know if the threat was real or not.

Jury was still out.

Fiyero pulled his dagger and dragged it against the wire, his suspicions that it was magic confirmed.

The She-Jabberwock thrashed.

"Stop!" Fiyero shouted. "You're only making it tighter!"

She seemed to understand and went still. He found the loop and followed the wire to a branch.

"FAE!" he shouted. "Aim for that branch!"

A spell shot through the air and the tree splintered and the branch dropped to the ground. Fiyero loosened the loop and the creature slithered out of it.

"GOT HER!"

He whipped around in time to see Elphaba tackled out of the air. The She-Jabberwock crashed into her mate before his paw could come down.

Fiyero knelt beside Elphaba and brushed her hair back. She was very still.

"Fae…? Elphaba!"

She twitched and opened one eye. She groaned and shivered.

Fiyero leaned over her, pressing his forehead to her cheek, then straightened up.

"Are you alright?" he asked. "Are you hurt?"

"I don't know," she whispered, her voice slightly shallow and pained.

"Can you stand?"

"I don't think so."

He helped her sit up first but she immediately collapsed back to the ground, and to their dismay her broom was broken in two beside her.

"How far are we from the castle?" she asked.

"As the crow flies not far but I think it'd be a few miles the long way."

The She-Jabberwock approached. Fiyero shielded Elphaba as they watched her lower to the ground, straightening out.

The Jabberwock made a whine of protest and was silenced by the female with a quick hiss.

"Kiamo Ko castle," said Fiyero. "Know it?"

She nodded.

They didn't appear to have human speech but there seemed to be an understanding of it.

"It's either this or walk," Elphaba reasoned and she was in no condition to walk.

Fiyero scooped her up and carried her to the beast, helping her onto its back. He fetched her bag, leaving the broom, and mounted behind her.

The Jabberwocks launched into the air together and made their way to Kiamo Ko. It didn't take long and soon they were touching down into the gardens.

"I've got you," said Fiyero.

Elphaba didn't protest, her eyes half shut and her teeth chattering too much for her to speak. She rested her head on his shoulder as he carried her to his quarters.

The maids kept his bed tidy and the room dust free.

"I'm going to get Dr. Dillamond, okay?"

She made a small noise to confirm she heard him.

Fiyero laid her down, covering her with the blankets. The fireplace was lit and he hoped the castle was warmer than her cabin.

He knocked on Dr. Dillamond's door and the old goat answered, looking both annoyed and concerned.

"Fiyero? What is it?"

"It's Elphaba," he said. "We got attacked, I don't know if she's sick or injured."

Dr. Dillamond quickly pulled on his robe and got his doctor's bag, following Fiyero to his room.

"I'll be just a moment," said Dr. Dillamond.

Fiyero nodded and looked out the window seeing the Jabberwocks still in the garden. He found a supply closet with fresh linens and filled a bucket with warm water, courtesy of Castle.

He went out to the garden through the kitchen. The Jabberwocks looked at him warily.

"I don't know if you can really understand me," he said. "But I'm here to help."

They stared at him but didn't make any sudden moves. Fiyero gently cleaned the She-Jabberwock's injuries.

She roared in his face.

"Well, do you want an infection?" he countered crossly and wrapped the wounds up in the linens. "Listen, I don't really get what you are, but you can hang around here in the garden if you promise not to hurt anyone. I got a lot of kids staying here and they've been hurt enough by those soldiers, I don't need them to be scared of anything else. I'm the prince of this territory and I'm going to protect them."

He straightened up.

"If you're cold there's room in the stable but the horses might get scared."

The Jabberwocks settled together, looking like a coiled two-headed snake, their eyes dimming slightly.

Fiyero went back inside and found a tray of tea waiting for him. He carried it up to his room.

Elphaba had been propped up by many pillows. She had bandages on her forearm and the neckline of her nightgown had shifted, showing another bandage on her shoulder.

"How is she, doc?" he asked.

"A bit scratched up," he said. "A strain on her back, but my main diagnosis? Exhaustion, pure and simple. It could turn into an illness later, but try to rest now so it doesn't become serious."

"I'll be alright," said Elphaba.

"Try not to walk too much," he warned. "I have a wheelchair you can use until you have your strength back. I'll make sure it's in here by morning."

Fiyero nodded and set the tray down. He offered the tea bag and the goat took it on the saucer.

"Good night," he said. "And welcome home, Miss Elphaba."

Fiyero fixed her tea how she liked it and carefully placed the cup into her hands.

"I think this is overdue," he said.

She didn't respond, just sipping it delicately and settling back into the pillows. He looked around the room and spotted a bed warmer by the fireplace. He'd seen how it worked when he was a kid.

He filled it up with a scoop of the coals from the fire and made sure it was securely closed, then brought it to Elphaba.

'Don't be stupid,' he told himself. 'It goes under the quilt. Do not burn her.'

He stuck it under the quilts at her feet.

Elphaba made a soft groaning sound and shifted under the blankets.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"Of course," he said and started to leave.

"Stay a minute?" she asked.

He nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed. When she finished her tea, he put the cup back on the tray.

Elphaba closed her eyes, her hands folded on her gently rising and falling chest. Her hair was spread across the pillows and her expression held discomfort.

Fiyero stood guard over her until he was sure she was sleeping too deeply to wake, then got up and quickly hid his drawings of her.

He looked out the window into the garden, nearly panicking when he couldn't immediately see the Jabberwocks, then relaxing when he spotted them under a tree.

He stood there and watched until morning.