One Year Later

Though they couldn't steal back anymore treasure, Elphaba was still able to free anyone who couldn't escape from the bases. Most were happy for the freedom and had jobs in Kiamo Ko. Some were loyal to the soldiers for reasons that couldn't be explained.

Aella took to her training well and would be an asset in a fight.

Just because they were being watched didn't mean Elphaba stopped keeping watch as well nor did it mean she didn't fulfill her duties as Court Wizard.

And this week it meant overseeing preparations for the Spring Festival. Kiamo Ko had grown so much, which meant approving multiple areas for celebration. New traditions were brought up to the mountains for this year, some from when this was a fertility festival as well.

It was a time for sweethearts, they said, and so heart-shaped flower wreaths were being sold by every flower seller in the city. Couples dances were also being arranged.

Elphaba once took Nessarose to a festival where a maypole was erected for cotillion. They watched the men and women dance together. It seemed to be a matchmaking ritual because it seemed about half the couples were married by the next year.

This one called for giving a wreath to someone you loved, and if they gave you one back, it was a sign you were meant to be.

It sounded completely ridiculous.

Elphaba and Aella sat in on a rehearsal, the children's home was giving a performance. The older ones were doing a play and the little ones were singing. Chistery's school was also having performances for each grade level. His class was doing Adventures in Underland and he was playing the Mad Hatter.

Miss Zulia, the choir director and a rescue from the soldiers, turned around to see Elphaba's opinion.

"It sounds wonderful," said Elphaba, smiling. "I can tell they've been practicing hard."

"Children, say thank you Miss Elphaba," said Zulia.

The children chorused it back.

After chatting with them a little longer, Elphaba stood and left with Aella. They looked at the decorations in the plazas.

Things had been so quiet. Soldiers hadn't been seen anywhere in the Vinkus except for some small bands who remained loyal to the country and not themselves.

It was strange and Elphaba had a feeling something was going to happen the day of the festival. The nagging feeling had been growing each day. Maybe it was the uncharacteristic silence from the soldiers.

Some papers were saying the problem was over, but she, Galinda, and Fiyero knew better. Local leaders had been visiting them and Galinda insisted it was time for a meeting to discuss the long term. So they would be coming for a gala at Kiamo Ko. The council leaders who hadn't been there when Fiyero was cursed, mayors, burgomasters, baronesses, chieftains.

Ten years was long enough to wait for a curse to be broken, now it was time to look at how to move forward and what they would do when the curse on Uma Lu was broken.

Elphaba and Aella entered one of the local pubs to meet with the leader of a band for the event and finalize the set list. Which really was a job for Galinda, but she had her hands full with everything else.

"I will see you then, Lady Scarecrow," said the old man. "It's good to see things settling down. I'm glad you blew into our town."

Elphaba nodded. "I am as well."

Aella gasped and Elphaba looked to see Avaric had entered.

He had proven himself to be good for Aella. Several months back, some soldiers had managed to sneak their way into town. They were likely on a mission for Ione, but had seen Aella running errands for Elphaba and confronted her. Her magic had kept them from getting too close and she had found Avaric for help. They had taunted and announced exactly who she was and what they made her do.

Avaric and his circle of friends ran the soldiers out of town while Aella flew back to the castle on her broom, and before the day was out, the carpenter was on the castle doorstep with a bouquet of flowers and asking how the young apprentice was faring.

The properness with which he spoke when he was around Aella was laughable, but Elphaba managed to refrain from making fun of him.

Barely.

"Miss Aella," he said. "Fancy meeting you here. Are you here to try Mrs. Fink's peach cider? She makes it every spring."

"I've never had it," said Aella, blushing prettily.

"I just remembered, I need to see about some flowers," said Elphaba. "You can wait here, Aella."

"If I may," said Avaric, "could I keep you company, Miss Aella?"

"You may."

Elphaba nodded and left the pub. Lula the Flower Girl had moved on from a basket to a cart. It was loaded with bouquets and sweetheart wreaths.

"Hello, Miss Elphaba," said Lula. "Are you here to pick a wreath for your sweetheart?"

"I don't have a sweetheart," said Elphaba, taking one down.

It was beautifully made up of pink, white, and blue flowers. Elphaba ran her fingertips along the soft petals of a rose.

"Do the wreaths actually work?" she asked.

"They seem to," said Lula. "I've at least seen more lovey-dovey couples."

It was a simpler way to tell her feelings than actually saying the words, 'I love and adore you. I don't care about sticks and pumpkin for the rest of my life, just give me your company.'

Maybe she'd actually have to say those words, but at the very least her surface feelings would be known. He wouldn't hurt her, she knew this. If he didn't feel the same, he would let her down easy.

Elphaba bit her lips. If she held this in for much longer, Galinda would probably take matters into her own hands.

Okay.

"You know," said Lula. "It used to be that the wreaths were made in sets of two of a kind. Those who were looking for love would buy one and then seek out the one who had bought the matching wreath."

Elphaba snorted. "Nothing could possibly go wrong with that."

Lula laughed.

"You never know," she said and took down a wreath woven with poppies, cornflowers, and yellow chrysanthemums. "Try your luck."

Elphaba took it and studied the beautiful blooms.

"Okay," she said and reached for her purse.

"It's on me," said Lula. "Thanks to you, my family was able to survive that winter."

Elphaba smiled and nodded.

"Oh, I need flowers for a centerpiece for a gala at the end of the week," she said.

"I can come up with something," said Lula, taking out a notepad. "How many?"

"Erm… three should work for our dining table," said Elphaba. "Keep them small, I don't need people looking through a jungle to try and talk to people across from them."

Lula laughed and made some flower suggestions, using what she had in her cart. Once they had an outline approved, Elphaba went back to the pub and peered into the window. Aella had her arms around Avaric's neck, a crumpled flower wreath in her hand.

"Hm, guess they do work," said Elphaba.

Aella spotted her and held up two fingers with a pleading expression. Elphaba smirked and nodded, holding up two fingers in return, holding her to the time constraint.

The girl's expression fell away to horror, and in the faint reflection in the glass, Elphaba saw a hooded figure behind her.

Before she could react, she felt a sting in her side and collapsed into a cloud of red smoke.

~o0o~

Fiyero's leg jiggled in anticipation for the meeting with the festival committee at Town Hall to end. Why were they even having this meeting? The spring festival was in a week, why didn't they have the approved grounds last month? Had they really forgotten about the city expansions and had planned for certain events in spaces that were now homes and businesses?

Okay, maybe that was on him and he should have made those spaces into parks. There were spaces for parks, but they were elsewhere. Galinda insisted on keeping green spaces within the city to beautify the place and Fiyero agreed.

There was a clamoring in the hall and moments later, the doors burst open, revealing Avaric.

"Young man, this is an important meeting," said the head of the city events committee.

"Scarecrow!" he panted. "It's… Elphaba…"

He never used Elphaba's name if he could help it and that scared Fiyero. He jumped to his feet.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"She's gone," he said. "Someone took her. A witch."

No…

"Show me where," he demanded and the pair ran to the scene.

People were clustered around an empty space as if going near it would cause them to disappear as well.

"She was there one minute and gone the next!"

"No one had time to act."

"What's going to happen now?"

Sitting in front of the window of the pub was Elphaba's pointed hat, her basket, and a wreath of flowers that was identical to the one that he had safely placed in his room and intended to present to her tonight.

Fiyero felt his limbs go rigid and he looked around the area. She couldn't have been taken. She would appear any moment, spitting mad as a cat in a rainstorm.

"Look! It's Galinda!"

Galinda's bubble touched down and Aella followed moments after. The younger girl was crying and clearly in distress.

"What happened?" Fiyero demanded.

"She was standing outside the pub," said Avaric, drawing Aella into his arms. "There was smoke, someone in a cloak appeared, more smoke, and she was gone."

Fiyero went over to Elphaba's hat and picked it up. She wasn't beneath it in any form. He clutched it in his hands and knelt down to gather her basket and the wreath. Had someone given it to her or was she planning on giving it to someone else?

He opened the basket and found the crystal ball. He snatched it up and thrust it towards Galinda.

"Find her," he said.

She nodded and took it, turning into a bubble to return to the castle.

He looked around the area, hoping for a clue, but found none.

People were looking. They were getting nervous.

Fiyero straightened up and looked at Avaric.

"Sound the alarm for an emergency meeting," he said.

Avaric nodded.

Within the hour, he stood in the largest plaza while confused citizens had gathered. He raised his hands, calling for them to settle.

"An hour ago Elphaba, the Good Witch of Kiamo Ko, was abducted by an unknown witch," he said. "I can only assume this is a declaration of war by Ione and her band of defected soldiers."

Nervous chatter rose up.

"We knew this day was coming," said Fiyero. "We have prepared for this. I know all of you are prepared to fight for your home. I don't know when they'll attack, but we will start rounds. I want people on watch twenty-six hours a day. Children and non-fighters, pack up your belongings and make your way to the castle for safety. She'll protect you. The rest, stand your ground. This is our home and we will fight for it and I will find and bring back Elphaba before the soldiers can strike. Until I leave, I will ensure those of you staying at the castle get there safely."

He didn't want to, not really, but he couldn't be sure the soldiers weren't hiding out along the path waiting to attack.

The crowd shuffled nervously.

"We are stronger together," said Fiyero. "We outnumber those soldiers and you will have Galinda, Aella, Bumble, and Bramble on your side! I will be here to lead the charge, I swear to it!"

Several people thrust their fists into the air and roared.

He sent Aella ahead on her broom to scout the forests for him and keep an eye out for any soldiers while he organized the militia.

For the past year, everyone who wanted to fight was given training. Though they were still inexperienced, they were many.

When it came time to bring those who could not fight to Kiamo Ko, Chistery and Dr. Dillamond approached him.

"You'll bring Baba home, right?" said Chistery.

"I promise you, I will," said Fiyero. "Until we do, I want you to stay with the others in the castle. I can't worry about you, too."

Chistery frowned, but nodded.

At the castle, he found Bumble and Bramble in the garden.

"I still don't know if you can truly understand me or not," he said. "But Kiamo Ko needs you. The soldiers are coming and I don't know when, but I need you to help protect the town while I find where they've taken Elphaba."

They both looked at him, then took off into the sky. He hoped they'd go to help.

Fiyero shifted his focus and found Galinda up in Elphaba's tower.

"Any sign of her?" he asked.

Galinda shook her head tearfully.

"She's not at any of the bases," she said. "I can't find her. I think whoever took her is shielding her from my view. The soldiers, too!"

"Well, if that's true then they all must still be in the same place," said Fiyero, hoping he was right.

He set Elphaba's hat and basket down, taking care to remove her grimoire. He looked at the map of the Vinkus on the desk.

Would they take her as far away as possible? No, if they wanted to shield the soldiers too then they'd have to be within reasonable range to Kiamo Ko.

"Fiyero."

He turned and hurried to support Dr. Dillamond to a chair.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Before we left," he puffed. "I looked at where Miss Elphaba was taken and discoverated this."

He held up a sprig of pine.

"It smells different from the pine trees here," he said.

Fiyero examined it closely. Pine only grew here in the mountains.

"You say she isn't in Vadallet Du?" he asked.

"It shows it's still empty," Galinda confirmed.

Fiyero paced around the room and looked at the map Elphaba had made. She had marked all the bases. He looked at the blank section north of Kiamo Ko.

No… she couldn't be there. Could she?

There was an old training base up north in the mountains, but when Fiyero was about ten a new one was built in Uma Lu. Why was that? Rock slides?

It'd be the perfect place to hole up if you didn't want anyone stumbling upon it accidentally.

"Gal," he said. "I want you to try focusing on this area here."

He pointed to Fort Kimbaloo.

Galinda looked and scrunched her face up, then opened her eyes wide staring at the crystal ball as if it would shatter into a million pieces under her glare.

Fog formed into the ball, but it refused to clear.

"Come on," Galinda whispered through gritted teeth. "Come on. Show me. SHOW ME!"

It cleared just enough. Elphaba was slumped on a stone floor. The image faded like ice had formed within the crystal before it disappeared entirely.

"No! Come back!" Galinda begged.

Fiyero put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay," he said. "You just confirmed where she is."

"Okay, let me just get ready," said Galinda.

"No," said Fiyero. "If they can hide it from our sight I bet they can keep you from getting there by bubble. Besides, you have a way of calming a crowd, I need you here to lead everyone."

Galinda pursed her lips and hugged him tightly.

"Bring her back safe," she said.

Fiyero nodded.

"There's no telling what state she will be in," said Dr. Dillamond, holding up a black bag. "This has emergency supplies."

Fiyero nodded and prepared to leave. He made sure he brought Elphaba's broom, some food, and the emergency supplies. That stretch of mountains would still be covered in snow, so he found an outdated Kiamo Ko soldier uniform. It was leather and fur and would be warm and hopefully provide him with a bit of cover.

He also grabbed his bow and quiver, strapping it securely to his chest.

The sun began to set as he saddled Poppy and took off North, the map to the fortress tucked into his shirt.

"I'm coming for you, Fae," he murmured.