A/N: Shout outs to my anonymous reviewer and James Birdsong! So glad you liked it. Thanks so much!

Chapter 12

"What is going on son?" King Tahir wanted to know as they all piled into Glinda's office. They quickly found seats in the comfortable furniture except for Chistery, who stood next to the chair that Elphaba had sat down in. The Flying Monkey had given her a slight smile and she wondered if he'd read the note.

"Fevzi and Sarah arrived here yesterday. Sarah was not in good shape. Luckily, Fae and the medical staff here were able to help her," Fiyero started. Ayla turned to her future daughter-in-law.

"Is that the young couple you've taken under your protection?" She asked.

"They are. Fevzi said that he couldn't walt for his parents and I have to admit, they have not arrived here yet, which bothers us," Elphaba explained.

"Hence the letter," Fiyero told them.

"What did you get the Lieutenant into?" Tahir raised an eyebrow.

"He dispatched some of his most trusted men to the village where Fevzi's father is the mayor. His letter – is here. I don't know that he was able to get all the information but we'll see," Fiyero said before he opened the wax seal on the letter and began to read it aloud.

"Prince Fiyero, my men have sent word that they are investigating the incident you described. Moreover, they tell me that the reason why Mayor Smythe and Mrs. Smythe have not followed their son and Sarah is because they are furious. Not at the children but at the fact that someone would do this. They had started their own investigation before my men had arrived and gave the details they knew. Both they and my men believe this is definitely a case of someone trying to mark Sarah, using illegal methods and against her will. Doctor Howat is convinced of it as well. The perpetrator has not been identified, but rest assured my men will not stop until they find who did this. Mayor Smythe and Mrs. Smythe are on their way to you now. Best of luck storming the castle, Dilek." Elphaba would have chuckled at that last line if the letter hadn't been so serious. It was an inside joke for when they were taking down Morrible.

"I want to meet these two young people," Ayla said.

"As do I," Tahir nodded.

"And you shall but I'll have Elphaba head down first to make sure Sarah is ready for company," their son nodded.

"Should I go and help the soldiers?" Chistery asked.

"No, Master Chistery, we need you here. I am most grateful for you retrieving that letter and for bringing it in. Now we need you and your brethren keeping an eye out for Mayor Smythe and his wife. I will ask the staff to prepare a room for them," Fiyero smiled at him.

"Yes Captain," Chistery saluted and quickly left the room. Elphaba heaved a sigh and shook her head. She had really hoped that it was all an accident but sadly that theory was now out the window. Ayla reached out to her and the green woman took her hand.

"She's been through so much. I can't understand why someone would do this," Elphaba said.

"We will make sure they pay per Vinkun law. Go to Sarah. Please let us know if she can have company. We want to reassure her ourselves," Ayla smiled slightly. The green woman nodded and left her chair before leaving the room.

"You can understand why I wanted this looked into," Fiyero said.

"Yes. You've done well son. We'll have to make sure that we make a general announcement when we get home. This cannot be tolerated," Tahir shook his head.

"Agreed," Ayla nodded. The three stood from their respective seats and headed out of the office to see if they could speak to the young couple down in the infirmary.

"Hi Sarah. How are you feeling?" Elphaba asked as she sat down next the Sarah's infirmary bed.

"Oh Miss Elphaba. Hamza says I have you to thank, but of course I do," the Munchkin smiled.

"He's being modest. I'm just glad you're all right. I know it'll be a few days before you can test putting weight on your leg but I think the worst of it is over," the green woman smiled back.

"Fevzi only just left my side. Hamza convinced him to take a bath," Sarah giggled slightly and it was the best noise that Elphaba had heard all day.

"I have to ask you about what started all of this, if you're up for it," the green woman said.

"I honestly thought it was just a misstep at the store but Fevzi said he wasn't so sure," Sarah admitted.

"Which shop?" Elphaba pressed.

"At Mr. Ceyhun's cobbler's shop. My shoes were in a dreadful state. He was the one who saw I was bleeding and quickly gave me a cloth to hold onto my leg. He even ran down and got Doctor Howat," she explained.

"He is a nice man," the green woman said.

"He is. He saw that somehow the stand, that you walk around so he could fit your shoes, had been damaged," Sarah told her.

"It had?" Elphaba asked.

"Mr. Ceyhun apologized profusely. He told me that it hadn't been that way earlier. I think he felt very bad. I brushed it off because I figured it would get better on its own," the young Munchkin said.

"Totally understandable. Now, I have a couple of people who want to meet you. Are you up for it?" The green woman wanted to know.

"I probably look a mess," Sarah figured.

"I think we can work something out," Elphaba winked before she stood and found a nurse. Quick as a flash, the two ladies helped Sarah wash her face and brush her hair. Elphaba then headed out into the hallway and brought the royal couple into the room.

"Your Highnesses!" Sarah floundered a little bit as Queen Ayla sat down next to her bed.

"Please relax. We heard so much about you from Elphaba, we had to meet you," Ayla said.

"I'm not important enough. I'm not even a Vinkun citizen," Sarah's eyes were wide.

"You will be. The paperwork has already been started," Tahir promised her.

"Oh I… I don't know what to say," Sarah looked so happy.

"Just say you'll get better," Ayla smiled at her.

"I will do my best," the Munchkin promised.

"Good. Now you get some rest and we'll check in again before we head for home," Tahir told her.

"Yes, your Highness. Thank you so much," Sarah's smile lit up her face.

"You are most welcome," Ayla smiled back before the little group took their leave to the hallway.

"I need to get a letter to Dilek's men," Elphaba told them.

To Be Continued…