Chapter Text
After leaving Shiz and turning onto the road that led to the Emerald City, Fiyero and Feldspur rode in silence until Feldspur couldn't stand it any more: “Fiyero. Just what is it you plan to do once we get to the Emerald City? How are you going to find Elphaba, now that she's a fugitive and considered the enemy of Oz?”
Fiyero guided Feldspur off the road to a small grassy area and stopped, dismounting and covering his face with his hands: “I don't know. I don't know what to do...I guess I have to find Ga..Glinda, ask her to tell me what happened. I know I can't just walk up and say I'm looking for Elphaba...that would put a target on my back as well. Though I don't know how I will, I have to find Glinda first.”
“I think you have to be prepared to use every card you have available: prince, fellow student at Shiz, maybe even say you're her boyfriend...which technically is true, you were never able to have the discussion you wanted with her about pulling back from your relationship...to speak to Glinda.”
Fiyero groaned and ran both hands through his hair in dismay. “I still can't believe this. Elphaba loves animals...why did Madame Morrible say she mutilated the Wizard's monkeys?”
“It's propaganda. Some of the proclamation is at least partially true, so people will believe the rest of it that isn't...” Fiyero shook his head in frustration.
“Fiyero.” That's the second time he's used my name in the last few minutes; I'm scared... “Listen to me: you will have to be very, very careful with this. I'm afraid this is bigger, more serious than either of us realize...it's the Wizard we're dealing with here. What can you remember of the proclamation detailing Elphaba's 'crimes'?”
“Most of it was Madame Morrible calling her evil, twisted, wicked due to her skin color,” Fiyero said unhappily. Slowly, he continued: “She said Elphaba had stolen the Grimmerie. Now that part I could see being true...especially if she felt forced to do it because she thought it was being used for evil. But mutilating monkeys? No, I can't imagine Elphaba ever doing that on purpose.” He shivered.
“Could she have been tricked into it? Or was it the result of a spell gone wrong?”
“It had to have been something like that. Elphaba wouldn't hurt animals intentionally...”
A chill breeze picked up, making both Fiyero and Feldspur shiver. “We need to find an inn...we're not going to make it to the Emerald City tonight. Even if we did, we're not getting in to see Glinda...”
Feldspur chuffed in agreement. “We both need rest; the Emerald City is going to be a challenge, with a lot at stake. It's going to be hard, but you have to try and get some sleep...”
Fiyero nodded, then went into his knapsack to find the cloak he'd packed when they left Shiz. While digging through the bag, he found his mother's ring on its chain. He held it in his hand for a moment, then put the chain over his head, tucking it and the ring safely against his skin. He put on the cloak then patted Feldspur and mounted up, guiding him back onto the road. Hopefully we find an inn soon; I'm exhausted.