A/N: To my guest reviewer, thanks for the comments, I hope this chapter answers some of your questions! Stay safe and stay spooky, friends!

Sadness and Secrets

By the end of the third morning, Elphaba frowned thoughtfully. Why wasn't there any sign of Fiyero? Was he held up? Had something happened at home?

"I'm sure everything is fine, Miss Elphie," Ollivander said in what he hoped was a comforting tone when she had voiced her concern and the group of friends made their way off campus for lunch.

It did nothing to ease her anxiety, but she gave him a slight smile all the same. He was trying, after all.

"Of course it will. Just you wait, Fifi will have just been delayed on the trip and he will be here by the end of the day." Glinda nodded confidently, linking her arm with her friend's and they walked into town to their favourite pub.

Elphaba tried to keep up with the conversation throughout lunch although she didn't feel like eating, she managed to eat half of a sandwich. She kept her gaze trained on the door as though willing Fiyero to waltz in with some ridiculous excuse about waking up a day late or whatever he thought of.

On the road leading in towards Shiz Town, Fiyero grumbled when the carriage jolted to a stop. He raised his fist to bang on the roof and stopped when he heard a female voice cry out. Curious, he hopped out instead. "Is there something the matter, miss?" he silenced his driver who was snapping at the woman to get out of the way. "Ligo, she's clearly in distress." Why did she seem so familiar to him? He had never met her before... had he?

The cloaked woman gave him a grateful look. "Sir, are you heading to the university?"

Fiyero nodded. "I'm already a few days late, however." And Fae is gonna kill me for it. "Can I ask why you want to know?"

The woman tightened her cloak around her head with one hand, and reached into her pocket with the other, quickly pulling out an envelope as the driver started to arm himself with a gun. "Sir, please, I mean no harm."

Fiyero's brow furrowed. "Then what do you mean?"

"Sir, we must continue on if we're to get you to Shiz before the afternoon is out, we have another two and a half hours to go," Ligo spoke, keeping a dark glare on the woman.

"I need to get a message to the girl who had the meeting with the wizard. But with the guards there I can't risk being captured."

"What kind of message? What do you want with her? Who are you?"

"I'm afraid I can't let you know that, not yet at least. The envelope contains some information gathered by my comrades on how best to get rid of the wizard."

Fiyero froze and swallowed hard. How did she know about that? Was she the person responsible for what was happening to Elphaba? "Have you been near the campus at all to try?"

She shook her head. "No, sir." Keep it together, you've almost got the boy...

Then how did she know? And if a simple stranger knew, did the wizard's followers? Were he and his friends and girlfriend walking into a trap? "I think you'd better get into the carriage. I have a few more questions and I'd like to get back to school before it gets dark." And before Fae skins me alive for not being able to write to her...

The woman nodded reluctantly, his tone left no room for discussion.

"Your Highness, I don't think-" Ligo was cut off by the prince already helping her into the carriage and he continued along the road.

"Who are you?"

"Everything is in here, but it must get to the young girl first. Whatever she chooses to do with it is then up to her..."

That doesn't answer my question. he thought, frustrated. "Are you behind the messages she's been getting?"

"No, sir. My comrades and I have reason to believe that one of the wizard's aides is behind them... we've been trying to intercept them..." she looked over at him with pleading dark eyes. "I mean you no harm. I swear."

Fiyero blinked for a moment. Those dark eyes almost identical to Elphaba's... he briefly wondered if there was a familial connection between them. He shook his head and sighed. "Why should I believe you? No disrespect, but you're a mere stranger who appeared in the street."

Dear boy, you wouldn't believe me if I told you... I know more than you think... she thought sadly. "I'm afraid I can't answer that either... not because I don't want to, but because I can't." she held out the envelope again. "Please take it. If it helps to ease your mind, be there with her."

Reluctantly, he reached out and took it. It was no bigger than a birthday card, but it was a little thicker. "Who are you and your comrades? If I'm to trust you, a little information should be useful."

She nodded, conceding his point. "The simple answer? We're a group of freedom fighters... We've seen the suffering among our communities because of his reign and we wish to put a stop to it."

"And how many of you are there?"

She shrugged, unwilling to reveal that.

"I've walked alongside some of the best hunters and fighters in the Vinkus... quite a few of them are women. My apologies but you seem nothing like them. You seem too...-"

"Sweet? Gentle?"

"Motherly."

"Even a mother is a fighter. Take away her children, she becomes a warrior."

He nodded at that. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You weren't to know." she smiled at him.

A short time later, she asked to stop the carriage and she stepped out.

"Will you be alright from here?"

"Yes, sir. And thank you again. I'm sorry to trouble you."

Fiyero nodded. "Alright." He closed the door and the driver was off once more.

"At least I know she'd be safe with him." she sighed softly and shook her head before walking away. She just hoped if he made the connection that he wouldn't blow her cover.

Fiyero tapped the envelope on his lap thoughtfully. "She knows Fae somehow..." he then shoved it into his pocket to prevent his curiosity getting the better of him.

It was five o'clock in the evening when he arrived at Shiz and it was already dark. With the help of Ligo, he took his belongings up to his dorm room and waved him off as he left. He flopped on his bed, then a minute later groaned when he realised he would have to check in with Madame Astoria and then look for his friends. "Fae is definitely going to kill me."

After a quick shower and a change of clothes, he left the building and headed to the main campus, ignoring anyone that was calling after him wondering where he had been, and he knocked on the headmistresses office door.

"Come in!" she looked up when the door opened. "Ah, Master Tiggular, nice of you to finally join us once more."

His face reddened and he nervously scratched his neck. "Yeah... there was an issue at home and-"

"Not to worry, I got word from your parents just this morning, I was able to let your tutors know." she handed him his new timetable.

"Thank you."

"Just ensure it doesn't happen again, alright? Go on, I'm sure your friends will be waiting." she smiled at him.

Fiyero nodded and left the office. He paused outside for a moment. If he hurried, he could catch the girls just before they left for dinner. If he took his time, he could meet them outside, but he would have to endure the questions from Glinda the whole evening. His stomach grumbled in response, he hadn't eaten since the morning. His feet were moving before he made up his mind and he found himself outside with Boq and Ollivander, waiting for the girls.

"You took your time! What happened?!" Boq asked as he was greeted by his friend.

"Tribal bullshit." Fiyero shrugged. "I'll explain later."

"I don't think Glinda will let you get away with that," Ollivander smirked slightly. "And Miss Elphie's been worried about you."

He winced. "I figured she might be..." Maybe I should have gone up there. He waited and a few minutes later, both girls left the building.

"I promise you Elphie, it will all be..." Glinda trailed off and then squealed excitedly. "See, I told you he would be back!"

Elphaba shook her head tiredly and her eyes were wide when she heard her squeal, and relief flooded her body as Glinda launched herself at him, hugging him.

"What happened? Why are you late?"

He laughed a little and hugged back before gently pushing her away. "I'll... explain later," he told her, looking over at Elphaba. "I'm sorry."

The green-skinned woman wasted no time in closing the gap between them and threw her arms tightly around him, breathing a sigh of relief as his arms closed around her. "You had me worried..."

"I didn't mean for that to happen," he told her gently and whispered his love for her in Arjiki in her ear.

"Did something happen?"

Their friends discretely left them alone, walking just out of earshot.

"Not here, mon amour. I promise I will tell you later."

"So something did happen."

He sighed and closed his eyes, he could feel a headache forming and he couldn't tell if it was lack of food or the stress he had recently been under. "Not in the way you think, but I don't want to talk about it now." he finally told her, slowly opening his eyes and he kissed her again. "I'd rather tell you without being screeched at." It gave him another reason to want to leave the Vinkus, as much as he loved his home, if this was the stress they would both be under, he would rather not have it.

"Okay... I'm sorry..." she jumped slightly when his hands came to rest on her face and she cringed at the wince in his eyes.

"Don't ever apologise." he cut off another apology on her lips. They both knew it would be a long road for them. "You've nothing to be sorry for."

The friends finally left campus, Fiyero keeping his arm around her as they walked, reassuring himself that she was there and that he was in a safer place.

"So what did I miss?" he asked as they sat waiting for their food.

"Elphie got sick towards the end of the holidays, and spent most of the weekend in her bed," Glinda informed him.

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Before you worry, I am clearly okay. I just don't deal with the cold weather very well and I get sick. But we did get your presents, thank you, they were lovely."

Fiyero rolled his eyes at the avoidance of the subject. "You're welcome." he nodded. "And anyway, that's fine, because I'll just make sure you never get cold."

"And how exactly are you going to do that?" she raised an eyebrow at him. "And if you suggest anything that includes a bedroom I will kick you."

"Who said you needed a bed?" he smirked and yelped, he forgot how hard she could kick. "Fine... I'll be good."

"You do remember we're still here, right?" Ollivander chuckled.

"Give him a few drinks I'm sure he'd flirt with you too if you like," Elphaba smirked, causing her friends to laugh with her.

"Where's- ah, finally! I'm starving!" Fiyero grinned as their food arrived.

"Hmm, of course, you are."

"Can't you see I'm practically wasting away over here Fae?"

She shook her head and laughed, thanking the server as the plates were put in front of them, and with a gentle prod from Ollivander, Glinda launched into a rundown of how they spent their break, tactfully leaving out the times Elphaba had been upset.

Fiyero reached under the table with his free hand and held her hand, giving her a gentle smile. It was good to be back where he belonged.

The group distracted each other with their own talks about what happened with their families, and eventually, they headed back to Shiz.

"Fae, can you come with me?"

She looked up and nodded. "Just give me a minute, I can catch you up with what you've missed in classes if you want?"

"Can we do that tomorrow?" he tilted his head. "I just have something to show you."

"Oh, okay?" she furrowed her brow in confusion as he led her away. "Fiyero, what's going on? Why are you acting strangely?"

He ignored her questions as he led her up the stairs to his room. "Okay... this is gonna sound mad, and I'll be honest, I haven't even fully processed what happened." he dug into his jacket for the envelope he was given earlier.

"What's that?"

"It's... for you. Apparently, a group called the resistance are also planning to take down the wizard..."

"How... who else knows about that?"

He shrugged and passed it to her. "Right now, I couldn't answer that."

She chewed her lower lip nervously as she slowly opened it, pulling out the paper inside. The writing looked familiar to her, but she couldn't remember where she had seen it before.

I'm sorry, you won't know who I am right now, and I will probably be court-martialed for this... I write this to plead with you. I want you to know the dangers you are going to put yourself in, and I want you to be careful. It seems that there is no point in telling you not to do it, I'm sure your friends have tried already.

My name is Ochre and I am part of a human and Animal rights group called the Resistance. We have seen what the Wizard has been doing over the years and have been campaigning to put a stop to it, to change Oz for the better, how it used to be before he came to power.

Over the years, Animals have helped me through an awful lot, and to see them slowly being turned into criminals breaks my heart, I will do whatever it takes to stop that, and to restore order to Oz once more.

If you manage to get into the Palace, you need to act quickly. It's in your best interest to change the rulings almost as soon as you get there. I realise I'm asking the impossible but I have total faith in you and your friends.

You will know who I am when the time is right.

Elphaba stopped reading and folded it up, looking up at Fiyero again. "I... I don't understand."

"Do you want me to read it?"

"It's not that... well, not just that anyway." she handed it back to him. "I know that handwriting... but I don't know where."

He shrugged, reading the letter in its entirety. "So it's nothing to do with your mystery notes then?"

"No." she sighed and shook her head. "How did you come across it?"

"I was given it by a woman who stopped the carriage on the way back here a few hours ago. She said I had to get it to you and if you wanted me to know you'd tell me."

She raised an eyebrow. "So you picked up a stranger on the side of a road with some information on how to take down the wizard, and even this note is extremely vague."

"When you say it like that it's complete insanity," he grumbled.

She opened her mouth to speak up again, only to close it a second later when she decided that the headache wasn't worth it. She sighed again and closed the small gap between then, wrapping her arms around him. "Je vous ai manqué." she whispered.

"Moi aussi." he kissed her temple, holding her close to his body, and they stayed there for a long, silent moment.

"What happened back home?" she used quietly.

Fiyero didn't answer her for a while, trying to put it into words that wouldn't freak her out. He groaned when he realised that there was no such way. "An almost revolution." he finally told her, cringing when he heard her gasp. "The tribal uprising I told you about in the summer?" A nod, he avoided looking into her eyes. "They didn't listen and they decided that the dead of winter would be the best time to try and catch us unprepared. None of my immediate family was hurt, we managed to escape through secret tunnels which led to our other castle."

Elphaba was too stunned to speak, instead, she just held him tighter.

"That's why I was late coming back, we had only just got back to our main residence when it was time for me to leave." he finally looked back at her. "Fae if I could have written and told you, I would have."

"Shh... I know." she kissed him again, thankful that he was there with her, that he was alive and unhurt. The thought of him not coming home to her hurt her soul, and she would do whatever it takes to make sure he did.