Fiyero regretfully woke, his muscles grouchy and his head aching. A quick glance around told him that he was still unfortunately in the same position he'd been in yesterday, and the day before, and so on and so forth. That position was currently tied at the ankles and wrists and bound to a pillar. Fiyero Tiggular, prince of the Vinkus, had been kidnapped.

Shaking his head, he peered into the darkness, hoping for a subtle change that would give him a weapon, anything that could cut the ropes, but as always, it was a fruitless hope. He had already tried to break through the ropes with his muscles, but either they were very strong, or he was very weak. He preferred to think the former.

Leaning his head against the pillar, he tried not to think of all the dire possibilities that swirled in his mind. He had not yet seen their faces, so it was possible (if unlikely) that he might live to see the light of day. He assumed they wanted a ransom, ripping his shirt off smeared with his blood and his royal ring as proof of his capture. Though he knew the amount would be paid, it would take ages to reach the Vinkus and return.

His mind shifted to happier thoughts that made him long to be free, but he quickly subverted them. During the first couple days of his capture, he'd already discovered exactly how much harder it was to dwell on what he was missing. Instead, he strove to clear all thoughts, good and bad, and fill himself with a mindless peace. Live in the moment. Focus on nothingness. Everything is temporary. Finally, the blankness came to surround him with calmness.

Emptying his thoughts was a difficult process requiring a paradoxical concentration that was currently being disrupted by the tinkling noises he heard behind him. Sighing, he surrendered and allowed himself to become aware of his unfortunate surrounding again. The little room was equally dark as before, but the tinkling noises he heard sounded like breaking glass.

Great, now his attackers were going to use broken glass on his wounds. Fantastic. He hung his head, the sad benefit of all this darkness being the rather vividness of his imagination in comparison. Apparently he hadn't been tortured enough by this frustrating ordeal. The anticipation of the cutting was worse than the actual event to him, so he called out in what he hoped was a brave voice, "Just hurry up and get it over with. I already know what you're planning."

"Oh do you?" That voice wasn't right. It was female, and his attackers were all three male. Not to mention it sounded a lot like…

A vision of green and black swirled in front of him, and his jaw dropped open. "Elphie?" His imagination must really have become enhanced, so real she seemed. He really needed to work on his blankness. This was no time for a daydream.

She pressed a finger to his lips, and luckily he caught himself before he kissed it. "Not so loud. I didn't come all this way to be kidnapped myself."

"So…you're really here?"

She looked at him sharply, as if he had gone daft. "Obviously." She retrieved a knife from her boot, and he was too overwhelmed with this development to even ogle her slightly exposed leg. Cutting the ropes from his wrist with a swift swish, she knelt to cut his ankles free. He rubbed his wrists at the tenderness they held from being restrained. He had been crouched in this awkward position for so long, his muscles burned when he tried to stand. His legs did not support his weight, and he half-fell onto Elphie.

She rolled her eyes. "I see you're as graceful as ever." Helping him stand, she pulled his arm around her shoulders to assist supporting his weight. He bit back a very unmanly moan of misery as his muscles mutinied.

"You came for me?" He couldn't process this, having always been far more interested in her than she was in him. In fact, he was usually glad she acknowledged his presence at all.

"Galinda insisted. She actually tried to come herself, but, well, you can imagine." Pictures of broken fingernails and torn designer gowns filled his head - nothing to inspire confidence in her ability to rescue him. Her tough roommate was much the better choice as his savior. "Besides, I had to just to escape the crying. You know how that high pitched whine drives me insane."

He had to devote all his energy to trying to walk, so he left the witty conversation to her. Besides, he was so glad to see her, the only words he could think were, "I love you Elphie," which he could assume would just end up with him tied back up with a bootprint on his face.

Hobbling awkwardly, they made it to the window easily enough, but then he discovered how high and how small the window was. It appeared to be close to level with the ground outside (which explained all the darkness), but it was definitely more convenient to break in to the room than out of it. He turned to Elphaba, offering her a boost. She raised an eyebrow at him, offering him a boost in return. "I did come to rescue you. I personally have no difficulties walking at the moment."

He wasn't chauvinistic or anything, but with her already "rescuing" him as she'd said, his pride couldn't handle her giving him a boost. They argued stupidly about it for a while, until he sighed. "We're wasting time. What good is your rescuing if I'm still here when they get back?"

"Exactly. Stop being a foolish prick." Her eyes were full of the exasperation they usually held around him, and he sighed heavily.

"Please, Elphaba? Just this once can you humor me?"

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, but you owe me. More than you already did." He knew she would be cantankerous for days from this, but he would at least maintain some dignity. Besides, he was so grateful to see her, he wouldn't mind if she verbally assaulted him the whole way home. Home. He would get to go home. He felt almost giddy at the thought.

Giving her a good boost, she managed to slide out the window just as the door was opening to the room. She reached a hand to him, urgently hissing for him to take it. Torn, he wanted to escape, but he didn't want to get her caught with him. Looking at the window, he decided to chance it. Perhaps he could wriggle through it quickly enough with her help.

He grasped her hand, adrenaline giving strength to his screaming muscles, and Elphaba pulled with all her might. Unfortunately, halfway through the tight space, he felt a pair of hands grab his legs, dragging him back in. He filled the window, blocking any sight of Elphaba, so he silently mouthed, "Go." She hesitated, clearly not wanting to leave him, but he glared at her, pointing with his free hand, "Go! Now!"

Her displeasure with this arrangement was clear, but luckily she didn't argue with him. Fleeing to a safe spot out of view, she watched him pulled back through the narrow window to his kidnappers below. At least she was safe.

He told himself the same over and over again as his attackers beat him, threatening horrible fates if he ever attempted such a reckless escape again. He had made up a convincing lie about cutting the ropes with a piece of glass and trying to break through the window only to not fit. They didn't question how he got the glass thankfully, as he preferred simple, more secure lies. The more intricate, the more dangerous, and he didn't want them hunting Elphie.

Sighing, he tried not to picture her rescuing him again, or her reaction at his state if she did. Finally they seemed to have tired of beating him, and he was retied to the pillar. That was probably the worst torture of all.