Fiyero and Elphaba's Affair

Fiyero, now a married Arjiki prince and father of three, and Elphaba, who has been living underground as a political agitator, meet again by chance in the chapel of Saint Glinda's Square in the Emerald City. Fiyero recognizes her despite her attempts at disguise, and after a tense initial encounter where she denies her identity, he follows her to her hidden room above an abandoned corn exchange. This chance reunion rekindles their connection from their student days at Shiz, leading to a secret love affair that becomes the emotional center of both their lives during the autumn and early winter.

The Secret Rendezvous

The affair is conducted in Elphaba's sparsely furnished room, a former storeroom with a skylight, a bedroll, and a few crates used as furniture. Fiyero visits her on appointed evenings, and they spend long hours together in passionate intimacy, often by candlelight or moonlight. Elphaba, who uses the code name "Fae" for her underground work, is initially reluctant to let him into her life, warning him that it is too dangerous for him to know her. She tells him, "I loved you too much to keep in touch," explaining that she cut off all contact with her old friends to protect them from the Gale Force. Despite her warnings, Fiyero persists, and they begin a love affair that is both physically and intellectually intense.

Intellectual and Emotional Conflict

Their relationship is marked by fierce intellectual debates about morality, politics, and the nature of evil. Elphaba, who is involved in a secret network plotting against the Wizard, argues that the struggle against tyranny justifies violence and that individual culpability is secondary to the larger cause. Fiyero, who has lived a life of comparative privilege and comfort, challenges her, asking about the innocent bystanders who might be killed in her campaign. He tells her, "You're eschewing all personal responsibility," and accuses her of using her ideology as a "blind excuse for crime." These arguments often lead to estrangement, but they are always drawn back together by their powerful physical and emotional bond. Elphaba tells him, "I love you so much, Fiyero, you just don't understand: Being born with a talent or an inclination for goodness is the aberration."

The Lurlinemas Eve Plot and Its Aftermath

As Lurlinemas approaches, Elphaba reveals that she is part of a major operation, though she does not know the full details. She tells Fiyero, "There's going to be an episode—I can't say more—and I must be available to the network at all times." She asks him to stay away from crowds and public places on Lurlinemas Eve, and he promises to be careful. However, driven by love and fear for her, he follows her through the snowy streets of the Emerald City. He watches as she takes up a position in a square near the Lady's Mystique theatre, where Madame Morrible is scheduled to attend an oratorio. Elphaba prepares to kill Madame Morrible, but the arrival of a group of schoolgirls from a nearby seminary disrupts her plan, and she hesitates. Madame Morrible passes safely into the theatre, and Elphaba, overcome with self-loathing, disappears into the crowd. Fiyero, unable to find her, returns to her room, where he is ambushed and brutally attacked by members of the Gale Force. He is never seen alive again, and his body is never recovered. Elphaba, traumatized by his death and her own failure, takes refuge in the Cloister of Saint Glinda, beginning a seven-year period of silence and penance.