The Lioness & the Ozian Witch
Elphaba's POV
My name was Elphaba Thropp. I sort of ran away and now I live at Fief Trebond, with my two new siblings—Alanna and Thom of Trebond—they're twins who lost their mother when they were born—I sort of understand that—I lost my mother when my much-loved by our father, and normal, sister, Nessarose, was born. I've never forgiven her for killing my mother—Father says it's my fault that mother's dead, but it's Nessa's fault, but he spoils her, meaning when she's older she'll be a spoiled brat and probably a rotten brat, as well.
Anyway, the three of us—Thom, Alanna, and I—all have magic, or the Gift, as magic's called here in Tortall, plus I have some wild magic, which allows me to understand all animal languages as if they were speaking my language—Ozian or Tortallan. The difference in my Gift from Thom and Alanna's Gifts is theirs are lavender purple and mine is black.
When I was nine—six days before my tenth birthday—I learned that Alanna and I had to go to the convent to learn how to be ladies. Ick—I'm not a lady and I never will be. Like my older sister, Alanna, I want to be a knight. I went to ask why I had to go to the convent, but Father said, "That is my decision. We need not discuss it." I sighed when I noticed him looking at a book again, like always, like he was after he finished filling out the paperwork that made me a legal Trebond.
I plopped on the floor and mumbled, "I don't wanna learn how to be a lady—I can't just do that with myself. There has to be something we can do." Suddenly I froze, as it hit me. I sprang to my feet and hissed, "Thom, Alanna, I've got it." Alanna grinned at me and I whispered, "Quick, Alanna, explain the plan to Thom now, while we've still got some time." Alanna grinned at me and said, "Thom, you can copy Father's handwriting perfectly, so write new letters saying we're all boys. Elphaba and I will go to the palace and learn to be knights and you go to the City of the Gods and learn to be a sorcerer." He nodded and we went and talked to Maude, the village healer, to make sure it would work. Maude said it would.
The next morning, we all left. Maude told me and Alanna to heal every time we got the opportunity. Alanna and I disguised ourselves as boys and went with Coram to the palace, but when he learned it was not Thom with him, but me and Alanna, he was furious. "Where's that devil's spawn brother of yours?" he roared at us. Alanna pushed the wineskin at him and said, "Coram, have a drink." "I don't want a drink. I want t'beat the hides off the two of ye till yer skins can't hold water." I grimaced and said, "Coram, please, I need this. I have to prove I'm stronger than I appear."
The next morning, Coram said to Alanna, "I take it I'm to call ye Alan from now on?" She yelled with joy and told me and I skipped all the way to the stables, whistling with joy. Then I said, "Coram, you have to call me, Alanna, what did Thom say my name was, whatever Thom said my name was." He nodded and said, "Ye're only nine, lad." "I'll be ten when we reach Court, Coram." He nodded, reluctantly.
Then Alanna hissed at me and said, "Your name's Fabiethe, Fabie for short, and you have a skin condition which why you're green." Coram nodded and said, "Well, then, Alan, Fabie, let's be off to Court." I nodded quickly and Alanna and I readied our ponies—Chubby and a second pony, I never learned its name 'cuz it died not too long after reaching Court—and Coram prepared his horse—a gelding. Four days later, we reached Court and I was finally ten—and I could begin my training as a page.