(A/N: Well, Sara and I were arguing about whether Boq is holding a letter opener during the Wicked Witch of the East scene, then we decided that it was indeed a letter opener, but I wanted to know why there was a random letter opener sitting on the table, so I wrote this. Sara, this is for you, because you inspired me yet again. Enjoy!)
The Letter Opener
Nessa watches as Boq looks through the mail, muttering to himself, "Catalog of cat toys—you don't have a cat, a flyer about using less paper that apparently was sent to everyone in Munchkinland—idiots, Madame, your subscription to Ozmopolitain Magazine is up, I'll renew that later…" Then the muttering stops as Boq stares at a letter.
"What's that?" Nessa asks. Could it be an actual letter instead of the stupid advertisements that pour in every day?
Boq runs his hands over the return address. "N-Nothing," he answers. It's from Glinda. Could it possibly be for him? Asking for him, freeing him from this slavery? He steals a glance at who it's addressed to. Nessarose Thropp. Of course.
"If you're not going to open the letter, I will," Nessa says. She begins wheeling over to Boq, who is holding the letter opener, but Boq holds it out of her reach.
"No!" He says quickly and a bit too loud. "It-It's junk mail. Don't worry about it." He stuffs it in his pocket. He'll read it later, when he's alone. Then he dashes out of the room, dropping the letter opener on the table instead of putting it in the drawer where it belongs.
Later, the letter opener will become his only weapon, but it won't be enough to save him.
(A/N: Well, after I wrote this, I was thinking about it, and I realized the letter must have mentioned "The ball that's being staged, announcing Glinda is engaged to Fiyero," and that's how Boq knew about it. So I solved two mysteries in one fic! Reviews are love!)