Newfound Faith
Elphaba ran her hands over the cool, flat surface of the leather-bound book, then let her fingers trace the gold lettering on the cover – the words that read 'Holy Bible'.
It was the Bible that Nessa had given her for Lurlinemas a few years back. Elphaba had ignored it, not being particularly religious, a stark contrast to the rest of her family. She had never so much as opened it, and so had never noticed the inscription on the inside leaf – 'Dearest Elphaba, May the Unnamed God always guide and bless you. Your loving sister, Nessarose.'
Now Elphaba wondered if she had, perhaps, been wrong to shun religion from her as she had. Maybe she would have found a better way to try and help the Animals. Goodness knew she had broken quite a few of the Ten Commandments, and the guilt she felt weighed her down constantly.
Elphaba couldn't change the past; that much, she knew. Afterall, it wouldn't be logical to have the power to go back in time and fix all the wrongs she had done. However, now she felt an obligation to ensure she had a better future, and that she had a better outlook so that anyone – human, animal or Animal – would have a better future also.
Her mind now set, Elphaba opened the book and began to read.
"Elphie?"
Elphaba slowly raised her head to see Fiyero staring at her, his head tilted in confusion.
"Elphie, what's that? I didn't think you brought any books with you…" He reached out and gently took the Bible from her. Fiyero's eyebrow arched in surprise when he read the gold lettering and he shot Elphaba a look that begged for explanation.
Elphaba merely shrugged. "I thought it was about time…" She trailed off, before trying again. "After everything I've done…I need to change, Fiyero. I see now that I was wrong. I had a choice, and I… It all could have been so different, Yero. For the first time in my life, I'm grateful that Nessa gave me that Bible, and I intend to read it often and try to change for the better."
Fiyero continued to stare at her for a moment, before handing the Bible back to her and moving closer. "Well, if you're going to do all that, the least I can do is the same." He settled his arm around her and waited for her to begin reading.
"Oh, and Yero?"
"Mmm?"
Elphaba smiled slightly. "I want us to get married in a church."
Fiyero smiled back and affectionately kissed the top of her head. "Anything, darling."
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own either of the characters in the above story; they belong in their entirety to L. Frank Baum and Gregory Maguire. I DO, however, own the story, and it is protected in my name under Australian Copyright Law dating back to 2010.