Musicalverse, set directly following the final curtain. I claim creative licence with this; I've used some of my own theories to make this one work. With thanks to delgaserasca for betaing.
In the Dark of the Night
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A blast of icy air hit Glinda as she stepped across the threshold of the castle. The night wind tore at her skin and burned against the tear-tracks lining her face, but she didn't care. She had no reason to care, not anymore. Now that she'd relieved the Wizard of his duties and had Madame Morrible imprisoned for her cruel and selfish actions, culminating in the death of poor Nessarose, Oz was her responsibility. Concern for the night's subzero temperature was the last thing on her mind.
Oh, Nessa.
Glinda's body shook as she sobbed, lowering herself to her knees and pressing her body into the ground. "Oh, Nessa," she whispered between sobs. "I am so sorry." Guilt-ridden over the death of Nessarose and torn over the death she had just witnessed - the death of her friend, her only real friend, Glinda lay on the ground outside the castle at Kiamo Ko, body pressed into the hard dirt. Her only protection against the earth was Elphaba's tall black hat, crushed beneath her.
She thought back to the day she had given that hat to Elphaba. She recalled Elphaba's withering glance as she held out the hat in what she'd tried to pass off as a gesture 'from the goodness of her heart'. A wave of nausea overcame her as memories flooded back - how cruel she had been to Elphaba, how dismissive of Boq, howshallow—
Glinda stood quickly, Elphaba's hat discarded, and ran a little into the forest. Repulsed by her own actions, she vomited, hidden by the trees.
/--/--/
The bitter wind sent Elphaba's dark hair flying behind her as she ran, one hand holding her dress inches above her feet, the other holding Fiyero's hand as he led her hurriedly along the tree-lined path that snaked through the mountains of the Vinkus.
Elphaba looked back. In the dark of the night, though she wasn't entirely far away, the outline of the castle she had seen only a moment ago had faded. Swallowing hard and suppressing a sigh, she turned her head to face Fiyero and they continued running. They ran through the night; by morning, they'd reached the Thursk Desert and slowed a little.
"Where are we headed, Fiyero?" Elphaba thought aloud as they slowed their pace to a stroll.
"I don't know, Fae," he admitted quietly, slowing to a halt. Their hands were still entwined, as they had been since they had left Kiamo Ko the previous night. He watched in horror as her eyes filled with tears.
"Tears," she hissed, pained. She began to bring her hand to her face but Fiyero beat her to it, gently rubbing the tears away before they could settle against her skin. His hand stayed against the smooth skin of her face.
"Do you think we'll ever be able to let her know we're safe?" Elphaba whispered, touching her hand to his.
"I don't know," he admitted again. "Perhaps, someday."
They stood quietly for a moment, before Elphaba broke the silence. "We should move, find a place to stay."
Fiyero once again led the way. They walked through the day and into the night. By the time they stopped again, they had reached a forest on the other side of Fliaan.
"We'll be safe here, Elphie," Fiyero squeezed her hand as she glanced around. Before them stood a small, wooden cottage. It was in a state of disrepair – Fiyero would guess no one had used it for several years – but they could turn it into a home in no time. Fiyero dropped Elphaba's hand and stepped forward, pushing the door open and entering the cottage.
Elphaba stood outside for a moment longer. In the wind, she was sure she could hear sobs. "I forgive you, Glinda," she whispered to the trees. "I forgive you."