A/N – a mix between book and musical. Elphaba and Fiyero are working together in the resistance and Glinda wants to join. Elphaba left Glinda in the Emerald City but she isn't specifically wanted yet by the Wizard herself, just the Resistance as a whole.
Treason Among Friends
A cloaked figure stood in the shadows of the dimly lit cathedral. St. Glinda's Cathedral. The figure remained hidden and simply observed those who would come to kneel in prayer, watching specifically for those who came for another purpose.
Time passed and the figure remained, silently observant. Until finally, one lone, similarly cloaked individual slipped inside and moved to a private prayer alcove. The figure, dressed in black from head to toe, knelt in front of the sculpture of St. Glinda lifting thier gloved hands in supplication and bowed their head.
The figure bowing in prayer was only alone for a matter of minutes before being joined by a man in a hat pulled low over his head. He knelt next to the other person and turned just enough for one to make out the movement of his lips. The bowed figure gave a slight nod before extending a gloved hand. The man slipped a piece of paper into the hand and quickly rose to his feet and scooted away.
The bowed figure straightened, looking up at the St. Ginda sculpture before hastily exiting the alcove and moving toward the cathedral entrance. The cloaked figure stepped from the hiding place and followed the other out into the busy Emerald City street.
It was just before the evening dinner hour and the townsfolk were out securing their portions for the evening meal. The streets were teeming and the black-cloaked figure was quickly swallowed in the masses. Still, the pursuer followed, never losing sight no matter how expertly the other weaved in and out of the crowds.
Finally, the lone figure veered down a secluded alley, clearly familiar with their surroundings. Once the two cloaked figures were alone in the alley, the pursuer summoned the courage to call out.
"Hello Elphaba."
The black mass of cloaks stopped abruptly and Lady Glinda was certain she heard a sharp inhale. Still the figure didn't turn. Instead, the figure pushed forward again, seemingly intent on ignoring the greeting.
Lady Glinda refused to be thwarted. She quickly rushed after the figure and when the other was finally within reach, she called out again before clutching at the gloved hand. "Elphaba Thropp, stop this instant!" She practically yelled.
Whirling, the cloaked figure clamped a gloved hand over Lady Glinda's mouth and roughly pushed her into the alley wall. "Shut up you fool!" A green face growled from beneath the hood. "Unlike you, I do not have the luxury of passing unnoticed given my obvious verdigris and I cannot afford the attention."
At the sight of Glinda's wide, frightened eyes, Elphaba calmed instantly and concern flashed over her features, even if only briefly and she dropped her hand from Glinda's mouth. "Oz Glinda, did I harm you? I didn't mean to shove you so forcefully. Are you all right?"
Lady Glinda felt her long suppressed anger taking the place of her fear and she quickly shook out of Elphaba's grasp. "I'm just fine. Not that I believe for an instant that you care, mind you. But I'm quite all right."
A look of hurt darkened the deep brown eyes and her brow furrowed. "Please don't say things like that Glinda." She said softly. "Surely you don't mean that."
Glinda showed no remorse and appeared to be fuming in fact. "Of course I do Elphaba!" She ignored Elphaba cringing and motioning to keep her voice down. "You left me! How could you leave me all alone like that Elphaba? I needed you and you abandoned me! I hate you!"
Glinda all but sobbed out the final bit of her speech and was promptly pulled into a tight embrace. "Shush now Glinda. There, there. I couldn't stay. I couldn't put you in danger that way."
Glinda sniffed against Elphaba's shoulder and then pulled away. "Oh Elphaba, for once I wish you would let me decide for myself what is or is not good for me. Contrary to popular belief, I am not a child!"
Elphaba smiled tenderly as she watched Glinda compose herself. "No, I see that. You're quite the Lady now I must say. You've done well for yourself and I'm happy for you. Tell me you're happy Glinda. Please, it would make this path I've chosen more bearable if I only knew you were happy."
Glinda looked up into Elphaba's eyes and she begrudgingly felt her anger melting. "I can't Elphie. I can't say that. I've been trying to find you for months now. Please, can't we go some place to talk?"
"No!" Elphaba hissed, looking around quickly. "You can't be seen with me! It's not safe. We've been here too long as it is. Go home Glinda. Call your carriage and go back to your safe life of privilege."
Glinda grasped at her sleeve to keep Elphaba from retreating further into the shadows. "I can't Elphaba. I didn't bring a carriage; I walked as I thought it better suited to lurking about and trailing a fugitive."
"You walked?" Elphaba asked, incredulous. "Oz Glinda, what were you thinking? What if you hadn't found me? You can't walk back now, it's growing dark and it isn't safe!"
Glinda smiled slightly. "Well then, you shall just have to see me to safety then won't you?"
Glinda could see the muscles in Elphaba's jaw clench and unclench as she was clearly considering her options. Finally, she sighed in resignation and nodded stiffly. "Fine. Come along. But stay close to me and keep your head down. For Ozsakes, pull your hood up."
Elphaba grabbed Glinda's hand and pulled her deeper into the alley. They rushed on silently around countless corners and kept to the shadows until finally Elphaba came to a stop. She fished around in a pocket of her cloak and pulled out a key. Glinda glanced up and noticed that they were outside of what appeared to be a rundown mansion. She imagined that at one point, the home could have been beautiful. They were clearly entering in what would have been the servants' passage.
As they slipped through the door, Elphaba held a finger to her lips before Glinda could utter a sound. She nodded and followed as Elphaba moved through what was clearly the kitchen and into the main part of the house. A rustling was heard off to one side and Elphaba stopped abruptly. Glinda felt a knot forming in her stomach.
"Elphaba, is that you?" A voice called.
Elphaba grimaced before glancing behind her at Glinda. "Yes, it's me."
"Well why in Oz are you being so quiet? Come on…in." The voice stuttered as he rounded the corner and caught sight of the two of them. Glinda couldn't contain her surprised gasp as Fiyero stopped before them. "Glinda? Sweet Oz, is it really you?" He asked softly.
Glinda nodded and tried to smile. "Hello Fiyero. It's been a long time." She replied, equally as softly.
So that's it, Glinda thought to herself. She's run away to be with him. She left me for him.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Elphaba clearing her throat. "Miss Glinda here is quite the sleuth. She followed me and I didn't even know it. I must be losing my touch." She said with a chuckle. "It just so happens that she was stranded in a rather shady part of town. I couldn't leave her to fend for herself. Quillian won't have to know. She'll stay in my room and I'll see her home safely first thing tomorrow morning."
Glinda arched a brow when she noticed Elphaba's voice quiver just slightly at the mention of this Quillian. Whoever he was, he had the power to shake Elphaba's confidence. Glinda did not care to find out why.
Fiyero nodded thoughtfully. "You had better get going then. Glinda, it's nice to see you again." He turned and quickly retreated back out of sight.
Elphaba seemed to deflate slightly and once again reached for Glinda's hand and led her deeper into the house. They finally reached what had apparently been the living quarters and Elphaba showed her into a room at the end of a long hall.
"Welcome to my humble abode." Elphaba said softly, lighting a lamp. The room proved to be a cozy suite with more space than Glinda had expected. "It isn't much, but at least it affords me a little privacy."
Glinda looked around. "Elphie, what is going on? Where are we?"
"Nowhere Glinda. You can only stay for tonight and then you must forget this place. It isn't safe for you. Or for us either really. If we're discovered…It just isn't safe Glinda." Elphaba ended quietly, removing her cloak.
Glinda watched her, taking in her form. Elphaba seemed thin to her. Even more so than she remembered. Dark shadows were under her eyes and her cheekbones were even more prominent than Glinda recalled as well. She looked tired. Even so, Glinda found her to be a welcome, breathtaking sight.
Before she could stop herself, Glinda crossed the room and threw herself into Elphaba's arms. She felt Elphaba stiffen slightly but then return the embrace. "Oz I've missed you Elphie." Glinda muttered into her shoulder.
Elphaba softly patted her back and chuckled. "I've missed you as well Glinda. Well, let me have a look at you." She said, pulling away and taking in her appearance. "As stunning as ever my sweet. The public life agrees with you."
Glinda smiled sadly. "Don't flatter Elphie, besides, it's not true and we both know it. I'm growing old and wrinkled as we speak."
Elphaba shook her head, smiling fondly. "I'll never notice anything but your beauty Glinda. And I have no doubt the rest of Oz would agree with me. Well, how are you? What have you been doing with yourself? Have you corralled yourself a handsome young prince yet?"
"No, I haven't. But it would appear that you have." Glinda said softly. She hoped she was able to hide the sadness she inexplicably felt at the revelation.
Elphaba's eyes went wide. "Fiyero? Glinda, it's not like that. We…we work together. He's just a very good friend. That's all it is between us." She was blushing a deeper shade of green. "Besides, he's married. Or at least promised. It's a political union apparently."
Glinda smiled, but only slightly relieved. She preferred not to think of the matter further and honestly was not exactly sure why she felt concern in the first place. If that would make her happy, who am I to complain? And I do want her to be happy of course. Fiyero too. She was quickly lost in her thoughts.
"Glinda? Hello? Did you hear me? I said you must be hungry. I can round us up some dinner if you would like. Glinda, are you all right?" Elphaba asked, peering at Glinda closely.
It was Glinda's turn to blush as she realized she had missed Elphaba's dinner invitation. She laughed. "I am hungry actually."
Elphaba grinned. "Dinner it is then. I'm sure there is something to be scrounged up. We're typically on our own here for food, no kitchen staff really. But I'm sure there is something left. You stay here. And I mean it; don't leave this room Glinda. Promise me." Elphaba said solemnly.
Glinda felt the knot forming in her belly yet again. What was this place and was Elphaba safe? "I promise." She said nodding.
Elphaba nodded again and silently slipped out into the hallway. Glinda paced while she waited for Elphaba to return. She could barely contain her sigh of relief when Elphaba opened the door and slipped back inside.
They ate their corn beef sandwiches in companionable silence. The hour grew later and Glinda found herself fighting off another yawn. She hated the thought of having to sleep and missing out on valuable time with Elphaba. Now that she had found her again, Glinda couldn't imagine being separated from her.
Elphaba smiled wryly as Glinda yet again stifled a yawn and rubbed at her eyes. "You're exhausted. We should probably sleep."
Glinda frowned. "I don't want to. I haven't seen you in so long Elphie. I don't want to waste our time sleeping. I want to talk of our olden days at Shiz. I want you to tell me what you've gotten yourself involved in that's so secret. I've missed you so Elphie."
Elphaba reached a tentative hand out and cupped Glinda's cheek. "I've missed you too. But you need to rest. We have to be up early to get you back across town tomorrow morning."
Glinda began to protest but Elphaba quickly interrupted. "No Glinda. Don't argue. You're only here because it wasn't safe to leave you where we were. You have to go home Glinda. It isn't safe for you here. And I intend to see you home safely. You're still my best friend. I could never forgive myself if something happened to you."
Glinda felt tears pooling in her eyes. "Elphaba, how do you expect me to sleep thinking I won't see you again. I've been so lost without you. Don't leave me all alone again, please! I need you Elphie. Let me stay here with you! I'll help you! I'm sort of an important figure in Oz, or at least the Emerald City. I'd be an asset to you and whatever in Ozname you're up to. And don't give me that look Elphaba, I know you're part of the Resistance. What else could it be? Please, let me help you!"
"Absolutely not!" Elphaba said adamantly. "It's too dangerous and I won't allow you to get involved. Besides, the Wizard is probably keeping a close eye on you and his other public officials. I won't allow you to be endangered. So you just erase that thought from that blissful blonde brain of yours. No."
Glinda's face fell, knowing she would get nowhere with Elphaba when she was in this mood. Not wanting their last few hours together to be spent bickering, Glinda nodded in resignation. "Alright Elphie, whatever you want."
The sight of Glinda's crestfallen face nearly brought tears to Elphaba's eyes. She sat next to Glinda on the bed and reached for her hands. "Don't be angry dearest. I'm so happy to see you, truly! You're a welcome sight. And who knows, perhaps someday, when the Wizard is ousted, we can have tea together in broad daylight back in the Peach and Kidneys. Don't give up hope. Everything may be well yet."
Glinda smiled and looked up at the russet colored eyes and felt an unfamiliar flutter. How can I deny her anything? Especially hope. She nodded.
The two friends changed into nightdresses, Glinda having borrowed one from Elphaba, and they settled in to sleep on the single bed. Glinda scooted closer to Elphaba, for comfort and warmth both. Just before she felt herself nodding off, she softly muttered, "Good night Elphie, I love you."
Glinda was asleep before she could feel Elphaba's soft lips press to her temple or hear her whisper back softly, "I love you too my sweet."
xxxxx
Fiyero paced, unsure of why he was suddenly so ill at ease. He trusted Elphaba and her judgment completely and if she felt safe bringing Glinda the Good to their hideout, he would not question. Quillian on the other hand, he would be furious.
Glinda was after all one of the Wizard's most important public figures. She was his voice in the Emerald City. Everyone knew she was his favorite puppet. Fiyero didn't doubt Glinda's affection for Elphaba; he knew they were close. He just hoped she wouldn't inadvertently bring harm to Elphaba, himself, or any of the Resistance. Fiyero knew he would have to keep a close eye on the situation.
