Yes, another story. I'm just going to post the first for now, but I will continue it soon.
Alyena, the Queen of the Vinkus, sat in the parlor, rocking her year old son, Fiyero, in her arms. She loved her son with all her heart, but something was missing. She had always wanted two children. There were so many empty rooms in their large castle in Kiamo Ko, and no one to fill them. There were so many complications when she was giving birth to Fiyero, the midwife told her that if she had another child, there would be a very low chance of survival for her and the baby.
"Alyena?" the king, Magnus, whispered, walking into the parlor and placing a hand on his wife's shoulder.
Alyena looked up and smiled at her husband. "Hi."
"How are you feeling?"
"Better," she whispered, her gaze slowly dropping back to Fiyero, who was sound asleep. "I just want another one."
"Alyena, you remember what the midwife said when Fiyero was born."
"I know. I just…"
Magnus stopped his wife with a kiss. "I understand. I wish I could do something to help, but –"
A knock at the door interrupted them. Magnus hurried to the door while Alyena put Fiyero down for his nap.
Magnus opened the door and found a Lion, his mane full and lush, standing outside with a bundle of blankets in his paws. Thin-wired glasses were perched on his nose.
"Navon," Magnus bowed before the wise lion. Everyone in the Vinkus knew that the wise Lion should be paid the highest amount of respect. "Welcome."
"Thank you, Magnus," Navon smiled. "I mustn't stay for long, but I wish to discuss something with you and your wife."
"Of course," Magnus said, inviting the Lion inside. Alyena was walking down the stairs as Magnus ushered Navon into the parlor.
"Now, where is Alyena?" Navon asked.
"I'm here," Alyena curtsied, walking into the parlor. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything is fine," the Lion confirmed. "I found this little one abandoned in the forest." He slowly unwrapped the bundle of blankets, revealing a baby girl. The King and Queen gasped.
"What is it?" Magnus asked.
"It's a baby," Alyena said, taking the baby from the Lion's paws.
"B-But her skin. It's… green."
"Indeed," Navon said, holding back a chuckle.
The small infant slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Alyena. She couldn't be more than a few months old, four or five months at the most. Alyena smiled at her as she rocked the baby in her arms.
"When did you find her?" Alyena questioned.
"A few days ago. She was lying on the ground under a bush, crying her little eyes out. I suspect her parents left her there to die. I can't imagine why they would do such a thing," Navon said, looking at the baby.
"What should we do?" Magnus asked.
"I was hoping you and your wife would be willing to raise her. I know how much you wanted another child."
"Thank you," Alyena smiled, kissing the small child's forehead.
"Thank you," Navon smiled as Magnus ushered him outside. "You have no idea how much this means to us."
When her husband returned, Alyena was sitting on the couch, getting to know the new baby. "What should we name her?"
"Whatever name you choose will be perfect for her," Magnus smiled, kissing his wife's forehead.
"I've always liked the name Elphaba."
"You mean like Saint Aelphaba of the waterfall?"
"Yes. I think it's perfect for her," Alyena smiled. She admired her new daughter's green skin, her black ringlets of hair, her small nose, her soft lips and her chocolate eyes.
"Then Elphaba it is!" the King smiled.
Fiyero was completely intrigued with his new sister. He would sit and watch her sleep for hours. He would watch his mother hold her and rock her in his arms. He didn't seem bothered by her skin. In fact, he liked it. It suited her. The only thing he didn't like was that she cried all the time. Alyena would drop everything and run to her.
"I think something's wrong," Alyena whispered one night as she rocked crying Elphaba in her arms.
"Poor child," Magnus whispered, half-awake.
"I want her checked out by the castle doctor as soon as possible," Alyena said, rubbing small circles on Elphaba's back.
"Anything you wish, dear," Magnus yawned.
"Magnus, I'm serious."
"Of course, dear."
"Are you going to keep doing that?"
"No, dear."
Alyena sighed as Elphaba continued to cry. "Oh, sweetie," she whispered, kissing her forehead. Elphaba screamed even louder, probably waking up the entire castle. Little beads of sweat glistened across her forehead as she screamed her little lungs out.
"Magnus, call the doctor right now!" Alyena yelled, fully waking up her husband.
Magnus jumped up and ran out of the room to fetch the doctor. He returned a few minutes later with the doctor, who tried not to show how irritated he was to be awake at such an early hour. The Queen handed him the baby and he immediately went to work examining the child. Alyena heard Fiyero crying from his room and hurried out to him. After a few very intense hours, Elphaba's crying ceased and the doctor came out of the room. The King and Queen, along with Fiyero, who was peacefully asleep in his mother's arms, were patiently waiting outside.
"Well?" Magnus asked when the doctor came out.
The doctor sighed. "She's extremely weak. After examining her, I have some bad news to report. Before she was left alone in the forest to die, she was dropped on her head, causing severe brain damage. To tell you the truth, I don't believe she'll live very long. Maybe until she's three or four years old at most."
"No," Alyena whispered.
"There must be something you can do? Anything!" the King begged, comforting his wife.
"I'm truly sorry. There's nothing more I can do at this point," the doctor said grimly.
Alyena cried into her husband's shoulder. She looked down at Fiyero, who was wide awake, looking up at his mother with his large, brown eyes. She hugged her baby boy close, as if afraid to lose him, too. Alyena and Magnus set a new goal for themselves; they were going to do everything possible to make sure Elphaba lived.
Four year-old Fiyero walked down the long hallways of his home. He stopped when he heard small whimpers coming from Elphaba's room. Rushing to his sister's room and throwing the door open, his eyes widened at the sight before him. His sister was hopelessly tangled in her bed sheets and moaning in her sleep.
"What's wrong, Fae-Fae?" Fiyero asked, using the special nickname he gave her.
Elphaba looked up and saw Fiyero standing over her, a worried expression on his face. "I… I want Mommy."
Fiyero nodded and ran to get their mother. Alyena rushed into the room a few seconds later and ran to Elphaba's side.
"I'm here, honey," she whispered, scooping Elphaba into her arms.
Elphaba's crying died down to a whimper when she felt her mother wrap her arms around her. She closed her eyes and tried to relax.
"You just had a bad dream, didn't you?" Alyena whispered, stroking Elphaba's hair.
Elphaba nodded and snuggled closer to her mother. The Queen placed a tender kiss on top of Elphaba's head. "It's okay, now. No one's going to hurt you."
Elphaba finally calmed down and her breathing returned to normal.
"That's a good girl," Alyena whispered, placing Elphaba back in her bed. "Just rest now."
"But we were supposed to go the beach today," Elphaba whispered.
Alyena sighed. She knew Elphaba was looking forward to that trip, but now, she wasn't so sure they should go. "Elphaba…"
"Please?" Elphaba asked, slowly pushing herself up onto her elbows.
"Okay," Alyena smiled, lifting Elphaba into her arms. "We'll go. But only for a little while. Yero, go get ready."
Elphaba smiled. Fiyero saluted his mother and ran off to his room while Alyena helped Elphaba into her navy blue swimsuit. Fiyero and Magnus were dressed for the beach very quickly.
"Alyena, are you sure this is a good idea?" Magnus asked.
"She wants to go, Magnus. She's been looking forward to this," Alyena answered, lifting Elphaba into her arms.
"Okay," Magnus said, kissing Elphaba's forehead. "How are you feeling, princess?"
"Fine," Elphaba smiled.
"I'm ready, Mommy," Fiyero called from the doorway.
"Yero!" Elphaba smiled, smiling at her older brother.
"Let's go!" Fiyero exclaimed, grabbing his father's hand and pulling him out the door.
The royal family walked through the gardens and down to the shore. Fiyero ran ahead of everyone down to the ocean. Elphaba smiled as she watched her brother skip happily through the golden sand.
"Yero," Elphaba said, reaching out towards him.
Alyena carried Elphaba over to where Fiyero was waiting, where the waves crashed alone the sand. She sat her down, silently telling Fiyero to watch her. Fiyero nodded, knowing what his mother wanted. He didn't mind watching Elphaba and making sure she stayed safe. He actually loved it. It made him feel more like a big brother.
Elphaba giggled as she felt the cold waves crashing onto her, soaking her from the waist down. She looked up at her brother and smiled.
"Having fun?" Fiyero asked in a playful tone.
Elphaba nodded excitedly. She was glad they all decided to come. After a while, Alyena called the children back. Elphaba firmly placed her hands on top of the wet sand and pushed herself up. Fiyero moved to help her, but Elphaba stopped him.
"No," she whispered, wanting to do it herself. She slowly pushed herself to her feet and smiled at her accomplishment. She tried to take a step forward, but was very wobbly on her feet. Fiyero wrapped his arm around her waist, knowing that Elphaba couldn't walk without assistance.
"Thank you, Yero," she whispered, giving her brother a grateful smile.
"Anytime, Fae-Fae," Fiyero smiled, kissing her nose.
The two children slowly made their way to their parents. Fiyero made sure he wasn't walking too fast for Elphaba. Elphaba walked carefully through the sand as she slowly slid one foot in front of the other.
"Daddy!" Elphaba called, reaching out towards her father.
Magnus lifted Elphaba into his arms and kissed her forehead. "Are you ready to go back?"
Elphaba and Fiyero nodded sleepily, exhausted from their day. Alyena picked Fiyero up and walked back inside the castle with her husband. She smiled to herself. Everything was going to be just fine.