A/N: I would like to thank bluediamondsonagreenfield for bouncing around ideas with me. It helped to spark what would become this story. So thanks :)
I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Wicked….. ow! What is this pain in my chest? I think I'm having a heart attack! Call the ambulance!
"If you so much as open your mouth in front of their royal highnesses other than answering one of their questions, I will kill you. If you make me look bad, I will kill you. If you make Nessa look bad, I will kill you. Now, I can't make you work here because that would make me look bad, but if you decide to take this short lived freedom and abuse it, I will kill you. Do you get it?" Frexspar Thropp seethed.
"Yes, father," Elphaba was full of terror, for she knew that he would, in fact, kill her if given a reason. Suddenly a hand flew at her cheek and seventeen-year-old Elphaba Thropp was thrown to the floor. The man then reached down and grabbed the front of her dress pulling her within inches of his face.
"What did I tell you about calling me your father?" he spat.
"I'm sorry, master," Elphaba whimpered trying not to let the tears stream down her face.
He threw her once again to the ground. "That's more like it. Now get ready our carriage is leaving in ten minutes and you better be down there or so help me," and with that he stormed out of the room.
Silently Elphaba let a few tears fall as she threw the rest of her stuff into a trunk and carried it downstairs. The carriagemen threw the trunk with the others as she climbed into the carriage across from her father and sister. She was secretly excited for this trip. She would get to do nothing for the first time since she was six. She could spend all day reading, uninterrupted (except for meals of course) and she would actually get a taste of freedom. Elphaba stared out the window watching as the neared the Greater Kells. Honestly, Elphaba had never seen a more beautiful place. As they neared Kiamo Ko she had to hold in her awestruck gasp.
When the carriage pulled up to the castle, its passengers got out and were met by the royal adviser. "The royal family will be waiting for you in the throne room. I'll show you the way." He turned on his heels and the small "family" of three followed. Elphaba tried not to openly stare at the grandeur of the halls.
"His Emminence Frexspar Thropp and his daughters Elphaba and Nessarose Thropp," the adviser announced. The three entered into the room with silence the girls on either side of their father.
"Ah Frex!" the King exclaimed as he walked down the steps to grasp his old friends hand. "How have you been?"
"I've been great! I'd like you to meet my daughter, Nessarose," he said gesturing to the girl and the King took her hand.
"And what did he say your name was?" the Queen asked Elphaba extending her hand.
Frexspar quickly grabbed Elphaba's hand before they touched, "You're highness I'm afraid she may be contagious." The Queen did not miss the hurt flash across the young woman's face.
"Nonesense," the woman tsked as she grabbed Elphaba into a very un-queen-like hug, feeling a sudden affection for the girl. "What was your name, darling?"
"Elphaba," the young girl squeaked anxiously eyeing her father.
"Well, Elphaba, I think you're beautiful, no matter your skin tone. I think your skin is lovely. And really Frex? You were just touching her hand, so obviously she's not contagious." Elphaba smiled. Even though she didn't believe that the Queen actually believed what she said, no one had ever been nice enough to try and compliment her with such sincerity. When the King and Queen had met and shook hands with all three of the Thropps they turned to their own children.
"This is Belle. She's five. There is nothing wrong with her, but she barely talks. I think she's just shy." The Queen bent and kissed her daughter's cheek. "And this is Fiyero. He's nineteen," the King introduced.
Elphaba glanced at the boy, but quickly turned away when she saw that he was looking at her. She was used to being stared at and would normal snap at him but 1) he was a prince 2) she did not want to die and 3) there was something about the way that he looked at her. It wasn't as if he was mocking her, or even judging her, it seemed as if he really was just, curious about her. She felt a blush creep up her face. No one would notice if they weren't staring at her so of course, he noticed. She looked back at him only to see a small smirk.
"I will show Nessa to her room, Syntra, you show Frex to his room, and Fiyero, you show Elphaba to her room. Belle, do you want to go with me?" the little girl looked at her mother and then her father and then Elphaba. After staring at Elphaba for a while she toddled over to her mother. "Do whatever you like," she told her guests, "dinner is at 8." And with that everyone went their separate ways.
"I think you'll really like it here," Fiyero said trying to start up a conversation with the beautiful girl next to him but she remained silent. When they reached her room, she seemed in awe of it. "Ok, well I'll go then," he whispered.
"Wait!" she stated louder than he thought possible for the girl. "Can you show me where the library is, please?"
"Sure," he smiled, happy to get to spend more time with her. "So you like reading?" he asked as they walked slowly in the direction of the library.
"Yes," she whispered but the passion that filled her eyes convinced him that she would be spending most of the two week trip there, and so therefore he would too. When they walked into the three story library her eyes lit up like a Lurlinemas tree. "It's beautiful," he thought he heard her say.
"Yeah, it is. Hey, I have to go to my fencing lesson, so make yourself at home." She smiled at him the most beautiful smile he had ever seen and he swore that minute that his goal in life would be to make her smile like that every day.
"Thank you," and with that she turned and began looking for the right first book.
He watched her for a moment before running to make his lesson on time.
A/N: So what did you think? Love it? Hate it? Please let me know.
Love,
Lizzy