A/N: This is a fanfic based on the events on the book, though the character may be a little like Musical Elphie. Also, I haven't read the book in a long time, so I'm guessing Liir is 9 and before they headed to Kiamo Ko, they were staying in a church. Please read and review, and be kind, since this is my first Wicked fic, and the characters may be a little out of themselves—if so, please tell me.  ok, here's my first attempt, and please R&R!

Long journey

Here she was. The journey had been long and tiring, but finally she had made it.

The castle of Kiamo Ko stood in front of her as a giant with a strong armature. She looked at it, brick by brick as if studying it.

'This is where he lived… this is where she lives…' the green woman couldn't help, but think. She didn't really despise her: she couldn't blame her for being married to the man she loved. She felt a little sorry for the woman. After all, it was an arranged marriage…

"Well, this is your stop, kid-o…" Oatsie said to the boy who had fallen asleep beside her. The boy opened his eyes and lifted his head to see the place where he had been brought to.

"But I don't know this place…" answered the sleepy child, rubbing his eyes to see a little clearer. He really didn't know of any place other than the old mauntery.

"But your mother seems to. Besides, the money that woman gave me covers until this far." Said the rider.

The boy just looked at her for another moment before he turned around and got up from where he was resting. He looked at the strange structure before him, and then looked down to see where he should step so as not to fall. As he descended from the carriage he muttered the words "She is not my mother…" as if complaining and so that only Oatsie could hear them. The woman just shrugged at his comment and helped him bring the suitcases down from the inside of the transport.

"Hey! Lady! Would you care to help us with this?" Said Oatsie to the woman who seemed awed by the gray and wet castle. The Lady (as Oatsie called her for the lack of her name) just turned around, making no comment and grabbing her suitcase, and then returning to her previews place. The boy, of course, followed her as always.

"You're coming with me?" asked the woman in a cold tone raising an eyebrow.

"Yes." Said the child, too busy trying to carry a suitcase which outgrew him in weight and almost in size.

"And why would you come with me?" once again, the woman told the boy, who was panting from the extra effort he was doing.

"The woman back in the mauntery said I should stick to you, no matter what." Answered the boy, with a little more than a shrug. He really didn't care as long as he had food and a place to stay.

The green woman rolled her eyes and remembered old mother Yackle. 'Sister Saint Aelphaba, this child must go with you. He is your responsibility now.' She had recalled those words, as they were the last the old woman would say to her before she stepped into the carriage. She didn't know why, but the child had been with her for as long as she remembered staying in that old place. 'He must be an orphan.' She thought. But she couldn't remember when was exactly she first met the boy. 'Yes, it was true that I was in a catatonic state for almost two years after the incident…' But the woman refused to go further in thought, for she didn't want to recall that cold, horrible night when she had knocked on those big and rusted wooden doors of the mauntery. Since that night, the Superior Maunt (or Mother Yackle for some) had been protecting and watching over her. Every time Mother Yackle told Elphaba to do something or even some kind of lecture or future telling, Elphaba would roll her eyes and dismiss the comment. However, her words would strike her, and she would meditate them during her free hours. Even Mother Yackle's last words Elphaba couldn't dismiss. Somehow she couldn't bring herself to disobey the old woman, so she had let the kid come along with her, even if she didn't know why or who the boy was.

With one last look, Oatsie got on her carriage and said good bye to the two passengers silently. This had been an interesting journey for them, and no doubt it was just the beginning, she could see it in the green woman's eyes. She had carried as many passengers to know most of their feelings and expectations. Those eyes reflected pain and suffering, but still, at the sight of this castle, they had seemed to found some answer within it. Or at least they had found some hope to look for it.

After the carriage took off, Elphaba took a deep breath and walked closer to the door. She took a moment to reflect and to think what was she going to say.

After a short pause, she knocked on those gigantic wooden doors, and waited for a response. In the meanwhile, the boy was trying to catch a flee with his free hand, slapping his own arm unintentionally in the process.