Up, down, up, down, and further down. Elphaba felt the carriage jolting along the uneven yellow bricks of the road that would lead them to Shiz. The Wizard had extended its construction within the last year, hoping to link the various nation-states of Oz more closely together. What a ploy. As always, maneuvering to further solidify his control, Elphaba thought disgustedly, a deep frown engraved in her forehead. And besides that, he had dislocated and abused hundreds of Quadlings and Animals to help in its construction. She would not have known it if she hadn't met some of the Quadlings on her way into Gatesbury and mentioned Turtle Heart.
Elphaba hurried to the market, hoping to avoid the eyes of any of the town residents who were loitering about. Her stiff, long skirt swished about her ankles and she felt the heat bearing down on her long-sleeved arms. It was easier to cover up her skin entirely, even in this heat, to avoid attention. She took extra precaution in wearing a large floppy sunhat that cast a shadow over her face. She knew most everyone in this town, and they knew her, but that didn't mean they liked her. Covering up her skin made it seem like she was less of a threat. Not a dangerous, green menace but simply the strange daughter of an even stranger priest.
She stopped in front of a couple stalls, but seeing distrustful looks on the faces of the town's merchants, she soon made her way to the stall of the only person she knew would accept her commerce.
"Master Boq," she said, crisply. "I'd like a basket of that corn, and two dozen eggs. I'll also take whatever assortment of vegetables as you have on hand, enough to fill this bag."
A laugh came from the small man behind the counter. Not a man exactly, not yet.
"No time for pleasantries, Elphie? How entirely out of character." He chuckled a little more at the disapproving look on her face. "Unfortunately, I can only give you one dozen eggs today. A few of our chickens took sick and are still resting."
"No matter, but do be quick about it," the starkly clad Elphaba demanded. "I've got to get back to Nessa before Father realizes I've been gone. Nanny was supposed to do the shopping today."
"You really should be nicer to your friends, Elphaba. Otherwise, you might miss the wonderful news they have to share."
The girl quirked a skeptical eyebrow.
"Boq, if you're going to tell me about another of the village girls getting knocked up, you should know that I don't exactly consider the entrance of another little bratling monster into world good news."
"Nonsense, I was just talking about the group of Quadling merchants on the outskirts of town. Not the direction you're coming from, so you wouldn't have seen them." The small man-not-yet-man's eyes twinkled at the sudden spark of interest in that thin green face.
Elphaba exchanged some silver for the goods Boq handed her.
"And tell Nessa I appreciate her prayers!" He shouted after her as those quick black boots scuffed dust into the distance, exactly opposite of where Nessa was so anxiously awaiting her.
Elphaba slowed her pace as she approached the group of individuals gathered under a huge makeshift tent. The Quadlings laughed and worked ferociously quickly, setting up their wares for the wave of customers that would be coming after their daily market shop. Elphaba turned to the side, suddenly anxious that these people would be just as dismissing to her as the villagers. She hesitated, then swept off her sunhat and rolled up her sleeves, asking one of the red-skinned merchants politely in Qua'atl if they had any news of the Emerald City.
He took a glance at her skin, and then startled at the fluent, intricate language flowing off her tongue.
A grin spread across his face. "Miss, if you'll just help me set up this booth then I'll be willing to tell you anything you want. Tell me, where did you learn Qua'atl?"
"A family friend, Turtle Heart," she admitted. "I'm not very good, but he's been helping me."
"Turtle Heart?! He's my cousin. We always wondered where he'd wandered off to. Maybe you can convince him to stop by. "
Elphaba acquiesced, and ended up spending the entire week there with the merchants, learning about the world, their pasts, and eventually, the terrible secrets their people hid.
Elphaba was jolted out of her memories by the transition of the carriage from brick to smooth grass. That meant they were here. Soon, the movement stopped entirely, and the driver got out to open their door. There was no need. Elphaba had already turned the handle and was jumping out in a terrible show of impropriety. She turned, and carefully supported Nessarose as she rose from her seat. They both winced, stretching their legs after a long carriage ride.
"Wow," Elphaba breathed quietly as she turned to view the tall spires and domes of her home and place of learning. Though this wasn't exactly her first time viewing it, apparently the view was just as breathtaking the second time round.
"Elphaba, could you get the trunks out? I'm about to faint from heat exhaustion, and you know Father wouldn't be happy if we made such a disgraceful fuss on our first day here."
"Doubt the fuss can be avoided, Nessie, but sure." Elphaba heaved the stack of worn and battered trunks from the carriage onto the grass, and paid the driver three gold Galleons.
As he clattered into the distance, the lanky girl levitated the four trunks ahead of herself, and set off towards the doors, Nessa carefully tottering beside her. They arrived in the main hall and immediately watched as ripples spread through the crowd, heads tilting in their directions, eyes widening and mouths opening in shock.
"Great," Elphaba muttered under her breath. "And the freak show begins anew."
Nessarose, having caught that, sharply reprimanded her. "Elphaba! Please, curb your tongue. That language doesn't heighten you in the sight of the Unnamed God."
They moved to the side, and slowly the muttering dies down, returning to a normal conversational level. It looks to be mainly first-years crowding the marble hallway, Elphaba observed from the nervous fluttering of hands among the girls and their shock at Elphaba's appearance. Social status is still being determined, guesses being extrapolated from clothing and looks and amounts of baggage.
Elphaba watched the tides turn towards the door again, and shortly discovered the reason. A diminutive blond Gillikin girl has stepped daintily through the doorway, accompanied by an aging matron. She saw the reason for the crowd's tidal shifting quite clearly. The girl's blond hair was struck by a ray of light, highlighting her in a halo. She was, in short, possibly the most beautiful person Elphaba had ever seen, and the crowd seemed to agree. Everyone knew Galinda Upland, and it seemed they were all eager to get reacquainted.
A sharp counterpoint to the attention we drew. They love her for her beauty, and hate us for our disfigurement, she observed, watching a group of girls flock towards the blond.
Just then, a gigantic shark like ship of a woman dressed in a hideous purple monstrosity banged through the doors on the other side of the hall, and a booming voice rent the air.
"My dear ladies, welcome back to Shiz and Crage Hall. I assume you are acquainted with the reputation of my advanced Spell-Crafting seminar, but if you are not, my name is Madame Morrible. I am the head of Slytherin. As you know, you have been sent here to represent your towns, villages, and peoples. Do it well, or you shall be dismissed. A full list of rules and regulations is posted on each of your doors- I expect it read by tomorrow, as there may be quizzes in your first lecture, and it has been updated since last year. Drastically. That said, I shall not bother you much further on points of decorum, as you know them, but begin listing which rooms you are to stay in. Magdalene Hemphrey and Olfarla Hitchkins room 01, Abigail Jeffrey and Rose Indwell room 02…" Elphaba zoned out, and began to watch the crowd again, observing little reaction as rooms were called. It's almost as if half the girls knew ahead of time who they would be roomed with.
Stupid, she realized. Of course they did. Most people made friends last year, and those who are new arranged it ahead of time. With people of equal social standing and all that. That made it easier to swallow. Her own social standing was so low none could be roomed with jerked out of her thoughts as Madame Morrible concluded the list. She hadn't heard her name or Nessa's.
Elphaba raised a hand. "Madame Morrible? I'm Elphaba Thropp, and this is my sister Nessarose. I didn't hear you call our names."
"Miss Thropp?" The fish lady peered down her spectacles at the odd-looking duo, balefully taking in Elphaba's color. "Oh yes." The curl of her lip made it clear that she recognized Elphaba only for her skin color. " Nessarose is to room next to me, with Nanny as her minder. But I suppose I had not made arrangements for you." Her voice implied forgetfulness, but Elphaba sensed malevolence behind the words.
"But Madame Morrible, I am supposed to tend to Nessa-" Elphaba was swiftly cut off.
"Ah well, all of us must adjust to changes, or else we shall never get anywhere in life," Morrible boomed. "Now, is there anyone who would be willing to room with the eldest Miss Thropp?"
Elphaba tensed and ground her teeth as she heard the question. Now I'll be sleeping in the stable, she thought bitterly.
Over the way, a young blonde has ceased chattering with her old friends to watch the showdown between the green girl and Morrible. She heard the question, and a horrible pity welled up inside her as a minute passed by in complete silence, and then another. Elphaba, is it? had her fists clenched. Her dark eyes were staring at the ground as if attempting to laser a trough into it so she could sink out of sight.
"Ehem." Galinda cleared her throat loudly and politely, with a gorgeous flash of a teeth to those watching. This will be to her benefit as well. She doesn't fancy spending nights alone in a huge dark room with no one around to talk to, like last year. Besides, it makes her look good.
"Madame, I believe I have a single with more than enough space for Miss Elphaba, here. It would be my pleasure." A toss of her hair, and another smile to the masses. Plus, a quick glance at the girl in question. Fascinating. How did I not notice her last year? Her fists still hadn't unclenched, and she was staring at Galinda with surprise.
I suppose I've made this year an adventure now, if nothing else so pleasant comes of it, Galinda thought as she stepped forward and took the room key Morrible handed her. Another glance at the olive-colored girl, and they separated. Elphaba took two keys, one for her and one for Nessa and began to carry Nessa's trunks down to her room in the Slytherin dungeons.
