Chapter Two: The Tides Have Turned

Elphaba awoke to her shoulder being gently shaken. She shivered involuntarily in the dank cold of the cellar as her eyes slowly opened to the surrounding darkness. She stifled a yawn and bolted upright, suddenly very aware of her environment. A gloved hand was on her shoulder and she sighed with relief upon seeing the straw sticking out of it. Fiyero. She felt him smile in the dark and as her eyes adjusted, saw him gently place a finger to his sewn lips.

She nodded and unlaced her boots to take them off, tying them together at the laces and slinging them over her shoulder. When she stood she gathered up the rough material of her gown and held the hem at her knee to keep the fabric from brushing against the stone floor. She gave another swift nod to Fiyero and together they quietly swung the trapdoor back on it's oiled hinges without a sound.

Fiyero climbed out first, moving as quickly as he dared with the rustling of straw insides. He held his hand out for Elphaba and smiled when she swung herself out on her own. She regathered up her dress and together they, fast as they dared, stole through the halls of Kiamo Ko and out the servant's entrance. In the distance small search fires could be seen, no doubt searching for any sign that Fiyero still remained in the land of the living.

Fiyero pointed Westward silently and Elphaba saw a bone-white cat sitting low on the hillside, watching with dignified amber eyes. Very much a huntress of the starry night. It was Malky to Elphaba's surprise. They began wading through the tall uncut grass of the Vinkus countryside towards the cat whose tail was beginning to twitch in anticipation of being reunited with Elphaba.

Xx

Glinda sat in the green throne of the Emerald Palace and suppressed a sigh as one after another decree was laid before her to be signed. Religious tolerance was the demand of one, the rights of Animals another. She signed them all and bid their bearers to leave her be, she was done for today. She stood stiffly from her throne and looked down at the ever-flowing tresses of blue that cascaded in the form of silk from her skin. It sparkled and shone and any day before now she would have giggled at the sight, twirled even.

Now it sickened her. She retired herself to her room, the walls and floor of which had been ravaged to clear it of all things green; with the exception of course of that tiny glass bottle on her nightstand. She walked over to her closet and tore her dress off, not caring that in her haste to free herself of the endless ruffles she had torn a jewel from it's threaded home. She took a simple blue frock from it's hook and slipped it over her head, tying the sash far tighter than was needed.

Her eyes drifted to the corner of her room where an out of place, pointed hat rested on an end-table. Unable to stop the tear that slipped from the corner of her eye she walked quietly over to the torn old garment and took it in her arms. Immediately she crashed to her knees on the wooden floor that had been stripped of it's plush green carpet. The bruising she knew would raise questions from her handmaid but right now all she cared about was the torn fabric in her hands. She sniffed it and a scent like crushed pine needles and coconut oil floated to her senses.