Author's Note: AHHH! Sorry this second chapter took so long everybody! It's probably not the best, but I've quite a writer's block lately. I'm going to update more often, and trust me; the next update will be much better than this. Have a great day everyone!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except for the maid in this chapter, Paiva.

Free

The night Glinda found the old photograph of her best friend; life somehow seemed to turn around for the better. Her days were no longer filled with sulking and guilty whispers from her conscience. It was almost as if seeing Elphie's face had released her. Released her from the supreme guilt and ashamed feelings of hiding.

Glinda the Good Witch was finally free.

She got up in the mornings now happy, and ready to be what she had promised the people of Oz, a leader.

Although everything had been improving greatly lately, Glinda couldn't help but feeling her stomach churn dismally the morning of the one-year anniversary of her friend's demise. That meant that Glinda would be attending more parties and balls than she could count tonight.

Wonderful, just wonderful, she thought bitterly to herself.

The thought of going to balls and making falsely joyous and cheerful comments about the death of her best friend was so depressing, that she almost rolled right back over into her soft, warm bed to fall back into a contented, deep, dreamless sleep.

She knew she couldn't though. So, she reluctantly swung her legs out of bed and yawned tiredly. Her eyes traveled to her nightstand where her old photograph of Elphaba sat in a heavy golden frame. Glinda picked up the picture in its frame and gently pressed her lips against the cool glass protecting her precious picture and whispered, "Elphie, give me the strength I need to get through today. I miss you more than ever." She let herself stare at the picture for a second more, hoping to soak up some of Elphie's wisdom and courage as she did every morning. A knock at her bedroom door startled her. She hastily laid the picture on her nightstand and called, "Yes?"

"Lady Glinda, I've brought your breakfast up," one of the maids responded.

"Oh…um…enter then!" Glinda called back, quickly pulling on a pale pink robe over her nightgown.

A young maid with long, auburn hair entered with a tray containing a glass juice and a bowl of steaming hot oatmeal. "Here you are Lady Glinda, a good hot breakfast to start your day," the maid said with a slight, polite curtsy.

"How many times do I have to tell you Paiva? You don't need to curtsy. And call me just plain old Glinda." Glinda said in an exasperated voice. She was still quite uncomfortable being called Lady Glinda and being curtsied or bowed to. She was hardly old enough to be addressed like this, especially by people close to her own age. Paiva looked only a year a year or two younger than herself.

"Sorry, miss…I mean, Glinda," Paiva retreated (not before curtsying though) with a small smile on her lips.

Glinda hurriedly ate her breakfast; showered, and pulled on one of her many traveling dresses. She had a meeting today with some important businessmen from Munchkinland. She carefully applied her make-up and was off.

Most of her day was uneventful. Her meeting went well. She even felt ready for the big ball Ozian Celebration Ball tonight.

Well, as ready as she'd ever be, anyways.

That night Glinda asked Paiva and a few other maids to lie out several gowns from her plentiful collection in her room before the ball. They obediently obliged, and that night when Glinda went to choose her gown for the ball her eyes met almost half the gowns in her collection hung up in her massive wooden wardrobe, which made her chuckle under her breath slightly since the gowns were practically bursting forth from the wardrobe. She started to busily rifle through the dresses, pulling out various ones, piling some rejected ones on the bed, trying on a few different ones. After all, even if she wasn't going to enjoy herself at the ball, she still needed to look professional and fashionable, of course.

Finally, she decided on a lovely sky blue gown that made her large, expressive eyespop. She dressed, re-applied her make-up and did up her golden hair and fixed her sparkling tiara upon her blonde curls. She looked at herself in the mirror. Many would exclaim over intense beauty. Her perfect hair, her lovely eyes, her porcelain skin. But tonight, all Glinda could see was sadness. Sadness was sketched into ever part o her face. Her large, sad azure eyes, her dainty mouth that seemed to point permanently downwards, no matter how hard she tried to smile tonight. She missed her Elphie so very, very much.

She arrived at the ball amidst the cheering crowd, smiling her charming smile, waving to the excited people. As she hovered over the people in her bubble she smiled another forced smile and then spoke, "Fellow Ozians, we are here today to celebrate the demise of the Wicked Witch of the West. One year ago today, the wickedest witch in all of Oz, was killed by our Hero Dorothy," People began to scream and clap, Glinda forced another strained grin onto her perfect face and continued, 'We have reason to celebrate, it's a happy day, let's all enjoy ourselves!" She finished with her arms wide open, as to embrace the group of people who were emitting loud, merry screeches and chanting, "Long live Glinda the Good Witch!"

Glinda let her bubble ascend among the people and gracefully made her way to the dance floor. As usual a cluster of men eagerly surrounded her, all hoping to dance with her. Right now, Glinda was considered the most eligible bachelorette in all of Oz. With her status and beauty, many men were eager to take her as their wife.

Glinda danced and talked with many. Most of then men were hopelessly boring, only talking about themselves, their businesses, how rich they were, how much land they owned, their status…on and on, trying to impress Glinda. She nodded politely and smiled through their long-winded talks.

She had just recently been cornered by Lord Donato, who was droning on endlessly about his estate. Glinda was actually glad when someone tapped her on her shoulder.

"Yes?" she turned around, relieved to cut off Lord Donato's flow of words. She was face to face with a very handsome, dark haired man with stunningly green eyes.

"I was wondering, Lady Glinda, would you honor me with a dance?" He held out a hand to her, and gave her a charmingly crooked grin.

"Of course," Glinda said taking his hand and allowing herself to be led to the dance floor. She cast a false look of apology in Donato's direction.

The music had turned from a lively, upbeat tune, to a slow, elegant waltz. The man put his hand on her waist and took her other hand in his own larger one and began to lead her around the crowded dance floor in a graceful little waltz.

Glinda wondered if she had met him before? She couldn't quite place his ace to a name though. Was he Sir Havon, perhaps? No, she didn't think that was right…

Her stream of thought was interrupted by the man as he said, "Lady Glinda, may I say that you look lovely tonight."

Was he Lord Denton? "Oh, thank you, kind…" she stopped hoping to be supplied with a name, because she couldn't think of his name to save her life.

But instead of being supplied with a name, then man pulled Glinda closer. A little too close for comfort. She tried to gently push him away, but he quickly put his lips to her ear and whispered, "Miss Glinda, I have a letter for you."

"What?"

"I have this for you," he pulled a thin, cream colored envelop from his breast pocket of his tailored suit jacket, and slowly slipped into Glinda's tiny hand. Then, without another word, he bent down, kissed her hand, gave her a little bow and disappeared into the crowd.

Author's Note: Ooh! Cliffhanger! Who wrote the note? What's it about? Who was the man? Will I update sooner next time? (The answer to the latter question is yes.) Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It wasn't that good, and I promise all my other update will be much better than this! Please review (be gentle though)! Have a great day everyone, another update will be coming soon! Reviewers are my favorite sorts of people.