My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!

A few days later and Elphaba's hands were almost healed. Her arms still sported white bandages, which stood out against her green skin. It was around this time that Elphaba was alerted of the fact that Miss Galinda's carriage was here to pick her up and take her to Shiz University. She made her way outside and stepped into the carriage, sitting across from the blonde, whose gaze was on something outside, Elphaba didn't know what. She didn't say anything, as she closed the door and the carriage started off.

Galinda didn't acknowledge Elphaba's presence for the entire trip. She looked out the window, wanting to look at anything but her green traveling companion. Once the carriage finally rolled to a stop in front of the main building of Shiz University, Galinda's face brightened.

Elphaba peered out the window, before she climbed out of the carriage, offering Galinda her hand and helping her step down. The blonde gripped her hand unnecessarily hard, and Elphaba grit her teeth in pain. "Well...here we are, Miss Galinda," the green woman said, speaking the first words between them in three days. "It certainly looks impressive." Soon enough, the two women entered Crage Hall, where all the other girls were. A strange hush fell over the room, as Galinda entered. Elphaba assumed that it was because most of them knew exactly who she was. After all, Miss Galinda was already a public figure...and Elphaba knew that most girls could only dream of being in the blonde's shoes.

Galinda was looking around the entry area while taking off her gloves. Her eyes moved from the paintings on the walls, to the chandelier, and then back down to right in front of her. A fairly large group of girls had congregated in front of her. Before she could even process where these girls had come from, Elphaba had stepped between her and the girls.

The group of girls fell back a few steps when a green girl, green, tried to block them from Galinda.

Galinda shook her head a tiny bit. She pulled Elphaba back behind her and handed her gloves over to her in the process. "There is no need to protect me from simple admirers, Miss Thropp." Galinda turned back to the girls and held out her hand to one of them. "How nice to meet you. I am Galinda Arduenna. Perhaps you've heard of me." She gave a giggle, as she bowed her head in the slightest.

Elphaba looked down at the gloves in her hand and then back up at the girls who were currently swarming the blonde. She remembered the Wizard's parting words to her: "You are accompanying Galinda to Shiz to serve and protect her. Should any harm come to my daughter...I will have you executed." Touching parting words. She knew Galinda would most likely become annoyed with her, but that was better than losing her life. So, she kept a close eye on the girls, watching them fawn over the heiress, who seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. She's just basking in the light of her own glory, isn't she?Elphaba thought. Yes, the blonde just seemed to love having people throw themselves at her feet. "Only because they don't have to literally do it," the green woman muttered under her breath, as her grip on the gloves tightened.

After only having met a few of the girls, the group parted to Madame Morrible making her way towards Galinda.

"Why, Miss Arduenna, it is so good to see you again. If you and your...escort would follow me, please? I will show you to your room." She turned and walked out the room with Galinda and Elphaba following closely behind, Galinda quickly apologizing for having to leave so soon.

'Escort'? Well, that's better than 'servant', Elphaba supposed. The three reached the room soon enough, which Elphaba noted was much larger than any other suite in Crage Hall.

"Now, I have taken the utmost measures to make sure that everything is to your liking, Miss Arduenna," Morrible said.

Elphaba noticed that the abnormally large bed took up most of the bedroom. There was a fireplace in the second attached room, which seemed to serve as a living space, with a couch and comfortable looking chair. However, through all of this grandeur and elegance, Elphaba saw no room for a green woman to live.

Galinda looked around the room. It wasn't quite as grand as her room back home, but she supposed it would do. "Is everything to your liking?" Morrible asked the blonde. "Your father asked me to make sure you received the highest in care and comfort."

The heiress turned back to Madame Morrible. "I think it will do just fine, thank you. It is quite spacious, don't you think, Miss Thropp?"

Elphaba turned her attention to the blonde. "Yes, I agree. It seems fit for the heiress of Oz."

"Good. Dinner is at 6:00 ladies, so don't be late," Morrible said, as she left.

Elphaba watched her go before she turned back to the blonde. "Is there anything I can get for you, Miss Galinda?"

"Yes, there is. You may go retrieve my luggage and unpack everything. You know how I like my things." Galinda headed towards the door. "I will be back down in the lobby, getting to know my fellow students."

"Yes..." Elphaba watched the blonde leave the room, before she let out a sigh. No, there was no real room for a green woman to live here...she was only here to serve. It took some time, what with her injured arms and all, but Elphaba managed to get all of Galinda's luggage to her room. As she set the last bag down, she turned to the daunting task of unpacking and putting everything away. The green woman let out a sigh, as she stripped off her jacket, throwing it onto the chair. She opened the first suitcase, which contained nothing but dresses.

One of many, the green woman thought. She began hanging all the clothes up, and, after that daunting task was finished, Elphaba turned her attention to assembling the shoe rack that was necessary to hold all of the blonde's shoes. That was easy enough, and Elphaba soon had it set up against the wall next to the closet door. She sighed, taking a moment to catch her breath and check the time. 5:30. Had she really been working that long? Galinda would be back soon enough to prepare for dinner, and she wouldn't like it if- sudden familiar footsteps interrupted the green woman's thoughts. Too late.

Galinda walked into the room, only to find that her luggage was still lying around and her shoes still unpacked. She let out an exasperated sigh before going over to her bed and collapsing on the side of it. She started rubbing her temples as if it would make it go away. "Miss Thropp, how am I supposed to enjoy my experience here if you can't even do what I say on the first day?"

Elphaba looked up, the lines of sweat running down the sides of her face leaving burning trails. "I apologize, Miss Galinda. I am working as fast as I can." Elphaba opened the trunk that contained the blonde's shoes and began to pull them out, setting the pairs on the rack as quickly as she could. "I trust your visit downstairs was enjoyable?"

Galinda gave another sigh, before she stood up and walked to her vanity. She pulled out her brush and started brushing her hair. "It was nice. I made many new friends. I think I am going to quite like it here."

"That is good to hear. I am sure your father would be proud." Dear Oz, ever since she had started serving Galinda, Elphaba had lied through her teeth, and now it was just becoming second nature. Was this how she would spend the rest of her life? Following this woman around and catering to her every whim and fancy? It was no way to live! Elphaba finished with the shoes and stored that empty trunk away as well before she turned to the blonde. "Is there anything you would like me to do for you?"

Galinda looked around the room with a thoughtful expression on her face. She shook her head. "Everything is going to have to change." She got up and wandered around the room. "This is the start of a new adventure in my life, so I want to start fresh. And that means everything has to go. Miss Thropp, I do hope you've been working on your arm strength. Tomorrow we're going shopping, and I don't want another episode like the last time..."

"I assure you, Miss Galinda, it will not happen again." Elphaba did not like to be reminded of her previous blunders, thank you very little. "And what may I do to make you more comfortable at the moment, Miss Galinda? Shall I rearrange the furniture? Redo the wallpaper? Change the bed linens perhaps?" Okay, Elphaba knew that had been a little out of line, but a woman could only keep her patience for so long, and how Miss Galinda loved to try hers! "Perhaps you'd like me to help you get ready for dinner which will be starting in twenty minutes?"

Galinda got up, walked straight over to Elphaba, and slapped her across the face. "The first thing you can do is learn to curb your tongue, Miss Thropp, especially if you would like to avoid returning to the hospital again anytime soon." She turned and went to her closet, looking through everything. "You are dismissed until I return from dinner. I would suggest you remove yourself from my sight."

Elphaba had been slapped so many times that she hardly flinched at the most recent one. Still, that didn't stop it from smarting. "Miss Galinda, as much as I would love to follow your command and leave you be until after your social affair, I'm afraid I can't do that. Your father told me to protect you, and I know for a fact that there will be boys from Briscoe Hall present at this dinner, which means that I must be with you at all times. I apologize for the inconvenience."

"Damn my father. How dare he subject me to constant companionship with you of all people!"

"It is unfortunate, yes." Elphaba turned only her head to look at Galinda. "I have been ordered by your father to keep all boys away from you. I doubt you will be making any love connections tonight." It seemed as though once the green woman started, she had trouble stopping. She noticed the way Galinda was glaring at her, and she laughed humorlessly. "Yes, too bad daddy isn't here to rush to your side to protect you from the mean green woman." Stop! Stop you idiot! a voice in Elphaba's head screamed, but she seemed unable (or unwilling) to listen.

If looks could kill, then Elphaba would have died on the spot when Galinda glared at her. "We'll see about that. I'm sure that after a letter from his favorite daughter, Father will not hesitate to relieve you of your duties. It will be easy to find a replacement." She walked over to Elphaba and grabbed her still painful arms. "One who doesn't talk back like a certain green one I have now," she said as she proceeded to give Elphaba's arm an indian burn.

Elphaba glared at the blonde, her teeth tightly clenched as it took all of her self-control to keep from screaming in pain. However, it couldn't last forever, and, soon enough, Elphaba let out cry and fell to her knees. "I...I apologize..." Elphaba managed to gasp out. "It won't...happen again." Though it had been a valiant effort, Elphaba found herself once again at the blonde's mercy. She knew it was better to take the blonde's abuse than to have the Wizard take her life.

Galinda smirked, before she walked back to the closet and took out the dress she had decided upon. She went to the bathroom to put it on, and, when she came back out, she walked to her vanity. "So here's the deal: I don't care what my father told you to do. My father's not here. I'm in charge here, so you do what I say. And I say that tonight you'll be staying here while I go and make a lot of friends," she said as she finished fixing her hair and started to put on her makeup.

Elphaba held her throbbing arms close, as she looked up at the blonde. "Y-yes, Miss Galinda...if that is what you wish..." Elphaba got to her feet and resumed the unpacking, refusing to look back at the blonde. The green woman opened the next trunk, which held an assortment of objects. Elphaba placed them throughout the room. The green woman heard a chair scrape across the floor, and she paused, straightening up. "Is there anything else I can do for you, Miss?"

Galinda finished checking her lipstick in the mirror. She stood up and started putting her things into her purse. "I'll be out late most likely, but I'll be expecting a warm bath when I return, and then you will be helping me prepare for bed."

Elphaba nodded. "Yes. I will have everything ready for your return." And then the blonde was gone, giving a particularly hard yank on Elphaba's braid as she passed, causing the green woman's head to snap back. Elphaba put a hand to the spot, as she turned to see the door closing behind Galinda. She waited...one, two...

The green woman snapped into action, running to where her small suitcase was; the only thing she had been allowed to take. She opened it up, revealing her two other outfits, a small green glass bottle, and a picture of her dear Nessarose. But Elphaba was not interested in the sentimental items at the moments. She instead extracted a long black worn cloak, which she threw around her shoulders, doing the tie around the neck. She pulled the hood high over her head, before she left the room. Sorry, Galinda, but I'm not about to lose eighteen years of life just because you want a night of fun.

She made her way to the dining hall, slipping in through the back entrance she had noticed earlier that day. She made her way silently through the kitchen before emerging into the actual hall. Her eyes fell on Galinda quickly, and she moved to stand in a particularly dark corner that would allow her to keep an eye on the blonde, but Galinda wouldn't accidentally see unless she turned around and deliberately looked for her.

Galinda had hardly entered the room when she felt all eyes on her. Before she had the chance to look around, she was called over to a girl she recognized from earlier (Miss Pfannee was it?) and her friends. She walked over to the girls and sat beside them, most of them reintroducing themselves excitedly. Dinner came out to the tables soon after. They were dining on roasted rosemary chicken with some sautéed vegetables. As the girls started eating their meal, the conversation switched to the boys from Briscoe Hall.

Towards the end of dinner, when everyone was nearly done with their food, Galinda suddenly felt somebody slide into the seat next to her. When she looked over, she saw a munchkin boy staring at her with his hand eagerly extended towards her. She quickly pretended like she hadn't seen him.

Elphaba's eyes narrowed, as she watched the boy slide next to Galinda, offering her his hand. Galinda herself looked as though she were ignoring him, which Elphaba found somewhat odd...until she noticed that he was a munchkin. Apparently Miss Galinda had a height requirement, though the blonde herself was quite...short. Still, Elphaba kept a close eye on this boy, whose grin was slightly faltering at being ignored.

"M-miss Galinda? I am Master Boq, and I'm very pleased to meet you," he finally said, taking a risk and grabbing her hand in a handshake.

Elphaba bristled at that and almost leapt at him, but stopped herself. Easy, she thought, he's not hurting her...Don't give yourself away.

Galinda grimaced in her mind when the munchkin boy took it upon himself to introduce himself. She gave him a fake smile back. "So...nice to meet you Master Biq. I see you've heard of me." She gently tried to pry her hand away from his.

Elphaba watched Galinda's uncomfortableness and wondered if the blonde now wished she had her green bodyguard to save her from this boy. Well, Elphaba would deal with him...later.

"Yes, of course I have," Boq said excitedly, shaking her hand tighter and more vigorously. He seemed to be oblivious to the fact that she was trying to pull away. "I was overjoyed when I heard that you would be attending Shiz," he continued. "I think you'll be an amazing leader for Oz."

"Oh, that is so kind of you. I do hope I don't disappoint anyone." She gave a small smile before giving one last attempt to free her hand. "Biq, dear, I seem to be losing some feeling in my hand. Would you be so kind as to let go of it, please?"

"O-oh! Yes, of course. I'm so sorry," Boq said, releasing her hand. "And I'm sure you won't disappoint anyone. Tell me, do you have morning class with Dr. Dillamond?"

Galinda gave a quick nod. "Yes, I believe I do. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, then we are in the same class!" he cried excitedly.

Elphaba watched as the munchkin boy finally released Galinda, who looked none too happy. Yes, Elphaba would definitely have to have a word with him. Boundaries had to be set and rules followed you see.

"How very lucky for the both of us."

Dinner soon ended, and Elphaba made sure to leave before Galinda. She waited outside for a while, and her eyes eventually fell on Boq. She approached him silently before grabbing him by the back of his shirt and pulling him off to the side.

"If you want to remain a member of the male species, keep your distance from Miss Galinda," she hissed. Boq appeared confused, but Elphaba had spotted Galinda. Her time was limited. The green woman sprinted back to Crage Hall, running up the stairs and bursting into their room. She ran into the bathroom and turned on the tub faucet just as she heard familiar footsteps enter. "M-miss Galinda!"

Galinda walked into the room only to see Elphaba just starting her bath. "I thought I told you to have my bath ready when I got here. You know I don't like to wait before my evening bath."

"Y-yes, I know, but I was unpacking, and I lost track of the time...I apologize. It will be ready shortly," Elphaba panted, brushing a few loose strands of dark hair from her face. "E-Excuse me," she said, moving past Galinda and back into the living room. She pulled out the slightly smaller bag that held all of the blonde's toiletries and brought it back into the bathroom, setting it on the counter and opening it. She realized that her hands were shaking, and she did her best to keep them steady as she grabbed a few bottles, which slipped from her hands. She juggled with them for a few moments before catching them again with a sigh of relief.

Galinda made no move to help her at all. She simply sat there, leaning against the doorway impatiently. The green woman set the bottles down on the floor, as she reached over and turned off the water. Silence filled the room, and Elphaba cleared her throat. "Your bath is...ready," Elphaba said, turning to face the blonde. "I'll go retrieve your robe."

Galinda remained silent, as Elphaba finished preparing her bath. Once Elphaba had returned with her robe, Galinda stripped down and slid into the bath, sighing in comfort.

Elphaba did her best to avert her eyes from Galinda's naked body, as she hung the robe on the hook by the tub. "Call me, if you need anything," Elphaba said, before she turned and left the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She made her way into the bedroom and pulled back the comforter and sheets on Galinda's bed. She moved to retrieve Galinda's fine silk pajamas and laid those out as well. Now everything would be ready for the blonde when she finished with her bath.

After about half an hour, Galinda stepped out of the now cold bath. She grabbed a towel to dry off real quick before putting on her robe. She went out into the bedroom, towel drying her hair. Elphaba had been sitting in a chair, reading, while playing with her braid. She heard Galinda enter and quickly hid her book behind her back as she stood. "M-Miss Galinda! I trust the bath was...satisfactory?"

Galinda didn't look at her. "It was ok." She pulled out of the robe and slipped her pajamas on, throwing her towel and robe onto Elphaba's little cot in the corner of the room. "Take care of that. I'm going to bed now." She grabbed her brush and slipped it through hair, before she got into her bed and snuggled under the covers.

Elphaba watched her before she approached her cot, setting her book down and picking up the towel and robe. She carried them back into the bathroom and hung them on the hooks to dry. She returned to the room before settling herself on her cot, pulling a thin brown blanket over herself. She reached down into her suitcase and pulled out the small green bottle, which she held close to her chest as she closed her eyes and slipped into sleep.

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