I wanted to say thanks for the reviews and for reading!
I couldn't reply to a couple of you so thanks to : James Birdsong and The Epic Time Lord for your reviews!
Glinda's eyes narrowed, staring at the figure riding outside of her carriage. He was handsome - not like Fiyero had been, but attractive enough and built like a man straight from her teenage dreams. Rugged and tall. Years ago she would have made a move and maybe even cared for a man like him. But it didn't really matter now, people weren't all about looks, as her Elphie taught her. There was more to everyone than met the eye, and how she knew it. People never bothered looking further than the wide brilliant smile she wore daily, never bothered looking past her pretty face to see what she was really feeling. To see that she was still suffering and hurting years after the two people she cared about had died, and left her alone.
She shook her thoughts away and the Captain caught her eye for a moment before he looked away. Glinda could tell he was exhausted. At that point they had been riding for twelve hours, only taking a quick break in between to rest. She knew, however, that the Captain would not let her know he was tired. There was no way he would. It was a male pride thing that she knew all too well from her past relationships. It helped her with her plan: to tire him out and make him quit. If Glinda could make him resign willingly she would be free to search for Elphaba with nothing in her way.
Her eyes turned towards the bag she kept right next to her. Her personal bag that carried the Grimmerie and two of Elphaba's most dear objects. Her hand touched the handle but a knock came to her window, startling her hand way from it. The Captain looked as he was trying not to laugh as he rode his horse beside her.
Glinda composed herself, tucking her bag into her arm as she opened the window, "What is it?"
"Your driver, " He said breathlessly, pausing to move his horse away from something on the road, "...Wants to know if he will be able to rest soon. I'm afraid that you have to let us rest every few hours so we can do our job, your goodlyness."
She didn't like the mocking tone in his voice, "The driver has not made it aware to me that he wanted to rest, let him ask it of me."
"Yes, lady Glinda." He nodded, prodding his horse forward.
Glinda sat back as he talked to the carriage driver. She couldn't quite hear what they said but after a while the driver turned his head around, making a motion with his head for sleep. She smiled and nodded and the driver seemed to let a breath out, turning back to the Captain to tell him something. The Captain nodded and slowed down to get back beside her window.
"We're nearing the Upland Estate, the driver wants to know if you'd like to settle down there for the night or camp somewhere out here?"
"My home is another two hour ride, if he is able to make it I would very much like to rest there, if he cannot, I don't mind camping out."
"I'll let him know." He told her, riding forward again and talking with the driver, she suddenly smiled; she might be going to see her family, and her home. Glinda didn't even remember when she last visited them. Her parent's would come once every few months to visit her, but Glinda never got a chance herself to go see them.
"My lady?"
"Yes." She hummed, paying little attention to him.
"I was trying to notify you that your driver does not mind riding for another two hours, but you weren't listening. Is everything alright?" He asked her with a worried face. She nodded and closed the window abruptly. The Captain's face fell but he turned away, looking behind his shoulder with an odd look on his face, after a second he shook his head and looked ahead. Glinda twisted in her seat to try and get a glance at what he was looking at but found nothing interesting, so she sat back and let her head lean up against the window.
Another knock came at her window and Glinda gently let her eyes open. The Captain gestured towards something and Glinda sat up seeing the well known trees and house in the distance. Her lips split into a wide smile and the Captain seemed to notice, a small smile coming up to his lips as he rode in front of them.
It felt like so long since she had seen her home, the beautiful flowers decorating the way towards the gates, the trees planted carefully on either side of the road.
Her home.
She took a deep breath when the carriage came to a stop at the gates, the guards stopping them from going any further. She could hear the Captain announcing Glinda and himself. Glinda stretched her legs, opening the door herself and smiling at the guards who recognized her immediately.
"Miss Galinda, how good to see you!" One of the guards said.
"Galinda?" The Captain looked at her with confusion but Glinda ignored him, busy greeting the men she had known growing up.
"It's good to see you two as well, are my parents here?" She asked.
"Yes, they are inside getting ready for dinner, they'll be surprised to see you here. You should rush inside get ready so you can join them." The other guard said to her, opening the gates. Her driver went back to the front of the carriage.
"I would like that." She told the men with honesty and the guard smiled at her again before he went to help the other at the gate.
"Let's get you and your companions inside." He said, holding the gates wide open.
Glinda went back into the carriage and sat on the edge of her seat, anxious to see her parents.
One of the guards helped the carriage driver find someplace to keep the horses and next thing she knew she was already at the front of the door, the Captain quietly standing right by her side.
The doors opened as quickly as the next set of guards noticed who she was. They all smiled and greeted her as if they hadn't seen her for years, which really was the case.
Her mother seemed to appear at the door almost from thin air, crushing Glinda to her with a hug.
"Oh, my sweet Galinda!" Her mother cried out, her equally blonde curly hair falling in front of her face as her mother planted kisses on her cheeks.
Glinda didn't get a word in as her mother started asking her questions. How was she? What was she doing here? Who was the hunk she brought back with her? At his mention Glinda stopped her mother.
"Mom. Momsie." She pulled away reluctantly. Her mother beamed and then her father appeared behind her. Smiling at her as if he hadn't smiled in a long time.
"Daddy," She smiled brightly as her father pulled her into his arms.
"My little sunshine, " He chuckled happily, "Welcome home!"
Her parents told her they would wait for her to freshen up, offering the Captain a guest room so he could rest as well. Glinda felt happy being there, remembering how easy her life had been years before. Where the hardest decision she had to make was whether she should wear one colored dress or the other. Trivial little issues, she still had to make them, but they were insignificant compared to the pile of things awaiting her in the Emerald City.
It didn't take her long to shower, it took her less time to switch out the large blue dress she wore for something a lot more simpler for dinner. A crème colored dress. Her hair was partially up, to allow it to dry better, but still looked wonderful on her. She applied no makeup not having a need to look perfect in her own home. However she still looked herself in the mirror out of habit. The wrinkles she would see daily were unbelievably less visible when she went all natural. Almost as of she hadn't changed at all in the past four years. Or maybe she was just trying to ignore them and pretend they weren't there. She didn't care really as she gave herself a small smile and went on her way.
Everyone was already seated when she arrived to the table, all except the driver who apparently went straight to bed. She felt guilty for tiring him when she had really wanted to tire the Captain. The Captain who was sitting right next to the only empty seat in the dining area, went poker faced when she entered. He stood ready to say something and Glinda hurried to sit down, knowing that he had been about to pull the chair out for her. The Captain stood speechless but cleared his throat straightening the green blazer he wore over his gale force uniform and sat down. She couldn't help the smile on her face at making him look bad.
The food was served soon after and her father began talking, asking her what she had been up to and what she was doing. She didn't answer because her mother began asking her who the Captain was.
He cleared his throat again to introduce himself but Glinda beat him to it.
"This is Ori, our current Captain of the Gale Force." She revealed to both of her parents, who both stared at her in disbelief.
"In truth my—" The Captain stopped talking at the glare he was receiving from her father.
Her father set the napkin he was holding down. "It appears I have lost my appetite. Dear, I will be in our yard."
"Of course honey, go ahead." Her mother said with a chirp, watching her husband take his leave.
The Captain looked around in alarm, most likely confused on why her father had left so suddenly. It was something she wouldn't tell him.
Her parents knew about Elphaba; they knew about Fiyero; they knew that the man sitting beside her was the very reason Fiyero Tiggular had died. He was the one who ordered the torture and subsequent death of her former fiancé. Her father could not stand him for that very reason and her mother pretended to not to be affected at the moment, as if nothing had happened as she continued to talk merrily.
Like mother, like daughter.
The three finished their meal, retreating to their respective rooms immediately afterwards.
Glinda talked to one of her parent's workers asking them to let the driver know they would be leaving early in the morning before she went off to her room, undressing and slipping into one of her older robes that was still sitting inside her closet. It was pink, the same as her room, almost unbearably so. Glinda didn't know why it bothered her, but it did. She sighed going to her vanity and letting her hair out to brush it.
It was some time later that a knock came at her door.
"Sweetie?" Her mother's voice called through the door, making Glinda relax.
"Come in momsie!" Glinda called her in.
Her mother entered, stopping at the door to look at her. "Look how grown up my little girl is."
She gave her a smile and her mom came in, stopping behind her to give her a gentle hug. Glinda closed her eyes.
"My beautiful girl, what is it that you are up to?"
Glinda sighed, slowly opening her eyes. "I think she's alive mom."
Her mother stilled, concern clouding her features. "Honey?"
Glinda shook her head, "Don't look at me like that. I'm not insane."
"Explain it then?" Her mother said gently, taking Glinda's hand.
"I've thought about it, mom... she melted." Glinda shook her head slowly, "Elphie wasn't allergic to water like the rumors said. There was no acid thrown, her hat….her bottle…they are still here. If she had been killed by acid, her items would not come out undamaged." She did not need to tell her mother that Morrible was the one who planted the idea in her head. She also didn't need to know Morrible was trying to get her killed. Her mother had no need to worry.
"I don't want you to go through this again sweetie." Her mother said rubbing circles into her palm.
Glinda gave her a beautiful smile, "I'm not. I wont." she assured her. "It's just a thought. Even if it turns out not to be true it will be a much needed vacation for me."
Her mother sighed, "And you had to bring that man with you?"
She grimaced, "I have to have him with me, it's not by my choice. It's his job and to change that would take time I simply don't have right now." She said wiping at her eyes.
Her mother stared at her before she placed a kiss on her forehead. "Just be careful, and come back to see us whenever you return."
"I will mom." She said sincerely and her mother smiled again, rubbing her arm as she stood to leave.
"Get some rest sweetie. I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight mom." She whispered back as her mother went to the door.
"Sweet dreams my child."