The two girls returned to the castle not much later, each with a circlet of flowers on their heads and smiles on their faces. They made their way up to Galinda's room, but a maid stopped them in the hall. "Excuse me, my lady. The King and Queen wish to speak to you."
Galinda nodded. "Alright, I will be there soon." The maid continued down the hall. "Elphie, can you wait in my room? I will meet you there when I'm done." The green woman nodded, giving her a smile before going into the room. Galinda returned the smile before making her way down to the throne room. She opened the door and stepped inside quietly. "Popsicle? Momsie?"
"Come closer, my dear," the queen called from where she sat on her throne. She greeted her daughter with a warm hug. "I see you were out in the fields," she laughed, straightening the flowers on her head. The blonde blushed, and the King chuckled with his wife.
"We are lucky to have an adorable daughter such as yourself, Galinda."
"Th-thank you, Popsicle." The princess finally got over her embarrassment and looked up at her parents. "I was told that you needed to speak to me?"
"Ah, yes. We do need to speak to you."
"Galinda, my dearest daughter, as much as we would wish for you to stay here with us forever, the time has come…for you to live your life. You are now old enough to be married."
"Now, you can see what a problem this presents. There are many eligible young men in Oz to choose from. There is no fair way to simply choose a husband for you, Galinda. "
"So your father and I have decided to host a tournament for your hand. Any knight from a noble family may enter and fight. The winner will be allowed to marry you."
"You are a worthy prize, my daughter. Whichever young man is victorious will receive the most wanted bride in the land. The heart of Oz…Galinda, I have faith that you will be the best bride you can be to your worthy knight."
The blonde hadn't moved from where she stood, staring in shock. I…I knew this was coming. But…so soon? I have been of age for but a fortnight…what will I tell Elphaba…?
"Galinda? My dear, are you alright? You're very pale…"
Galinda nodded, shaking herself out of her thoughts. "I-I'm fine. May…may I ask when it will happen?"
"The tournament will take place in one moon's cycle. Your wedding ceremony will be the night the winner of the tournament is announced."
"S-so soon?"
"Of course, Galinda. After fighting so hard to win your hand, your suitor should not have to wait too long join you in wedded bliss."
"I…yes, mother."
"Well, that's stupid."
"What is, honey?"
"She's gonna be married off to some complete stranger, and she's only got a month before it happens!"
"Kristin, it needed to be done."
"But that's so unfair to her!" Jesse joined his sister.
Larena looked up from her book at the two ginger twins. "She knew the consequences, but it was a sacrifice she was willing to make for her family and her country…" The brunette looked up at her mother understandingly.
The woman nodded, continuing. "No matter how much she loved someone else…no matter how much it would hurt them both…"
The twins crossed their arms and looked away with a frown. "Still think it's stupid…" they grumbled.
"If you two are done now, may I return to the story?" After seeing the children nod their heads, the mother cleared her throat before continuing.
"I…yes, mother," the princess replied.
"You don't seem to like this idea, my dear. Do you not wish to have a tournament for your hand? Would you prefer we choose your husband another way?"
"N-no! It's not that, father. I just…why must I marry so soon? Why can't I marry in another year or two?"
The Queen frowned, looking over at her husband. "Galinda…we wish the world were not as it is…but a woman's only worth in marriage for most is to be taken to bed, bear her husband's children, and raise them. If you wait too long, you may not be able to provide your husband with a child." When the frown stayed on her daughters face, she continued. "A few lucky women find a man whom they love and loves them in return…but most marriages are those of necessity. Some of these relationships are full of contempt for the rest of their lives, some grow into a mutual caring and understanding, and some learn to love as they grow closer. Your father and I had an arranged marriage, but we were lucky enough to fall in love as we got to know the other. I hope dearly that you and your husband will learn to love as we did, and that you are happy."
"Galinda, do you understand how important this is? We want you to live a happy life. I don't want to see you live it alone."
"I…I understand, father." The blonde looked down. "May I be excused now? Miss Elphaba is waiting for me…"
"Yes, of course you can, dear."
"We will announce the tournament tomorrow, Galinda. Please try to see that we are doing this for you."
"I do, Popsicle…and I will do my best to make our family and Oz proud." Galinda kissed her mother and father on the cheek with a small smile, before she turned and left quickly, making sure her parents couldn't see the tear sliding down her cheek. The princess quickly made her way-
The mother stopped, looking at the young girl next to her with widened eyes. "Candle? Are you alright? What's wrong?"
The strawberry-blonde sniffed her nose, rubbing at her teary eyes. "It's just…it's so sad…why does she have to marry some guy when the green lady loves her already? She doesn't want her for kids…she just wants her for her…"
"Yeah, Mommy…why can't she stay with her?" The little blonde boy in her lap started to cry too.
After pulling the two children into a warm hug, she gave them a soft kiss on their heads. "Now you two look at me, okay?" She lifted their chins to look them in the eye. "She knew what she was doing, and she was willing to do it no matter how much it hurt her. Do you understand?" They shook their heads. "She loved the green woman more than she loved herself, yes. But she put her family and her country before her own happiness."
"But it's so sad…" Liir whined.
The mother smiled softly. "I promise there will be a happy ending, honey. Is it alright with you two if I finish up now?" The two children nodded their heads, so she opened the book again.
The princess quickly made her way back to her room, shutting the door behind her and resting her forehead against it. "Galinda?" The green woman looked up from where she had been sitting on the blonde's bed reading. "Galinda, are you alright?" She got up and went to her side, worriedly laying a hand on her shoulder. The princess quickly turned and threw her arms around Elphaba, sobbing into her shoulder. The green woman gently rubbed her back. "What happened, my sweet?"
"A month…" Galinda choked out. "I only have a month with you…"
Elphaba held her tightly. "It will be alright, my sweet…It'll be alright…I promise…" She comfortingly stroked the blonde's curls with her fingers, trying to come up with some sort of plan in her head.