Chapter Three:
"But aren't you the least bit excited?" pressed the blonde as she leaned on Elphaba's shoulder as they sat next to each other on the bed, with each of them in one of Glinda's nightgowns. The candles in the lamps around them were flickering a slow death as the night wore on but still neither of the women would sleep.
"About the wedding? Of course I am," replied Elphaba fiddling with her glittering ring casually, "I'm just not so pleased about how many people are going to be there. The guest list is already at five hundred..." She trailed off as they had already been through this conversation earlier in the evening and she did not want to repeat herself over and over again.
"But what about the dress, tell me that you are absolutely ecstatic about wearing that dress, Elphie," trilled the blonde, who always somehow managed to turn any conversation into one about clothes.
"Well, it's a bit glamorous for me... and white. You know that I dislike any color other than black and blue. It's too whimsical for me."
"Yes, but Elphie, this is your wedding we are talking about. It's supposed to special and magical," gushed the blonde romantically.
"You've been reading too much into those novels I got for you for Christmas," stated Elphaba as she picked at a loose thread on the black nightgown. She looked across at Glinda, the glorious beauty that she was in a stunning vision of white and felt a pang of jealousy. Glinda had grown up in a world where romance and wealth were incorporated into every aspect of her life, that everything could be romantic and good. Elphaba hadn't lived that way, she didn't know how to look on the bright side of everything.
"Why can't a wedding be special and magical?" imposed Glinda with a tilt of her head. "I mean, I do realize that the purpose of marriage is for blood lines and keeping the family names afloat but even still, I think it's lovely that you and Fiyero are marrying each other for love. It's rare, and I think it's beautiful."
Elphaba gave her friend an approving look, there was the woman's brain. Glinda rarely used it, her head being full of hair products and wealth there wasn't enough room for a brain.
"I just don't understand the purpose of a big ceremony."
Glinda frowned, "I guess in your case it's because of Fiyero's position... I mean after all you are marrying the Crown Prince of the Vinkus and the new Captain of the Wizard's guard," pointed out the blonde in an innocent sort of way.
Elphaba groaned and looked across the room at the walls in thought, "I guess I'm just more upset about what happened today than the wedding. I was so sure I was right, Glinda. I thought I had passed with flying colors."
"Was Madame Morrible lurking in the corner per usual?" asked Glinda trying to get her distracted so that she wouldn't get so upset.
"Yes, like the hawk that woman is. She even interrupted my test, something about talking to Dr. Nikidik about an important faculty matter. I think that's when I got confused... but I was just so sure that I was right..." Glinda heard a wavering breath escape Elphaba's lips and Glinda looked over to see Elphaba on the verge of tears.
Glinda bit down on her lip and looked as though she was about to say something when Elphaba interrupted her. Shaking her head and tears away, Elphaba said, "I shouldn't be complaining to you, Glinda. I've already taken advantage of you today more than I would have usually. Let's talk about you. Are you still out there looking for a possible husband?"
It took a minute for Glinda to recover from her state of readiness to comfort Elphaba and to go to a state of talking about her personal life. Upon hearing the question, Glinda rolled her eyes, "Oh, Elphie please. Mother and I have enough discussions about my current lack of engagement and relationship already. I do not need you added to the list."
She paused, a girlish smile making its way to her mouth "But there is this one wealthy suitor named Sir Chuffrey who has taken quite an interest in me."
Elphaba pursed her lips, "And how old is this one?" Her eyebrow arched in mockery. She knew Glinda's reputation to go for old men surrounded by piles of money.
To this, Glinda smacked her arm playfully and feigned being mad when she really wasn't.
"He's... he's," she sighed, "He's an ancient ruin, but he has a lot of dough and that's what Mother says counts."
Elphaba crinkled her nose in disgust, "Your family has their priorities out of whack," she commented, "though I'm one to talk... my family is pretty much not speaking to me."
"Even Nessa?" questioned the blonde, daring to venture into those dangerous waters at such a moment. She knew the tight bond between the two sisters, but yet she also knew of the distinct differences in each of them that would cause such tension.
"Yes, even Nessa," said Elphaba softly as if she'd rather not speak of her family now.
Glinda's eyes showed compassion as if she was urging Elphaba on but Elphaba wasn't in the mood for a pity party. She averted the blonde's gaze and cleared her throat.
"Thank you for letting me stay here tonight, Glin. It really does mean a lot," Elphaba sincerely thanked her friend.
"Always, Elphie. I'd never turn you away," said the blonde as she snuggled a bit closer to Elphaba with her head resting on her shoulder. Elphaba didn't mind the physical contact from her dearest friend. It was comforting to her.
"I'm glad I have someone else other than Fiyero to turn to." Elphaba smiled down at the blonde. "Who would have thought the two of us being the best of friends?"
They both laughed, with memories of their earlier years together bursting through... the loathing and hatred of each other.
"What was it that I used to call you, that awful nickname?"
"Artichoke, or steamed broccoli," answered Elphaba with a smirk, "It was very clever actually. No one else had ever called me that before." Elphaba made a distinct tone of sarcasm in her voice and Glinda couldn't help but giggle, more out of embarrassment at her younger self.
"I was terrible to you," stated the blonde shaking her blonde tresses slowly. "I'm quite glad we became friends, eventually."
Elphaba looked at her and cracked a grin, "Me too, Glin. Me too."
"Didn't we swear to hate each other forever?" laughed Glinda, "What utter nonsense!"
"We were quite intent on not liking one another," remembered Elphaba.
Glinda positioned her hand so that she was holding Elphaba's, carefully interlocking their fingers
"Now, look at us..." smiled Glinda.
"We're the best of friends..."
Elphaba returned the gesture and then her eyes settled on the far window.
"It's late," she said suddenly, "We should be sleeping." She saw that the early morning streams of dawn were peeping through the curtains.
"Alright then, let's go to sleep," agreed Glinda as she blew out the candles one by one and then asserted herself next to Elphaba under the covers.
"Goodnight, Elphie," whispered the blonde softly, kissing her friend's cheek quickly.
"Goodnight, Glinda," replied Elphaba as she returned the kiss.
Thank you all so much for the lovely reviews! It means so much to me that you all like the story. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint!
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