Chapter 3.

Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Elements in 2? There were none.

Elements in 3?

"Must we have another ball? I didn't have a good time, and I know for a fact that Pippa didn't have a good time."

Chelseqa looked up from her stationary, watching her daughter-in-law pace back and forth. The fire crackled in the grate and rain pounded on the windows, a rare occurance for a spring day.

"She was four-years-old, Elphaba! Of course she wouldn't enjoy a ball! But she's older now; besides, it's her birthday, and she deserves a party."

"Fine. But why can't we just have a nice little party instead? Why do we have to have a ball? Pippa would love a small party more than a ball any time." The princess held onto the back of her husband's armchair, leaning against it, her hands grasping fistfuls of the material.

"Pippa will love it, Elphaba. You only turn ten once." Chelseqa said, returning to her stationary and the list it held.

"I know. But... before we know it... she'll be debuting and... and I don't want her to have to go through what I went through." Elphaba replied, concern settling over her face as she moved away from the chair and went to the bookshelf.

"Don't even mention that, Fae. She's too young. She's just a child." Fiyero replied, turning another page in his book. Elphaba ran her slender fingers along the spines before pulling a hardbound volume off the shelf and flipping it open. She looked through it for several minutes before putting it back and continuing her search.

"I was too, Yero."

Her words rang loud and clear in the room, and after letting it sink in, Fiyero turned, peeking around the armchair to look at his wife. He removed his reading glasses, and replied,

"We were fourteen."

She looked up at him. "I know. But we were still young, and we were forced into this marriage. Neither of us wanted this. We fought against this, but we didn't have a choice, Yero."

He sighed and set his glasses on his open book.

"But we turned out all right."

"Of course we did, my love." Elphaba replied, going to him, her search of the bookshelves abandoned. She took his glasses and his book and set them on the table, before settling on the arm of the chair. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap, so that her legs were over the arm of the chair. "But we were older than Pippa. And we learned to love each other."

She reached up, brushing her thumb over the apple of his cheek. "We were lucky. We fell in love... We found true love." After a moment, he pressed a kiss to her palm. They stared into each other's eyes for several minutes, before she leaned down and captured his lips in a kiss. Their parents watched the young couple, sharing knowing glances as they remembered themselves at that age. The kiss got deeper, and she reached up, cradling his head in her hands as his arms tightened around her waist. Their eyes closed on instinct, and the world fell away as they became engrossed in each other.

"Mama?" They broke the kiss, turning to see their daughter in the doorway. The little girl was watching her parents intently, not wanting to interrupt an intimate moment. Her grandmother set her list aside and got up, going to the little girl.

"What is it, Pippa, my sweet?" Chelseqa asked, kneeling in front of the child and taking her hands. The girl glanced at her parents, before looking back at her grandmother.

"Dinner's ready." Chelseqa smiled at the child, reaching up to cup her cheek.

"All right, we'll be down in a moment. Okay?" The girl nodded, before turning and leaving. Once she was gone, Chelseqa turned to her family. "Well, shall we continue this discussion after dinner?" She turned her gaze to her children, who were getting to their feet with embaressed looks on their faces. "Unless you two have... something else planned." Then, she turned and opened the door, before turning back to the couple. "Like maybe... giving us a grandson?"

The blushes that crossed their faces were all the proof she needed to know that sex was exactly what her children had in mind.

Then, she turned and left. Suqari didn't bother stifling a chuckle as he passed his children, patting his son on the back. The sudden jolt sent the young Crown Prince stumbling forward, and his wife grabbed his arm to steady him. He smiled at her quickly, before glancing at his father. Once he straightened, Elphaba took his arm and they left the library, closing the door softly behind them.

"I don't know where she got that idea."

"You know Mother. She likes to joke." Fiyero replied, as they hurried down the stairs. Elphaba looked at him.

"She wasn't joking, Yero. Is all we are to her? Baby makers?"

He stopped on the stairs, giving her a look that would freeze ice. "You know that's not what she thinks, Elphaba."

She sighed. "I know. I just..." She looked around quickly, before saying, "It's just..."

"Just what?" He asked, as they continued down the stairs.

"Just... ever since we got married, we've been pressured to have children-"

"That's a part of the job cirriculum, Dove. Producing an heir." Fiyero replied.

"I know but..." She stopped, taking a deep breath and blowing it out through her lips. "Ever since Pippa was born, it's like that's all anyone can think about. Me producing an heir. Well I've done that. I produced an heir. Can they drop it now?"

He stopped on the stairs again, turning her to look at him. "I know you produced an heir, Dove. I understand. But they want a boy so the line can continue. Daughters marry into other tribes, the bloodline changes. Sons marry as well, but the bloodline doesn't change."

She turned; they continued down the stairs. "Maybe here it does. But in case you've forgotten, Yero, my love, in Munchkinland, the bloodline is preserved through the girls. Daughters are more prized than sons there. Sons are insignifigant. And in ancient times, when a son was born, they often killed it." She directed this last sentence at her husband, staring pointedly at him, as they reached the first floor.

"I'm surprised you remember that. I thought you'd have forgotten all about your birth country." He said, raising an eyebrow.

"I've forgotten my birth tongue, my husband. Not the history of my birth country. Our Pippa may have been born Vinkun, but remember, I was born Munchkin." She replied, pulling away and going towards the dining room. "I came to this country as a young bride! As part of an arranged marriage! To a Crown Prince!" She turned back in the middle of the foyer. "But I guess you must be too old to remember. Your mind is slipping, after all." The smug little smile the graced her features sent chills up his spine, but he ignored them as he made his way towards her.

"In case you've forgotten, I'm only twenty-six! I don't turn twenty-seven until the fourteenth! Eight days before our daughter's birthday!" She rushed ahead, reaching the dining room doorway as he scooped her up and spun her around. Squeals of delight escaped her throat, and she grabbed his hands, laying her head back against his shoulder as her laugh filled the room.

Pippa watched her parents with stars in her eyes; the king and queen shared knowing looks. When Fiyero set her down, he kissed her, whispered something to her, and hugged her close. They pulled away when Suqari cleared his throat.

"Well, now that your parents have decided to join us, Pippa, shall we sit down and eat?"

Quickly, the girl's parents took their seats, whispering their apologizes for the lateness and noise and shooting each other glances that their daughter was unable to interprete.