Wounds of the Heart
A/N: Hey guys, thank you all so much for the reviews so far! You are awesome, feel free to keep it up :) Sorry about the delay with this chapter, I struggled with the flashback scene, so please let me know what you think. Hope you like it!
Elphaba stood at the edge of the stage, trying to decide how she was supposed to make some kind of contact with Glinda. Her whole world had just been tilted on its axis, what would happen if she just pulled of her cloak and allowed her green skin to be seen?
It's not worth the risk, she thought, it's too dangerous.
The magnitude of what had just occurred did not escape her, she was no longer a fugitive, she was free. But although her name was now clear, she was also supposed to be dead. A large part of her couldn't but wonder whether it was easier for the Ozians to accept a dead green witch than a live one. She instinctively clutched her robe tighter and tried to make a decision, and then, as if guided by the Unnamed God himself, she spied a familiar face and inspiration struck her.
The familiar face in question was not someone she'd ever been acquainted with, but was definitely someone she recognised, a young girl, Glinda's personal handmaiden.
The girl could not have been older than 18, she had flaming red hair and was small in stature; she also held a distinct look of worry written across her pretty features.
Elphaba strode over to her as fast as she could, and added a limp and hunch to her cloaked features. "Young girl!" She called out, purposefully disguising her voice with a gravelly tone, hoping it made her seem far older than she actually was.
The girl stopped and turned towards the cloaked figure, "Yes? Can I help you ma'am?"
"You work with Glinda the Good?"
The girl bit her lip, "I did ma'am, but if you heard her speech she doesn't need anyone to work for her anymore."
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that young lady; you seem to care for her a great deal."
The girl nodded, and seemed almost relieved to talk to someone, "Yes, ma'am, I do. I'll be sad to see Her Goodness go."
Elphaba said a silent prayer to herself, unsure if this tactic would work, "I am too, young lady. I have known Glinda the Good since before she received her title, back when she was growing up in the Upper Uplands."
The girl was clearly interested, "Really? What was she like?"
Elphaba smiled under her hood, she was in with a chance, "Oh such a sweet young woman, it was clear even then she was meant for great things. Did you know she was stepping down today?"
"No, Ma'am, I don't think anyone did."
"And do you know what she's planning to do now?"
The young girl paused, clearly now becoming slightly worried that she was conversing with a complete stranger with a hooded face. "Why do you ask?"
This is it, Elphaba, she mentally psyched herself, you have to phrase this right.
"Well...can I trust you, young lady?"
"Of course!" The young girl straightened at this question.
"I think that Glinda has been under a lot of strain over the last two years, and now she needs a break from her time as Supreme Ruler." Elphaba paused and was pleased to see the handmaiden nod in agreement. "I am planning to meet with her to help relieve some of her stress, growing up she was like a granddaughter to me, and I'd like to surprise her, hopefully that'd make her smile."
The redhead said nothing for a moment, and then smiled. "I think that would be just lovely." She leaned in closer as if to make sure no one would overhear, "Between you and me, Ma'am, I think Her Goodness could use a few more smiles, she seems sad lately."
Elphaba's heart clenched at this, making her more determined to follow through with her plan. She had to see Glinda again, if only to make sure that she was alright.
"Well then young lady, would you mind tell me where Her Goodness is off to next?" Elphaba held her breath.
The girl looked unsure now, "I don't know..."
"What did you say your name was again, young lady?"
"Anarie."
"What a pretty name! Well I hate to put you in an uncomfortable position, Anarie, it's just that I know how happy it would made Miss Glinda if I could surprise her, put a smile back on her pretty face, like you said, she could use a few more smiles."
Anarie softened at this, "Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt...I don't think I can help you much though, but I did see her looking at an Ozian map the day before last, she seemed to be planning a trip." Anarie sighed, "I suppose it's where she intends to stay now she is no longer Ruler. Though I've never heard of the place she was looking at...to be honest I'm not sure I can remember the name."
"Try!" Elphaba urged quickly, she then coughed and remembered her character. "If you could try Miss Anarie I know that myself and Her Goodness would be most grateful."
"Well, I think Her Goodness was looking at somewhere called...Kiamano Kol?"
"Kiamo Ko!" Elphaba gasped.
"Yes, that's the place! Do you know it?"
Elphaba was struck silent, why would Galinda go back to that castle? It certainly didn't hold good memories for either them and as far she knew it had been completely abandoned. Elphaba felt a rush of sadness flood through her as remembered her final goodbye to the good witch, the tears streaking down her beautiful face and the light that seemed to fade from her crystal blue eyes. Elphaba couldn't imagine what Glinda would be trying to find at Kiamo Ko, the idea of the blonde alone in the castle caused a shiver down her spine. Something was wrong with Glinda, she was sure of it, she had to follow her there and find out the truth.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" Elphaba was pulled from her thoughts by Anarie, who was staring at her worriedly.
"I...yes, yes I am. Thank you for your help, Anarie. I must be going now." And before the young woman could say anything else, Elphaba turned and walked away as fast as she could, with memories she'd tried so hard to forget, forcing themselves to the surface again.
"Elphie, please! You have to get out of here! They're coming for you and they're going to kill you! Please, Elphie, just go! I...I can head them off, I'll distract them and you can fly away, you just need to go now!"
Elphaba shook her head and grasped Glinda by the arms. "You need to leave, quickly."
Tears were now rolling down Glinda's cheeks, "You're not listening to me, Elphaba! They're going to kill you! I'm sorry about Nessa, so sorry, but I promise I'm telling the truth!"
The green girl smiled sympathetically, "I know you are, Glinda."
"Then why are you still here?"
Elphaba's heart broke at this, she opened her mouth to speak but was halted by Chistery handing her a note. She read it quickly, barely having time to let its message sink in before Glinda questioned her.
"It's Fiyero, isn't it?"
Elphaba found herself nodding, going along with a plan that broke her own heart in the process. "We've seen his face for the last time," She found herself saying, while the same thought repeated itself over and over: I'll never see Glinda again, I'll never see Glinda again.
Elphaba took a deep breath, "It's time I surrender," She said gently. "It's time, Glinda."
"No!" The blonde witch cried, "You can't, they'll murder you! Just...let me speak to them; I'll them everything, the truth at last!"
"No!" Elphaba's heart sped up at this, the idea of Ginda putting herself in danger made her feel physically ill. "You can't! They'll turn against you too. Promise me, Glinda. Promise me you won't tell them, that you won't try and clear my name."
"I..."
"Promise me!"
Glinda let out a sob, "Okay, Elphie, I promise. But why? I don't understand!"
Elphaba tried to smile, but tears were threatening to fall. "You don't have to. Just know I believe in you. You're so much stronger than you think. I...I am done, Glinda, but you can do so much. Here." Elphaba handed her the Grimmerie. "You'll need this."
"I can't read it," Glinda said softly, unable to look Elphaba in the eyes.
"You'll learn," She said, "I know you can."
Both witches were silent for a moment before Elphaba spoke again, "Glinda, I need to tell you-"
"No! Let me. Elphie, I just need you to know that no one has meant more to me than you." Glinda sobbed again and took one deep breath, trying to finish what she knew she had to say. "My Mother once told me that friends come and go, but it's the purest friendships that last forever, like handprints on your heart. That's what you are to me, Elphie." She raised a hand and clutched it to her chest.
Elphaba leaned forward and took Glinda's hand in her own, she was shaking and uncertainty was coursing through her, but she had to do this, it would be better for Glinda, it would keep her safe. "You're my only friend, Glinda."
Glinda managed a shaky smile, "And I've had so many." And Elphaba laughed softly. "But you're the only one that's meant anything, the one...the only one that matters."
"If...if I never see you again, I just want you to know that you've helped shape me, in a way that I don't think I understood until this moment. You've made me a better person."
Glinda leaned in and wiped a tear from Elphaba's eye. "Don't cry," She whispered, "You'll burn yourself."
"Glinda..." Elphaba pulled the smaller girl towards her and hugged her close, placing a gentle kiss on her golden hair.
"You've changed me too, Elphie," Her voice was muffled, her words choked with sobs and the pressure of Elphaba's body. "The best parts of me are because of you, I...you've changed me for the better."
Elphaba kissed her again, "For good." She said, "I think for the both of us."
They broke apart as a loud crashing sound echoed through the castle.
"Quick! You have to hide." Elphaba dragged Glinda to a cupboard, "You'll be safe in here."
Glinda allowed herself to be pushed to safety and stopped, raising her unsteady hands to stoke Elphaba's emerald cheeks. She tried once more, "Please don't do this. Just run away! Or...or stay with me. I'll protect you, we'll face them together."
For a moment Elphaba was tempted, the idea sounded so appealing, staying with Glinda, working together, not running away with Fiyero, something that now seemed like her only option. "Glinda..."
"Please, Elphie?"
Elphaba bit her lip. She had no time! She couldn't...could she? ...No, it would be too dangerous, Glinda could get hurt. It was that thought that finally cemented her decision.
"Hold out, my sweet," She whispered. "Hold out if you can." She dropped one last kiss on Glinda's forehead and closed the door. Trying her best to ignore the heartbreaking sobs she could hear behind it.
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