This chapter was a beast to get out, both in content and in length.
Tonight's was requested by AriBridge. I hope it meets with your approval!
They were perfection.
Or, as close to perfection as humans could be, if one were being truly honest (which of course one always must). And, if she were being completely honest with herself (which of course she always wasn't), once upon a time, she would have used that very definition to describe her life.
That life, however, was nothing but a distant memory, swept away in a moment like the crashing of a wave upon the sand. She had been merely a girl on the cusp of womanhood and suddenly thrown into a world of political games and intrigue, where love was a weakness and loyalties were bought and sold to the highest bidder. It was a world she had come to know well; a game that she had learned to play even better.
She despised it.
Her dreams had come with a cost, but then again, all dreams did, didn't they? Unfortunately, the price required of her had been too much and her hand had been forced when it came to paying it. Looking back, she saw how foolish she had been, how naïve and desperate to hang on to something that hadn't even been real. In the end, it had all fallen apart. But, really what had she expected? A relationship built on juvenile perceptions of perfection to stand the test of time? A friendship cheaply sold to rectify itself? Deaths caused by jealousy to suddenly be reversed? Foolish notions, all of them. Time had moved on and so had she.
Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, Glinda the Good forced herself to tear her gaze away from the couple her eyes had been following all night.
If she had truly moved on, then why did her heart still ache?
She knew the reason as well as she knew her own name.
A guest stopped her then, offering well wishes for the coming holiday and Glinda smiled her thanks in return. This was the price of being adored by a nation. False pleasantries from those who would forget her name the moment they left her side. The walls that had once left her awe-struck now acted as a gilded prison and she now understood why her fiancé had run when the chance had presented itself it him. If she had been half as sensible, she would have fled right beside them.
The couple that had captured her attention earlier suddenly reappeared in a flash of green and gold. They appeared to be around her age. The woman was a beautiful, her creamy skin and raven hair perfectly accented by a gown of emerald green. Light refracted off of the perfectly placed gems intricately stitched into the bodice, adding a nearly ethereal glow to a face that already held a beaming smile.
Seeing the joy on the woman's face caused a smile to curl at Glinda's lips, despite herself. Her gaze then shifted to the recipient of said smile and Glinda felt the corners of her mouth lift even more. As handsome as the woman was beautiful, the man at her side leaned down to kiss her check and whisper something in her ear that caused a pretty blush to cover the woman's features. Eyes the color of the sea sparkled with merriment as a gentle hand rested on her narrow waist. His smile was playfully devilish, reminding the Good Witch a great deal of someone she had once loved as much as these two seemed to love one another.
A hand at her back startled her out of her reverie and Glinda suddenly found herself looking into the amused gaze of her own gentleman. "Daydreaming again, little girl?"
"Only about you." She replied, the first genuine smile of the evening brightening her face.
"I know you, Glinda. You've been distracted all evening," Strong arms snaked around her waist as Adrian pressed a lingering kiss to her neck, lips moving to her ear. "What's going on inside that lovely blonde head of yours?"
Across the ballroom, the couple began to move away and Glinda knew that if they got away, so would her chance to speak to them. Wriggling free of Adrian's grasp, she ignored his pointed gaze and simply pecked his lips. "I'll return soon," she promised. "And then I'm entirely yours, I promise."
A strong hand clamping around her wrist stopped her flight and she turned to be pulled back into Adrian's embrace. Not allowing her a chance to question his actions, he hugged her against his chest as his lips found her own in a proper kiss that sent chills down her spine. He released her, breathless, a few moments late. "Go on, " he said softly, with a hint of a smile. "Go be your charming self. Just know I'm holding you to your promise." With a wink, he turned away and disappeared into the crown.
Glinda grinned, then turned when a flash of emerald caught her attention. Turning on her heel, she followed the lead, praying she wasn't too late.
She found them in the outer courtyard.
Well, she found one of them, at least. The lovely woman sat alone on a stone bench, glancing from one wall to the other, her expression agitated. Glinda presumed she was searching for her lover or husband, whomever he was, wherever he had disappeared off to.
Suddenly, the woman snapped her head up, eyes locking on Glinda's gaze. The woman's own chocolate eyes widened as she realized who it was staring back and she quickly rose to her feet, lifting her skirts to flee.
Glinda stepped forward. "Wait! Please!"
The woman hesitated, but remained with her back to the Good Witch. Cautiously, Glinda approached. "Please don't run off. I didn't mean to startle you." When she received no answer, the blonde continued. "I noticed you earlier, but you disappeared before I had the chance to greet you. My name is Glinda."
The woman spoke then, admitting in a soft voice. "I know who you are. Everyone does."
Glinda chuckled nervously. "I suppose that was rather foolish of me, wasn't it? Who are you?"
The woman hesitated again before replying. "You may call me Faye."
"Faye." Glinda tested the name on her tongue, finding it a suitable fit for the enigma before her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss. Faye. Are you enjoying yourself?"
She nodded. "I've always dreamed of attending a Lurlinemas Ball in the Emerald City. Everything is wonderful."
"I'm so glad to hear that." Glinda remarked, taking a seat on the bench the woman had vacated. "You know, it would be much easier to have this conversation if you would face me." Patting the stone seat next to her, she asked, "Please, won't you join me?"
"I'm…. not sure that's a good idea."
Glinda chuckled at that. "Why ever not? I don't bite, I promise."
A heartbeat passed as Faye seemed to consider her offer and, what seemed like a million moments later, the woman finally turned so her face was visible and Glinda swore she felt her heart stop. The warm brown eyes, bright but guarded, the sharp, angular features. This woman looked a great deal like…
But it couldn't be. Could it? Elphie was gone, melted before her very eyes. She had witnessed it for herself, every horrible detail. Besides, the peaches and cream complexion and the voice were entirely wrong. Still, Fate must have some sense of humor to have allowed Glinda to meet a person with such a striking resemblance.
Quickly collecting herself, Glinda forced herself to smile brightly, hoping to put the strange woman at ease. "Come and sit," she repeated, hoping her voice didn't sound as strained as it felt. Even as the woman did as she bid, Glinda couldn't help but remark. "You are quite lovely!"
Faye blushed a bit, a clear indicator that she was not used to such compliments. "Thank you. You…as well. Though you always do…ah, I mean..I'm sure people tell you that all the time." She trailed off, turning her face away from Glinda's view.
Glancing down at her own gown, a lush rose number that would make any storybook princess jealous, Glinda couldn't resist testing the proverbial waters. "Thank you. Pink has always been my signature color, I suppose. My roommate at university used to tease me mercilessly about it."
This brought Faye to quick attention, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You were close, then? You and your roommate?"
"Very much so. In fact, she was more like a sister to me." Sighing wistfully, the blonde woman smiled sadly. "She was only real friend I ever had and the only one that really mattered to me." Shrugging, she admitted, "I miss her dearly."
"She couldn't attend tonight?"
A shake of her head. "She was taken from me a number of years ago. Around the same time my fiancé was killed. They were together, you know," she whispered. Faye's eyes grew wide as Glinda shrugged again. "Yes, the rumors were true. Well, some of them anyway. The only spell Fiyero was ever under was the one of his own heart. Looking back, I see how perfect they were for each other."
Faye blinked. "You truly believe that?"
Glinda nodded, turning to meet her eyes. "I truly do. Time has a funny way of clarifying things that seem so muddled as they're happening in the present. I've never told anyone this before, but he made the right decision that day, even if it broke my heart in the process."
Faye fiddled with her hands in her lap. "Why are you telling me this?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Glinda admitted, then added with a smile, "Something about you just tells me I can trust you. Maybe it's the fact that you remind me a great deal of someone I loved very much."
"I had a friend like that," Faye offered. "She loved pink, too. 'No other color goes with everything'. She always said that."
The raven-haired woman was silent then, but Glinda swore she saw the other woman's eyes mist a bit. Perhaps a chance of subject was appropriate. "Where is that charming man I saw you with?"
Perhaps not that far of a change.
Faye smiled, despite herself, unintentionally arising more confirmation in the little blonde's mind. "My husband. He went to fetch me a glass of punch. After al of that dancing, I needed a bit a refreshment."
Glinda's gaze moved toward the ballroom. "He may be a while. Which only gives us more time to talk." She smiled, leaning closer. "How did you meet him?"
Faye's eyes searched the room before returning to meet Glinda's. "We met at university."
"Oh!" The Good Witch exclaimed, sharing a conspirator smile with the other woman. "Was it love at first sight?"
This earned a chuckle. "Something like that."
Glinda nodded, then whispered. "Can I tell you a secret? I couldn't stand my husband either when we met."
Faye's brow rose. "Really? You seem so in love."
"We are," the blonde confirmed. "Now. But we certainly didn't start out that way. I was still very much in love with my first fiancé and too hurt to be open to the possibility of a new man in my life."
Brown eyes dropped to hands neatly folded in her lap. "How did things change?"
Glinda chuckled. "With a lot of patience on his and a lot of effort on mine. But do you want to now what the trigger was? As silly as it sounds, it was when I had fallen deathly ill with the flu. For three days, Adrian stayed by my bedside and brought me whatever I needed. Soup, magazines, whatever I wanted."
"He sounds very romantic."
"He is," Glinda's tone was very matter-of-fact. "And very stubborn. Countless times, I screamed at him to get out and leave me be. But that mule-headed man flat out refused. He even had the audacity to laugh in my face before plopping in a chair and smirking at me for an hour."
Faye chuckled. "My husband can be the same way. When we were newly married, we got into an argument over a roaster chicken." She shook her head. "I still can't remember why we were fighting."
Glinda laughed. "Exactly! Finally, somewhere in my illness-infected stupor, I learned what true love really is. It's not about the coiffed, perfect little world we read about it novels. I've learned that love is wonderful and beautiful, but it's also messy and complicated."
"And yet you wouldn't trade it for the world," Faye murmured softly.
Glinda turned then, taking the other woman's hand in hers. "Exactly," she whispered. "Are you sure we were never friends? In another life perhaps?"
Faye's smile was real, but nervous. "I'm afraid not." Withdrawing her hand from Glinda's grasp, she stood, lifting her skirts as she stepped away. "Forgive me, but I really must be going. My husband will be looking for me."
The blonde rose as well, voice calm and collected, but convinced. "It's perfectly understandable. It was lovely visiting with you…again."
The woman's shoulder's stilled. "I told you, we've only just met.
"Are you sure about that…Elphie?"
'Faye'- Elphaba- froze at the sound of her name, turning slightly. "How did you-?"
"What you said about pink. Elphie was the only person I ever quoted that too." Glinda frowned, hands on her hips. "What are you doing here?"
Elphaba sighed. "I missed you," She said simply. "I had to see you, even if it was only from a distance." Shaking her head, she added, "I never dreamed we would actually have a conversation."
"But…the voice and your skin. It's not green!
"A shroud" she explained. "To allow me to blend in. Literally"
"Oh, Elphie…' Unable to contain herself, the blonde rushed forward and wrapped her best friend in a tight hug. "I can't believe you're here!"
"That would make two of use." Elphaba chuckled, but hugged Glinda just as tight.
"Wait," Glinda said slowly, releasing the other woman from her hug, but keeping a grip on her hand. "If you're really Elphie, then who was with you?"
"Sweetheart," Glinda turned t see the handsome stranger that was now married to her best friend in the world. Only, upon closer inspection, she now saw that he really wasn't a stranger at all.
"Fiyero!"
Without waiting for further confirmation, she launched herself into his arms hugging him just as tight. "It so good to see the both of you."
Disentangling himself from her arms, he stepped away. "I'm so sorry, your Goodness, but you must have me confused with someone else. My name is not. -"
"Fiyero," Elphaba whispered, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "It's all right." Smiling at Glinda, she stated, "She figured it out. She knows"
Fiyero blinked, "How? Fae, we were so careful! I knew this was a bad idea!" Running a hand through his hair, now a few shades darker than it had been at Shiz, he stalked away. "We need to leave. Now."
"I agree," Elphaba said, a bit regretfully. "But, Fiyero, calm down. It's all right. She won't say anything."
"Of course not." Glinda said, releasing Fiyero for a second time, as he had finally allowed himself to be properly hugged. "But do you have to go so soon?"
"Glinda, we're lucky we even were able to come at," Fiyero replied. "Trust me, neither Elphaba or I like this."
"He's right," The (formerly) green girl added. "Glinda, I hate that we have to hide in Oz knows where, but things just can't be as they were." She hugged the blonde again, holding back tears. " As much as I wish they could be."
Glinda returned the embrace, fiercely squeezing Elphaba, then Fiyero as hard as she could. "I understand. I wish you could meet Adrian. You would just love him!"
Fiyero smiled. "I already have, Glin. He's a good man."
Concern creased Elphaba's brow. "You're truly happy?"
With a sad smile, Glinda nodded. "If you would have asked me that question an hour ago, it would have been a lie. But now," Taking Elphaba's hand in one and Fiyero's in the other, she tightened her hold on each. "Seeing you. Knowing you're alive and happy and together. It's the best Lurlinemas gift I could ever ask for."
"Me too, Glin." Elphaba said softly as Fiyero took her hand. "I wish we could stay."
"Will you return?" She asked, hope springing to her eyes. "Even just for a visit? Or maybe I could visit you? Her goodness is allowed to take a holiday every now and again, you know."
Elphaba turned who eyes to Fiyero, who shrugged helplessly. "Only time will tell, Glinda. In all honestly, you were never supposed to know we lived."
"But, never say never," Elphaba added with a knowing smile.
Glinda nodded, knowing she would have to be satisfied with that, but something deep inside told her this was not the last she would see of wither of them. "Take care of yourselves," she whispered, voice breaking slightly as tears brimmed her lashes.
"Ah, Glin," Fiyero rasped, as he drew both woman into his arms and the three old friends embraced again, each wanting to hang onto this moment forever.
"We love you, " Elphaba said as they separated. "You're always on our thoughts."
"And you in mine, " Glinda whispered. "Take care of one another. I love you both more than you'll ever know."
With one last hug and a wave, the Good Witch watched with a heavy heart as the two most important people in her life walked away-again, but this time with the knowledge that they were alive, they loved her and somehow, they would see each other again someday.
She sensed Adrian's presence before she felt his arm come around her waist. "Whom were you speaking to?"
She smiled as she answered, "Just some old friends. I'm afraid they had to leave before I could introduce you. You would like them, though."
He nodded, thoughtfully. "I'm sure." Noticing her flushed face and red-rimmed eyes, concern flooded his features as he asked, "Are you sure you're all right?"
Nodding, she leaned against is side, drawing strength of the surety of his presence and answered honestly, for the first time in a long time.
"Yes. Yes, I am."
Thoughts? I'd love to hear them! Thanks!
