Somewhere
I Belong
Chapter 4
What the Hell?
AN: Thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews! They all left me in stitches! You guys are great! Really, your reviews and continued support is what keeps me from not packing up my things *figuratively speaking* and quit writing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Huge shoutouts go to: Fae the Queen, Elphaba'sGirl, woodland95, Elphaba-WWW, L8zytnwer, Mad-Idina-fan98, TheWickedrae, and NiatheWickedLover! Thank you all again and the next chapter will be posted soon! God Bless!
"Atlas!" cries Aeryella. Stumbling, Atlas's eyes snap up and stare confused back into fiery chocolate, and for a moment, he stood dumbfounded, for unbeknownst to even himself that since arriving back in the Underground, beseeching the help of the Sprytes, he had gotten lost in the raven haired woman's beauty, hidden, beneath layers of bitter cynicism, sardonic sarcasm. Inwardly, he couldn't blame her, after all, it couldn't have been easy, growing up in a world such as this, where the slightest change, the difference in shape or color (in her case) automatically labels you a monster, an aberration of the lands, a monster, a demon, sent on the fiery flames of brimstone and coal fire, to herald the darkness to the coming worlds and beyond.
"You're staring" replies Aeryella dryly. A quirk of an eyebrow and Atlas immediately straightens. The emotions once apparent on his face fade away, returning his features to that of silent stone. A cough and he enters the room, leaving the elder Spryte perplexed. "I wonder"
Shaking those thoughts away, she turns, and stops. Silently, she watches as Atlas tenderly lays Elphaba's limp body down upon the sheets. His dark, emerald eyes soften, and shimmer, the tears cresting just along the fine edges sparkle; catching and reflecting the dancing light of fiery oranges, starbursts of yellows and tints of reds.
A quickened breath, and his fingers rise and quiver. A pause, and his fingers lower, the tips lightly brushing against Elphaba's pale lips. Silence fell, only the faint flush of the wind whisping by, the crackle of the fire as the flames danced and twirled in the silent breeze, and then all went quiet.
Alone in her thoughts, Aeryella watched in silence. Slowly, Atlas's kneels before the witch of the West, his eyes soften; a delicate glimmer of hope, a glimmer of heartache flickers within. Unconsciously, his fingers rise towards Elphaba's pale cheek. A pause and the tips of his fingers gently pad along the elegant slope of her cheek.
He hesitated, but only for a moment, before lightly brushing a few loose strands of raven curls from her forehead. Tucking them behind her ear, his hand rises and cups her cheek. A shudder, ripples down his spine, feeling the slight vibration of death, tingling against the softened pads of his fingertips. There was warmth there, but it was faint and fading fast. If something was not done soon, he would lose her. And the downfall of the Ozian people, the Hope for the Animals, would crumble with her. A final dawn would set, and darkness would fall, casting Oz into eternal damnation, for all time.
A whispered prayer, danced on the tip of Aeryella's quivering lips. Slowly, she turned away, for she alone, knew the hidden heartache beating like a kettle drum within Atlas's heart. She was there, the day when his world, shattered. Tears shimmer in her eyes, as Aeryella turns towards the window. The light of the silver moon, reflect in her dark, chocolate eyes and refract a prism of rainbow crystal light.
"You left us too soon Mariela"
"Where is she?" a familiar voice, broke Aeryella from her drifting thoughts. Stunned, she turns, her eyes widen as she beholds the old sage, standing before her, the light from the candles, reflect bright against the lenses of his glasses. Fractures of shadows dance along the tip of his hooked horns, and casting his face in half darkness.
"D…Dr. Dillamond!" exclaims Aeryella shocked.
A gentle smile lit the wise old Goats face. Gently, his hoofed hand rises and rests on the tip of Aeryella's shoulder. His dark, cobalt eyes stare warmly at the Elder Spryte, a knowing glimmer, flickers within.
"I'm sorry"
"You know" smirks Aeryella. "For a Goat…your quite stealthy" she loved to tease him, and he, couldn't help but take the bait.
"My dear child" smiles the Goat. Slyly, Doctor Dillamond lowers his head till the tops of his dark, cobalt eyes stare up at Aeryella above the frames. "I'm the Master of Stealth…no one can hear me"
"Whatever you say your royal clumsiness" chuckles Aeryella.
"Where is she?" asks Doctor Dillamond. The light in his eyes disappears, and the smile on his face, fades.
"There" is all Aeryella says. Stepping back, she allows the wise old Goat to step further into the room. His eyes soften, beholding the student, the woman he thought he'd never see again. His heart broke, seeing her so weak, the normally stoic girl he knew back at Shiz was gone, faded into the darkness of the shadows. Now, only a hallowed shell remained.
Tears welled in his eyes, watching her struggle to breathe a thick sheen of sweat sparkled across her forehead, and the ethereal glow of her emerald skin had dinned, to a lackluster green. Fresh bruises covered her face, her arms, and her chest, and a part of him feared for what he would find, beneath the veil.
"When?" starts Doctor Dillamond.
"Just a few minutes ago…" replies Aeryella softly.
Sighing, Doctor Dillamond brushes past Aeryella, determination shimmering in his eyes. Stepping next to the bed, his eyes lower and soften, as he stares down at Atlas, kneeling before the raven haired witch, his hands clutching hers.
Gently, he rests a hoof on his shoulder.
Startled, Atlas jerks, and his head snaps back, a fire burned in his eyes, and a growl, vibrated against his lips, ready to bestow a bestial of curses at whoever dared interrupt his thoughts.
"Doctor Dillamond?" whispers Atlas, confusion sparkling in his eyes. When in Oz did he appear?
Smiling, Doctor Dillamond gently he pushes Atlas to the side. A groan of protest and the old Goat's expression darkens.
"I can't help Miss Elphaba with you in the way" replies Doctor Dillamond, the softness in his voice was there, but tinged with stubbornness, the authoritative tone he once held as a teacher.
"Do what you must…just…save her…please" whispers Atlas.
"You can be sure of that young man" a moment of silence, and a soft smile pulls at the edges of Doctor Dillamond's lips, for he could see the concern, the hidden bubble of love, sparkling, percolating deep within his eyes. It warmed his heart, to see this young man once again open his heart, for love. Gently, he places a hoof on Atlas's shoulder. "I shall do whatever I can…to save her life…I promise"
"Thank you" smiles Atlas weakly. His voice trembled, and his body shook. Inwardly, he cursed himself for allowing his emotions, his heart, to get the better of him. He swore he would never allow love to conquer his weakened heart again, for he would lock it away, encase it in sheens of ice, and hid it away from the world and it's cruelties.
"But I can't help her….with you hovering over my shoulder" smirks Doctor Dillamond.
"Huh?" asks Atlas dumbly.
Rolling her eyes, Aeryella saunters into the room and huffing, reaches down and grabs a hold of Atlas's arm. A grunt and she hauls him up from off the floor. Brushing the non-existent dirt from his shirt, she turns and pressing the palms of her hands on his back, roughly pushes him out of the room; the heels of his boots skid across the graveled ground.
"Well this has been fun…but we have much to attend to…seeing as the Chosen One has finally come to our aid…so if you'll excuse us!"
"Wait!" cries out Atlas. Reflexively, his arms and legs spread out, the tips bumping against the doorframe, stopping his descent. "Where are you taking me?" asks Atlas, as he looks over his shoulder.
"We have this thing to go and do" answers Aeryella as she tries to push Atlas out the door.
"What thing?" frowns Atlas.
"You know…that thing" grunts Aeryella.
"Thing…what thing? There's no thing…what in Oz are you talking about?"
"Oh!" came a squeal. Freezing, both Aeryella and Atlas turn and stare at Bonileea, standing a few feet away, jumping and clapping her hands excitedly. "Is it time to shove Atlas around again!?"
"Yeah…sure" smirks Aeryella knowing full well that Atlas's strength was no match for both Sprytes.
"Now wait just a min-"but his words are cut off as Bonileea roughly grabs his arm. A yank" and he's pulled through the door, and dragged down the hallway.
"Two against one is an unfair advantage!" roars Atlas.
"Says who?" shrugs Aeryella giggling.
"ME!" screams Atlas. Wildly he thrashes against Bonileea's grip, yet no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't break loose from her vice-like grip. "I'll get you my pretty! I'll get you!"
"Yeah yeah…and your little dog too I get it" waves off Aeryella. A scream and Atlas disappears down the hallway, swallowed up by the darkness.
"You girls should really be nicer to him" admonishes Doctor Dillamond.
"Why?" asks Aeryella. Turning, she stares back at Doctor Dillamond, kneeling before the bed, one of his hoofs pressed against Elphaba's chest, the other held out as he eyes his pocket watch.
Giving her a knowing look, he turns and returns to his work. Shrugging, Aeryella casually leans against the wall.
Minutes fly, finally, after two hours pass, does Doctor Dillamond turn towards the elder Spryte. Sighing, he puts back his instruments, before returning his attention once more to Aeryella.
"What's the verdict?" frowns Aeryella.
"The prognosis isn't the greatest…at least not one that I wish to give" sighs Doctor Dillamond. Turning, he leans closer and presses a gentle kiss to Elphaba's forehead. A moment of silence and a whispered prayer passes, before the old Goat finally rises to his feet. Turning, he faces Aeryella, his face was solemn, fear and worry sparkled in his eyes. "She's severely malnourished and dehydrated…a few of her ribs have been fractured…the others bruised…her wounds are infected and she's besieged by a horrendible fever that I fear I cannot break"
"Dear Oz" whispers Aeryella.
"It's a miracle that she's even still alive to begin with…the frigid waters that Atlas found her in have entered her lungs…if that fever does not break…or the water within does not get expelled soon…I fear she will come down with pneumonia…and if that happens" trails off Doctor Dillamond.
"What can we do?"
"Turn her on her side every few minutes…hopefully that will help rid her lungs of the freezing waters…try and break her fever…I shall make up an ointment for the infections" instructs Doctor Dillamond.
"We shall do all that we can and more…to ensure that this woman…does not leave this world" replies Aeryella.
"Watch over her…and don't be surprised if she thrashes…or screams out…I imagine many nightmares await within her fevered mind" warns Doctor Dillamond. A sigh and he steps towards the door. Stopping, his hoofed hand rises and presses against the wooden frame. "If…if she does regain consciousness…please let me know immediately"
"I will Doctor Dillamond, smiles Aeryella. She knew why, yet she would not voice it, for she knew how much Elphaba meant to the Goat.
A nod and he disappears. Sighing, she turns and faces the emerald witch. Weakly, she steps closer to the bed. Her eyes soften, as she nears. A stumble and she falls to her knees.
"If you can hear me…you have to fight….you can't give up…not now…there's others here waiting for you…their hopes and dreams rest on you…the one who will herald the light…we need you" gently, her hands thread with pale emerald. "He needs you" whispers Aeryella softly.
Months pass, and Elphaba remains trapped within her mind, the fever assailing her body, leaving her weak. Her screams to the horrors of her nightmares echo down the hallway; her screams of torment, of images that only the raven haired witch could see.
Atlas remained by her side, re-wetting the cloth in hopes of breaking her fever. He held her hand, whenever the nightmares returned, touching, caressing her cheek, and whispering softly into her ear; silently pleas, which fell upon the ears of one who was lost within the world of nightmares and darkness.
"Fiyero…Fiyero no!" screams Elphaba. Wildly, she thrashes in the bed, struggling, fighting an unseen abnormality. Atlas, rising from his chair, gently, yet firmly grabs onto her arms, trying yet failing to keep her still. "No! Glinda…Glinda no! Don't…don't go in there please! Nessa!"
"Elphaba" whispers Atlas. Gently, his hand rises and caresses her forehead. A wince flickers across his face, for the heat of her fever, burned the tips of his fingers. "Don't let go"
"Nessa please…don't…don't turn away from me…don't…don't go there please…watch out! No! A house…a dog…run…Nessa!" shrieks Elphaba.
"The nightmares are still with her?" came a soft voice.
Startled, Atlas turns, his eyes soften, seeing Aeryella stand at the threshold.
"It's been months now…yet no matter what we try or do…her fever will not break" croaks Atlas.
"Take heart Atlas" slowly, Aeryella steps into the room, her dark chocolate eyes stared misty back at Atlas's trembling form. "You can't give in…not now"
"What's the point in holding on…every day she slips further and further away" whispers Atlas.
"The moment you give up…she will too…you fall we all fall…remember?" whispers Aeryella softly.
"She's slipping away"
"She's still here" offers Aeryella.
"Barely"
"Atlas" sighs Aeryella.
"No Areyie…damnit!" growls Atlas. Spinning, he jumps up from his chair. Knocking it over, he steps around it. "If she were here…then she would have awakened by now…the damn 'ointments' that Doctor Dillamond keeps making and applying to her body would be working and her fever would have broken by now! Let's face it…she's dying and there's nothing we can do to stop it! All were doing is prolonging her suffering!"
"So you're just going to give up?" growls Aeryella, challenging him.
"What else is there to do Areyie!? Tell me…tell me you know for sure that she'll pull through…tell me you foresaw this in a vision…tell me right now and I'll return to my seat…and remain ever vigilant…awaiting for her to wake up"
"I" starts Aeryella.
"But if you don't…if you hadn't seen it…then don't fill my broken heart with promises of hope that will never come" continues Atlas, his voice softening at the end.
"You know my powers do not allow such" replies Aeryella gently.
"Then what' s the point in holding on?"
"For the promise of a future just cresting above the horizon" smiles Aeryella.
"A future with an unforeseen outcome" counters Atlas.
"A future that myself and the Elders have foreseen…a future that will herald the Light…and strike the darkness at its source…its heart"
"A heart that is slowly dying?" questions Atlas, his voice soft as thunder.
"Yes" is all Aeryella says.
A whispered sob slips past Atlas's lips. A shudder and he falls to the ground. Slowly, Aeryella lowers herself to the ground, her dark chocolate eyes never leaving Atlas's writhing form.
"I can't" cries Atlas. "I don't know how much more of this I can take"
"Atlas"
"The pain is still fresh…I…I thought it was buried…but-" whispers Atlas.
"You can't give up…the moment you do…the rest of us shall too…she needs your strength…your guidance…you can't let her fall away…not now"
"And if I'm not strong enough?" asks Atlas.
"That's what we're here for" smiles Aeryella. Crying, Atlas reaches out and grabs a hold of Aeryella. Sniffling, he wraps his arms tight around the elder Sprytes's body, and burying his face into her shoulder, cries out the pain he had long since held hidden within his heart.
Slowly, Aeryella melts into Atlas's embrace. Her hand rises and pats his back as her other arm winds tight around his waist.
"I'm here Atlas…I'm here" whispers Aeryella gently.
Another week passed and Atlas still remained by her side.
Sighing, Atlas wrings out the water from the cloth before returning it to Elphaba's forehead. A sigh and he closes his eyes, for this was the first time in months, that he allowed sleep to take him. Sure he had napped on and off, but those were few, and far between. A few minutes' worth, before another nightmare shattered him from his dreams.
A snort, and his hands once clasped firmly with soft emerald fall away, the tips lightly brush against the ground, kicking up a few particles of dust. A snore and he drifts further into sleep.
Silence.
A low moan, and long black lashes flutter open, giving way to dark chocolate. Blinking Elphaba stares confused at the high dirt ceiling. Frowning, she turns and stares at the man sitting before her. A child-like innocence sparkles within her eyes. Weakly, her hands reach out and touch Atlas's knees.
Stirring, Atlas snorts, before once again falling back into peaceful slumber.
"Daddy?" whimpers Elphaba, her voice soft, and child-like. Snorting, Atlas shifts. "Daddy?"
Startled, Atlas jerks awake. Blinking away the sleep from his eyes, he stares back at Elphaba, gazing back at him.
"E…Elphaba?" whispers Atlas.
"Daddy?" repeats Elphaba. Weakly, she leans closer, her hand reaches up towards his face, and lingers. A quiver and the tips of her fingers lightly brush against the edge of his strong jaw. "Daddy?"
"I" starts Atlas.
"Da…what…you're not my daddy!" screams Elphaba. Reeling back, her hands fly to the covers. Grabbing them up, she pulls them tight against her chest.
"No I'm-" starts Atlas.
"Who are you!?...where am I?...Where have you brought me…what have you done to me!?" shrieks Elphaba.
Her screams arouse the others from their slumber. Jumping out of bed, Aeryella, Bonileea, Chrystilena, Doctor Dillamond and the others rush towards Elphaba's room.
"Who are you!?" screams Elphaba.
"Do you ever let anyone else talk?" smirks Atlas.
"No!" screams Elphaba. Winding back, she cracks Atlas hard across the face. Grunting in pain, Atlas falls from the chair, collapsing to the ground unconscious.