As they began their meal of meat so heavily seasoned that she was unsure whether it was pork or lamb, Galinda pondered over what she would ask.

Poking the food cautiously, she peered at Ama Clutch who seemed unfazed by anything, instead choosing to tuck into the meal with relish, declaring that it reminded her of her youth with a glazed look in her eyes.

Galinda directed her gaze at her food, but her sight was unfocused as she went through the motions. She needed more knowledge, that way things would go smoothly once they met privately, not to mention it would increase her own confidence significantly once she felt they were on a more even footing.

By the time Galinda placed her half full plate to one side, next to the scraped, clean dishes of the others, she had still not asked the most simple of questions. Perhaps out of embarrassment that she had asked nothing before, or perhaps her emotions of the day had clouded her ability to do little else than stew in anxiety and discomfort.

The dishes were taken away by the maid after she had placed another tray by the side of the table. In spite of her thoughts Galinda paused enough to feel confused by the presence of a possible dessert, something they typically did not have. It had been beyond irritating when she had first arrived, but she had reluctantly become used to the loss of what was considered to be a luxury there. Though that had not stopped her from complaining.

Nanny all but lunged forward, rattling the tray upon the dinning trolley as she yanked the lid off.

The tray contained an assortment of cheeses, unusual. She had thought cheese would be rare there, Munchkins focused on crops, not animals, and surely the current conditions of the place would not be suitable for the production of decent milk.

She took a small dark orange piece. As she took her first, and likely only, nibble, she realised she had been correct. The cheese tasted…wrong.

None of the others seemed affected, excluding her Ama, who ate with enthusiasm despite the pursing of her lips, and the unhappy lines next to her eyes.

"Your Father sent this, t-to celebrate," the young girl stuttered when their gazes fell upon her as she entered the room once more. Her hands clutching the bottle in her hands with delicate care.

"Well hurry up, open it up." Nanny commanded, her previously decorative wine glass already grasped tightly in her wrinkled hands, "Goes good with the cheese."

The girl did as ordered, the bottle shaking as she poured a stream into each of their glasses, a few small drops of read staining the white table cloth. Nessarose looked unimpressed, either at the mess or the presence of the alcohol.

She swirled the burgundy liquid in her own glass, her reflection distorting and oh, so red.

A sip or two couldn't hurt, Galinda decided, perhaps it would give her the courage she needed. Was that not what alcohol did after all? Give people confidence?

The wine wasn't much better than the cheese, leaving a bitter aftertaste in her mouth and on her lips. Unsurprisingly really, she doubted Munchkinland was renowned for its grape harvests. If she did not get her words out now, than there would not be time. For tomorrow would surely be the beginning of their time together.

Galinda swallowed a mouth fill of the acrid liquid, not exactly subtle and sure to go to her head in moments, and forced out the words that had been on the tip of her tongue throughout the meal, "It's just, well, I don't really know anything about him."

The other occupants – minus Ama Clutch – turned to her with expressions she could not discern in her current state of mind. At the wide, questioning eyes focused on her, she looked down. Swallowing, she winced at the taste that would not leave her mouth.

"There will be plenty of time for that after your married," Nanny unhelpfully supplied, "Melena and Frex were still discovering things about one another till she died, good thing they shared their interests I suppose."

Elphaba's eyebrows crinkled uncharacteristically as she shot Nanny an irate look at that last comment. A look Galinda had no idea how to interpret.

"I understand what you mean," Nessarose added, ignoring the others, her attention directed at Galinda, "Marriage should be built to last, why else vow so to the Unnamed God."

Galinda could only return the nod, still unused to the new feeling of acceptance she had from the younger sister. Though that did not stop her finding a smile trying to cross her face when Elphaba rolled her eyes at her sister's naivety.

"He is the youngest, spoiled – probably due to how our Mother left us." Elphaba added, in spite of Nessarose's unreadable look. The glass before her untouched.

Nanny let out a guff bark of laughter at that. Hopefully in relation to the comment about being spoiled – not the latter.

"He…" The pause was uncharacteristic of Nessarose, as was the sound of thought she made shortly afterwards, "He is -

"A tart."

"Elphaba," Nessarose said with none of her usual snappiness or irritation – was it possible for siblings to dislike one another? For that was the impression steadily building for Nessarose and Shell's relationship.

Or perhaps Nessie was just being Nessie.

"I'm sure you'll get on fine, what with your similarities."

Galinda turned to Nanny, her brows turned down, but she couldn't bring herself to snap at the woman for her comment. Not when she was unsure what she was referring to. She wasn't spoiled, not really. Her parents just wanted the best for her; they tried their best for her.

How strange, surely anger would be an acceptable reaction if Nanny had been referring to what Nessarose said, but she felt no anger. Not even mild irritation.

"See. Like I said Duckie, nothin' to worry about." The weight of her Ama's hand on her shoulder was welcomed and comforting. Despite the thoughts whizzing through her head, she managed a smile at the aging woman.

"I doubt you have anything in common," Elphaba stirred a spoon absentmindedly in her half-empty cup – apparently choosing tea over wine – her brilliant eyes soft in spite of the words.

"But asking is a place to start," Nessarose supplied, her lips turned up into a smile. Supportive, and still so utterly unexpected it caught Galinda off-guard, her expression falling and heart slowing so suddenly.

They were oddballs yes. But she…she felt…almost at home?

She would be sad to leave?

She may not have gotten what she had asked for, but her heart calmed, her shoulders no longer high and tense. Something she had not realised she had been doing until now, with the pain apparent but easing.

Elphaba had once said she was smarter than she had thought, and indeed there was more to Galinda than she showed, Elphaba knew that, "You doubt a lot of things Miss Elphaba; you should know you won't always be right."

That retort, no matter how delayed, lit some odd gleam in Elphaba's eye. Galinda shifted in her seat, feeling oddly uncomfortable once more – a distantly familiar feeling deep within her, though she chose to ignore it, instead focusing on the dregs of wine in her glass.

Their first meeting was quick, more rushed than anything, taking place shortly after breakfast the very day.

They spoke of little of importance, mostly their time at University. Sorcery interested him, as it did all males – being a sole gift seen only in females. She was caught off-guard, and even a bit flattered, that he allowed her to direct the conversation for the most part. Still, anxious about making a bad impression she held back on speaking too much of her own interests and opinions. There was time for that later on down the road, but for the moment she had to remain the picture of the lady she was taught to be. Her opinions should be that of her husband, her interests 'normal' for ladies, sewing, knitting and the like. The rest could come later.

She did bring up his family vaguely, commenting on the oddity of them in an almost fond way, he laughed good-naturally at her more humorous words, his all-consuming smile always fixed in place. His brighter laughter not far from the surface. He insisted that they were all a little odd, and that once you got past that, they were all much easier to get on with.

He clearly cared for his sisters. That was good. That pleased her from some reason.

How quickly her opinions changed, now she was almost defensive of the sisters she had once been disgusted by.

Truly, how quickly opinions change.

Ama Clutch shook her head in desperation as Galinda let out another weary sigh. Galinda pointlessly slid her brush across the dresser she sat at, rearranging its position for the nth time that morning.

With a huff her Ama asked her what had gone wrong this time, though her voice – as always – carried a note of concern.

"It's just that I… I want to go somewhere…anywhere." She tried to explain, her voice falling when the words would not come to her. She felt trapped, and now, with the knowledge she would not be having a longer meeting with Shell that day, the panic and enclosed feeling only grew. The sooner she grew used to him, the easier it would surely be when the time came.

Her Ama's eyes softened in thought, "Understandable Duckie, we ain't left these walls since we got here. Not much we can do."

There had never been much they could do, living up to a certain standard – up to what was expected of you – was restricting, but that had been all she had every really known. Her parents wanted what was best for her, and to get that they all had to work for it.

Galinda gave a soft nod, fidgeting with her brush one last time before sliding of her seat, "I suppose it is time for breakfast."

While the tension she once felt while being near the siblings had vanished, she felt on that day she would much rather return to bed and stay there. A warning sign if there ever was one. As she grew older, her Aunt had spent an increasingly longer amount of time residing in her bed, avoiding people and often lacked energy to do much. Her temper flared irrationally at times, more so as time went ever onwards.

They hadn't visited much after the last occasion where she had jumped between tears and rage in a matter of seconds.

All signs her mother and herself shared to some extent – though no way as severe, madness like that had a way of clinging to a family like a curse.

She had to fight the symptoms, no matter how difficult it was.

Of course knowing that, and living up to it were two vastly different things. As she knew oh too well.

And so she forced herself to go about the same familiar – and on that day she felt – stale routine.

Her smile was tight, the conversation not being absorbed by her, but rather flying right over her head. No one seemed to notice, and Ama Clutch brought no new attention to her attitude, for which she was mostly thankful.

"If you don't eat that now, then it will go cold," Galinda drifted back to herself at Elphaba's comment, "I'm sure that would be an offence to your delicate taste buds."

"I think you will find that it is an offence either way, yours are just dulled to it."

"Not as dull as your wit I see," the tightness around her smile softened in response to Elphaba's words, Elphaba's response was a roll of her eyes – though her lips quirked upwards.

Nessarose shook her head in their direction, clearly not seeing the odd friendliness in their actions, and shot her Nanny a looked in an attempt to get her to do something.

She ignored it of course.

Elphaba's bowl was half empty already, a cue that she really had been dawdling over breakfast, just as she had when she had first woken up. Adjusting her grip on her spoon she resumed picking at her food, forcing herself to eat.

"Nanny," Nessarose spoke up once Galinda slid her bowl away from her, "I wish to read in the Sunroom today."

"Well," Ama Clutch bellowed with a slam of her palms on the table, "I for one am goin' a bit stir-crazy in here. How 'bout we go for a gander."

Galinda turned to her Ama, feeling quickly uplifted and trying to show her appreciation at her words as best as she could while remaining silent.

"Pardon?" She wiped the look off her face before returning her gaze to a now baffled Nessarose; Elphaba had raised her brow, but displayed no other signs of confusion. As always, Nanny paid no attention.

"A look," Galinda explained slowly, "Ama Clutch is suggesting we go for a walk around, to see what is around here."

"Not much to see." Elphaba muttered.

"Around here?" Nessarose asked, her brow furrowed.

"They mean in town." Elphaba responded, Nessarose looked horrified at the prospect with a touch of irritation at something.

"Oh," Nanny made an exaggerated sound of pain as she stood, "This old body can't manage the strain."

Elphaba narrowed her eyes at the old woman, "No Nanny."

"It will be good for you," Nanny insisted, her attention clearly consumed by the prospect of another nap, "You can guide them, show off your intelligence in a more productive way."

"But my studies!" If Nessarose had arms, Galinda was sure she would have pushed herself to her feet in a dramatic show of refusal.

"If you keep your nose in a book you won't see past it." Ama Clutch scolded, even going as far as to wag her finger in disapproval at the younger Thropp.

Nessarose froze, flabbergasted, clearly not used to that kind of treatment – even from their uninterested Nanny.

"You go have fun," the old woman was already pushing her chair out, ready to flee the area, "Nanny'll just stay here and so some work."

Elphaba scoffed at that, a sound that apparently did not reach Nanny's ears.

"Well, you best lead the way," Elphaba's head snapped around at that, her widened eyes narrowing quickly – though with no venom – at Ama Clutch.

"Someone has to be the responsible one," she muttered.

Elphaba had no shame in displaying her skin, and now Galinda was starting to appreciate the strength it took to do so. She knew many a Gillikinese girl who used dangerous chemicals to make their hair the characteristic blonde of their people – it was so much easier to be accepted there that way, and made marriage all the more easier. Though it was harder to make ones' eyes blue if that was not your natural colour.

Their odd group traipsed down the drive of Colwen Grounds and it was only a case of following the road a short way to reach the town. Though with Nessarose's pace it took quite a bit longer.

A browning apple tree offered some shade as they paused so Nessarose could get comfortable once more in Ama Clutch's grip, (Elphaba had refused to support Nessarose, not out of spite, but rather that she could lead the way better if she was not supporting her sister), Galinda stood further out of the shade, not wanting to get any of the mashed up, almost unrecognisable apples on her shoes.

Elphaba seemed unfazed, standing beneath the tree and plucked an apple from an overhanging branch, looking it over she threw it over the fence behind them and retrieved another.

She bit into the apple with ease, not surprising with canine teeth as sharp as hers. She could recall very few people who had such prominent features – including a rather nasty little boy she and her friends used to encounter on the way to school – and even then they weren't as bad. Though there was something oddly fascinating about the feature, not that she would admit it.

It was with some relief she had not noticed them when she had first arrived, for surely then she would have mistaken Elphaba for a demon and Lurline knows what she would have done then. She held back a smile at that thought, imagine it. A woman of the cloth and a demon, siblings.

"There isn't much to see," Elphaba muttered, still giving off an air of annoyance at having to be there, even though she could have stayed at Colwen Grounds if she really wanted to. No one would have been able to stop her.

They reached a cobblestone square, where Nessarose insisted there was usually a market – or so she had heard – Elphaba responded that lately there was just nothing available to sell, and as such it was all but deserted.

A bespectacled Munchkin farmer, young but with silver hair, tipped his hat to them, but quickly hurried on his way.

They moved further towards the centre of the square, Galinda struggling with her heels, but somehow remaining up right.

"Why would that be?" Nessarose's voice asked from behind them, Galinda slowed her pace, not having realised how far ahead she and Elphaba had begun to travel.

"With weather like this the crops do not grow as well, the cattle struggle too." The younger sister tilted her head, her brow lowering. Galinda cleared her throat, noticing Ama Clutch's pursed lip, "Or so I have heard. I do not really know much about all that; anyway, what else is there to see Elphie?"

"As I've said before, nothing much. There will be more activity at the fields, but –

"Then that is where we'll go," Ama Clutch butted in, at Elphaba's look she waved her free hand, "Lead the way."

"There really is nothing to see," Galinda heard Nessarose say, sounding truly surprised as if this was as new to her as to Galinda herself.

Her taste – or lack of it – for the local buildings had not changed, instead she chose to focus more on the outskirts and the few animals that could be seen there, even from the centre of the town.

Elphaba, perhaps seeing where her attention was focused, led them towards the nearest occupied field.

"Oh must we?" It was Nessarose once again sounding exhausted. Ama Clutch replied, but far too softly for Galinda to hear as she moved ahead of them to look at the cows in the field.

She had been near few as a child, despite their abundance around Frottica. She had not been around many larger animals really. She was to learn to horse ride, but the first encounter had not gone well, and the expense was too high anyway. It was decided by her parents that such a ladylike pursuit had become unfashionable in the end; ladies were instead riding in carriages or on the back of such animals behind another person.

She felt a presence near her, and saw Elphaba standing a few steps away, looking thoughtful – not that she didn't always look deep in thought. The cogs were always turning in her mind.

The rough bark of the fence dug into her hands as she tried to lean forward over the obstacle, cows, yes, but different from the ones back in Frottica.

Elphaba made a sound in her throat, almost a sound of amusement. Galinda shot her a look of faux malice.

"Oh!"

They both whirled around to see Nessarose struggling to remain upright in Ama Clutch's arms.

"Nessie?" Elphaba took a step forward, her face showing worry, and perhaps a bit of fear.

"You okay Duckie?" Ama Clutch asked, as Nessarose forced herself to regain her stance, though she still swayed slightly.

"I think I should go back, out of the heat, perhaps relax by reading my bible…"

Her Ama nodded her head, looking a little confused. It was actually quite mild that day. She looked to Elphaba then, her expression one of seriousness and more than a little uncharacteristic sternness, "You will keep a close eye on her while I'm gone."

"Ama?" Elphaba shushed Galinda with a wave of her hand.

"Of course. If any male was to bother her I would beat them off with an overlarge stick, as you would want."

Ama Clutch nodded her head, "Good."

Galinda resisted the urge to shake her head as Ama Clutch strengthened her hold around Nessarose and guided her back up the road.

"Be back in a mo," she called over her shoulder. Though considering their pace, it would be a bit longer than that.

"What a shame she was suddenly taken ill, and after she was having so much fun."

"It seems to me she just wanted an excuse to go back to her normal routine."

"I was being sarcastic."

"Oh."

"I didn't think you were dense."

"We are all dense at times."

Elphaba's lips quirked upwards, her eye glimmering, "Once again, I was being contemptuous."

Galinda rolled her eyes, turning back to the cows; able to see them more clearly now as remaining still had perhaps been a signal to the cattle as they had drifted steadily closer. They weren't the slender, small horned cows from home; rather these ones were more stocky, larger and hornless.

"Meat animals?"

"And draught."

Galinda tilted her head at the animals, and they simply stared back.

"That's unusual," Elphaba rumbled, her voice much quieter than usual, "They normally keep their distance."

One particular brave individual trotted up to the face, within reach of her arm, and in a particularly childish action, Galinda leaned over the fence, heels off the ground, and reached a hand out to stroke the wiry hair of the cow's muzzle.

It allowed the action until a deep moo behind it made it turn and return to the rest of its herd.

Galinda pushed back to the floor, the heels of her shoes sinking into the soft mud she had not noticed before.

"Your dress?" Elphaba asked, her thoughtfulness over the cows seemingly vanished.

Galinda looked down, and to her horror saw grime and fragments of bark had scraped off onto her dress. With both hands she rapidly pushed at the material in an attempt to clean the front. Her eyes wide and mouth parted in horror.

A cackle to her right forced her movements to slow. She turned just as slowly to look at Elphaba who was openly laughing at her distress.

"I would rather you not laugh," Galinda said, her bottom lip unconsciously jutting out into a pout, which only intensified Elphaba's amusement.

The sound warmed her oddly enough. She found herself smiling openly at the other woman who grinned back. That caused the warmth to whirl inside her. She snapped her head around, freeing herself from the connection between them. Burying that feeling away deeply.

Succeeding in removing the majority of the dirt on her she turned her gaze away to focus on something else – anything else.

"You could almost think Autumn is on its way," she said after a moment.

Elphaba paused for a second, then caught onto what Galinda was referring to, "We don't call it that here. But yes, with the heat of the past few weeks the vegetation doesn't stand much chance."

Galinda found herself drawing in a deep breath to calm her suddenly rapidly beating heart.

She knew what she was feeling.

She understood it completely.

She swallowed thickly, turning to Elphaba, only to find her eyes meeting those haunting eyes, which caused everything to come rushing back.

"Perhaps…" She bit her lip a bit too harshly, "Perhaps it would be best if we headed back."

It was true, there was nothing much to do out there, and even if there was, she felt she wouldn't want to stay out too long. A small break was enough for her, for the moment at least, and it was perhaps best that they find her Ama soon, just in case anything was to occur.

Anything to have someone else around. Anything for a distraction.