Against her better judgement, Elphaba allowed Glinda and Boq to coerce her into going out and eating with 'the group'. Some friends of Boq's and Glinda's pretty entourage.
"Is Avaric going?" she had asked.
Boq squirmed. "Elphaba, he'll be in a crowd. he can hardly pull something on one of the other girls. And we can keep you away from him. Sit you next to Glinda, and against the wall."
"And besides. The girls wouldn't give in to him in front of you. They're catty but not cruel." Glinda forced a smile.
Elphaba had been ready to say no when she thought better of it. What better way to get under Avaric's skin than to do precisely what he told her not to- as if he controlled her! "Alright. Actually, Boq, why don't you invite the new student- the Arjiki Prince. I spoke with him once and he seemed nice enough, and he seems to be alone often."
Boq and Glinda exchanged a glance- what was Elphie getting at? "Sure, sure," he said. "If you say so."
"Why not?" She said as mysteriously as possible.
For appearances sake, Avaric arrived with Boq at the girls' door. The foursome walked to the little pub quickly, Glinda and Boq blathering on to hide the discomfort.
When they arrived, Avaric smiled charmingly at Misses Milla, Pfannee, and Shenshen. "Evening, Ladies." Elphaba would have strangled him then and there if not for Glinda quickly grasping her hand. She smiled when she noticed Fiyero had taken Boq up on his offer. They sat, Elphaba as far from Avaric as possible. She was pleased to note that her fiance seemed perturbed at Fiyero's presence, and was amused by watching Boq try to hold Glinda's hand under the table and Glinda swatting him away in the name of propriety.
Conversation flowed, though Elphaba kept mostly to herself, glad the attention was away from her. Boq was finishing up a story about Munchkinland, when she politely said, "Fiyero, we hardly know a thing about you, and the Vinkus is foreign to all the rest of Oz. Why not enlighten us." She smiled innocently, and cocked her head to the side. She was aware that Avaric was glaring at her but didn't acknowledge him.
If Fiyero noticed anything off he didn't say anything. "Well... I lived with my family. We spend the winters in Kiamo Ko and for the Spring and Summer the entire tribe goes to the Grassland to hunt."
"How... rustic." Avaric said, a distinct look in Elphaba's direction. She could tell rustic was not a compliment in Avaric's book. "What do you think of the City? Civilization."
Fiyero shrugged, though it was clear he registered the low mark. "For the last two years, whenever my father's had to go visit the Emerald City I've gone with him. So it isn't really anything new."
"Civilization is a relative term- I would hardly call some people civil, and they've lived in 'Civilization' their entire lives." Elphaba said before she even registered she was speaking aloud.
"I hardly know what you mean, dear. Have you met someone I haven't?" Oh, nice shield Avaric. Play dumb.
"I suppose it is impossible to meet your own self." She shot back. Silence came over the table. "Avaric, I believe we have no more to say to each other. As for everyone else, I apologize, but I'll be going- don't rush home Glinda, have fun. I'll see you in the morning." Elphaba turned on her heel and walked out the door. She heard Glinda and Avaric both call her but she didn't stop. If she stopped she would break down, and she didn't want to do it in the middle of the street.
"Miss Elphaba!" Damn it. Fiyero, the innocent bystander in all of this. "Elphaba stop!" Really, he was the victim, thrown into the middle of her war with Avaric.
"Fiyero, this is none of your doing, so please don't have a guilty conscience. You have nothing to worry about, and I'm sorry if my fiance put you on the spot."
"But Elphaba, please. Stop, let me talk to you. Maybe I can help?"
Help? Dillamond had tried to help, and look where he was. "Really this is none of your matter."
She felt his hand on her wrist, spinning her to him. He felt bad when he saw her startled expression. "I'm sorry I scared you, but please." He noticed her shiver from the cold and put his cloak around her shoulders. They walked in the direction of Crage Hall. After a long minute of studying her, he asked, "Elphaba, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? What's wrong! Well, I suppose being forced to choose between a convent and an asshole at the ripe old' age of thirteen is wrong... I suppose knowing said asshole flirts with and fucks other girls is wrong. I suppose having no say in the course of my life is wrong."
"Elphaba, you're hardly alone in having no choice."
"Oh yes, Your Royal Highness?" She said, annoyed at him.
"I was betrothed to a girl when I was seven. I've met her once and that was an accident. I've been thrown into this life with no choice. I have no brothers, so I can hardly abdicate."
They stood at the door of Crage. "Just because neither of us have any say in our lives hardly makes it right."
"No it doesn't... do you know what I would do if I had a choice?" He took a step toward her and dropped his voice. She stepped closer to hear.
"What? What would you do if you were free?"
"I-I would run away. I would be a merchant or a sailor... I would work hard for myself and my family- a family made with a woman I actually loved. I would be free to do as I chose, and not what was expected from me... I would.." He kissed her then, making it very clear what he would have done if he could.
