I'm sorry it's been so long since I've updated this. However, I hope you enjoy what I have here.
Elphaba's eyes fluttered open, and the first thing that registered in her mind was that her throat was dry. Painfully so. The second thing she processed was that the bed she was lying now was much more comfortable than the one in the Animal camp. Her gaze shifted to the left and fell on Fiyero.
"I must be dreaming," she whispered, her voice cracking.
He started. "You're awake."
"And I'm thirsty."
He responded by reaching for a glass of water and giving it to her. She struggled into a sitting position and sipped at the liquid, the coolness slipping down her throat and soothing the flaming pain.
She looked back at Fiyero. "Is this a hallucination, or are you real?"
"I'm definitely real," he responded with a broad smile. "Glinda told me how sick you were. You're in Kiamo Ko now."
Elphaba spluttered. "Glinda went to the Emerald City? How could she? She could have been killed!"
"She's in one piece," Fiyero offered in reassurance; at Elphaba's glare, he pouted. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Of course I am. I've missed you."
He leaned over and rested a hand against her forehead. "Hmm, you don't have a fever."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you questioning my ability to express honest feelings?"
"The Elphaba I remember would never be so open about anything going on in her head."
"Two years on the run from the law tend to change a person."
His eyes turned sad. "I was looking for you. I wanted to help you."
"It looks like you have," she said in a soft voice, a small smile spreading across her face. "Where's Glinda?"
He shrugged. "Asleep, I imagine. It's the middle of the night." At Elphaba's questioning look, he explained further, "We've been taking turns keeping watch over you. You almost died, Elphaba. I would go get her, but she really needs to rest."
"I think I can wait for a few hours, then." She relaxed back into the pillows. "Now, tell me about your exploits as a member of the Gale Force."
"There's not much to tell. I would much rather hear about what you've been doing."
"Oh, Fiyero, I'll tell you. But it won't be a fair trade if you don't share as well."
Glinda adjusted the blanket and handed a book over to Elphaba. "I wish you would stop studying. You need to rest."
Elphaba rolled her eyes. "You've kept me in this bed for the past two weeks. I'm about to go out of my mind with boredom. If I'm not allowed to get up, I might as well do something useful."
"Well, no using magic until you're up to full strength."
"Sometimes I don't know who's more of the mother hen, you or Fiyero."
Glinda stiffened at the mention of Fiyero. "The two of you have gotten close."
"Are the two of you still, you know, together?" Elphaba was projecting an aura of disinterest, but Glinda could see through it.
"No."
Elphaba bit her bottom lip and reached out for Glinda's hand. "I'm sorry."
"What about? We both decided that it was for the best. I simply don't love him anymore. I don't think I ever did."
Elphaba didn't respond to that; there really wasn't anything to say. Glinda was aware that Elphaba was now distinctly uncomfortable, so Glinda shook her head and nudged Elphaba's shoulder.
"Scoot over. No reason to study alone."
Elphaba smiled and moved to the right of the bed, making room for Glinda to cuddle up beside her. Glinda curled up on her side and let her hand brush against Elphaba's as she reached for the book. And Glinda tried to pretend that her heart didn't jump a little when Elphaba directed the full force of her smile right at Glinda.
