AN. This chapter is for my dad, who is in hospital with a fractured back. It happened yesterday, so I'm kind of an emotional wreck right now.
Chapter 7
The next few hours seemed to pass in a blur. Fiyero spoke to the manager and arranged a room for me until the wedding, and had my things moved down. Nessarose and the nurse finished packing, and checked out of the suite.
Just before they left, Nessarose pulled me aside.
"There's a dress salon on Baum Rd. I've sent a message to them," she told me quietly. "They're expecting you, so you can choose your wedding dress."
"You didn't have to-"
"I know," she said, with a faint smile. "Consider it a wedding present. You certainly can't get married in anything you already own."
I smiled tightly. "Thank you."
"It's all paid for. I'll arrange to have your things shipped when I get home."
I still felt slightly bad for leaving so suddenly, but I was grateful I wouldn't have to face the Governor again. It differed moment to moment if I thought I would miss Nessarose or not.
"Thank you for everything. For giving me a job and taking me in," I said, in the most sincere tone I could muster. I was sincere, I was so grateful that they had kept me from living on the streets; but I wasn't sure it was coming off as genuine.
Nessarose paused briefly. "You're welcome. I'm not sure if this new life is going to be what you expect or imagine; and I honestly think you're going to regret it. But I do wish you happiness."
"Thank you."
After Nessarose and the nurse departed for Munchkinland, leaving Fiyero and I alone; he turned to me.
"I'm going to go down to City Hall and get the marriage license," he told me. "I'll be as quick as I can, but it might take a while. Are you alright with having a short engagement?"
I nodded. "Of course. Let's just get it over and done with."
He gave a small laugh. "How very sentimental of you," he teased. "But I definishly agree."
"I'll meet you in the dining room for dinner?" I asked, and he nodded.
Once he left, I stood in my new room numbly, my head spinning. What in Oz's name had just happened? I had just agreed to marry him. A man I really barely knew. Had I said yes because I loved him, or yes because the alternative of going back to Munchkinland was too horrendible? I did love him, I was certain of that much. And yes, the idea of not seeing him again filled me with dread, but... we were engaged.
And he cared for me. He said it. It wasn't love, but it was more than I had managed to tell him of my own feelings. And it was more than I had ever expected. And now what?
I debated internally for a few minutes before heading off to Baum Rd to the dress salon Nessarose had mentioned. As much as I didn't think I needed a dress, Nessarose had a point- none of my own dresses were suitable for getting married in. My other alternative was to wear the dress I had worn to the theatre; but I felt bad about rejecting Nessarose's gift.
When I entered the store, I hesitantly explained to the woman inside why I had come. As soon as I mentioned Nessarose's name, she nodded.
"Of course, of course. Please, come this way. Do you know what type of dress you're looking for?"
"It's just a simple service at City Hall," I quickly explained. "I don't need anything too fancy."
The woman turned and studied me critically. "Civil service or no, it's your wedding day. And Miss Thropp said you're marrying Fiyero Tiggular, am I correct?"
"Yes," I replied awkwardly.
"Well then, my dear, if you're going to be Mrs Tiggular, you need a suitable dress."
I tried to protest, but was promptly ignored and overruled. Instead, I was presented with armloads of dresses to try on. They were all decidedly not simple. And all very white.
I rejected several that were floor length, or that I felt were too short- basically anything above the knee. After I rejected several on the basis of being "too white", I could sense the woman becoming frustrated but trying to hide it.
Finally, I relented somewhat, and offered a compromise. "Maybe an ivory or cream would be better?" I suggested tentatively. "Something… softer?"
She brightened. "I have just the thing."
She disappeared and returned with an ivory dress which she handed to me. I stared at it uncertainly.
"It's strapless," I said. It was all I could think to say.
Usually, I tried to cover as much skin as possible, and the idea of wearing something that revealed all of my shoulders and chest made me nervous.
But the woman merely laughed and waved a dismissive hand. "You can pull it off," she assured me.
I wasn't convinced, but I nevertheless took it to the change rooms to try on. It wasn't only strapless, but the skirt flared out quite a bit. It was a tea-length gown, and I was suddenly grateful to Nessarose that I knew that term when the woman mentioned it. It was made of satin and lace, and the bodice and skirt were embellished.
Although at the time I wasn't certain, I still look back on that dress now as the most beautiful I have ever worn. When I shyly emerged from the change room, the woman nodded confidently.
"That's the one. And I have just the shoes and accessories to go with it."
An hour later, I found myself in my new hotel room with my wedding dress and shoes, much to my disbelief. It felt so surreal, I felt like I was trying to catch up. My new room for the next few nights was smaller, although just as grand as my room in the Celadon suite had been.
When I met Fiyero for dinner that night in the dining room, I still felt somewhat dazed. The feeling wasn't helped when he greeted me with,
"How does Monday sound for a wedding?"
It was Saturday. Our wedding would be the day after tomorrow.
I forced a smile. "It sounds fine. That's so soon."
I saw his brow furrow in concern and quickly added, "My head is spinning a little. Everything's changed so quickly. In a good way," I smiled.
Fiyero relaxed slightly, and smiled back at me. "I know exactly what you mean."
As we ate, I shyly spoke up. "I got a dress this afternoon."
He raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"It was a gift from Nessarose," I explained. "She told me before she left. All I had to do was go down to the store and pick one."
"That was very nice of her."
"It was," I agreed.
"So we're meeting the judge at the courthouse at eleven on Monday morning," Fiyero informed me and I nodded.
"Fine."
I looked up from my dinner to find him staring at me, looking worried.
"What?" I frowned.
"Are you finished? Do you want to go for a walk?"
He looked so worried I immediately put down my fork. "OK."
We left the dining room, and headed out of the hotel, aimlessly heading towards the park and the gazebo in which we had spoken only a day ago. It felt like another lifetime already.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, sitting down on the seat and looking up at him.
Fiyero sighed and gave a small smile. "I've done this all wrong, haven't I?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked in bewilderment.
"I shouldn't have proposed like that. It should have been in a conservatory at dusk, with a string quartet playing in the background and candles and a thousand red roses; and you in some exquisite evening gown, and I should have got down on one knee and made a passionate speech declaring my eternal love before asking you to be my wife. And now I'm making you get married in a courthouse with no guests, no flowers, and no festivation."
My face felt very hot.
"Fiyero… I haven't exactly spent my life planning my dream wedding," I pointed out quietly. "It doesn't bother me, really."
He did look as though he felt a bit better once I'd said that, as he sat down beside me, but I could tell he was still worried about something.
"Daisies."
It was Fiyero's turn to look confusified as he glanced at me. "What?"
"Daisies," I repeated. "Not roses."
He laughed, and his face cleared. "Daisies. Of course. White or yellow?"
"White, of course."
Fiyero chuckled, then looked at me earnestly. "It really doesn't bother you?"
I shook my head. "Not in the slightest. Who would I even invite? And besides, you've already had a wedding like that."
I added that without thinking, and immediately wished I hadn't, waiting for that distant look to take over his face again. And whilst his face clouded for a moment, he seemed to shove it aside.
"I have," he agreed shortly. Then he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box.
"Well, even if you don't mind, I still feel bad. This may redeem me slightly."
Puzzled, which in hindsight I know was fairly ignorant of me, I found a beautiful flat silver band with eight tiny diamonds on it inside the box. It was very simple, very elegant.
"It's beautiful," I said honestly.
Fiyero smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Here."
He took it from me, and gently slid the ring onto my finger. There was a moment of silence that fell as we both studied my hand with its new adornment.
"Perfect," he declared, and I had to agree.
Monday morning at a quarter past ten in the morning found me sitting before the mirror in my room, in my wedding dress and small heels, carefully pulling back my hair. I hadn't been exactly sure what to do with it, but had finally just left it down and pulled it back.
I remember feeling nervous. I had had breakfast ordered to my room, but I hadn't touched it at all. Fiyero was due to come by any moment for us to leave for the courthouse, and my stomach was in knots.
It had suddenly occurred to me that morning that the ceremony ended with six little words. "You may now kiss the bride."
I had never been kissed before. And Fiyero hadn't done more than kiss my cheek the night before when he walked me to my door after dinner. Was our- my- first kiss going to be that kiss? I didn't know what to do. What if I was horrendible at it?
By the time Fiyero finally knocked on the door, I was sure I was about to be sick. Knees shaking, I got to my feet and opened the door.
When Fiyero saw me, he went very still, which made me even more nervous.
"You look lovely," he finally said, but his voice sounded strange.
"Thank you," I murmured in reply. "Shall we go? We wouldn't want to be late."
A ghost of a smile flittered across his lips. "They can hardly start without us. Besides, I believe it's tradition for the bride to be late."
"I don't think that counts when the bride and groom arrive together," I pointed out and he laughed.
"Very well. I'll give in on this argument."
We decided to walk to the courthouse, as it wasn't far from the hotel. As we passed, people stared at me, for the first time since arriving in the Emerald City. It took me a block to realise that with Fiyero in his suit and I in my dress, we were quite clearly either coming or going to a wedding, and that was what was attracting the attention.
Focused on this, I was startled and almost stopped dead in the street when a small bouquet of white daisies appeared under my nose. Fiyero easily steadied me.
"White daisies, right?"
"Um, yes," I stammered, taking the bouquet.
He took my other hand in his as we continued walking, and we didn't speak again until we were at the courthouse, waiting for the judge.
I think Fiyero finally must have noticed my nerves, because he abruptly took my hand and squeezed it lightly, just as the judge appeared and invited us in.
The ceremony itself was short and simple. We spoke our vows, exchanged rings- which I hadn't realised Fiyero had arranged until that moment- and finally, the judge proclaimed us husband and wife. I was very still, but Fiyero looked very calm and solemn. When the judge gave the word, he leaned forward and pressed a short, soft kiss upon my lips.
And that was it. My first ever kiss was in a judge's office on my wedding day. And thus, I became Mrs Tiggular.
AN. A picture of Elphaba's dress will be on my blog (June 2014). Link is on my profile.
