Misunderstood

Disclaimer: I do not own Wicked or any of the characters involved with it, with the exception of the ones that I create.

A.N.: I'm sorry this was so long in coming! The next post will be up faster, I promise. Enjoy!

Chapter 9: For Good?

A small glimmer of hope arose in Elphie's heart. "A VERY close friend. You need to go to the Emerald City ASAP. He's waiting." Could it be? Even after the whole Scarecrow fiasco, could Fiyero still be…She shook her head visibly. She knew not to wish for things that were impossible. It would only end up wounding the heart. Nor was giving no other inclinations as to exactly who she was referring to. The girl seemed to be enjoying her mysterious secret, and was savoring the look on the Witch's face. "How soon can you leave?" Nor asked. "I'm not quite sure. Nanny needs to be taken care of, and so do Chistery and Liir…" Nor's face lit up. "Liir's here? Can I see him? Where is he?" Elphaba belatedly realized that Nor had not seen the boy since she had been taken away by the soldiers. She smiled softly and told her that he was in Irji's room. Although the girl was still very weak, she took off at a pace that surprised the green skinned woman. She did not follow her, instead stayed behind to think. Who could possibly be waiting for her to come? She wracked her mind, trying desperately to think of who she still knew well enough that they would wait for her. Well, there is Boq…but he lives outside the city with Milla. Avaric saw me right after I killed Horrible Morrible. She laughed a bit at the old nickname. I highly doubt that he would actually remember me though. He's much too self absorbed. There is Fiyero…and I never did actually see his body. Only the copious amounts of blood…she grimaced again. Don't you dare start up with that again, Elphaba. It isn't worth the grief it brings you. Nor and Liir came down the stairs, snapping her out of her jumbled thoughts. "Elphaba, did you see! Nor's back!" Liir looked as happy as he had ever been, and he had actually called the Witch by her name, a very rare event. Both Nor and Elphaba smiled, and Liir went racing off with her somewhere inside the castle. Elphie sat back, and decided to let herself daydream a bit about what would happen in the Emerald City.

The meeting with the Scarecrow and the Tinman had gone well. They had decided to let Glinda in to their inner circle, the circle of confidantes, and the ones who held the power. With her magic, and the combined talents of the Scarecrow and Tinman, they could make all of Oz a more stable, happy place. Or so they said. Although both individuals were all smiles, and full of reassurances and cheery words, Glinda felt a tense undercurrent, one that seemed sinister and deceitful. It gave her the chills just thinking about it afterward. During the meeting, she hadn't dared to read into what both…men (for lack of a better word) were thinking and feeling, because it might have alerted them to what she was able to do. Afterward, she scanned both of them. The Tinman was feeling somewhat hesitant and guilty, about what exactly she did not know. The Scarecrow, however, was busy planning something that had to do with Elphaba. He didn't know that she was still alive, that much she could glean, but it had to do with her friend nonetheless. Why were both of them acting a little dodgy? Something is not right…letting it go for the moment, she actually enjoyed sitting in her large room. It didn't make her feel empty anymore. Rather, it gave her room to think and feel. Her visit to Kiamo Ko was coming up soon, and she was very excited about it. I can't wait to see Elphie again! She will be so happy with how well I've done. Glinda smiled a bit, feeling like a schoolgirl again, plotting something or other with her friend. If things kept going at this pace, her friend would soon be able to come and hide with her. This made Glinda all the happier. Shenshen came into the room unannounced. The blonde was slightly surprised. Normally she would knock and wait for Glinda to beckon her inside. "Excuse the interruption, miss, but I have an urgent message for you." An urgent message? Her heart quickened as she thought that Elphie might be in trouble. Shenshen came over to her vanity, and laid down an unmarked envelope, then promptly left. The blonde began to get worried, and quickly crossed the room and ripped it open. She read it aloud to herself, speeding through the words. "Miss Glinda of the Arduenna Clan of the Uplands, wife of Sir Chuffrey, your presence is requested for an emergency meeting tomorrow at the palace. You are vital to this gathering, and this must be kept secret from all others. RSVP quickly, as your answer is expected within the hour." A sigh of relief escaped her lips. Oh, thank the Unnamed God that Elphaba is fine. She quickly wrote her response, and sent it off with Shenshen. Hopefully this had nothing more to do with her friend. If it did, well, she knew how to lie and scheme well enough.

Elphaba made arrangements with Liir and Nor so that she could leave soon. Liir was to take care of Nanny, as he had grown accustomed to, and also to help Nor out when she needed it. Nor was to help Liir when needed, and was to make sure Chistery was watered and fed. Once all the details were in place, Elphaba went about packing all that she needed. It wasn't much really. Some black frocks and gowns, scarves, cloaks, her hat, food, but one thing she was going to leave behind was the Grimmerie. There was no way to endanger the vital magic contained within. Even though the Wizard was gone, there were still power hungry people and individuals scattered throughout Oz that would do nearly anything to get their hands on the precious book. She was to leave when the sun went down, only traveling by night, and under cloud cover. This would take about a week to reach the Emerald City, but it was the safest way possible. While she was there, she reasoned, she might as well drop in on Glinda, give her a nice surprise. She wouldn't stay long, so that she wouldn't be found out and also so that Glinda wouldn't be unnecessarily endangered, but she would still drop in on her. Once everything was ready, she bid goodbye to Nor, Liir, Chistery, and Nanny, and set off. She rose high up into the crisp air, loving the feeling of the wind flying through her hair. Anxious to get there in as little time as possible, she sped up, and flew like a dark spec in the night.

The next day, Glinda hurried over to the palace. She arrived by bubble and came in at the back entrance, as directed. When walking in, she was met by two guards of the Gale Force, and got a bit uncomfortable. I thought that had been disbanded on the leave of the Wizard… They led her into a small room, where there were no windows and only one door out, the door through which she entered. The Tinman and Scarecrow were waiting for her. They both smiled, and greeted her. "Thank you for arriving so quickly. We have an important issue to discuss." Glinda nodded, and noted that the guards closed the door and stood closely behind her. The Tinman began, "Though you are known officially as Glinda the Good, we know of your past." Confusion and a bit of fear passed through her entire body. He continued on, "We know that you were good friends with the dearly departed Witch of the West, and that both of you came here while attending Shiz University for an audience with the former Wizard." Glinda assented to nothing and tried to keep a strait face. "We also know that after she was known as the Wicked Witch, that you maintained your friendship with her to the very end." The blonde was now growing worried, and her face revealed so. The Scarecrow laughed a hollow laugh. "You didn't think that we knew this? We know all Glinda, every last thing about you." She began to panic, and turned around to leave the room. The guards blocked her with their spears. She was trapped and she knew it. "Please, she is dead now. I have no alliance with her, or anyone associated with her. I only wish to make Oz a better place…" Her voice trailed off weakly. Both men smiled grimly. "You say that you have no alliance with her or anyone associated with her? Dear girl, you are completely wrong." "How can I be wrong? I am not-" The Tinman interrupted her again. "You, my dear, were associated with her. I'm sorry, but we can have no chance of insurrection among us." Glinda shook her head, speechless and terrified. "No, you can't…" The men made to advance on her, which backed her up into the guards. One of the guards placed a hand covered with a handkerchief over her mouth and nose. The other held her tightly as she struggled, eyes widening in terror. She tried not to breathe, but had to eventually. The smell was overpowering, and made her very tired. She fought to keep her eyes open, still struggling and trying frantically to get away. The Tinman and Scarecrow stayed where they were, both smiling coldly at her. Elphie…her eyes fluttered, and she barely heard one of the men say "Fresh dreams, Glinda." Her eyes closed completely, and she fell, a dead weight, into the waiting arms of the guards.