Elphaba stared at her sister blankly for a moment. "What do you mean he's dead?" she asked with panic in her voice.
"He just went a few minutes ago...everyone at the palace is still scrambling. Elphie...I don't know what this means for you..." Nessa's voice was just as on edge as Elphaba's.
"I know exactly what it means. We're never going to be able to get home, are we?" Glinda half whined, throwing herself on the bed.
"Not right away. They are planning to read the Wizard's will within the next two to three hours, and I doubt they will let you leave once they realize...who you are." Nessa looked at the baby in Elphaba's arms. "I'm going to go back to the palace-all the leaders are expected to be there for the reading of the will. As soon as I'm able to I'll come back and fill you in." She gently ran her hand across Vanessa's forehead before exiting the room.
"How do we keep getting ourselves into these messes?" Glinda's muffled voice came as she lay face-down on the bed.
"I just have a talent for it, I guess." Elphaba said softly.
The next few hours were filled with tension, as all three of them waited anxiously for Nessa to return. They tried to pre-occupy themselves with the baby, but she slept soundly. "She's sleeping through the night now..." Elphaba observed, not as joyous about the milestone as she would have liked to be. There was nothing to do but worry.
After what felt like an eternity, Nessa came back into the room. "Well, they read the will." she said.
"And?" Elphaba was impatient to hear the leaders' reactions to the Wizard's confessions.
"No one believed it at first. They couldn't believe their beloved Wizard would father a child out of wedlock and then abandon it. But, he did put in your full name and when they saw our surname, they realized exactly who you were. Like it or not, you've been a minor celebrity your whole life in Oz's political circuit. Everybody knew about Frex's green daughter."
"So what happens now?" Fiyero asked, speaking for the first time in hours.
"Well, right now you guys should try and get some rest. Tomorrow, I have to take Elphie to the palace and we'll see where it goes from there."
Needless to say nobody got any rest that night, except of course for little Vanessa. Early the next morning, Elphaba once again accompanied her sister to the palace, this time without hiding her skin. There was no reason for it now. The front gates of the palace were surrounded by groups of mourners, along with groups of...well, Elphaba wasn't sure what to call them. They hadn't been the Wizard's biggest fans, that's for sure. But could they really be so cruel as to be celebrating a man's death? Either way, she was relieved when Nessa directed them to a secret, side entrance out of the view of the spectators.
Inside, the palace was a flurry of activity. Guards and servants of every type ran around, narrowly avoiding each other, each with some urgent message or task. All of that stopped, however, when Nessa and Elphaba entered the room. Elphaba felt all eyes in the room settle on her-a feeling she remembered very well from her first days at...well, anywhere. She unknowingly reached down and grabbed Nessa's hand, and was jolted back into reality when she felt her sister squeeze back.
One especially intimidating guard stepped forward. "They are expecting you in the meeting room" he said to Nessa, not meeting Elphaba's eyes at all.
"Thank you" Nessa said, choosing not to comment on his rude behavior. She led the way down a corridor, now devoid of the guards that had been their on their previous visit, until they reached large double doors. While large, however, the doors could not have been very thick as Elphaba could hear every word that was being said inside.
"The Wizard having a child all these years? It's downright impossible."
"Although, that might explain why the girl was green."
"No wonder Frex hated the little thing so much."
None of these comments were surprising to hear, but it still stung to know that she was the target of gossip. Nessa threw the doors open forcefully, and all conversation stopped.
"Gentlemen, I have brought with me today the Wizard's only offspring in all of Oz-my sister Elphaba Thropp". Nessa put a great deal of emphasis on the word "sister", hopefully to warn the men of just what would happen if they didn't behave themselves.
The three men sat down in their appointed places. Nessa allowed Elphaba to have the fourth chair that would have been hers, and she wheeled herself in place next to it. The palace representative who had been running the meetings entered the room behind them and shut the door, making sure to lock it.
"Ahh, Miss Thropp." he said, his voice much more sincere and kind than any other Elphaba had heard that day. "I'm glad you made it. I trust that our other delegates have made you feel welcome..." He cast a disapproving glance around the room, well aware that the exact opposite was true. "Now then, let's get down to business, shall we?" The representative pulled a copy of the Wizard's will from the briefcase he carried. "Miss Tropp, er, Elphaba, is it? We at the palace were thrilled to find the Wizard's true next of kin. It's making our job in the wake of this tragedy much easier."
Elphaba was confused. "Why exactly is that? I thought I was just getting an inheritance, and that was all."
"Well, yes. The Wizard only specified that you be left his wealth, and the use of the palace." the representative said, quickly scanning the will once more. "However, Ozian tradition dictates that leadership shall be passed down through generations. You should be well aware of that, coming from the household that you do." He glanced at Nessa.
"Yes, I am aware of that. I was in line for the governess of Munchkinland myself...but I felt that my sister was better equipped for the task." Elphaba didn't feel like explaining the real reasons behind her refusal to take the position.
The representative seemed surprised, but continued. "According to the traditions of Oz, I would like to be the first to inform you that as of this moment, you are now the new leader of Oz, and are in complete control of the Emerald City and Oz in general."
Both Elphaba's and Nessa's mouths hung open in shock. "But...what about my family? I have a home in Kiamo Ko...I have a baby..." Elphaba stammered. She didn't often find herself at a loss for words, but if any situation warranted being speechless then this was it.
"Miss Thropp, I assure you that you and your family will feel most at home here in the palace. The guards and servants here will do our best to make you comfortable. Now then, we have to get things set up for the ceremony later on today. You may go back to your hotel and collect your family and your things. Be back here in two hours, and we will make the official proclamation to the people."
Elphaba wordlessly stood up as Nessa pulled herself away from the table, and the two of them exited the room.
"Nessa..." Elphaba said quietly as they walked towards the side door.
"Yes, Elphie?"
"...This is not good."
A.N. Yes, I know it's been awhile, but at least I didn't let a year go by this time. I do have an arc for this planned in my head now, so it's just a matter of finding time to write it down and write it well.
