Oh I'm such a liar. "I'll write more tomorrow and the next day blah blah blah." I don't really have an excuse except that I'm a lazy bum who likes to sleep till four and procrastinates even her college course homework. So yeah, hopefully this chapter is better then the last one. I epically FAIL at Quadlng names, and writing their broken talking crud was agitating, so I made her know Qua'ati. If you haven't figured it out, this book is mostly musical verse, but it has some book verse stuff like her growing up in Quadling Country and Glinda having some actual magic talent, as opposed to the musical, where she doesn't.
She'd arrived in Quadling Country approximately three days following her argument with Fiyero. She hadn't contacted him since, she was much to upset and hadn't wanted to get in another useless argument that she knew would do know good. She had landed on the outskirts of Qhoyre, hiding out in the swamp trees till nightfall, and then sneaking in to the village to look for evidence of Locasta ever living there. Or at least, that had been her plan.
"Why you to be hiding there, green one?" a Quadling's broken Ozian called from somewhere behind her. She almost shrieked, and spun around faster than a normal person could blink. She found herself starring at a young teenaged male Quadling, his red skin standing out between the trunks of the marsh trees. She froze in place, hoping to whoever would listen that he wouldn't know who she was.
"You to be the "Wicked Witch" they used to speak of. You to be dead though, right?" he said. She wasn't sure what it was she heard in his voice, but it definitely wasn't fear or terror. His eyes were full of what looked like curiosity.
"I… well, that is…. Everyone is… supposed to think I'm dead…." she explained, not really knowing how to respond. The teen nodded, as if she understood her motives perfectly. Then, to her astonishment, he smiled at her.
"The elders of Qhoyre to be speaking of you, saying you not to be evil like Wizard claimed. They say you to have grown up here some time ago." the young man spoke, walking towards her and reaching to take her hand. She almost drew back, until what he'd said registered in her mind. They remembered her from a child. They'd refused to believe she was Wicked like everyone had claimed. Someone had finally believed in her, besides those that knew the truth. She let him take her hand and lead her into Qhoyre, calling to others to introduce her. Many of them seemed to recognize her, but how can one forget a green girl? She even recognized some of them as well. An elderly woman approached her, and spoke to her in Qua'ati. Luckily, Elphaba still remembered most of the language.
"Elphaba? We haven't seen you or any of your family in over eleven years, and suddenly you show up again? We thought all of you were dead!" The woman almost scolded her. Elphaba laughed and hugged the woman.
"It's good to see you too, Rose Thorn." she replied, also in Qua'ati. This woman had been something of a mentor to Elphaba, prompting her to learn Qua'ati when she was little so she could understand the woman, who refused to learn regular Ozian. When Elphaba had been growing up her she would spend a lot of time following the elder woman around when she wasn't playing with the Quadling kids her age. They had always accepted her more than the rest of Oz, regardless of skin. Rose Thorn scowled up at Elphaba, who was now much taller than the hunched red woman, but the scowl did not meet her joking eyes, full of joy and mirth.
"I am so glad you are alive, of course. But you wouldn't be here without a reason, so tell me, what are you after?" the woman asked, taking Elphaba's hand and leading her to a thatched hut and away from the happy crowd so they could talk in private.
"You know me to well. If you must know, I come seeking information on someone." Elphaba said, getting straight to the point. She saw no need for hedging here, and rose Thorn wouldn't tolerate it anyways. She was too impatient.
"Well, if it's about someone, I or any of the other ancient ones here can help with that. We remember just about every name and face that ever passes through." she said, joking at her age. She was never ashamed to be old; Elphaba always remembered she seemed to quite enjoy it.
"That's good, because I have no idea what area the person hailed from. I seek information on a woman named Locasta; she'd be about my age, maybe a little younger, Gillikinese, but claims to be born in Quadling country. Have you ever heard of her?" Elphaba asked. Rose Thorn sat quietly for a moment, pondering. Finally, she snapped up, seeming to have recalled something.
"Yes, I have heard that name. A young woman from Gillikin came through here about eleven or ten years ago with a young man. I believe they said they were on their way to Ovvels? I think they may have come through again at some point in time, but I was visiting family elsewhere. If you want to know more about her you should try Ovvels. But one thing's for sure, she was lying about being born in the Quads, I'm sure they were moving here from Gillikin, not coming back or anything." Rose Thorn drawled.
Elphaba knew there'd been something fishy about Locasta, and now she had proof that she'd lied about something at least. She decided to stay the night in Qhoyre, and left for Ovvels the next day. On arriving there, she was once again greeted warmly. Apparently none of the Quadlings much cared for the opinion of the "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" or anyone else outside of Quadling Country.
"Are you enjoying you tea Miss, Thropp, was it?" the leader or whatever you wanted to call the man asked her. He was maybe in his mid fifties and went by the name of Glass. Elphaba nodded, smiling.
"Yes, Sir Glass. But please, just Elphaba, I do so hate honorifics." she said. He grinned, a wide toothy grin that contrasted his burgundy skin oddly, but nicely.
"Then you will call me Glass. Now I hear you came looking for information on someone? I have been around for awhile now, and I am sure I can help you." he prodded her to ask what needed to be asked. She obliged.
"Yes, Glass. I come seeking information on a woman by the name of Locasta. Do you know of her?" she inquired.
"Know of her, she used to be one of our most beloved residents. She and her husband were so good and accepting to us. We called her The Good Witch of the South; because of the way she used her magic to better our community. It really is a shame what happened to her. So young…." he said, and then began to space out. Elphaba frowned, confused at his use of past tense.
"I'm sorry, Glass, but I'm a bit confused. What was such a shame?" Elphaba questioned. He shook himself, focusing on her, his face grim.
"She passed away of a deadly disease about six years ago. She died in Gillikin, surrounded by her family, but was buried here in Ovvels. About one year ago we tried to dig her up to bury her husband with her, who died in a tragic accident. But the thing was, her body was missing." he replied grimly. Elphaba was too shocked to say anything.
Bwahah. I may or may not do another Elphaba centric chapter next, but the chances are not. she won't be rejoining with the other people for a bit now, so patience and crud. Okay it took me forever to do the math on this and not make it completely impossible for all the year stuff to happen, because Elphaba had to be gone by then, and blah blah I'm uninteresting and rambling so I'll just shut up now. And I think this would make Locasta, if it really is her, about 29? But dead people don't age, keep this in mind.
Reviews are infinitely appreciated :D