I HATE being the bearer of bad news but…I am going away on Holiday for a week…and by holiday, I mean no computer anywhere holiday! NOOOOO! That means, no update for a while. I am sorry.
On a better note, here is chapter eleven like I promised :D And things should start getting better soon because I got myself a beta! Yes a lovely person has agreed to beta me. I was so excited. Bless you mate! Any way…
Disclaimers: The obvious one is…I don't own Wicked or it's backgrounds, characters etc…etc… secondly, I don't own the poem Elise says…though I don't know who does. Thirdly, I do not own 'A song of Sleep' that Elphaba sings. The rest…is mine! XD
Enjoy my friends!
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Chapter 11
The silence was overwhelming to the small blonde who shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her mother wasn't moving, wasn't blinking and seemed to be not breathing. Galinda had fought the urge to walk over to her mother and feel her chest to see if her heart was beating, there was no sign her mother was alive.
'Momsie?' Her voice sounded stronger than she thought it would. 'Momsie, are you ok?' Still no reply.
Galinda felt her eyes well with tears but kept them at bay. She needed her mother to tell her everything was ok and hold her, but it seemed like even her mother was unable to do that. Suddenly, Galinda was angry.
'Momsie, I demand you speak to me this instant!' Her small voice grew louder and an air of authority seemed to fill her words. Elise snapped out of her gaze, her blinking a good sign to Galinda.
'I…knew it.' Her mothers words were whispered softly yet Galinda heard them as it was the only sound in the manor.
'How?' Now Galinda's voice was low, matching her mothers tone. It was almost like they were having a whispering battle, both afraid to speak to the other.
'You…you looked at her sometimes with awe, amazement, love. You wouldn't leave her side even as kids.' Elise looked like she was in pain, her face contorted as her eyes shut, seemingly trying to block out painful memories.
Galinda let her tears fall now. Her mother disapproved. She was going to be thrown out of the house. Away from her Elphie. Oh, and what if Elphaba reacted this way or worse? Galinda knew she wouldn't survive. Hell, she was barely surviving this!
Elise's eyes fluttered open to see her crying daughter before her and the pain on her face melted away.
'Oh my child, come here.' Galinda leapt into her mothers open arms grateful that she was finally receiving comfort.
'I'm sorry Momsie, please, please forgive me.' Her sobs wracked her body as she clung to her mother. The sixteen year old girl reduced to a five year old once more. Elise rocked her back and forth hushing her daughter.
'Shhh darling. Hush now. There is nothing to be sorry for.'
Galinda sat up and looked at her mother with confusion shining through her red, tear filled eyes.
'Why not? I am in love with my sister.' Anger flowed through her words but Elise could see her longing as well.
'Does Elphaba know?' Galinda shook her head fearfully.
'Momsie she must not know! She will hate me forever. I can't stand that!'
'Galinda my child, you can not know that. Don't hide you love my darling. It will kill you in the end.' But Galinda shook her head.
'Mother she must not know. Not yet please!' Elise looked into her daughters pleading blue eyes and nodded grimly. 'You disapprove, don't you Momsie?' Galinda's voice had receded back into childhood as her head burrowed into her mothers chest.
'No my precious child. I never disapproved.'
'But, I saw your pain.'
'At loosing my child Galinda. I've lost my baby girl. I've lost my little Galinda. She's now in love…'
'With her sister.' Galinda interrupted with spite in her words.
'No my child, not her sister.' Galinda looked confused. 'You are not related to Elphaba by blood, and barely by paper. Your title is sister, your love is not. There is nothing wrong with being in love with her Galinda. There never was.' Galinda's heart lifted a weight she had not known she was carrying.
'Really Momsie?'
'Really.' Elise smiled and nodded. 'Now I know Elphaba is out of the discussion, but what about your father?' Galinda's smile faded.
'He can not know. He will hate me.'
'Galinda I will not hear that about your father.'
'He will Momsie, he will hate me.'
'No my child, he will not. He will be confused, a little shell shocked but to be honest, he knew like me. He expected something like this was about to happen. Of all this though, he will never hate you.' Galinda seemed to mull her mothers words over for a while. Finally she snuggled back into her mothers arms.
'You tell him. I couldn't.' She eventually whispered and, with pride, Elise smiled.
'Alright dear. Now, are you feeling better?' Galinda nodded and yawned. 'Good, then to bed with you child, you are exhausted.' Galinda nodded and kissed her mother on the cheek.
'Ozma bless you mother. I love you. Thank you.' Galinda went to leave but her mother called to her.
'Galinda remember these words, live them and you'll understand what you need to do.' And Galinda turned around and headed upstairs, her mothers words ringing around in her mind.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way than this.
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"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where." Well I know what that means' Galinda mused moving into her dark bedroom. "I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;" Now that's a little confusing. What does it mean to love someone straight…' Galinda's breath hitched as she went to let out a scream. Someone was in her room.
'Galinda?' Wait, don't scream! She knew that voice.
'Elphie? Sweet Oz! You scared the bubbles out of me! What are you doing in here?' Reaching over to her light, Galinda flicked the switch revealing a green and black clad girl on her bed.
'I was about to ask you the same thing. Galinda, what have you been doing and…sweet Oz were you crying?' Elphaba leapt off the bed and rushed across to Galinda.
'I'm ok Elphie, really. I was just downstairs talking with Momsie.'
'Are you sure you're ok? You can talk to me Lyndie, tell me anything. You know that right?' At this Galinda seemed to be in a slight pain. She couldn't tell Elphaba anything. She was hiding the biggest secret she's ever had from the one person she could always confide in. Momsie was right, it was going to kill her.
'I'm fine Elphie, honestly. Now you need to answer my question. What are you doing here?' Elphaba looked at her lap instead of Galinda, blushing a darker shade of green.
'I…I don't sleep heavily anymore so I heard you get up and wondered if you were ok. When I came across and found you weren't in bed, I figured I'd wait for you to come back.'
Galinda felt her heart swell with sudden love for the girl across from her. She really cared.
'Elphie, why don't you sleep well anymore?' At this Elphaba looked up.
'When you started to deteriorate, you didn't eat, didn't talk, didn't smile, I got so worried Lyndie. Then you weren't sleeping. It was those nights you'd cry and I couldn't hear you, they haunted me the most. So, I trained myself to sleep with one ear open. Every sound you made, I was alert to. That's why, on those nights you'd sniffle, I was there almost straight away.' Galinda looked at Elphaba with wide eyes.
'Oh, Elphie.' Her hand reached out to touch Elphaba's cheek, slowly her hand crept towards Elphaba's cheek before her palm meet the cool emerald skin in a gentle caress. 'I'm so sorry.' Elphaba leant into the touch and her eyes closed.
'No my sweet. I'm sorry.'
For longer than either girl could count, the two stayed that way. Galinda's hot palm just touching Elphaba's cool cheek. Suddenly, Galinda realized what she was doing and snapped her hand back as if Elphaba had bit her.
'I…should go to bed. And so should you. You need to sleep. I won't be needing you at night anymore I promise.' Galinda attempted a smile to convince Elphaba, but it only came out as a wince and Elphaba noted the look with practiced disguise.
'Ok Lyndie, sleep well.' Elphaba gave Galinda a quick hug and scrambled off the bed. With a final smile and wave at the door, the green and black girl disappeared into the darkness of the hallway.
'I will not cry tonight. I will not let her comfort me for no reason.' Galinda chanted to herself over and over again but to no avail. The tears began to fall steadily down flushed pink cheeks and soon Galinda was whimpering in to her pillow.
Elphaba lay across the hall, listening to the muffled sobs of her precious Lyndie. For tonight, she was playing deaf as Galinda had pleaded from her. Though every sob was like a knife in the emerald heart. With a tear of her own, Elphaba whispered into the night a song of sleep, hoping that it would reach the crying girl.
"Sleep, darling, sleep,
the daylight dies down in the crimson west:
All nature folds her pinions
And sinks to quiet rest.
What though the world is cruel,
Cruel for you and me?
Sleep! and the great consoler
Shall set your spirit free.
Ah yes! I know the anguish
That tears and rends your heart,
How that from all life's gladness
You live far, far apart.
There is a God of Pity
And, love, `tis He knows best.
Leave all to His compassion
And rest, my dear one, rest!"
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Elphaba had been battling with herself for days, months, years. Oz, forever really. She wasn't quite sure what she was battling, but for a while her mind has been battling her heart and Elphaba was sick of being in the middle of it all. Ever logical, Elphaba had decided that the best way to figure out what was happening, was to sit down and file her thoughts through carefully.
Lyndie had quieted down half an hour ago after Elphaba had sung the song of sleep over and over. Once the sobs had ceased and a gentle snoring was audible, Elphaba had softly crept out of her room and, after peeking in on Galinda, headed down to the library.
'Galinda will not be happy with you if she realizes that you haven't been sleeping.' Elphaba spoke aloud to herself as she slowly paced the library.
'Yeah, but who's going to tell her?' Her voice replied back.
'We don't have to tell her genius, she can see it!'
'Touché, but there is a reason why you are down here.'
'Yes, to think out this battle you are apparently having with my heart.'
'Well he started it.'
'Oh we are going to resort to child like behavior?'
'Of course. Would you have it any other way?' Her mind was so sarcastic it was actually quite annoying.
'Listen, we are going to do this quickly and efficiently so that we can go back to bed.'
'Doubt it.'
'Listen, are you going to cooperate or not?'
'Ok, ok. What do you want to know first?'
Elphaba found that talking to herself out loud allowed her to understand thing clearer. So for hours Elphaba paced the library having a full out conversation with her mind hoping that, whatever it was that was upsetting her, would come out in the open. Suddenly a dangerous topic was brought up.
'What about Galinda?' Elphaba's pacing stopped at that thought.
'What about her?'
'Well, how are we in that department?'
'That meaning?'
'Oh come on, stop acting dumb.'
'wouldn't dream of it.'
'Now whose avoiding questions?'
'Listen, Galinda is my sister.'
'Yeah, I know that.'
'Well, what else do you want to know?' Elphaba could feel herself getting nervous as she got closer to a topic she had subconsciously pushed down deep inside.
'You obviously feel something.'
'NO. No I do not! Nothing apart from sisterly affection.'
'Really?'
'Yes really, now please drop it.'
'You need to tell her.'
'No I do not! There is no reason to tell her if there is nothing to tell.' Elphaba was desperately grasping at straws. To think she was losing a battle between her mind! She must be really tired.
'It will kill you eventually if you don't tell.'
'She…she'll hate me. No! I won't tell her. Not yet.' Elphaba could feel herself mentally shrug.
'Fine, have it your way. Now go to bed. I'm tired.' Finding herself agreeing with her mental opponent, Elphaba dragged herself out of the library and up the stairs.
It was six in the morning. Galinda would be awake at nine at the latest, so she had a couple of hours to sleep before having to worry about this anymore. Mentally closing the door on her thoughts and physically closing the door to her room, Elphaba flopped down into bed, falling asleep instantaneously.
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Galinda awoke slowly and gently. Her dreams had been quite nice and she almost expected Elphaba to be lying next to her, hoping to wake up looking into dark chocolate eyes. But as her eyes opened, Galinda realized that she was alone and it was only a dream. A pang of pain washed through Galinda at the thought of never waking up to those eyes, but she shoved it away. There was only tomorrow and the weekend was over and the girls would be back at school.
'Blasted school. Silly teachers and stupid classes that separate me from Elphie.' Galinda softly cursed to herself as she got out of bed and checked herself over in the mirror. Deciding that she did look spending enough for having only recently woken, Galinda padded softly across the hall to Elphaba's room.
The room was still rather dark as Elphaba never allowed her blinds to be opened. She liked the dark. In the shadows Galinda could see Elphaba's form sprawled over the bed. She wasn't even under the covers. Galinda had seen Elphaba sleep like this a couple of times before. It was the sign that Elphaba had gone to bed very late if not only minutes ago. This upset Galinda. She hated when Elphaba had insomnia. Knowing Elphaba was sleeping deeply due to lack of sleep, Galinda walked across the room to a chair and sat down. She would watch Elphaba sleep for an hour more before softly waking her.
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'Wakey, wakey sleepy head.' Elphaba groaned and rolled on her side trying to escape the noise as best she could. Galinda hoped on the bed though, making the emerald child bounce slightly and become unstable and disoriented.
'Galinda, really. You are the most insufferable person in the world in the morning.'
'It's not my fault you didn't get much sleep last night.'
'See, she already knows.' Elphaba mentally sneered at her mind before giving a sheepish grin to Galinda.
'I know. I know. Sorry Lyndie. Good morning.' Galinda giggled.
'Morning Elphie.'
'How did you sleep?'
'Alright. And for the few hours you slept?'
'Perfectly thank you.'
'I'll bet. You were probably so tired that you were talking to yourself.' Elphaba let out a surprised chuckle.
'You could say that.'
'Want breakfast?' Elphaba nodded.
As the girls entered the kitchen, they found cook staring at the stove glaring at them as they entered.
'Girls being very mysterious with appetites at the moment. Cook no like. You eat more little blonde, you stop eating for while.' Galinda grimaced and nodded glumly.
'I know Cook. Sorry.'
'Alright little blonde. No do again. And you.' Cook whirled around to face Elphaba. 'You miss meals AND eat like sparrow. No good. Too skinny. Stop.' Elphaba fought back a chuckle.
'Yes Ma'am. Sorry. It won't happen again.'
'Good girls. You hungry? Eat.' It wasn't really a question. After that speech, the girls were eating breakfast whether they wanted to or not. Cook set to work making the girls a large breakfast.
'Morning girls.' Elise walked into the kitchen followed by Ukre.
'Momsie! Popsicle! Morning.' Galinda bubbled giving her mother a hug and kiss as a welcome. When she went to give her father a hug he stumbled and blushed before walking out of the kitchen without making eye contact. Galinda felt like her heart had been ripped out and tears pricked her eyes. Elise was watching her sensitive daughter carefully knowing she was likely to…
'Elphaba catch her!' But it was too late. Galinda had slumped down on the floor. Her head cracking against the tiles. Everything went black.
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A blurred green shape was moving in and out of focus and her head hurt a lot. A groan escaped her lips.
'Lyndie?' The voice sounded scared and relieved at the same time. 'Lyndie? Are you awake?' The green blur was moving too fast to focus.
'Elphie? What…what happened? Ow my head.' Galinda tried to sit up but a weight was on her chest. Her vision was starting to clear and the pressure was a pale hand. Her mothers? No, her fathers.
'Stay down sweetheart, doctor says you might have a bit of a concussion.'
'Popsicle?'
'Yes sweetheart. Oh Galinda, I'm sorry. I knew you might react like that and I still did it. I'm sorry.'
'Popsicle you don't hate me?' With her clearing vision she could see Ukre's horrified expression at her question and Elphaba's confused one.
'Never my child! I never hated you. I was scared and a little confused. I am so sorry my precious girl.' Galinda tried to sit up again but this time Elphaba held her down.
'No Lyndie. Stay down.' knowing that sitting up wasn't going to be an option, Galinda took her fathers hand in her own. His head lowered in shame.
'Popsicle, it wasn't your fault. Please, don't blame yourself. I am so glad you don't hate me. I love you daddy.' Ukre looked up at his daughter.
'I love you too my little girl. Now, you need to rest. Come Elphaba.' Galinda looked across at Elphaba frantically and her hand whipped around to clutch onto hers.
'No, daddy please. Let Elphie stay, just for a little bit. Please.' Ukre nodded. He wasn't about to deny her anything.
'Ok.' And with a sad smile, Ukre left.
For a while there was silence until Elphaba had to say something.
'Lyndie, I'm not going anywhere. Do you think you could loosen that grip of yours?' Galinda blushed and released Elphaba's hand. 'Lyndie. What happened?'
Galinda, as a child, had always been prone to black outs. It was a function that her brain developed called stage two breath holding. When Galinda got upset or really frightened her brain shut down, her breathing would cease and she would black out. It hadn't happened for years and after Elphaba had come, there was never an attack. This was the first one Elphaba had witnessed.
'It's called stage two breath holding. My brain just tells my body to stop working. It only happens for ten or twelve seconds but the shock is enough to make me faint. I haven't had it happen in years.'
'So why now?' Elphaba looked frightened.
'It only happens when I get really upset or frightened.'
'Well, why now?' Galinda shifted uncomfortably in the bed her eyes refusing to meet Elphaba's. 'Please Lyndie. I need to know.'
'I…I thought daddy hated me.'
'What? Why would he hate you?' Galinda looked up into Elphaba's eyes pleading.
'Please Elphie. Not now. Please? I'll tell you one day but please not now.' Elphaba sighed. She didn't want to push Galinda, especially not in this fragile state.
'Ok Lyndie. Not now, but promise me one day.' Galinda nodded relieved if only for a little while.
'I promise. One day.'
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Elphaba would stay with Galinda for the rest of the week that she was told to stay in bed. It was only precaution for the concussion but Elphaba saw to Galinda's every need. When Elphaba had to leave Galinda for school, she would write Galinda notes throughout the school day and deliver them to her after.
It was becoming more and more obvious to the parents that the love Galinda had for Elphaba was very much reciprocated. Now, if only they could see that. If only they had the courage to tell one another. And for now, all they could do was watch as their two daughters fell more and more in love with each other and more and more blind each day.
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Ta da! Chapter eleven delivered, pretty much, on time! :P I hope you enjoyed this chapter once more, as I have enjoyed writing it. And I know, the ending is a little crappy, but I was tired and didn't know how to end it without it being a cliff hanger! I knew I'd be shot if I made another cliffy so...you should all thank me really :P
Don't fret my lovely friends, although there won't be another update for a while, a week total, I will be writing it out and making it so worth the wait…hopefully.
I'll miss you all.
Stay safe for me
Grumbello
