The morning trickled by with an anxious presence to which Nessa remained oblivious as they meandered about the castle, waiting for Aruc. It was well after noon when he arrived, full of exuberance. "Thank Oz, they weren't a hallucination. Ladies, a marvelous day to you both."

"What am I, chopped liver?" Fiyero teased, clasping the man's hand. "My mother is anxious to see you. She insists you join us for dinner tonight."

"I'd be honored."

"Might I borrow you a moment?"

He led Aruc off to discuss their plan, and Elphaba set an arm around Nessa's trim waist. "So, my pretty, pleased with your new home?"

"I suppose so."

"You sound unconvinced. I thought you were quite the admirer."

"I find the lack of worship here most troubling," she confessed.

"Are you surprised?"

"I hadn't considered it, I guess. But the Unnamed God challenges us to reach all with his message. Perhaps I shall be a light of truth to this savage nation."

"You think them savage?"

"Don't you? I thought you accused Prince Fiyero of the same when he confessed his hunting."

"Yes." Elphaba shifted. Logically, nothing had changed, so why did she find Nessa's condemnation so unsettling? The boys' return spared her from further self-examination. Aruc flashed her a cheeky grin, and her anxiety returned in full force, further amplified when Fiyero peeked at her with an apologetic face. "What?"

"Nothing," Aruc grinned. "Who's up for a walk? I feel the need for fresh air."

"That's sounds lovely," Nessa peered up at Fiyero. "Do you think it is advisable in this heat?"

"If you follow the shade, you should be fine." He turned to Elphaba. "Shall I show you to the library again? I've some work to finish there, but you're welcome."

"Perhaps you could show me that book," Nessa said, but Aruc shook a finger.

"You'd abandon me so soon?"

"Oh, well, shouldn't we all…"

Elphaba took a step back. "Maybe after your walk."

"Of course." He flashed that knowing smile again. "We'll meet you there."

Nessa hesitated, but Elphaba leaned down to whisper, "This seems a perfect opportunity to begin your lighting."

"Do you think?"

"What is it you say: the Unnamed God provides?"

Her sister frowned, "Elphaba, don't be blasphemous. Are you sincere?"

"It's not for me to question divinity."

"Ladies," Aruc interrupted, "you needn't discuss your attraction for me in whispers. Please, share."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself, Aruc - though I suppose you must for lack of others."

"You wound me!" He winked. "Careful, or I'll demand a kiss in medicine."

"Come," Fiyero laughed, "let's go before I have to pull you two apart again."

"If only," Aruc called after them, and Fiyero's hand on her back was all that kept her from racing back with a scathing retort.

Once out of sight, she asked, "Are you sure she'll be alright with him?"

"Perfectly safe. I even gave him a primer on what I learned yesterday." He grinned at her expression. "What, surprised I learned something?"

"Now I'm truly terrified for her safety." But her words cared no sting. She found it refreshingly surprising he had been so thoughtful. "Do you think it wise they meet us in the library? What if they're back before we expect?"

"Aruc will bring them past the turret so we can see them from the window. Regardless, the stairs are noisy enough to catch our attention."

"Stairs! Oh, I forgot about the stairs. How will Nessa-"

"So we'll meet them at the bottom and claim coincidence." He caught her arm and turned her to face him. "Stop worrying. I said you could trust me, and I meant it."

Elphaba huffed.

"Besides, you're going to be angry enough at me when you find Aruc's price."

She eyed him suspiciously. "Why?"

"He wants to trade: time alone with Nessa for time alone with you."

"And you said…?"

"He had to behave himself." Fiyero caught her before she could stomp away. "And he will. Or I'll make him." She shook her head, repressing the idiotic names she wanted to call him. "I think you already demonstrated that you can handle him. Believe me, if he tries anything improper, he will live to regret it. I swear. But Aruc is a gentleman. You've nothing to fear."

"It's not fear; it's disgust." She sighed. "So I'm to suffer with Aruc for the 'privilege' of teaching you?"

"Am I such a burden?" Her annoyance left no room for his reassurance. "What today, then, slave driver?"

"Nessa likes to read, though unfortunately nothing of quality. You should hold it here, not too far, but not too close." Ignoring the book floating between them, Fiyero turned to her.

"What else does she like?"

"Singing, praying, I don't know. Anyway, she'll let you know when to turn the page, but you have to be listening for it. She won't say it loud."

"Do you read together often?"

"Does it matter?"

"I'm curious," he shrugged. "What do you usually do, besides charming strangers and humbling princes?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Make sure you look up periodically to see if she's still interested. Reading makes Nessa sleepy."

"How long do you read for?"

She hesitated, but his question bore enough validity to deserve an answer. "A couple hours before Nessa loses interest."

"And you?" She stared. "You're the avid reader, yes?"

"And that's your business how?"

"Of course. I beg your pardon." He tried to soften her with a gentle smile. "I merely wondered what to do once she'd grown tired. Does she sleep while you read then?"

She scrutinized him as she tried to decide whether to call him on his game. "Sometimes."

"And others?"

"Not."

He flashed another smile. "I see."

She drew a measured breath. "Can we continue please?"

"Did we stop?" She rolled her eyes, and he saw at last the hidden frustration. His teasing turned to sobriety. "Have I offended you again?"

"Your incompetence is more bothersome than offensive."

"Incompetence I've demonstrated how, precisely? Since our lesson yesterday."

"You can tell she's done by-"

He took the book and closed it. "Are you really this cross about Aruc? I can talk to him again."

"It's fine. It's done. Let's work."

"Can't you tell me-"

"Just give me the-" She reached across him to snatch the book, but he caught her wrist. She forcefully shook him off.

"What is the matter with you?"

"Fine, you want to talk? What makes you think you're good enough for my sister?"

"Am I not?" She scoffed. "What have I done that's so terrible?"

"Nothing." She moved to the window to distance herself from him. "It's not your fault my sister is above you."

He stood behind her. "Elphaba…"

"Don't let it trouble you. I doubt anyone is good enough to deserve her."

"I'd like to try."

She spun to face him. "Why should she? Sent off with strangers, dismissed and traded about like a collection card. What kind of life is that?"

"What are you talking about? When have I…?" She lifted her eyebrows, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Aruc is a friend. A close friend. I'd never treat her so carelessly. Nor anyone."

She laughed coldly. "Oh yes, you're the epitome of careful. Except for walls, paint, horses…"

"You'd have me, what, lock her in a tower to keep her safe? Then you'd accuse me of trapping her!" She shrugged. "Haven't I demonstrated my intentions by now? I want to do right by her. You know that."

"But you can't."

"Why? What about me is so inferior, so undeserving?"

"You don't love her."

Elphaba's glare did not waver, but his face softened. "I don't know her, yet. But I want to love her."

"Wanting doesn't make it so."

He caught her hand. For a long, silent moment he contemplated his words, his fingers drifting in small circles over her knuckles. "I won't take your place, Elphaba. No one can love your sister like you do. I'm not taking her from you."

"You are," she snapped. "And Nessa deserves better. You shouldn't marry her if you don't love her."

"My marriage to your sister is not a choice that was taken lightly. But when Sarima- my fiancée, pledged at birth," he clarified at her questioning expression. "But she passed away before she reached a suitable age, and the politics of my people are complex. Any wife I marry from my homeland would threaten civil war."

She snorted. "Oh, yes, I'm sure a mail-order stranger is better."

"An outsider will rock them, yes, but with less disastrous results. It's the only way to avoid bloodshed."

"So don't marry."

He leveled a disappointed look that had her blushing. "I must marry, Elphaba. I'm the crown prince and only heir."

"So you'd use my sister to satisfy your own political agenda?" she accused. "She's to be miserable so you can stay in power?"

Fiyero ran a hand through his hair. "It's my duty to protect my people. Though I'd hardly desire her to be miserable. She did consent, of her own free volition."

"Only because she thinks she's a burden. Which she is not," Elphaba snapped out the last with an accusatory glare.

"Of course not. But she is not an unwilling captive, nor I a heartless villain. Show me how I might make my future wife happy, and I'll do what I can to make it happen."

Elphaba studied him. His eyes beamed sincerity beyond any skepticism. With a deep sigh, she tossed a book at him and dropped back to the sofa. He lifted the book a careful distance away. "Like this?"

She nodded.

He waited a long moment before he chanced, "So she likes to sing?"

Another nod.

"And you? Do you like to sing?"

"That has nothing to do with Nessa."

"I told you. I'd like a friendship with you, also."

"And I do not. How can you be this stupid?" She crossed her arms more in defense than anger.

"We're to be family, Elphaba. You can't ask me not to care for you."

"I can."

His smile tightened at her obstinacy. "Then we shall have a difficult time, I fear, as I have no intention of stopping."

She huffed and tore her eyes away from his before they could persuade her a second time, only to see the edge of Aruc's cloak disappear through the open doorway. "See what you've done? You've wasted the whole lesson with your talk. Now I've got to humor your loathsome friend for nothing."

She darted toward the door to meet them before Nessa had to tackle the stairs, but Fiyero stepped in her path. "Elphaba." His soothing voice annoyed her further, and she pushed him to get by.

"Move."

"It pains me to see you this upset with no purpose."

"I've plenty of purpose," she barked back, fumbling her way past him to the landing. He swerved back into her path.

"I'm not the enemy."

"Then get out of my way."

He started to argue, but stepped back as they heard the sharp staccato of footsteps on the hardwood.

"We're late. Come on." She latched on his arm and yanked him down the stairs. "Nessa! You're back."

"Finished your work then?" Aruc nodded toward Fiyero.

"No, but it can keep till tomorrow if it must."

The others continued a frivolous conversation on which she couldn't force herself to concentrate. Fiyero sought her eyes, but despite his persistence, she kept them sullenly away. This was all his fault, and she'd be damned if she'd make him feel better about it. The tension between them grew. Inch by inch, smothering the air from the room. She fidgeted. What right did he have to look so upset? He was the one who got Nessa.

They turned the corner, and she pulled him back. He jerked his head up, surprised.

"Don't."

He searched the air above her head for some answer. "What have I done now?"

"Don't look so hurt."

"You spend an hour listing each of my faults, but I mayn't look hurt? How should I look?"

"Why does my opinion matter, anyway? You should care more about Nessa's. She's your fiancée." Fiyero shook his head and started toward the others. Elphaba yanked him back. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

"I am unable to speak without offending you, so I won't."

"You'll just ignore me?"

"No, I shall allow you to ignore me."

"Why are you being so difficult?"

"Me?" The force of his gaze fell on her with such weight, she nearly staggered. "You-" He pressed his lips in a thin white line. "I apologize."

She narrowed her eyes. "You apologize? Even though you clearly don't agree."

"I'm not fighting with you, Elphaba. If you insist on continuing this, you'll have to continue on your own."

She let out a frustrated breath. "So you're so immune to emotion, then? Fantastic husband you'll make."

He lashed out a hand, and she flinched. But it landed behind her, grasping the wall, and he backed her into it. "Not immune," he growled. "Struggling to be polite."

"Sorry it's such a struggle for you."

His eyes snapped to hers, then dropped to her lips as he willed himself to calm. She found herself infected by his tension instead. Her heart pounded as his slowed, and at long last, he whispered, "No."

He drew a hand down her cheek as she shivered. "No?"

"It's not so hard to be kind to you. Despite your best attempts otherwise." His thumb smoothed circles on her jaw. The shift in his frustration had left her unbalanced, dazed. "No, Elphaba. You won't get rid of me so easily." He stepped back. "Fight if you must. But I will care for you. And sooner or later, you will trust me."