They reached the dining room, and Aruc's eyes darted from Elphaba to the chair and back again. "Good look seating that one," Fiyero hid his tension with an ease she envied. "She's faster than an ostrich and five times as stubborn."

"Are ostriches stubborn?"

"Oh, when it suits them."

"We'll see," Aruc boasted. "She's never had me to contend with."

The boys escorted them in, and Fiyero led Nessa to her usual seat. Elphaba veered away from him, only to find Aruc between her and the left seat. She spun back, to face Fiyero at the right one - waiting. Each boy grinned, certain she'd pick theirs. Ugh, men. She stalked toward Fiyero, and Aruc's grin fell. Until Elphaba passed him and dropped into the empty chair on his right intended for Aruc.

She set her napkin in her lap. "So what's for dinner?"

Fiyero leaned down. "I've graduated, then? I'm surprised you trust me to feed her after extolling my faults before."

Damn. He'd distracted her again. She blushed. "Fine, trade me seats."

"On one condition. Stop forcing yourself to hate me."

"It comes quite naturally, I'm afraid."

He stood, but before they could exchange, their parents paraded in. Aruc stood as well, accepting the Queen's warm greetings, and Elphaba tried to move while the attention was elsewhere.

Frexspar frowned at her. "Elphaba, you needn't stand. Men stand to be polite." She didn't sit, and he sighed in annoyance. "You're not a man."

"I am aware." She colored as everyone's attention settled on her. "I was switching seats with Fiyero."

"Prince Fiyero," he corrected with a glare.

"That's the one."

He raised his eyebrow in challenge, but she adopted a bored expression. "Sit down." Frexspar's eyes were stony as he took his place beside her. "There's nothing wrong with where you were seated."

"But Nessa…"

"You must let this ridiculous obsession with your sister's frailty go. Nessarose will sit beside her fiancé. He is responsible for her future, not you."

Elphaba started to interrupt, but Fiyero tugged her toward her chair. Barely did the wisdom of withdrawal overcome her indignance, and she plopped back in her seat with a cranky scowl.

Fiyero slipped his hand into her lap to capture hers. He gave a quick squeeze and dropped it before she had time to react. She turned to study his expression, but he kept his eyes forward. After a long few moments, he whispered, "I know you're unhappy with me, but I'll do my best to take care of her. Tell me what to do."

"You couldn't have just traded me seats?" she hissed, and his eyes darted back to her father.

"I'm sorry. It's not a fight I could have won for you at the moment. Without embarrassing your sister or exposing your promises, at least."

She sank back. "Well, this is going to be difficult."

"We'll have to make do."

"What are you two whispering about?" Frexspar barked, tipped off by Nessa's curious stare. "Prince Fiyero, you needn't baby her. She'll sulk regardless, I'm afraid." He turned to Elphaba with a stern face. "If you can't behave, you can do without your dinner."

Her jaw dropped, but Fiyero spoke before she could get herself tossed out. "Not at all, sir. I merely thought to put in a good word for Master Aruc. He's taken quite an interest in Miss Elphaba, and I was testifying to his many positive qualities on his behalf. I meant no offense."

"Perhaps that's best done elsewhere, son," the king chastised. "After Master Aruc has addressed the matter with the girl's father."

"Of course," Fiyero flushed. "My apologies."

Aruc rubbed his neck at the king's heavy stare. "I beg pardon, your highness. I assumed as I was still far from Miss Elphaba's favor, the need had not yet arisen. I will plan more wisely in the future." That last came with a pointed glare at Fiyero.

"How pleased I am that you find interest in our lovely guest!" the queen's sweet voice rang as she beamed at him. "I am certain you are mistaken in your estimation of her disfavor, yes?"

Elphaba shifted under the woman's gaze. "I haven't known Master Aruc long enough for him to curry either favor or reproach." Frexspar sent her a warning look, but the queen smiled, appeased enough to shift the spotlight to other discussions.

Fiyero inclined his head a minute degree toward her, eyes forward, and whispered, "It does seem we have the hardest time finding any opportunity that any two people might."

She smiled, copying his example. "True."

"So, what should I do? Quick before we're rediscovered."

"Small bites, small drinks, neat." He bobbed a tiny nod. "Alternate with your own food so she doesn't feel like you're staring at her. Don't shove the fork-" She paused for the steward to set down their first course. "Don't shove the fork in her mouth. Let her eat it. Oz, there's too much. Just try to use good judgment."

His crooked smile held back his chuckle. "I'll try."

"I'll let you know if you do something wrong."

"Oh, I'm certain of that." She transformed her laugh into a hiccup, which freed him to glance at her openly. She met his smile and drug her eyes back to her plate. "Napkin?" He turned to Nessarose gallantly, and Elphaba resisted the urge to correct him. "This is one of my favorite dishes. Truffles with rabbit."

"It looks delicious," Nessa studied him from beneath her eyelashes.

"It is," he assured her as he scooped a small bite on her fork. He offered it to her too far away, and Nessa teetered forward to reach it. Elphaba waited until he withdrew the fork to kick his foot.

Fiyero almost turned to her from instinct, but converted it to a bite of his own. "Closer, you idiot." He ghosted a nod.

She watched him work with Nessa, balancing her needs with her autonomy. So caught up was Elphaba that her appetizer remained untouched when the stewards approached to clear the table. She shoved a couple forkfuls of the rabbit in her mouth before they took her plate. Fiyero had been right. It was delicious.

Frexspar saw her and scowled. "Elphaba! Manners!"

She set her fork down, blushing. "Finally, a girl with an appetite," Aruc winked from across the table. "How admirable."

"It's easy to have an appetite with food this delicious."

The queen beamed at her praise, and Fiyero shot her an impressed look. He waited for cover and whispered, "I do believe that was your first actual compliment."

"Don't get used to it."

He chuckled. "No fear of that."

They continued their clandestine correspondence throughout dinner, and Fiyero mastered the basics enough to handle this meal with relative grace. She even managed to eat a third of her own dinner. Aruc's presence earned them a free evening, and the quartet retired from the adults' watchful eyes at last. Fiyero caught her attention and murmured, "Well?"

"What?"

"Dinner. How terrible was I?"

"Not that terrible." He let out a sigh, and she laughed. "Were you worried?"

"Of course! Miss 'I'll let you know if you do something wrong.' I could hardly breathe all night with you watching me like a hawk." But his smile exposed his good humor.

"Good. Keep you on your toes."

"As if you'd ever let me anywhere else. Do you enjoy keeping others off balance?"

"Oh, like you don't."

A bouquet of poppies appeared in front of her, and she stared at them until Aruc all but shoved them in her hands. "Striking flowers for a striking girl."

Fiyero coughed a laugh. "Striking?"

"Quite fitting, yes?"

"I'd say so." Fiyero swallowed a smile. "Though not the best of compliments. You should take better care with your choice of words in honor of our sharp-witted Miss Elphaba."

"What would you say, oh, sovereign of romance?"

He tsked. "You'd get me in trouble, complimenting another in front of my fiancée."

"If you're unable to…" Aruc challenged, and Fiyero laughed.

"Such a lackluster taunt. I'd expect more from you." Aruc waved him on. "Fine. But only under duress and qualified with no comparison to the delightful Miss Nessarose." Fiyero tipped his head toward her, and she giggled.

"No, no. If you might shelter Master Aruc from my sister's rebuke, please do."

Elphaba shook her head. "You'd turn against me as well, my pretty?"

"Oh, it's mere folly. Don't be cross."

"Far be it from me to deny my future bride." Fiyero circled Elphaba with evaluative eyes that made her throw her shoulders back to camouflage her vulnerability. By his playful face, he meant to tease her for her cross behavior earlier, but she sensed a true perceptiveness that she'd rather he not unleash on her.

"See, Aruc, you mayn't use any praise which could be turned with the slightest measure of cunning to mean any critique."

"Oh, cunning?" Elphaba made a face, sarcasm dripping from her words, "Well, you're doing spectacularly thus far."

"See?" He grinned, but winked at her in assumed secret collusion. "Too intense a compliment, and she'll dub you insincere or unreliably affected, no matter the truth. Too modest a compliment, and you'll offend her the same as an insult. Better none at all."

"Is that your answer?" She laughed. "I do believe that's the best I've heard yet."

"No, no. Praising the exacting Miss Elphaba is not for the weak of heart. But I am no coward-" He paused to kiss Nessa's cheek and wink. "So I shall persevere."

Elphaba smirked. "Is not an ignorant fool wiser than an arrogant man aware of the danger but dismissive of it?"

"Keep your riddles from me." He wagged a finger. "I'll not be distracted."

"It seems that's all you shall be."

"Beautiful as she is, Aruc," he held his eyes trained on Elphaba's face, "you cannot praise her appearance to her satisfaction."

"You find me vain?" She drew back in annoyance. "Hardly!"

"Precisely. Your unnecessary humility keeps you blind to any truth in that respect."

"How do you know? Perhaps that's exactly how I'd prefer praising."

"No, you shan't mislead me." He lifted an eyebrow, scrutinizing her with surprising efficiency. "With cautious weighing of words, I would praise Miss Elphaba for her astounding wit despite its use in dispatching poor suitors to tatters."

"So…you'd say?" Nessa supplied, amused by his silliness.

"Miss Elphaba," he lifted her hand to his lips, "you're the cleverest person I've met or am likely to in the foreseeable future."

"Is that long, the foreseeable future?" she teased.

"Have I chosen poorly?"

"I suppose not. Better than Aruc at least, though I could have done without the show."

"Splendid!" Nessa beamed up at Fiyero. "Well done."

He bent in a showy bow, and Aruc kicked him over. "Thanks for outshining my praise. Isn't one pretty girl enough for you, or must you charm all them?"

Fiyero shrugged and turned to his fiancée. "What shall we do this evening, Miss Nessarose? Your wish is my command."

"Oh, whatever you like."

"I have it on good authority you're quite the singer, is that so?"

Nessa blushed. "Oh, no. Elphaba's the one with the beautiful voice."

Fiyero pressed on, "But you do enjoy singing?" Nessa nodded, and Aruc clapped his hands together.

"Well, that's it, then. We demand a demonstration."

"In truth, Elphaba is the gifted one. You should have her sing."

"Fine." Fiyero lounged on the sofa, hands behind his head. "After you sing, she'll sing."

Elphaba huffed. "I'm not the one who likes singing. Why should I have to?"

"You sing much better than I," Nessa countered, and Aruc draped an arm around each of them.

"Girls, girls, the longer you resist, the more we shall be forced to coerce you." He winked at Elphaba, and she sighed.

"Alright, we'll sing. But if we have to, so do you."

Fiyero and Aruc had a silent deliberation across the room. "Right then. I'll start," Aruc offered with a robust laugh. "I'm afraid I only know drinking songs, so we'll have to just muddle through somehow." He broke into an off-key and off-color reel about beer and women that Fiyero felt the need to interrupt.

"Perhaps we should start with the ladies. Maybe then you can think of a less offensive song. Nessa?"

She launched into a sweet, somber hymn that was one of her favorites, eyes shut in prayerful concentration. Her clear voice navigated the calm melody with familiarity. When she ended, her eyes stayed shut for a moment, transported with religious fervor to a heaven that the others were excluded from. Fiyero caught Aruc's eye and clapped politely.

"What a pretty song, Miss Nessarose."

Her cheeks bloomed with a becoming blush. "You are too kind, Master Fiyero."

Nessa returned to her seat, and they all stared at Elphaba. "Oh, if I must."

She felt for a melody, letting it sing through her, and found it a bittersweet song - loss mixed with hope, longing and reluctant faith, a far off future that might be believed in if she allowed the wish. She sang it, simply, truthfully, without any arrogant attempt at embellishment. The song filled her with a yearning that seeped into her voice, and it's end left her empty, but paradoxically full.

A hush thundered in its place once the song faded, and for too long no one moved.

"Lurline," Aruc swore, staring at her with awe-filled eyes. Fiyero's eyes caught hers, startling in their intensity, and he cleared his throat.

"That was…" He shook his head, stunned. "…so, so very…"

She shifted, uncomfortable in the silence. "You next, Fiyero."

"What am I to sing to follow that?" He shook his head, lost. "Some childish hunting chant? Nothing is good enough."

"You promised." She crossed her arms, and when he didn't move, she clasped his hand and tugged. "Sing."

"Elphaba, that…I can't disturb that perfection." He caught her face in his hands. "That was breathtaking. If I never hear another song, that will be the perfect memory that will last into eternity."

"You're being dramatic."

"A miracle of beauty deserves no less."

"It's just a song."

He tipped her face to his, a reproving frown. "And yesterday was just a sunset." She sensed the futility of her argument and held her tongue. He released her, studying her with new eyes.

Aruc tossed an arm around her. "Some set of pipes on you, girl."

She rolled her eyes. "Disappointed it's not a drinking song?" she teased, and he smiled.

"How could anyone be disappointed with that?"

She shrugged.

Nessa wore a smug smile. "I did say my sister had a good voice."

"Good? That's like calling heaven okay," Aruc squeezed Elphaba's shoulder into him. "She's spectacular."

Nessa frowned at the hint of sacrilege, and she pestered Aruc into a reluctant theological discussion that interested no one but her.

Fiyero kept quiet the rest of the evening, and his burning eyes stole Elphaba's voice as well. She avoided his gaze, too disturbed by the unabashed admiration in it, and when the evening finally ended, she slipped away from the boys with the barest of goodnights.


AN: I've noticed my chapters growing longer, and I wondered which you all would prefer - these longer chapters, or shorter ones with a little faster updates? As always, thank you for thanking the time to read my work. You guys are awesome.