Please Review :) Taking a poll for the next few chapters. How do you feel about time skips? How do you feel about flashbacks? Do you want to read the Smut I rated this mature over? Let me know what you want to read/what you think will happen. Will they be able to past all of this? Follow me on tumblr ezrajclarke


"Now announcing and all rise for Queen Glinda Upland as well as the courting of her Majesty's new beloved, Miss Elphaba Thropp of Munchkinland and The Thropp Third Descending." The doors threw open and all eyes were watching the empty space between them. The guards pushed the doors to the wall and Glinda lifted her chin an inch higher. For once, out of all of her years doing this, she felt like she had it right. She didn't feel like a widow entering the room with sadness running off her fingertips. She didn't feel cursed to right the wrongs that lost her so many people she cared about. She didn't feel like she was forced to live day in and day out the heartbreak of losing people she cared about. For the first time, she felt like she was proud of everything. She was proud of her girlfriend and proud of everything she had done for the kingdom. For once she felt like she had everything she had ever wanted.

The bright light nearly blinded Elphaba, but as she adjusted to it she could see their faces staring. She put up a hand to shade her eyes and took a long deep breath. She couldn't say she wasn't nervous. After everything Crope had told her, it was going to be very stressful to keep herself in check. If she was being honest, she had never had to. She was always herself and she would never compromise herself for anyone else, but this was different. She wasn't compromising her morals or pretending to be someone else, she was standing tall with her girlfriend to help ease her pain. Glinda nudged her then with her elbow and Elphaba took the hint to get a move on. Slowly coming into the public view was Elphaba and Glinda walking into the room together, as beautiful as ever. Around them, a large crowd of all different races clapped and cheered. Elphaba was surprised by the sheer number of maybe three hundred crammed into the ballroom and she was also surprised by how many different races had traveled all the way to Emerald City.

As they entered, Glinda approached a microphone set up for her just inside and Elphie stayed a few paces behind her, "Thank you, everyone, thank you so much for coming here tonight. I am so happy to see so many different faces and I look forward to talking to each and every one of you. Please, enjoy and on behalf of the royal family, thank you for coming."

The crowd cheered for her and a simple piano melody began to play from above them. Elphaba had heard it before during many different political events and around Lurlinemas. It was the song of Lurline, a gentle piano riff that Elphaba had loved since she was very young. She had even learned it when she was young during one of the summers she spent with her grandfather. As it started, Elphaba put out an arm to Glinda and led her out to the dance floor. The sea of people parted as they walked. A circle formed around the girls and watch them intently and excitedly. Elphaba could see the nervousness in Glinda's eyes and the blush on her already rose face. Elphaba decided to take the lead. She led them out to the middle of the floor and turned around, motioning for Glinda to take position. Glinda smiled at her as Elphaba put one hand on her waist and Glinda put her's on Elphaba's shoulder. Elphaba took it as slow as she could to give Glinda time to adjust to moving in her heels. Glinda was grateful for it as they began to dance and at first, she could feel all of their eyes on the two of them. Elphaba moves closer to Glinda whispered in her ear, "Hey, hey, it's just us, my love. It's just me." Then she could feel Glinda relax in her arms. A few moments into the song, Glinda put her head on Elphaba's chest and she could hear Elphaba's heart nearly beating out of her chest. By the time she opened her eyes again, the room was full of dancing couples and friends alike.

They didn't stop dancing, though. They continued through song after song. There were pictures taken and greetings from guests as they passed by. They were giggling and blushing with each other and Glinda had never felt so comfortable in anyone else's arms. Elphaba was an exceptional dancer, despite hardly ever having a class. It took Glinda all the way back to Shiz, when they first became friends. Glinda felt like she was back in front of all of their friends and dancing with Elphaba when everyone else insisted on making fun of the green-skinned girl. Her cheeks were still red, but for such a different reason. Her stomach was churning out of a similar nervousness, but Elphaba had always helped calm her. Overall, the night was perfect and from the dance floor, she had the perfect view of the night sky. All she wanted to do was kiss Elphaba and take her away from everyone else. She wanted to have Elphaba alone and it brought a heat to her stomach that she was just getting used to feeling. The butterflies never seemed to stop when she was with Elphaba Thropp.

Glinda and Elphaba didn't leave the dance floor until they were forced to by Crope, who insisted they give something to the press. Glinda rolled her eyes on this and couldn't help apologizing for it. Elphie rubbed her shoulders and told her once again that she was there to ease the stress, not create it. Glinda only smiled as they dodged through the crowd, holding hands all the way. Towards the front of the ballroom was a small station set up for journalists, all with notepads and pens at the ready. A few of them were already talking to whom Elphaba assumed were members of the council. As they approached, Elphaba stayed a step behind Glinda and Crope tapped the shoulder of a brunette in a blazer, "Miss Elphaba, this is Miss Jinjur. She's a friend of the throne and a loyal journalist." Glinda told her, loud enough for others to hear even though they probably wouldn't.

Elphaba put out a hand and Jinjur shook it happily, "It's really my pleasure," Jinjur told her as she tightened her grip on Elphaba's fingers, "You two make a beautiful couple,"

"Thank you," Glinda giggled. Elphaba wondered if Glinda would ever stop blushing.

"Let's take this outside so I can hear you two," Jinjur said and before Elphaba knew it she was outside in the cold open air of winter. The breeze was cool, but not unwelcome considering how hot the ballroom had been. The three girls tried to stay towards the west side of the balcony to keep from getting too overcrowded with guests, "So tell me, your majesties," Elphie bit her lip at being called your majesty. She'd never been one for extravagant names, but knowing Glinda wasn't either helped. She knew attending public events would be hard, but she might of underestimated her ability to hold her tongue, "First thing is first, How long have you been Courting?"

The girls exchanged a subtle look of confidence and Glinda answered for them both, "A bit over a fortnight." She said and as she did, Elphie linked their hands together.

Jinjur only nodded and wrote it down on her notepad, "Really? That short of time? What, if you don't mind me asking, makes you so sure of your relationship that you made it known to the public so early?"

Glinda's stomach churned at the question. She couldn't have been surer of anything else in her life. She loved Elphaba Thropp and the need to defend them was strong. She nearly answered in a defensive, rather ignorant tone, but Elphaba answered first, "Our courting may not have been long, but the Queen and I have known each other since we were in school together. I assure you that, though our courting is new, our relationship together is very long-standing and stable." Glinda couldn't help a smile of pure pride when she listened to Elphaba speak. She didn't let the question get to her and she spoke in a perfectly fluent sentence. She even called Glinda the Queen.

Jinjur again wrote it down and looked back up at the two girls. Then she wiggled her nose like she was thinking. Glinda started to grow impatient though, "What's wrong?"
Jinjur looked at Glinda and smiled, "I'm sorry your majesty, I just don't want to offend you. You know I am loyal to the throne, but I am also a journalist."

Elphie gave Glinda's hand a small squeeze and said, "Don't worry about offending us. If you don't ask I'm sure someone will." Glinda grimaced but nodded along with her.

"Okay." Jinjur put her notepad down against the cold railing, "Does this mean your courting is in for the long run? The press has been well aware of the council pressing year after year for a royal marriage. Will the two of you be producing an heir?"

Glinda swallowed loudly when she heard the words. She had yet to tell Elphaba the truth about the Marriage Act and it was pushing under her skin. She felt like she had snakes running just beneath the surface and she hated lying to her girlfriend. It wasn't right and she couldn't keep it up much longer, "I assure you Miss Jinjur," Elphie piped up and Glinda's gaze found their way to her lovers' eyes. In this light, Elphie's eyes were a sparkling chestnut color, "I am in this for the long run and if I was lucky enough to be the Queen's wife and lucky enough for her to want to have children with me, we would have an heir." Glinda knew as soon as Elphie closed her mouth that she had to tell Elphie the truth, tonight.

Jinjur only asked a few more questions about their love life, then asked a few more about new laws in Oz. She asked Elphie if she had a take on any of the new laws and Elphie only told her that she and Glinda were on the same page. Once they were done, Jinjur put her items away and went back inside. Elphaba could hear the music as the door opened and then it was muffled again when the door fell shut. Elphie looked at Glinda who only smiled at her with all of her teeth. In that light, Elphaba really had the chance to take a look at Glinda. The way her dress flowed down her body, the way her eyes always looked like they were perfection - Elphie wondered how Glinda could always have a twinkle in her eye. "We should go back inside," Elphie whispered, her stare never leaving Glinda's. After a long, silent stare, she turned to head back in, but Glinda pulled her back by her wrist, "Glin,"

"Just a minute," Glinda whispered and pulled Elphaba back into her arms. Elphaba relented and pulled Glinda by her waist. Glinda wrapped her arms around Elphie's neck and they got really close, "You look absolutely gorgeous," Glinda whispered and pulled Elphaba in. The kiss was long and Elphaba couldn't help but the entire world stopped spinning for it to happen. But it was never long enough for just as it started, she felt Glinda pull away and she sighed, "You're right, we should go back in."

Elphaba rolled her eyes, "You are such a tease."

"Can't help it when you look so good I could eat you." Glinda winked and went back inside before Elphaba could respond.

Elphaba took a deep breath, shook her head, and followed her Queen inside. The room was hotter than it was before she left, but everyone was still dancing and having fun. The kitchen crew had brought in their first round of appetizers. Waiters were walking around with trays of different food and drinks. Elphaba picked up a smoking Amber Moon drink off one tray and walked slowly across the ballroom. She watched Glinda as she walked, the way she talked to each guest and gave hugs and smiles to people she hardly knew. She was charismatic and Elphaba had to give her that. It was part of what made her a good politician. As she drank, she could feel magic warm her hands. Every drink served was spiked with some sort of spell to heighten sorcery. To anyone who didn't practice witchcraft, it would probably just increase the rush of adrenaline. But to witches alike, it was a potion. Many magic majors from Shiz were more amateurs than witches spent their lives making potions. It was a true art in Oz to be a witch mixologist and it was a career path for some. Elphaba could tell that whoever they highered for this event was a true mixologist. She could feel it making her fingertips tingle.

Knowing that she'd spent the entire evening with Glinda so far, she decided she'd give anyone a chance to talk to her alone. Crope had mentioned it to her before, the way they'd want to break up the united front. Elphaba figured that now would be as good a time as any. So she walked the perimeter of the ballroom and stopped when she got to a small circle of council men and women huddled in the corner. They were older, but seemed more than happy to be there, "Miss Thropp, we didn't see you there." One noted after she'd been standing just outside their circle for a few moments.

"No worries, sir." Elphaba told them.

"We were just talking about your courting." Another piped back, "We're especially excited to see the Queen pick a spouse."

"As am I." Elphaba smiled coyly to them, her smirk making a few of the younger members of council laugh.

"We had hopes that the Queen would chose someone sooner rather than later," Am elderly man in the back said, "Perhaps the Marriage Act was a good idea after all."

Elphaba furrowed an eyebrow at the words Marriage Act. She may not have known what it was, but she didn't know about it which concerned her, "A timeframe did help her choose a suitor." Someone agreed.

Crope walked up behind her in that moment and Elphaba tried to clear her throat. While the others kept the conversation going, Elphie turned to Crope and whispered to him, "What is the Marriage Act?" Despite being so quiet that Crope could hardly hear her, her voice was still demanding. She was gritting her teeth trying to stay calm.

Crope shuttered. He had a horrible feeling that this would happen and he hoped for Glinda's sake that it wouldn't. He had no choice, "The council enacted it. The Queen must be engaged by next year or she'll lose her title, but it's not what you think." He tried to defend but before he could Elphie smiled and pulled herself away from him.

She curtsied towards the group of council members, "Excuse me while I catch a breath of fresh air." She turned abruptly on her toes and standing behind her and next to Crope, was Glinda Upland. Elphaba, despite her best efforts, could feel tears building up in her eyes. She could feel her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her vision started to blur with tears and her breathing was ragged. Her palms were sweating and the crowds of people suddenly made her feel claustrophobic. Glinda's eyes staring back at her were full of worry and nervousness. She had opened her mouth to speak, but nothing was coming out. Elphaba tried to restrain herself and keep herself from making a scene. Elphie swallowed the lump in her throat and cleared it. She shook her head and whispered, "Marriage Act.." Then, she brushed passed Glinda and made sure to knock her shoulder just light enough that it wasn't noticeable to the public, but Glinda felt it.

Before she knew it she was bracing herself against the balcony rail, trying to breathe and not be noticed. When she looked up though, she had a few people glancing over to see if she was alright. Elphaba sighed, "Can I just, have some space?" She asked in one of the most defeated tones.

They looked back at one another and one girl nodded as everyone on the balcony went inside. She tried to breathe, but all the weight in the world felt like it was on her chest. Her heart was pounding against her bones. She felt like she might as well cough up blood. In her right hand, she conjured a shot from the bar and took it down with a burn in her throat. Her hands were turning red though, a side effect from the magic mixed with her anger. Magic drinks often led to emotional side effects. They blurred the line between magic and emotion. Her hands were red because she was angry, a stark contrast to their usual green. She pulled her sleeve over them and took a deep breath. She had to calm down if she was going to make it through the rest of the night.

She heard the door open though and she could hear Glinda tell guards not to let anyone past. Then she could hear Glinda's heals against the tiled floor of the balcony, "Elphie, I-" but no more words came out.

"Don't bother." Elphaba choked out and both of them could hear her voice crack.

Glinda crossed her hands in front of her, as if she was patiently waiting, "I'm so sorry. I should have told you."

Elphaba scoffed and laughed and rolled her eyes all at the same time, "Told me? What? About the law that says you need to be engaged by next year? It would have been nice." She took a shaky breath and Glinda could see how she tried to wipe the tears away and stop the water from burning her skin. Glinda hated knowing that she was the cause of Elphaba's emotional and therefore physical pain, "Was it real?" Glinda could hardly hear Elphaba speak, "Or did you just want to keep the throne?"

"Elphie-"

Elphaba spoke over Glinda again, "I could've done it for you, you know. I could've pretended to be your wife. I would've done it for your public image, if you needed me to. You didn't have to make all of this up-" She finally turned around and saw the tears in Glinda's eyes.

"Elphaba Thropp, you stop it right now." Glinda told her, "You stop it."

Finally, Elphie let the tears roll down her cheeks, "Stop, what, Glinda? What's the truth? What happened to not being blindsided?"

Glinda took a step forward when Elphaba slouched. The blonde brushed her thumb over Elphie's cheek and wiped away the tears, "Elphie, it's all real. I assure you it's all real." She whispered, "It's all real, baby. This is real."

Elphaba huffed and leaned into Glinda's grasp, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Glinda shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, "I was scared, Elphie. I love you and I was so scared that if I told you-" Glinda paused when she realized the words she said and she bit her lip. Her eyes were like a deer in headlights. She had never said I love you so early on in a relationship.

"I love you too." Elphie told her first, a small smile forming on her lips, "I love you, baby, but that's why this hurts." She mumbled.

"I'm so sorry baby." Glinda told her, rubbing her thumb against her cheek, "I didn't want to scare you away. I'm so sorry."

Elphaba wiped her own tears away and pulled herself together as she realized a small crowd was forming, including some of the press, "We have to talk about this." Elphaba said, "But, not tonight. I don't want this to look bad on you."

"Baby, I don't care what they think. Crope might care for me, but I don't care." Glinda shook her head and wrapped her hands around Elphie's neck, "I love you, baby. I love you so much, I am so sorry."

Elphaba hugged her back, "We'll talk about it tonight, but I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

Glinda pulled out of the hug and she rubbed her hands through the back of Elphie's hair. She wiped away the remaining tears that left subtle burns against her cheeks. Glinda cursed herself for the marks she knew were her fault. Then, she lent in, knowing there was a crowd of eyes on them, and kissed Elphaba on the lips. Elphaba quickly responded by wrapping her arms around Glinda's waist. Elphaba kissed her back, long and soft. "I love you," Glinda whispered when they broke apart, "I love you, Elphaba Thropp."