Chapter 12

Kerrick's secretary entered his office to bring him a cup of coffee.

"Have your friend's left?" She asked.

"Yes, they have some important business to attend to," Kerrick remarked.

The secretary looked at Kerrick's desk and spied the District Map with all the markings, as well as the scribbled notes that Lothier had left behind.

"What's going on with this?" She asked, pointing to the items.

Kerrick quickly gathered up the map and scraps of paper. "It's nothing. Just something we were working on earlier," he stated.

"Is that where your friend's went? To the place on the map?" She inquired.

"As a matter of fact, yes. But it's none of your concern."

The secretary just shrugged her shoulders. "Well, here's your coffee. I have to go out and run some errands. Will it be alright if I take the rest of the afternoon off?"

"Not a problem. Go take care of your business…..Oh, and Marinda, thank you for the coffee."

Marinda smiled, then left the office


"Baluster, thanks for coming over on such short notice."

"Of course, Renegade. So what business is so urgent that I had to drop my under cover work?"

"Finding the current location of the Grimmerie can wait. We have more immediate concerns. The prosecution has a witness against Baraq."

"Who?"

"Lothier."

"Lothier? That is bad news. What do you need me to do?"

"I need him eliminated. Glinda is still preoccupied. If Phanica is doing her job, we can probably expect that she won't be back for a couple of days at least. If we can get rid of Lothier quickly, we can proceed with the trial, and Baraq will be released for lack of evidence. But I stress, we need this done quickly."

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

"Who is it?" Renegade yelled through the closed door.

"It's Marinda. I have some information for you."

Renegade opened the door. And Marinda invited herself inside.

"Ah, Baluster, it's a good thing you're here. This news concerns you."

Baluster looked surprised.

"I was in Kerrick's office. I brought him some coffee to see if I could goad him into a conversation about what he Lothier and Tanon had talked about."

"And?" Renegade asked.

"Well, while he didn't divulge anything specific, I did learn something very significant."

"Go on."

"There was a map on his desk. A District Map of Gillikin. There were also scraps of paper with colors and numbers scribbled on them."

Baluster and Renegade exchanged uneasy glances.

"On the map, he had some areas dotted, with one large area circled." She turned to Baluster. "They've figured out the code. They know where you're staying. From what I gather, Tanon and Lothier are on their way there to try and apprehend you."

Baluster pounded his fist on the wall. "Damn it. Lothier must've given them the information."

Renegade calmly rubbed his chin with his forefinger. "This news isn't all that bad."

Baluster looked incredulously at Renegade.

"Think about it. We want Lothier out of the way. Instead of you having to find him, memorize his patterns and habits, then wait for an opportunity to strike, he's coming to you."

"And if that meddler Tanon is with him, all the better," Baluster added as he was beginning to get the gist of what Renegade was saying. "Marinda, do you know if they're coming alone or with reinforcements?"

"I'm pretty sure they're coming alone. I spoke with the head of the guard, and he seemed to indicate that he thought it would be a pretty quiet night in Gillikin."

"Excellent," Renegade said. "Thank you Marinda. You'll be paid promptly for the information, as usual."

"As usual, gentlemen, it's been a pleasure doing business with you," Marinda said.

Renegade saw her to out of the house, then turned back to Baluster. "So, what's your plan?"

"Pretty straightforward. They'll come looking for me at the house. I'll just make sure they find their way in." Baluster issued forth a sinister smile. "If all goes as planned, you may not need to have that trial postponed at all."

Renegade smiled back in a baleful manner. "Good. Report back once Lothier has been eliminated."

Baluster nodded, and left.


Elphaba and Glinda had been riding for hours. For the most part, Glinda had slept as Elphaba held onto her, waking up at scant intervals just to stretch or change positions. She had been sleeping for a couple of hours now. As night fell, and the cold settled in, Elphaba began to look for a secure place to settle in for the evening. They were now at the far edge of the Gillikin forest, but still too far from Mt. Runcible for Elphaba to consider pressing on. She was being very mindful of Glinda's delicate condition, and wanted to make sure that, as much as possible, her love was able to get some much needed, horizontal rest.

Glinda groaned and stirred in Elphaba's arms. Her eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she just stared at the dark forest ahead. Elphaba glanced at her and noticed that she was awake.

"How are you feeling? Any better?" She asked as she brought her hand up and gently ran her fingers through Glinda's hair.

Glinda stretched her back as much as her body and positioning would allow. "Ugh! I'm still sore, but yes, I am feeling better."

"I'm glad to hear it. A little more rest will do you a world of good."

Glinda looked around. The last time she'd opened her eyes, the sun was still out. "How long was I asleep this time?"

"A couple of hours. You really needed it. You still need it." She put her arm back around Glinda's waist and kissed her shoulder. Glinda tilted her head back, trying to work the kinks out of her neck.

"Don't worry, we're almost at a stopping point. In faaaact….." Elphaba strained to look through the moonlit forest. It only took a few moments for her to find what she was looking for. "Ah, there it is. There's a path between those trees that will take us to a secluded location. No one will be able to spot this path in the dark. We should be safe there for the night."

Glinda looked in the direction that Elphaba was staring, but didn't see a path. Soon, however, Elphaba turned the horse off of the trail they were on, and pushed through the trees. The horse plodded across the overgrown grass and through the bushes. After a few moments, a narrow trail emerged. They traveled down the path for awhile until they were well out of site of their original trail and in a small clearing.

"Here we are," Elphaba stated. Glinda looked around, confused. She didn't see anything resembling a shelter.

Elphaba slid off of the horse, then helped Glinda down. Glinda held onto her as she tested her muscles for soreness and workability.

"What's the verdict?" Elphaba asked with concern.

"Well, it's all working. Just sore still."

"Come on, I'll help you walk."

Elphaba put her arm around Glinda's waist and guided her to an old tree stump. Glinda was surprised to find a fire ring near the stump. "You've camped here before?"

"Uh huh. We've utilized several areas of this forest before. Sometimes it's a long haul between safe houses, and we need to find secure areas to camp out for the night. It could be a cave, or a clearing or anything really. The main objective is security. We can't be seen from the main trail while we're here, so it'll be safe to build a fire."

"Oh good. It is getting chilly." Glinda noticed.

"I also have a little surprise," Elphaba said. She walked over to a large tree and scanned the dirt until she found what she was looking for. A stick protruding from the ground at a 45 degree angle. She quickly pushed aside the myriad of pine needles, brushed the dirt aside and found a handle. With a hard tug, Elphaba lifted the handle, and a small, camouflaged trap door opened upwardly. The door had a tarp draped over it to keep the dirt from entering, and keep its contents unsullied. She got down on her knees and reached down into the opening, extracting a package wrapped in plastic.

Glinda watched with surprise and fascination as Elphaba closed the trap door and headed over to her with the package.

"What do you have there?" Glinda asked.

Elphaba sat down next to Glinda and started removing the plastic. "Well, we never know when we're going to be here, or if we're going to need any kind of supplies." She unwrapped the plastic, revealing two woolen blankets and two pillows. Smiling, she held the items up for Glinda to see. "There are certain sites where we've created our own 'care packages'. Just in case of an emergency. It's mostly in exposed areas, not caves."

"Elphie, that's so clever." Glinda ran her hands over the soft fabric of the blankets.

"Trust me, in times like this, we're awfully glad to have this stuff around."

"How do you keep the blankets clean once they've been used?" Glinda asked.

"Well, we don't actually do it ourselves. We have a system where people check the sites at regular intervals. There's always two sets of blankets. The clean ones are wrapped in plastic to keep them dry, just in case the elements find their way into the storage space. We've done our best to weatherproof it, but you never know. Anyway, the people who check the sites have clean supplies with them. They just make an exchange, taking the soiled laundry and leaving the clean items."

"Wow, you people really have some sort of system going don't you?"

"We have to. Remember, we're considered outlaws."

"I'm working on that," Glinda added.

Elphaba smiled. "I'm sure you are sweetie. I'm sure you are. But for now….." Elphaba stood up. "I need to put some bedding together and start a fire."

"Can I help?"

"Absolutely not. You just relax, and let me take care of you," Elphaba said. She bent down and gave Glinda a quick kiss, then began putting together a pine needle bedding.

'You always do take care of me. Sweet Oz, I love you.' Glinda smiled as she watched Elphaba put their bed together.

Elphaba grabbed the blanket that she'd placed on Glinda's shoulders for the ride and put it on top of the pine needle fluff. Next she put the pillows down, then placed the two woolen blankets on top. After turning down the corner of the blankets, Elphaba walked back to Glinda to help her get into bed. She gently helped the blonde down onto the soft bedding, removed her shoes, helped her undress and tucked her in.

"I'll get the fire started, then I'll be right back," Elphaba said, then placed a kiss on Glinda's cheek.

She turned to face the fire pit, and began to wave her arms, uttering the same chant she used in the cave. A smile played across Glinda's face as she watched Elphaba produce the fire that burned brightly in the pit.

"Elphie, you used your magic," Glinda said smiling broadly.

"Yeah. I was able to reach somewhere deep inside of myself and create the same fire earlier when I needed to warm you up," Elphaba said with a hint of disconsolation. She tried not to think about how hurt Glinda was, and how close she'd come to losing her.

Elphaba quickly shook off the thought and offending emotion. She walked to the other side of the bedding, undressed and climbed in next to Glinda. Gently, she gathered Glinda into her arms. After a few silent moments, Glinda rolled over to face Elphaba. She had a serious look on her face.

Elphaba propped herself up on her elbow. "Glinda, what's bothering you? I noticed that same look at the cave, after I tied Phanica up."

Glinda paused for a moment before answering. She reached up and cupped Elphaba's cheek in her hand. Elphaba turned into the touch, placed her hand over Glinda's and gently kissed Glinda's palm. Glinda laced her fingers through the green ones, and moved her hand back down, still holding onto Elphie's.

"I was just thinking, when I saw Phanica before I saw you, I immediately thought the worst. That seems to happen to me a lot when it comes to you, and I don't understand it. You have such an acute sense of awareness where I'm concerned. You said we have a connection. How is it that I can't feel your presence and know that you're alive and safe? Why am I always so afraid that something is going to happen to you? Or that something already has?"

Elphaba regarded Glinda's supplicating expression. "Sweetie, I think it's there for you. You're just a little over-sensitive right now because of what's been going on. You've been beside yourself with worry and stress, and maybe all of that is overriding your internal senses."

"I do worry about you. Every single day, I'm worried that something is going to happen to take you away from me. I'm scared Elphie. I've loved you for so long, and now that we're together, it's almost like it isn't real. I feel like I'm living in a dream, and that someday, I'll wake up, and you'll be gone."

Elphaba didn't immediately answer Glinda. She turned onto her back and stared at the stars that managed to show through the trees. Glinda could see the wheels turning in Elphaba's mind.

"You're concerned aren't you?" Glinda asked. "You're thinking that if I'm feeling this so strongly, it might be something that I'm intuiting, something imminent, aren't you?" Glinda looked at Elphaba with a worried expression.

Elphaba looked over at her, then scooped the smaller woman up into her arms and stared deeply into the concerned blue eyes. "Listen to me. I love you Glinda Upland. This isn't a dream. It's real. You're not going to lose me, and I'm not going anywhere. Not ever!"

Glinda buried her head into Elphaba's shoulder as the green woman settled onto her back again.

"Elphie?"

"Hmmm?"

"Will this feeling ever go away? The feeling that you'll be taken from me? I hate it, and I want it gone for good."

Elphaba stroked Glinda's hair. "Honey, you've been through so much recently. All the dangers we've faced in the short amount of time that we've been together have taken a toll on you. It's no wonder you're feeling like this. I'm used to living this way, but this is all new to you. I think that once this whole mess is over with, and we're both safe and sound, you'll feel more secure about us, and that feeling will go away. You just need to give it some time. Besides, it's me who should be worrying about you, remember?"

Elphaba smiled at Glinda, but was still met with a fretful expression from her love. She thought for a moment, then remembered the poem that Glinda had dog-eared in her book. She softly stroked Glinda's hair, and repeated a verse. "Throughout my life, you were with me, and throughout your life, I'll be with you. Our love binds us – heart to heart, soul to soul. Forever!"

Tears began to form in Glinda's eyes. She swallowed hard and reached up to touch Elphaba's face. "You read it. The poem."

"I did, and I think it's perfect for us."

Glinda didn't say anything. She put her head down and softly began to cry on Elphaba's shoulder. Elphaba rubbed Glinda's back and stroked her hair.

"Shhhhh. It's ok. I'm right here," Elphaba said, trying to hearten Glinda. "I'm not going anywhere."

Glinda tried to stop crying but couldn't. Elphaba rolled over onto her side, keeping Glinda in her embrace. She looked down and watched as the firelight danced in Glinda's glistening blue eyes. Elphaba helped wipe the tears away, then softly stroked Glinda's cheek. "What can I do to reassure you?"

"Oh Elphie, I know you're right," Glinda sniffled. "I've seen the changes in you first hand. The new level of self-confidence, your ability to take care of and defend yourself. You took care of Phanica fairly quickly, and I should take heart in that."

Elphaba didn't say a word. Only she knew how dangerously close she was to tasting the point of Phanica's spear. In fact, if Phanica hadn't been so concerned with hurting her instead of finishing her off, she might not be here right now. Elphaba's mind briefly wandered back to her battle with Phanica.

Phanica swiftly kicked her in the ribs, sending her tumbling over onto her back. She groaned and held her side as her vision began to clear somewhat. What she saw was Phanica standing over her, spear in hand, and a feral grin on her face. She rolled over and pulled herself up onto her knees, desperately clearing the rest of the stinging dirt away from her eyes as she retreated from Phanica's approach. Phanica pulled her spear up and readied herself for another kick. Elphaba was able to see now, but feigned still being blinded by the dirt Phanica had thrown in her eyes. Phanica arrogantly walked up to Elphaba and kicked her leg out, Elphaba's jaw was her target, but Elphaba was ready. She grabbed Phanica's boot in mid-flight with both hands and twisted with such force that Phanica immediately dropped to the ground, relinquishing her grip on her spear. Elphaba seized the opportunity to grab the spear and jump on top of Phanica. With the point of her own spear hovering dangerously over her, Phanica yielded. Elphaba quickly got up, pulling Phanica up by the collar as she did. She kept the spear trained on her, then marched her over to the cave where she intended to bind her.

Elphaba decided that in light of Glinda's fears, she would keep the details of their battle silent.

"Elphie?...Elphie!"

Elphaba snapped out of her thoughts of Phanica and the fight. "Hmm? I'm sorry."

"Elphie, where were you just now."

Elphaba didn't want to lie to Glinda. "You mentioned Phanica, and my mind just briefly wandered back to our fight. It's nothing. Really."

Glinda looked at Elphaba a bit skeptically. "Oh Elphie, I never even bothered to ask. Did she hurt you at all? Are you in any pain?"

"None whatsoever," Elphaba said with a smile. And that was the truth. "You, on the other hand, still need much tending to, and I'm going to do my level best to make sure you get every bit of care and attention you need."

Glinda giggled. "Well, I guess this is a bit of a role reversal from the last time one of us was hurt. But unlike you, I enjoy being coddled and pampered."

"Then coddled and pampered you shall be. As much as one can be out in the wild," Elphaba smiled

She looked at Glinda who's mood had been substantially lifted. The beautiful blue eyes smiled back at her, sending a rush of emotion through her. Without a word, she leaned in and captured Glinda's lips for a soft, slow kiss. Glinda needed the reassurance of that kiss. In spite of the fact that she was in a better mood, she was still feeling exceptionally vulnerable, and needed to be as close to Elphaba as possible. She opened her mouth, allowing Elphaba's tongue to enter and trace over her own.

Elphaba kissed Glinda gently, but deeply. She was all too aware that her lover, while better, was still battered, and she proceeded cautiously. Glinda didn't care what condition her body was in. Right now, she had an insatiable need to be with Elphaba. Her muscles ached, but couldn't stop her as she wrapped her arms around Elphie's neck, pulling her closer. As they continued to kiss, Glinda slid her hands down Elphaba's back, then moved them around the front, feeling the outline of Elphaba's tight stomach muscles. Slowly, she moved her hands upwards.

"Oh sweet Oz Glinda," Elphaba said breathlessly. "Are you sure? I mean, you're hurt. We shouldn't….."

"Be quiet and let me love you," Glinda whispered, ignoring Elphaba's caution, choosing instead to wrap her arms around her lover. Glinda rolled over, placing herself on top of Elphaba. She stared into Elphie's eyes for a long moment, allowing herself to soak in the love and warmth expressed in those eyes, then dipped her head to engage Elphaba in another deep, explorative kiss.

Elphaba couldn't ignore the fire in her belly, or the tingling sensation she felt all over when Glinda kissed her. It left her breathless, and dissolved her inhibitions. She wanted, even craved the intoxicating pleasure of being intimate with Glinda.

Elphaba placed light, gentle kisses along Glinda's jaw, and softly traced a path to Glinda's ear with her tongue. Glinda moaned blissfully when she felt Elphaba's warm breath on her ear. The ear was one of her special pleasure centers, and Elphaba knew it. As Elphaba nibbled on her lobe, then moved her tongue over her ear, a pleasurable chill permeated through Glinda's body. Elphaba moved back to Glinda's lips and kissed her softly and deeply again.

As the night wore on, the two women emersed themselves in the love they had for one another, before finally retiring into each other's arms. Two breathless women, glistening with the telltale sparkles of intimacy. Glinda kissed Elphaba's shoulder, then shifted slightly so that she could stare into her lover's expressive eyes. They slowly and silently traced their fingers over one another's arms, sides and facial features, all the while staring deeply at one another.

Elphaba lifted her hand to brush back a couple of sweat soaked strands of blonde hair from Glinda's face. Glinda never took her eyes off of her love. She felt preciously close to Elphaba right now. Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.

"I love you," Glinda silently mouthed.

Elphaba smiled. "I love you," she mouthed back. Then she lifted herself up and pulled Glinda into another long, soft kiss.

When they finished kissing, the women nestled together, locked in each others embrace. The warmth of the fire, and the secure familiarity of Elphaba's arms wrapped around her allowed Glinda to relax, and finally fall asleep.

As Elphaba held her slumbering partner, she began to go over Glinda's concerns in her mind. She absolutely believed they did have a strong connection, and the fact that Glinda's feelings about her were so fatalistic were a concern. It was a concern that she would never voice to the blonde. But she decided she needed to be more careful until they arrived at Mt. Runcible. Glinda's health and well-being depended on it. She didn't want to let her down.