A/N - Thanks for reading and reviewing and whatnot!
Chapter 12
The Ozians, even in their blissfully ignorant state, were becoming increasingly unsettled. Not alarmed, but unsettled. In the few short days since Glinda the Good had mysteriously vanished, Cravin had assumed command. Some Ozians said Glinda willingly abdicated the throne to Cravin as the next Ruler of Oz. Other rumors spread that she was forced out by their new self-imposed leader; banished from the land and gathering an army to return to free them yet again. Whatever her situation or location, one thing was clear, Lady Glinda the Good had made no appearance to soothe the minds and hearts of her citizens and her absence was keenly felt.
The next blow to the Ozians was the disbanding of the Council. The unwilling disbanding more importantly. Cravin had stormed the council chambers with a troop of Gale Force officers and rounded up the councilmen and seated himself at the head of the table while the members watched on.
"Gentlemen," Cravin had coolly said, "I'm afraid I'm no longer in need of your services. Your time in service to the Wizard and Lady Glinda is greatly appreciated. But I think it's time to get back to a more, solid rule. Too many minds, too many opinions, all those reasonable minds differing. It's not good for the people. They'll get confused. So I've decided to take it upon myself to make things clear and simple. I'm the new Ruler here and I'm quite capable of making my own decisions. You are dismissed. Guards, see these men to their new quarters."
"But Sir!" one of the councilmen had exclaimed, "Just what do you intend to do with us? We can be of assistance to you!"
Cravin grinned. "You can help by filling up the empty cells in Southstairs. No reason to leave a threat to my authority walking about. Now, before you go, what should my title be? Ruler of Oz seems too bland. How about Glorious Leader? Or Beloved Ruler? Too cheesy, you're right. I'll settle for Emperor for now I suppose. Take them away."
The papers had of course reported on the events but faced a similar threat of punishment should Cravin not be shown in a positive light. The Ozians were told the Council was involved in Lady Glinda's disappearance but the mystery and secrecy remained. In a matter of days, the Emerald City was under military rule, complete with a curfew for the citizens and harsh penalties for any disobedience.
And the Ozdamn rain! The weather was doing nothing to aid the Ozians' downcast spirits. The older, more superstitious citizens claimed Ozma was punishing them for their sin and disobedience, whatever that might be. Others whispered quietly about the rumored specialties of the former Press Secretary who was now back in the lime light. Others remained blissfully unaware and simply continued with their daily tasks.
A few Ozians, however, found themselves looking to the skies for some sign of rescue. Whether they were looking for a bubble floating softly or a streak of green, no one was certain. For the first time in a great while, the Ozians could not say for certain who was the enemy. Grumbling and murmuring ensued.
Madame Morrible and Kirin were receiving reports from their spies planted throughout the City. Somehow, the blinders were beginning to drop from the eyes of the citizens of Oz. Their distrust of Cravin could become a problem. Oz forbid the simple-minded citizens begin to think for themselves. The trio knew they would have to work fast to secure their reign.
*******
Three more days passed, much the same as the last few since arriving at the mill. Elphaba would spend the majority of the time sleeping, often waking in panic and crying out in fear. Glinda would quickly rush to comfort her. They spent hours crying together as Elphaba's body began to heal.
Fiyero and the Lion would hover at the door wanting to be of assistance but unwilling to cause Elphaba further discomfort or fear. So, they worried from a distance. Chistery would come and go from the room. When awake, Elphaba genuinely seemed happy to see him before drifting back into slumber.
The rain continued to fall and supplies began to wane as venturing outside did not appeal to any of the inhabitants. The Lion finally lost out and was forced to look for berries and vegetables that might be left in the garden. While his wet fur smelled throughout the bungalow, it was preferable to the mold that would have taken hold of Fiyero's straw should it have gotten wet.
So they waited.
Finally, nearing the end of the fourth day, Glinda entered Elphaba's room and latched the door behind her. She was carrying a tray with cloths and Elphaba's oils, along with clothing slung over her shoulder.
"Elphie," she said, gently rousing Elphaba from her slumber. "Elphie sweet, I found a new dress for you. Well, not new exactly but new to you. I'm happy to tell you that no, it's not black. But you'll be happy to hear it's not pink either. So we both win. And I also rounded up a gown for you to sleep in."
Glinda set the tray down and revealed the dress was a deep blue in color and cut similar to the dresses Elphaba tended to wear. Elphaba started to rise to a seated position and was gently assisted by Glinda.
"Elphaba, sweet, I'm not letting you put this clean gown on until we've cleaned you up a bit yourself. How long has it been since you've had a bath love? You know I love you, but I think we've neglected your bathing oils long enough."
Glinda cringed inwardly at Elphaba's frightened, almost panicked expression. "Glinda, I…it isn't as though you haven't seen…I mean you have changed the bandages of course…" Elphaba ended with a nervous chuckle and glanced away, squeezing her eyes shut trying to stop tears that yet again threatened.
"Elphie," Glinda said softly. "It's only me love. If you're more comfortable bathing yourself, I'll leave you alone. I'm just not sure you can manage on your own yet. Let me help you?"
Elphaba nodded. "I'm sorry Glinda. You've been so good and kind. It's just that…well…"
"What love?" Glinda gently prodded.
"I'm ugly. Well, uglier than normal. I'm not clean." Tears were falling freely now as Elphaba looked anywhere except at Glinda.
"Says who? Elphaba, you're the same beautiful woman you were before being thrown in Southstairs. Those filthy hands that touched you cannot change who you are. There is not one ugly thing about you. But, my dear, you have gone a little stale and are smelling worse than my old potion experiment in sorcery class." They both knew which potion Glinda was speaking of. To say it smelled as rotten eggs and excrement would have been being kind.
Elphaba laughed at that, a real laugh, her first in months it seemed.
Glinda helped her scoot to the end of the bed and then slid in behind her. Picking up a bottle of the bathing oil, Glinda rubbed it between her hands to warm it so as not to be too shocking to Elphaba's skin.
"Alright Elphie, I'm going to start with your back, ok? I'm just going to untie the shift, just as if I was only changing your bandages ok?"
And so Glinda began painstakingly, to bathe Elphaba without frightening her. She voiced her every move so as not to surprise the green woman with a sudden touch. Glinda fought the urge to gather Elphaba into her arms, she was seemed so fragile and vulnerable as she sat there in a state of undress before her. Elphaba kept her eyes to the ground and did her best not to shudder or whimper as she fought to think of the blonde woman she loved and not the guards in the prison touching her.
As the bath was nearly completed, Elphaba had begun to draw raspy breaths and had her eyes clenched tightly.
"Elphie?" Glinda tentatively lifted her hand to cup Elphaba's cheek, which drew a startled cry from Elphaba who shrank back from the contact. "No, no, love. Stay with me. It's only me. It's all right Elphie. You did so well, we're finished love. It's over. Come back to me." Glinda reached and wrapped a soft blanket around Elphaba's shaking form and slipped her arm around her shoulder.
"Glinda. I'm sorry. I hate being so weak and pathetic. I hate I let them turn me into this!" Elphaba cried, burrowing deeper into Glinda's arms.
Glinda placed a tender kiss to Elphaba's head and gently rubbed circles on her back. "Hush now. You're not weak and certainly not pathetic. I would never have survived what you've been through. I can't tell you how proud of you I am. And how much I want to hurt them for what they've done. And not because of what they've turned you into because my sweet, you're the same wonderful, beautiful creature I fell in love with years ago. Don't you forget that. Someday this will all be behind us."
Elphaba began to relax. "You would survive. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. Look at you. You have such faith. I'm not certain I'm deserving of it."
"You are." Glinda whispered. "We both are."
They quickly got Elphaba into her clean nightgown and settled her into the bed for the night. When Glinda came to resume her position in the chair by the bed, her heart gave a soft flutter as Elphaba held out her hand. Glinda eased into the bed beside her and Elphaba turned and settled comfortably into the crook of her arm with her head on Glinda's shoulder. Both slept peacefully through the night.
******
Jaxon had been in a stupor since the incident in the courtyard. He arrived for his shifts and completed them without remembering anything of them. As soon as they ended he made his way back to his quarters, bottles of ale in hand.
The night before Cravin imprisoned the councilmen, Kirin appeared at his door yet again. "I've come to check on you my boy." He had said smoothly. "You don't seem to be at your best. Is anything the matter?" Kirin's sickly smile never left his face.
"Of course, I'm fine." Jaxon muttered. "Perhaps I'm coming down with something. Nothing to concern yourself with Captain."
Kirin clucked. "How many times must I tell you boy, no need for such formalities. As a matter of fact, I paid a little visit to you family today. I've forgotten what a beautiful child your sister is. How old is she now? 13? Beautiful. Perhaps I should visit more often. She could use the extra guidance, what with your father having passed."
Jaxon felt his body stiffen. He met Kirin's gaze and felt his breath catch. Kirin laughed and left the room. And suddenly Jaxon knew. His only redemption would come when Kirin was dead.
*******
Glinda opened her eyes to the morning light. As she stretched and yawned, she became aware of soft brown eyes watching her. Glinda smiled and tucked a strand of raven hair behind her ear. "Good morning." Glinda whispered.
"Good morning." Elphaba replied.
"So how long have you been laying there staring at me?" Glinda asked with a chuckle.
Elphaba smiled shyly. "A while."
"Are you ok?"
Elphaba nodded and reached for Glinda's hand. "You're beautiful. And good. It's quite the fitting name those folks of Oz have given you. 'Glinda the Good.' If not for you, I wouldn't think goodness existed anymore."
Glinda scooted closer to Elphaba and cupped her cheek. Before she could say a word, Elphaba spoke again. "I know. I know what you're going to say. I'm being overly dramatic. I know I can't just wallow in self-pity and dwell on the evil in the world. I have to remember there is still goodness. I may just need you to remind me once in a while."
"Elphie," Glinda said softly, "I was going to say no such thing. And don't give me so much credit. I am part of why we're in this mess you know. If I had just stood up for you from the beginning we might be living free and together like we were meant to. Even once the Wizard left, I could have said something, done something to try to clear your name."
"Glinda we both know you couldn't have done anything more to protect me. They would have turned on you. And I couldn't bear that."
"Well," Glinda replied, "I'm still determined to clear your name. But one thing at a time love. Let's get you back on your feet first. Oh, that reminds me, wait here." With that Glinda scampered out of bed and quickly left the room only to return a few moments later carrying the Grimmerie. "Look what I've got Elphie! We, well you, can find the healing spell and get you up and about even quicker!"
Elphaba grunted slightly as she pulled her self to an upright position. "Glinda, I don't know if that's a good idea. I don't even know if I can. Morrible stripped my powers. Captain Morno said it was temporary but who knows for sure."
"Well we won't know until we try will we?" Glinda said cheerfully slipping back into the bed with the book open in front of her. "Come on, just flip through and see if you still read anything. Please?"
Elphaba began flipping through the pages, trying to make sense of the swirling language in front of her. She stopped and scrunched her brow, staring intently at a certain passage.
"What is it Elphie? Can you read that?" Glinda asked, scooting closer.
"I think…It's coming together. Wait. Something isn't right." She quickly slammed the book and tossed it away as if it were burning her hands.
"What? What's wrong?" Glinda cried. "Elphaba? Are you all right? What is it?"
Elphaba shook her head. "I don't know. An odd feeling swept over me. I felt weak and exposed almost. Now I just feel sick. How odd."
Glinda pressed a hand to Elphaba's forehead quickly, afraid her fever was returning. "You don't feel warm Elphie. Are you…Oh Oz. Elphie, did it almost seem as if someone else was inside your mind, reading your very thoughts?"
Elphaba nodded. "What? Remember something from your sorcery class?"
Glinda looked worried and her face paled. "Actually yes. It's possible to track magic with magic. Morrible used to demonstrate on us. She would have us practice a simple spell and she would do her, tracking, creepy, thing, and it felt like someone else was actually inside my mind. Oh Shiz, why didn't I think of this sooner? She could have already figured out where we are. Elphie, we have to get you out of here. Well don't just sit there! Get up! We've got to start packing!"
Elphaba watched Glinda, who was near panic stage and fluttering about the room throwing anything and everything into the bag she had brought from the palace. Elphaba couldn't help but chuckle. "Glinda, calm down. I was only looking through the book for a few seconds. And I'm fairly certain my magic isn't anywhere near full strength. She couldn't possibly have located us already. Besides, it's still raining. She is just as stranded as we are. It's all right Glinda."
Glinda was beginning to tremble as she continued scouring the room for anything else they would need. She jumped slightly, not realizing Elphaba had stood and reached to place a hand on her shoulder. "Elphie, get back into bed. Leave me to my panicked ramblings. I'm sorry. I just let my fear get away from me for a moment."
Elphaba, instead of getting back into bed, pulled Glinda into a hug. "Glinda. You must be exhausted. Here I am, wallowing and you probably haven't had a decent night's rest in weeks. What you must have been through. Come on love, it's early yet. We're both going to lie back down and rest a while longer. You've been strong and brave all on your own long enough. Let me help carry your burden for a while."
Glinda looked up into Elphaba's chocolate eyes and couldn't stop the tears from falling from her own eyes. "Elphaba Thropp, you silly green thing. I love you."
Elphaba smiled. "Good. Now come back to bed."
*******
Morrible opened her eyes with a smile. "Welcome back Dearie. It won't be long now."
