AN: Thank you everyone for reading. Please leave a review or send a pm on who you think they mystery man is, we would love to hear your guesses.
Jessie was learning that, when Glinda set her mind to something, she got it done. It was a far cry from the way Elphie described her. By 11 AM, they were on their way to the Vinkus in the carriages. They all relaxed a bit, when the trip itself was uneventful. Jessie couldn't have been happier, seeing the crowd that turned out. People and Animal alike were carrying signs and cheering them as the carriage rolled past. Jessie and Fiyero stood a few steps back, as Glinda and Elphaba were greeted by the King and Queen mother of the Vinkus.
"I told her there was nothing to worry about." Fiyero whispered to Jessie.
"She is beloved." Jessie agreed, "Did you get a chance to talk to her yet?"
"Some. What about you? Did you get the information from Elphaba?" He asked, getting a nod, as Jessie's eyes scanned the crowd carefully. When the speeches began, Jessie and Fiyero took their places behind Elphaba and Glinda, staying close and keeping an eye on the crowd.
"She said Glinda is an only child. So her parents are going to be your biggest worry." Jessie whispered, as Glinda began her speech.
"You won't have to worry about getting anyone there. The only people alive Elphaba would want there are Chistrey and Doctor Dillimond." Fiyero said.
"Any word on where he is? I know Mr. Chistrey told me Elphie was looking for him." Jessie asked.
"Not yet, but I didn't get a chance to ask Glinda before we got here." Fiyero said, honestly.
"What about friends, like from Shiz?" Jessie asked.
"You're looking at them." Fiyero said.
Jessie couldn't help but sigh. Elphie had told her how college had been. She honestly hoped Elphie was just being pessimistic. It broke Jessie's heart to think about how much adversity Elphie had to endure. However it made the smile on her face even brighter when Elphie took the podium to a round of applause and cheers.
"We're finding Dr. Dillamond next, right?" Fiyero asked.
"Yeah, if we can do it without raising suspicion. Think they're going to like this?" Jessie asked.
"Oh, yeah. Elphie may never admit it, but she will love it. And so will Glinda." Fiyero said, his eyes locked on his girlfriend.
Elphie finished speaking, to another round of cheers. As Glinda and Elphaba stepped off the stage, they were escorted by Roric and Alec, one in front and one in back. After everyone was back in the carriage, they were taken to the Royal palace of the Vinkus to freshen up.
()
It wasn't that Elphaba hadn't enjoyed the reaction she had gotten. Public speaking always left her drained. After a much needed nap with Jessie, she made her way downstairs. The palace was rumored to have one of the most extensive librarys in Oz. When Elphaba walked in, she was thrilled to see it hadn't been exaggerated. Getting a few volumes, she picked out a comfortable chair, and resumed her studies.
Elphaba stayed with her head in a book, until she felt a tug on her skirt. Looking down, she smiled, seeing Chistery.
"Miss Elphaba, what you've requested has been done. They will arrive in an hour." He informed her, getting a soft smile and a nod.
"Thank you, Chistery." Elphaba said.
"Miss Elphaba, should I check on Miss Jessie?" He asked, concerned. It was the first time in a long time he had seen Elphaba without her friend.
"No, just let her rest. I trust you heard of the poisoning, despite being out of the palace?" She asked.
"Yes, I have. I was tempted to leave immediately, if not for the urgency of what you needed." He said, getting a loving rub on the top of his head.
"I was never in danger, Mr. Chistery. The story was necessary to cover the truth. Jessie ingested a poison intended for Glinda. She's been trying to recover since." Elphaba said, worriedly.
"What was the toxin? There may be a treatment among the animals for it." He said.
"It was a toxin from Munchkinland, but there is no need Chistrey. The antidote was administered promptly, and she's recovering. It's how exhausted she is that has me worried." Elphaba said, truthfully.
Chistrey nodded his understanding. "Is there anything else, Miss Elphaba?"
"No, you've done well, Chistrey, as always. Go get some rest, my friend." As he left, Elphaba went back to her books.
()
"It's so good to have you home, Yero." His mother, Armet, said, before pulling her son into a tight hug. Fiyero returned it.
"It's good to be home, mother." Fiyero said, kissing her cheek.
"You've finally brought your fiance." Armet said, after releasing him, and looking at Glinda with a critical eye.
"Yes, ma'am. It's very hard to get time away from the Emerald City and the Wizard, your majesty." Glinda said, curtseying politely.
"I would imagine it would be. Although, I understand you are far better at negotiations than the Wizard was." She said, with a fake smile.
"So I have been told, your majesty." Glinda said, with a polite nod. The tension between the two women could be cut with a knife, and Fiyero flinched from it.
"Well, mother, don't forget. I've also been doing a lot in the Gale Force." He added, hoping to take the pressure off Glinda.
"Yes, I've heard that too! My little boy has made captain!" Armet said proudly, pinching one of his cheeks.
"He may be promoted to commander soon, and given his own unit." Glinda said.
"Now, that should have already happened, shouldn't it?" Armet said, condescendingly.
Fiyero smoothly pulled Glinda into his side. "We are all very tired from our long journey. Mother, we're going to my room."
"We? No, I'm afraid not. Glinda, your things have been put in the guest wing along with Lady Elphaba's items. It simply wouldn't be proper for you two to remain in the same room and unmarried." She said, as though stating fact.
"It shouldn't be a problem. Elphaba and I have roommated before." Glinda said, graciously.
"Yes, I'm sure you have." Armet said, before turning on her heels and walking off. Glinda looked at Fiyero questioningly.
"She knew I left with Elphaba." He explained.
"And she also knows..." Glinda began.
"We were never engaged, yes." Fiyero said.
"No wonder she despises me." Glinda said, shaking her head.
Fiyero gently cupped her cheek. "Hey, who cares what she or anyone else thinks. I love you, Glinda."
"I love you too Yero, but I do care." Glinda said, walking off towards the guest rooms leaving Fiyero to wonder what had just happened.
()
Roric was surprised to be personally requested by Lady Elphaba while she walked the grounds. Elphaba never requested much of anything from the guard, at least not that he was told. Unless the threats on her life made her nervous, which he doubted. A request was a request; however, so Roric reported immediately. Seeing him approach, Elphaba smiled brightly.
"Mr. Roric, thank you for joining me." Elphaba said, meeting him at the entrance of the gardens.
"My pleasure, Miss Elphaba, although I'm lost as to why." Roric said, honestly.
"Don't worry, it will be clear in a moment. How are you feeling?" Elphaba asked, sincerely.
"Alot better. I feel as good as I did before the incident." He said, honestly.
"I'm glad to hear it." Elphaba said, leading him into the garden a ways. Once he got farther in, he saw a family of Bears. He instantly recognized the two adults and one of the cubs as the ones he had rescued, although the much younger cub confused him a bit.
"Miss Elphaba..." He began.
"I wanted you to see what your bravery protected. Come, I'll introduce you." Elphaba said, motioning him to follow. He did so on unsteady feet, not sure how his presence would be taken.
"Miss Elphaba..." The male bear said, before catching sight of the man behind her. The group fell into an uncomfortable silence.
"Calaman, this is Captain Roric. Captain Roric, this is …..." Elphaba began.
"I know." The captain said, in a low voice. He didn't know how he felt about this, or how they truly felt about him. His nerves were quelled, when the cub ran over to him, and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, Mr. Roric." The cub said, bringing tears to the captain's eyes.
"You're very welcome." He said, returning the hug, and getting smiles from the parents, "I see you have a new addition." Roric said, when he found his voice.
"My sister, Bin. Bin, come here. It's OK, he won't hurt you." The cub called out. The tiny cub peaked out from behind her mother skittishly.
"It's OK, Bin." Her mother said, patting her head. Slowly, the cub approached the large man.
"HhhhhHello." The fear could be heard in the bear's voice.
"Hi. My name is Roric, what's yours?" He asked, kneeling so he could come to her level.
"Bin." She answered, the fear slowly ebbing.
"I was pregnant with her when you released us." The mother said, tearing up a bit. Elphaba made her way back to the front of the Garden, no longer feeling her presence was needed.
()
Elphaba was on her way to check on Jessie when the sound of soft crying caught her attention. She'd only heard it a hand ful of times in the entire time they'd known each other, but Glinda's crying was unmistakable. It never ceased to rip Elphaba's heart from her chest.
"Glinda?" She asked, getting the attention of her friend. When Glinda looked up at her with that heartbroken expression, Elphaba felt like she was back at Shiz. Coming in, she wrapped her arms around Glinda, letting her cry.
"It was horrindible, Elphie. She hates me." Glinda said.
"Who hates you?" Elphie asked, rubbing her back soothingly.
"Mrs. Tiggular." Glinda said, brokenheartedly.
"Oh, Glinda, it is impossible to hate you. I would know, I tried." Elphaba said, jokingly.
"She does, Elphie. She knows, she knows that Fiyero never actually proposed and that he...he ran off with you." Glinda said.
"Oh, my sweet. I am so sorry." Elphaba said, as Glinda curled up against her chest.
"It's not your fault, but I don't know how to fix this." Glinda said, truthfully.
"You don't, my sweet. What she thinks of you she thinks of you. Even if it is wrong." Elphaba said, reassuringly.
"Do you think she'll ever get past it?" Glinda asked.
"I really don't know, Glin. What you did wasn't that severe. Perhaps with time she'll see the wonderful, sweet woman her son is in love with in a different light. It takes time, Glin. But it's also her problem, not yours." Elphaba said, rocking her crying friend softly.
"There's so much I wish I could change, Elphie." She said, shaking her head.
"We all do, Glinda. Do you know how many times I've wished I could go back in time, and turn down the Wizard's invitation? But then I look at Jessie, and I can't feel that way. I would've never met her. Just like you and Fiyero would never be as in love as you are right now if not for your time apart." Elphaba said, as Glinda slowly calmed down.
"I think I'm going for a walk. I need to think." Glinda said.
"Oh, sweet Oz, Glinda gets thoughtified." Elphaba said, with an exaggerated sigh, getting the smile she wanted from the sad woman slowly coming out of her arms.
"Shhhh, keep this between us." Glinda said, winking.
"Yeah, we wouldn't want your Winkie prince thinking you actually think, would we?" Elphaba teased, getting a smirk.
"He knows. It's the rest of Oz I'm worried about." Glinda said, with a wink, before she left. She headed outside, intending to avoid everyone altogether for a short while. She found a swing under a tall tree. Climbing on, she began swinging, and thinking.
()
He watched silently from the field behind the trees, waiting. He knew she would eventually be alone. Twisting his golden ring so the yellow stone faced the inside of his palm, he slowly walked over.
"Nice day for a swing, isn't it?" The man said, with a disarming smile.