A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews... Fortunately for our charmed circle, Elphie will no longer come to any harm. For now at least... What Horrible Morrible and the wizard will do is beyond me right now!
A Million Dreams
The moment Glinda got the note about Elphaba's plight, she called on her parents to make the trip to Munchkinland. When questioned about it, she explained what had happened with her best friend, and her mother suggested she make the trip with her.
The normally bubbly, perky blonde spent the one and a half day trip worrying about what she would see, what state her best friend would be in when she got there.
"Glinda, calm down, my sweet. You'll wear a dent in the carriage floor if you keep tapping your foot like that. You don't know if she's badly hurt." Her mother tried to calm her down. She hated seeing her daughter so scared for her friend. "And stop chewing your nails."
"Momsie, you don't understand... Of course, Elphie's badly hurt... Why else would Biq remove her from the situation? Oh, I should never have listened to her... I should have told Fifi the first time it happened..." Glinda sighed. "That's it, as soon as I see her, I'm writing a letter to him... The least she could do is forewarn him of the state she could be in..."
"Sweetheart, that's not going to help the situation. You can't take that decision away from her. She has to do it on her own terms, in her own way." She hugged her. "I know you want to help her, but to tell him without her consent would do more harm than good. Besides, don't you think he deserves to know coming from her?"
"I suppose... I have to help her, Momsie... I can't let her go back to that horrendible man calling himself her father! And if she's with Biq, he can still get to her. Oh, what if he stops her from coming back to Shiz? She has to come back!"
"Then we will find a way to help her. We might be able to help with her funding. And she's always welcome with us. Look, we're here now."
Glinda looked up, threw open the door and jumped out of the carriage before it had even stopped moving, running to Boq as he met her outside. "Oh, Biq!" she flung her arms around him in a quick hug before she let go again. "Where's Elphie?"
'She's touching me again!' He thought and then mentally shook his head. He was still dazed whenever she touched him, but not as much as he used to be. He didn't bother correcting his name this time as he hugged back briefly. "She's on bed rest upstairs in the guest bedroom. Glinda, she's in a bad way, be careful with her."
She nodded and looked around for any sign of Frex while her mother got out of the carriage with their bags, watching the two friends.
"He's not here. He was taken away by police yesterday, and he'll be released on a fine later today. Elphie didn't want to talk to them about what he did. She hasn't even cried yet..."
"Why not?"
"Because Nessa's not ready to take his place. She doesn't want to put her sister through the stress or pain of losing her father." Boq sighed. "The mayor of Munchkin City has gone to Shiz to speak to Madame Astoria about Elphie's future at the school. We haven't told her yet..."
"Do you think he'll be able to help her to stay?"
"I hope so. I don't know what we'll do if he can't do this... And what it would do to Elphie..."
"Momsie said we might be able to help her too... She's spending Lurlinemas with us... Did she tell you?"
He shook his head. "She never got the chance to."
"I'm hoping to convince her to come back with us indefinitely." She smiled sadly and walked inside.
"I hope so too... Up the stairs, second door on the left!" he called after her before turning to Glinda's mother. "I can take that inside if you want." he smiled and took them from the grateful woman and lead her inside. "I'm sorry it's not much... -"
"Nonsense. It's enough for you." the woman smiled gently.
Glinda headed up to where Elphaba's room was and she knocked on the door, holding her breath as she did, scared of what she'd find.
"Come in..." Elphaba called through in a quiet voice, and she looked up, seeing Glinda walk in. As soon as the girls laid eyes on each other, the dam broke. Glinda rushed to her best friend's side, hugging her as they both burst into tears, Elphaba ignored the pain in her chest as she clung to her friend.
"Elphie... What happened, sweet?" Glinda asked after a few moments after they'd stopped crying into each other. She sat on the edge of the bed to study her. There was some swelling to her face, which, even though was a paler shade of green, still looked dark as it was marred with cuts and bruises. Her usually satin-smooth, long dark hair now lay in a tangled mess around her shoulders. Elphaba, to her, looked frighteningly small. "Elphie, are you in any pain right now?"
Elphaba shook her head at the first question, she didn't want to relive it right now, and she collapsed against the headboard with a pained grunt without the support of Glinda's arms around her. "Just my ribs and my stomach... possibly my back too..." she finally admitted.
"And what exactly are you going to tell Fiyero when he sees you like this?"
The green girl visibly flinched as if she'd physically struck her. "I was thinking along the lines of 'I fell out of a tree'?"
"And he wouldn't believe you."
"He doesn't need to. But I'm not ready to tell him all of this yet. I'm too scared to tell him..." Elphaba sighed and wiped her eyes again.
"What are you afraid of?"
"That he'll treat me differently... He'll either run back to the west or he'll treat me like glass, and I won't be able to handle either option." She shrugged, looking over at the picture of the six of them on the bedside table.
"Look at how happy we all are..." Glinda smiled a little as she caught sight of it and tucked a stray lock of dark, matted hair behind her friend's ear. "Elphie, you don't need to be scared. Fifi loves you, he would never leave you, surely you know this by now... Yes, I agree he'd be a little over-protective, but he's got a damned good reason, does he not? He'd hate to see you so hurt and scared like this."
Elphaba gave a lopsided shrug again and shuffled over with a little difficulty, trying not to show how much pain she was still in. She didn't want this conversation now. "Stay with me? Please?"
"Of course," Glinda lay beside her friend on the small bed and hugged her again, planting a kiss on her forehead. "You rest now, Elphie. You're safe now."
She closed her eyes and fell asleep quickly, the blonde dropping off not too long after, the long journey proving too much for her to stay awake any longer.
A few hours later, they were woken by the muffled sounds of an argument coming from downstairs. Glinda rubbed her eyes and slowly got up, trying not to aggravate Elphaba's injuries any further, and she got up to try and open the door only to find it locked. "Biq?" she called out, trying to open it again.
Elphaba slowly turned over to face her, confused for a moment before spotting a piece of paper that must have been pushed through the door. "Glinda, there's something on the floor by your feet."
She looked up and picked up the paper from the floor. "Elphie's father is here, the door's been locked to keep you both safe. We'll come and let you out when he's gone." she read aloud. She watched as more colour drained from her friend's face.
"No..." Momentarily she forgot about her injuries and pushed herself up quickly, crying out when her ribs hurt her too much.
"Elphie, no!" Glinda crossed the room again and eased the girl back down on to the mattress.
"Glinda-"
"You're still hurt. And if you force your way out of there, you'll cause more damage and he can hurt you again."
"But I can't leave Boq and his family against him!"
"They'll be alright. You won't be." Glinda sat with her and took hold of her hands, then blinked. "Elphie, where's your bracelet?"
Elphaba glanced sadly at the bare, bruised wrist and she sighed. "Under my pillow. It snapped off at some point during the... argument... And I don't have the money to get it repaired."
Glinda scoffed to herself. 'Argument?! Yes, and Madame Morrible is secretly my mother!' She thought before she painted on a smile. "I can take it for you." She suggested and reached under the pillow for it. "And then Fifi will be none the wiser about it being broken. He'll just worry about you being broken."
"Glinda..."
"I'm sorry, but he's not going to buy the whole falling out of a tree excuse. He's not completely brainless, and it's cruel to treat him as such."
"Do you think I don't know that?! Glinda, he's already talked about leading his whole tribe out here to take me away from this place! Imagine the shit I'd be in after he sees this! I'll not allow him to stupidly declare war on the Governor of Munchkinland because of me, and you and I both know that's exactly what he'd do!"
Glinda bit her lip, fiddling with the broken piece of jewellery, she'd never heard her friend swear before. "I know... But you also know he'd do it because he loves you so."
"I know that. We also both act so irrationally, I can't take that chance."
"You're going to have to. And you're going to have to be the one to tell him and to try and keep him calm about it too, which will be hard, I know, but he will find out eventually. If not through me then through Biq or your sister. Or the fact you won't be returning home with Nessa at the holidays."
Elphaba sighed. "You're right..." She shifted uncomfortably. "Lin, could you pass that bottle please?" she nodded to the small, glass, brown bottle on the bedside table, and took it when it was handed over, taking a quick swig of it before handing it back with a grimace. "Sweet Oz... If I didn't need it, I'd throw it away." she shuddered.
"What is it?"
"Medication for the pain."
"Right... So how long did the doctor say it would take to fully heal?"
"Three to six weeks, depending on the severity... Maybe longer because of all the bruising."
"But you'll be okay when we go back to Shiz?"
Elphaba shrugged. "Even if I would be, I don't think I'll be able to come back to Shiz. Unless my father agrees to keep paying for me to go, or mama suddenly left a will with some inheritance money. If I did, I'd have to work as well as study and I don't know how that would be possible."
"Then let me help."
"Lin, no... I couldn't ask that of you."
"You're not. I'm offering. Remember our plans. How are we going to work with the Wizard and help the Animals if you don't graduate'?"
"It was always a pipe dream anyway, Glinda... I could always see if the Resistance exists and join them."
"Elphie, no." she admonished. "Just think about my offer. Please? We still have until the end of the week until we go to the Vinkus, Momsie will go back when we leave. If we tell her our decision before we go, she can make the arrangements."
"Alright, I'll think about it." Elphaba nodded. "We still need to get to Nessa."
"Don't worry about that for now. We'll not leave without her."
A moment later, the door was unlocked and Boq walked in. "Oh, good, you're both awake. Sorry about that... We didn't know if Frex would try and get to you, so we thought it best..."
"It's fine, I get it." Elphaba nodded. "I'm sorry about him..."
"Elphie, no. Don't apologise. It's not your fault." Boq told her gently.
"Yes, it is."
"How?"
'Because I was born.' she thought hatefully. "Where's Nessa?"
"She didn't come with him. But Morwenna's here."
Before he'd finished, the older woman rushed into the room to her, gently hugging the girl around the shoulders. "He'll not hurt you again, Little one, I can promise you that," she told her before releasing her, and her eyes flickered to the blonde beside her. "And you must be Glinda."
Elphaba nodded. "This is Morwenna... she's the cook of the household and she was my mother's best friend."
Glinda smiled sadly. "It's a pleasure to meet you. And I'm Elphie's best friend, and even if I have to take her back home with me, I'm going to make sure that horrendible man doesn't touch her again."
"If only we had the strength and determination of you both all those years ago." Morwenna smiled. She remembered all too well the feeling of desperation, determination and the planning she and Melena once had, her poor dear friend had a small baby in tow, which hadn't been easy. "If you're feeling up to it, the Mayor of Munchkin City would like to talk to you in a few days before you all set off."
"Nessa is still coming with us isn't she?"
"I'll make sure of it, Little one, I promise. Even if we have to wait until he's out running errands."
Elphaba nodded again. "What does he want to talk to me about?"
"I don't know, he didn't say," Morwenna answered. "Make sure you eat something, and you rest."
"I'll make sure she does," Glinda spoke up, ignoring the scowl from Elphaba.
"I'll see you before you go. And let your friends take care of you."
Elphaba rolled her eyes. "But who's looking after Nessa?"
"I am. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere any time soon, I'll be around to look after Nessa for a long time yet. Let him try and dispose of me, I'll leave with her." she gently gave her another hug before she left, and Elphaba could protest no longer.
"Little one?" Glinda smiled.
"A childhood nickname." Elphaba smiled a little. "She's always called me that. And Nessa is her Rose."
The blonde grinned. "I thought you didn't do nicknames."
"I don't. Breathe one word to Fiyero about it and I'll make good on my promise and burn every pink item you own."
She giggled. "I won't tell him."
"Come on, help me up."
"Elphie, no, you should be resting."
"Glinda, I've been resting for two days, I need to do something for Boq's sister, and if I stay in this bed any longer I'll go mad. I can't stare at these four walls for the next seven days." Elphaba told her.
Glinda sighed, knowing she'd already lost the argument. "Alright, but the moment it becomes uncomfortable I'm putting you back to bed," She hesitantly helped Elphaba up and out of bed, putting her arm around the girl's waist when she tried to stand. "How do you feel?"
"A bit dizzy..." Elphaba admitted, settling a hand on her arm. "It'll pass, give me a minute."
"Well if you truly haven't been out of bed since you were put there..." Glinda shrugged as Elphaba took a few deep breaths to calm herself.
Once the pulsing in her head had lessened from the blood rush, she slowly opened her eyes again. "Right... now, pass me the sorcery book... it should be on the desk over there. Yes, I'll be fine for you to let me go for a tick-tock." she gave a small smile while Glinda tentatively let her go for the book. She took it from her when it was handed over. "Thank you. Come on, we'll go downstairs."
"Elphie..." Glinda rolled her eyes at her friend's stubbornness and put her arm back around her waist, and they left the room, slowly making their way downstairs.
"You really should say no to her once in a while." Boq shot an amused look at the two of them as he saw them emerge at the foot of the stairs into the lounge.
"That's what Yero says too," Elphaba smirked, and paused as she let her words sink in and shook her head. "No, not like that."
Glinda giggled at the slip-up and helped her over to a chair, letting her drop into it. "What are you looking for?"
Elphaba found the page she was looking for with ease and looked over what she needed, "Boq? For this, I'll need Valerian root and lavender. It says here that they're helpful for sleep disturbances..."
Boq nodded. "Shouldn't be too difficult to find on farmland... There's always the market in town if that fails. How would she need to take them?"
"I'll be able to mix them into an elixir of some sort, and she'll just need to take it before she goes to bed. They seem harmless enough to her."
Glinda read over her shoulder. "What does she need it for? And who's she?"
"Boq's sister is having trouble with sleeping, so I offered to look for something to help her," Elphaba explained without looking up from the book.
"You really should be in bed, Miss Elphaba." Glinda's mother chided gently when she saw the three friends as she and Boq's mother entered the room.
Elphaba rolled her eyes, knowing everyone meant well. "I know, but I rarely do as I'm told." she smiled a little, glancing up from the book, and looked through it again.
"That's true... We had a test in Life Sciences once, and Elphie had a cold and really bad stomach cramps from... Anyway, she shoved a hot water bottle under her blouse and went to class, despite being told that it wasn't essential to her grade and she should have rested." Glinda giggled.
"Mhm. And I fainted on the way to lunch, almost crushing Boq, so Fiyero and Glinda ended up carrying me back to the dorm. He stayed to watch over me for the rest of the day On Glinda's say so because she was still his girlfriend at the time." Elphaba smirked.
"He did it because he was a good person and one of your friends, Elphie."
Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Both boys then thought they were being funny for days after to ask if I was still sick."
"Why?" Glinda's mother listened in amusement.
"Because I still looked green."
Boq laughed at the memory. "Excuse me, we were very funny, thank you. That week gave us some of our finest material," he smirked.
She rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Brave or stupid when a girl is moody for a week?"
"Both." Glinda giggled. "Have you tried any of these spells?"
"Make sure not to overexert yourself." Glinda's mother smiled and walked out of the house with the other older woman.
Elphaba waved them off before looking back to Glinda. "Whatever I read from the Grimmerie, it wasn't a levitation spell... I found one in here. So far I can make feathers float... I can light a flame... I've tried a summoning spell but it's a bit tricky right now."
"Tricky how?"
"I almost decapitated myself when I first tried it. I tried it on a lantern and it flew past me into the door," she smirked.
Glinda gasped and laughed.
"Oh, this is what I was looking for..." Elphaba muttered when she came across the healing mixes. "If I made these and used them, it might cover the bruises."
Glinda read over her shoulder. "So... To make these things you'd have to go looking for them outside?"
"I guess, it makes sense though..." Elphaba shrugged. "If we're training to be witches, and going to be using sorcery for good, we need to know the workings of nature."
Glinda nodded and inwardly cringed at the thought of traipsing around in the dirt and looking for whatever plant could be useful. They all looked the same to her.
"I might not be able to go out there and look for what I need-"
"Yeah, but I can do that," Boq told her with a smile. "What else do you need."
"Thank you." Elphaba smiled a little. "Then at least I should be able to sit and mix and blend things together. I will write it down for you." she finished.
He nodded and brought over a pen and a piece of paper for her to write down the list, and he took it from her when she'd written it all for him. "I'll see what I can find later."
By the end of the week, the three friends had been able to get what they needed for the sleeping potion for Boq's sister and were able to make the healing salve for Elphaba's bruises. Elphaba's pains had lessened considerably, and the bruises were fading with the help of the salve applied to the skin daily, much to the green girl's relief, but she knew she'd still have some explaining to do when she saw her boyfriend, and the more she talked about it with Glinda, the more she realised she would indeed have to tell him the truth. It was a conversation she didn't know she'd ever be ready to have. So far, she'd gotten away with only telling her friend the absolute minimum.
Over the course of the rest of the week, Frex had demanded to see Elphaba three more times, each attempt as unsuccessful as the last.
"Elphie, there's someone here to see you," Glinda spoke as she lead the Mayor of Munchkin City to the kitchen where Elphaba was sat with Boq at the table in a heavy discussion about the reasons and motivations behind some of the biggest events in Ozian history.
Elphaba looked up as she lowered her mug of tea to the table. "Hello, sir." She greeted with a small smile.
"You're looking a lot better, Miss Elphaba." Mayor Rushkin smiled gently.
"Thank you. I certainly feel it, but the task of sitting and standing is still uncomfortable. But I've been given the all-clear from the doctor for our travels today." Elphaba nodded.
"Provided she keeps taking her pain medication, of course," Boq smirked, making the girl in question roll her eyes.
The Mayor smiled at the boy's concern. "Is there somewhere we can talk privately, Miss Elphaba?"
"No need, sir. I'll end up telling them anyway so you may as well talk in front of them."
Mayor Rushkin nodded, looking between the Munchkin and the blonde before taking a seat at the table. "Very well. As you're aware, your father has decided to stop finding your education which would stop you from attending Shiz University only one third into your degree."
The three of them nodded. The Governor had indeed been largely vocal, and, in Glinda's mind, spitefully gleeful at the prospect of cutting Elphaba from her lifeline of school and her friends, thus rendering the girl completely homeless and helpless.
"After you were brought here, I called a meeting with the educational board and took it to your school to discuss things further with the head shizstress there. As I understand it, Miss Elphaba, you have a connection with the Uplands of the Upper Uplands of the Gillikin?"
"I do." Elphaba pointed to Glinda, who looked like she couldn't contain her excitement as the blonde's brain connected the dots.
"Miss Upland, your own father has been playing as an advocate on behalf of Miss Elphaba here, and has decided to assist with the funding of her education as well as your own."
"Oh, I knew Popsicle would do it!" Glinda bounced in her seat and clapped her hands joyfully.
"I'm sorry, what?" Elphaba couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"What I'm saying, Miss Elphaba is that you need not have worried about your tuition fees. I offered to deal with it myself, however, Mr Upland was quite insistent, as the father of your friend-"
"Best friend." Glinda cut in.
The old man nodded with a chuckle. "He did not wish to see a bright young woman such as yourself be left without the right of education." He stood up.
"Lin... I can't... I don't know..." Elphaba was speechless.
"Just say thank you and accept it, Elphie."
She sighed, too stunned to argue with her and instead she nodded. "Thank you..."
Glinda squealed with delight and hugged the Mayor and then launched herself at Elphaba before quickly pulling away when she cried out. "Ooh, sorry..."
The Mayor blinked at the ball of pink and blonde's actions before chuckling again. "At least now you leave Munchkinland with some good news. Have a safe journey, and enjoy yourselves. Life is too short to waste it on sadness and what ifs. I'll see myself out." He smiled and left them to it.
Boq grinned at his friends. "See, I told you it would be alright."
"What are you not telling me, Munchkin?" Elphaba raised an eyebrow at him.
He shrugged. "He told Nessa and I that he was going to fund your education when he was picking your unconscious body off the floor."
Glinda flinched and Elphaba barely blinked. "Oh. Right... Why?"
"He said he felt responsible."
"For what? Having a conversation with me? Please, Frex is happiest when I'm making no noise and pretending that I don't exist." Elphaba scoffed and slowly stood up. "I'm going to sort out my bag before we go. What time did Nessa say she'd come?"
"In about... An hour." He answered as he glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Would you like me to come up with you?" Glinda asked, hoping to finally get it out of her about the events at Colwen Grounds.
Elphaba paused for a moment and nodded. "Please." She smiled and they both walked up to the guest room they were sharing. She bent to pick up her case and shot back up with a wince and a pained grunt.
"Elphie?"
"I guess it still hurts to bend... And to pick things up heavier than a book... Sitting for long periods is still uncomfortable..." She hated to admit weakness but knew she had no choice.
Glinda nodded and picked up the half-packed case for her and put it on the bed. "It's going to take time, Elphie... Are you ready to tell me what happened?" she moved to stand by the window.
She gave the blonde a grateful smile and then shrugged. "There's nothing much to tell... He'd been pretty calm the whole month until that last time. The Mayor and my father are old friends from when he used to travel the city as a preacher... He's watched Nessa and I grow up. Anyway... He was having a discussion with me about Animal rights and my opinion on it. Frex did this to me because I opened my mouth. "
"What did he do?" she was almost afraid to ask.
"Boq wanted cake so... I got up to get it. I was dragged into my father's study and he, for the countless time in my life, used me as a punch bag." Elphaba told her bluntly, shrugging at Glinda's flinching again.
"And you honestly want to hide this from Fiyero?"
"No." She admitted. "I want to tell him I just... Don't know how to. Don't want the pity or for him to protect me." She sighed and packed what little she had left out that morning. She slipped a hand under the pillow for the bracelet and paused when she couldn't feel it.
"Looking for this?"
She whirled around seeing Glinda holding it up with a grin back on her face. "How... When did you...?"
"Momsie took it yesterday to be fixed and she gave it to me before she left last night." She crossed the room to her friend and fastened it around her wrist. "There. Back where it belongs."
Elphaba looked at her in shock, touched by what her friend had done for her for the second time that morning. "Lin... I don't know what to say..."
"It's just strange, seeing you wear it every day since it was given to you, and then not wearing it at all..."
"It certainly felt strange..." Elphaba agreed and hugged her as tightly as her physical discomfort would allow. "Thank you."
Glinda smiled and hugged her back. "You're welcome, Elphie."
"I'm going to tell him... The night we get there, I'm going to get it over and done with."
"That's a good idea."
Both girls headed back down the stairs, Glinda taking the case from her struggling friend and with her free arm wrapped it around the green girl's waist as they walked. At the bottom of the stairs, Glinda dropped the case with the rest of the luggage by the front door. They both entered the kitchen and Elphaba stopped when she saw the kitchen now full. Nessa had arrived a short time after they'd gone to pack, and she'd been joined by Tomnas, Angelique and Morwenna.
"I... What are you doing here?" Elphaba asked, looking around the room as Glinda let her go to go and greet Nessa.
"We've come to see you off," Tomnas grinned. "You didn't think you could leave us without saying goodbye did you?"
Elphaba chuckled. "You know I'll mostly be back after Lurlinemas break, right? Being homeless and all," she spoke sarcastically before turning to Glinda. "No, I will not be staying with you indefinitely."
"Then I'll just tell Fifi to kidnap you." The blonde shrugged. "You either come back with me or you go back with him."
Elphaba laughed at the stunned faces from the household staff. "Just to clarify... 'Fifi' is Fiyero. Glinda's actual pet name for him and it makes him sound like a poodle." she smirked. "And he's my boyfriend."
"You've kept that quiet," Tomnas smirked at the girl.
"You've been the one posting the letters to him." she countered and hugged him lightly before hugging Angelique. "Thank you for coming here."
"We like you, Miss Elphaba, we just want to see you safe and happy." Angelique smiled and she and Tomnas left with Boq to pack the luggage in the waiting carriage.
"How do you feel?" Nessa asked, looking up at her sister.
"Better than I was..." she admitted. "I'd hug you but it's still uncomfortable to..."
Nessa shook her head with a smile. "It's alright. I'm just glad you're feeling better. I'm sorry for what happened."
"Nessa... It'll be alright, it wasn't your fault, it was mine for answering back."
"Elphie!" Glinda gasped.
Morwenna crossed the kitchen to gently grab her. "Don't ever think that, Elphaba. You listen to me, child, it was not your fault."
Elphaba sighed and nodded. "Fine... If you say so."
"Believe it."
She looked into her eyes for a moment and nodded again, relenting but not fully believing. "Alright... Anyway, once I'm at Shiz, I can start looking for a place to live," she said, making her voice light as Morwenna moved to stand beside her.
"Preferably not in Munchkinland," Nessa told her. "What?" she looked up at her sister's shocked face. "Fabala, I love you, I'd want nothing more than to have you nearby for the holidays, but you need to be safely away from here, away from harm."
"Somewhere like the Vinkus?" Glinda supplied helpfully.
"No!"
"Exactly!" Nessa grinned. "Alright, not outright living with Fiyero just yet but... you see my point."
Elphaba groaned. "Please, will you two stop? What next? Organise our wedding without our knowledge? Don't even think about answering that." she shot a glare at her best friend.
"Well, has he asked you?" Glinda smirked.
"Oh, there's deja vu." The green girl smirked back.
Glinda paused for a moment before ducking her head with a blush. "Shut up."
Morwenna watched the three in amusement. "Girls, don't worry about it for now. Leave it with me, Little one, I'll sort something. No go, have fun, or you'll never leave," she told them and hugged the sisters. "I've let a box with your bags, just a few things you forgot," she whispered in Elphaba's ear before she lead the three girls out to the carriage. Nessa was helped into it first and Elphaba was given one last hug by Morwenna, Tomnas and Angelique before they left.
"Can we make a detour first?" Elphaba spoke quietly to Boq. The two friends conversed silently in a look before the Munchkin nodded with a look of understanding.
"What's happening, Elphie?" Glinda asked as she helped her friend inside before climbing in herself.
"Just somebody I'd like to say goodbye to." Elphaba gave her friend a small smile as Boq was heard joining his uncle with the horses and they set off.
A short while later, they stopped and Elphaba silently climbed out without looking at her friend or her sister.
"Take your time, Elphie." Boq gave her a smile.
It took Glinda a moment to realise where they were and she gasped softly.
"Mama's buried here." Nessa looked out of the window at the gravesite. "Elphaba visits her sometimes... She knew her for longer. I'd rather not come here, I have my own way of..."
"Will she be alright on her own?"
"I think so."
Glinda sighed and watched her friend enter the cemetery.
Elphaba took the familiar trek to her mother's grave and tentatively lowered herself to the ground with a wince. "Hi, mama..." she spoke quietly. "I'm sorry I haven't been back for a while... A lot has happened since I last spoke to you." she toyed with the grass beneath her fingers as tears came to her eyes. "Oz, I really wish you were here right now... You'd help me make sense of a lot of things..." she sniffled and shook her head, her dark hair falling across her face. "Do you remember me telling you about my friends? Well... I sort of gained one and lost one..." She let out a sad giggle. "It doesn't make sense, I know... But you see, Fiyero and Glinda broke up... and she started dating someone else, so, naturally, he joined our odd little friendship circle, and now, I'm the one dating Fiyero... I can hardly believe it myself. And it's been two months since he asked me... Of course, I have no idea what I'm doing or what's even expected of me, but mama he's such a sweet boy... And Oz knows I love him so much." she bit her lip as her tears started to fall. "He makes me happy, I hope you can see that... I hope you approve."
With a frustrated sound in her throat, she wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her dress and went on to explain what had happened in the Emerald City and what had happened between her and Frex, and now her grand escape. "I'm doing what he stopped you from doing. I'm getting away from here, mama. I know if you could have done, you'd have got away too... I'll try and come back soon." she shuffled and tried to stand.
She gasped when she felt a pair of arms around her and helped her to her feet. She looked around to see Glinda's sympathetic gaze on her.
"Nessa said you'd be fine. I kind of figured otherwise." she wiped her friend's tears away before hugging her. "For what it's worth, Elphie? I think she'd love Fiyero too."
Elphaba let out another tearful giggle as they both walked back to the carriage and the friends set off for the Vinkus.