Chapter 21
Let's Not Pretend
A bright stream of sunlight finds its way through a rip in the curtain beside the bed. The fabric wavers in the slight breeze sending light flickering across Elphaba's face. When the warm glow passes ever so slowly across her cheeks she begins to stir. She nestles closer to the body beside hers, inhaling deeply. The sweet scent of Glinda's hair fills her senses. It's faded a bit from its last wash two nights prior but still present; still alluring. There is another, sharper smell clinging to Glinda's skin that Elphaba vividly recognizes. It makes her body flush with heat as it invades her senses. She nuzzles her nose against the back of Glinda's neck, eliciting a soft whimper from the sleeping girl at the touch. Elphaba doesn't realize how close she's moved to Glinda until she feels her breasts pressing against the bare skin of the blonde's back.
Elphaba has to bite her bottom lip to keep the strangled moan from escaping her mouth at this intimate contact. She lets out a shaky breath, pressing her hand flat against the plane of Glinda's stomach. The blonde's skin is warm and smooth beneath her fingers. She's instantly reminded of their night together. The feel of the skin beneath her fingers brushing against her own. Intoxicating. She wishes she could make Glinda feel the wondrous sensations she was shown last night. The blonde was so gentle, so attentive, never pressing Elphaba to go further than she was comfortable.
It was… everything, she thinks with a smile yet she is still upset with her lack of forthcoming expressions. She's read hundreds if not thousands of books and that is the word she has chosen to define her night with Glinda? Everything? Really? That's all you can manage to say?
But as she lies, one arm draped comfortably around Glinda with the other pinned somewhere beneath the blonde's head, she realizes everything is perhaps the perfect choice. Because being with Glinda is like flying, just as it's like drowning. It's soft lips against heated skin and a scrape of nails digging against a trembling spine. It's fluttering touches and inexorable pressure. It's…
It is, in essence, everything.
As she came down from somewhere between infinity and the bedroll beneath her back, Glinda snuggled herself thoroughly against her side. She remembers the blonde stroking her. Where? She can't quite recall. Elphaba was hyper aware of every point of contact between Glinda's body and her own. The fingers that could have been stroking a thigh felt like they just as easily could have been brushing over her cheeks. It wasn't much longer until she could feel the beginnings of exhaustion creep under her skin. She vaguely recalls Glinda wishing her fresh dreams before she succumbed to sleep.
The best sleep she's ever had, she thinks now.
Elphaba's entire body tenses as she hears a low hum from Glinda followed closely by a light utter of, "Elphie…?"
Her mind is made up in this moment. Elphaba knows that, all the things that Glinda showed her last night – she needs to try them now. Memories flood through her conscious. Flashes of creamy skin and bodies arching from the bed fade to pages and renderings inked inside books. Passages of text. Lines from Human Anatomy flicker to dark blue eyes. Sexuality to heated kisses to reproduction, all of it muddling her thoughts so much Elphaba barely notices Glinda trying to turn around in her arms.
The memories disappear as quickly as they came when Elphaba feels Glinda shifting in her embrace. Elphaba can't let Glinda turn; she can't let Glinda see her. Not in the light. Not when Glinda will see the scars marring her skin, all her skin, and surely be repulsed and angered by the sight. She won't let that happen. She can't bear to see that hurt crossing the blonde's eyes again.
"Stay," Elphaba whispers, surprised to find her voice heavy with arousal. Before Glinda can even think to protest Elphaba slides her hand between Glinda's legs, rendering the blonde absolutely speechless and immobile. Elphaba is slow in her exploration, finding Glinda unexpectedly wet and very responsive. She is trying to concentrate on what she's doing but when Glinda rolls her hips back against her, demanding more contact, Elphaba fumbles under the pressure of the heat seeming to overtake her body; much like the heat that has captured her wandering fingers.
She needs to be closer to Glinda, she thinks, much closer. A green leg moves over the top of Glinda's thigh, locking their bodies tightly together. Glinda lets her left foot slip over a green calf, allowing her legs to spread further, giving Elphaba more access to the release she desperately needs. By now Glinda's breathing is nothing more then quick pants as her hips work a steady pace against Elphaba's hand. Just when Glinda thinks she's close to coming undone, a few of Elphaba's fingers finally fill her.
The loud grunt Glinda makes as she pushes herself harder against Elphaba's motions makes Elphaba feel as though she's right back in that infinite space she was last night as she writhed below the blonde. She's terrified of doing this wrong, of not pleasing Glinda in the same manner that Glinda pleased here mere hours before. But Glinda's hand moves up over their bodies, tangling in Elphaba's hair so thickly that Elphaba forgets she's terrified.
Terrified isn't what she feels as the walls of Glinda's sex throb against her fingers.
Terrified isn't what she feels as her own body shudders in the wake of Glinda's release.
She feels dizzy, almost drunk from the sensations now buzzing in her body as she breathes hard against the back of Glinda's neck, pressing sloppy kisses to any skin she finds.
Elphaba doesn't realize her hand is still buried deep within Glinda until the blonde untangles her fingers from Elphaba's hair, letting them glide past her ear and along her jaw before she gently pulls a green hand out from between her still quivering legs. Elphaba's eyes close, her breath catching as Glinda laces their fingers and presses their joined hands between her full breasts. Directly over her heart. The muscle is beating fast, strong against Elphaba's palm. She can hear Glinda whispering to her softly, "for you."
Elphaba feels herself overcome with emotion for the woman in her arms. She ducks her head between Glinda's shoulder blades to hide the tears quickly flooding her vision. No one has ever made her feel so desired, so complete so… everything.
Glinda thinks nothing could ever be more perfect then this moment until she feels something wet against her back and hears the small sniffle escape the woman she adores beyond all else. She tries to roll over but Elphaba's hand along her spine stops her once more.
"Please, Elphie," Glinda begs, needing to hold the woman close.
"W-wait," Elphaba stutters. She sounds almost nervous as she pulls away from Glinda.
Glinda's brow furrows with worry and she feels the blanket tangled between them being slid from under her legs. She rolls over quickly just as Elphaba has pulled the blanket up to her chest, concealing her from sight. The green knuckles are pulled taut, skin glaring white under her strong hold.
Glinda frowns and reaches toward Elphaba's hands, pressing down gently once she does. "It's all right Elphie, it's just me."
But Elphaba shakes her head even as Glinda scoots closer. "N-not yet… I… last night it was so dark and there was no way…"
Glinda leans over, kissing her soundly, finding solace in the way Elphaba relaxes against her mouth. She pulls away but just enough to tell her softly, "You're so beautiful, Elphaba."
"I'm not beautiful like you," Elphaba confesses but Glinda doesn't want to hear any of it.
"No, you're not," Glinda tells her with a smile. "There's hundreds of girls just like me Elphie, but no one, there is no one, who could even come close to being as incredible as you."
Elphaba feels her cheeks grow warm at Glinda's words, her heart suddenly thudding faster. A shaky grin pulls at her lips. She thinks Glinda has never looked more beautiful as she smiles so radiantly back at her, lips still swollen from the night past, cheeks flushed from the sex of mere minutes before. Elphaba can't help herself as she leans over, capturing those lips between her own. "I love you, my sweet," she says resting their foreheads together.
Glinda swears her heart is soaring when she hears those words pass from Elphaba's lips. It takes all she has in her not to pin Elphaba to the bed and show her again just how much she reciprocates the feeling. She chuckles as she imagines the look on Elphaba's face if she did.
Elphaba pulls slightly back, an eyebrow rising down at Glinda. "What?"
"Nothing," Glinda leans forward, kissing the corner of Elphaba's mouth, happy when the smile returns to green lips. "I just wanted to let you know this was by far the best way I've ever been woken up."
"You're welcome?" Elphaba replies back, a bit confused but smiling nonetheless.
Glinda allows a smirk to cross her face. "I'd very much like to return the favor."
Elphaba's eyes grow wide as she clutches the blanket closer to her chest. The blush is so evident on her cheeks Glinda is sure it can be seen from Quox. When Elphaba ducks her head down, eyes avoiding Glinda's own, Glinda grows worried.
She gently cups the palm of her hand against Elphaba's jaw, raising the girl's head so they may look at each other once more. "It's all right, Elphie. I was simply kidding. It's okay."
Elphaba tries to mask the apprehension she feels but Glinda's touch is so tender, her eyes so full of compassion that Elphaba has no choice but to let the truth slip from between her lips. "I'm scared… of what happens now."
Glinda rubs her thumb along the high peak of Elphaba's cheekbone. "Nothing if you don't want it to."
"No," Elphaba shakes her head. "I'm not talking about sex."
Glinda blushes, but encourages Elphaba to continue.
"I murdered my father, Glinda."
Glinda feels her heart skip a beat at the admission. Elphaba is obviously still concerned about what she's done and Glinda understands why. If it wasn't for the brutality she endured during her training she's sure she would not have gotten over her first kill of another human quite so easily. "How are you?" Glinda asks despite her knowledge Elphaba is far from being anything but all right.
Neither girl is making eye contact, too afraid the other will see the truth behind their words.
"I'm okay," Elphaba says. For now, anyway.
"It'll get better," Glinda replies. But you'll still feel it.
"So you say."
"You trust me?"
Elphaba looks back up to Glinda, eyes steely. "Of course."
"I want you to be better than okay," Glinda confesses.
Elphaba sighs rolling to her back as she says, "I'll never be okay, not after what I've done."
"In time you will come to understand, you did nothing wrong," Glinda says quietly yet with conviction. She bridges the gap between their bodies; palm covering Elphaba's cheek fully, turning the green woman's face back toward her. Elphaba's eyes dart vulnerably between Glinda's own. What she's searching for in her gaze Glinda does not know. There is something she does know and doesn't hesitate when she tells Elphaba, "It doesn't change how I feel about you, not in the least. I love you, Elphaba. Always will."
Elphaba doesn't realize how much she needed to hear Glinda say those words until they wash over her. Glinda won't forsake her because of what she's done. She feels safe in Glinda's arms, accepted and loved. "Thank you," Elphaba says causing Glinda to quirk a brow in confusion. She's being thanked for telling Elphaba that she loves her?
"For what?" Glinda asks with a chuckle.
Elphaba blushes as she turns her body back toward the blonde. "For… everything. For understanding, for staying, for last night…"
Glinda lets out a surprisingly girlish giggle at Elphaba's admission. "You never have to thank me for something I more than wanted myself."
Elphaba, if possible, blushes more as she thinks about the morning's activities. She looks up at Glinda, wanting to tell her how much she enjoyed making her feel the same but the sun catches Glinda's blue eyes so brilliantly that Elphaba is at a loss for words. She wants to tell Glinda how beautiful she is especially in this moment with her hair a mess, cheeks still red from their earlier tryst and eyes shinning so adoringly back into hers.
But the sun is a reminder that the night is gone. And in the quiet the new day has brought she can hear the far off cries of the Undead trapped behind the Palace. Elphaba's never read about so many being held captive, let alone bared witness to such numbers. It's a stilling reminder of what Morrible is capable of… and what more why they must see to it that she's is stopped.
Gathering the blanket around her Elphaba sits up in the bed, trying not to look down at Glinda as she remains lying beside her, nude as ever with her head propped up on her hand. Training her eyes on the wall ahead of her, Elphaba says, "we need to find Morrible."
Glinda's brow knots, confused by Elphaba's sudden cold tone. If she didn't know any better she'd think the green woman was acting strangely like... well, herself when they first met. So Glinda follows Elphaba out of bed and watches, both curious and concerned as Elphaba begins pacing in front of the door still wrapped in the blanket.
Elphaba can't figure out what Morrible wants.
Why keep all those Undead locked up?
What is she planning?
And what more, how do they figure into it all?
Glinda gives a sigh as she realizes Elphaba is exerting herself unnecessarily. She manages to pull the green woman to the small table along the far wall and sit her down in the broken chair.
"Let me make you some tea," Glinda whispers, not wanting to disturb the thoughts clearly storming behind the unfocused brown eyes. She keeps her gaze on Elphaba as she picks up one of their blouses from the floor and slips it over her shoulders. She vaguely realizes its Elphaba's, the larger size feeling a tad foreign as it hangs loosely from her body, the bottom just barely brushing the tops of her thighs. But what worries her more is the bloodstain which has faded from the rain, but is still visible on the fabric. As she scrounges up some tea from their pack along with a tin cup she makes note to try and wash the rest of the blood out.
Elphaba is as Glinda assumed, lost in her thoughts. She still can't seem to grasp what Morrible is planning and where she and Glinda fit into all of this. Does Morrible really plan to involve them? She must, Elphaba thinks, if the wanted posters still plastered about the city are any indication. The only solace she found upon seeing them was Glinda's changed status to being wanted alive. Yet, why the change of heart? Did Morrible truly care for Glinda's well-being?
She can only think of one answer to all of her questions.
Morrible wants her book back.
And more questions manifest in the shadow of that truth.
For what purpose? What spell? Is she even aware of the spell? She can't even read it! Is that why she wants me?
Elphaba lets out a groan as she slumps over the table and lets her forehead hit the surface with a soft thud.
Glinda walks up behind her, brushing long sections of the dark hair from Elphaba's face and over a slumped shoulder. She takes a seat atop the table. "Hi," she tells her softly, nudging the cup of tepid tea in front of Elphaba's nose. "I apologize if it's horrid, there's no stove so I filled it with some water from the washroom."
Elphaba turns her head, staring up at Glinda who smiles warmly down at her. The shirt she's wearing hangs loosely from over one shoulder, its collar wrinkled and wet. A faint discoloration stains the front along the chest, damp just like the collar. Elphaba gulps upon realizing it's her own blouse Glinda has slipped on. It's as if the blonde is carrying the burden of her murder upon her shoulders. She feels ashamed at thinking the blouse looks good on her, especially undone save for the sole button clasped near her stomach. "You're wearing my blouse," she says quietly, blushing fiercely.
Glinda's once warm and gentle smile curls mischievously, her voice growing far huskier as she says, "I do believe I am. Would you like it back now?"
Elphaba shoots upright in her chair, shaking her head as Glinda moves to undo the button holding the blouse together. Glinda continues smirking at Elphaba even as the green woman hastily picks the cup of tea from the table and takes a giant swig, only to spit the vile tasting drink right back out again.
"Is it really that bad?" Glinda asks with a chuckle as Elphaba holds the cup out to her, smacking her lips and shaking her head as if it will rid her mouth of the horrid taste. Glinda stands and takes a cautious sip, expression growing wide as she sputters and coughs the small amount of tea back into the cup. "Yes," she says pushing the awful drink far across the tabletop. "Yes, it's that bad. Absolutely disgusting. I'm sorry I ever made it."
"Thank you," Elphaba tells her, voice suddenly thick with emotion. Glinda turns to her, surprised by the deeply heartfelt tone. "For being there, here now, making me ghastly tea. Everything. Last night you could have… you could have left but you stayed and I just-"
"I'd never leave you," Glinda tells her before Elphaba can utter a word more. She sits back down on the tabletop, closer to Elphaba.
"I know," Elphaba replies, touching her fingers to Glinda's bare thigh. She feels the muscle beneath her fingers twitch and when she looks up at the blonde she catches the pink just beginning to settle along her cheeks. "I love you."
Glinda feels it then, that same frightening sensation in her heart she always gets when Elphaba says those three words. It's so new, so dizzying and so terrifying all at once. It's as though her very heart has expanded beyond its means and threatens to push straight out of her chest. It's a raw ache, a wonderful pain. It makes her want to smile, cry, fly even! She fingers the edge of her blouse where it brushes along her breast, hand sliding to cover the skin just above her heart, which is beating a strong rhythm for the woman in front of her. Glinda inhales deeply, her voice nothing but a rasp as she says, "it scares me sometimes, how much I love you."
Elphaba leans forward, pressing a kiss to Glinda's arm, her wrist and then over her exposed breast. "Me too," she whispers, nuzzling her nose along the blonde's warm chest, letting out a long breath as Glinda's scoots nearer still and holds her close. She can feel Glinda's fingers running through her hair, slow and smooth. She hums at the feeling, at the warmth pooling deep in her stomach at the blonde's tender touch.
A crackle of static sounds outside the window, both turning at the sound of the speakers posted throughout the city flickering to life. An electric spike sizzles outside, a spark ignited beside the speaker along the nearby post. Glinda's hands still in Elphaba's hair and Elphaba can feel the heart beneath the blonde's chest beating faster.
Morrible's voice echoes throughout the City.
"Citizens, as you are well aware provisions have been made for your continued safety. Your vigilance in our efforts is tantamount to our success. I wish not to disturb your morning further and thus implore you to join me as I give a speech outside the Palace at noon with information about our continuing efforts here in the City and how you too, can help the cause. As I promised, Oz will soon be rid of this scourge!"
Morrible's voice disappears with a fizzle and a burst of static. The hum of power that surged through the wires looped haphazardly outside the widow fades. As the electric noise subsides, the voices of the citizens below bellow up. There is a smattering of applause from the rundown apartment complex nearby; cheers echo from a few streets over.
A few gunshots are fired in celebration.
The people adore their new leader.
They trust in her.
"Noon," Elphaba says.
And Glinda nods.
They stand amongst the citizens outside the palace walls, hands clasped, shrouded in the shadow of a banner tied between two streetlamps. If anyone were to look closer at the women they'd recognize their faces from the banner swaying in the wind above their heads. The women are relieved that the crowd is so riveted to the empty podium far ahead.
Their own eyes are for too busy darting from the Ozians surrounding them and back up to the emerald clock tower.
Five more rounds of the thinnest steel hand and noon will be upon the square.
Glinda tugs down further on the large swooping hat already shoved as far down as it will go on her head. She discovered it earlier inside an old coatroom at the Inn, hoping Elphaba would prefer the cover to her shawl. But Elphaba was adamant she keep it for herself. She's grown accustomed to the shawl and the protection it provides. Comfortable even, beneath it. Elphaba did accept a discarded travel cloak also salvaged from Glinda's explorations. The heavy wool hood helped the keep the shawl in place. Though had the negative effect of making her stand out a bit in the warm weather.
No one seemed to care though. Not even the Gale Force sprinkled throughout the growing crowd.
When Morrible arrives it is to raucous applause and deafening cheers.
Elphaba grips Glinda's hand tighter.
"My fellow Ozians!" Morrible bellows into the large amplifying phone supported atop the podium. She raises her arms, wide grin spread across her face as the crowd hushes. She continues, confident as ever, "I have asked you here today to share with you our progress! As you are well aware my forces are continuing in their endless pursuit of the Verdigris pair. I have no doubt they will try and enter the city which is why I must stress to you the importance of their capture! Keep watch on the skies as you do the streets. Report any sightings immediately to the nearest officer. Rest assured I will take care of the rest. As for my promise to rid the land of the scourge, believe in my word. I will see to it they terrorize Oz no more! The key to this success lies within the hands of the Wicked Verdigris girl and her accomplice. They hold our freedom hostage! I will not rest until I reclaim what is rightfully ours!"
As the crowd explodes once more into boisterous approval, Glinda tugs on Elphaba's hand. The two women exchange a look, a brief glance. Elphaba nods at the silent question behind the blonde's eyes. She's more than happy for them to leave.
As Morrible carries on, the crowd riveted by her words, the women slip away.
They make it back to their dingy room with ease, the streets practically empty and devoid of officers. Everyone is obviously still celebrating.
Though what are they celebrating, exactly? Elphaba wonders as she discards her shawl upon their bedroll. What has Morrible uncovered? What freedom does she speak of?
And as her eyes take in the sight of the Grimmerie peeking out from her research bag she knows the freedom Morrible seeks. Yet, "what use is it to her if she can't even read it?" Elphaba exclaims.
Glinda tosses her hat aside, eyes passing over the book before returning once more to meet Elphaba's stormy gaze. "Maybe she knows someone who can?"
Elphaba's eyes turn somber as she replies, "She does. Me."
"Aside from you," Glinda says quietly, though not entirely believing that is possible. It's obvious to her that if Morrible can't hope to read from the book than surely no one else can.
"You said it yourself Glinda," Elphaba says with a heavy sigh. "I have the power within me to be great. Power Morrible obviously wants," she explains, lamenting the thoughts even as they pass her lips. She lets out a groan as she allows her body to grow slack and collapse back onto the creaky bed. The old, stiff mattress barely gives under her weight, though it squeaks loudly in protest. There are a few moldy spots on the ceiling, a muddy green that she can't help but focus upon, and unconsciously compare with her own unfortunate coloring.
Oh, how easy it would be to blend into the walls and disappear forever.
But then what of the people?
What of those now blindly following Morrible instead of the Wizard?
The mattress dips beside her, Glinda's hand soon coming to rest along her arm. She meets the blonde's eyes, surprised by the fiery resolve she finds staring so fiercely back down at her. "You stay here while I go slit her throat," Glinda tells her in a voice just as impassioned as her expression.
Elphaba shoots up from the bed, grabbing Glinda before she can even think to move away. She wants to tell her there must be another way. One that doesn't make her stomach stir with memories of the previous night; with flashes of metal and blood staining her skin. There has to be a way that doesn't end with more death. But instead she says, "I'm not letting you go alone."
Late that night the two women climb up to the roof of the abandoned Inn. The Gale Forcers below barely glance skyward. They are too busy brushing aside the Philosophy Club inhabitants to notice as the women take off into the sky and straight over the city's containment wall. Glinda clings tight to Elphaba as the green woman pulls them swiftly up into the cloud layer, steering them toward the palace. They can smell the stench of the Undead trapped in the back gardens before they ever come into sight.
There seem to be more now, if possible. The horde is packed in so tightly some have begun crawling over each other in attempts to escape their prison. Elphaba guides the broom into a steady hover just above the balcony she knows must belong to Morrible. It is the grandest, after all.
Glinda slips off of the broom first, hardly waiting for Elphaba to lower them to the stone. She lands with a soft thud, her dagger extracted and held tightly in her fist. The large windows are open, the warm night air wafting gently into the dark room beyond. Glinda can feel Elphaba hurry up behind her, the green woman's body heat radiating against her back. With a glance over her shoulder back toward Elphaba and a nod in resigned acceptance from the green woman, Glinda moves silently into Morrible's bedchamber.
Her former superior is sleeping soundly nestled amongst a small lake of exceedingly luxurious pillows. Glinda grimaces at the sight as she deftly moves closer, steps light against the equally plush carpet. Morrible stirs, rolling to her side, facing Glinda who halts with a shudder and a sharp intake of breath. She can see the woman's false lashes starting to peel from her eyelids. Morrible has obviously neglected to remove the layers of makeup still painted upon her face. A frown pulls at the large woman's lips, eyes squinting ever so slightly before she relaxes back against the bed, still once more.
Glinda lets out a slow breath, taking another cautious step forward.
Elphaba watches from just beyond the window, clutching the broom tightly to her chest. The worn wood quivers in her grip, almost as if manifesting the tremors threatening to roll through her body. This was a dreadfully preposterous plan, she thinks now in retrospect. It's too easy. Why would Morrible just leave her window ajar? Especially after giving a speech earlier about vigilance? Especially knowing they could easily attain access to her room?
It reeks of a trap, of a setup sure to end poorly.
Deadly even.
Elphaba takes a step into the room, hoping to gain Glinda's attention, but the blonde has made it to the bed and in the blink of an eye her dagger is pressed soundly against Morrible's throat.
The woman wakes with a jolt, eyes snapping wide yet quickly dissolving into a look of presumption as she focuses up at her assailant with a twinge of a smirk pulling at her lips. She knew, Glinda realizes, heart racing as Morrible continues staring steadily, proudly even, up at her. She was waiting for this…
"What is it you want, Miss Galinda?" Morrible asks lightly and Glinda can feel the woman's voice reverberating through her dagger and straight into her palm. "Why is it you seem intent upon ending my life when I spared yours so willingly?"
"Shut up," Glinda hisses through clenched teeth as she digs the blade deeper into Morrible thick neck. "You've done nothing for me."
"If you insist on feeling so," Morrible replies calmly. "And since you seem so intent on ending my life at least give me the privilege of knowing why. What, exactly, haven't I done for you?"
"Glinda," Elphaba calls softly but the blonde doesn't or refuses to hear her.
"You want to hurt her," Glinda snarls and Morrible need not ask to know whom she is referring to. She can plainly see the green woman standing a few paces from her window, caught between grabbing Glinda and taking off into the night or stepping up beside her in solidarity. Morrible feels the blade nick her skin as Glinda forces her attention back and growls out, "I won't let you."
"I don't wish her harm Galinda," Morrible says, voice strained with the pressure of Glinda's relentless blade. "I have never given you reason to doubt me. Believe me when I tell you I truly only wish to see this madness end."
"How?" Glinda exclaims lowly. "There is no cure!"
"I don't plan to cure them," Morrible tells her evenly. "I plan to end them."
"There's no way," Glinda says with a shake of her head, never once relenting in her grip on the dagger. "Not all of them."
"There must be. It's what I need the Grimmerie for; it's what I need her for," Morrible says, eyes meeting Elphaba's from across the room. Glinda lets out a rather incensed groan and forces Morrible's face back toward her own. But Morrible smiles up at the blonde as she asks, "Do you even realize why she's so powerful? Why she's so… unique?"
Elphaba steps forward at the answer lingering in Morrible's question.
Morrible's smile grows as she notices the girl moving closer form the corner of her eyes.
"In my drawer there," Morrible instructs, giving a slight nod toward the nightstand beside the bed. Glinda squints in suspicion but Morrible merely rolls her eyes and purses her lips at the blonde's mistrust. "Just open it, Galinda."
Before Glinda can even move Elphaba slides the drawer open slowly, extracting the single item from within. An identical green bottle, an exact match to her own.
"I know you are already quite aware the Wizard was behind all this," Morrible explains softly. "I can only thank you for bringing light to his treachery and apologize for the means with which said information was delivered. But if it weren't for your time with me and the truth you revealed, I would have lived in ignorance. Ignorance of the fact that the man I vowed to serve is the sole reason for this scourge; the reason that upon my death I too shall become one of them. Before I had him killed I had to learn more," she says, pausing to dislodge a rather painful lump that has formed in her throat, trying hard to swallow against the pressure of Glinda's blade. After a moment, she manages to continue. "I used my truth serum on him. He was an exceedingly boring man for someone so worshiped. The only bit of even remotely scandalous information provided was about a tryst he had with a married woman some twenty-two years ago in Munchkinland… your mother, Melena Thropp."
The bottle drops from Elphaba's hands, cap undone as it lands upon the carpet. The green elixir within spreads and soaks into the floor. Through parted lips Elphaba lets out short erratic breaths. It can't be, she thinks. The Wizard could never have been…
He can't be…
"Lies!" Glinda shouts, dagger sliding up against Morrible's chin. "I should just kill you now to be done with them!"
"Why would I lie? What have I to gain from this?" Morrible snaps, eyes narrowing audaciously into Glinda's. "I don't understand why you are so against what I am proposing to do. Don't you want to see Oz returned to its former glory? To attend Shiz and become the sorceress I know you wish to be?"
Glinda tightens her grip on the hilt to mask the way her hand has begun to tremble. "Not if it means hurting her."
"I can't promise there won't be risks. There is with all magic," Morrible replies, voice once again taking on an uncannily soft tone. It sounds foreign upon Morrible's tongue. It makes Glinda shudder hearing it. It reminds her of her mother; of the times when Edlyn would show her a rare ounce of compassion.
The compassion was always fleeting though.
"Then it isn't worth it," Glinda whispers fiercely.
"W-wait," Elphaba stammers, stepping across the stained rug and coming to a stop beside Glinda. She lays a hand over the blonde's. Glinda's hold upon the weapon loosens at the tender touch. Their eyes meet, Glinda's impossibly wide and questioning, boring into Elphaba's which are full of sympathy and resigned to her new fate.
A fate she now realizes she was born to uphold.
While Glinda argued with Morrible, no matter how briefly it was, Elphaba came to several poignant and life-altering conclusions.
The Wizard is her father.
And even if he claimed it was by accident he was still the one to set this terror upon the land.
But she now knows it was no accident that she was born green. That she holds within herself the power to read from the book.
She feels she was always meant to be the one to wield its power. To be the one to end this all…
No matter what it may cost her.
She just hopes Glinda remembers what they once could not promise the other. What they both could not guarantee.
I'm sorry, my sweet, Elphaba murmurs silently to herself.
She looks back to Morrible, the larger woman surprised by the resolution staring back at her through such dark brown eyes.
"I will stay," Elphaba tells Morrible. She ignores the sudden sharp intake of air filling the lungs of the blonde beside her. She squeezes Glinda's hand, still staring at the now stunned Morrible as she says, "but only if you promise, in writing — a decree, what have you — so long as it's binding, that Glinda may go free. Her—" The blonde protests, trying to cry out in opposition but Elphaba pulls her close, her free hand quick to cover the blonde's mouth as she continues, "her name be cleared and no harm shall ever befall her from this reign."
"NO!" Glinda exclaims, wrenching free of Elphaba's grasp. But the green woman is quick to pull her back, the dagger dropping to the ground in their scuffle.
"I sense you two needing a moment," Morrible muses, standing to her feet and excusing herself from the room. Glinda breaks free of Elphaba once again and in one swift motion pulls the pistol from her belt, slamming down the hammer. With her finger half depressed against the trigger she points the barrel straight at Morrible's head.
"I dare you to move," she growls.
"Stop this," Elphaba tells her, voice low as she tries to force Glinda to lower her weapon. Glinda keeps a hand placed firmly over Elphaba's chest, holding her back as the gun shakes in her unsteady grip. She can't lose Elphaba. Not willingly to this woman. Not so that she can be strapped to yet another table and forced to endure even more horrendous experiments, more pain. And this time with the added horrors of harnessing her magic.
Glinda may not know all it entails but she knows Morrible will stop at nothing to attain Elphaba's power for herself. Glinda's seen what Elphaba's power is capable of when it's left unchecked. She's seen the way it leaves her weak, as if it drains the very life from her body.
Morrible says she wants to end the scourge. Wants everything to return to the way it was. For someone so adamant about forgetting the past Glinda is far too suspicious of Morrible's intentions now. No matter how noble she claims them to be Glinda knows Morrible wants nothing more then use Elphaba for her own selfish gains.
Elphaba won't be lauded for ending the scourge.
No, Morrible will while Elphaba is destroyed.
And that's even if there's a way! Glinda thinks this is madness. How could Elphaba be so willing to stay when she knows, when she knows without a doubt, that there is nothing that will ever stop the Undead?
Nothing that won't also end with the rest of life on Oz also perishing.
Glinda knows Elphaba would rather die than to harm another innocent life.
Staying with Morrible would assure that.
Glinda can't allow that to happen. She vowed not to let this happen!
Elphaba feels Glinda's finger digging into her blouse, the blonde's nails scrapping over her skin. From her angle just over the blonde's shoulder she can see the beginnings of tears forming at the corners of Glinda's eyes. Morrible stands riveted to her spot a few paces ahead, eyes locked calmly with Glinda's piercing blue.
Elphaba slides her fingers gently over the hand pressed against her heart. She knows Glinda will understand the next words she utters, knows where they are formed from. "For you," she whispers so that only Glinda can hear.
Glinda lets out a ragged breath, gun still trained on Morrible as she turns and faces Elphaba. This isn't for her. Elphaba can't be doing this for her! The tears she held back so fiercely now stream in thick ribbons down her cheeks. "I can't let you stay," she mutters weakly. "I can't let you do something so dangerous. You'll die Elphie."
Elphaba's lip quirks at the corner, the beginnings of a sad smile pulling at her mouth. "I know," she replies back just as softly. "I've always known. Don't you see my sweet? This is why I am here. My purpose."
"Your purpose is to live, to be despite all this," Glinda tells her vehemently. The unspoken meaning behind her words hit Elphaba hard, her heart clenching painfully in her chest as she realizes she once said those same words to Glinda.
Elphaba casts her eyes to the ground, no longer able to endure seeing the hurt swirling so thickly in Glinda's gaze. Almost mockingly the stain on the carpet glares back at her instead. "My true father created this," she says. She looks back up a Glinda, this time unwavering in her steadfast stare. "I must be the one to see it through. If Morrible believes there is a way in the book then it is now my duty to carry it out."
"No, Elphie, it's not, please-"
"Trust me," Elphaba implores, closing the space separating her from Glinda. She cups the blonde's face in her palms, brushing away the tears as Glinda chokes on a sob and leans into her touch. "I must stay."
Glinda cares not that Morrible is still in the room, witnessing this exchange. She slides her hand, still pressed over Elphaba's heart, up to brush along the green woman's jaw. "I promised to never leave you. I can't leave you here."
"You're not leaving me," Elphaba whispers against her hair, heart stilling, breaking as she forces the next words past trembling lips, "I'm leaving you."
"Elphie," Glinda squeaks, throwing her arms around the taller woman and hugging her desperately. She can hear Morrible's scoff and again could care less. Her gun clatters to the floor harmlessly as she tangles her hands in Elphaba's blouse, so afraid to let her go. Her head shakes in protest against the green woman's chest, a series of no's utter from between her lips.
"Please understand, my sweet," Elphaba whispers against her hair, drawing soothing patterns over Glinda's back. "I must stay. I must see this ended without harm to anyone... to you."
Glinda pulls back, watery gaze locked with Elphaba's own misty eyes. "No, stay with me. Please."
Elphaba's eyes close, squeezed tight as her jaw clenches and she breathes hard through her nose. "… I can't," comes out as nothing more than a breath. When her eyes open they are dark, darker than Glinda has ever seen them before. "You have to go. Before Morrible changes her mind, please Glinda. It's the only way I can guarantee you're safe. Please go."
Glinda is a mess of tears, eyes stained red, and lips trembling in time with her shaking hands. This isn't it. She's not losing Elphaba; not to the calm, wicked woman smiling so triumphantly at then from across the room. She can't let Elphaba go. Not to her! Not to anyone! She promised to keep her safe. She can't break that; she can't let her go.
She clings frantically to the woman she loves. "We can leave here, together," she whispers breathlessly, hopeful smile crossing her lips. "Go far away, just like you wanted. Come with me?"
Elphaba shakes her head. "It's too late to run."
"It's not. It's not, please. Come with me," Glinda pleads tugging Elphaba closer. This is my fault, she thinks frantically. If she hasn't been so insistent about stopping Morrible they could have been halfway to Fliaan by now! Safe, together. Everything Elphaba wanted…
Glinda hates herself. Hates herself for being the very cause of her own undoing.
Elphaba presses her forehead gently against Glinda's. "You lived without me once."
Glinda cringes, her heart burning against her ribs. "That wasn't living."
"My patience ladies!" Morrible trills from across the room.
Once again the woman is ignored as Elphaba brushes her lips lightly over Glinda's. "I'll always love you," she whispers before pulling away.
Glinda breaks.
"Elphie," she cries as she yanks down on the taller woman's neck, pulling her down hard, lips smashing together. Elphaba can taste the tears on Glinda's lips, taste the blonde's desperation as their tongues meet. She hears a guttural sound escape from Glinda's throat, a whimper as she holds back another cry. Glinda kisses Elphaba deeper, not caring that Morrible is watching. Her fingers are tangled in dark hair, tangled so thickly she's sure Elphaba can't pull them apart.
"Hold out, my sweet," she feels breathed across her lips more than spoken. Glinda rakes her teeth over Elphaba's bottom lip, eliciting a moan from the green woman who wraps her tightly in her arms, kissing her back with just as much frenzied passion.
"I love you," Glinda manages to murmur, never once letting her lips leave the now bruised ones still sliding so hungrily against her own. "I love you, I love you…"
"Enough of this!" Morrible exclaims, the women ripped apart several feet with a well-placed spell.
Glinda's chest heaves, panting hard. Her eyes never once leave the pained brown ones staring so longingly back into hers. She watches as Elphaba takes deep, calming breaths, eyes seeming to beg of Glinda to let her go.
"I'll be okay," she watches Elphaba mouth to her, a brave small trace of a smile pulling at her dark lips. "Go."
"Miss Galinda," Morrible calls, motioning toward the door.
"Glinda," she replies back, eyes still locked on the brown ones seemingly a world apart from her. Her next words very much directed to their owner, "I'll always be Glinda."
"Yes dear, whatever," Morrible says with a roll of her eyes, muttering about adolescence as she opens the door to her bedchambers. A few of the guards stand at attention outside, obviously having overheard the commotion. Their cheeks are stained with blush as they keep their eyes averted, awaiting instruction. Morrible motions them inside, commanding, "Please escort Miss Glinda from the Palace, see to it she's returned home safely, that her name and all criminal records held against her be expunged. She is a free woman, and shall remain so from this day forward."
Glinda feels two hands gently grab her arms, voices soft against her ear urging her to follow.
Elphaba nods at her, mouth barely forming the words "I love you," as Glinda is dragged from the room. As she passes Morrible she can hear the woman commending Elphaba, praising her for making the right decision. The only solace she takes in this is Morrible's promise of escorting her to the palace's best suite.
Perhaps… perhaps they will end this. Perhaps she will see Elphaba again.
She can hold out.
Thinking so still doesn't stop the overwhelming emptiness that has quickly taken hold of her heart. The last glimpse of Elphaba she catches is of the green woman's shoulders falling as Morrible closes her bedroom door.
Once outside the palace walls, a free woman placed into a carriage, the driver is given instructions to take her home. Glinda has never felt more imprisoned. Nor more alone.
So it is much to Edlyn's surprise when she is roused from sleep at such an uncouthly late hour to several sharp knocks upon her apartment door. And even more so when she opens the doors to find her daughter standing on the doorstep, a slumped mess of curls, dirty clothes…
…Eyes burnt red with seemingly endless tears. …Heartbroken, exhausted and desolate.
"Momsie," Glinda whimpers and steps into her mother's outstretched arms.