A/N: Here's the last chapter, my lovely readers. I appreciated all of your comments, ideas, and predictions along the way. It was such a pleasure to enjoy the girls with all of you. As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Xoxo, Lola.
Galinda awoke in moving darkness. Thin rays of sunlight seeped through wooden slats and barely illuminated the box that bound her. She turned on her side and reached out to support herself, but instead her ankles and neck pitched forward. Wrists, neck, and feet were connected by shackles. She looked down at herself. This wasn't her garment. They undressed me! Galinda realized. She had been stripped and redressed in nothing more than a long grey smock. The shackles on her hands were connected to a metal chain underneath her gray garb that linked to a metal collar around her neck and manacles around her ankles. The chain was no more than two and a half feet long. Even if she did manage to stand up, the length of the hidden chain kept her in a perpetual bow. Just how the Wizard wanted her. No doubt she was in a holding carriage amid a royal convoy headed toward the Emerald City. Galinda groaned. Oh Elphie, I've ruined everything.
…
Elphaba picked up Shell's bag and walked to the end of the alleyway. Her cheeks burned from crying. Numb and listless, she tumbled into a cobblestone square market. Munchkinlanders bustled about selling fruits and vegetables, linens and livestock. Several carriages were parked toward the outer walls. Where had Galinda sent her? Her mind raced. Where could Galinda be? Where would the officers take her? All this time. It had been her. How could she have been so daft not to see it? How had Galinda managed such magic? Shape-shifting for such long periods would have paralyzed the old Galinda. Her mind replayed their times together. The soft ways Glinda looked at her. Shielded her in the rain. Kissed her. Glinda had said that she would do anything to be close to her. She had left the palace for her! The magnitude of Galinda's sacrifices hit the Witch full force. I ruined everything. Elphaba's breaths rushed in short spurts. How could I have done those things to Galinda? She violated her at the maunts. Locked her in the kitchen cellar. Cast a spell on her. Traded her body for the Grimmerie. Repulsed by herself, she sunk to her knees. Her breath stopped.
"Miss, are you okay?" an older man asked nearby.
"Don't touch it, Arbert, it's green!" an old woman said next to him.
Elphaba started to wheeze.
"It looks hurt," the old man said.
"It looks suspicious! We should call the constable," the woman said.
"No need for that," a woman's voice sounded behind the couple. "I see you've found my cousin. She's asthmatic."
"And green," the old woman said, "Aren't you going to do something about her condition?"
"Some things we must accept as they are, for example— you being a nosy old shrew," the younger woman said and the old woman gasped while Arbert suppressed a snicker. The young woman walked between the couple in a fashionable blue hat and a cobalt and white dress. Wisps of her brown hair floated on the breeze as she bent down and slid an arm around Elphaba's ribs and hoisted her up. "Now, if you'll excuse us," she said and guided a surprised Elphaba away from the couple.
"Come now," the brunette said. Elphaba's mind was spinning. Who was this woman? She had no cousins.
"Take deep breaths. You're going to be fine," the brunette whispered.
Why was she being so kind? Where was she taking her? The woman walked Elphaba past booths toward the carriages. As the Witch found her breath, she stopped, turned and stared at the woman. The brunette loosened her grasp. The two appraised one other and the brunette gave Elphaba a smile that felt curiously familiar.
"It's been a long time, Miss Elphaba," the brunette said.
The Witch arched her eyebrows and said, "You really know me?"
"Why, of course. It's a little hard to forget a green girl. But, don't tell me you don't remember me?" the brunette said with a huff, "I was only the prettiest one there."
"Prettiest one where? Who are—"
Elphaba was interrupted by a handsome Munchkinlander coming out of a carriage who said,
"Shenshen, my darling! It's time for us to be getting home."
Shenshen! Elphaba's eyes enlarged. The brunette smirked.
"Come. You look a little out of shorts and clearly famished. Have a meal with my husband Seer and I, and let's catch up."
…
The prison carriage stopped. Galinda rolled to a corner of the box as she heard men's voices and footsteps walking toward her. The carriage door opened and blinded her with sunlight. She blinked several times and heard one of the men board the box. He grabbed her arm. Her eyes focused.
"Chuffrey!" she said.
"You sure ruined yourself this time," he whispered, "How could you be so selfish? Don't you realize your actions affect others, especially me!"
"Please! Let me go," Galinda pleaded. She had tried to magic her way out of the box several times only to find that the chains that bound her prevented her from casting.
"I can't do that. You did this to yourself, Glindy. You should have listened when I told you to leave the mysteries alone. Or even solicited my help if you wanted to be with that green monster. We might have captured her and allowed you prison visits. But, betraying the Wizard, Galinda? Surely, even a foolish little girl like yourself knows you'll have to face the consequences."
"But, if I'm found guilty, won't that fare worse for you? Won't the Wizard doubt your loyalties as a husband of a malsexual?" Galinda asked.
Sir Chuffrey grabbed Galinda's chin and squeezed. Galinda bit her lip hard to stop from screaming in pain.
"You won't drag me down with you! You may be a filthy malsexual, but I am not! If you want to save yourself, tell us where you sent Elphaba! Fall on the mercy of the Wizard and he may pardon you."
Galinda knew Sir Chuffrey was lying. The Wizard had no mercy. He would never pardon Galinda for helping the Resistance, let alone Elphaba. Despite their seven years together, Sir Chuffrey without a second thought would hand her over to save himself.
"Go to hell, Chuffrey," Galinda spat.
"Ladies first!" he said and threw Galinda's face back. Her head smacked the wooden box. He turned toward the officers and said "She refuses to cooperate." He jumped out of the carriage and the door shut.
…
"Where am I?" Elphaba asked Shenshen at the brunette's cozy dining table, while Seer went to fetch leaves for tea and a bottle of milk.
Shenshen's head tilted.
"You don't know where you are?" she asked placing a savory scone on Elphaba's plate. "Why we're in a town at the edge of Munchkinland called Bright Lettins."
"Bright Lettins," Elphaba repeated.
"You know it?"
"I've heard of it," Elphaba said.
"But how did you get here?" Shenshen asked.
Galinda. Elphaba's shoulders slumped. Where was the Good Witch now? Elphaba pictured officers taking Galinda to the Emerald City. Only one fate would meet her there. Swallowing, Elphaba asked,
"Why did you help me back there?"
Shenshen crossed her arms.
"No one deserves to be handed over to the constable. He's detestable and only does the Wizard's bidding," she said, then paused, before adding, "and besides… I was returning a long overdue favor."
Elphaba raised an eyebrow and Shenshen added,
"I was too proud to tell you how grateful I was back then, but I've never forgotten. I can't bear to think what would have happened to Seer and I, if you hadn't thought of an excuse that night."
"The night the Vice Squad officer stopped you," Elphaba suddenly remembered.
Shenshen nodded and said,
"I was a terrible snob back then. I hope you can forgive me for my behavior, Miss Elphaba."
Elphaba stilled. Forgiveness? It was she who needed to beg for forgiveness, but now she might never get the chance.
"Elphaba? Are you all right?" Shenshen asked.
"I've done something unforgivable," the Witch croaked.
"What do you mean?"
Words tumbled out of Elphaba's mouth. She couldn't stop. She told Shenshen about her days with Galinda at Shiz. Their love for one another. Galinda's marriage to Sir Chuffrey. The Resistance. What happened between her and Glinda. Galinda's capture. Some of the stories made Elphaba blush, but her humiliation didn't quell her confession. Across from her, the brunette listened unwaveringly. Occasionally greeting Elphaba's words with eyebrow raises, gasps, nodding, and a raise of a hand to her mouth.
"Oh dear! It's absolutely dreadful, what's happened to you two!" Shenshen whispered when Elphaba finished, "Absolutely dreadful!"
Seer who had returned somewhere in the middle of Elphaba's story, with leaves, milk and a newspaper under his arm, cleared his throat and asked,
"What will you do now?"
"I don't know," Elphaba said. "The Wizard may not even make Galinda's arrest public. I'm terrified the Vice Squad may disappear her."
"I don't think they'll be able to do that," Seer said and opened the newspaper to the front page. The title read, 'CAUGHT RED-HANDED: GALINDA THE GOOD ARRESTED AT MALSEXUAL ORYGY CLUB WITH OTHER KNOWN MEMBERS OF THE RESISTANCE!"
Elphaba grabbed the paper. Reading her eyes widened. They had arrested Chistery at the Spangletown Cabaret and a host of other Resistance hideouts had been raided in the Emerald City. Galinda would be publicly executed on the Ozian Festival of Song and Sentiment, the anniversary of the day the Wizard came out of the sky in his balloon.
"What does it say, Elphaba?" Shenshen asked.
"She'll be kept at the Southern Stairs until her execution in two weeks," Elphaba breathed.
"Is there nothing you can do to stop this? Not even with that 'Give-me' book?" Shenshen asked.
The Grimmerie! In Elphaba's sadness she had forgotten about it.
"I haven't looked at it yet," she said and reached for Shell's bag next to her chair. The satchel held the spell book, a vial of opium and small pouch of emeralds. She pulled out the old book.
"Why don't you look over it and then rest for a bit," Shenshen said. "Seer and I will make dinner. And, Elphaba, I do hope you know you'll be staying with us tonight until you've thought of something. And I'm confident that you will think of something."
"That's quite kind, but I couldn't possibly stay. I would put you both in danger if—"
"Please, Elphaba," Seer interrupted. "Let us help. We've endured our own losses because of the Wizard. If there is any way we could play a part in ending his reign, you must let us help."
Elphaba opened her mouth to object again, but decided against it, and gave a grateful nod. Soon after, Shenshen started dinner, Seer grabbed linens to set up an extra bed and the Witch sat in a high backed felt-lined wooden chair in the dining room, next to a window that overlooked a courtyard garden and poured over pages of the Grimmerie.
…
The door opened again. A cold wind blew over Galinda's body. Night had fallen. The swaying of trees was barely visible against the pitch black sky. She ached from rolling to and fro shackled for hours. She wanted to stretch her body and have a drink of water, but instead she felt two men grab her arms. They pulled her out of the carriage and dropped her. She smacked against the ground and shrieked in pain. Her neck and shoulders were in agony from keeping a bent position for hours bound in chains that gnawed at her skin.
An officer grabbed her arm and pulled her hobbling form into the forest. Her heart beat faster. Nothing good could come of being dragged into a dark secluded place with a soldier. Would she not even get a chance to see the Wizard? Had they had decided to kill her here? A panicked sweat dripped down the back of her neck and underarms. Stop! She couldn't die like this—alone—in the dark—without a proper burial—disappeared into the shadows!
"Don't do this!" Galinda pleaded. "Please!"
"Do what?" he hissed. Sir Chuffrey! In the dark and at her hunched angle, she hadn't seen her husband's face.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"To the loo," he said and took several more steps before he stopped. A tingling rose along the back of Galinda's neck.
"Well?" he said.
"Well?" she asked.
"Go already before I have to put you back."
"Aren't you going to unchain me?"
"Unchain a witch and give you the chance to magic yourself away? Not a chance. Now hurry," he said.
"Chuffrey, I can't even lift my shift! How do expect me to relieve myself?"
"You're not wearing any underpants. Just squat and get on with it!"
Galinda blushed. She couldn't believe he would humiliate her like this. Knowing she would likely be kept in the carriage for the remainder of the night, she slowly lowered her backside.
"If you want to eat tomorrow, I suggest you tell us where Elphaba is!" he added.
"I'd sooner starve," she shot.
Sir Chuffrey kicked her in the back with a muddied boot. She yelped and tumbled. Her face plowing into mud.
"You may just get your wish," he said.
…
"He's always been sweet for Galinda," Shenshen said as Seer went to grab another bottle of wine.
"Who?" Elphaba asked, wiping her mouth with a napkin. The three finished eating dinner and Shenshen kept the conversation light and talked of their days at Shiz.
"Avaric, of course," Shenshen answered, catching the Witch by surprise. "He adored her. He confessed as much during the time we partied at the Boar and Fennel. If I remember correctly you joined us at the end of that night." Elphaba grimaced at the memory. Shenshen continued, "Avaric said he never courted Galinda because of Fiyero. I always wondered why he never tried after they broke up, but now I see. He already knew her heart belonged to you. I suppose that's why he settled for Pfannee."
"He what?" Elphaba choked.
"Didn't you know?"
"I knew he married. I just assumed he had exercised some taste."
Shenshen chuckled and said, "Who's left after Galinda and I were paired? All the good ones were clearly taken." Elphaba's smirk shifted into a frown. Avaric had loved Galinda. How different Galinda's life would have been if she had married him. Why had Elphaba ever thought she could make the blonde happy? She didn't deserve her then and she surely didn't deserve her now.
"She would have been better off with Avaric," Elphaba said aloud.
"Come now, stupid. Don't take all the credit for Galinda's predicament," Shenshen said, "Love's not a choice, it's a force. A force that some of us are gifted in this life to encounter. Galinda decided to act on that force. She chose to find you, to try and protect you. She wouldn't want you thinking you weren't worth it."
"I never wanted her to protect me. I wanted to be of use to her but instead I ruined her."
"Not yet you haven't. Keep searching. Something is bound to come up in that book before the festival. Until then, you're welcome to stay with us," Shenshen said and Seer reappeared at the table.
Elphaba swallowed. Shenshen continued to surprise her. This girl had tormented her in her youth. She had found every aspect of the Witch loathsome. Publicly denounced and humiliated her. Yet now she was hiding her from the Wizard and supporting her feelings for Galinda. How was this possible?
"Why are you so kind to me?" Elphaba asked, "Surely my performance for that officer all those years ago is hardly comparable to abetting and aiding an outlaw witch. What has the Wizard done that you hate him so?"
Shenshen's lip trembled. "He-our—We—," The brunette's eyes went vacant and her words stopped. Seer took his wife's hand in his. Watching Shenshen's maddened expression, Elphaba felt a pain in her own chest. The brunette released her husband's hand and rushed toward the kitchen.
"Shenshen! Please, I didn't mean to pry—" the Witch said and stood up.
"She'll be all right. Just give her a moment," Seer said and Elphaba reluctantly nodded. "We had a son," Seer continued. Elphaba's eyes grew as she sat down. "He was just three when Shenshen and I gathered with other townsmen and children to protest a Vice Squad encampment being placed outside Bright Lettins. The stationed officers responded to our protest with clubs and swords. In the commotion, our son Soso, he got away from us and they—they— ran him over—in a carriage."
Elphaba gasped as the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
"They killed many people that day," Seer said, "Mostly children and the elderly. A lesson they told us. They would use any means necessary to serve and protect us. Any means necessary to keep an orderly society. Even if that meant killing us."
"The Wizard's peace is nothing but war by another means," the Witch said.
Seer nodded and said,
"Everyone can see that except those few powerful families in the Emerald City who benefit from the Wizard's policies."
"How is it that they prove incapable of understanding the coincidence between their morals and their interests?"
Seer snorted a shrug and said, "I don't know, but now that you know our story, you must never worry about overstaying your welcome with us. You will always have a place here."
The Witch's heart warmed. Shenshen having gathered herself, walked back in the dining room, still wiping her nose with a handkerchief.
"I thought about how much time you might have here," Shenshen said, "Since there are no trains from the Spangletown Cabaret to the Emerald City, most likely the Gale Force will take Galinda to the Wizard by carriage. This means that they will need nearly ten days to reach The Emerald City while it will only take you a few hours from our house. You can use their travel time to decipher that book and when you're ready, Seer and I will drop you off in the Emerald City ahead of them."
"Thank you both—for everything," Elphaba said.
Seer smiled and Shenshen said,
"The pleasure is ours. And, I should mention that it couldn't hurt to try and work out a deal with the jailer of the Southern Stairs."
"I'm afraid I don't have any connections there," the Witch said.
"You have at least one."
"What do you mean?" Elphaba asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Fiyero Tigelaar's stationed there. Don't tell me you've forgotten about him as well?" Shenshen asked. A shiver tore through Elphaba. She had not forgotten Fiyero nor had she found a way to forgive him.
…
Galinda, still chained, awoke parched, hungry, and sticky in the jumbling broiling black carriage. Her lips so dry they cracked and bled. She had been falling in and out of sleep. Her mind fuzzy and her body in such pain she cursed each time she opened her eyes. She prayed Lurline would take her. In the middle of one such silent pleading, a golden glow appeared in front of her. Finally. She's come! she thought. However, instead of Galinda disappearing into the sunlight, a wrinkled face appeared in the glow. It's features so old they no longer communicated a gender. A few strands of chalky hair fell over its leathery forehead. It had one shriveled eye and another that focused neither here nor there. Galinda thought she recognized the face, but couldn't say from where. She felt herself fading when it said in a guttural female voice,
"To change a universe takes time. It evolves slowly repeating itself again and again with only bits of change."
"What?" Galinda rasped, her lids heavy.
"She has not given up, child, and you mustn't either," the crone said.
Elphaba, Galinda whispered and closed her eyes as she fell into another fitful sleep.
…
"Take care of yourself," Shenshen said and planted a gentle kiss in Gillikinese fashion on the Witch's cheek. Elphaba blushed and nodded, stepping down from the carriage behind St. Galinda's Chapel. The moon lit a lavender stone pathway through the garden to a back entrance that was worn flat by generations of praying maunts.
"I don't know how I can repay you," Elphaba said.
"Just bring our sweet Galinda home," Shenshen said holding Elphaba's gaze. The Witch nodded. Seer waved and Shenshen closed the carriage door. The couple lurched off into the night and Elphaba sighed in the darkness.
Galinda had arrived two days earlier than expected. The royal convoy had apparently not stopped to rest long during the evenings but instead rode ahead at a breakneck pace. The Good Witch's arrival to the prison was published in all the newspapers and had set Elphaba into a panic that morning. Shenshen had managed to calm her and when night fell the couple took Elphaba to the Maunts. Not sure what Resistance posts were still operable, St. Galinda's Chapel was the one place Elphaba hoped she would be safe. She would have to find the Southern Stairs tomorrow night.
Elphaba walked along the pathway to the backdoor and finding a bird shaped knocker, she rapped it and waited. No one came. There was no sound, not even a candle light shown from the windows. What if the Chapel had been shut down? Elphaba hadn't even thought of that. Her hands went clammy. She knocked again. Nothing stirred. Alone in the stillness, Elphaba felt tiny and fragile. She had only managed to decipher several spells in the Grimmerie and most were healing spells. Nothing yet held the potential to end the Wizard. The Southern Stairs was another problem. She had written to Fiyero but heard nothing back. She had even written to several other members of the Resistance at Shenshen's and also heard nothing. Most likely they had been arrested while she was at Colwen Grounds. How would she get into the Southern Stairs? Even if she found a way to Galinda, how would she get them both out of there unnoticed? Elphaba was failure itself. She couldn't even find a place to sleep. And then— the latch sounded. The door cracked open and Sister Bursar's chubby face poked out.
"My dear Fae, what are you doing here at this hour?" she asked.
"Please, I need a place to stay," Elphaba said.
Sister Bursar let her in.
"Just you this evening?" the maunt asked and Elphaba nodded. "Well, I'm afraid we don't have much in the way of food. There's been a crackdown on traveling in the City. Most parishioners haven't been able to come and we've had to ration what funds we do get from the Cathedral. But, you're welcome to a breakfast of bread and honey tomorrow if you'd like."
"That will be more than enough. Thank you for letting me in," Elphaba said
"Of course, my dear, of course," the maunt said and walked her to a room. "Well, here you are."
Elphaba remembered her last visit with Galinda. Despite the room being exactly the same, it seemed emptier than before. She thanked the maunt, closed the door, and collapsed on the bed. Staring at the wall, her hands nestled under a pillow, she shut her eyes and whispered a short prayer for Galinda to whomever might be listening. Feeling foolish for having talked to herself, she snorted and then fell into a light snore.
Dreams of traveling down dark tunnels to find Galinda plagued her sleep. Three times she woke up in a sweat and took more than an hour to get back to sleep. Despite wanting to wake up early and study the Grimmerie again, she slept through breakfast the next day. The sun was high in the sky when she scurried downstairs to the banquet room. It was empty as were the halls and chapel. Elphaba wandered to the kitchen and behind a long cooking table she found an old maunt hunched down and sliding dough into an oven.
"I thought everyone left," Elphaba said.
"They've all gone for noonday prayers in the Garden Shrine. They left me to tend to any would-be visitors. Care for something to eat?" the old maunt asked and stood up.
The Witch flinched at her haggard face. The maunt's sallow skin hung from her cheekbones exposing the red under-flesh of her one good eye that stared off into the distance.
"Well, dolly?"
Elphaba found her manners and said, "Yes, a slice of bread, if you have it."
"Why of course. Let Old Mother Maunt see to it," the crone said.
"Is that what they call you?" Elphaba asked.
"Some sweet dollies, yes, while others call me Mad Mother Yackle. You may call me either, Elphaba," said the maunt who sliced off a piece of pumpkin bread and placed it on a plate. Elphaba's eyebrows shot up.
"How did you know my name?"
"Why my poor tired poppet, we've met before," the maunt said and scooted the plate in front of the Witch on the table between them.
"But I never gave that name when I stayed here," Elphaba said.
"We met when you were still a girl," Mother Yackle said. "Back when she was she and you were Elphie."
Elphaba's eyes grew.
"She?" Elphaba asked, her hands trembling.
"She's waiting for you in Room 4646, lower level. Most of the prisoners refer to it as the Devil's Lair. It's the last room at the end of the hall."
"Do you mean Galinda? But, how could you possibly know where she's being kept?"
"The only way to advance the infinite is to explore the finite in all directions and explore you will. Remember — this is but one direction. You must find the portal to the next."
"What portal? To the Southern Stairs? Do you know a way in?" Elphaba asked.
"You won't be able to save her this time, but you must try anyway — for the next time."
Elphaba pounded the table and screeched,
"What next time?! Enough with your nonsense! Tell me how to find her!"
The old maunt's eye rolled back in her head and she convulsed, foam brimming behind her grey gums and rotted teeth as she said,
"The weary September days are long. The cicadas sing a plaintive song. Brief indeed was life's fair dream. How passing strange and sad doth seem. That she who soothed with gentle hand thy burning brow. Is given now to his command, with death alone her final bow. From all creatures hides the Book of Fate. All but the pages that change their state. When the hours of day are numbered, the sacred stone wakes the better soul that slumbered, to a holy, calm delight."
Saliva hung from the maunt's lower lip before she shut her mouth and closed her watery eye.
"What the hell does that mean?" Elphaba asked.
"I'm not sure hell means anything," said a novice maunt behind Elphaba who entered the kitchen. Elphaba turned around and said, "Enough with the nonsensical quips. I already have my hands full with her!"
"Her?" the novice asked.
"This one here!" Elphaba said and turned back around only to see that the old woman had disappeared.
"I'm sorry," said the novice "but I'm the only sister here. It's the role of the novice to stay and tend the door in case the bell rings. All the others have gone out for noonday prayers."
"To the Garden Shrine?" Elphaba asked.
"Why, yes, have you prayed there before?" the novice asked.
Elphaba shook her head and looked down and noticed the pumpkin bread still on her plate. The blood drained out of her face.
…
Galinda opened her eyes. A dim flickering candlelight illuminated her stone cell. She had arrived at the Southern Stairs, a place where magic spells had no power but that did not stop the officers from leaving her chained. Her cell had three stone walls and one of the metal bars. The bars sat two inches apart, keeping the Good Witch in but making her clearly visible to any guards and nearby prisoners. Prisoners were not regularly bathed nor the cells cleaned and the air was blanketed with a thick odor. A mixture of wet bird, fresh feces, and ravenous mold. Weeping could be heard in the distance, along with a phlegmy cough. Lying on her side Galinda saw nothing in her cell but a wooden bucket. She hadn't eaten for days. Shooting pains shot through her limbs and spine which she could not stretch. Had Tibbett stayed here? Did he endure this before he was hung? Galinda felt a fresh stab of guilt. While she was enjoying the luxuries of the palace, her friend had been subjected to this. She started to cry and coughed and coughed.
"Please, I need some water," she managed to call out. "Please!"
"What was that, prisoner?" a voice called out.
"Water, please," she croaked.
"How about some milk?" the guard asked.
"Anything, please," she called between gasps.
Footsteps came toward her.
"Well come and get it," the guard said.
"I'm chained," Galinda said.
"Crawl on your knees then," he said.
Galinda rolled from her side to all fours and stretched her neck upwards. The guard had pressed himself against the bars. He had unbuttoned his pants and drawn his prick.
"Suck out as much milk as you want," he taunted, jiggling his firming member between the bars.
Galinda eyes bulged before she shut them and crawled to the back of her cell. The guard gave a hearty laugh. She slumped against the wall. She felt the last sparks of hope that she would make it out alive and see Elphaba again fade. If we never meet again in this lifetime, please know you will always be a handprint on my heart, she thought as the guard's laughter sounded down the hallway.
…
Elphaba sat in the banquet hall with a few other maunts as they slurped a clear broth and gobbled hunks of bread. This was her last supper before she headed out into the night with nothing but the hope that Fiyero would meet her where she asked. Mad Mother Yackle's ominous rhyme danced in her head. With death alone her final bow… All but the pages that change their state. What did it mean? Who had to die? What was she supposed to do?
"You must be careful, dear, traveling alone in the dark. There have been many arrests," Sister Bursar said.
"Yes, and many Resistance posts have been raided," said another sister.
Elphaba nodded. She had not told the Sisters of her intentions, but they assumed her business had something to do with the Resistance, a movement of which they were all quite sympathetic.
She looked down at her bread. A knotted sorrow filled her stomach and even the slightest morsel of food seemed too much to bear.
RING! RING! RING!
The maunts fell silent and exchanged looks around the table. It was rare to have any visitors past 6' o clock after evening prayers had finished.
"Please, go upstairs," Sister Bursar said to Elphaba. The Witch nodded, rose from her chair and raced up the staircase while one of the maunts went to attend to the visitor. Elphaba closed the bedroom door, sat on the bed, and took deep breaths. After several long moments, she heard footsteps coming toward her. The Witch stood, with nothing to hide behind, she backed against the wall.
Knock! Knock!
"There's a visitor for you," Sister Bursar said through the door. Who would know to meet her here? Elphaba felt her tongue stick to the roof of her mouth. Her hands laced behind her back.
"Yes," she managed to say. Sister Bursar opened the door. Avaric stepped through and Elphaba's eyes widened.
"Good evening," he said. Sister Bursar looked at the Witch to make sure she was safe.
"Thank you, Sister," Elphaba said. The maunt nodded and shut the door giving the two some privacy.
Elphaba eyed the blonde man for a moment before she asked,
"How did you know to find me here?"
"Fiyero. He told me you wrote. He asked I make sure you didn't go to Fox and Lox. He can't meet you there. It's been raided and shut-down by the Vice Squad. The owner arrested. Many of the Resistance posts have been shut down while you've been gone."
Elphaba's fingers hardened into fists.
"I've heard," she said.
"Anyway," Avaric said, "I have lookouts that told me a carriage had arrived here at night and I thought it might be you. I was lucky."
"What happens now?" she asked.
"I'll take you to Fiyero at midnight by another route and he'll bring you to her."
"He'll do that?" Elphaba asked.
Avaric nodded and said,
"He'll take you, but you'll only get five hours with Galinda."
At the sound of her name, Elphaba felt a pop of anger.
"You knew it was her from the beginning, didn't you? How could you lie to me?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
Avaric huffed.
"How was I to know a vowel would be so important!"
"I'm being serious, you idiot! You should have told me!" she yelled.
"You should have never given her over. Glinda or otherwise!"
"Is that what you think?" Elphaba asked. "That I gave her up?"
"Well here you are unharmed and Galinda is rotting in that place until they hang her! Forgive me for reading between the lines!" Avaric said.
Elphaba swallowed and said in a gravelly voice, "I would do anything to be in that cell instead of her."
Avaric rubbed his cheek, sighed, and said, "I'm sorry, I'm just tired. I shouldn't have said that."
"You should have told me the truth!" she said.
"Pigspittle, Elphaba!" Avaric said. "You're not the only one who cared about her! I thought a new name would keep her safe."
Elphaba's eyebrows shot up.
"Do you mean Glinda was your idea? You didn't lie for her, you told Galinda to lie to me?" she asked and grit her teeth.
"Because letting her wander the streets calling your name would have been a better plan," he said and Elphaba swore under her breath. "She insisted on wanting to see you, to help the Resistance. I didn't want to see her get hurt again."
"Again?" the Witch asked.
"Yes, again. Fiyero was never one to keep quiet."
Elphaba's nostrils flared.
"I didn't take you for a busybody," she said and Avaric rolled his eyes. "Just what did you think I would do to Ga-linda this time?" she asked walking closer.
"Don't be tedious! Look, the Resistance is dangerous for anyone— especially someone who is connected to the palace. It's not that I wanted to keep her from you indefinitely. Glinda was for her protection. When she felt safe, I assumed she'd tell you the truth."
The Witch's heart splintered. Did Galinda never feel safe with me? How could she feel safe with you?! The way you treated her! Elphaba crossed her arms and turned her back to the blonde man.
"Please!" Avaric said. "Her execution is in four days. Let's not spend the night bickering. Tell me you have a plan."
"All I have is that damn book!" she said.
"What book?"
"The Grimmerie, an old spell book that was rumored to have a spell that could end the Wizard. I can only read elementary spells. I took Glinda to Munchkinland because she was supposed to help me read the rest of it."
"But, they took her," Avaric said.
Elphaba turned around and nodded. "I don't even have a handful of Resistance members to try and sabotage the scaffold."
"Even if you did, there'll be more officers than ever patrolling the streets on the Festival of Song and Sentiment. There's no way even an army could wrest Galinda from the gallows."
"The only thing I can think of is to bring the Grimmerie to the Southern Stairs."
"For Galinda to read?"
Elphaba nodded.
"Then, you'll need a stone."
"A stone?" Elphaba asked. When the hours of day are numbered, the sacred stone wakes the better soul that slumbered…
"Something to hold her casting energy," Avaric said. "That's how Galinda was able to transform into Glinda. She said something about the necklace you gave her— it kept the energy from penetrating her hands."
Elphaba's eyes grew. That's how she did it!
"I have plenty of stones!" she said and went to her brother's bag by her bed and pulled out the pouch of emeralds.
"Good!" Avaric said and then cleared his throat and said, "Actually, Elphaba, Fiyero has requested quite a steep sum to smuggle you into the Southern Stairs to see Galinda."
"He's demanded a bribe?!"
"He calls it a donation which he vows of course to offer to charity. It appears he needs something to ease the discomfort of acting against his morals."
"What morals?"
Avaric looked down at feet.
"Well?"
"He finds it immoral to encourage a malsexual relationship," the blonde man mumbled.
"Excuse me?"
"The papers have all speculated that Galinda and you were lovers."
"Have they? So my relationship with Galinda was immoral while the Wizard's decision to kill Galinda is inculpable?!" Elphaba said, her chest crackling with fury and her limbs stiffening.
"He says that the Wizard's sentence while unfortunate is the effect of Galinda's choices."
"Not the result of the Wizard scapegoating malsexuals to distract Ozians from his Emerald City exploits?"
"Apparently not."
Elphaba snorted.
"I told him I would pay," Avaric said, "but I only managed to raise half. If you can spare the emeralds after you give one to Galinda, do you mind handing the rest to Fiyero?"
"His imbecility hasn't changed a bit since our school days. I'll give him the emeralds, I'll give him whatever he wants as long as he'll take me to her."
Avaric nodded.
…
Galinda heard boots clicking toward her cell. Cringing she tucked herself into a corner. Every day a meager serving of porridge with a glass of water was given to prisoners and their waste buckets dumped. Having already received her portion today, Galinda could only imagine why an officer would come to her now.
"Prisoner 4646, stand at attention!" a guard with red service stripes on his shoulders barked. Next to him stood the same indecent guard that exposed himself before. Indecent opened the door and Galinda trembled.
"Please," Galinda pleaded. "Please—just leave me alone."
"ON YOUR FEET PRISONER!" Red Stripes said as they walked in.
Galinda stumbled and tried as best she could to stand bent over in the shackles.
"It's your lucky day," Indecent said.
Galinda shut her eyes and hugged herself. She wanted to hide, to disappear, anything but have one of those men touch her. Indecent snatched her arm, pulling it from her breasts.
"Let me go!" she shrieked.
He boxed her check with the back of his fist and Galinda saw white and staggered backward.
"Let's get this over with. We don't have all night," Red Stripes said and grabbed her other arm. They dragged Galinda out of the cell into the corridor.
"Grab the buckets," Red Stripe said and they released her. Galinda fell to her knees and struggled to see past the throbbing in her eye. Suddenly a wave of cold water hit her. Then another. She screamed. And another. And another.
"Not everyone gets a bath, down here," Indecent said. "Consider yourself lucky."
They grabbed her arms and dragged her wet body to another cell that had an iron door with a tiny rectangle window at the top. An oil lamp hung high above and illuminated a bed of hay atop a stone floor.
They pushed her down on her side. Galinda covered her face with her hands.
"And—most prisoners don't get visits," Indecent said.
Galinda shivered as she sobbed. Death was one thing but this added violation was too much. She curled into the fetal position and prayed to Lurline to save her. As if in response to her prayers, the guards left and shut the tiny cell. Waiting several moments to make sure they wouldn't return, Galinda sat up and pulled her knees to her chest. Her damp garment sucked at her skin and bits of hay ornamented her hair and body. She heard talking outside and wiped her eyes. She strained to listen but the voices were garbled. Several moments later, the door opened and a woman in black stepped through. Galinda's eyes grew. The woman wore a black pointed hat that hid her face and carried a brown leather satchel on her right shoulder.
"You have five hours with the prisoner!" Red Stripe said. The woman nodded and the guard closed the door. With a black-gloved hand, the woman reached up and removed her hat. Galinda gasped.
"Elphaba!"
The Witch nodded, her mouth falling open as she stared at Galinda in the dim light. The shock in Elphaba's eyes revealed to Galinda that she looked far worse than she thought. Galinda's cheeks burned. She didn't want to be seen like this. Especially not by Elphaba. She held herself still, sliding her hands between her legs so Elphaba wouldn't see the shackles. Elphaba's hand trembled holding the black hat.
"How did you get in?" Galinda asked. "More importantly, why did you come? You must go before the Wizard finds out you're here! He'll—"
"Why didn't you tell me it was you?" Elphaba interrupted.
"What?"
Elphaba eyes were soft and wet. Galinda bit her lip— inhaled—and said,
"Oh Elphaba, I wanted to tell you, I really did."
The Witch swallowed and asked,
"But you were afraid?"
Galinda nodded and Elphaba's stomach dropped.
"Because you thought I would hurt you?" Elphaba asked.
"What? No, of course not! It wasn't that…it was…I—I didn't believe there was a way you could forgive me for Tibbitt or the others. As Glinda, at least I had the chance to be close to you," Galinda admitted.
The Witch's eyes widened.
"Even when you thought I was Fiyero's lover, you still cared for me?"
"I couldn't stop loving you. I'll admit that over the years I tried to feel nothing for you, but it never worked," Galinda said. "I wanted to tell you how I felt as Glinda, but it wasn't so easy…we grew up and I wasn't sure how you would feel about who I became, and then there was the mission, that girl and those damn shoes!" Galinda said and swallowed a lump in her throat, "Oh, Elphie, I've ruined everything for us, haven't I?"
"You?" Elphaba asked surprised, "It's I who acted unforgivably—the things I did—said— the way I let you—" Elphaba's breaths came in short spurts.
"It doesn't matter! Take deep breaths, Elphie—please just breathe!"
Elphaba inhaled sharply and blurted,
"I love you too much, you idiot, you can't die!"
Galinda burst into a laugh at Elphaba's familiar candor, but the laugh quickly morphed into a sob. Galinda turned her face toward her shoulder. Elphaba's re-declaration of love came at a time when they would be parted forever. And, in Galinda's state she couldn't even stand up and touch her. As she tried to swallow back tears, the Witch swiftly kneeled before her. Galinda stiffened.
"No, Elphie! They've bathed me. You can't touch me, the water will burn you!"
"I don't care," Elphaba whispered and wiped the tears from Galinda's checks with a gloved hand. Galinda flinched.
"What is it?" Elphaba asked.
"It's nothing," Galinda whispered. Elphaba gently wiped her thumb over the blonde's cheek again. The place where the guard slapped Galinda smarted and she grimaced.
Elphaba's stomach twisted when she realized that Galinda was hiding how badly she was hurt.
"I'm just a little sore," Galinda said and Elphaba's hand fell to Galinda's shoulder.
The blonde yelped and Elphaba's eyes enlarged.
"You're more than a little sore! What have they done to you?!" she asked as her hand tenderly caressed Galinda's arm.
"Don't!" Galinda said, afraid that Elphaba would see her chains. Elphaba recoiled.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so free with you," the Witch said.
"It's not you. They haven't let me bath or change since the arrest. I must look and smell horrificus!" Galinda said.
Elphaba snorted at the nostalgic Galindaism and said,
"Nothing could ever lessen your beauty."
Galinda flushed, cleared her throat and asked, "Did you feel the same about Glinda?"
Elphaba blushed a deep black-green, looking into Galinda's eyes she chose her words carefully.
"Glinda was very—alluring."
Galinda smirked and said,
"Was she? So you liked her better than Galinda?"
Elphaba snorted.
"Glinda was alluring because she reminded me of you!"
"Not because she was younger and more attractive?" Galinda pressed.
"Well, she did have rather nice legs," Elphaba said.
"Elphaba Thropp! I can't believe you!" Galinda said and huffed.
Elphaba cackled and said,
"You little idiot, there's never been anymore more attractive to me than you."
Galinda's heart danced in her throat. She stared into Elphaba's gentle eyes and yearned to run out the door with her, back to Gillikin, to their dorm room where she could press their bodies so tight Elphaba would feel her every curve. Instead, she sat wet, chained, beaten, and would hang in less than a week. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes prickled. It wasn't fair. All her desires, her love, her memories, all of it, cut short, erased and forgotten. Before Elphaba had come, she had made peace with how her life would end. In comparison to an eternity in the Southern Stairs, death was a generous mercy. But Elphaba's presence made the wretchedness of her situation feel suddenly unbearable.
"You should go," Galinda said. "It's really too dangerous for you to stay any longer."
"Don't worry about me, it's all been arranged —I haven't come merely to say goodbye. I've come to get you out," Elphaba said.
"How?" Galinda asked.
Elphaba pulled out an emerald from her satchel.
"Avaric said you were able to turn into Glinda because of the necklace I gave you. I thought this might serve in its place," she said.
"Avaric?!" Galinda asked. "Is he involved in this too?"
"Yes Avaric's involved himself again," Elphaba said with a knowing look and Galinda blushed. "In fact, I've had help from a few unexpected places," Elphaba said.
"Oh?" the blonde asked.
"I tell you all about it later. For now, I thought I'd give you a replacement stone so you could perform your transportation spell again."
Galinda sighed and said,
"That was a very good idea, Elphie, but magic doesn't work in the Southern Stairs. The grounds have been cursed."
"Yes, I know, but I thought when you're taken above ground, you could cast the spell then."
"I can't cast it then either," Galinda said.
"Why? Is there something wrong with the stone?" the Witch asked.
Galinda looked down at her knees.
"Galinda?"
"It's not the stone."
"What then?" Elphaba asked.
"It's the chains around my hands," Galinda said, "They've been magicked."
"Show me," Elphaba said.
"I don't want you to see them," Galinda said, her body pulling in.
"My pretty, if I see them perhaps on the Festival when they take you above ground, I could cast a spell to break them," Elphaba said.
"You can't be anywhere near the gallows on that day! The Wizard will be looking for you!" Galinda said her voice laced with tears and her eyebrows furrowing.
"Won't you at least let me look at them?" Elphaba asked but Galinda kept silent. Elphaba lightly took hold of the blonde's arms. Galinda winced but didn't force Elphaba to stop. Elphaba's gloved hands trailed downward and downward, between Galinda's thighs, until they touched metal. She gently pulled Galinda's hands forward when she realized the shackles connected to something that went into Galinda's garment. Her hands froze and her jaw tensed.
"They've sewn your shackles into your garment," Elphaba said. "But, why would they do that?"
Galinda clenched her eyes shut, her cheeks darkening.
"Galinda?"
"To help a degenerate become repentant," Galinda finally said.
"What?"
"The shackles link to a chain underneath that's two and half feet long," Galinda said, as an even deeper scarlet rose up her neck.
"But, you're five foot, that would mean you couldn't—" Elphaba gasped and said, "That devil!"
"I don't want you to see me like this Elphie. There's nothing to be done. Please just go."
"I'm not leaving you!" Elphaba said. "I could still use magic to break the manacles on the day of the festival and you could transport yourself."
Galinda knew if Elphaba cast a spell from the audience, there was a chance the Wizard would spot and apprehend her.
"Am I to let you hang in my place?" Galinda asked. "I won't do it, Elphaba."
"Why won't you even try to escape!" Elphaba asked.
"Because I deserve this!" Galinda snapped, "I deserve to hang for what I've done. I won't let you be punished in my place!"
"You're not responsible for the Wizard's actions!" Elphaba said.
"But, I am responsible for preferring comfort over good character, especially when it came to the life of our friend!"
"You said it yourself Tibbitt would have still hung even if the Wizard didn't have you preside over the execution. Why are you punishing yourself?" Elphaba asked.
"I've thought a lot here. I keep wondering what kind of pair we would have been? Who knows who would have lived or died if I hadn't married Sir Chuffrey! We might have changed Oz for the better. "
"Perhaps there's still time for us," Elphaba whispered.
"I don't see how," Galinda said.
"I didn't just bring that stone," Elphaba said, "I've smuggled in the Grimmerie as well. "
Galinda eyes widened and said, "You snatched it from your brother!"
Elphaba nodded.
"Can you read the spells? Is there one that could stop the Wizard?" Galinda asked.
"I can sound out some of the spells but I can only understand a few. None have been helpful so far. I was hoping you might help me read it."
"Certainly! Show it to me, Elphaba."
Elphaba nodded and took the book out of her satchel and opened to the table of contents.
"Can you see you anything?"
The dazzling colors of the page hit Galinda like a ray of warm sunshine.
"I can see it! I can read all of it this time!"
"Wonderful, my sweet! Quick, do any of the titles look helpful?"
Galinda scanned the page, shook her head, and Elphaba turn another page. Then another. And another. Several pages later, Galinda stopped the Witch. Her eyes rested on: A Portal to a Different Tomorrow.
"Spell Number 309," she said.
Elphaba turned the pages and Galinda read the description. It looked promising. Her eyes moved down to the actual spell. It was easy enough to memorize. She looked at the requirements.
…and for those who desire to change their situation,
they will need to release the world from its present holding
spinning the hands of fate toward a different vibration.
But beware!
To change one's life requires one's life be given in return.…
Galinda kept reading and her eyes widened. This was the one. She felt it in her bones. But Elphaba would never let her cast the spell if she knew what it called for.
"Will it help?" Elphaba asked.
"It will," she said.
"What does it say?" Elphaba asked.
"It says that all blocked passages will be opened, impossibilities rendered possible, and a new tomorrow granted to those who sit in darkness. Elphaba, it will end him, I'm sure of it," Galinda said.
"Could you perform it if you were out of those things?" Elphaba asked and pointed to Galinda's hands.
"I could, but it's still too dangerous for you to come to the hanging!" Galinda said.
"Enough worrying about me! There's no way I'm going to hide on the day of the festival. If we hadn't found a spell, I would have lit myself on fire and come running toward the gallows to save you."
Galinda's eyes ballooned. She knew Elphaba was serious.
"I won't let him spot me. You mustn't worry about me, my sweet."
Galinda thought it over. If she didn't try the spell she would surely hang and Elphaba likely to do something crazy and get herself killed. If she cast the spell, the reign of the Wizard would be over but she wasn't sure how their stories would end. Galinda tried one more route,
"If you did cast a spell to free my hands, I could transport you instead. I could get you farther away this time, perhaps to some obscure place in the Vinkus where the Wizard wouldn't find you."
"Don't you dare!" Elphaba said shooting up to her feet, her eyebrows arching. "I told you and I meant it. I won't leave you!"
"Come what may and hell to pay?" Galinda asked.
Elphaba's hand rose to her breastbone. Her eyes desperate.
"Galinda, I failed you before, but I will not fail you again—not now, not ever," she said and kneeled back down.
"You never failed me," Galinda whispered. "I couldn't live up to your ideals. You were so sure of your convictions, but I couldn't imagine living as objects of contempt for the rest of our lives. I realized too late that no amount of suffering could ever be worse than living apart from you. As Glinda, my time with you was brief, but I felt alive again. No matter what happens, I will always be grateful I knew you."
The Witch was flooded with warmth. She leaned in close and Galinda asked,
"What are you waiting for?"
Elphaba's lips pressed into Galinda with such fervor it surprised the Good Witch. Galinda's body tingled as their lips tumbled against each other. Elphaba tilted her head and pressed closer when several water droplets from Galinda's hair fell and pelted her cheek.
Elphaba pulled back, inhaling sharply through her teeth and clenching her eyes.
"Are you okay?" Galinda asked.
"Just a little singe," Elphaba said, "Of course I'll expect reparations for it."
Galinda grinned and said,
"After the Festival, expect a thorough redressing!"
The Witch smiled. The two women spent another hour or so figuring out the right spell that would free Galinda's hands. After which, Galinda placed the emerald in Elphaba's hand and said,
"Repeat after me."
Galinda read Spell 309 from the Grimmerie and Elphaba echoed her.
"No spells can be fully cast here," Galinda said, "but once a spell is voiced, its energy exists in latent form. Hopefully, if we both say it, we'll be able to find each other after it's done. Don't forget, you must leave with Avaric as soon as my hands are free! I won't start the spell until you're out of sight!"
"You were always so stubborn," Elphaba said.
"I do believe that's a virtue we hold in common," Galinda said with a smirk.
Elphaba snorted and handed Galinda the emerald.
"After it's all over, I'll find you in Gillikin," Galinda said.
"I'll be waiting for you," Elphaba said.
The blonde nodded and looked down at her knees.
"What is it, my sweet?"
"I'm scared, Elphie."
Elphaba took Galinda's hand in hers and began to hum their Quadling lullaby.
Galinda closed her eyes and let the sweet tune wash over her. Before Elphaba could finish her song, there was a knock at the door. It opened and Elphaba was escorted out. Galinda was left in the tiny cell alone. She would have thought it was all a beautiful hallucination if she wasn't still holding the emerald tightly beneath her smock.
The days in her cell passed uneventfully, from morning to night Galinda chanted the spell from the Grimmerie, feeling the weight and color of the spell even if she couldn't fully release it in the Southern Stairs. On her last night, Galinda stomach was filled with needles. Would Elphaba make it to the execution? Would she be able to cast the spell? Would she be able to get away? Would they be able to find one another?
She couldn't remember falling asleep, but the next morning, Red Stripes arrived early dressed in a beige uniform to commemorate Oz's Festival of Song and Sentiment.
"It's time, girl. On your feet," he said.
Galinda nodded and hobbled toward the door in a bowed hunch, holding the emerald. The guard escorted her through dark halls and corridors until finally, they came to colossal double wooden doors where streams of sunlight crept through the boards. Two more guards dressed in medals, ribbons and other regalia opened the doors. Cicada's sounded in the distance. Shi~n! Shi~n! Shi~n! Warm sunlight bled into Galinda's skin and made her shiver. Her eyes adjusted to the light and she could see a large cage on wheels attached to a horse that continually changed colors in honor of the festival celebration. The guard tossed her into the cage and the horse bucked and galloped away. Galinda wobbled and fell to her knees. She held onto the bars to keep from sliding this way and that. The cart drove toward a throng of people who were drinking and toasting. When they saw Galinda arrive, their smiles turned into snarls. A mist of boos and obscenities followed her carriage. She ducked trying to avoid the cabbage and beer thrown at her as best she could while searching for Elphaba.
In moments, she was at the gallows. Unlike her view from the palace balcony, the beams appeared taller and more foreboding. They greeted her like a preacher performing the last rites. Her cage opened and a burly guard with wiry blonde hair on his arms pulled her out and pushed her up the steps.
"Down with Galinda the whore!" an Ozian screamed among others who pecked her with slurs and curses.
Where was Elphaba? Was she okay? Galinda combed the men, women, and children. Without warning, the prickly noose fell over her head and weighed down on her neck. Galinda worked against its heaviness to keep her head up. The rope tightened and her throat narrowed, her pulse swished in her head, her face grew warm. She searched and searched but she still couldn't find Elphaba. Was it all for naught? Had they caught her already?
"My fellow Ozians, welcome to the Festival of Song and Sentiment a momentous day to celebrate our Most Wonderful Wizard of Oz," Sir Chuffrey's voice bellowed for the palace balcony, the crowd's joyous frenzy dropped to a reverential silence. "We begin our festivities with the death of a Witch. On this grand occasion, his highness in his charity has decided to be gracious to the traitor."
The crowd booed.
"Silence! Be quiet!" Sir Chuffrey said and after a few moments the crowd relented and he continued, "The traitor shall be allowed to repent so that after her body has been hung and tossed into the bonfire, her soul shall be saved."
"Glory be to the Unknown God!" someone yelled.
"Long live the Wonderful Wizard of Oz!" another Ozian shouted.
Cheers and applause resounded and Galinda felt the manacles around her arms burn. Her eyes flew over the crowd again and again. Finally, she saw a fleck of green. Several rows back, Elphaba's face was hardened in concentration and her lips chanted furiously. Avaric, next to Elphaba, looked horrified at the proceedings. The manacles seared Galinda's wrists and she bit her lip to stop from crying out. She clutched the emerald harder, willing herself not to drop it despite the pain.
"Galinda the Good, will you leave the path of iniquity? Will you love righteousness and shun perversity? Will you in true repentance beseech the Unnamed God to save you from eternal damnation?"
A hushed crowd waited for Galinda's reply. A snap sounded underneath her smock and Galinda realized the manacles had broken. She looked out into the crowd and nodded toward Elphaba.
The crowd mistook her gesture and applauded her decision, with shouts of,
"She wants to repent! Blessed be the Unnamed God!"
"The Unnamed God is most gracious and merciful!"
The Witch took one more long look at Galinda. Her lips in a tight line, her eyes nervous and urgent before she turned away. Avaric put his arm around her and the two slipped into the crowd. Galinda's heart clenched at the sight of Elphaba's exit. Elphaba! Don't leave me, not yet, she thought and shut her eyes. Galinda knew she couldn't save herself this time. She hoped that next time would be enough. That Elphaba would forgive her. I've got to be brave now for both of us. Forgive me, Elphie, she thought and whispered the beginning of the spell. She focused her mind's eye on a single old memory of the two of them and chanted. A vibration surged through her chest, her muscles contracted. She kept chanting concentrating on Elphaba while she directed the spell's energy into the emerald.
"What did she say?" someone yelled.
"We can't hear you!" another said.
"May your prayer of repentance be as loud as your sins!" Sir Chuffrey said.
Galinda kept murmuring. The emerald snapped in two. Her heart pounded as tiny tremors of pain shot through her wrists. The spell still had several more lines. She couldn't let the pain stop her. She kept chanting. The emerald burst into dust. Galinda's hands felt as if they had caught on fire. Yelling out the last line, she screamed in pain.
She fell to her knees, her hands opening and the stone blew away like ash. Nothing changed.
"Tears alone won't save you!" the Wizard's voice boomed from the clouds. Sir Chuffrey raised a fist toward the sky and the executioner placed his hand on the lever.
I won't have an open casket. I won't even be buried," Galinda thought. In the moments before one's death is this what one thinks of?
"Pray to the unnamed God that he may return your soul to true goodness," the Wizard bellowed.
"There exists no truer goodness than the heart of a Wicked Witch," Galinda shouted into the air, "I have always loved you, Elphaba Thropp, and I always will! May the Wizard be damned!"
Gasps shot up throughout the crowd. No one had ever been brave enough to publicly to denounce the Wizard, let alone revel in their malsexuality. Sir Chuffrey dropped his hand.
Galinda's fell through the platform. She bounced and twisted on the rope. Left-left-right-left-right. Then, stilled. Galinda, the Good Witch, had died.
…
Elphaba's fists pounded Avaric's chest in the chapel kitchen. "She can't be dead!" Elphaba screeched. "The spell was supposed to end the Wizard! It can't be true!"
Avaric grabbed her arms with tears in his eyes.
"She's gone, Elphaba! I've just heard from someone at the bonfire."
"You're lying!" she yelled.
"Her last words were that she loved you," he said. "She loved you!"
Elphaba shrieked and fell to her knees.
"It can't be, it can't be, it can't be, it can't be," Elphaba murmured to herself.
"Please, Elphaba, pull yourself together. When the carriage comes around, we'll have to get moving, before the Vice Squad finds us," Avaric said.
"She's not dead! You're wrong! You're just jealous. Jealous because she never loved you!" Elphaba shouted.
"I know you're hurting. You can say whatever nonsense you want, Elphaba, but keep your voice down! They're patrolling these streets!" Avaric said.
Elphaba shot up from her spot and moved toward the door.
"Where are you going? We have to wait for the carriage!"
"I'm not going with you," she said and opened the door.
"You can't just leave by yourself! Think of the Resistance! They still need you!"
The Witch stopped and said in a voice as tender as a razor,
"Don't you understand? Oz isn't worth saving if Galinda's not in it!"
A/N: Before you get angry at me for this chapter, please please read the Epilogue!
Some of the lines in this chapter were inspired by Longfellow + Goethe.