Wow no reviews for the last chapter and only two for the chapter before it…ouch…hopefully some people are reading and just choosing not to review…
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON LEYEN'S OUTFIT: As you may have already guessed I based Leyen's appearance off the witch whispering in Elphaba's ear on the Wicked icon playbill design thingie…now I know that witch is supposed to be Glinda but Glinda never wears a white witch hat or a white gown at. Plus Glinda's hair isn't white and most people agree that her eyes are blue not bright green (I also know that the green in Glinda's eye on the playbill is supposed to be symbolic for the fact that everyone has inner wickedness but still). Also the fact that the mystery witch on the playbill is whispering in Elphaba's ear gave me the idea to have Leyen be Elphaba's spy/informant…sorry for the rant; I thought some of you might find this interesting…or not…
Dearest Leyen,
Fiyero and I heard that you were in the Emerald City for a few days and wanted to invite you to join us for lunch tomorrow. We'll be eating at the twelfth hour of the morning at the Viridian Cafe. It's right across the street from the Emerald Palace's front gate. I would've extended this invitation in person but you're an annoyifyingly hard person to find. Perhaps when we see each other you can tell me where you spend all our time. It's been far too long since I've spoken with you.
Please come,
Glinda the Good (of the Upper Uplands)
/
Leyen was the slightest bit wary as she stepped into the Viridian Cafe. Though the blonde's unusually light hair color and vivid eyes made her an easily recognizable figure she wasn't as well liked in the City as Glinda. People found Leyen odd for spending her time with perceived 'savages' in the Vinkus and Quadling Country. They didn't exactly dislike their Emissary, but citizens preferred to observe her from afar, rather than squealing their affections and asking questions wherever she went. In response Leyen moved through the City quietly, speaking only out of absolute necessity. In truth the Emerald City, with its bustling people and constant din, always set the country girl on edge.
The Viridian Cafe was a small but wealthy little establishment as evidenced by its fine, granite floor tiles and dazzling, green window glass. Even on such a clean, bright morning there was a subdued quality to the emerald tinted air. Solemn quoxwood tables only added to this hushed, stately atmosphere.
"Leyen!" Glinda cried from her place at a velvety corner booth. "Over here!" Older patrons grumbled at the high pitched, glittery interruption to their somber breakfast. Blushing a little at her unruly summons the Good Witch of the South strode briskly to Glinda's table.
"I haven't seen you in forever," the bubbly woman exclaimed, quieter now.
"It has been a long time," Leyen agreed as she took a seat. "Where's Fiyero?"
"He'll be here soon," Glinda explained with a wave of her hand. She was wearing a gauzy, lime colored dress layered with dazzling sequins. It fit the blonde in such a girlish fashion that she could've been a Shizite. Leyen, on the other hand, had dressed in a much more conventional jade gown with short sleeves and a ruffled bodice. "So," Glinda began brightly. "What've you been up to lately?"
"Mostly studying," Leyen admitted sheepishly. "I'm brushing up on some basic Vinkun customs; the Wizard's paranoid that westerners are harboring…" She trailed off when her companion's eager face deteriorated into sadness. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's ok," Glinda insisted, blinking rapidly. "I just miss her so much." For a long moment the two women sat in companionable silence.
"It's hard to hear all the nasty rumors they tell in the City isn't it?" Leyen asked quietly. Her friend nodded without making eye contact and the Good Witch of the South smiled sadly at a fond memory. "Do you remember when you decided to have a spa day with Elphaba, Nessa, and I?"
"Yeah," Glinda chuckled weakly. "It was OzDay wasn't it?"
"Uh huh," Leyen confirmed. "Nessarose screamed when you answered the door in that green moisturizer."
"I remember," the good witch snickered. "You gave Elphaba that extra eye that never closes."
"And then she scowled so much that the green on her face started peeling off," Leyen giggled. It was nice to relive old times, if only for a moment. Luckily Fiyero joined his friends before the regret of remembering Elphaba could settle in.
"Hey Leyen," he greeted cheerfully. "It's nice to finally see you again."
"It's nice to see you too," she replied. "How're things with the Gale Force."
"Frustrating as always," the Winkie complained good naturedly, though there was something dark and determined flickering in his gaze. "Fae keeps giving me the slip." Glinda shot her supposed boyfriend a sharp look.
"Keep your voice down when you talk like that," she hissed.
"Sorry," Fiyero apologized. He turned suddenly to Leyen. "Have you heard any news of Elphaba in the territories?"
"Nope," the blonde responded, swallowing thickly. She was never good at lying. "Fabala just doesn't want to be found."
"I hope she's all right," Glinda murmured with such guilt that Leyen almost told her the truth.
"This is Fabala we're talking about," she exclaimed instead. "That girl is much too wily to get herself hurt." There must've been something off in the southern witch's tone, because she suddenly found Glinda's gaze fixed curiously on her.
/
Harbiel Dian couldn't keep a dazzling grin off his face. The young reporter hadn't expected to hear anything of use when he seated himself one booth down from Glinda the Good. It was common knowledge that the Emerald Palace's beautiful, blonde lady rarely spoke of anything besides dancing and dresses, but today a few shreds of knowledge were mixed in. Of course Harbiel was trying to be inconspicuous so he didn't hear everything perfectly.
"I remember," the good witch was saying. From her tone it sounded as though she was making fun of someone. "You saw Elphaba with that eye that never closes." Elphaba. Where had Harbiel heard that name before? A second later it came to him. Last week he'd published an article about Governor Thropp's relationship to the Wicked Witch. Her name, the young reporter had learned from hours of research, was Elphaba Thropp. Lady Glinda was telling stories about the Wicked Witch of the West.
"…she scowled so much that the green on her face started to peel off," Leyen Rhoda, the Emerald City's mysterious Emissary, was saying. According to the more scandelacious newspapers both she and Glinda had attended Shiz University with the Wicked Witch. Perhaps that was how they knew of the green woman's extra eye and ability to shed her skin.
Harbiel quickly scribbled some observations onto his notepad, already planning out a new story. This would make the front page.
/
"I really should be going," Leyen regretfully told her companions. "I've got a meeting with the Wizard soon."
"It's been great to see you again," Glinda responded earnestly. "We should hang out more often when you're in the City."
"That would be wonderful," the southern witch agreed, standing. She left some coins for her coffee on the table before departing. Glinda caught her right outside the door.
"I forgot to give you this," she explained with an unexpectedly melancholy smile. The blonde offered a brown, paper bag. "Open it when you get home."
"Ok," Leyen agreed in confusion. She turned, only to be stopped again.
"If you should see her," Glinda said heartbreakingly, "tell her I miss her still." Then the blonde disappeared back into the cafe.
/
Leyen was practically humming with curiosity when she finally reached her suite. As soon as the door was closed she tore apart Glinda's offering. Wreathed in a nest of crinkly, brown paper was a bottle. It was oddly shaped and translucently green with the dried remnants of some thick liquid congealed into every crack.
A fresh, white piece of paper curled around the neck. It read; to Elphie.
Leyen's jaw dropped. Somehow, through whatever unexplainable connection best friends have, Glinda knew. She knew that Leyen was lying, and she had accepted that necessary secrecy for a chance at contact with Elphaba.
The good witch knew what she'd put in the green girl's bag of provisions this month.
So with the short appearance of Harbiel this story officially surpasses the 'Good' series in terms of most OCs…
Now you know how the rumors were spread about Elphaba having an 'extra eye' and 'shedding her skin'
Also I've always wondered how Elphaba had her little green bottle to leave behind with her hat when she 'melted'…unless she risked sneaking back to Shiz for it (which is highly unlikely) or she brought it to the Emerald City (which I don't think she'd do; why risk losing something so important?) then it would be back in her dorm when she defied gravity
And yes, I know that Glinda's parting words for Leyen were from the book…I just found that particular line so very heartbreaking when reading McGuire's novel that I had to use it here; even if the context is totally different
SORRY FOR THE SLOWNESS; LEYEN'S ADVENTURE STARTS IN THE NEXT CHAPTER
Please review!...