Chapter 25.

Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Elements in 24? there were none

Elements in 25?

That first dinner after the fire and Elphaba's diagnosis was a quiet affair....

"Fiyero? Where's Elphaba?" Her son sighed.

"She doesn't want to come down. She's too upset."

"She needs to eat. Go get her."

Silently, he rose, going to fetch is wife.

.....Or, at least until Fiyero dragged her down to dinner.

He knocked silently, before entering. Nor had just finished helping Elphaba dress, and went to Fiyero.

"Sir--"

"Leave us." He whispered. She did as told, closing the door with a soft click, that caused Elphaba to turn.

"Nor?" He stayed silent, waiting for the right time to announce his presence. Except, it was Elphaba in the room with him. "Go away."

"Dove--"

"Please Yero. If you love me, you'll respect my wishes. Now go." He sighed, going to her.

"First off, how in Oz did you know it was me? And second, I love you, but I'm not going anywhere. Not until you agree to come down to dinner." Elphaba scowled.

"First off," She started, reaching out to feel him, her fingers barely brushing his cheek. "your scent."

"My scent?" She nodded.

"I know your scent even without my eyesight. And second, I'm not going. I'm not hungry."

He groaned.

"Elphaba--"

"No."

Gritting his teeth, he took her wrist, and led her to the door.

"Let go!"

The king, queen, and rest of the household heard the arguement before they saw it. Fiyero marched down the stairs, pulling Elphaba with him, who was doing everything in her power to stay put.

"I'm not going!"

"Yes you are!"

"Let go!"

"No way am I releasing you! If I do, then you'll lock yourself in our bedroom until the next ice age!"

"Fiyero, I demand you release me this moment! Or I swear I'll....I'll chew my own arm off!"

"And while I'm sorry about that, you're still not getting out of it!" Finally, he managed to drag her down the stairs, through the parlor, and into the dining room; Elphaba was digging her feet in as long as possible. Finally, he got her to the table, pulled out her chair, and plunked her into it. "Sit." Slowly, uncertain, she rose to leave, when he grabbed her shoulders and plunked her down again. "Stay!" Pissed, she crossed her arms, and turned from him. "There, now, shall we continue?"

His parents and the servants stared at the teenagers in stunned silence. They never argued; they bickered, but it was always in fun, loving, teasing. It was gentle. Something couples did. But never argue. The servants had never heard Fiyero raise his voice to anyone; least of all Elphaba. But none of them knew the worry and strain he felt about his wife. None of them saw the burden he carried, and they never would. And, he hoped, neither would she.

"Elphaba, please."

"I'm not hungry."

"You need--"

"I don't!" Gently, he took her arm. "Let go of me!" She wrenched away, not realized that she was on the edge of her chair, and fell, landing on her rump on the floor.

"Fiyero, take Elphaba back to your room. I'll have Cook send something up for you both." Fiyero nodded, and got up, helping his wife to her feet.

"I can do it myself. I'm not a child!"

"Dove, we're going to head back upstairs, okay? Cook's going to bring something up for both of us. Now come on."

The two hurried away, as much a struggle going back upstairs as coming down. The king and queen watched them leave.

"What should we do, Suqari?"

"Help her the best we can, Chelseqa, and hope she comes to terms with her accident."

"Should we--"

"No. She's our daughter-in-law, Fiyero's bride, and he loves her. We all do. This... this is just going to be a roadblock in their journey, and ours."

She nodded, tears sliding down her cheeks.