Chapter 26
A loud clash of early morning thunder abruptly woke Glinda from her sleep. She hadn't had a good night's sleep in days, and this time proved no different. It was much sooner than she had wanted to awaken. Indeed her eyes burned in protest, and her head swam in perplexity at being awoken so suddenly. She managed to clear the cobwebs long enough to realize that she had fallen asleep in the dress she'd worn the night before. It didn't matter though. Elphaba too was asleep in the clothes she'd been wearing all along.
As Glinda looked down upon the sleeping woman, she realized that Elphaba hadn't moved an inch since last night. A wave of panic coursed through her as she reached her hand out to Elphaba's neck and checked for a pulse. It was easily found. Slow, steady and strong. Glinda breathed a huge sigh of relief, then suddenly realized that with the morning came a morning chill that had been ushered in with the storm. Getting some firewood and a blanket for Elphie was the top priority at the moment.
The rain had been pouring steadily all night, and continued its heavy torrent now, causing Glinda to feel some slight trepidation. The rain wasn't so bad, but the thunder could be so loud and frightening sometimes, and worrying about Elphaba seemed to magnify her feelings of anxiety. Nonetheless, she quietly extracted herself from the bed, walked around the foot of it, then opened her double doors and exited the room.
As she walked down the stairs, Tanon and another member of Glinda's staff came walking by.
"Good morning Glinda," Tanon said.
"Good morning Tanon."
"How're you feeling today?" He asked with mild concern.
"Tired. Just very tired."
"Miss Glinda, if you're feeling so tired, might I be so bold as to suggest that you march yourself right back up to your bedroom and get a few more hours of sleep? It's too early for you to be up anyway."
"I'd really like that, but I was on my way to get some firewood and rebuild the fire in my room. I also need to get a blanket for Elphie."
Tanon looked at the man next to him. "Ren, can you please make sure that Miss Glinda gets some firewood and a blanket to her room immediately? Have whoever brings up the wood to get the fire started as well."
Ren nodded and began to leave.
"Oh Ren wait!" Glinda called. The man stopped and turned to look at Glinda inquisitively. "Whoever does it, make sure they know that Elphie is still sleeping, and that they're to be as quiet as possible."
"No problem Miss Glinda," Ren replied, then left to tend to Glinda's needs.
Glinda looked Tanon over and came down the stairs the rest of the way as she made her way over to where he was standing. She put a gentle hand on his elbow. "Tanon, I'm sorry I didn't mention this back at the prison, I was so preoccupied back there, but I noticed that you look, well, a bit beat up. What happened? Are you alright?"
Tanon looked at Glinda and smiled. "A lot has happened to both of us since we saw each other last. I'll tell you what. You tell me your story, and I'll tell you mine. Why don't we go get ourselves a cup of coffee and sit down for a bit."
Glinda wanted to hear what Tanon had to tell her, but she hesitated slightly, looking up the stairs in the direction of her room.
Tanon smiled. "She'll be fine. In fact, according to what Dr. Frinly told me last night, I don't think she'll be awake for a while still."
Glinda gave Tanon a half-hearted smile, then nodded. "We do need to talk. I need to know what's been going on while I've been gone."
Tanon offered Glinda his arm, and the two strolled towards the kitchen to get their morning coffee.
They sat in the living room while they talked. Glinda barely touched her coffee. Tanon's account of his near death experience unsettled her, as did the news that Renegade had been posing as the respected Judge Verin from the Glikkus. She told him about coming upon the burning safe house, finding Elphaba, their travels, the river, Falia, and their capture.
"Glinda, I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. It must've been horrible for you."
"It was a very trying time. The only thing keeping me sane was having Elphie at my side. She was my protector all along until….." Glinda paused and felt her stomach in knots.
"Until what?" Tanon asked.
Glinda told him about the encounter with Madame Morrible, and how Elphaba's attitude had changed so suddenly as a result.
"I knew she was upset Tanon, but for the life of me, I thought she'd at least talk it over with me. She never did. She just completely cut me off and shut me out. It's been devastating."
Tanon read more hurt into Glinda's eyes than she was letting on with her demeanor. Once Elphaba was on her feet again, he intended to have a talk with her. He couldn't help himself. It was his brotherly nature towards Glinda reasserting itself again.
"Glinda, don't worry. I'm sure you two will work things out."
"I hope so Tanon. I don't know what I'll do if she rejects me again," Glinda's eyes glazed over a bit as she became lost in the thought of her love lying upstairs.
"I can see you're becoming distracted," Tanon said. "You want to get back to her don't you?"
"Is it that obvious?"
Tanon smiled and nodded. He put down his coffee and stood up. Glinda did the same. Tanon gave Glinda a hug and whispered in her ear. "Now go up there and get your girl back."
Glinda smiled appreciatively and buried her head in Tanon's shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered. She broke off the hug, then hurried back upstairs.
She was pleasantly surprised by the roaring blaze emanating from her corner fireplace. She spied the blanket she'd requested sitting on one of the two highback chairs facing the fireplace. The room still had a slight chill about it, so she walked over to the welcoming warmth of the fireplace and put her hands up to catch some of the radiating heat.
As Glinda warmed herself by the fireplace, Elphaba's mind became filled with the abstract images of her dream.
The burning safe house, burying the dead, a red-tailed hawk, the Riaalan River, Glinda lying on the banks…….
"No!" Elphaba uttered quietly in her sleep.
Glinda had grabbed the blanket and was just about to take it over to Elphaba when she was startled by the tiniest utterance from the green woman. She turned to look at Elphie, not sure if she'd heard anything or not.
Falia, Hot Springs, Phanica closing in…….
"No!" she repeated, a little louder this time.
Glinda walked over to the bed hesitantly. "Elphie?" She said softly.
A dart, shackles, Morrible, prison, Vindio... Elphaba slowly moved her head from side to side in an agitated motion, repeating the single negative. "No!"
Glinda hurried the rest of the way to the bed and sat next to Elphaba, placing the blanket at the foot of the bed.
Elphaba continued to dream. Vindio smiling wickedly. Glinda strapped to a chair. A long needle about to be injected into her arm.
"No, Glinda no," Elphaba said in her sleep.
Glinda blanched. In her mind, Elphaba must've been replaying their encounter with Madame Morrible. She was crying out at what she saw as a betrayal. That must be what she was dreaming about. No longer sure that she wanted to wake Elphaba from her dream state, Glinda just sat there, heart pounding, unable to move.
Vindio laughing……..Elphaba ran to Glinda, but her look was vacant. She didn't know her anymore. Her mind had been altered.
"GLINDA NO!" Elphaba yelled as she shot up from the bed. Wide-eyed, breathless and confused, Elphaba tried to move off of the bed.
Glinda grabbed her shoulders to hold her down. "Elphie, it's all right. You just had a dream."
Elphaba struggled as Glinda let go of her shoulders and grabbed her wrists instead. "Elphie, it's ok. It's ok."
The cobwebs began to clear from Elphaba's mind as she heard Glinda's reassuring voice. Her eyes darted around the room until they finally settled on the blonde woman next to her, causing Glinda to ease her grip on the green woman's wrists.
"Glinda!" Elphaba said horsely, surprised that the blonde was sitting by her in this strange place.
"Elphie, I…." Glinda began, but instantly stopped talking when Elphaba winced in pain and threw her right arm across her ribs.
Elphaba moved to push herself to the edge of the bed as Glinda made room for her by moving to her right. Glinda wanted to help, but she was afraid to touch her at the moment, not sure if her touch was even welcome. Instead, her hand lingered just behind Elphie's back. Elphaba took a deep breath and looked around the room, still feeling confused, and still feeling the pain of the beatings.
"It's ok Elphie. You're in my house," Glinda said softly. "You're in my room." Glinda paused, then looked at the floor. "You're in my bed."
Elphaba looked down at the pink satin comforter she was sitting on. She felt the smooth texture of the fabric, then slowly raised her head. Glinda raised hers at the same time. The women were staring at each other, one feeling insecure and frightened, the other feeling apologetic.
"Glinda…" Elphaba began.
"No, Elphie wait!" Glinda interrupted. "I have to tell you something, and I want you to listen to me."
"Glinda, I …."
"Elphie please. I have to say this," Glinda said pleadingly.
Elphaba had a pained expression on her face, but she didn't speak. After what she'd just put Glinda through, she had the right to say whatever was on her mind.
"Elphie, please, you have to believe me when I tell you that I never, ever intended for Nessa to be hurt like she was."
Elphaba wanted to save Glinda the explanation, and reacted as if she was about to speak.
"No, wait!" Glinda said, sensing Elphaba's intent to interrupt. "I was wrong to suggest to Madame Morrible that she spread a rumor in order to have you fly to her side. I'm so sorry that I ever let my jealousies and hurt feelings get in the way of my good judgement. Elphie, please forgive me. I've been struggling with this for years. Please believe me when I tell you I never, ever wanted Nessa to die," Glinda was nearly in tears as she said this.
She lifted a shaky hand to brush the curls out of her eyes. Elphaba noticed how unsteady the blonde was, and her heart hurt for what she knew she'd put her love through.
Elphaba fixed a sad smile on her face and grabbed Glinda's shaky hand, then she placed her other hand on top to fully enfold the blonde's shaking hand in hers. "Glinda, I know."
The response wasn't what Glinda was expecting. She didn't really know what to expect, but those simple words stunned her. "Y-you do?"
Elphaba nodded and began to rub Glinda's hand. "I know you never meant for Nessa to be hurt. That was Morrible's doing, not yours. And quite honestly Glinda, I don't blame you for being upset with me. I might have done the same thing in your shoes. I do forgive you, and furthermore, I don't blame you. I never did."
Glinda blinked a few times. "But…..those things you said to me…..in prison."
Elphaba sighed and frowned. "Now it's me that needs to ask you for forgiveness," she said letting go of Glinda's hand.
"I don't understand."
Elphaba looked straight out for a moment, trying to think about how she was going to say this to Glinda. Brown eyes looked back into blue. "Glinda, when I was taken to the interrogation room all those times, they were threatening you. Apparently there's a new procedure that's done on the mind which will erase all your memories. They were ready to put you through the procedure. They just needed a concensus on the severity of intensity they needed to use on you in order for the procedure to work properly."
Glinda gasped. "What?!"
"I don't know how it's done. It may be done through a chemical process, maybe you become magicked into losing your memories. I have no idea. All they told me was that if you were under my spell, there would be one level of this procedure. If you helped and were with me of your own free will, there was an entirely new level they were willing to take it to. I wasn't willing to give them an excuse or reason to start the procedure. The reason they beat me was because I wasn't willing to say that I magicked you or that you came with me of your own volition."
Glinda gasped at Elphaba's revelation. She shook her head. "Elphie, please, I don't understand."
Elphaba nodded. "I'll explain." She took a deep breath and let it out before continuing. "Glinda, the only way they would allow you to leave the prison without undergoing the mind altering procedure was if you showed what they viewed as a proper level of disdain and contempt for me. That was the only way, in their eyes, that they could be sure that you were yourself, under no spell, and harboring a deep resentment towards me. I said those things because I wanted you to hate me. I had to make you hate me in order to give them what they wanted, and to get you out of there before they had a chance to hurt you."
Elphaba grabbed Glinda's hand again. "I hated saying those things to you, and I hated myself for putting you through that amount of pain. It killed me, listening to you cry, and knowing that I was the cause."
"But Elphie, you could have just told me."
"No. I couldn't. For one thing, I was chained to the wall. I would have had to yell it to you, and then it would have been all over the prison. They would have found out."
Glinda just sat there, too stunned to say anything.
"Glinda, I am so sorry for what I've put you through. You didn't deserve it. I just thought it was the only way to keep you safe."
"Oh Elphie, you did all that, absorbed those beatings because you were trying to protect me?"
"I had to protect you. I had to. You're the most precious thing in my entire life, and I couldn't let anything happen to you. Glinda, I'll say it again. I'm so sorry for what I've put you through, and I'm going to spend every waking moment trying to make up for it."
Tears were forming in Glinda's eyes again. She smiled at Elphaba, relieved that she wasn't going to lose the woman she loved.
Elphaba stared into Glinda's misty eyes. Her heart melted at the sight of the trembling woman before her. Elphaba lifted her left hand and reached out to cup Glinda's cheek. The blonde closed her eyes and took a deep, ragged breath as she leaned into the offered touch. Tracing abstract patterns with her thumb on Glinda's cheek, Elphaba stared at her lovingly, then slowly dipped her head and captured Glinda's lips, kissing her slowly and softly. Glinda felt an upsurge of emotion as she kissed the green woman back. She raised her arms at a measured pace and wrapped them gently around Elphaba's neck. She was trembling as they continued their deep, passionate bond.
Elphaba slowly pulled back as she felt the blonde shaking in her arms. Glinda clutched Elphaba's shoulder and buried her head into it. She began to sob as the emotions of the last couple of days were released from her body. Elphaba pulled her in tighter, kissing the top of her head, and hugging her. She held Glinda, allowing her to cry herself out. Finally, she felt the shaking begin to subside as she gently rubbed Glinda's back.
Glinda slowly lifted her head off of Elphaba's shoulder, wiped her eyes, and looked up at the green woman.
Elphaba stroked her cheek. "Feeling better?" She asked with concern.
Glinda nodded, and Elphaba leaned down and kissed her again. "Oh Glinda, I'm sorry sweetie," she whispered, pulling her love close to her.
Glinda just held onto Elphaba, savoring their closeness and the warmth that surrounded them both. At small intervals, her muscles would contract and she would tremble for just a moment. "I'm sorry Elphie. I don't mean to react like this. It's just that, I was so scared of losing you." She burrowed futher into Elphaba's chest. "I was so scared."
"Shhh, I know," Elphaba whispered, holding tightly to the small blonde. "It's ok now. We're ok." She placed a kiss on Glinda's forehead.
The two women held onto each other silently for a long while until Glinda finally lifted herself up. "Elphie, I hate to do this to you, but I need to give you your medicine."
Elphaba's shoulders dipped and she turned her head. "Not now, I just can't….."
"Elphie, Dr. Frinly asked me to make sure you were taken care of. Your pills are vital to your recovery, and he asked me to make sure you took them when you woke up."
"Glinda, please. I just can't right now."
"Elphie!" Glinda said sternly.
"Glinda!" Elphaba saw the disappointed look on Glinda's face. "Ok, look, I really just want to take a bath and get out of these clothes. Do you think that would be alright with Dr. Frinly?"
"Well, he did say that it wasn't necessary for you to take the pills immediately," Glinda remembered. She eyed Elphaba who was looking back at her hopefully. Glinda smiled and gave her a light peck. "Alright. You stay here and relax for a minute. I'll go get your bath ready for you."
Elphaba smiled as Glinda hopped off of the bed and headed towards the bathroom. Her eye fell upon a familiar box near the nightstand. "Glinda?" Elphaba called.
Glinda popped her head out of the bathroom. "What is it Elphie?"
"Is that my box?"
Glinda raised her eyebrows and walked over to see what Elphaba was talking about. She looked at the box near the nightstand, then went to pick it up. "Here you go," she said, handing it to Elphaba.
Elphaba opened it up and smiled. "It is my box, but how?"
"Huh?"
"How did it get here? The last time I saw this, I'd sent it ahead with my group."
"Fiyero must've brought it with him," Glinda replied.
"Fiyero? Fiyero's here?" Elphaba said excitedly.
Glinda smiled. "They're all here dear. Fiyero, Iriiq, Solis, Dr. Frinly and Rodderin."
"Who's Rodderin?" Elphaba asked, confused.
"Elphie, he's the guard from the prison."
Elphaba was more confused than ever.
"Oh honestly Elphie. He helped you escape. Don't you remember?"
Elphaba thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Last thing I remember, I was in the interrogation room. The next thing I knew, I woke up here. How did he help me? What happened?"
Glinda shook her head. "I really don't know. I still haven't heard the details of your escape. I'm sure Dr. Frinly will fill you in when he comes to check on you." She looked at Elphaba, clutching her box. "So, what do you have in there?"
Elphaba looked down at the box, then slowly opened it up. "Just some items I thought I'd need when I got to Mt. Runcible." She began extracting items. "A change of clothes, something to wear to bed, my bath gels….."
"Ooooh, give me that," Glinda said, snatching the gel from Elphaba's hand. She opened it up and deeply inhaled the scent. It was her favorite gel of Elphaba's. "Elphie, I love this scent. It reminds me of you. I'm going to go put this in the tub right now. Do you mind?"
"Not at all," Elphaba smiled.
"Oh goody. I'll be right back." Glinda ran into the bathroom and started the tub, adding the gel to the water and letting it bubble up.
Elphaba giggled watching Glinda bounce into the bathroom. It was so nice to see her acting herself again. It was nicer still to see that smile on her face. Elphaba sighed contentedly as Glinda emerged from the bathroom again. She bounced over to the bed and grabbed Elphaba's hands.
"Okayyyyy, let's get you into the tub," Glinda said, gently pulling Elphaba off of the bed.
Elphaba stood up gingerly with Glinda's help. She used Glinda's shoulder for support as Glinda lead her into the bathroom.
"Glinda, that's not a tub, it's a pool." Elphaba said, taking a gander at the very large garden tub.
Glinda laughed. "What can I say? I like my baths. Aaannnd, when I take a bath, I like to indulge myself in a little luxury." She pulled Elphaba down to her and kissed her softly. "Now get yourself in that tub. I'm going to go make some arrangements for tea to be brought up when you're done." She kissed Elphaba again and skipped happily out of the bathroom.
Elphaba smiled watching her leave. Once Glinda closed the door behind her, Elphaba put her hand across her ribs again. She walked over to the mirror and was horrified at the image staring back at her. The cuts around her eyes and the laceration on her cheek, the bruises that formed on her forehead, lightening up as they disappeared under her eyes. She didn't realize how much abuse she'd absorbed, and now the fact of the beatings was staring her in the face.
Elphaba turned from the mirror, and delicately removed her clothes. She walked over to the tub, turned off the water and slowly lowered herself into the bubbly tonic. The heat felt blissful against her battered form. She sighed as the water's gentle fingers massaged her tired muscles. In spite of her initial reaction to the size of Glinda's tub, she had to admit to herself that it did have the luxurious feeling that Glinda had alluded to. She ran her fingers through her hair, letting the water wash over her face as she did. This action was repeated a few times until her hair was sufficiently wet as well. Then she just closed her eyes, leaned back and relaxed.
Glinda, having just made her tea arrangements, hurried back to the bedroom. She walked over to the bathroom door then slowly and quietly opened it up. Looking inside, she spotted Elphaba, eyes closed, reclining with her head tilted back against the edge of the tub.
Glinda quietly snuck up to the tub, knelt down beside Elphaba, and gently kissed her. A startled Elphaba opened her eyes, but quickly settled into the kiss. Glinda cupped Elphaba's cheek as she continued to kiss her slowly and deeply. She pulled back at last, still stroking Elphaba's cheek and staring deeply into those blissful brown eyes. "I love you Elphie."
"I love you too Glinda," Elphaba said looking adoringly at the blue eyes in front of her.
Glinda trailed her hand down Elphaba's cheek and under her chin. She she got up off her knees and sat on the edge of the tub behind Elphaba's head. "Sit up sweetness, I'll give you a massage."
Elphaba complied and soon Glinda was kneading, squeezing and massaging Elphaba's neck, back, arms and shoulders. Elphaba let out a contented moan as Glinda continued to work on her fatigued musculature. Glinda intermittently dipped her hand in the water and brought up some of the warm liquid to drape over Elphaba's shoulders. She watched the cascade of water slide down Elphaba's shimmering, emerald back, and found herself completely drawn to the green woman.
As Glinda continued massaging Elphaba's shoulders, she leaned down and placed some soft kisses across Elphaba's back. Elphaba closed her eyes and tilted her head back, immersing herself in Glinda's kisses. Glinda continued kissing Elphaba's back, working her way up to the nape of her neck. Elphaba's breathing became heavier as Glinda swirled her tongue around her shoulder. She lifted her hand out of the water and grasped a handful of blonde curls. Turning her head as Glinda's kisses made their way up her neck to her jaw, she turned slightly more and met Glinda's lips, kissing her with charged emotion.
Elphaba opened her mouth, welcoming Glinda's tongue. She shifted her position in order to face Glinda more fully. Glinda continued her explorative kiss, grabbing handfuls of Elphaba's hair and lightly tugging on it as she fervently kissed her love. Elphaba twisted around a little more, then quickly pulled back as she felt a pain against her ribs.
"Oh Elphie, are you alright?" Glinda said worriedly.
Elphaba closed her eyes and caught her breath. "I'm fine. I just felt a slight twinge, that's all."
"That wasn't a slight twinge. You're hurt."
"I don't care. Come here," Elphaba reached her arms out and began to pull Glinda around.
"Elphie no, I….."
Splash!
Elphaba pulled Glinda, dress and all, into the water with her. Glinda emerged wiping the water out of her eyes and was greeted by Elphaba laughing at her.
"I knew I liked this tub," Elphaba said.
"Elphie, I can't believe you did that," Glinda said accusingly. "You could have hurt yourself."
"Ah, but I didn't." Elphaba said as she leaned towards Glinda and gathered in her lips. She wrapped her arms around the now soaking wet blonde and continued to kiss her deeply and passionately.
Glinda pulled back smiling after their kiss began to slow. "Really Elphie. Look at me. My dress is soaked."
"Then we must get it off of you. And I suggest we take care of that right away," Elphaba said provocatively.
Glinda smiled as Elphaba descended for another kiss. The green woman reached around her back and slowly unzipped the dress. She gently pulled the dress off of Glinda's shoulder, still kissing her deeply.
With one arm freed, Elphaba began working on liberating Glinda's other arm. Glinda helped simultaneously as Elphaba slowly slipped her clothes off of her. Once released from her garments, Glinda tossed the soaking material outside of the tub, and immediately moved back into Elphaba's embrace.
Elphaba pressed her body to Glinda's while looking intently into her eyes. Lifted her hand and stroked Glinda's cheek. Brushed strands of wet hair behind her ear, then slowly moved in for another long, passionate kiss.
Glinda accepted all of Elphaba's affections enthusiastically. She let her hands delicately slide down Elphaba's back, up her ribs and around to her taut stomach before moving her hands upward in graceful exploration. Elphaba released herself from kissing the Glinda when she felt the blonde's erotic touches. She inhaled and sighed pleasurably, then dipped her head to kiss Glinda's shoulder.
Glinda moaned with pleasure as Elphaba returned her touches. Feeling her love's tongue caress her shoulder and move up her neck sent shivers though her body. As Elphaba's kisses made their way back to her jaw, she slowly turned her head to meet her loves soft, inviting lips. The women continued kissing, allowing their hands to explore each other's bodies as the warm waters enveloped them.
After what seemed like an eternity, and at the same time, only a moment of lovemaking, the spent women rested in each other's arms. Glinda put her head on Elphaba's chest as Elphaba lovingly ran her fingers through her love's hair.
"Elphie," Glinda sighed. "That was magnificent."
Elphaba squeezed Glinda tighter, kissed her on the forehead and continued stroking her hair. "I love you Glinda," she said softly.
"I love you too."
Both women stayed just that way for a long while, content to be in each other's arms and soak up the love radiating from one another. It wasn't until the waters began to cool that Glinda suggested they move from their position. Reluctantly, the women exited the tub. Elphaba helped Glinda out as the blonde immediately went for the towel rack. She pulled out a large white towel and wrapped it around herself, then pulled out another and held it open for Elphaba. The green woman smiled and allowed Glinda to wrap her up. As soon as both women were fully clad in their towels, Glinda wrapped her arms around Elphaba's waist. Elphaba reciprocated by draping her arms over Glinda's shoulders.
"I have an extra robe you can use if you'd like," Glinda said.
"Thank you, I would like that," Elphaba replied, then dipped down and gave Glinda a light peck on the lips.
Glinda rubbed her hands quickly up and down Elphaba's back before letting go of her embrace and heading out of the bathroom towards her walk-in closet. As she walked out, she noticed that a tray with a tea set was sitting by the fireplace on the table between the two high-back chairs. She smiled at her staff's efficiency, but also felt a tad embarrassed that she and Elphie might have been overheard. However, that thought was fleeting. She knew that no one on her staff would dare linger during a private moment like that.
Elphaba finished drying off as Glinda came back and handed her the robe. Elphaba put it on. It was white, soft, fluffy and ……..short! The robe barely came down below her knees. For Glinda's part, her robe fit perfectly. She looked at Elphaba in her undersized robe and giggled.
"Well, if I had known I was going to have company, I would have made more suitable arrangements for you," she chuckled.
"Next time I break out of prison in a state of delirium, I'll be sure to send advance notice that I'm heading here," Elphaba retorted, then smiled.
Glinda, still chuckling, took Elphaba by the hand and lead her to one of the seats in front of the fireplace. She sat down and poured tea for each of them with just a touch of cream and sugar. Elphaba took a sip of her tea, sat back in her chair, watched the fire, then looked over at her love who was still fussing with stirring her tea. She felt very calm and relaxed. Moreso than she'd felt in a very long time. The sound of the beating down rain also had a calming effect. As she watched Glinda finally come to terms with the state of her tea, she allowed herself a contented smile.
Glinda looked up and caught her smile. She smiled back at her. "What are you thinking about?"
Elphaba just shook her head. "I'm not thinking. I'm just feeling. And what I'm feeling is so much love for you. Every time I think I can't possibly love you any more than I already do, you elevate me to a new level."
Glinda smiled as Elphaba had just given voice to feelings that she mirrored exactly. She put her tea down, rose from her seat and walked over to Elphaba's, sitting down on the arm of her chair. Elphaba put her tea down as well and rested her arm across Glinda's lap. Glinda cupped Elphaba's cheek, then slowly moved down to kiss the woman she loved. The kiss was long, slow and soft. The way she loved kissing her. After a long moment, she pulled back, still cupping Elphie's cheek.
"I need to see if Dr. Frinly is awake. He'll want to take a look at you. Do you mind?"
"Not at all. Just hurry back."
"I will," Glinda kissed her again, then let herself off of the arm of the chair to go find Dr. Frinly. Elphaba took advantage of the alone time and dressed herself in her sleeping attire. Black cotton shorts and a black t-shirt. Glinda was sure to hate the attire. She took a comb out of her box and combed out her hair as it began to dry.
Within moments, Glinda was back with Dr. Frinly and Fiyero.
"Good morning Miss Elphab,." Dr. Frinly said enthusiastically.
"Good morning doctor," she replied. "Fiyero!" She held open her arms and Fiyero moved to hug her.
"I was really worried about you," he said.
"I'm sorry. We ran into some problems."
"I heard. Glinda told me about Phanica on the train."
"Then you know what happened."
"Pretty much, but don't worry. We're not going to let Phanica get to you again. We brought a large group with us, and we'll make sure you're protected this time. As soon as you're feeling better, we'll head out to Fliaan. You'll be out of reach of the authorities there."
Elphaba just smiled as Dr. Frinly moved in and took his hug as well.
"You, Miss Elphaba, had us all worried. But I have to say, you showed a lot of strength, will and determination during our escape."
"Dr. Frinly, I don't remember anything about the escape. How we escaped, how we ended up here, none of it."
"I'm not surprised. You were pretty out of it due to the beatings you'd absorbed."
Glinda had dressed in the bathroom and just entered the room as Dr. Frinly made that last statement. She felt her stomach tighten at the mention of Elphaba being beaten. The thought still unsettled her tremendously.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Elphaba asked.
"All in good time. All in good time. For now, I need to look you over and make sure there are no lingering complications."
Elphaba cooperated as Dr. Frinly probed, questioned and prodded her. He checked the bruises and cuts on her face, her ribs, the raw wrists, her legs……everything. When he finished, he grabbed the bottle of pills.
"I'm assuming you haven't taken today's dose yet," He said.
"Oh, no, I'm sorry," Glinda said, coming across the room and sitting on the bed next to Elphaba. "I thought she could take them after her bath."
"That's perfectly fine," Dr. Frinly replied. "Besides, from the looks of things, you seem to be taking care of her just fine."
Glinda and Elphaba both blushed a bit at the comment.
"Well, no time like the present," Dr. Frinly said. He opened the bottle, extracted two pills and gave them to Elphaba.
Fiyero filled the glass that was still sitting on the nightstand with water, and gave it to her to help her swallow her pills. Reluctantly, Elphaba did as instructed.
"Good girl," Dr. Frinly said. He reached into his pocket and extracted a tube of ointment. "I forgot to give this to you yesterday," he said to Glinda. "It needs to be applied to her cuts."
"Oh, I'll do that right away," Glinda said, taking the tube from him.
"Now then, I'll leave you two alone. Glinda, let me know when she wakes up again," Dr. Frinly said.
Glinda nodded. Dr. Frinly smiled approvingly. Fiyero gave Elphaba another hug. "I'll see you when you wake up," he whispered to her.
"I'll walk you two out," Glinda said. She got up and ushed the men to her door.
Fiyero gave her a hug. "It looks like you two have worked things out," he whispered to her.
Glinda smiled at him. "Fiyero, I'm so grateful to you. Thank you for everything."
"Don't mention it. I always knew you two would get back together. It was just a matter of time and understanding." He kissed Glinda on the cheek, then grabbed her double doors and closed them behind him.
Glinda walked back over to Elphaba who had scooted back on the bed so that her back was leaning against the wall.
"Elphie, I need to put some of this on your cuts."
Elphaba nodded. Glinda opened the tube and dabbed a small amount of the ointment on her finger. She screwed the top back on the tube, put it on the nightstand, then turned back to Elphaba and began to apply the liniment, first to the two small cuts around the outside of Elphaba's eye, then on the longer laceration of her cheek.
Elphaba watched Glinda intently as she tended to her ministrations and spread the salve over her cuts. Glinda, so focused on applying the liniment, didn't notice Elphaba staring at first. She glanced at Elphaba quickly and caught her stare before glancing back at the cuts which were the object of her focus. It took only a split second for Glinda to register the fact that Elphaba was watching her. She looked back into the beautiful brown eyes and felt a tingling sensation as Elphaba stared back at her so lovingly.
Without a word, Glinda moved closer to Elphaba and gathered in her lips. The women kissed for a very long moment. Elphaba wrapped her arms around Glinda as their kiss deepened. Their tongues dancing with one another's, their arms wrapped around each other, the women kissed fervently. After a long while they broke off their kisses. Glinda looked into Elphaba's half closed eyes.
"Those pills are already starting to work aren't they?"
Elphaba just nodded slowly.
"Then, my dear, why don't you lie back. Here, let me help you." Glinda helped Elphaba into a horizontal position. She leaned over the green woman, with their faces mere inches apart. Then she began to stroke Elphie's hair. "Go to sleep my love."
"I don't want to," Elphaba replied exhaustively. "I just want to keep looking into your beautiful eyes and seeing that beautiful smile of yours."
"Elphie, my eyes and my smile will be waiting for you when you wake up."
"Promise?"
Glinda moved her face closer to Elphaba's and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I promise…." She kissed her lightly again. "I'll be right here…." Another kiss. "The moment you wake up…." One more kiss. "and whenever you need me." She kissed Elphaba again, more deeply this time and filled with passion.
The women continued to kiss until Glinda felt Elphaba's arm slacken against her. She pulled back and stared down at Elphie who was fast asleep.
"Sleep well my love. Fresh dreams."
Glinda stroked Elphaba's cheek and gave her another light kiss on the lips before grabbing the blanket at the foot of the bed. She tucked it around her sleeping lover, then settled in next to her, resting her head on Elphaba's shoulder and draping her arm over her stomach.
Glinda listened to the sound of the rain on the rooftop and the roar of the distant thunder. That was her lullaby, and soon, she too fell back to sleep.