Glinda was faintly aware of voices surrounding her; a man, then a woman, and then a man again. They mixed together; highs and lows pushing against each other until all she heard was a hum steeping inside her ears.
She wanted to swat them away. She also wanted to push away the feather that was causing her face to tickle.
She didn't find the strength to lift her arm at all but found her chest rumbling as a laugh escaped her lips.
Another noise trilled in her ear and she felt her nose scrunch up.
"That tickles." She slurred with another giggle, feeling her eyes drowning. It scared Glinda's laughter and she panicked. Her eyes were drowning! She tried moving her eyelids to make the water spill. How long did she have until she could no longer breath? She was frantically trying to survive, trying to desperately surface from the flood that surrounded her.
Something weighed her arms down and she tore her eyes open, wincing from the incandescent lights that tried blinding her; trying to keep her in the dark.
The lights became clearer and Glinda blinked again, though the water still threatened to sink her. She wanted to keep her eyes open and it worked, until the water came back and she had to close them again.
Something in the water shifted, like a lightning strike through the sky— but in the water. She was completely confused about where she was. But what bothered her the most was how the water did not entirely swallow her.
"My eyes are behind the ocean." She said surely, trying to lift her head. She felt a laugh crawl out of her throat upon seeing the figure watching over her.
"There is gold melting on your head." She giggled madly, her hand finally pulled out of the ocean to point at her mother. She looked extremely worried about it so Glinda clarified, "But it's staying put. That's good. It means no one can bite it. "
Her mother burst into tears. There that should be enough to ease her worry.
Another whisper came from her mother's mouth and Glinda moved her head to look, watching to make sure the wall did not try to crawl away and leave her there to drown.
She found her father's figure next and Glinda began to cry. Her mother came forward along with another woman that Glinda did not know and tried to keep her floating, but she could not stop the sobbing.
"Daddy, your face is being eaten by the hairy rocks. There is too many. " She tried to swat them away but everything felt numb.
"Galinda, my sweet girl it's okay. You're okay now. "
"No, it's not okay. I don't want my daddy to be eaten by rocks that don't shave. Save him momsie. Remove them with the gold!" She cried out and her mother half laughed.
"It's not funny!" She blubbered as her mother wrapped an arm around her.
The other woman started singing to her mother quietly, confusing Glinda greatly, but before she was able to question her the woman left.
Glinda looked at her mother waiting for an explanation. But of what?
She got distracted by her hand—there were five long things stuck on it. Had they always been there? The one in the middle was the tallest, and the one at the end was pudgy. They moved and she laughed again, wiggling them to her parents. A piece of the wall fell and Glinda wanted to scream until she saw the man walking inside.
She saw him and she started to laugh again. "You're very hot. Let's go out—' She stopped and gasped. "'No, let's get married. Yes." She decided quickly. "I'm going to marry you. Let's do that."
His eyes shined with relief before her father pushed him out the wall.
Glinda watched her fiancé fall out of the wall and her eyes began trying to pull her under again. The other woman appeared and she felt a crab pinch at her arm. She yelped but soon her eyes closed again leaving her alone in the dark.
...
When Glinda opened her eyes again all she felt was the slow burning sensation on her side. It hurt.
She groaned and looked to the side, smiling when she saw her mother sitting and sipping on coffee.
"Momma." She whispered hoarsely. Her mother whipped her head her way and dropped the cup on the table as she rushed to her.
Glinda let her eyes close when her mother brushed the hair away from her forehead.
"Galinda, my sweet daughter." She said, kissing her forehead gently.
"How did you get here?" She murmured trying to distract her thoughts from the burn at her lower side. "And where is Ori and Nara—are they hurt? Are they okay?" She grew worried remembering what had occurred to get her there.
"They are all okay," Her mother assured her quickly. "He's with his daughter. Your father and I had to send him out. He didn't want to leave but we had to, his daughter was becoming hysterical...and then your father had to leave to handle the press."
She frowned, "The press?"
"They found out you were here."
"Oh." She breathed, blinking her eyes to get used to the light.
"How long have I been out?" She asked as her mother scratched her head.
"Two days. You had us all worried." Her mother stressed that with a kiss to her forehead.
"I'm sorry." She murmured, feeling her eyes begin to close again, but she fought against it.
"Don't apologize honey," Her mother smiled tenderly, brushing back her hair, "It isn't your fault this happened."
She blinked again, fighting away the last of her drowsiness.
"That foolish man tried mugging the wrong person."
"Oh. It was just a mugging. I thought it was someone who wanted to kill me. "
"No. It was just a man who tried committing a robbery and almost killed you in the process."
She hummed a response and closed her eyes.
"But listen, everyone out there is asking if you are okay. They're worried. Look." Glinda opened her eyes to see her mother gesture to the other side of the room where Glinda saw an enormous pile of flowers and cards. She looked at her mother who merely chuckled.
"The people still love you. They don't care if you lied to them about Elphaba; they care about you. They want you as their leader my sweet girl."
"What?" That had surprised her. She wasn't sure if she heard correctly.
"They love you sweetie," Her mother repeated with tears in her eyes, "People are speaking up, past classmates that knew Elphaba, notably a Master Avaric Tenmeadows, and a Miss Shen-Shen Arkins. They are coming forward...people are finally coming forward!"
Glinda blinked, "Am I dreaming?"
Her mother smiled beautifully, pinching her cheek lovingly.
"No— not anymore, at least. They love you like always. They believe you sweetheart, honey, they believe you." Her mother lit up happily and Glinda's face felt like it had been split wide open.
She would have loved to return the hug her mother gave her but when she shifted slightly a dull pain coursed throughout her side. She snapped her eyes shut and bit the inside of her cheeks to try and fight it.
"Galinda, pumpkin." Her mother sounded distressed but Glinda managed to smile despite the pain, not needing her mother to worry any more.
"It's fine momsie, I just think the anesthesia is wearing off. It hurts some."
"Let me go and get the nurse so she can give you something for the pain. I'll be back shortly." Her mother pressed a gentle kiss to her head and nearly ran out. Glinda didn't get another word out, she could only nod.
She would really like some pain relief she decided, letting her eyes close as she rested her head back.
The door opened again and she smiled, "You were quick."
"Not nearly enough." Hearing his voice made Glinda's eyes pop right open, her smile widening but slowly falling at seeing the stitches on one side of his head; his eye a shade of dark purple.
"Are you coherent?" He asked but she was busy wondering about his face.
"What happened? " She questioned, touching the side of his face softly when he leaned beside her.
"Don't you worry about me. " He breathed leaning over and surprising Glinda with a sudden kiss. "It's just a small cut."
He pulled away enough to lean his forehead on hers. "Where's Nara? " She breathed once he gave her a chance to ask.
"She's fine. " He responded giving her another kiss.
"I thought—" He gave her yet another kiss and Glinda melted into it. When he pulled away again she caressed his chin.
"How are you feeling? " He whispered leaning into Glinda's touch. Something caught her eye in her peripheral vision but when she looked nothing was there.
"Tired, but well enough. " She answered as he gave her another small kiss.
"Are you in pain? "
She gave him a small smile. "Only if I move too much."
He smiled back and leaned down again, though Glinda did not mind at all.
His face slowly turned to the side and he looked back at her with a knowing grin.
"Make sure the door is locked; I'll take care of distracting the nurse." His kissed lingered but Glinda was now more than confused. What had he been on about?
She was bewildered as he tore himself away from her and left the room.
Glinda frowned, ready to call him back to explain but something caught her eye once more and she turned to the window.
It was dark outside but she could clearly make out the silhouette that glided in front of the window.
Glinda stared at her; the black hat perched on the top of her wind blown hair; the alarmed but determined look on her face. With a wave of her covered hand the green girl unlocked the window, flying through and landing right in front of her.
Neither spoke a word.
Glinda did not stare at her for long, she turned away; uninterested by her old friend's appearance. She took to laying her head back and looking up to the ceiling. Nothing that would come out of her mouth would be any nice.
"I came to see if you were okay, but based on what I just saw moments earlier you're doing awfully well." Elphaba said with a chuckle, trying to break the silence. Glinda did not respond.
She heard Elphaba breath deeply, stepping closer to Glinda.
Glinda smacked her lips together and eyed the door, fearing someone would enter at any moment. Almost sensing the same thing Elphaba went over in a hurry and locked it, walking back to her.
"You're angry, I know. I spoke out of anger and meant nothing of what I said to you...I heard of what you did, it was stupid, and then I heard that there was an attempt on your life and I came straight away."
She wanted to ask how she had heard about anything and how she had come so quickly but Glinda stopped herself. She would not be so easily swayed. Elphaba sighed heavily when Glinda did not answer.
Good, she was frustrated.
"Aren't you much too old now to be giving me the silent treatment?"
"I am not old!" She said in indignation turning to give her old friend a scowl.
"There we go," Elphaba cackled uncrossing her arms to check on Glinda. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She answered tightly, having hurt herself. She wanted to turn away but any more movement made her ache.
"You will end up getting horrible wrinkles if you keep at that. " Elphaba said jokingly but Glinda found no humor in that. Glinda blamed any, and every, wrinkle on her face on her anyway.
Glinda sniffed haughtily and studied the ceiling panels.
She wished she could cross her arms but it would be too much movement.
"I understand Glinda." Elphaba said softly. "You were hurt because of me and —"
"It had nothing to do with you." She snapped, still not looking at her.
"Then what do you call getting stabbed because of what you said?"
"I was stabbed in a robbery gone wrong. Not everything has to do with you."
"I'm at fault for plenty."
"Boo hoo." There she went again thinking everything bad in life was on her.
"Glinda, I don't want to lose you again because I can't keep my mouth shut sometimes." Elphaba gently laid her hand on Glinda's arm. She very much wished she could move it. "I'm sorry. I was afraid and said those stupid things. I was afraid of losing Fiyero. If I lost him I would be alone again."
"I offered you both a chance to come back with me and you did not want to." She huffed, "You said you were better off without me...so go and be, 'better without me'," She restrained herself from crying, closing her eyes. She swore she would never cry over her ever again.
"Glinda, I'm an idiot—"
"—Yes, you are." she agreed wholeheartedly, interrupting whatever Elphaba was going to say.
"I'm an idiot because you and Fiyero are the only family I have left." The way she said it made Glinda's eyes tear up without wanting to. Stupid Elphaba and her stupid words. Glinda sniffed refusing to let the tears swimming in her eyes fall.
"Glinda, you're like a sister to me." Elphaba choked out, moving away, "You're the only sister I have now. I don't want to lose you too."
That did it for her.
Glinda started blubbering like a baby and Elphaba rushed back to her side.
She had always wanted a sister.
"Do you hurt? Here let me…" Elphaba hovered her hand over her before she was able to say a word. Glinda felt a jab at her side before it felt tremendously better. She lifted the cover of her bed sheet, seeing the blood stained wrapping around her, wanting to remove it but with one wave of her arm Elphaba made it fall open.
Glinda was still in awe of Elphaba's extraordinary power. There was just a scar where the pain had been.
Glinda looked up at Elphaba through tear filled eyes.
Elphaba's eyes were glistening with tears, "Glinda, I would be honored if you let me be your friend again?"
She thought about it but she didn't have to think very long. Elphaba had pretended to be dead; she had made her believe Fiyero had been dead. Elphaba had walked away from her twice... But really, who in Oz was perfect? Glinda herself was the one who walked away first.
So she made an easy decision, once and for all someone had to stay; someone had to say yes, "Of course you would—and should, " She slowly started, "The next time I hear you say you are better off without me, I will remind you that when you went off by yourself you ended up being hunted and nearly murdered."
Elphaba didn't say a word. She probably didn't think she needed to, but to Glinda it was enough to have her show enough affection to throw her hands around her in a big hug. Glinda immediately began to cry again and judging by the wetness in her shoulder; Elphaba was crying too. She held Elphaba, afraid that if she let go, the green woman would change her mind and leave.
"I'm really glad that I did not come all this way just to have you spurn me," Elphaba playfully said into her shoulder. "I risked being seen for you."
"Elphie…" Glinda started with a frown when Elphaba pulled away. "How come you waited to heal me instead of doing it as soon as you stepped inside this room?"
A corner of Elphaba's lip lifted, "I was busy trying to see how I could possibly make you forgive me this time. Should have thought of healing you first to get some points."
She smiled and shook her head, "You big green dummy."
Elphaba chuckled, rubbing Glinda's arm.
"Where is Fiyero?" Glinda said suddenly.
"In the Vinkus." Elphaba said, hiding her wet eyes from Glinda.
Glinda tilted her head and Elphaba explained, "I thought of what you said about Fiyero's parents. I couldn't do that to them anymore so we returned a couple weeks ago. He's home right now. His parents don't really love me per se, but they have tolerated me. I was actually working up the nerve to come and see you but then I heard the news and I didn't have to think, I came straight away."
"Go get him and meet me at Ori's house."
Elphaba looked worried. "Why?"
"I have a surprise for you. Now go before you're seen here."
Elphaba gave her a look of exasperation, "You realize I have absolutely no idea where he lives right?"
Glinda smiled sheepishly, "Right…hand me that paper and that pen." She pointed just behind Elphaba. Elphaba fetched them and handed them over to her. Glinda scribbled the address on a corner and ripped it, handing it to Elphaba.
"There, now you do." She said with a smile.
Elphaba looked tired as she looked over the paper. "Glinda, I can't risk myself much more. If someone were to see me…"
"Stop looking like you are going to kill someone then. Leave that horrendous hat where it belongs—on a shelf, or in a garbage can—please, I will spend literally anything to replace it." She couldn't stress that enough but Elphaba just laughed, "And fly on something else that isn't a broom, use brighter colors to make yourself—"
"More noticable?" Elpahaba interrupted.
"—Less threatening," She frowned, "Must you always make things more difficult than they really are?"
Elphaba gave her a small smile, "Even if I do that Glinda I can't keep going back and forth. They still think I'm dead out there. I'm still green." Elphaba waved her hands in the air to make a point.
Glinda sighed dramatically and covered her face. "You're killing me with all this, Elphie."
Elphaba bristled, "Don't even joke about that."
"My tombstone will read: Here lies Glinda Upland—Formerly Galinda— Who died of a brain aneurysm after Elphie kept talking so drearily."
Elphaba rolled her eyes but she managed to make her smile, "Don't be so dramatic. Do you even know what the word means?"
Glinda shushed her. "Where are you thinking of staying? "
"In the Vinkus. "
"No, you aren't." She quickly shook her head. "You said his parents don't like you much, meaning you will not stay there. You'd prefer sleeping outside in the grass before you did that."
When Elphaba looked away Glinda scoffed, "You're not sleeping out in the grass! You are going to listen to me and bring Fiyero to my Ori's house and you are going to stay there until we find a safer place for you two to stay. "
"Glinda, I don't want to take Fiyero away from them again. " Elphaba said softly making Glinda's heart break.
"No, you certainly won't take him away again because you two are not leaving Oz ever again." She said confidently.
"I can't stay Glinda. It doesn't matter if you told the people the truth. It's simply not safe for me."
"Oh stop being a baby about it already. I swear you complain more and more each time I see you."
"And you are far more optimistic about everything. You told the people the truth—yes, but they don't think I'm alive anymore. You told them I died." Elphaba stressed the last words. "I think one truth is enough."
"You listen to me Elphaba Thropp—Tiggular—" She paused. "Did you and Fiyero ever get married?"
Elphaba looked surprised at that, "What?"
"That answers that," She nodded, "We'll fix that soon."
Elphaba glared at her, "We are not—"
The sound of the doorknob made the two of them quiet.
"Go get Fiyero and meet me at Ori's as soon as you can." Glinda said quickly in a hushed tone. She may have told the people she was her friend and that she wasn't really wicked, but that didn't mean it would be a good idea to spring Elphaba to the people just like that.
Elphaba opened her mouth and Glinda raised her hand to quiet her. "You listen to me right now. Go." Glinda pointed at the window and waved her away.
Elphaba pressed her lips tightly together and relented, grabbing her broom and flying out.
Glinda stood, patting down the horrible hospital wear she was wearing and she unlocked the door. She moved aside before it hit her. Ori took one horrified look at her and she was only able to squeak in surprise as she was lifted off of her feet.
"What are you doing?" He said anxiously as he hurried her over to the hospital cot.
Glinda was laughing and patting him on the chest.
"It's alright Ori, she healed me." She told him so he wouldn't be so alarmed.
His eyes grew wide and he set her down gently, pulling up at her hospital gown.
"Take it easy there! " She giggled as his hand brushed her side. He stopped and Glinda did as well, both looking down to where a straight scar now rested. He trailed his fingers above it.
"Did I ever thank her for saving me? Because I really ought to. This is amazing." He whispered in awe, "And you're sure you are fine?"
She nodded, "Just like you were when she healed you."
"That woman has to do something with that power."
She smirked, "I'm very glad you say that."
He blinked, looking at her uncertainly as he let her gown fall back down, covering her lower half again.
"You have that mischievous look on your face. You've set your mind on something, what is it?"
"I have," She agreed, "but first, let's go home. I have no reason at all to still be here."
He looked at her in confusion. "You want to go back to the palace? Right now?"
"No silly. Home." She said resting her hand over his heart.
...
AN: Not going to lie, I had a fun time writing a doped up Glinda.
...Also next chapter is last chapter and I am excited about that ('cause nothing bad can happen now, don't you think?)
Thanks for reading!
