DISCLAIMER: in the first chapter...
A/N: More!! I've been writing, rewriting and tweaking this for days. I hope you enjoy it! And can I remcommend rereading chapter 4 before next chapter? That's all I'll be saying until next update!
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CHAPTER 29: Suspicion and worry
Frexspar Thropp sat almost regally on the large round table, with his daughter Nessa at his right side and Boq sitting like a quivering mess at her side. The other two chairs at the elegant table at D'Oster Restaurant remained empty, waiting for the two remaining people who were, as of 20 minutes then, late. An uncomfortable silence surrounded the small group and conversation was practically non-existent; Frex was too busy staring fixedly at the main entrance to pay much attention to Nessa's failed attempts at civil conversation.
"It is such a nice evening, isn't it, Father?"
"Yes."
"I hope we can take a stroll by the lake after dinner."
"Hum-uh."
Things seemes unable to move beyond that;
No food had been ordered and none would be ordered until their party was complete. Or so Frex had rudely told their waiter when he had dared suggest otherwise and he seemed adamant to not change his mind.
It was, then, with a sigh of pure relief that Nessa caught sight of Elphaba's unmistakable green skin walking through the main door. Her hope that the atmosphere would clear as a result of her sister's arrival was short lived. Even without looking, or touching, their father's imposing figure, Nessa could tell his whole body tensed in that moment. It was just one more thing to add to the list of odd behavior she had experienced from her father in recent times.
Frex, for his part, stared intensively at Elphaba, a strange glow in his feverish gaze. He was so enthralled, in fact, that it took the older man awhile to really see tall and handsome Fiyero, who had his hands draped all over his daughter. Hands closed into fists.
She looked happy.
As unexplainable rage and jealously cursed through his veins, Frex couldn't help the thought which flitted through his brain, insisting that she wasn't supposed to look happy... Elphaba resembled Melena more at that moment than he had ever seen her.
She and Fiyero approached their table slowly and with smiles on their faces, seemingly uncaring to their own tardiness. Nessa acted appalled. What she didn't see – probably because she hadn't bothered to notice -, was that Elphaba's smile was forced and she leaned, almost as a physical form of support, on Fiyero, who had his arm around her waist.
Nessa did become aware, however, of how beautiful Elphaba looked in the black, fitting dress she had on, with her hair flowing down her back and framing her surprisingly delicate face. It was a most unexpected discovery, for she had never thought Elphaba capable of ever resembling pretty.
"Elphaba, we have been waiting for quite some time now. It is very rude and the least you could do was look ashamed." She paused for dramatic effect, as Nessa had a tendency of doing, then finished. "This is hardily proper behavior."
"Apologies." Fiyero's answer sounded insincere even to his own ears and he almost smiled at it. No one could say he was inexperienced in situations such as these.
The comment went otherwise ignored, for in that moment, Frex rose from his seat, gaze never wavering from Elphaba's insecure eyes.
"Elphaba... you look well."
"Father."
In all her relatively short life, Elphaba had never seen her father look at her with anything but contempt. In fact, she had expected it, especially after running so late. Now, though, there was something in the way his eyes eagerly searched hers that was so very uncharacteristic of him that it sent shivers down her spine. She didn't know what to say or how to react to that.
"Let's sit."
Frex stood with the chair next to his pulled slightly back, waiting for his daughter to sit. His gentlemanly action was more than just bewildering; Elphaba was momentarily shocked. Making a show of it - weren't they all playing parts in this comedy -, Fiyero stepped away from his wife and offered her a hand, helping her sit in the offered chair. A few minutes later, sitting next to her father and with all his attention on her, Elphaba realized that he hadn't paid the least bit of attention to Fiyero, who was squeezing her hand under the table way too tightly.
"Father, this is my husband, Fiyero Tiggular. I'm sure you haven't been introduced before." Frex didn't bother sparing Fiyero a glance as he politely acknowledged his son-in-law with a 'nice to meet you' and then continued ignoring the prince.
"We haven't had the opportunity to order, yet, Fabala. What would you like to have for dinner?"
"But, Father, you specifically said that we were going to wait Elphaba's arrival." Nessa felt actual rage rise within her. How could he prefer the green freak over her?!
"No sense discussing such things, Nessarose. Elphaba is already here and we can now order."
And in similar manner passed the evening, Frex fixed on Elphaba, Elphaba uncomfortable, Nessa resentfully trying to catch some attention to herself, Boq absolutely silent and ignored and Fiyero hugging and holding his wife's constantly and possessively, while saying very few, but hostile remarks towards his father-in-law. The tension in the air was so palpable that it was with relief that the assembled family reached the end of the evening.
"Well, it's been a pleasure. But since tomorrow we have early classes, Elphaba and I will be taking our leave." Fiyero quickly helped Elphaba get to her feet, beating Frex, who had also risen at his comment.
"Yes, Father. Nessa. Boq. I had a lovely time." The words felt empty even to her own ears. She leaned closer to Fiyero for support. "Father, how long will you be staying in Shiz?"
"I have not yet decided."
"Hum, okay." Elphaba had run out of polite things to ask or say. "I'll see you tomorrow in class, Nessa."
Elphaba and Fiyero were already making for the door, rather quickly thanks to Fiyero's insistent prodding, when Frex called out.
"Elphaba, wait!" They turned back to face the imposing governor. "Can I talk to you privately before you go?" The green girl opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted by Fiyero, who tightened his hold on her waist and denied the request.
"Maybe some other time, Your Eminence. As we said, it is already late and we have early classes tomorrow." Hostility dripped from every word he spoke and Elphaba couldn't quite understand his behavior; Fiyero had reassured her the whole week about this meeting. No big deal, he had said. What could have possibly changed from their arrival at the restaurant to now?
Mine.
"She is my daughter." It was the first time all evening that Frex paid Fiyero any sort of attention and it was unmistakable, the hatred and defiance in his eyes, as he requested, again, a private audience with his oldest daughter.
Without thinking or really considering the implication of her instinctive reaction, Elphaba passed her own arm around her husband and tugged a lose strand of hair behind her ear. "Sorry, Father. But Fiyero is right. We'll talk at some other time. Hum, excuse us..."
Fiyero left the restaurant with a beaming grin gracing his lips. Frex watched them go with a somber look on his face and stood there, staring at the door. Boq quickly made some excuse and left. And Nessa, who had always been favored by her father and everyone else, sulked silently, while valiantly trying to hold the tears at bay.
When had the world turned inside out?
-------
The door clicked shut and a millisecond after that, Elphaba pulled away from Fiyero, turned quickly to face him and then hit him in the shoulder.
"Ow, what was that for?" He shrunk away as if she had broken his arm with the force of her blow.
"I could ask the same thing!" She looked at his pitiful stance and frustratedly sighed. "And stop playing melodramatic; I didn't hit you that hard."
Elphaba threw her purse to the side and kicked off the high heeled shoes Galinda had insisted she wear, but that pinched her feet in all the wrong places. Sighing in relief, she sat heavily onto the soft bed.
"You feeling okay, Fae?" His prickly attitude from earlier had dissipated, leaving only concern in his voice as Fiyero approached the bed. He sat next to Elphaba's lying figure and leaned forward to see her face. "You seem exhausted."
"Thanks." Good old sarcasm, then another sigh. "Tell me, Fiyero. What happened to this dinner being no big deal?"
"What do you mean?" Elphaba sat up and studied his face, undecided if she should believe his apparent innocence or not.
"I mean your attitude as soon as we walked through that door." His innocent, 'I know nothing' look dissipated and Fiyero quickly looked away. When Elphaba reached for his hand, he pulled away and rose from the bed, keeping his back to her. "Yero?"
"You didn't see it, did you?"
A dark eyebrow rose. "See what?" Her answer, silence. "Fiyero Tiggular, you tell me right now or you'll be spending the night alone."
It was Fiyero's turn to sigh. "Elphaba..." He sounded winy and she didn't budge.
"No, Fiyero, explain to me, why you've been acting like a territorial kid who didn't get what he wanted for Lurlimas."
"Okay. But, first, answer me this." He turned to watch her face. "Was your father acting normal tonight?"
A second of confused hesitation. "No." A whisper. For a few moments, Elphaba stared in the distance, as if seeing this night's events through her mind's eye. A frown showed upon her brow. Then she met her husband's blue gaze. "Why do you ask?"
Fiyero shook his head in the negative. "What was different?"
"I don't know. He was being all attentive." She shrugged. "It's just strange for me, because I'm used to being ignored."
Fiyero approached the bed again and knelt in front of Elphaba. He searched her face for a long moment, seeking something she couldn't quite comprehend. Whatever it was, he soon offered a smile. "Sorry for behaving all possessive with you tonight. I guess, I'm just not used to sharing you." Elphaba certainly didn't look convinced. "Seriously, I just got jealous."
Elphaba was still doubtful, but who could stay mad at Fiyero when he employed that puppy look of his? Certainly not her.
Sigh. "Okay, I'll forgive you." She pointed a finger in his direction. "But you better be on your best behavior"
"Promise." He rose, bringing her with him. "Let's get ready for bed. You look beautiful, don't get me wrong..." he was sure to point that out before saying anything else. "But you are visibly tired and we better rest this evening."
"Rest?" Elphaba leaned her body against her husband and grinned up at him. "Are you really going to let me sleep in my own room tonight?"
"Ah, I didn't say that." He gently unzipped her dress at the back and removed it. "Besides, you won't be able to rest without my arms to protect you at night..." He talked slowly, as if revealing a secret.
"Uhm, is that so?" She rested her head on his shoulder.
"Absolutely."
Fiyero carefully circled her waist with one arm and bent forward a little to catch her knees. Elphaba simply allowed herself to be swept off her feet and carried her to bed. Lying there against the purple sheets in only her underwear, her hair wildly about, Elphaba, with her sleepy face and beautiful green skin, looked almost ethereal. As Fiyero slowly undressed, images of the night p]flitted trough his mind.
Don't be paranoid, Fiyero.
He attempted to push these thoughts aside as he valiantly tried to dismiss the terrible suspicion that had arisen when he had caught sight of Frex's feverish eyes. Elphaba hadn't seen it and Fiyero hadn't been able to glimpse anything buried in her expressive eyes. So, he must have been wrong.
He hoped to be wrong.
As Fiyero lay beside his exhausted wife, he couldn't help but pull her to him in a protective manner, molding their bodies together. He kissed her forehead and lay his head on the soft pillow, willing sleep to come.
And in the night, the only sounds semi-unconscious Elphaba heard before really falling under the claws of slumber were two slow breathings and Fiyero's almost undistinguishable whisper.
"I promise to protect you, Fae. I promise.'
She didn't understand his words and didn't have time to question them, before sleep finally claimed her wholly.
Protect me from what?
