Chapter 36.

Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Elements in 35? The plainness of Glinda's dress, Milla explaining Elphie's declining health and ultimate death

Based on? The plainness of Jane's dress, Beth's declining health and death

Book and Author? Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Elements in 36?

Thanks to 18lzytwner for reviewing 35.

Mama had died with Daddy there?

Why had no one woken her? Why had no one come and gotten her when Mama died?

Instead they left her curled up, sleeping in her room, and she had to learn afterward... from Candle. Not from Daddy.

She should have been there when Mama died. She had as much right as everyone else to be there. She had more right, if you wanted to get down to it. She was Mama's daughter.

Why had everyone kept Mama from her?

Why?

What did she do to deserve being kept away from Mama the night she died? What had she done? Wash she too loud around Mama, did she talk too much? Did she bother her too often? Why did everyone else get to be there when Mama died but not her daughter?

Disregarding the delicate silk of her dress, she crawled under the bed and curled up, embracing the shadows around her. Her fingers found the photographs, and she looked through them, stopping on a shot of her mother. Elphaba was sitting on the swing by herself, her hair held back with a big white bow. She held a small boquet of roses and lilies in her lap, close to her stomach.

Were you imagining me? Were you thinking of me, of Daddy, of your future? Did you even want me?

She held the photograph to her chest, wishing she were back in the Vinkus, wishing that her family was whole again.

"Mama!"

"Princess, your mother needs her rest-"

The door closed behind her, and she rushed to the bed, climbing onto it and settling by her mother. She reached out, gently shaking her mother. "Mama?" It took several moments, but eventually, Elphaba's eyes opened, and she turned her head. A smile slowly lit up her face as she stared at her beloved daughter.

"You have grass in your hair. You've been in the meadow." Pippa nodded once, reaching up to remove the grass from her curls.

"Yes."

Elphaba took a deep breath- difficult in her weakened state. She swallowed, and reached up to cup her daughter's cheek. She studied the girl's face for several moments before saying,

"The flowers-"

"They're all in bloom, Mama."

"And the garden-"

"All in bloom. The roses are starting to open. And the cherry trees are blossomed. There's robins making their nests and having babies, and the ivy's green again." She bit her lip. "When are you going to come out to the garden and play with me, Mama?"

Elphaba slowly closed her eyes in an attempt to catch her breath. When she opened them again, she seemed to look through Pippa.

"Where's Daddy, my love?"

"But Mama-"

"Daddy was supposed to take you horseback riding, did he take you?" Pippa nodded.

"Yes." Tears gathered in her eyes.

"Good." She swallowed, struggling to find the right words. "Pippa, I want you to look after Daddy, when I leave." The girl's brow furrowed.

"Where are you going, Mama? Can I come with you." Elphaba slowly shook her head.

"No sweet girl, you can't come with me. You have to stay here with Grandpa and Grandmama and Candle and Nor. You have to stay here with Daddy, and look after him, and make sure he moves on. Okay?"

"But-"

"Please, don't argue, Melena. I don't have the energy. Not today." The girl bit her lower lip, in order to heed her mother's command. Tears streaked down her cheeks, as she pressed her mother's hand against her cheek. After a moment,

"Will you come back?"

Elphaba didn't respond. Tears openly coursed down the girl's cheeks as she watched her mother. Mama seemed to be giving up, as though she had no other choice.

"I love you, Pippa. Remember that. Remember that I'll always love you. Even after." The girl shook her head.

"Come play in the garden with me, Mommy. Please. We'll swing and skip stones and-" She became frantic as Mama turned from her. "Mommy, please! Please, Mommy! Mommy please don't go! I want you to stay. You can't go! Not without me and Daddy! Take us with you! Mommy take me with you! Mommy please!" Elphaba closed her eyes, tryin desperately not to cry as her daughter buried her face in her chest. The little girl held tight to her mother, sobbing, completely unaware of the door opening.

"What's going on? Elphaba, is everything all right?" Her mother looked up as Fiyero entered and rushed to her side. "Pippa... Pippa, stop! Leave your mother alone! She needs her rest!" The girl held onto her mother, ignoring her father.

"No! No! Leave me alone!"

"Melena! That's enough!" Fiyero struggled, but finally was able to pull his daughter away from his wife.

"Daddy, make her stay! She can't go! Make her stay, Daddy! Mommy can't leave us!" Pippa cried, turning to her father. Her tear streaked face brought alarm, and he released her, suddenly realizing the affect that his wife's declining health was having on his child. "Make her stay, Daddy, she'll listen to you! You can't let Mommy go! We love her, don't let her leave us! Or let us go with her! Please Daddy! Make her stay!"

In a voice choked with tears, Fiyero replied,

"I... I can't. I'm sorry, love, but... I can't."

The little girl shook her head, turning back to her mother. She buried her face in her mother's chest and continued sobbing. The gentle feel of Elphaba's hand in her hair only increased her tears. Slowly, her parents made eye contact. Tears coursing down his own cheeks, Fiyero joined them on the bed and gathered his girls into his arms.

Two days later, Mama was dead, and all sembalance of normal life was gone.

Pippa's eyes snapped open, and she took a shaky breath.

Had she caused Mama's death by asking her to stay?

It was the only explanation she could think of.

The only one that made sense to her grief-stricken mind.

She'd killed her own mother.

Glancing down at the photograph, she felt the tears begin to blur it.

"I'm... sorry, Mommy. I'm so sorry... I... didn't... mean to..."