AN. And to all those who were horrified that Zofie died... I know. Believe me, I know. But hey, it got the reaction I wanted from all of you!
And I am completely in awe. 396 reviews to date... I never expected it. When 'Falling In' passed 200 i was thrillified and in awe, but this... for people to not only read the stuff I write, but to LIKE it and review it so I can share in your thoughts and reactions... it's more than i ever dreamed of. So, thank you to everyone who has reviewed and I hope you enjoy the chapter xxx
36
The first thing Fiyero had to do after arriving in the Emerald City and seeing Elphaba was write to Galinda and assure her that Elphaba was not ill nor in any danger of being ill.
But it was another three weeks before Elphaba, Fiyero and Kefir finally left the Emerald City for the Vinkus. They had buried Zofie in the cemetery, a small, quiet service attended only by Amala, Elphaba and Fiyero. Elphaba was still grieving for the little girl, but was distracting herself by caring for the other kids who were still recovering.
Fiyero pitched in with whatever he could, and made a point of making sure Elphaba really was taking care of herself. That had taken almost two weeks and then they had escorted Amala and the rest of the kids up to her brother's estate at Neverdale.
And there Fiyero watched as Elphaba broke the news to her students she was leaving them.
They were devastated at the news, and Elphaba tried to be positive about it.
"You knew I wouldn't be here forever," she pointed out. "I was going to be leaving at the end of the school year anyway… this is just a few months early."
"Where are you going to go?" Calleigh asked her emotionally.
"Back to the Vinkus?" Yulia asked and Elphaba nodded.
"Yes."
"What are you going to do there?" Laryn demanded, and Elphaba smiled faintly.
"I'm sure I'll be able to occupy myself."
Olev jumped up from the floor and ran to hug her tightly. "I'll miss you, Miss Fae."
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
Elphaba quickly found herself in a group hug amongst all her students and sighed. It would not be easy to leave the children who had come to mean so much to her in only a short time.
On the morning they left, all the children from the orphanage had to hug Elphaba goodbye tightly and assure her how much they would miss her. She returned the sentiments warmly, and it was only Yulia, Laryn and Calleigh that saved her from a very emotional display.
The girls had stepped up to say goodbye, amongst the last of the children to do so. Calleigh was in tears as she hugged her fiercely.
"Miss Fae… could I write to you in the Vinkus?" she asked shyly and Elphaba hugged her again, kissing the top of her head fondly.
"Of course you can. I want to hear all about the books you're reading and how your studies are going, understood?"
"Maybe, when we grow up, we could come visit you!" Laryn said hopefully and Elphaba cackled with laughter.
"When you grow up?"
"Well, when we get jobs and have money for the journey," Laryn elaborated and Elphaba smiled.
"That sounds wonderful. I know you'd all love it in the Vinkus."
Yulia hesitated when she broke away from hugging her teacher. "Miss, Fae… could I ask you something?"
"I think you just did," Elphaba replied dryly. "But yes, you may."
To her surprise, Yulia blushed.
"Yulia?"
Fiyero was standing just out of earshot, and he watched with interest as Yulia leaned forward and whispered something to Elphaba.
To his surprise and confusion, Elphaba's eyes flickered to him and she seemed to be supressing laughter with great difficulty.
She said something to Yulia and then headed outside.
"Fae?" Fiyero frowned as she passed him, and her lips twitched.
"I'm going to say goodbye to Amala and meet you in the carriage," she said hastily, not stopping and Fiyero's frown deepened.
"Fiyero?"
He turned to face Yulia. "Hey, Yulia."
The young girl's face was flushed pink. "We just wanted to say goodbye," she said, referring to Laryn and Calleigh behind her.
"And also… just to ask you something before you leave?"
"Sure, what is it?" Fiyero replied.
Yulia blushed even deeper as she opened her mouth. "Could I please… touch your hair?"
Fiyero was startled by the question and blushed almost as much as Yulia. "Er, well… I suppose," he said uncertainly, deciding he didn't want to ask why.
He felt decidedly awkward as Yulia tentatively reached up and laid her hand on his head, touching the hair on top of his head and he heard her draw in her breath sharply.
When Fiyero practically dove into the carriage a few minutes later, he found Elphaba practically lying on the seat in hysterical giggles.
"I cannot believe you did that to me!" he scowled at her as she howled with laughter.
"Did you let her?" she asked, her eyes twinkling and Fiyero's silence seemed to be answer enough for her, and send her into a fresh wave of laughter.
"The poor girl is probably never going to wash her hand again," she teased and Fiyero only glared at her.
"It wasn't just her. Laryn too," he admitted reluctantly and Elphaba literally thought she was going to do some serious damage from laughing too hard.
"And Calleigh?" she managed to ask.
"Was very sweet and said it had been very nice to meet me, and she hoped we'd be very happy… and so I gave her a hug."
"Aww, you're such a softie," she smiled at him lovingly and Fiyero rolled his eyes.
"You're never going to let me live this down, are you?" he asked her and she smirked.
"Of course not. This is better than your mother telling you to eat your vegetables!" she laughed.
Fiyero hadn't been expecting any less, but even he was stunned when it was literally the first thing Elphaba told Galinda when the expectant mother eagerly met them at Kiamo Ko when they finally arrived.
"Elphaba!" he complained, but both girls were already lost in fits of giggles.
Finally, Galinda sobered enough to hug her friend tightly.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Elphie. And I'm sorry about Zofie. I never met her, but she sounded so sweet."
Elphaba smiled sadly. "She was," she agreed. "Did I ever show you all the pictures she drew for me?"
"No."
Elphaba had kept and cherished everything her students had ever given her, from pictures, to notes, to the cards they'd made for her birthday. When Galinda followed her upstairs to unpack her bags, Elphaba carefully removed them and gave them to her friend.
"I think I detect a theme here," Galinda laughed gently.
Elphaba smiled. "She was fascinated by the idea I was going to be a princess one day," she chuckled faintly, then sighed sadly.
"I'm sorry, Elphie… what are you going to do now that you're here for good?" Galinda asked and Elphaba hesitated.
"I don't know," she admitted, then smiled at her best friend. "Prepare for the birth of my godchild, I guess."
Galinda's eyes lit up. "Yes! You can help me decorate the nursery!" she squealed excitedly.
"Won't Micah want to do that?" Elphaba asked but Galinda rolled her eyes.
"Please, what does a man know about these things?"
Elphaba laughed. "Glin, I really don't think I'd be much more use than Micah."
Elphaba was happy to be back in the Vinkus, but she was a little unsure with what to do with herself now that she was back. Of course, she was spending a lot of time with Galinda, but Elphaba had never been good at doing nothing for long.
One day, shortly before Lurlinemas, Ibrahim found her restlessly prowling the library shelves for something to read, and chuckled fondly.
"You look lost, Elphaba."
She laughed. "I can't seem to focus on anything," she admitted and Ibrahim smiled.
"Come with me," he beckoned and curiously Elphaba followed him to a chair by the fire. "I had an idea," he began.
"Kasmira and I weren't sure whether to say anything to you, because we didn't want you to feel uncomfortable or like we were pressuring you."
Elphaba was puzzled. "Ok…"
"We wondered," Ibrahim said slowly. "If perhaps after Lurlinemas, you wanted to… begin taking on more responsibility."
Elphaba was still confused.
"Not in an official capacity of course," he hastened to add. "But maybe to begin learning what life will be like for you once you and Fiyero eventually marry."
Elphaba blushed slightly, but the idea was intriguing. "In what way?"
Ibrahim smiled at her warmly. "You already have picked up on many of our customs here and the way we do certain things. But there are many more customs and traditions and laws here. The Vinkus is the oldest province of Oz, which I know you know. And then of course, there are the duties you will have as the Vinkun princess. Kasmira is more than eager to help you begin learning about them and what they entail, but like I said, we didn't want to pressure you."
Elphaba was surprised but she also really liked the idea. At any rate, it would give her something to do.
"I know there's still a lot for me to learn," she admitted. "I'd like to begin as soon as possible."
Ibrahim beamed approvingly, he'd suspected she'd answer as such. "Wonderful! Well, I think after the holidays would be a good time to start," he suggested and Elphaba nodded.
"Thank you," she said swiftly, pecking him on the cheek before leaving the library and Ibrahim laughed to himself quietly.
Neither Elphaba or Fiyero would say a word on the subject of marriage, just that it would happen… eventually. But Ibrahim and Kasmira were more than a little impatient for 'eventually' to arrive.
But however impatient they were, they were also impressed by the young couple's decision to wait- even if that was more due to Elphaba than Fiyero.
"It gives Elphaba time to make sure she is well aware of the life she's getting into," Kasmira said to her husband that night when he told her of his discussion with Elphaba and the subject had changed to just when Fiyero would propose.
"Falling in love with Fiyero isn't as simple as loving him. Becoming a part of our family means big changes for her."
Ibrahim nodded. "I know," he assured her. "But I think she's ready for it."
"So do I," Kasmira admitted. "But that's not the point. She has to believe she's ready for it."
"And then what? She gives Yero some signal to propose?"
Kasmira laughed. "Ibrahim, we've seen how well Elphaba and Fiyero know one another. I suspect that when the time comes for Elphaba to take that step, Yero might know before Elphaba herself does."
"He's just as impatient to marry her as we are," Ibrahim complained and the queen smiled.
"I know. But for all his past behaviour before he met Elphaba, your son is quite the romantic. He'll want this proposal to be perfect."
Ibrahim raised an eyebrow pointedly. "Oh, he's my son, is he?"
Kasmira chuckled. "Yes. Goodnight, love."
Ibrahim rolled his eyes slightly as he turned off the light and prepared to go to sleep, figuring that Kasmira was right about the proposal. Mothers usually were about these things.