Again I apologise for taking so long, but have had soooo much to do lately with work and everything. I hope you enjoy this chapter and please, please, please let me know what you think I can handle good or bad comments :)
''I think it's somewhere around here.'' Elphaba looked down amongst the trees. Glinda landed the bubble in a small space deep into the forest as Elphaba requested. As soon as her feet touched the ground she gave a little stretch from all the travelling and then called for Chistery, he climbed onto her back and wrapped his arms around her neck.
''Come on take my arm.'' Elphaba held out a strong arm for Lerot who had finally woken up. Lerot sat himself up and took her arm, he was too weak however to pull himself up and that had to be left to the green witch herself. She steadied him as he finally got to his feet and straight away knowing she wouldn't be able to hold him up the entire time looked at Glinda.
''I'm going to have to fly us over Glinda.'' Elphaba looked at one to the other; Lerot looked like he was going to collapse at any minute.
''Ok.''
''Will you wait here?'' Elphaba asked, not really wanting to leave her again but she didn't know the way and she had to make sure Lerot would be ok. He did however take care of Glinda for her.
''I'll wait right here.'' Glinda smiled recognising the concerned look in her love's eyes.
''We'll be fine Elphie, now go.'' Elphaba nodded her head and turned to Chistery.
''Look after her for me.'' Chistery nodded enthusiastically in response and tightened his arms around Glinda protectively. The two witches gave a gentle laugh, until Lerot gave out a quiet moan.
''Ok Lerot, up we go.'' Elphaba helped Lerot onto the broom and sat behind him so she could hold onto him better. She kicked her heels off the ground and they were up in the sky. She made sure she didn't fly too high, just in case and switched her gaze to Lerot and on finding the cottage as soon as possible.
She was pleased with herself for knowing it was somewhere around this area and found the cottage within a good 5 minutes. She reassured Lerot he would be ok as soon as they got inside and he mumbled in response.
''My head is spinning.'' He muttered.
''I'll take a look at it inside. We're here now.'' She announced and carefully landed the broom. Lerot looked around the area as best as he could and was grateful Elphaba helped him to the small cottage. She leant him against the wall, as she practically forced the door open; it was old after all. She made sure she was gentle with him and as carefully as she could placed him in the only seat in the living room.
''Do you need some water or something?'' She asked him with concern.
''Yes please - if it's not - too much trouble.'' Elphaba nodded her head and fetched him a glass of water, cautious as she filled it.
''There you go drink it up.'' Elphaba handed him the glass and he gave a weak smile to her. He spilt the majority of it down his mouth but savoured it all the same, his throat was so dry. He finished the glass within no time.
''Do you want me to look at your head now?'' Elphaba asked him as she took off her black hat and placed it on the table.
''If you wouldn't mind.'' He replied quietly. Elphaba was no doctor, but she knew a serious problem when she saw one. Luckily for Lerot, it wasn't as bad as she imagined it to be. Sure enough he had taken a big blow to the head, the blood still clinging around the mark shown that, but he'd live.
''How's it look?'' He asked as he closed his eyes again to stop himself from fainting from lack of energy.
''You'll live.'' She muttered as she continued examining it. She retrieved a cloth and wet it slightly in the corner and begun cleaning the blood away as best as she could.
''I might fall asleep here.'' He tried to laugh.
''Feel free to, I'll be going back for Glinda and Chistery after I've seen to you.'' She was careful not to put too much pressure around the actual hit to the head and dabbed it softly over the bruise. He winced still and she pulled back sorry for hurting him and left it the way it was for now.
''I want to thank you.'' She spoke up just before he fell asleep.
''Hmm?''
''I said I want to thank you.''
''Oh. Please don't thank me.''
''Why?'' He sighed at the question and bowed his head.
''I didn't exactly keep her from harm did I?'' The green witch thought for a moment and finally spoke up.
''No, but you tried your best and your best kept her from a lot more damage.'' Elphaba had to admit.
''If only I reacted sooner, I could have stopped her from ever going to that place.''
''You had no choice in the matter Lerot. I asked you to keep an eye on her, look after her and you did. If it wasn't for you there's no telling where we'd be now.'' Lerot didn't reply, he shrugged his shoulders and left it at that.
''Thankyou.'' She concluded.
''Your welcome Miss Elphaba.'' He replied after a moment or two.
Once she had seen to his injury the best she could and the young boy fell asleep on the chair, Elphaba grabbed her hat and broom and locked him safely inside the cottage. She mounted her broom and made her way as quickly as she could back to Glinda and Chistery. She hated having to leave her side even if it was just for half an hour or so, they had just been reunited and she swore she'd let no further harm come her again. She wanted to make her happy and she wanted to life a happy life with her. That notion seemed somewhat of a possibility now, whether it was because they finally had that monster out of their lives or the fact they were together again she believed in it. Even if they did still have to face the rest of Oz before they did that.
By the time she had finished her thoughts, she landed her broom on the same patch of land where she left them. She looked around however and saw no trace of them whatsoever.
''Glinda?'' She called out trying not to panic.
''Chistery?'' She called out again. When no reply came, she begun to panic and called out again and again until her voice echoed through the trees. What if they were somehow spotted? What if they had both been captured again? What if they'd been followed here?
''Glinda!'' She yelled and begun frantically running around the trees. She peered in between the rows of trees looking for them. Her heart was beating like crazy; she had barely left her, half an hour at the most. They couldn't have got far could they?
Just as she was about to mount her broom and get an aerial view of the area, she spotted Glinda by a tree in the distance. With a massive sigh of relief, Elphaba walked up to her at a quick pace, shaking her head.
''Chistery come down right now!'' Glinda ordered the monkey, who was busy enjoying swinging on the tree branch. He was showing off by swinging from branch to branch and then dangling upside down at Glinda.
''I won't say it again!'' She shouted.
''I asked you specifically to wait where I left you.'' Elphaba threw her hands on her hips and stared at Glinda waiting for a response. Glinda jumped at her presence, not expecting her back so soon.
''Elphie, I'm sorry, I didn't scare you did I?'' Glinda asked her. Elphaba raised her eyebrows at her and the blonde knew this was true.
''Oh my Elphie, I'm sorry. It's just this little devil wondered off even after I said not to.'' She was addressing the monkey now and Elphaba too looked up at him.
''Hey you little furball, get down before I snap that branch in two!'' Elphaba shouted up at him. Chistery pretended as though he couldn't hear from being so high up and dangled from his tail daringly.
''I'd do as she says Chistery, she looks angry to me.'' Glinda smiled at Elphaba.
''On the count of three. One ... two ... three.'' But Chistery still remained where he was having the time of his life.
''Right that's it.'' Elphaba muttered under his breath and before Glinda could think of another solution, she'd cast a small spell which did as she warned him and broke the branch in two. Chistery jumped out of his skin straight away and yelped in horror as he begun to fall. Elphaba gave out a soft cackle of laughter as she witnessed it happening. Just before he hit the ground Glinda produced a small pink bubble around him and he floated safely down to the ground. Elphaba moaned at this and folded her arms.
''Well you sucked all the fun out of that. Would have taught him a thing or two.''
''Oh don't be so cruel, he would have really hurt himself.''
''He has wings, he needs to learn to use them when he needs them most.'' She defended herself. Chistery sat looking between the two, startled more than anything and gave a thankful smile to Glinda. When he glanced at Elphaba, she widened her eyes at him and he bowed his head feeling both embarrassed and frightened by his mistress.
They decided to walk back through the forest considering it wasn't too far it took them longer than by broom but the two witches talked amongst themselves, walking hand in hand as Chistery glumly followed shortly behind. It was a sunny day and Glinda was enjoying the heat radiating from amongst the trees, it filled her with hope.
''Here we are.'' Glinda looked away from the bright blue sky above her and at the cottage that Elphaba was talking about. Glinda smiled at the sight before her. Elphaba forced her way inside again, which when she finally got it open woke Lerot up as a result.
''This needs some oil or something on its hinges.'' She stated and gave a brief apologising look at Lerot, who was now trying to sit himself up properly because of being in their presence.
''No need to get up.'' Elphaba shook her hand at him. Knowing he was getting up because of being in Glinda the Good's presence, he was used to doing it after all.
''Well come in, don't let appearances deceive you.'' She stepped aside for Glinda to come in and then a hesitant Chistery.
''Since when have I ever allowed that to happen?'' Glinda grinned and touched her cheek tenderly as she passed. The green witch blushed slightly at her contact and shut the creaking door behind them.
''I know it's not suitable for a lady of such incredible brilliance-'' she smiled at Glinda and then back at the room.
''But it was nice to stay here rather than out in the cold.''
''I like it.'' Glinda cut in, examining the room.
''Not much, but its cosy.'' She actually was admiring the place and Elphaba understood she was telling the truth.
''You really like it?''
''Yeah, we could kind of tidy it up, let a bit more light in and it would be a perfect place to stay.'' The blonde turned to Lerot.
''Wouldn't you agree Lerot?''
''I would, yes Mi- Glinda.'' He corrected himself. Glinda smiled that he was calling her Glinda finally.
''Are you still in pain?'' She asked him.
''My head is throbbing but nothing serious, it's just like a bad headache really.''
''Well then let's get you some water and it'll help make you feel a little stronger.'' She announced as she turned to Elphaba.
''Kitchen?'' She asked her. Elphaba moved aside so Glinda could see the small kitchen behind her.
''Are you hungry Lerot?'' Elphaba asked as she leant against the wall.
''A little, I haven't eaten in days, but I don't feel well enough to eat right now.''
''Maybe just a little something to keep you going then.''
''I suppose I better had.'' Lerot took the water from Glinda as she came back and thanked her politely.
''Are you hungry my sweet?'' Elphaba ran her hand up and down her back.
''Very hungry actually.'' She admitted.
''I'll go and see if I can get anything for us then.'' Chistery tugged on the bottom of her dress and looked up at her.
''What is it you?'' She asked him. He rubbed his belly hungrily.
''I don't have time to look for food for you too.'' She looked down at him. He bowed his head and spoke in a quiet voice.
''Hungry.''
''Oh he's learning so well.'' Glinda smiled down at him.
''He deserves some food now Elphie.'' Chistery looked up and said it again. Elphaba huffed and shook her dress free from his grip.
''I'll see what I can find.'' She groaned and headed for the door. Glinda stopped her just before she opened the door.
''Elphie, be careful out there.''
''I'm not going far.'' She laughed at the seriousness of the smaller woman's voice.
''Well don't be too long then.''
''I won't.'' Elphaba replied with an amused smile on her face. Glinda gave her a quick peck on the lips and Elphaba leant in to kiss her further, but Glinda placed a finger on her lips.
''Not now Elphie.'' Elphaba groaned again and before she got carried away opened the door. Glinda stepped outside with her and waved her off as she flew high on her broom.