Chapter Thirty-Seven
The flames danced in Elphaba's eyes as she admired the heat. She contemplated the unthinkable- what if she were to burn herself? Could she bring herself to try and see if it would work again? She was unsure of how long she stood there, feeling the heat come from the whisking flames, but at some point, she felt a hand on her shoulder and flinched.
She turned to see Fiyero standing behind her, and his eyes showed great concern. They looked at each other before he said, "You're beautiful, Fae."
She looked at the floor at his compliment and he tilted her chin up and gave her a sweet kiss, "You don't have to do this to yourself." He replied, regarding her intentions. She sniffled as she gazed at the floor, and then looked up at Fiyero, tears spilling out of her eyes. She embraced him and he held her tight, as she quietly cried into his shoulder.
She whispered, "I'm so sorry, Yero."
He rubbed her back and said, "Don't apologize. Everything is going to be fine, Fae. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere, I promise." He held her for a while longer until her sniffles had subsided. When she broke from the embrace, she looked into his eyes and searched them. He furrowed his brow and she replied,
"I think we should talk, Yero."
His expression remained and he nodded as he started to lead her to the couch nearby. "What do you want to talk about?" he asked, concerned.
She took his hand, "I just think we should talk about the future. Like, what you want, what I want- that kind of thing."
He relaxed a little, "Well, what do you want? Do you want to go back to Munchkinland?"
She replied quickly, "Yes and no. I was their leader for a few years and I grew attached to them. However, here…we're all together. And these past weeks have been some of the happiest of my life." She was silent for a moment, and took his hand, "What do you want?"
He sighed, "Honestly, I don't want you to leave Fae. I love you, and we've been together for so long now. I…I want to marry you Fae. But, that's what I want. Your priorities are the most important to me. Whatever you want is fine with me."
He looked at the floor and rubbed the back of his head. She smiled at him and thought for a moment. Here was the love of her life, willing to let her and his son leave for her own happiness. She knew Fiyero would do anything for her and respect her wishes, and her heart swelled with love for him. He sat there, almost expecting a rejection of his 'ludicrous idea of marriage' and she took his hand. He looked up quickly and she was the one avoiding eye contact. She replied,
"Fiyero…" she said as she looked at him, "Do you remember when we were imprisoned and I asked you what you would do if you were freed?"
He looked at her and replied, "I said that I would marry you, Fae." He quoted, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Fae. I'd give everything if we were able to get out of here, together." And he smiled at her.
"Well, Yero, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Without a doubt."
Fiyero broke into a huge grin, "Fae, I know this a big decision and that you've been through a lot lately so it's alright if-"
"Fiyero," she said, cutting him off, "I love you so much. We've been through so much in our time together, and…" she smiled, looking away from him, "You saved me from so much and I can never repay you for it. I…I just don't want to be apart from you ever again."
The two smiled at each other and Fiyero's eyes got teary at the woman of his life sitting in front of him.
He responded, "I just want to let you know that I am still planning on proposing."
She furrowed her brow and smiled at him, a gentle confusion on her face, "Oh, are you?"
He nodded and sighed a sigh of content. He leaned closer to her and kissed her and she put her hand on his cheek and pulled him closer, smiling against his kiss. When they parted they rested their foreheads together and closed their eyes, thinking of the bright future ahead of them.