Glinda watched as Elphie pushed a lone piece of melon around a small plate while she processed through what they had been talking about for the past hour or so and thinking about what a day it had been. While Elphie was freshening up, she told Devi and her parents that her sleeping beauty was now awake, which added fuel to the attack of giggles she had already. Over Elphie's favorite meal of fish stew and seasoned rice, Glinda had carefully related the details of the various conversations that had taken place. Elphie's reactions had varied from surprised to confused to slightly irritated that no one woke her, but now she seemed like she was just trying to grasp it all.

"Just to make sure I've got this, let's review." Elphie said at last.

"All right my love, but over here where it's more comfortable." Glinda smiled as she rose from her chair to lead Elphie to the sofa.

"Let's review." She grinned when they settled.

"I love you very, very much. But that's on-going, not today specific, so carry on."

"I'm over thinking this, aren't I?" Elphie sighed.

"Not at all my love. A great deal went on while you were asleep. It's important that you understand. I spent a lot of time talking to my parents and thinking it over. Now it's your turn. Let's review." Glinda said then gave Elphie a kiss.

"All right then. First, your father had a rather one-sided talk with my father where he stood up for me and for all intents and purposes, threatened him." Elphie said.

"That's what I understood, yes." Glinda smiled.

"Then my nanny went to your parents to find out about me and my life through their eyes, in order to try and understand why I am engaged to you. She doesn't approve, but she's glad that I have someone to look after me and is not going to make a fuss." Elphie continued.

"So far so good sweetheart. And don't forget, she is going to talk to you before you go." Glinda confirmed.

"And after that my brother, on the advice of Nanny, came to talk to me, but really wanted to talk to you about if our engagement was a normal one and why we didn't tell him we were dating when he visited Shiz. He also now knows that we engage in… mushy stuff." Elphie said with a slight frown.

"Yes, but don't focus on the mushy stuff part. He didn't. You also now know that he does not hate you. And don't forget he talked to Popsicle as well." Glinda advised.

"Ah yes, your father had a heart to heart with my brother to help him understand a little better that same gender relationships are just relationships and to explain to him why he shouldn't try to reconcile my father and me. He is going to talk to me as well." Elphie said.

"You've got it my love." Glinda smiled.

"But there's more, if I understood correctly. You spent almost the entire day in that room with me and when you couldn't, our maid babysat me." Elphie said, the irritation from earlier poking through.

"Don't read anything into that Elphie, I needed to be with you and Devi understood why I didn't want you to be alone. So did my parents." Glinda said gently.

"You also arranged to stay here instead of going back to school and, you invited our friends to come here."

"Okay, in my defense, you would have agreed to me staying here this week eventually because my parents understood. And we talked a little about the possibility of Dani, Manif and the others coming to visit." Glinda said reasonably.

"The possibility." Elphie stressed.

"Your best friend teasing you. You know you miss that." Glinda chuckled. Elphie looked into Glinda's eyes sparkling with love and laughter and knew she was creating a problem where none really existed. So she pulled Glinda to her, kissed her forehead and held her close for a few beats.

"I'm sorry my sweet. But if you ever wonder why I am an insomniac, think back on this day." Elphie smiled.

"This is your version of all the fun stuff happens after the kids are sent to bed." Glinda giggled and Elphie smiled.

"Maybe so." She chuckled lightly.

"Elphie my love, all of this is a good thing, it really is." Glinda said softly after a few quiet moments, and Elphie looked at her with a slight smile.

"Yes even Manif coming to the coronation." She added with a chuckle.

"Lyndie I know intellectually that this isn't the case, but all of this feels a little like when people just planned my life around me." Elphie sighed.

"I was thinking the same thing sort of, after Nanny talked to my parents. Momsie told me that all of this played out just as it needed to and that was with out you there. She said that Nanny and Shell needed information and might not have felt free to talk openly if you were there because they'd be afraid of embarrassing you or upsetting you." Glinda said gently.

"That makes sense. And it is a good thing. Seeking information, talking things through, trying to understand, I can't fault them for things that I do myself." Elphie smiled.

"Things that we all do." Glinda smiled then gave Elphie a kiss.

They spent a little time exchanging soft and gentle kisses and continuing to talk. When they got to a point where there were more kisses than conversation, Elphie suggested that she walk Glinda back down to her parent's suite. Glinda protested, wanting to stay there with her. But after a few minutes of Elphie providing some gentle reasonableness, many kisses and a several promises that she would go back to sleep at some point during the night, Glinda relented.

"Thank you my sweet. " Elphie smiled after giving Glinda a very substantial kiss.

"Oh, I realized that I owed you one for not really fussing about our friends coming to visit."

"I knew that it would make you happy." Elphie smiled.

"And I knew that this would. So we are even." Glinda chuckled.

"I also think that we should just quit while we are ahead."

"I concur. I'd like to talk with your parents if they haven't retired for the evening." Elphie smiled.

"They want to talk with you too, they said maybe we could have a nightcap together." Glinda said.

"I'd like that." Elphie said then rose from the sofa pulling Glinda with her.

"I love you Lyndie, with every fiber of my being." Elphie said.

"I love you too Elphie." Glinda replied and shared one more intricate kiss before going to join Samion and Gwenot.

As they walked down the hallway Glinda took Elphie's hand, started swinging their arms while she sing-songed some of the words from the sleeping beauty children's fable. Elphie was highly amused, but her mood shifted dramatically when they rounded the corner and saw Shell sitting in the family parlor.

"Just take a deep breath my love, he's okay with this and probably just wants to talk to you." Glinda said softly when she felt Elphie's mood shift. She smiled when her love paused for a moment and took a deep breath. She didn't really settle down, but she was trying to.

"Sis!' Shell said as he jogged over to where Glinda and Elphie were.

"Congratulations on getting engaged." He said enthusiastically then gave a very surprised Elphie a big hug and a kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you Shell." Elphie said a little warily.

"But do you really understand what's going on?" She added then felt Glinda's hand on her back reminding her, just as she did when Shell visited, to stay calm.

"Why don't you two sit out here and talk?" Glinda said with a smile as she guided them all over to where Shell had been sitting.

"Oh Glinda, please don't go. We can talk together. Please." Shell said earnestly. Glinda glanced at Elphie then nodded to Shell and they all sat down.

"Shell, it's late. I don't want you to get into trouble." Elphie said.

"I won't. Nanny just told me to not bother the Uplands again tonight. I didn't." Shell said.

"That's not what I meant." Elphie said quietly.

"Don't worry about it Sis. Look, I don't get this, you getting married to Glinda. But I don't understand why my friend's brother would want to get married either. I mean, I like girls and all of that. They are pretty and they smell good. But I don't want to spend my whole life with one, they giggle too much and they can be kind of mean. But not you Glinda, you're not mean." Shell said and Glinda suppressed a chuckle.

"I do giggle though." Glinda smiled.

"Shelly, I don't want you to say congratulations, or accept my engagement because you feel that you have to." Elphaba said seriously.

"I don't, I mean I did because I want to. Sis, I know how Papa feels about two girls being together in the mushy stuff way. But the things he told me don't make much sense either. My science teacher said that a good researcher shouldn't jump to conclusions. They should gather facts and form rational conclusions from them. He also says that sweeping generalities are the bane of human existence." Shell grinned.

"I think that I would like your science teacher." Elphie chuckled lightly.

"Do you know what the bane of human existence means?"

"Not really. Mr. Lopuyt goes off on tangents a lot, but he's nice. But I know what generalities means and I think that that saying all girls who like other girls instead of boys are… a whole lot of bad things I'd rather not repeat, is one. So I asked questions, gathered some facts and formed conclusions, just like Mr. Lopuyt said we should." Shell said with certainty.

"Your teacher would be pleased, I'm sure. What are your conclusions?" Elphie smiled.

"That love, mushy stuff and especially girls are even more of a mystery now, even sisters. And that I'm too young to try and figure out things that the adults can't even agree on. Nanny told me just to tell you what felt right. Congratulations, I'm really happy for you, feels right." Shell said with an earnest simplicity that made Glinda sniffle.

"So the thought of me marrying and spending the rest of my life with Glinda does not bother you?" Elphie asked.

"Nope. I like you Glinda and you are going to be my sister in law. Which when you think about it is sort of cool, because I don't have any brothers." Shell grinned broadly.

"I like you too Shell and I'll finally get that baby brother that I always wanted." Glinda laughed.

"She wanted one so that she could pick on him." Elphie smiled.

"You can do that if you want. I won't mind." Shell said rather shyly and Glinda smiled at him.

"Shell, thank you for talking to me about this. I'm glad that you are not upset. But I want you to promise me that you will listen to Glinda's father and not try to reconcile Father and me. I don't want you to jeopardize your relationship with him." Elphie said seriously.

"I promise. And don't worry about Papa and me, please. Or Nessa either, she told me to do what I want, just don't run around talking about it. That means that she is probably just going to pretend that you never told us anything." Shell laughed.

"You are more than likely correct about that. You should go on back to your room now, it is very late, but we can talk more later." Elphie said.

"Okay. I'm working with Nessa's tutors tomorrow. Her history tutor says we will be reading about all of this coronation stuff in the history books someday. How cool is that?" Shell grinned.

"I think it's very cool." Glinda said.

"And I'm sure that I will at some point in time." Elphie said.

"She's just grumpy because she's the one who's making the history that will be in the books." Glinda chuckled and Shell laughed out loud.

"Don't let Nessa hear you say that, she thinks it's her." Shell chuckled.

"Goodnight Glinda. Congratulations to you too."

"Thank you Shell. Goodnight." Glinda said then gave Shell a light hug and a kiss on the cheek, making him blush.

"Goodnight Shell." Elphie said.

"Night Sis." Shell said then gave Elphie a long hug, which Elphie returned.

"What just happened?" Elphie asked as they watched Shell jog down the hallway to Nessa's apartment.

"Your little brother just demonstrated that he is growing into a decent young man who knows his own mind and loves and respects his family. Namom would approve." Glinda chuckled lightly.

"I just don't want Father to pressure him because of this." Elphie sighed.

"Sweetheart you need to trust Shell. Yes, he is young and this is something big, but he does not seem concerned. Why don't we just go have a nightcap with my parents and we can get their take on this." Glinda smiled and offered Elphie her hand.

"Or in your case a wake up cap." She giggled and that sound was all Elphie needed to know everything would work out.

X

Elphie opened her eyes, waiting for a moment to allow them to adjust to the predawn dimness. She was a little surprised that she had slept as long and as soundly as she did, considering she had spent almost all of the previous day in bed.

"I can't wait to spend all day with you in bed." She heard the sweet giggly voice of her fiancée say in her head and smiled. She sat up in bed and took stock. She felt rested and very ready to just get all of this over with. Talking to Samion and Gwenot before running Glinda's bath had helped her put everything that had happened after the encounter with her father into perspective. She knew that all of that could safely be put away so that she could focus on the tasks of the new week.

As she got out of bed she thought about the meetings, work sessions and other things that she was sure awaited her. She didn't know the specifics, but she did know that she would be very busy. As she dressed, she wondered what was on Glinda's agenda for the day. Whatever it was, she was sure that it would be fun. She wrote a quick note for Glinda, left it for Devi to give to her then headed down to her office. On her way down she wondered what was on her own agenda, knowing that today was the day that she needed to set part of it herself.

X

"Well good morning Elphaba." Harluc said as he came into the Eminent Thropp's office.

"Good morning Harluc. You are here early." Elphie said.

"I've been working. Fruoa will be along in an hour or so, but she said that we could start without her." Harluc smiled.

"Good, because I have some business I need to discuss without her here." Elphie said.

"Business? Well okay then. Let me slip out to order breakfast and we will get to it." Harluc chuckled.

When Harluc returned a few minutes later he escorted Elphie into the dining room and they talked a little about the fallout from telling her father about her engagement. Elphie was pleased and surprised that it was minimal and under control.

"Now what is on your agenda this morning." Harluc smiled after the food had been served and they were alone.

"Picking the new Ministers. I have one that I want to recommend." Elphie said, jumping right into the task.

"You mean appoint. We recommend. You appoint. It's Master Apothecary Kwenyo, correct?" Harluc smiled.

"No, but that's not a bad thought actually." Elphie said intrigued and filed the information away for later.

"I want to appoint you, as First Minister."

"Me? As First Minister?" Harluc said with surprise in his voice, face and posture.

"I researched it in depth and your qualifications exceed the necessary ones. The only thing that I don't know is if you are old enough. Are you?" Elphie said.

"I am by four years. Elphaba, why would you think of this?" Harluc said and Elphie could see that she was not handling this well.

"Harluc, I apologize. I thought that you wanted to do something like this with your career. If you wish to remain Ambassador, that is fine."

"No, Elphaba, I very much do. Being a Minister is something I've been working towards, eventually. I'm just taken aback by the First Minister aspect." Harluc replied.

"May I explain my reasons?" Elphie asked.

"Please do." Harluc said, still trying to process the implications.

Elphie told Harluc everything that she had talked to Glinda about, knowing how much he loved Munchkinland, how good he was at his job, how respected he was and how she wanted Nessa to have the best advisors possible.

"And there was one reason just for me. I wanted a way to thank my advisors for everything they have done for me. I am in a unique position to be able to help you all advance in your careers and do what you love. I have people helping me in much the same fashion with my research career." Elphie said sincerely.

"Well I can't argue with that. Your advisors, including Fruoa and Maril?" Harluc asked.

"Yes. I was hoping that you could suggest what would be appropriate for Maril. But I think that Fruoa would be an excellent Ambassador. I'd like to appoint her to your position." Elphie said.

"When you decide to use your authority, you don't fool around." Harluc chuckled softly.

"Harluc, if I am off base here, please tell me. I want to do what is right." Elphie said earnestly.

"I'm sorry Elphaba, I'm not making light of this at all. I just flashed back on that meeting in the little café at Shiz, when you started laying down the law." Harluc smiled.

"You are not off base at all. Fruoa will make an excellent Ambassador. And it will certainly shake up the officials, which may be a good thing."

"Is her being a woman a problem? I didn't see anything forbidding it, but there aren't any female officials either." Elphie asked.

"That was the late Eminent Thropp's doing. I think it will be a very good thing." Harluc said.

"Glinda suggested that maybe we could appoint some female officials so that Fruoa won't be too singled out." Elphie said and Harluc wondered how much of all of this Glinda had been privy to, but knowing that her advice was crucial to Elphaba.

"I think that is a wonderful idea. I have a few very well qualified women in mind already."

"So you accept the appointment?" Elphie asked and Harluc rose and bowed deeply as was proper in this circumstance.

"Your Eminence, I humbly accept the appointment to the position of First Minister." Harluc said.

"Thank you Elphaba." He added.

While they waited for Fruoa, Harluc explained the protocols for appointing a non minister to the First Minister's position, most of which Elphie was already aware of. They also talked about how to approach this with Fruoa. When Fruoa came in Harluc nodded to Elphie and Elphie smiled slightly, wishing that Glinda could be here to witness this.

"Well it's about time that you showed up Madame Ambassador." Harluc said seriously.

"I encountered some problems with…wait? What?" Fruoa said looking at Harluc.

"Did you call me Madame Ambassador?"

"Well you told us to start without you, so we started." Harluc chuckled.

"My new First Minister is in a jocular mood, apparently." Elphie smiled.

"Apparently, but teasing me when I've only had one cup of coffee is not funny." Fruoa smiled.

"No teasing Fruoa." Elphie said as Harluc poured her a cup of coffee.

"I am using my power as governor to make some appointments. I would like you to be the new Ambassador from Munchkinland." Elphie smiled as Fruoa sat down hard, staring at her.

"So you really did name Harluc as First Minister?" Fruoa said after a few beats and several sips of coffee.

"I did." Elphie said.

Elphie explained everything to Fruoa, just as she had to Harluc. Harluc included his thoughts on the subject and added in all of the things that had come up as he and Elphie had talked.

"So Fruoa, do accept the appointment to Ambassador?" Elphie asked and Fruoa accepted in the same way that Harluc had.

They moved the meeting back into Elphie's office and shifted the agenda around to continue to work on the appointment of new officials. Right before lunch, Glinda came down to say hello and Fruoa escorted her to the private dining room then told Elphie to take a break and sent her in there. After some bubbly kisses and a rapid fire accounting of her morning taking a walk with Shell and her parents, looking at maps of the grounds, she told her they were on their way to Center Munch with Devi to have lunch and go shopping. When she was finished, there was another flurry of soft kisses before Elphie got a chance to tell her that Harluc and Fruoa accepted their promotions. As soon as she walked back into the office, she squealed happily and congratulated them both with a bubbly hug.

After Glinda, her parents and Devi left. Elphie went into her private bathroom to freshen up for her lunch meeting with the current First Minister and the Chief judge. After that she spent three hours with her tutor then prepared herself for an audience with two of the people that had been recommended to fill some of the out going officials' positions.

While Elphie was in with her tutor, Mr. Kwenyo came by and Fruoa arranged for him to have a cocktails and a late dinner with the Uplands and Elphaba. She told Elphie about it between meetings, explaining that she was going to move the dinner meeting to a lunch meeting tomorrow.

Elphie was running late for dinner, but Fruoa assured her that Mr. Kwenyo and the Uplands were having a very nice time together in the Eminent Thropp's reception room and would wait for her. Even though she was weary as she trudged up the back stairs to her room to change clothes, the thought of spending time with her family and oldest friend revitalized her. Seeing her love bouncing out of her bedroom door when she walked into her suite revitalized her even more.

"Hi Elphie!" Glinda bubbled.

"Hello my sweet. You should be downstairs with the others." Elphie smiled and pulled Glinda into a hug.

"I was until just a little bit ago. The appetizers are fabulous. But Fruoa told me you were finished and on your way up here, so I came to lay out some clothes for you." Glinda said happily.

"I'm glad that you did. Now kiss me like you want to, then let me change. I'm already late." Elphie smiled and Glinda grinned broadly then kissed Elphie for all she was worth before sending her off to bathe and change.

X

Over a sumptuous dinner, Elphie and Glinda told Mr. Kwenyo all about informing Elphie's family about them being engaged and then about the other things that had gone on since he was last there. Glinda and her parents focused on the positive things that came out of it and Mr. Kwenyo expressed his pride in Elphie many times, as they talked. When dinner was over, they all went back to the reception room where dessert, coffee and brandy were served.

"Elphaba my child, I am very glad that it worked out that we could all have dinner together. I was afraid that your schedule would be too full." Mr. Kwenyo said when they were settled.

"I am very glad also. This was just what I needed to end my day." Elphaba smiled.

"Me too. And Elphie got to wear the new dress that I bought for her today." Glinda grinned.

"It suits you." Mr. Kwenyo said.

"Thank you." Glinda chuckled and Elphie smiled.

"Samion and Gwenot, I'm also glad that you are here. Not just because it is wonderful support for Elphaba, but also because I have something to give to her and it is appropriate that her new family be present." Mr. Kwenyo smiled.

"You've been hinting at this for awhile now Mr. Kwenyo." Elphie said and Glinda nodded.

"I am sorry for the mystery but it took longer than I thought to track it down. But I have it here with me now." The man smiled.

"Oh boy!" Glinda wiggled happily, causing everyone to chuckle.

"What? I've been really patient." Glinda protested.

"Very true Lyndie." Elphie smiled and kissed Glinda's hand.

Mr. Kwenyo pulled a small box out of his coat pocket revealing a platinum medallion with an engraving of the official Eminent Thropp's crest on one side and a the head of the Third Eminent Thropp on the other.

"Wow this is beautiful." Glinda said as the box was passed around.

"What is this?" Elphie said as she carefully took it out of the box.

"It used to be the official emblem of power for the Eminent Thropp. Its origins are not well known, but it is said that it was crafted especially for the Third Eminent Thropp and was rumored to have magical properties. It was passed on until it just disappeared, during a military conflict supposedly. Legend has it that the male Eminent Thropp was afraid that it would fall into enemy hands and they could take power, so it was either hidden or given to a caretaker. No one really knows."

"Wow. Dani will love this." Glinda said in awe as she held the medallion.

"Paszor, if I may ask, how did you end up with it?" Gwenot asked because Elphie looked a little stunned.

"Happenstance, actually. This medallion is a thing of legend. It has been talked about as hearsay for generations. I overheard some of my nephews talking awhile back about some old boxes of things that were still in the local church storage, from over fifteen years ago. I knew that your father had donated most of your mother's things to that church after her death, so I thought that I'd go and look next time I was in, just to see if there was anything that you or your siblings might want now that you are older. But those things were gone by the time I arrived. Many months later I heard about a very unique old looking coin that someone had found in the donation box. I knew of the legend and have always been intrigued by it. I wondered if somehow the medallion ended up with your mother and thought was worth exploring." Mr. Kwenyo explained.

"Mr. K this is fascinating." Glinda said excitedly.

"Truly." Samion said.

"Mr. Kwenyo, this is… is…" Elphie stammered.

"I know Elphaba. Allow me to continue, it may make more sense." Mr. Kwenyo said kindly.

"Please, go on." Elphie said.

"Because of my position here in Munchkinland, I can get information more easily than most I think. To try and distill this story a bit, I talked to a lot of people and enlisted the help of one of my nephews, who is a history buff. After a lot of legwork and a little luck, I was able to talk to the daughter of one of your grandmother's assistants. I discovered that your grandmother, while researching some little known historical records found out that it had been hidden in the palace. She found it in a little used part of the underground area. She kept it hidden from your great grandfather because she was afraid that he would try and misuse it somehow. It was her intent to reveal it at her own coronation and pass it on to your mother with the notion that your mother would pass it on to her daughters and that they would pursue their birthright. After your grandmother died, that assistant wanted to honor her intent and saw to it that the medallion, along with some other thing got to your mother, without your great grandfather knowing about it. Since I was now sure that the coin that was discovered in the box was actually the medallion, I set my nephew on it and he found it in the position of a young couple who did not realize what it was, so I purchased it from them. It belongs here at Colwen Grounds. It belongs with you, Elphaba."

"I love a mystery. This is so great." Glinda bubbled.

"This belongs with Nessa, she is going to be the Eminent Thropp." Elphie said.

"Perhaps, but may I offer a suggestion." Mr. Kwenyo smiled.

"Of course." Elphie said.

"This medallion is about Colwen Grounds, it is a part of Munchkinland and its history. I speculate that your grandmother realized this and wanted to preserve that intrinsic power and influence. Because of it's rumored magical properties you are the logical caretaker of this medallion. But I know that what it represents is not really your bailiwick, so this is my suggestion. After the hoopla of the coronation and before you leave Colwen Grounds, give this to your advisors. We can all sit down together and I will tell them what I told you. They can keep it safe and properly research it." Mr. Kwenyo said.

"That is a brilliant idea Mr. K. Fruoa is expert at this stuff. They can get everything figured out." Glinda said.

"That is a very good idea Mr. Kwenyo. This does belong here. Will you please keep it until we can hand it over to Fruoa and Harluc?" Elphie said as she handed the box back to her oldest friend.

"I would rather you keep it Elphaba. This is a part of who you are, your ancestry and heritage. It belonged to your grandmother then your mother and now you. That is how it should be. I understand why keeping it in your possession permanently is not a good idea, but you are the Eminent Thropp for a while longer. You should share that with your predecessor." Mr. Kwenyo smiled as he held the coin with the head side facing Elphie. She took it and looked at it, then nodded.

"You do look a lot like her." Glinda smiled.

"As did her mother and grandmother." Mr. Kwenyo smiled.

"And as does her brother." Glinda said.

"I get the point." Elphie said then smiled.

"Mr. Kwenyo, you are truly a horrible busybody. I can't believe that you went to all of this trouble."

"Oh my child, it was no trouble. I firmly believe that this belongs with you. Your reign has been short, but you have done the office and the state proud. I met your grandmother on a few occasions before you were born. I think that she would approve of all of this, because she wanted what was best for Munchkinland."

Glinda was sniffly so Mr. Kwenyo gave her a hug before Elphie gave him one. They spent a little more time talking more about the medallion and how it was found. Samion and Glinda asked many questions and Elphie mentioned talking to Motzia about the medallion's magical properties at some point in the future. Glinda was excited to tell Dani all about it and to discover more about it herself. Her excitement was giving way to tiredness however, and when she yawned while Mr. Kwenyo was talking about being Glinda's escort for the ceremonies, everyone knew that it was time to call it a night. Mr. Kwenyo asked for a few private moments with Elphie, so the others said goodnight and left Elphie to walk him to his carriage.

"Now Elphaba my child I want your word that you will not let this overwhelm you. I wanted to find this for you to provide to with a connection to your past, to your mother and to let you know that you are a part of something so much bigger than just yourself or Nessa. I am very, very proud of you and what you are doing for a place and for a sister that never really understood or accepted you."

"I am not overwhelmed. I sort of understand this, like I've had it before. I am grateful that you found it." Elphie smiled.

"Good. Now, go up and get some sleep Your Eminence." Mr. Kwenyo chuckled.

"I love you, you horrible little busybody." Elphie smiled then kissed her friend's weathered cheek.

"I love you too my child. Goodnight." Mr. Kwenyo replied.

Elphie watched Mr. Kwenyo get into his carriage then went upstairs. She said goodnight to Samion and Gwenot then a private goodnight to Glinda. She sat in her office fingering the medallion before putting in the top drawer of her desk. She wrote about how familiar it felt to her in her journal then fell asleep easily and slept undisturbed all night.

X

The next few days were a blur of meetings and work sessions, but Elphie didn't care because everything was getting done and was on track. Glinda would come to say hi and bye before she left to go somewhere with her parents and they had a little time at night before Glinda went to bed, but that was the extent of their time together. Glinda understood completely, and placated herself by sending Elphie notes every couple of hours, which amused Fruoa and Harluc.

By Thursday afternoon, everything was ready to go. The rehearsal had gone well, Manif and the others were due the next morning, arrangements for their stay were in place and all the appointments had been finalized.

Elphie and Glinda were able to spend almost twenty minutes together after the rehearsal and Elphie could tell that Glinda needed more. She was low on bubbles and that was unacceptable, so while she was waiting for her last meeting to start, she decided that they needed a date.

"Fruoa, after this meeting is over I have nothing more to do tonight, correct?" Elphie asked when Fruoa came to get her for the meeting.

"Correct." Fruoa smiled.

"I need your help with something. I'd like to plan a private dinner for Glinda and I tonight. Something special." Elphie said, blushing slightly.

"You want to go on a date." Fruoa smiled.

"Yes." Elphie said as her blush deepened.

"Believe me, I understand. After this is over, Maril and I are going to celebrate our promotions with a grand date. Just tell me where you want dinner set up and I'll take care of the rest, including you not being disturbed at all. But I will need to tell Devi." Fruoa smiled.

"That's fine. I'd like dinner in my suite please. And could you give this to Glinda? Thank you Fruoa, very much."

"This is my pleasure Elphaba. But you need to get on into that meeting. I'll take care of this and be right there." Fruoa smiled.

Elphie nodded and headed to the conference room. Fruoa watched her go with a chuckle then hurried off to attend to her tasks.

X

"Galinda, may I come in please." Gwenot said outside the door to the bathroom where her daughter was soaking in a steamy tub.

"Of course Momsie." Glinda said.

"And I'm really sorry I snapped at you before." She added contritely as her mother sat down.

"Apology accepted my darling. Everyone is getting a little tense. And I understand that you miss Elphaba." Gwenot smiled.

"I do, I really do. I'll be glad when this is over."

"We all will darling. This might help. Fruoa just brought it and she said it was not because the meeting was running late." Gwenot smiled as she held up the note.

"From Elphie! Oh boy." Glinda squealed and scrambled out of the sunken tub. She dried her hands then took the note, grinning from ear to ear.

"Dear Miss Upland,

I have arranged for us to have a date tonight. I will come to call later this evening and with your consent, will escort you to dinner. If you are not agreeable to this, please feel free to decline.

Your fiancée,

"Miss Elphaba Thropp."

Glinda read the note to herself then out loud, squealing and bouncing the whole time. Gwenot smiled at her excited daughter and suggested that she help her get ready by doing her nails for her. Glinda gave her mother a big hug then started to settle down and get ready.

X

As Elphie headed down the hallway to the back stairs after her meeting, which fortunately ended early, she decided to stop by the library and clear her head before going to get ready for her date with Glinda. She sat in her favorite chair in the back, looking at the bookcase that fronted her small room and thinking about her love and how much she missed spending time with her, her touch and her kisses. When she felt little tingles, as she thought about the previous nights brief but very intense goodnight kiss she remembered something.

"Glinda wants to make love to a head of state." Elphie said to no one.

"Damn. All of this came about so fast and went by so fast. It will be over tomorrow and I can't fulfill that wish." She muttered then started to pace.

"But I do still have tonight, and we will be on a date. No, that's not proper. Although we have made love here before. That was different though and I just can't plan to have sex without her consent. Maybe I could plan it then ask her. No, that's not right. I should just forget it." Elphie argued with herself.

"You have good instincts Elphaba, follow them. If it is right for you, it will be right for her as well. Do you want to make love to your fiancée tonight?" She heard a familiar voice in her head. It startled her and she had to think.

"Yes, yes I do. Very much." She said out loud.

"Then adore her as only you can."

"I can do that. We deserve something special." Elphie said then sat back down to think some more.

Once Elphie made her decision, she felt little flutters of desire in her stomach, partly from the special surprise for her love and partly from the thought of her touch. Fifteen minutes later, after remembering that Glinda also wanted to make love in a library, she had a plan.

"If I'm going to do this, I might as well do this all the way." Elphie said as she moved the bookcase then the wall and entered her private hide-away.

"Safe, hidden and soundproof." Elphie smiled.

"But very unromantic." Elphie thought for a few minutes and decided that all the way had to include magic, if she wanted this to be perfect for Glinda. She fought with herself for a few beats, but knew in her heart that Glinda would be beyond delighted and after what she had been through with all of this, she deserved to be.

With a chant, Elphie conjured away everything but the loaded down bookshelves then stood there on the bare wooden floor trying to imagine what would be appropriate. Half an hour later after being inspired by how much Glinda had enjoyed the picnic on the floor of their room, she stood holding onto the doorframe to steady herself, looking over her handiwork. There was a carpet on the floor, tall candelabras in three corners and in the little nooks. In the back corner on the floor were several very large pink silk covered cushions, as well as other cushions of various sizes. There was also a silk sheet and some hand towels.

The more Elphie looked at what she had created as a place for her and Glinda to make love the more wrong it seemed. She was being presumptuous and didn't even know if something like this was proper.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." She heard in her head.

"You know better than this. No second-guessing."

Elphie looked around again and knew that Glinda would love this.

"No second guessing." She said then sparked the ceiling, complete with falling stars, before she left.

X

Elphie was excited and nervous at the same time. She took a rose out of one of the bouquets that had been placed around the small dining area in her suite and took a deep breath. She was freshly bathed with clove oil, dressed in her white and blue outfit, with her hair down. She touched her engagement ring, which was now on her finger and smiled.

Glinda was ready to go, dressed up and beautiful when Elphie arrived to get her. She noticed right away that Glinda's ring was also where it belonged. After some gentle teasing from Samion, Elphie offered Glinda her hand and they left.

"Elphie this is wonderful, what are we doing tonight?" Glinda sighed happily as they walked slowly down the hallway.

"We are having a progressive date. Like that progressive breakfast we had with your cousins." Elphie smiled trying to keep her excitement and desire under control.

"Oh boy. Did you even pay attention in your meeting today?" Glinda giggled.

"No not really. Our first stop is dinner." Elphie smiled then opened the door to the suite. Glinda saw the formally set table, the flowers and candles and sighed with contentment.

"Elphie this looks and smells wonderful."

"May I have the honor of a before dinner dance?" Elphie smiled as she curtsied.

"I would love to." Glinda grinned and curtsied back. Elphie put on some music and they danced two slow dances and shared two long kisses before they sat down to a wonderful meal.

Over dinner, they talked and laughed about planning their engagement party and their wedding and about their future in general. They fed each other bites of food, gazed silently into each other's eyes and kissed each other's fingers. These were things that they had not been able to do for a long time and they reveled in the intimate playfulness. After dinner, Glinda requested another dance before dessert and Elphie granted the request happily.

"So are you ready for the next part of our progressive date." Elphie said after a few passionate dances.

"Mmmmhmmm." Glinda sighed and moved away from Elphie's chest.

"Is it dessert?"

"It is this." Elphie said then took Glinda's face gently into her hands and started to kiss her. Glinda closed her eyes and melted into the kiss, as she had the others then felt the difference. She felt the special way that Elphie caressed her mouth with her tongue and how one hand rubbed the small of her back while the other caressed her cheek. It was they way she was kissed before they made love.

"Elphie?" Glinda said breathlessly when her lips were finally freed.

"You planned for this?" She asked and as she looked into Elphie's eyes, she could feel her desire.

"As best I could. I want to give you a very special memory." Elphie replied.

"If this is about making love to a head of state…" Glinda started.

"It is, partly. I have been so many things the past few weeks, daughter, sister, governor, student and when time permitted your fiancée." Elphie said looking into Glinda's eyes.

"Right now all I want to be is your gentle lover." She whispered in Glinda's ear. Glinda felt a shiver run down her spine that almost made her legs fall out from underneath her.

"With your consent, of course." Glinda provided her consent with a searing kiss then took Elphie's hand, giggled and tried to lead her to the bedroom.

"Not here my precious girl. This is a progressive date remember." Elphie said shyly as she guided Glinda to the door of the suite.

"Oh now this is intriguing." Glinda giggled and bounced as she held Elphie's hand and followed her out the door, wondering where they would make love. The mere thought of it excited in ways that she had never felt before.

"The library!" Glinda bubbled as they walked down the back steps.

"My little hidey hole. I tried to make it special and perfect. But Lyndie, if something about it does not please you, promise me you will tell me." Elphie said.

"Everything about this pleases me, but I promise." Glinda said then Elphie nodded then closed the door to the library, turned off the main lights and led Glinda to the back. Glinda needed to kiss Elphie very badly, but held herself in check.

After Elphie opened the bookcase, Glinda gasped at the room. It was bathed in the light of flickering candles and sparkling stars. She felt Elphie's hand guide her into the room and she reached out to touch one of the falling stars then turned and gathered Elphie into her arms, kissing her with a vigor borne of desire.

"This is so perfect. I love this and I love you for doing it. All of it." Glinda sniffled and Elphie dried her tears with her finger. Glinda kissed away the sting, something that she hadn't done in awhile.

"I love you too, more and more. It took some arguing with myself and an admonishment or two in my head. But I wanted you as soon as I thought about it. I just had to remember that I could." Elphie smiled as she ran her hands down Glinda's sides.

Glinda reciprocated the movement and they began the slow sultry dance of removing one another's clothes. Elphie kissed every bit of skin that became exposed as she unbuttoned Glinda's blouse, gently rubbing her thumbs over silk covered breasts before she removed it. Glinda softly caressed Elphie's sides and stomach as she slowly lifted Elphie's top over her head. When Elphie's arms were over her head she kissed her chest and up her neck, finding her lips as the shirt was discarded. They held each other close, danced a few steps before unfastening skirts and letting them fall to the floor.

With a giggle, Glinda kicked off her shoes and tried to untie Elphie's ankle boots with her stocking covered toes. Elphie chuckled and after a few minutes of tickles and laughter, her boots were off and they were back to dancing while trying to roll down each others stockings with their feet. Bras and panties soon joined the rest of the clothing on the floor and they savored the feel of soft, warm flesh as they pressed against one another, kissing deeply and caressing gently.

"I love you Glinda." Elphie said as she pulled away and took Glinda's hand.

"And I love you, my Elphie." Glinda replied as they quietly caressed each other's faces before walking the few steps to the cushions. Elphie held Glinda's hand as she gracefully sank down onto the cushions. Then she lowered herself down beside her, immediately gathered into her arms and kissed her. During the smoldering kiss, she leaned Glinda back, and Glinda took over the kiss.

"Is this comfortable enough for you my sweet?' Elphie smiled twenty minutes later as she caressed Glinda's chest.

"It is perfect. I think we should get rid of our beds and sleep on big pillows like this." Glinda giggled then squeaked and moaned as Elphie caressed one of her nipples rather firmly.

"But if we didn't have an under the bed, where would you keep your shoes?" Elphie smiled as she caressed the other nipple.

"And think of the poor homeless dust bunnies." She whispered then placed kisses where her fingers had just caressed.

"Poor dust bunnies." Glinda moaned then sought out Elphie's lips.

"Beds are good too." She said after a long kiss.

After some shifting, kissing and caressing, Elphie spent some time kissing Glinda's arousal spot before moving slowly down. She kissed in small increments, letting her tongue glide over the sheen that was forming on Glinda's pale skin. When she reached the threshold that they were not ready to cross in this manner yet, Elphie sighed at the feel of Glinda's hands stroking her ears. The feel of warm breath on her skin made Glinda groan and shift.

With a playful grin, Elphie kissed Glinda's threshold then blew a long, gentle stream of air over her exposed delicate area.

"Holy Oz!" Glinda moaned as her hips shifted.

Elphie continued to blow a stream of air up Glinda's stomach, tracing the path with her finger. Glinda whimpered when she felt the warm air on her breasts. Elphie appeased her with kisses to both as she gently pressed her hand to Glinda's delicate area. Glinda pressed her hips up and Elphie gazed into her eyes before kissing her deeply as she entered her.

Elphie made love to Glinda slowly, kissing her and caressing her everywhere she could as she stroked. Glinda moved with her, shifting positions slightly and kissing her with vigor. Elphie drew it out longer than she ever had, following Glinda's cues and trying to anticipate her need.

"I love you Lyndie." She whispered as she pressed on the special spot inside and the pulsating little node outside. Glinda cried out as her body tensed and she crashed over the edge, knowing nothing but what her body was feeling.

Elphie held, kissed and coddled Glinda as her quivering body settled down.

"Wow." Glinda smiled sometime later as she tried to trace a pattern on Elphie's chest.

"I enjoyed myself as well." Elphie chuckled.

"Not as much as you're about to." Glinda grinned then shifted to a more dominate position before taking Elphie's breath away with a blazing kiss.

Glinda savored the feel of Elphie's skin as she caressed and kissed, her fervent moans blending with Elphie's soft ones as she very gently teased Elphie's delicate area with her fingers. She felt Elphie's hand move down to hers and she shifted to accommodate her, moving her hand as she lavished attention onto Elphie's breasts with her tongue.

Time was irrelevant as they went back and forth, teasing delicate areas and tormenting breasts, kissing and caressing with fervor. When she could take no more, Glinda shifted so she was underneath Elphie and Elphie let out a muffled groan as she pressed down and shifted to find the right position. They found it and savored it as long as they could, before they climaxed together.

After the trembling stopped, they were patted down and the tears were dried Glinda and Elphie lay in each other's arms lazily caressing and exchanging soft kisses for quite a while before either of them spoke.

"I just made love to a head of state." Glinda giggled as she cuddled closer to Elphie under the silk sheet.

"And you did an exemplary job." Elphie grinned.

"Thank you, you weren't so bad yourself. I loved you blowing on me like that. I thought I'd have my happy ending then and there." Glinda giggled.

"It seemed reasonable. My sigh seemed to arouse you."

"You arouse me." Glinda chuckled and gave Elphie a hearty kiss.

"Lyndie I know how much you like after sex cuddles and pillow talk, I do too but…"

"Oh don't say it, I know, we can't stay here all night." Glinda said with a little pout that Elphie kissed until it went away.

"Would a naked after sex dance help?" Elphie offered.

"Yep." Glinda grinned as she started to shift as she caressed Elphie's leg with hers.

"Oh you mean an actual dance?" She chuckled a few beats later as Elphie started to untangle them.

"That was my thought yes." Elphie smiled.

"Okay, that will be nice too." Glinda laughed as she made a valiant attempt to hinder the untangling process.

Eventually they were up and dancing, looking at and touching one another with shy gentleness. Elphie sang their engagement song for one dance and hummed the first song Byjon gave them for another then they dressed each other during a third. There was a chuckle filled debate on the need for undergarments to just walk upstairs and get into the tub. Glinda did not see the point, but relented after a knee-buckling kiss. She held firm however, on shoes and stockings and bubbled out of the library with Elphie's arm around her waist, a broad, silly grin on her face and her shoes in her hand.