What Dreams

May Come

Chapter 51

One Who Flew

Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Erik chuckled softly listening to Elphaba as she animatedly spoke of her travels around Oz, the Animals she had saved, and the guards she had scared nearly to death.

He could just imagine Elphaba; swooping down like a wraith from Hell from out of the darkness, her skirts of ebony dancing wildly around her, upon the heads of those unsuspecting guards. The men turned and screaming in fear like little girls upon coming face to face with their worst nightmare ever imagined, a ghost of legends, of darkness and horror right before their very eyes.

A shameless title bestowed upon her by a coward of a man who hid behind an obnoxiously large head, and used tricks of the trade to exert his will upon those who could not stand against him, or those who had been filled with fear.

'Tant pis. C'est la vie', Erik thought to himself, for now it didn't matter. She was here, with him and in this moment, any other thoughts simply fluttered away; a blink and they were gone, vanishing along the sleek crease of his imagination.

Erik had propped his elbow against the bed and rested his head within the palm of his hand as he listened, and his dark chocolate eyes, never leaving hers. Every now and again, his eyes would roam over her face, for unconsciously, he was memorizing every little detail, every refined piece he could see, and file it away within the secret confines of his mind.

He didn't want to forget a single piece of her. He even memorized the elegant curvature of her jawline, the soft curves of her lips as she spoke, even the small dimple that appeared at the corner of her mouth whenever she smiled. He memorized it all, for all of it combined, not only enhanced her beauty, it also left him awe, spellbound, and it took his very breath away.

For who knew how long he would have with this emerald beauty; perhaps, another minute, an hour, or possibly a day, or a week, maybe a month? Time had become an unknown factor, something not even Erik could predict, for who knew when the Sands of Time would run out.

Shaking those thoughts away he tilted his head back slightly and laughed, "Surly you jest. Those imbecilic morons couldn't have possibly believed your threat"

Elphaba let out her infamous cackle upon hearing Erik's rather interesting use of words to describe the soldiers guarding the Wizard's grand palace in Oz.

"Oh my dear Erik," she laughed almost wickedly, "those buffoons would believe anything" Erik watched her with a hidden glint in his eyes, as she rose onto her hunches and struck a rather theatrical pose. "They believed some white haired old man that he was a great Wizard after all"

Erik lowered his head and smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand and shook his head in mockingly, "and yet they never questioned his power nor asked for a demonstration to prove he had magick?"

"Nope," sighing, Elphaba leaned her back against the pillows and smiled softly down at Erik, "That's the problem with people. They'll believe anything"

"Humans are so gullible" Erik says, shaking his head in disgust

Elphaba laughed and playfully slapped his broad shoulder, "Hey excuse me, but your human too" she says with a laugh

Erik's heart fluttered hearing her laugh. To him, her laughter was like an elegant sonnet, a fine wine that had aged to perfection, musical, and soft like an angel's whisper, beautiful and entrancing all at the same time.

Erik smirked and lifting himself up to his full height, playfully stuck out his chest, "Says who?"

Elphaba laughed and shook her head, "You're not fooling anyone" upon which Erik immediately deflated, causing her to laugh more.

Smiling, Erik tilted his head slightly and watched her. By the angle of where she sat, the light from the sun enhanced her beauty all the more. To him, the streams of light dancing across her face, seemed to make it shimmer, as if the angel's from above had secretly floated down unseen within the streams of sunlight, and reaching into their baskets, sprinkled their dust upon her fragile flesh.

His eyes drift and watched as every strand of soft raven hair flowed down over her slender shoulder, and pools like silk around her lower torso.

Her slender arms; though taught with muscle, looked smooth and soft like a dove's feather. And for a moment, he wondered if he could turn his hands in it.

Slowly, his eyes roamed over her body, and he smiled as his eyes followed the soft curve of her shoulder; so well defined and strong, yet delicate at the same time.

Her body had long since lost the soft wistful curves of a young, naive girl still trying to find her place in this world, and had been replaced by the elegant curves of a strong woman who had found herself.

The trials and tribulations of her life were still apparent in her face, and in her eyes, and yet, they did nothing to destroy her natural beauty, nor destroy her convictions, for the pains of her past had only made her stronger, and he greatly admired that.

Elphaba could feel the heat flush against her cheeks, watching Erik's eyes roam over her body, and a part of her thought to cover herself up.

A question, once echoing within her mind, rippled within her subconscious once again. How in Oz could he look upon her and not be disgusted by her emerald green skin, an enquiry that had been gnawing away at her since he had first come upon her in the catacombs.

"Erik" Elphaba spoke his name softly, for fear of scaring him. Slowly Erik lifted his gaze, and she knew immediately, she had his full attention, "Why were you not disgusted by my skin when you first saw me?" she asks finally

Erik frowned back at Elphaba, confused by her question, for it had come out of nowhere and to him, the answer seemed as plain as the nose on her face.

"Let me ask you this Mademoiselle Elphaba," Erik says softly. Slowly he lifted himself up and gazed back at her, "why were you not frightened when you looked upon my face for the first time?" he countered

Elphaba snorted despite herself. Honestly he would ask such an insignificant question of her? "Because I didn't see the disfigurement," smiling softly, she lifts her hand and cups his cheek, "I saw you and in my eyes, you're handsome" she finished softly

Erik smiled slightly. To him, the word handsome never would befit him. Tenderly he lifts his hands and cups her face

"The same for me. I didn't see the green of your skin. Only this beautiful, enchanting woman who lay before me. A woman who had been through Hell and back again. A woman who's heart had been broken by betrayal and loss. A woman who needed to be loved and accepted" he says softly

Elphaba could feel the tears well within her eyes, upon hearing those words. His words melted her heart, and warmed her soul all at the same time.

Closing her eyes, she rests her head against his muscled chest and ignoring the feel of his scars against her cheek, snuggled in close and smiled.

"I love you Erik" she whispers

At first Erik had stiffened, for he still was not used to human contact. Slowly he relaxed against her. Smiling, he wrapped his strong arms around her slender waist and held her close.

Lowering his head, he lightly kisses the top of her head, "I love you too…mon ange" he whispers softly

Elphaba smiled hearing his pet name for her. It was special, for it showed that she belonged to him, and he belonged to her.

"I love that nickname" she mumbles beneath her breath

Erik chuckled, "I'm glad," suddenly he stiffens and snaps his head up. His dark chocolate eyes stare vacantly out the window and in the distance; he could faintly make out the outline of the trees surrounding the chateau.

Elphaba lifted her head and frowned. Gently she placed her hands on his broad shoulders, and shook him, "Erik?" she asked. Upon not receiving a response, she shook him harder, "Erik!" she called out louder.

Jumping, Erik's eyes immediately lowered and caught hers. A flicker of something caught her eye, and for a moment she wondered if she was seeing things, for she had sworn that for a moment, a brief second, she had caught a flicker of dark blue in his eyes.

"Erik…what's wrong?" she asks

"Mademoiselle Glinda is no longer dwelling within the chateau" he says almost in an emotionless tone that left Elphaba shivering inwardly. It was haunting.

Movement flashed within the peripheral of her eyes and she gasped. Had she truly seen that? It had happened so quickly that if she had blinked, she would have missed it.

Erik watched Elphaba with worry shimmering in his dark chocolate eyes. He had heard her gasp, and he feared her injuries were causing her pain.

"Mon ange?" he asks carefully

Elphaba blinked and shook her head. No, no she couldn't have seen it, for that was impossible. Yet in the back of her mind, she wondered perhaps if what she had seen was real. Had she really seen wings flutter behind Erik's back?