In spite of the very late hour the ride back into Shiz was very jovial, and slightly off color. Hyrut tried to turn Manif's bad jokes into naughty ones. Loma and Glinda started to sing and Elphie eventually joined in, just to keep them in key. Dani started laughing, couldn't stop and got a case of the hiccups that Manif tried to get rid of by helping her hold her breath with a very long kiss.
"You just make me drink water." Loma said lightly hitting Hyrut on the arm.
When they got to Shiz the group apologized profusely to Mr. Frama who assured them that he had transported far rowdier students. After heartfelt good-byes and wishes of safe travels the friends parted.
Glinda was wiggly, giddy, very wound up and in no mood for sleep. She wasn't inebriated, but she had consumed a little more wine than she usually did.
"Dance with me?" She said when they got back up to their room.
Elphie chuckled "Alright my sweet."
"Naked?"
"Glinda…"
"Just dance, and a little hanky panky. Nothing more. Please." Glinda wiggled and grinned and tried to unbutton Elphie's blouse.
"But naked?" Elphie said very amused.
Glinda was still unbuttoning her love's blouse.
"Well we have to get naked to change into night clothes anyway." She said reasonably "We might as well make the most of it."
Elphie figured all the romance and physicalness that had gone on around them tonight had gotten to Glinda.
"I can't argue with that logic." She chuckled, pulling Glinda's shirt over her head.
They had undressed each other, at least partially before, but Glinda still stopped after Elphie's shirt and upper undergarment. When she had tried to remove Elphie's skirt before it brought about some unpleasant associations for her. They finished undressing themselves, Elphie somewhat self consciously and Glinda very dramatically with lots of shimmies and hip wiggles, while humming a risqué tune and dancing over to the victrola to put on some music. Elphie laughed out loud when she caught Glinda's under garment as it went flying through the air.
They danced together very intimately for quite awhile. It was one of the new dances that Glinda was teaching Elphie. She called it a tango. They danced it three times, being very creative with their kisses, caresses and dance steps. After a long kiss, Glinda danced them over to her wardrobe and got a nightdress.
"That wasn't one of my better ideas." She giggled. "I guess the wine made me a littler freer than I thought."
"Not to mention expressive." Elphie chuckled
She took Glinda's hand and looked deeply into her eyes.
"Lyndie if you… want to, we can." Elphie said sincerely.
"Elphie my love, I almost always want to." She gave her love a light kiss. "But that, as you are so fond of saying, is not the point."
Glinda kissed her again.
"What is the point?" Elphie chuckled.
"Go put on something on that scrumptious body of yours and I will tell you."
Elphie did as she was instructed and slipped a nightdress on, still chuckling.
"Better?"
"Safer." Glinda giggled.
"I am very confused my precious."
"We could jump in bed and have sex. If I asked, I know you would accommodate me. But I have had just a little too much to drink and you have a lot on your mind. We have only made love twice and although there will be times in our relationship when we will have sex simply for the pure physical pleasure of it, now it is still too soon for us to just have sex."
"Alright, that makes sense I guess. You are looking out for me aren't you."
"I am looking out for us both my love." Glinda said sincerely gazing into Elphie's dark, loving eyes.
Elphie kissed Glinda deeply, with all the energy she could muster. Then she went to put on their waltz, lit their candle and pulled her love into a dance, purposely intertwining their hands. They danced together passionately, feeling the tingles as the jolt they got through their hands spread. When the music ended they shared another smoldering kiss, then held each other for a long time.
"Mmmmmmmm." Glinda sighed at last.
"I hope that helped you work through your rather worked up state." Elphie said stroking her cheek.
"Do you remember, in the horse meadow, when I said someday we might be able to have sex without actually having sex." Glinda chuckled.
"Unfortunately." Elphie smiled. "Why?"
"I think we just got off to a dandy start." Glinda giggled.
They snuggled into Glinda's bed, chatting about their evening, the dancing and their feelings about everything that had happened. They talked and kissed and cuddled and eventually started to fall asleep.
"Elphie, Why were you really dark green when you and Manif came out of Frawlk's office?" Glinda said sleepily.
"Because he pointed out a little of your lipstick that was on the corner of my mouth." Elphie said with a little chuckle.
Glinda giggled for quite awhile.
"Goodnight Lyndie." Elphie sighed at last.
"Good night Elphie." Glinda giggled.
They had gone to sleep very late and they slept very late. After a delicious brunch and a long walk, it was late afternoon when Elphie and Glinda got back up in their rooms. Elphie was starting to show signs of getting stressed. And Glinda was trying to keep things calm and light.
"Glinda what did you pack for me?"
"Clothing." Glinda chuckled, then seeing the look on Elphie's face told her what was in each bag.
"Really Glinda, do we need our evening gowns?"
Glinda took Elphie's hand and led her to the comfy chair and sat on her lap.
"My love, we can talk about this in depth on the trip, but yes, you need your evening gown." Glinda said quietly, stroking her cheek.
"I do not know anything about what goes on at Colwen Grounds, but I know formal events. And I know you are not the same girl that left there at the beginning of the term. If Upland Manor was indeed your training ground, as you so eloquently stated, then you are more than prepared to show them the Elphie I know and adore at your ceremonies and reception."
"To what end?" Elphie said unhappily.
"To the end of you being who you want to be, instead of who they expect you to be."
Elphie gently shifted Glinda off of her lap.
"You are probably right, but as long as we are taking charge of each others trip, you can't take anything remotely magical with you, no wand, no spell book." Elphie said a little more harshly than she intended.
"Alright Elphie." Glinda went and removed her things from her carry on bag.
"I'm sorry Glinda, I didn't mean to snap at you, please forgive me."
"I know you didn't mean it my love. Please do not worry."
"We have a lot to talk about tomorrow." Elphie said seriously.
They spent some time getting their room ready for a long absence and rearranging things in their carry on bags, Glinda repacked some of her things and added some more to Elphie's bags, including her new black cape, while Elphie paced around the room.
"Would you like to take a walk before dinner my love?" Glinda said catching the twitching green girl mid stride and holding on to her.
"I would like that." Elphie said. "I wonder if there is such a thing as sudden onset claustrophobia?"
They walked around campus for a time. Glinda was teasing Elphie about this or that, knowing that irritating her a little would help distract her.
"I know what you are trying to do, and I love you for it. But you can stop now." Elphie sighed.
"I was having such a good time." Glinda pouted.
"Alright one more, but that's all." Elphie smiled.
"No need, this is what I was waiting for." Glinda said, touching Elphie's lips.
Elphie put her smiling lips to Glinda's ear. "I love you so much."
They walked a little while longer, talking about what they could do with their time at Upland Manor.
"…And none of that." Elphie said after Glinda made a suggestion with a sly grin.
"Fine, We'll discuss it later then. Are you ready for dinner sweetheart?"
"We can go eat, but I am not very hungry."
"Elphie, you need to eat. How about one of Uliko's wild green salads."
"Alright, a salad then."
They went to Tyuron's. The friendly conversation and warm environment settled Elphie down a little and she ate a double salad. Uliko sent out egg custard and fig whip. They talked a little about how they were going to arrange their morning, as they were leaving early and wanted to make sure everything got done.
Once they were back in their room Glinda took charge before the pacing started up again.
"Ok my love. Here is what we are going to do. We are going to bathe and then I am going to put on some soft music and give you a backrub with that relaxing oil that Mr. K. mixed for you."
"I appreciate the thought Lyndie, but I do not need that much attention."
"I disagree, If I do not entertain you, or relax you some how you will spend the night pacing, twitching and mumbling."
"I was not planning on mumbling." Elphie smiled.
Elphie gave in to Glinda partly because she was right and partly because she knew her love needed to do this for her.
"I'm assuming you packed my new oils pouch." Elphie said getting ready to bathe.
"Yep, I even put in some of your antiseptic oil and one of your special cloths. Your aloe oil is with your carry on bag things." Glinda said soaking in her steamy tub.
"I saw that, thank you. I saw you put the exercise book in as well."
"Among others, in case the need arose while we were gone." Glinda smiled.
After they were bathed and ready to leave the next morning, Glinda put on some music while a naked and tense Elphie went to her own bed and lay down on her stomach, covering up her bottom half. Glinda settled into the good massaging position they had found a where one knelt and straddled the other and warmed some oil between her palms. She started slowly and with a little pressure, massaging Elphie's back and shoulders.
"Talk to me my love." She said after a few minutes
"Tell me everything you've been pacing about."
"Glinda, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Just mumble, babble, get your fears and irritations out into the open. It's all right. I won't even listen if you don't want me too." Glinda chuckled.
She felt Elphie's sides spasm slightly as she chuckled.
"I do not know what I am afraid of, specifically." Elphie sighed.
Elphie felt her love's hand's moving up and down her back, it felt good. It felt safe. Feeling safe at Colwen Grounds had never happened. Neither had feeling calm, relaxed or in control. She was experiencing very mixed feelings about Glinda going there with her, about meeting her family, experiencing that world and how she was treated there. She felt delicate fingers massaging her neck and shoulders, slowly moving in circles on her skin.
"I am not afraid of Colwen Grounds per say. I am resigned to it." She sighed. "This feels really good."
Glinda smiled and continued her tender ministrations.
"I am fighting with myself about trusting the ambassador. You and Mr. Kwenyo have said I should, so I am trying. He is asking a great deal of me, and I am fighting with myself because I know I am more in a position, emotionally, to give it now than I ever have been, but do not know if I want to. He can only protect me from so much."
Glinda didn't say anything; She simply continued to work the soothing oil into her love's back and shoulders for a time. She felt good doing something for her and her intuitive sense was confirming that the touching was helping her. It was quite a change from a few months ago.
"I am not looking forward to this reception at all. I will be thrown into the fray, shielded from nothing.
I will be expected to perform, which I can do there. I always have. Like some carnival animal. A well dressed, sexy as hell carnival animal." She laughed bitterly.
Glinda continued massaging and listening as Elphie went through things, some old, some new, that irritated her about this trip. There were family issues, political issues, control issues and Lyndie issues.
"I have very mixed feelings about you going with me, and you probably will as well after talk about this tomorrow. If I am truly frightened of anything, it is that you will get caught up in all of the mess there and be hurt."
"Or become disillusioned with where and who I come from, and think I am not worth it anymore." Elphie thought, but couldn't voice.
When Elphie had been quiet for awhile Glinda got up and reached for her nightdress. She helped her put it on, then held her for a long time. Elphie was learning, slowly, how to draw comfort from physical things such as hugs, kisses and massages. She allowed her self to feel safe, wanted and cared for. And loved. It would be a while before she would be able to allow it again.
"Kiss me." Elphie said quietly, needfully.
Glinda complied and they lay back on Elphie's bed and spent some time softly placing kisses on each other's lips
""I love you Elphie, I can feel your nervousness, your unhappiness. What ever you need to tell me tomorrow is all right. Even If I do not understand it or like it, it's all right. I am the one thing you do not have to worry about on this trip." She kissed Elphie with purpose, then got up to put on some more music and turn off the lights.
Elphie sighed; Glinda was her biggest worry on this trip.
Glinda crawled into Elphie's bed and snuggled beside her. She had been more or less silent for a reason, there would be enough talking tomorrow. They kissed, caressed and snuggled for awhile longer.
"I love you Elphie." Glinda yawned.
"I love you too my precious. Sleep now. We have a very long day ahead of us."
"You sleep too my love, or I shall stay up and pester you all night." Glinda giggled.
Elphie smiled and closed her eyes.
"Thank you." Glinda chuckled kissing Elphie gently then snuggling in closer.
It took a long time for both of them to fall asleep, but eventually they did. Elphie however, slept fitfully and woke before dawn. She slipped out of bed and got dressed in travel clothes, putting her hair up in a bun without even realizing it. Her job was seeing to the bags, so she gathered them all by the door. She looked at her two new travel bags, still amazed at how lovely and practical they were. She did not want to lose this feeling, the slightly disorienting, but very warm and comforting feeling she got when she looked at them. She checked the clock and went to go wake her love.
"Lyndie, my sweet." She said kissing Glinda gently.
Glinda stirred, but didn't rouse. It was rather early and they had gotten to sleep late.
"Lyndie, it is time to wake my precious." Elphie said kissing her again.
Glinda mumbled something and opened her eyes.
"Did you have a nightmare my love." She said sleepily.
"No Lyndie, We are leaving for Colwen Grounds this morning, you need to wake up and get ready." Elphie said pulling her up.
A sleepy Glinda was not a perky Glinda.
Glinda wrapped her arms around Elphie's neck and snuggled into her shoulder.
"Glinda, If you do not go get ready, I will leave you behind, and considering my feelings about this trip, you know I would do it in a heartbeat." Elphie chuckled giving her a kiss.
"Fine, you mean green thing." Glinda muttered and shuffled off to the bathroom.
Elphie laughed quietly, sleepy Glinda amused her. She took Glinda the clothes she had laid out the night before and kissed her on the cheek.
"I will give you a proper good morning kiss, if you are out and dressed in half an hour." Elphie smiled walking out and shutting the door behind her.
Glinda perked up slightly at the thought of a proper kiss from Elphie. She may be reserved, but she kissed very, very well. She washed her face with cold, bracing water, then powdered, perfumed, brushed, and dressed. With five minutes to spare, she presented herself out in the room.
"Hi Elphie!" She bubbled skipping over into Elphie's arms.
"Good morning to you too." Elphie smiled.
"Shall we do one last look around to make sure we have everything we need." She grinned turning away.
"Elphie!" Glinda stomped her foot. "I was ready with five minutes to spare."
"Congratulations my sweet." Elphie said seriously. "I put our new…"
"Elphaba Thropp, I was promised a proper good morning kiss, and I want a proper good mor…"
Elphie took her temper tantrum throwing love into her arms and kissed her slowly, passionately and deeply.
"Thank you." Glinda giggled when they parted at last.
"You are welcome." She said holding her close; feeling all of a sudden like she never wanted to let her go.
But she did.
"I got the picnic basket ready for you. The special insulated box fit nicely down inside the picnic basket, with a little room to spare for utensils, napkins and such. I also put the drink containers in your book bag. She said showing Glinda the newly reconfigured picnic basket and book bag.
"Oh yeah! I was hoping it would fit." Glinda said picking it up.
"Now my sweet, is everything you want to take in one of your bags." Elphie said.
Glinda skipped over to her bed and got her doll and put it in her carry on.
"Yep!" She smiled. "Do you?"
"You tell me." Elphie chuckled.
"In your carry on." Glinda smiled.
"Yes, but where are my extra glasses?"
"In your special box. I but it in the smaller bag."
"Thank you my sweet. You take care of me so well."
"I love to, it's fun and challenging." Glinda giggled.
They shared a long kiss and a hug, then walked downstairs to tend to their assigned tasks. Elphie went to the porter's office to get Norven to help her with their bags and Glinda went to the café to fill their basket and drink containers.
Jacol was very happy with his decision not to go back to Munchkinland after the party. And with his decision to follow the girls to that little hole in the wall café they seemed to like. That is why he was in the café now, because he overheard the Third and her blonde roommate discussing their plans for this morning. He sat, smiling at the thought of how his life was going to change. At last he saw the cute blonde come into the café. He watched her put sweet breads, sandwiches, fruit and cheese into a picnic basket and fill three containers with drinks.
"Glinda!" He called striding over to her as she was getting ready to leave.
"I shall scream for security if you come any closer." Glinda said seriously.
"Oh I wouldn't do that if I were you, unless you want Elphie to suffer."
Glinda just stared at him.
"I know you are leaving today for Munchkinland, both of you. I have information that will be very, very damaging to the Thropp Third Descending if it is known. You do me some favors and I just might keep that information to myself.
Glinda opened her mouth to scream.
"Do you know what they would do to her if they found out she can perform serious magic." Jacol said quickly.
Glinda nearly dropped the basket.
"You are truly insane."
"Not at all, I saw an opportunity to get ahead in this world and I took it."
"I will have no part of this."
"Then your roommate will suffer the consequences, Magic is a rare and coveted commodity in Munchkinland. They will keep her there and use her for everything she is worth, if this gets out. She will no longer have a life of her own; she will be forced to do terrible things with her magic. What I want from you is simple, two things. Two little things and her magical secret will remain secret."
He moved in and looked the very angry blonde in the eye.
"Sex and money. You sleep with me when I say and give me money from her personal account, which I know you have access to, that's all. From you anyway. I told you I had the advantage. I also have more information, even more damaging, that I will use if I need to."
Glinda was trembling with rage, beyond speech.
"I see you need to consider this, fine. I will be there for the festivities, I know a lovely little Inn near the palace where we can…get together." He winked laughing.
"You sleep with me and give me a little money and your best friend keeps her life as she knows it. Sounds like a fair trade to me. I'll see you soon, sexy thing." He grinned happily and sauntered off.
Glinda was beyond rage. That asshole was blackmailing her. How did he know the things he knows? This was a disaster, how was she going to tell Elphie. Was he part of that group that was trying to infiltrate, what else did he know…"
Norven interrupted her train of thought.
"Miss Glinda, are you alright. Miss Elphaba sent me to find you Mr. Frama is waiting."
Glinda took a minute to refocus and willed herself to calm down.
"Sorry, I got sidetracked, but I'm ready." She said rather shakily.
Norven took the basket and bag and they walked to the carriage. Elphie was waiting.
"Is everything ok? You look upset." Elphie said quietly as Norven loaded the basket into the carriage.
Glinda thought quickly, She had never and would never lie to Elphie, and the ambassador might be able to help with this mess, but that would be problematic in and of itself. She was angry and confused, but she knew, without a doubt that they had to go to Colwen Grounds, things would sort themselves out one way or another but they had to go. She felt that very strongly.
"Lyndie!" Elphie said concerned.
"Everything is not Ok, but we will talk about it on the train." Glinda said, letting Norven assist her into the carriage.
"Glinda, what happened?" Elphie said seriously climbing in beside her.
"On the train Elphie, in private. I'll tell you everything on the train." Glinda said firmly.
And she intended to. Everything except the sexual favors part.
