Colwen Grounds. A gilded cage if there ever was. Certainly Elphaba felt trapped. A life of servitude...in thrall to tragic Nessarose, who refused to relinquish Elphaba's own birthright.

"Why, Miss Elphaba, aren't you the sight for sore eyes," a familiar voice said softly, pulling her from her reverie.

Elphab looked up to see Glinda walking towards her. Her spirits lifted somewhat and she went to meet her old friend.

"Oh Elphie, I've missed you so. Where have you been all this time?"

"Oh, I've been here and there."

"Isn't it so wonderful, Nessa has done so well here. She's really rising to the occasion."

Elphaba wished she could smile, and feel happy for her sister, but she just didn't have it in her. She wondered if this was being ungrateful.

"Crope mentioned he saw you around Emerald City, but that was a few years ago. But he wouldn't say much, and believe me I know how to pry," Glinda told her, giving her an inquisitive look.

Elphaba began walking, forcing herself to move slower to accomodate Glinda, who was struggling in that ridiculous gown. "My services were needed. It turned out better than I expected but there always comes a time when you have to let things go."

"But what-"

"It's not important," Elphaba cut her off, "Look there's Nessa."

Nessarose sat ahead of them, resting on a bench in the garden, lovely and prim as always. The very roses seemed to quail in thrall to her beauty. Or maybe my hawkishness that causes them to shrink, Elphaba thought bitterly.

"My those shoes are looking rather ragged, don't you think so, Elphaba?" Glinda said out of the blue.

It was true, Elphaba realized. They had lost much of their original luster and were decidely shabby. She felt a twinge of bitter satisfication at the sight of this.

But Glinda continued, "I think I can do something about that."

"What," Elphie snapped.

But Glinda just flashed her a vapid smile and swept toward Nessarose. She knelt in the grass, her head ducking in the semblance of genuflection.

Elphaba watched with growing dismay as they seemed to mend of their own accord. She gave Glinda a cold look as the latter got to her feet, and said stiffly, "How fortunate that you are here. They look as good as new."

Glinda looked bemused at her expression but carried on blithely, "Thats not all. Stand up Nessa." But Nessa fixed her in a cool gaze and said nothing. Glinda's grin faltered but very briefly. I added a little personal flourish. Now, come, come Nessie. Stand up.

"Surely you jest," Nessa asked.

"I should say that is a tasteless and cruel joke," Elphaba hissed.

"You just did," Glinda told her, trying to deflect.

But Elphaba ignored it. "I am surprised at you. That's petty and mean. How dare you taunt Nessa like that?"

Glinda's smile became patronizing and shifted from sister to sister. "Oh ye of little faith. Nessa, you can. Just trust me."

And Nessa did, slowly and with a monumental implication she rose.

Glinda bounced on her heels giddily.

But in watching her sister, the word that came to Elphaba's mind was snake. For the first time in her life she was speechless.

Nessa sighed wearily, wearingly. "Oh Elphaba, that is just like you. To rain on my parade."

But Elphaba had already turned away from them. She strode away in agitation.

"Oh my," Glinda could be heard to say, "I hardly expected her to react that way."

Those shoes, those damn shoes! Always coming into the light to plague her. The nerve of that little bitch Glinda.

She was the older sister. She could easily claim to this god-forsaken country, and then the Wizard would have a force to reckon with. She smiled a little at the concept. But then reality set in.

This was Nessa, and her life was so difficult, why deny her the rights? It would give her some confidence. Like Amaris to Fiyero, a purpose to life.

Her thoughts turned to him for the hundred-billionth time since he left. The poor, suffering man. "Where are you, my love? I hope that you are finding your way."

Images flickered in the reflecting pool by which she lingered and she was bound to look. The pictures came alive in her mind:

Fiyero as a young boy surrounded by his clansmen.

Fiyero in Shiz, composed of a serenity lost in these later years.

In the Emerald City, sharing memories and her bed, challenging her worldviews, shaping her life.

Laying prone on a setup like a surgeon's table his eyes wild with fear and pain as a young man tormented him in his vulnerable state.

More recently of him broken and disfigured beyond recognition, grief-stricken as she held him near.

Later still engaged in some small game with Amaris, the both of them laughing.

She smiled sadly at the last image. "I can't go any further than this/I want you so badly, it's my biggest wish."

She had been wrong to indulge him so, it hindered more than helped. He could make it, with an effort. He had survived that travesty, anything else should be simple. As long as he didn't let his fear cripple him.

"Can you meet me halfway, right at the borderline?/That's where I'm gonna wait for you."

The images seemed so real and she was so filled with longing that she reached out for him. The water seared her fingers like it was acid. She pulled back, dismayed and a little embarrassed at this foolishness. She wondered again where he may be and if he was well.

"I'll be lookin' out night and day/Took my heart to the limit, and this is where I stay."


Disclaimer: Lyrics from Meet Me Halfway by the Black Eyed Peas.

Otherwise: Yay! Fifty chapters and still going. Yay!