Chapter 54
It took over a month to finalize the terms and officially announce the reuniting of the tribes. Fiyero's father returned to Kiamo Ko for the announcement. They figured it was best that an older, wizened king handle the announcement. The tribe would trust him more than they would Fiyero. Besides, Elphaba and Fiyero needed to head to Clowen Grounds. Elphaba hoped that the trip would be so sudden that her father wouldn't have time to join them.
Her father wasn't there when they arrived, which was a relief. "Your great-grandfather is going to be so proud of the woman you've grown up to be," Fiyero told her, holding his hand out for her to help her get out of the carriage.
"My mother's family was never exactly pleased with her choice to marry my father, so they kept all of us at a distance. I don't know that they'll be pleased to see me." She looked around, barely recognizing the place she'd spent a summer as a child. "I sent a letter, but it only would've gotten here yesterday. I hope they aren't upset at the short notice."
They approached the door, and before they knocked, a frazzled young woman answered. "Mistress Elphaba, they've been expecting you and Prince Fiyero." She curtseyed.
"Please, don't do that. It's not necessarily." She wanted to add that they had agreed the proper term for both Fiyero and Kaldren would be "Lord" not "Prince" or "King" but that was too complicated.
"Oh, but I must. They're awaiting you in the tea room. I'll make sure your things get put in our guest suite. Follow me." The young woman walked them through hallowed marble halls into a small room where an elderly man sat in a wheelchair at the head of the table. She barely recognized her great-grandfather. Her maternal grandparents were barely familiar to her, either, and they sat beside him. "Mistress Elphaba, Thropp Third Descending, and her husband, Prince Fiyero of the Arjikis."
"Fabala," her grandmother said with a quiet smile. "We've been wondering when you would arrive."
No one but Nessarose called her Fabala, and this woman felt like a stranger to her. She didn't like it. But she smiled back and curtseyed, "Thank you for having us and I apologize for how sudden this all is."
"We were sorry we couldn't attend the wedding," her great-grandfather croaked. "We didn't even know about it until after the fact. Your father never bothered to tell us. I would've thought he'd have been bragging to all of us, how he'd arranged such a match for his daughter. Perhaps he was embarrassed in regards to his preaching, though. All his missions failed, and I doubt they follow his practices in the Vinkus."
She could feel his dislike of her father from across the room. "Thank you, but it was a small wedding, anyway." Elphaba bit her lip, unsure of what to do next.
Fiyero, arm still around her waist, asked, "May we sit down, your Eminence?"
"Of course. How rude of me! Yes, yes. Let me make sure you get some tea and biscuits. Nelya, would you please bring our guests some tea?" He bellowed.
The young woman popped her head in. "Yes, Sir. It'll be just a tick!"
"Now, I assume the two of you came out here for a reason." The old man raised his eyebrows.
"We did. But we also thought it would be prudent to visit, since Elphaba is Third Thropp Descending. We've actually just come from the Vinkus and we've had our fill of politics for a few days. We were hoping to spend a little time just visiting before we began discussing business matters." Fiyero sounded more formal even than he had been in the Vinkus, and she could tell by the look on her grandfather and grandmother's faces that they were impressed with how well-spoken and composed he was. She supposed maybe they'd thought, much like the rest of Oz did, that he was barbaric.
"Fair enough," her grandfather said. "I hear the two of you are attending Shiz? This will be your third and final year, correct?"
"Yes," Elphaba answered. "We will graduate come June of next year."
"And what did you two specialize in?" Her grandmother asked.
"I've specialized in life sciences and sorcery. Fiyero has been focused on political science."
"Science and sorcery? At once? That must be quite a courseload." Her great-grandfather commented.
"Elphaba is extremely talented," Fiyero said. "She's second in our class and has two specializations. She's been invited to meet with the Wizard several times."
"Oh? Do tell."
"It was nothing. He invited a few students out to meet with him, talk about our futures."
"Only the top students," Fiyero reminded her.
"And where are you in the class, Prince Fiyero?" Her grandmother asked.
"He's seventh. And only because he's so busy trying to help his father run things back home through letters and visits. If he had the time to focus that I have, he'd be doing just as well as I, I'm sure." Elphaba smiled at her husband.
"And what about children?" Her grandfather asked.
"We're waiting until we've finished up with school. Elphaba and I take our education very seriously and wouldn't want anything to get in the way of that. There will be plenty of time later for family."
"That's very impressive, both of you." Her great-grandfather smiled. "I worried, dear Fabala, when I heard that your father had married you off. I remember how strong and independent you were, and I know he only did it because he considered you a defect, and stain upon his godliness. I must say I worried marriage would break your spirit, kill that thirst for knowledge. I worried your new husband would be cruel, would expect you to be silent and stand on the sidelines. Of course, your father didn't care. He never told us anything that happened out there. I'm lucky we were told when your mother died."
Elphaba looked at Fiyero. "I worried the same thing, but Fiyero has been nothing but kind and supportive. Our marriage has blossomed into love and we're very happy together." She felt silly saying so, but it was true, after all. And if they were going to be visiting and sharing, she might as well tell them the truth. Apparently everyone could see it, anyway.
"I would never want Elphaba to be silent, to hide who she is. I love her because of her fierceness, her passion. And we are very happy together." Fiyero smiled at her.
"I'm glad my great-granddaughter is in good hands. Oz only knows, that father of hers couldn't make the right decisions in her upbringing."
"Have you heard from my father at all?" Elphaba asked carefully.
"No, but I expect we will. He had to beg us for money when he sent Nessarose off to Shiz. With a new year just around the corner, I'm sure he'll be needing more soon. How is your sweet sister doing?"
"She's doing quite well. Our headmistress is trying to convince her to try a sorcery class this coming term."
"She's wondering if it runs in the family, I suppose. It wouldn't hurt for her to learn a little sorcery. I don't know how your father would feel about that."
"He'd probably be scandalized." Elphaba laughed. Strangely enough, these people felt more like family than her father ever had.
