Chapter 27
A few days went by and the dragons had decided on where they would like to travel and make their new homes. Ping and Wei decided to head to Ix. Perhaps it was too many bad memories in Oz or perhaps they liked the isolation it offered. They would live in the forests with the Griffins. Queen Zixi was pleased with this and promised to travel with them in the coming days.
Bonescraper would indeed remain with the Vinkus. Feilong, Jiahao, and Shufen said they'd stay with him and eventually spread to the Gillikin once everything was back up and running. Elphaba thanked them for staying. Bao and Hua said that they would head to Quadling country. A letter had been sent to the Quadlings so they knew what to expect.
"Are you sure we should be doing this now?" Zara asked her mother. She stood in her room; the handmaidens quickly worked to get the Duchess ready, in front of a bunch of mirrors.
"No time like the present. Before something else happens," Elphaba said.
"What else could possibly happen?" Zara gave her mother a look, but it wasn't a long one as the handmaidens tried to get her hair all set. The white dress she was wearing was borrowed from a local dress shop. The tailor had promised to modify it however the Duchess wanted it for her wedding. The man just didn't know how soon it was going to be used.
"Honey, you know the story of your father and I. How long did it take for us to get married?" Elphaba wanted to know.
"I thought we had to have this big to do. I mean you were pregnant for Oz's sake, and they still made you go through with a big royal wedding," her daughter protested.
"Yes, but that was because I was to become Princess. Luckily, your wedding, the real wedding, will be the wedding I wanted. No big to do, just you, Emir, his parents, your brother, and your father and I," Elphaba smiled.
"And when the rest of the Vinkus finds out?" Zara asked.
"You will have your big to do, as you called it. Your grandparents are being gracious enough to make this happen. They want you and Emir to be happy and nothing to get in the way. With the dragon issue settled, you two can focus on you. If anything, worse than what we just went through pops up, everything will already be in place," her mother said.
"Everything will already be in place? Mom, what are you saying?" Zara knew what her mother meant. The chain of succession would be intact, should the worst happen. Elphaba shooed the handmaidens away for a moment and pulled her daughter into a hug.
"Things may seem calm now, but the truth is dragons add a whole degree of difficulty to everything. Bonescraper would die for us. We do not know what will happen with the others. I want to trust them. I want to believe that peace will reign as it used to, but I can't say that for certain. This is new uncharted territory and you need to be with the one you love for as long as possible. Much of my younger years were without the love your father has shown me. We have been through so much, but our love has sustained through it all. You and Emir have that chance now and I want nothing to stand in the way," she said.
"Oh mom," Zara started to cry.
"Honey, don't cry," Elphaba wiped away her tears. There was a knock on the door and one of the handmaidens opened the door.
"Izzy! Derya! What are you two up to?" Elphaba asked as the two moved toward the mother and daughter.
"So, we heard our best friend was up to something and wanted to see for ourselves," Derya spoke up.
"Well I guess we couldn't hope to keep it a secret," Zara said.
"A secret wedding and your friends not invited, I'd be hurt, if I didn't suspect what was going on here," Derya gave her a look.
"Not what you think girls. We're doing this for the line of succession, in case of trouble…" the Princess told them.
"Why else would she be getting married in secret?" Derya waggled her eyebrows, clearly teasing her cousin.
"Oh," Zara shook her head.
"All right, everybody out. Let the ladies do what they need to. Emir will be waiting shortly," Elphaba took the two younger girls out into the hallway.
"So, who squealed?" she asked.
"Seems Semir couldn't help himself," Izzy finally spoke up. Elphaba shook her head and gave the girls a hug before quickly explaining the entire situation. They seemed to understand and were glad to hear that they would still be a part of the royal wedding, months down the road. Derya gave the Princess a look and Elphaba could see that she wanted to talk. With a quick nod, the younger woman knew to come see Elphaba later for a private chat.
To Be Continued…