A Million Dreams
When Fiyero found her later that afternoon, she was curled up in the shade under a tree with her nose in a book. He approached with two cups of hot chocolate in his hands. "Do you ever stop reading?"
The green witch lazily waved a hand in the air before lowering the book with a smile. "I'm avoiding Galinda. She's finally reached the invasion of personal space at all costs stage of friendship."
He laughed and sat beside her, holding out the cup to her. "And hugging isn't your thing?" He pulled his bag off his shouder.
She shrugged, taking it from him with a grateful smile. "On my own terms, maybe. I don't get many, so naturally, in her logic, she wants to change that. She's harmless enough. But I guess it's just not me."
"So you will never fully be Galindafied. Good to know." He smirked.
"Sweet Oz, I hope not! Could you just imagine?! I'll be walking into the OzDust in some impossibly huge pink dress next time!" She laughed a little.
He laughed softly, leaning back against the tree. "She really is...something." He sighed, stretching his legs out in front of him.
She noticed a slight change in his mood, but said nothing, drinking her hot chocolate.
Not for the first time, they sat together n a comfortable, companionable silence, each concentrating on their drinks in hand.
"What are you reading this time?"
"I'm trying to look for a way to help the Animals. I need to have a plan of action for when I meet the Wizard. If he doesn't know what's going on in Oz, obviously he won't know what to do right away. It's definishly disturbing that he'd allow things like this to happen when he helps people who go to him! He the Wizard! They call him the wonderful Wizard of Oz for a reason!"
He listened to her, he could hear the passion in her voice. The words spilled out before he could stop himself. "And if he does know?"
She gave him a look. "Do you honestly think he'd do such an awful thing?"
He looked over at her. He could see the fire in her eyes, the optimism in her face. Did he believe such a man capable of doing wicked? Yes, if he were not well equipped to deal with it. But as Elphaba had expressed, people had sought the Wizard out and he'd given them their heart's desires. "Honestly? I don't know."
Her gaze faltered. "Fiyero... I-"
"I think anyone with that much power doesn't have the foresight to see when someone is taking advantage." He cut across her. "He may think he's doing the right thing-"
"To silence the Animals!? To harm them and to make them afraid?!" She snapped.
"Elphaba! Will you shut up for a minute?!"
She opened her mouth to argue once more, and snapped her jaw closed, glaring at him.
Honestly, did this girl know just how gorgeous she was when she was mad? The thought would have made him laugh in any other situation. "Thank you." He sighed exasperatedly. "I need you to listen. Okay?"
"Fine."
He could just kiss that scowl right off her face. "As a prince, I have to look at a situation from a political perspective. Okay it's not something I want to do right now, but I have to. Think back to what I said." He looked at her. "He will have advisors telling him what to do, what the right thing for the people is. We don't know what this man looks like. He could be the same age as us for all we know. Or he could be an old man. Both scenarios, it would be easy for someone to take advantage of a situation for their own gains."
She sat and thought over his words and her shoulders slumped, the argument deflating her. "Say you're right-"
"Did you just say I was right, Miss Elphaba?" He smirked.
The green witch elbowed him lightly. "If I go to him with my plan, would he listen? Would you?"
"I'd listen." He nodded and shrugged. "And I think there's no harm in trying. There's not a lot he can do to silence a twenty-year-old university student. Especially you."
"Are you saying I talk too much?"
"Does Galinda love the colour pink?"
Her jaw dropped and she whacked him upside the head with her book, making them both laugh. "Brave words, Tiggular."
He just smirked again in response.
After a few clock-ticks, Elphaba stood up. "We should get started on your essay..." she told him firmly, not allowing her voice to waver in front of him, her heart fluttering. Studying, books, that was what she knew, that was her safe place. Out here with the boy who had succeeded in slipping through an unseen crack in her wall? This was not her safe place.
Fiyero nodded, oblivious to her thoughts and he too jumped up, picking up his bag. "I promise I'll try not to fall asleep." He grinned.
She rolled her eyes, clutching the book to her chest, smiling a little, and the two of them headed inside for the library.
Two hours later, Fiyero finished off the final sentence of his essay and pushed the paper away from him.
Elphaba grabbed it from him as he did so and read it, and she looked up at him with a proud grin on her face. "See? I told you. You're not completely stupid."
"It's really that good?"
She nodded. "I can't believe you actually listened to me without falling asleep or telling me to shut up."
"The only times I'd want you to shut up is when you're arguing with me." He smirked, putting the papers and his book away. 'Or kissing me.' He thought and immediately pushed it away.
"Maybe when you stop acting completely brainless..." she smirked, gently nudging him.
"Oh, so you think you could make me as wise as you?"
She scoffed. "I'm a witch, not a miracle worker." She stood up before he could react. "Now come on, we've been here for... probably two hours. I would actually like to eat at some point this evening."
He stood instantly, giving her a mock bow and held out his arm. "Shall we?"
She laughed, her head back, a loud cackle in her throat at his antics and she shook her head, walking away. "And he's back."
The prince could listen to her laugh all day. A rare moment where she wasn't serious. It wasn't often she laughed and he loved the sound. Simply grinning, dropping his arm to his side he walked ahead, easily catching up with her. "Taking things seriously for too long is exhaustifying. Had to lighten the mood somehow."
Elphaba giggled again, and tried not to think of the closeness between them as they walked. Each moment she spent with him was making her fall further and deeper in love with him. As much as she didn't regret saving the Lion Cub, she also cursed that day. She'd got through the past twenty years with hardly any affection or love. And then she came to Shiz, had a roommate who loathed her at first, and now loved her as though she were a sister and had been best friends with her for years. And the first boy that isn't immediately repulsed by her, the first to show her any form of attention and helped her without once thinking about the consequences. He'd taken one look into her frightened face and helped her. That day she'd seen him in a whole new light. He wasn't as stupid as he acted. He actually had a heart in there and despite what he would have the school believe, he did care about other matters that did not concern his own image. Why... why did he have to be with Galinda?
"I never thought I'd see the day!"
Elphaba looked up from her thoughts at the voice, seeing Nessarose wheeling her way to them. "What?"
"He's been talking non-stop and you're silent. It's like you've swapped bodies. It's eerie."
"Wh-...?" Elphaba blushed and looked to Fiyero who, still grinning, had a sheepish look on his face. "I'm sorry... I must have-..."
"I'm used to people zoning out on me." He grinned.
"You're an idiot." She smiled.
"Fabala, can I talk to you privately for a moment?"
"Of course." She nodded, looking to Fiyero. "I'll catch up."
He gave her a mock salute before heading off in the direction of the canteen.
"What is it, Nessa? Is something wrong? Do you need help with any-"
"Elphaba stop. I'm fine." Nessa cut across her with a smile. "Father isn't here. As much as I love spending time with you, you have your own life to live here. You don't have to care for me so much here."
"But I promised him."
"And as far as he knows you've kept that promise." They both knew the wheelchair-bound girl had their father wrapped irrevocably around her dainty fingers. "But I don't want to talk about me. I want to talk about you."
"Me? Did I do something to upset you?" Elphaba tried to think back at rapid speed to what she may have missed.
"Fabala! Stop! Please, will you just let me speak?"
The green sorceress bit her lip and blushed. Fiyero always told her she talked too much too...
"Now." The younger Thropp delicately folded her hands in her lap, looking up at her sister with a gentle gaze. "How do you feel about him?"
Elphaba tensed. "Who?" she asked after three clock-ticks. She knew very well who. She just hadn't thought she was so obvious. If Nessa knew, Galinda would surely know soon... As stupid as Galinda was sometimes, surely she couldn't be that ignorant...
"Fabala... I know you like him... He's a nice person to you. It's my legs that don't work, not my eyes."
She cringed at her sister's bluntness. "I don't know what you're talking about, Nessa. In case you hadn't noticed, he's in love with Galinda, and she with him. I'm her friend, so he kind of has to be nice to me by default to keep her happy."
Nessa shook her head. Galinda may be in love with the prince, but anyone with eyes could see he was pretending. She had noticed him change around Elphaba, and she around him. The both appeared more carefree, more happy when they were around each other. Suddenly she had a plan. She only had five weeks to do it, but she was going to get Elphaba and Fiyero to admit their feelings for one another. Her sister would thank her for it in the long run... "I think it's more than that, Fabala. I think he cares about you a great deal."
"Can I go now? I'm hungry." Elphaba didn't give her a chance to answered before heading to the canteen.
Nessa sighed softly before following her.
"Elphie! Over here!"
The green witch looked to see Galinda waving at her. Walking to the table slowly, she spotted Fiyero and Boq with her.
"I got your sandwich for you, I hope you don't mind."
"Thank you, Galinda." She smiled, sitting down to eat. As she picked at the sandwich, she refused to look up at Fiyero. Nessa's words were ringing in her head. 'No... Don't wish... Don't start... Wishing only wounds the heart.' she thought. She loved him, she knew that. She'd felt that rush of emotions she'd never felt before him, that only sparked to life around him. A vague memory of her mother explaining to a two-year-old Elphaba that love was like flying. Love made you feel like you could do anything you wanted. She hadn't understood it then. But twenty-year-old Elphaba understood now. Her love for him could have her defying gravity if she wished. But no matter what Nessa said, Fiyero did not feel the same way. He couldn't. Princes did not fall in love with green abominations.