"Hey," Fiyero said later that night, as he and Elphaba sat together in the beautiful castle gardens, gazing up at the sparkling obsidian sky. You haven't really been to the Vinkus until you've lain down on the ground, in the open air, and listened to the stars, he'd insisted for a few days, and the words sounded so poetic that she couldn't resist. "You're not mad about me trusting Rohan, are you?"
"No, of course not," she said. "If you trust him, I trust him."
Fiyero let out a breath of relief, but there was still something in Elphaba's demeanor that worried him.
"Is there anything else on your mind?"
"Oh, nothing important… I was just wondering about a Vinkun word you used earlier. K'alla-something or other? I know alla is heart, but…"
"Oh, you mean k'allame?" he asked with an embarrassed chuckle. "Well, literally, it means 'my second heart'. But it's, uh… It doesn't really have an Ozian equivalent. It's somehow more… I don't know, meaningful, than 'girlfriend'; but it's not exactly 'wife', either…"
He paused, trying to think of the right words.
"The closest word I can think of would be 'soulmate', I suppose," he said finally, and Elphaba found herself at a loss for words.
"That's beautiful," she said finally, clearing her throat. "K'allame. Am I saying that right?"
A flirty note appeared in Fiyero's voice.
"Let me hear it again," he said, and she rolled her eyes at him.
"K'allame," she repeated. "How was that?"
He leaned down and kissed her gently.
"Perfect."
She chuckled and cuddled up to him, sighing softly as he started playing with her hair. She closed her eyes, letting the clear night air fill her lungs, and before she knew it, she was sound asleep under a thousand stars.
•••
She found herself wide awake in the middle of the night, although she didn't know why until she realized she wasn't wrapped up in Fiyero's arms anymore. He had moved away and curled up into himself, his back turned to her; trembling slightly, until his body moved in a sudden jolt and he let out a painful moan.
"Fiyero!" Elphaba gasped, jumping up to him with horror and trying to shake him awake. Finally, his eyes snapped open, but he didn't seem aware of his surroundings; struggling as Elphaba tried to help him sit up, and breathing heavily.
"Fiyero, look at me," she whispered, brushing her fingers across his face. "It's okay. It's alright. You're safe. Don't be afraid. I'm here. I've got you, I've got you, Yero…"
The affectionate nickname slipped off her lips almost of its own accord as she cradled his head to her chest, and felt him gradually melt into her arms.
"They wanted to know where you went," he stammered finally, looking at her with fearful eyes. "But I didn't tell them, Elphaba, I didn't tell them anything, I swear…"
"Shh. I know. You were so brave," she whispered soothingly, her heart aching at the thought of the suffering he must have gone through to protect her. "It was just a dream, Yero. You're safe now. I've got you…"
As she held him close, rocking gently back and forth and humming some old melody – Fiyero cried. He cried in fear, because the memories filled with excruciating pain were still vivid in his mind. He cried in relief, having realized they were both safe. He cried, because he'd never been held like this before, never been treated with such selfless and gentle tenderness. So he sobbed into Elphaba's chest, clinging onto her as if she was his one and only lifeline, allowing himself to be as open and vulnerable as he'd never been before.
"Yero?" Elphaba whispered when she felt his breathing slow down. "Come, let's go back inside."
As quietly as she could, she led him through the empty hallways to his room, but when she turned to walk out, she felt him grab her wrist.
"Fae," he murmured, looking up at her pleadingly. "Don't go. Please."
She hesitated, blushing at the prospect of spending the rest of the night in his bed, but finally nodded and lay down next to him.
"Thank you," he whispered, putting her hand over his heart, still frantically beating; before drifting off into peaceful sleep.