"How come your handwriting is famously horrible, and yet you're still doing better than me?" groaned Galinda; her hand, armed in a pink feather, hovering over a long piece of parchment. They were seated at the library for hours, as they were used to doing by now, and rewriting long columns of signs – an exercise that was supposed to help them familiarize themselves with the ancient writing of the Grimmerie.

"How can you tell I'm doing better?" Elphaba laughed. "You still can't read these, anyway."

"Thanks for rubbing it in my face," Galinda pouted and went back to her scribbling.

"You know, I bet if you focused more on the learning and less on the teacher…" Elphaba teased, earning herself a slap on the arm.

"Oh, grow up, Elphie! Have you seen those horrendible old clothes of his? And he's such an insufferable know-it-all, he's almost worse than you... Besides, he's so gangly, how does he not trip over his own feet? I mean, sure, it's great that he's tall; and he has nice hair and shiny eyes and a cute face, and yeah, he's all smart and nice—"

Elphaba sat back, crossing her arms over her chest and smirking triumphantly.

"Stop that!" Galinda exclaimed. "I don't have a crush on him—"

"—never said you did—"

"I'm just annoyed that he doesn't seem to pay as much attention to me as he does to you."

"Yeah, it's not like one of us looks normal, and the other is a green freak," Elphaba said nonchalantly, and Galinda looked startled that she'd offended her best friend again. "Don't worry, Galinda, I'm just kidding. However, I am completely serious when I say that Shilah is your teacher and I find you trying to seduce him simply disgusting."

"I'm not trying to seduce him!" Glinda protested. "I just want to find something we have in common. You know, like when you started talking about the Animals… His eyes just sparkled when he heard you defend Doctor Dillamond, and when he went on about his ideas for Animal protection laws…"

"We both care," Elphaba shrugged. "That's all there is to it."

"But I care too!" Galinda protested and lowered her voice. "I did help you that day with the Lion cub. Remember? You can't say that don't care."

"Don't care about what?"

Fiyero appeared at their table seemingly out of nowhere, flashing them both his perfect grin.

"Master Tiggulaar," Elphaba said, playful sparkles dancing in her eyes. "It's not elegant to eavesdrop. And Galinda is pouting, because she hasn't been able to seduce our new sorcery teacher yet."

"Not seduce!" Galinda protested and promptly pouted. "He cares about the Animals and I want to show that I care, too, so that I can—"

"—seduce him?" Fiyero suggested.

"Get to know him better!" Galinda exclaimed, blushing furiously. She snapped her book shut and shoved it into her purse before trotting out of the library.

"Wow. That went well," Fiyero summed up with a grin, then straightened up and reached into his pocket. "Anyway, Rohan wrote to me. To us, I guess."

Elphaba's eyebrows shot up.

"What did he say?" she asked anxiously and Fiyero shrugged.

"I haven't read it yet, I waited to read it with you. And before you ask," he said, noticing her smirk, "it's not because I have trouble reading for myself."

Disarmed, Elphaba made a disappointed face before tearing the letter open and laying it back on the table before them.

Dear Fiyero, the letter read,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. Well, I hope it finds you at all; since I'm not that convinced you're still at Shiz (It would be your record, so much time at one university, wouldn't it?).

I myself have been doing quite well, for the most part, although I must say that it gets really lonely around here. I haven't spoken to or even seen another human in weeks, can you imagine? Some stormy nights, though, the castle seems strangely animated, illuminated by lightning. I don't believe in ghosts, but if I did, I'd say there are at least a dozen of them haunting the place. I can see why your family never wanted to live here – it seems like a place you only go to when you're seeking refuge.

My mother and father send their love to you and your lady. They are healthy and doing well, and so is the little one.

Behave yourself, Fiyero, and keep out of trouble!

Ait tá seýn,

Rohan

Elphaba scanned the letter a few times.

"Okay, so he's obviously trying to be vague in case the letter should get into the wrong hands," she said. "Smart."

"But at what cost… This is just like additional homework."

"Oh, you poor baby," Elphaba snickered, elbowing him lightly into the ribs. "Okay, so he hasn't seen another human…"

"…so, no one's bothered him," Fiyero assumed. "But when he says the castle is strangely animated…"

"It sounds like one of your dumb puns."

"Hey!"

"Sorry," Elphaba chuckled. "Well, he's definitely talking about Animals being at the castle. But strangely animated?"

Fiyero shrugged.

"And this…" he said, pointing at a lower part of the letter. "Mother and father… Rohan's mother passed away years ago. He must be talking about Meyla and Doctor Dillamond. And the little one…"

"The Lion cub," Elphaba nodded. "So you think they're safe?"

Fiyero's face spread into a wide grin when he saw her eyes sparkle with joy and relief.

"I'm pretty sure," he said, and Elphaba surprised him by throwing her arms around him. "Hey, what's that for?"

"For not letting me do all of this alone," she mumbled into his shoulder, and Fiyero scoffed.

"Oh, please," he said, kissing the top of her head. "Like I ever would."