Author's Note: In answer to some of my reviewers: (yay for reviews being up again!)
lady_Aryah: Yes, I realize my chapters are short…I'm going to make them longer, but right now I'm in the final stages of rehearsal for a show that's opening in 10 days. (wow, scary thought) So after that's over, I'll try to work on length. Oh, and thank you for your reviews. ^_~
gyps: I know that the end of that last chapter could be viewed as out of character, but keep in mind that there's a fifteen year time gap here, and the experiences of all the characters during that fifteen years are going to make them somewhat different. Thanks for the feedback.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO REVIEWED! I love you all.
Chapter 5
"What are we going to do?" asked Boq dejectedly, leaning back against the wall and letting himself slide down until he was sitting on the floor.
Glinda peered down at him from her seat on the couch they'd brought down, looking only half interested.
"About what?" she asked flatly.
Boq threw out his hands in a broad sweeping gesture.
"This. Everything."
It had been raining non-stop for the past two days, the heavy drops making a muffled pattering noise that echoed through the stone tunnels. Although there had been no trouble so far, everyone was deeply concerned over the possibility of the water causing the tunnels to collapse, or at the very least flood and drown them all.
"What is 'everything'?" Glinda asked irritably.
Boq glared back at her. The group had quickly discovered over the past few days that they didn't do well in close quarters with one another.
"That wasn't very nice, said Boq meanly, "I thought you were always 'good.'"
She sighed and put down the book she'd been examining. It was the same book of spells she'd found in the supplies the day Elphaba had awoken and since then, Glinda had been haunted by the fact that she couldn't read any of it.
"What specifically?" she asked, her tone softer this time.
" I don't even know anymore…Food…water…What are we going to do when we run out of the supplies the Scrow gave us? I mean, what we have can't last longer than a week at the most."
Glinda sighed again and looked down at Boq, shaking her head hopelessly.
"I don't know. Maybe Gerema…or Fiyero…they have to know more than we do."
Boq nodded, still looking at the dirty stone floor.
"But even if they do know of ways for us to get supplies…are we just going to live here indefinitely?"
Glinda shrugged.
"I don't know who to believe. I don't think we have even a ghost of a chance at overthrowing the tiktoks, but I don't know whether to think it's safe to go back or not."
Boq ran his fingers through his hair, making the short curls stick up at odd angles.
"Do you ever feel like everything is completely hopeless?" he asked quietly.
Glinda frowned at him before she answered.
"No. I've always thought that as long as you're still alive, there's hope."
Boq looked up suddenly at that and smiled.
"What?" asked Glinda.
"Nothing…just…I never thought *you* of all people would say something …amazing…like that."
Fiyero entered the room cautiously, not wanting to cause a repeat of the explosion he'd overheard earlier when Glinda had said or done some horribly wrong thing. Elphaba was awake and sitting on the edge of the bed, attempting to smooth out her long, snarled black hair with a pitifully small, fragile looking comb that he recognized as Glinda's. She was clothed in one of the coarse white cotton robes the Scrow had given them, and Fiyero realized with a little surprise that he'd only ever seen her wearing brown or black. The white made her look almost innocent, he thought; had it not been for the lines of worry that had begun to permanently crease her forehead, she would have looked quite young.
"Elphie," he said finally, drawing her attention to himself, but then he could think of nothing more to say, so he simply went over and sat down beside her on the bed. He tried to put an arm around her but she pushed him roughly away.
"No," she said firmly, and turned her head away from him, refusing to acknowledge him any further.
Fiyero took a deep breath, hurt by her rejection, but not altogether surprised by it. He watched her instead, silently daring her to look him in the eye. She didn't.
"Elphie, why?" he tried again, "This isn't like you."
She still didn't turn but instead began attacking her hair with a fresh vigor.
"It's been fifteen years, Fiyero, you have no idea what I am or am not like."
He sighed, realizing that he wouldn't get anywhere by arguing with her. He never had been able to win. The comb caught in a particularly large tangle, and Elphaba hissed softly with pain, her hands stopping mid-stroke. Fiyero closed his hands over hers and gently took the comb from her.
"Here, let me."
She glared venomously at him, then turned her back, flinging her long hair over her shoulders in one sharp movement. Fiyero gathered her hair into his hands and gently began working the comb through it, swallowing hard against the lump that had formed in his throat. They stayed like that for nearly an hour.
Finally, he set the comb down on the bed and slowly ran his fingers through her hair, letting his hands come to rest on her shoulders. She flinched visibly but didn't say anything and didn't pull away.
"Open up," he said softly, easing his fingers over her shoulders, "Unlock the gate. Let the drawbridge down. At least for a while."
"So poetic," she said sarcastically, but her voice sounded tired and sad, lacking its usual crystalline edge. She peered at him over her shoulder, her eyes half open, earthy half-moons cut through with shards of emeralds. "Where have you been all this time?" she asked at last, "The others said you wouldn't tell them."
"In the Quadling ruby mines," said Fiyero, and Elphaba's eyebrows shot up.
He was sorry the instant he'd said it, for he hadn't meant to tell her. He knew it would only maker her suffer more guilt than she already had, and yet he'd never been able to lie to her.
"Elphie, I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you that night. I was stupid and I more than paid the price. Just please, please don't blame yourself."
Elphaba pulled out of his grasp and turned around to face him. For a moment Fiyero thought she was going to say something but then she leaned toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her tightly and kissed her neck.
"I love you," said Fiyero, his voice tight with emotion.
Elphaba stiffened suddenly, her body going rigid against his, and she shoved him away as though he'd burned her. She stood in front of him, arms crossed over her chest.
"No," she said harshly, "No, no, I won't let you!"
"Elphie—"
"Everything I touch dies."
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