Thank you to my reviewers for the last chapter; Emily singing reflection and Ree! You guys make me feel very loved.
WARNING: For anyone who is going to see Wicked anytime soon, I am warning you that this chapter has a certain amount of spoilers in it from the actual show. If you still want to read this chapter, I think it might be safe if you scroll down to the first page break.
9. Save me from Solitude
Elphaba listened carefully, waiting for the cries of joy to fade away. It was almost sickening to feel so hated, that people would dance happily over your grave. She looked to the top of the hole she was in. It was going to be difficult to get out. She began her attempts to scale the walls, continuously sliding back down. She sighed; this was going to be harder than it looked. The trap door was pulled up. A strange, yet oddly familiar face appeared at the top. There was no way… it couldn't be!
"Fiyero?" she asked hesitantly. The figure reached out. She took his hand as he helped her out. She couldn't believe it. It was Fiyero, but he was… different. No longer was his skin smooth, but instead, a yellowish rough texture with bits of hay sticking out all over his body. So this was what she had condemned him to, a life as a scarecrow. Why did her attempts at magic always go horribly wrong?
"Fiyero, I'm so sorry!" Sorry didn't even come close to what she felt. Tears of failure and remorse began to make their way down her cheeks. This wasn't right at all. Why did everything always turn into a disaster? She had tried to save his life, not ruin it! "I never meant to… oh this is all my fault! Fiyero, please forgive me!" She hugged him, not out of love, but of friendship, to show that she was sorry. What on earth had she done? Not only had she turned him down, but turned him into something that wasn't even entirely human.
"Elphaba, it's okay. You saved my life."
"But I didn't want to ruin it!"
"Shhh, don't cry. I forgive you," he said, trying to comfort her.
"How could you possibly-"
"Listen, don't worry about me. I'll… I'll find Glinda, maybe I could fix things."
She pulled back and looked at him in disbelief. "Would you really?" Perhaps he could be happy with Glinda. She deserved him far more than she did.
"If it would make you happy."
For the first time since her return, Elphaba actually was happy. She threw her arms around him, so happy that things were finally taking a turn for the better.
"Thank you so much Fiyero! I can't thank you enough!"
"You know, from what you told me earlier, I think someone might be waiting for you."
'Of course! How could I have forgotten about Erik!' She couldn't help but smile from his thoughtfulness. "I can't thank you enough. This means so much." Right now, it no longer mattered that she didn't get the slippers, that her life in Oz was completely wrecked and supposedly non-existent. The only thing that mattered now was going back home, to her real home where her heart resided. Elphaba picked up her book. The broom was no where to be found, but that was not a problem. She bewitched another, ready to return to the home of the Phantom. She flipped to the page.
"Elphie?"
"Yes?"
"I… I hope you're happy."
"You too. Fiyero, would you please let Glinda know I'm okay? Just her?"
"Sure. Goodbye Elphie." (A/N NOW WHY CAN'T RAOUL BE THAT NICE!)
"Goodbye, Fiyero."
At last, she chanted the words that she had wanted to say for so long. "Eleka atum phatum faux!" A smile spread on here face now that she was finally going to her real home. Fiyero soon faded away as the room rapidly dissolved before her. "I'M COMING ERIK!"
The spinning sensation finally stopped. She opened her eyes, finding herself in their bedroom. Thank Oz! It was so nice to be home at last! But where was Erik? She didn't want to wait another moment to be locked in his embrace. In the distance she heard his voice, singing a mournful song. He must have missed her just as much as she missed him. "Erik! I'm back!"
No, dear God not again! He heard her calling out to him in death, all of them damn lies. He couldn't take this torture any longer. He put his hands over his ears, trying to block out her siren-like calls.
"Please stop… please make it go away…" he moaned over and over again. Why did she have to taunt him in death? "Please Elphaba, please. I'm coming." There was no resistance left in him. It was time to end this now. He braced himself, ready to leap into a cold, watery death…
It was so nice to be back, to finally rid herself of Oz and its corruption once and for all. Now, she could peacefully settle down with Erik, spend as much time as she wanted with him, and maybe, if he agreed, to get married and have a family. It was amazing how she had barely even been here for a minute and already the stress of the days before was leaving.
Hastily Elphaba tore the curtain aside, trying to find him. She ran down the steps, thinking maybe he would be at the organ, but he wasn't.
"Elphaba?"
She turned around, finding him standing over the lake, a noose tied around his neck. Her entire body froze. 'What the hell?' Sweet Oz, he wasn't about to jump was he? But why didn't he take it off and come over to the shore? Why did it look like he was about to hang himself?
A forgotten promise echoed in her head that made Elphaba's blood run cold. 'Glinda, listen to me. If anything happens, you must let Erik know. Promise me that.' Apparently, Glinda had not forgotten it. If she didn't stop him, he would be dead. She had to do something, anything before he was lost forever. It was impossible to run to him; there had been enough close calls with water, so she did the only thing that she possibly could: scream.
"ERIK!"
How on earth was this possible? There she was, standing before him beckoning to him. No, he wouldn't be fooled again. It was just another fleeting image of her, another way to torture him before they were reunited. But there was something different this time. She looked less wispy than before.
"Erik please! Please don't do it! I'm right here. Please don't jump!" she begged with every inch of her trembling and her heart beating furiously. What would she do if he did not hear her? She would be alone, destined to lead a solitary life with nowhere to go and no one to love. Elphaba had to stop him and the only way she could was watch helplessly and pray that he would listen. "Erik, please!"
Would he risk disappointment again? Should he run to these fleeting visions of her only to see them dissolve the moment he touched her? He wanted to hold her so badly. Slowly he released his neck from the noose and slushed through the water towards her. Erik couldn't help but notice that she was shaking fiercely, her entire body quivering from the need of his arms around her. She wanted to run to him so badly, but again that stupid liquid complicated things. He reached the shore and stood before her. Hesitantly, he brought his hand to her emerald cheek, afraid that if he touched her, she would suddenly fade away. Elphaba reverently closed her eyes, mesmerized by his touch. It was so nice to finally feel his caress again.
"Elphaba," Erik breathed with reverence. All resistance broke. She had waited too long. Instantly, Elphaba threw her arms around him and began to frantically kiss his face.
"Erik, I missed you so much!" she cried, as tears began to trickle down her cheek. It had hit her how close she had come to losing him. "But why were you about to do that? I could have lost you!"
Erik found himself in a state of shock as he felt her against him. This couldn't be a dream! Never before had she felt so solid, so warm, so real since she had left. Gradually, the shock was fading. Wearily, he brought his arms around her, clutching her trembling body to him. 'Oh Elphaba'. At last, she was finally back where she belonged and he was and never going to let go ever again.
"Oh my God, I thought I would never see you again!" he wept as complete relief and tremulous joy washed over him. He thought that he would never hold her in his arms until he joined her in death.
"But why did you think that? I would never choose to leave you."
"You don't understand. Glinda told me that you were dead. I didn't want us to be apart… ever."
Elphaba paused for a moment, taking a moment to look into his sapphire-like eyes. She had nearly lost the love of her life. It was alarming how close she had come. She threw her arms around him again, still incredibly frightened by that possibility. "Oh Erik."
At last Erik felt the remaining shock melt away, but he could feel the tension radiating from her trembling form. He tilted her head so that her eyes met his. Slowly, he brought his lips to hers, kissing her gently and trying to calm her down. Her lips were soft and gentle, just as he remembered. He really had missed her, every kiss, every touch, every single bit of joy that her presence gave him. Erik pulled away, trying to find comfort in her jade eyes.
"Shhh, it's okay now. We're together again," Erik said as he held her, savoring the feeling of her in his arms.
"I know, it's just… I was scared. It was my fault that I almost lost you. I'll never leave you again!" Her voice was beginning to shake again and more tears were beginning to fall. Erik held her closer, letting her release all of the anxiety that vibrated from her in his embrace. Gradually, he could feel her shaking grow less violent. He wiped the rivers of tears away, stroking her soft green cheek.
"Shh, don't cry my love. Everything's alright," he said quietly, rocking her back and forth. It pained him to see her dark eyes to become glassy with tears, even if she did look beautiful when she cried.
"Thank you Erik," she whispered. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." Slowly, Erik kissed her again, giving her reassurance that she would never have to worry ever again. He felt Elphaba pouring all of her fear and desperation into his kiss, making it fiery and passionate, far different from the gentle action of before. Elphaba wanted more than a comforting kiss. She wanted him, every bit of the man she loved so well. Only when she was locked in a passionate embrace with him would she ever feel completely at peace. Elphaba's need was simple. She wanted to be loved. The enchantress knew that she was loved, but to be loved, to be shown that you were loved in the most definite way possible; that was what Elphaba wanted. She pulled back for a moment.
"You know, I never did come back after Glinda came along." She smiled slyly.
Erik's eyes grew wide as he realized the meaning of her words. 'So soon?' She must have been feeling better if she was asking for this already. He hastily kissed her before scooping her up into his arms like a newlywed and carried her into the bedroom, letting the sweet sound of her maiden-like laughter make his spirit soar. Erik laid her down on the bed, kissing her happily with passion, giving her all of the love he possessed through the deepest way possible. Never again would these two hearts be separated ever again, only to come together in the most intimate way possible, to be made whole.
Elphaba snuggled closer to her beloved phantom as they rested in love's afterglow. It was hard to believe that hours ago she had thought that she would never know of his embrace ever again.
Erik looked down lovingly upon the shimmering emerald angel in his arms. In moments like this, he felt truly at peace. Everything, the woman beside him, the very atmosphere of this room, felt right. But was this the moment he had dwelled on, the moment when he should try to cross another line, knowing fully that there would be no going back. Yet he couldn't resist, not while she clung to him, making his heart swell with love.
"Elphaba?"
"Mmm," she moaned, quite content.
"Are you happy here? With me?"
That was certainly and odd question. Of course she was happy here! Why else would she have returned from Oz!
"Of course I am, Erik. How could I possibly not be?"
"Be right back," Erik said, climbing out of bed and making a dash to his room, finding a small parcel that he had been holding for a long time. Gracefully, he climbed back into bed with her and took her hands in his, looking down at his fingers entwined with hers.
"Elphaba, you know that I love you from the depths of my soul. You saved me from a personal hell, in a place where I was ready to give up more times than I can count. You are the only human being to every show me the love and compassion and I've found that I cannot live without you. I would be honored and overjoyed if I could spend one love, one lifetime with you. So..." he paused, taking a deep breath before that line was officially crossed. This was it. He pulled out a small, black velvet box and looked deeply into her dark eyes. Instantly he looked up met by her powerful gaze that gave him all of the confidence he needed. "Will you marry me?"
Elphaba just looked at him, staring in utter disbelief. Her eyes centered on a gorgeous ring; a lone diamond between two emeralds on a golden band. There was no way on earth that this was possible! She couldn't move, she couldn't think, she couldn't do anything. The only thing she was conscious of were four simple words that echoed endlessly in her head: 'Will you marry me?'
Why wouldn't she answer! This was too much for Erik's poor heart. "Please Elphaba, you're killing me! Please give me an answer!"
The shock was beginning to melt away. She smiled at her fiancé before her happiness overtook her and she leapt into his arms, kissing him with fierce passion and sheer love, letting drops of joy run down her cheeks.
Erik pulled back, feeling his heart burst with then bliss it, was overflowing with now. He looked into her eyes, unable to resist the joyful shimmer in her eyes. Erik kissed her again, bringing her to his bare chest, knowing gladly that it would not be long before the woman he held now would be his wife, to have, to hold, to love, for all eternity.
Okay, like I said before, this is NOT the last chapter. Only one more to go:"( I'm really really sad that I'll have to end this story so soon. The epilogue is going to be kinda long so I'm not entirely sure about how long it is going to take. Oh well, at least no more evil cliffies!
Please please review! I'm really hoping to at least make 50 reviews before this story is done! Only u can make it happen!
