Chapter 30

They spent two days searching through the books. The Grimmerie was as unreadable as ever and they were about to give up when Elphaba finally could decipher one charm that seemed appropriate. She read it to herself several times until she was fully convinced that it was the right one, and then she turned to face Glinda, who was busy looking through another book.

"I think I got it," she said.

Glinda raised her head from the book before her. "Really?" She stretched her arms above her head. Her whole body felt numb and sore. They had spent hours in the attic and she was so stiff from sitting there. Elphaba nodded. "Oh, thank Oz! Let me see."

Elphaba turned the book carefully so Glinda could read it.

"Yes, it seems to be right," she agreed.

Elphaba let out a sigh of relief. "Finally."

"So when do you want to do it?"

"Tomorrow. It's late and I'm not sure we'll be able to concentrate if we do it today, and don't forget, we still need to bring Madam Morrible and… her son," she added quietly.

Glinda nodded. She understood how hard it was for Elphaba to accept the fact of Luke being her half brother, especially after the clear interest he had shown in her. She shuddered when her own words came back to her in a flash- I could feel the sparkles in this room from outside the door… Who would have thought that it would all end up that way?

"I'll go tell Boq to take care of that, don't you worry," she promised.

Elphaba nodded. "Alright. I'll go tell my father that we are ready."

They blew out the candles and left the room.

The children's playroom was awfully quiet, considering the fact that they were in there, according to what Lalley had just told Elphaba and Glinda. It made Elphaba's heart sink. Glinda was already out looking for Boq, so she was alone upstairs. She shivered slightly as she put her hand on the knob, dreading of what she might find inside the room.

What she had found inside made her smile.

Dawn was sitting in her grandfather's lap, Dyre was sprawled on the hairy carpet beside them, and the children were listening intently as the old man told them a story.

Elphaba leaned on the doorway, just watching them for a moment, before she coughed to draw her father's attention.

"Look, kids, we have company," he said as he noticed her. Dawn jumped to her feet and ran to her mother.

"Hey, sweetie, are you having a good time?" she picked the girl up and walked into the room.

"Yes, grandpa tells us story!" Dawn replied enthusiastically.

Elphaba laughed softly. She didn't mind Dawn's calling the Wizard 'grandpa'. By his expression, she knew that he noticed it too.

"Yes, Auntie Elphie, it's a great story, you should hear it too!" agreed Dyre.

The Wizard shook his head, smiling. "But then I'll have to tell it all over again."

"I don't mind hearing it again!" said Dyre. Dawn nodded in agreement.

"Some other time," said Elphaba. "I'm afraid I'll have to steal your story teller for a while, though," she looked up at her father. "I need to talk to you for a moment."

He nodded. "Okay, let's talk in the library," he said. "Don't go anywhere, kids, I'll be back." The children were already busy building something with Dyre's colorful blocks. They didn't even notice Elphaba and the Wizard when they left the room.

"They are absolutely great, these two," said the Wizard as they made their way to the library.

Elphaba nodded in agreement. "You are great with them, you know. They adore you," she said quietly. It was the truth, she couldn't deny it.

"I've always wanted to be a grandfather. You made this wish come true, and Glinda, too, in a way." She looked away. He couldn't tell if she was touched or embarrassed, so he changed the subject. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Glinda and I found a spell… to bring you back," said Elphaba.

He looked surprised. "So soon?" he asked quietly.

"I think… the sooner the better. It would be too difficult to say goodbye otherwise."

Was that sadness he detected in his daughter's voice? He wasn't sure.

"I've sent for Madam Morrible and Luke already, but we won't do it today."

"I wish it could end up differently," he said seriously, taking her hand in his.

Elphaba nodded. Surprisingly, she didn't back away. "We both know that it can't."

"At least I'll leave knowing that you are happy, and safe."

"I am. I hope you'll be happy, too," she whispered.

"Just… take care of yourself, and my granddaughter."

"I will. I promise I will."

"She is a wonderful little girl, Elphaba," he said honestly. "You should be very proud of her. As much as I am proud of my little girl," he added, carefully glancing at her.

She frowned. "I've never was your little girl, James," she said softly. It took him by surprise, for it was the first time she actually pronounced his name. "I wish I was," she whispered.

"I wish you were, too," he said sadly. "But I am proud of you, you know. It takes a lot of courage to do most of the things you did when I had just met you, at such a young age-"

Elphaba chuckled at that. "Do you mean going against you, stealing the Grimmerie and moving to live underground as the Wicked Witch of the West?"

He didn't look amused, but rather very serious. "And staging your own death so you could run away from all that."

"Well, Fiyero gets the credit for that one. It was his idea after all."

"He is a smart man, and he is very lucky to win your heart."

"No," smiled Elphaba, "I'm the one who's lucky." They sat in silence for a moment, before Elphaba broke it and said, "You better go back upstairs and tell the children the end of that story."

The Wizard nodded and got up. "Will you join us?"

She shook her head. "No, I think I'll take a walk or something. I need some fresh air," she said. "I'll see you later at dinner, okay?" she added before she left the room.