Chapter 31

By lunch time the next day, Madam Morrible and Luke had arrived at the castle. Elphaba watched their coach as it approached the castle's gates from the window in the attic, but she didn't come down to welcome them. She wanted to avoid Luke for as long as she could. She wasn't sure what seeing him would do to her, she wasn't sure she even wanted to find out, so she stayed in the western tower most of the day, going over the spell in the Grimmerie.

The Wizard knocked on her door at dusk. When no one answered him, he entered the room. Elphaba was dozing off on a rocking chair, the Grimmerie open in her lap. He smiled. She looked so vulnerable when she slept, which was something she never let herself be while wide-awake. He put the box he brought with him on the table and knelt beside her chair.

"Elphaba," he whispered and touched her shoulder gently. She nearly jumped off the chair, obviously startled. "I'm sorry-"

"No, that's okay, I… didn't even realize I fell asleep… what time is it?" she asked sleepily and rubbed her eyes.

"Nearly six thirty." She yawned and closed the Grimmerie, then got up and put it on the table. "I've just said goodbye to Dawn. I'll miss that sweet little girl. I wanted to talk with you alone before…" he couldn't bring himself to say that. He couldn't believe that it was one of the last times he'd have a chance to speak with her. Suddenly, he realized how much he'd miss that… and her. "I wanted to give you something before I go."

She frowned and shook her head in protest. "You don't have to do that."

"I want to. Besides, it's something that should have been yours a long time ago," he took the box from the table and handed it to Elphaba.

She looked confused but took the box anyway. "What is it?" He didn't answer, just motioned her to open it. She removed its cover and looked inside. A familiar sparkle caught her eye. A gasp escaped her when she realized what it was. Nessa's slippers! She raised her head to meet her father's eyes, her expression confused and uncertain. "How did you-"

"After I came back I got a visit from young Miss Gale," he explained. "She came all the way from Kansas with her aunt and uncle to bring me back these slippers. She said that they gave her guidance home, but they were no use for her in the farm, so she thought it would be best if I had them. I thought that I should give them to you as a parting gift, since you own them anyway. They were your sister's, so naturally they should be yours now."

Elphaba stared at him speechless. If she wasn't sure up until then that he had changed, that act had told her everything she needed to know. She was fully convinced now. So she did the only thing she could think of to thank him.

She put the box back on the table and wrapped her father in a big, loving hug.

For a moment, the Wizard was completely taken-aback by her unexpected reaction, but soon he regained his composure and hugged her back, holding her as close to him as possible. "I'll miss you," he whispered into her ear. She nodded against his shoulder, unable to do more. "I wish we had more time to get to know each other."

"Me too," she replied sadly. "Thank you… for giving me these," she motioned the box on the table.

"I've told you, they are yours, they always were," he said and caressed her face. "Do you feel ready to do this spell?"

Elphaba said nothing, but slowly nodded. "Yes. Yes, I do. I'll need Glinda here before you go in, will you-"

"I'll get her for you."

Elphaba nodded. "Thanks," she said and turned back to the Grimmerie.

"Elphaba?"

She turned to face her father again as she heard her name. "Yes?"

I love you. He wanted to say those words to her so badly but wasn't sure he could, after such a short time they had together. He surely didn't want to scare her away. So he didn't. "Never mind. I'll go get Glinda," he said eventually.

She nodded and came closer, then leaned to kiss his cheek. The next thing she said left him completely shocked. "Me too," she smiled.

He returned the smile and left the room before she'd have a chance to see the tears that filled his eyes.

"So, this is how it's done," said Elphaba two hours later. She and Glinda spent another hour in the attic before they let the Wizard, Madam Morrible and Luke in. She avoided any eye contact with him and looked at her father when she spoke. Nonetheless, she could feel his eyes fixated on her the whole time. "You'll go by Glinda's bubble. We were able to enchant it, so it should bring you back to the exact location you left several days ago."

"Chistery will fly next to the bubble as far as he'll be able to go," said Glinda. "And basically that's it. You'll be home in no time, if it works."

"And it will," completed Elphaba.

"So this is it, then? Is this goodbye?" the Wizard asked quietly. Elphaba nodded. He didn't dare to hug her again. He knew that she didn't usually externalize her emotions, so he just took her hand in his and gave it a small squeeze.

"Take care," she said.

"You too," he replied. "And you, Miss Glinda."

"Thank you, sir," said Glinda and shook his hand.

"You are magic, the two of you," Madam Morrible told her former students. When she had first met them they were so young and loathed each other deeply. She thought about the way they had grown up and changed, each in her own special way. It made her feel so old. "I'm sorry I doubted you, Miss Upland."

"I'm sorry you did, too," said Glinda. "But since it is the last time we speak, I'll forgive you for it." She took her wand and murmured something. Her bubble slowly formed in the middle of the room, big enough to contain the three people who were about to enter it.

Luke approached Elphaba before she was able to move away from him. "Elphaba-"

"Don't," she said, raising her hand. She could hardly look at him. "There is no point. Please, just… go."

"You'll never know how sorry I am, I'll be sorry for the rest of my life." Elphaba nodded but said nothing. "Well, goodbye," he said finally. He hesitated, then followed his mother into the bubble. The Wizard still stood there, unwilling to say goodbye.

"You'd better go," Elphaba encouraged him, her voice soft and gentle.

"Will I ever be able to contact you? How will I know you are okay?"

Elphaba took his hand and lead him into Glinda's bubble. "Just… look to the western sky," she said simply.

She turned to Glinda and nodded. Glinda raised her wand again and after whispering the right charm the bubble gently rose in the air and slowly flew out of the window. Elphaba and Glinda watched it through the open window, a pink sparkle in the night sky, with a flying Monkey on its trail, until it disappeared from their sight.