"You won't be seeing his face any longer."
Glinda had finished crying all of the tears she had in her, and was furiously replaying the words Elphie had told her about Fiyero right before she had "died".
"You won't be seeing his face any longer."
How could she! How could she have lied like that! Was it to keep her from going after Fiyero? Had Fiyero even been aware that Elphie had told her that? Glinda couldn't believe her. It was the morning after she had brought Elphie tea, and the night before Glinda had cried herself to sleep. She had known that she was never over Fiyero…but she had forgotten it all when warning Elphie that the guards were coming for her. And when she had thought he had died, of course, she had nearly forgotten him…but she would always love him. He had been hers, and then Elphie stole him from her! Glinda sat up in her bed, again feeling the fury she had felt not half a year ago. She coughed, and closed her eyes tightly, again seeing the two men coming towards her. Fiyero and…Damaran, Elphie had said. Glinda's eyes widened, remembering one other thing Elphie had said.
"He let one of his guards kill Damaran. And he was just a boy! He was fifteen years old."
But that had been Damaran! Glinda's eyes narrowed, seething. She had lied about both men being dead. She couldn't believe it. Why did she say the boy was dead? To get Boq into more trouble than he already was? Did she want the guard who had supposedly killed him to be sentenced to death? Glinda sat back as that thought struck her. Was…was Elphie really wicked? She shook her head, telling herself the answer was no. It had been a lie, it had all been a lie. Elphie wasn't wicked, she just wanted the Animals to have equal rights. Madame Morrible and the Wizard had lied to all of Oz, and she wasn't going to let herself believe that the lie was true. No, Elphie wasn't really wicked…so why did she lie about the boy? And Fiyero? She let out an angry whimper. She had no idea what to do with Elphie…and Damaran and Fiyero. She could let them go…but then all of that would have been in vain. She knew that the guards who knew about it would be furious with her…no, she couldn't just let her go. She would decide when she wasn't so caught up in her anger.
…
Elphaba paced in her cell, hoping that Glinda would come by again that night. She had a lot to apologize for…she knew that it was Glinda who was mostly at fault, but she had already apologized, and Elphaba knew that soon she would fix things. Well, she would have. She didn't know what was going to happen anymore. She sighed and flopped herself down on the ground. Oveel had already been by while she had slept that morning, and had actually been inside her cell, taking out whatever needed to be and replacing it. The tray had been out of reach. She was slightly angry with herself that she hadn't been awake for that, so she could have escaped…but Oveel wasn't stupid. He wouldn't have let her get out.
She stared up at the ceiling, and thought about Fiyero and Damaran. He was alive! She thought, happily. She was relieved, also – she didn't want another death to be responsible for. She wondered where they were staying. She hadn't asked; she didn't want to know. If Glinda was angrier than Elphaba thought she was, she would want to know where Fiyero was…for whatever reason, and Elphaba didn't want to be able to have it tortured out of her. She sat up, shocked at the thought she had just had. Glinda would not torture her, she knew that. She didn't care how angry Glinda was at her, she would never torture her.
Her mind wandered. She didn't know that Glinda wouldn't have her tortured. After all, she had had her sister killed to capture her. Elphaba's heart pounded. She had always known this about her best friend, but she had never thought about it while she was captured. She crossed her legs and put her elbows on her knees, her head in her hands. Was she actually in danger? Under Boq's supervision, on the way down to the Emerald City, she had been certain she was going to be executed. After the first meeting with Glinda, she was certain she wasn't going to be. Now, she had no idea what to think. She put her head back and groaned. Life was rather complicated.
…
Damaran sighed. "I'm bored."
"That seems to be your trademark phrase."
"You bore me."
"I'm sorry," Fiyero told him casually. The two were on the outskirts of the city, in the woods. It was nearly dusk, and they were getting ready to meet Elphaba for the second time. Fiyero was going to bring her broom this time – he wasn't sure, but maybe she could use it to her advantage, even in the cell. He shuddered, thinking of her behind bars. He had hated leaving without her. And Glinda…he sighed, not wanting to be on bad terms with her. He hoped their appearance didn't make things worse for Elphaba…though he guessed they probably had. It would probably be a good idea to stay away for awhile...but he couldn't. He had to see her again, had to talk to her again. He thought that it would probably be good for Elphaba's spirits anyway; he knew they had to be suffering. He knew there was a possibility that she wouldn't even be there when they went…that thought was too horrible to think about, though, so he didn't.
Damaran stood up. "Can we go now?" he asked Fiyero.
Fiyero looked up at him. "No, there's still people out."
Damaran sighed and sat down again. The two waited longer.
…
"I need to speak with Boq." Glinda paused, realizing for the first time she didn't know his last name. "He was the captain of the guard on the last…excursion. He lives in the Emerald City…I don't know, just find him!" Glinda was in her waiting room, the one she used to speak with guests. Her maid bowed her head and scurried from the room.
Glinda was finally speaking with Boq about the way he had treated Elphaba. She had decided to put her personal feelings for her aside for the moment and remember that she had promised Elphie that she would speak to Boq; and she would. He wasn't supposed to have hurt her.
Boq was ushered into the room not thirty minutes later. He, apparently, lived close by. The maid shut the door, and Boq smiled tentatively at her. "Hello, Miss Glinda," he said quietly. "You needed to speak with me?"
Glinda nodded severely. "Sit," she motioned to Boq. She waited until he was seated and then sat across from him on the couch. "I need to speak with you about the way you treated Elph – the Witch," she told him.
Boq cocked his head. "All right?"
"You were not to harm her. She wasn't supposed to be tied up, and you certainly weren't supposed to throw water on her!"
Boq slowly shook his head. "But, Miss Glinda –"
"No. I told you not to."
Boq shook his head again. "No…you didn't."
Glinda looked at him, confused.
"You only said that she wasn't to be killed…" he trailed off, speaking timidly.
Her eyes widened, and she gasped slightly. He was right, of course. She leaned forward, putting her head in her hands. Boq watched her awkwardly. "Are you all right?" he asked after a pause.
She nodded, face still in her hands. She sat up again, angry with herself, with Elphaba, with Fiyero…but no longer at Boq. It wasn't his fault. It was hers.
"Why were you so mean to her?" she asked quietly. "I didn't tell you to be mean to her."
He shook his head quickly, and stood up. "That's…because she's the Witch. She's the Wicked Witch of the West, and she deserved it," he finished, somewhat lamely.
She nodded, though. She bought it. Everyone hated Elphie, she supposed she could understand that he would, also. "All right," she accepted. She stood up, also, and shook his hand. He looked at her for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but didn't. He smiled regretfully at her and went out the door.
She followed, after a few moments. She had done her duty. She had spoken to Boq. He wasn't going to be punished for anything, but she had never promised Elphie that. It wasn't often that Glinda went downstairs, and the people in the room all smiled at her and bowed in her direction. She waved and smiled, feeling like the Wizard, but didn't have time to think about it. She went up the stairs to her room, where she spent most of her time. Once she got there, she rang a bell on the system for a maid. A few minutes later, Lillany opened the door.
Glinda liked Lillany…she was a sweet girl, from the Uplands. Quiet and shy, she had originally been one of the Wizard's maids, but everyone working for the Wizard had been transferred under Glinda's command once she took reign. Glinda smiled at Lillany, who stared at her timidly. "Yes?" she asked.
"Lillany…you can keep a secret, correct?"
Lillany nodded, though she didn't look the same as most when about to receive a secret. Most would have their eyes widen, and get excited and earnest. Lillany just nodded, looking almost as if she didn't want to hear it. Glinda told her anyway.
"The Wicked Witch of the West is in a jail cell next to the palace. You, if you don't mind, are going to bring her some tea…I can't exactly request that whoever is fixing the prisoner's meals give her tea or milk, as they don't know it's her, and I don't want to raise any suspicion. She can't drink water, though, so she needs this to keep her alive. I can't bring it to her, though, I'm…not able to tonight. So when it gets dark, would you mind doing this for me?"
Lillany's large eyes were wide, now, and she nodded.
Glinda smiled at her again. "Just make sure you don't tell anybody, all right? I don't want to create a panic."
Lillany nodded again, and left quickly.
Glinda breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that the girl was probably scared, but she didn't want to have to see Elphie again. She was too angry at her. Besides, Elphie wouldn't actually hurt the girl...she was pretty sure.
…
Oveel sat, almost asleep at the entrance to the jail. It was dark outside, and almost time for him to go home. The jail was left unattended for most of the night. He didn't see Lillany until she was nearly ten feet from him.
He stood up, hurriedly, and tried to look involved. "Hello," he called out to her.
She looked terrified, and was holding a large glass. "Hello," she choked out.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you all right?"
She nodded, quickly. "Yes…I need to go…in there."
He shook his head. "You can't…I'm sorry…nobody's allowed."
She bit her lip, rearranging her hold on the hot glass. "I was…ordered to."
"By who? I mean, I don't doubt you, but…"
"Miss Glinda."
"Oh! So I guess you know?"
"What do you know?"
Oveel paused. "What do you know?"
They were both trying to keep the same secret from each other, and they realized it in the same instant. They laughed together, and Oveel paused in his laughter, listening to the crystal clear sound of hers. She stopped, also, and smiled at him tentatively. "I need to bring this to her," she said, holding the glass up. "Have you…seen her?"
She looked scared, and Oveel rushed to put her fears at ease. "Yes, I have, it's all right, she won't hurt you…well, she hasn't tried to hurt me, or anything like that."
She nodded, still looking a little timid.
"I'll go with you, if you like."
She smiled, and nodded. The two walked into the jail. It was dark, and Lillany let Oveel lead the way. They rounded a corner, and Lillany saw, in the cell with the only light from the moon, the Wicked Witch of the West. She gasped a bit, and stopped, but then seeing that Oveel continued, followed also. The Witch moved, and sat up, which frightened Lillany. Her heart was pounding, and she stood back a little as the green woman stood up. Oveel saw that Lillany was petrified, and took the glass from her, handing it to the Witch. Lillany had never seen the Witch up close, and it was odd to see her…her green hands closed around the cup and drank from it gratefully. Lillany had never seen the Witch up close, and it was odd…she couldn't have been more than four or five years older than she herself. The Witch handed the glass back to Oveel, who handed it to Lillany. Nobody said anything, and Oveel gently guided Lillany away from the Witch, who stared at them as they walked away.
…
Damaran and Fiyero walked in the second entrance to the jail…the one that wasn't guarded. It was late, and nobody was out, as usual. They stopped in front of Elphaba's cell. She was sleeping, and Fiyero almost didn't want to wake her up. He doubted she had gotten much sleep in the past few weeks. He did, though.
"Elphaba!" he hissed.
She bolted up and looked around confusedly, before her eyes settled on the two. Her face broke into a grin and she stood up to walk to the bars, then sat down again. Damaran and Fiyero did the same.
Fiyero was carrying her broom, and he held it up to her. "We carried this here, for you," he said. "We thought you might be able to use it…"
Elphaba's eyes narrowed at him quizzically, and her eyes darted a bit. "You carried my broom here."
"Yes."
She stared at him for a moment. "Why didn't you ride it?"
It was silent for a moment as Damaran and Fiyero stared at each other stupidly, and then Elphaba burst into laughter. Damaran and Fiyero laughed after a moment too, and the sound of the three's laughter echoed nicely. Elphaba regained control after a few moments, her stomach cramping from laughing so hard. She smiled at them, and managed to slide the broom through one of the holes that the bars made by crossing each other. She examined it, turning it over in her hands slowly. "I don't know how I can use this," she told them honestly. "With the door locked and the window having the bars on it, there's really no point in me having this."
"You should keep it, though. Hide it under the hay, or something. In case you do manage to escape, you're going to want this."
She nodded, and got up, crossing to the back of her cell. She crouched down and set the broom on the ground, fixing some hay so that it covered it. She could still see it, but she figured that was because she knew it was there. She went back to the bars and sat down again.
"Is Glinda treating you all right?" Fiyero asked her seriously.
Elphaba didn't answer him, just pointedly looked at the bars. He took the hint.
"Why can't you just like…get mad and get out?" Damaran asked her.
She looked down. "I don't know," she answered. "I don't understand…there was a point I was so mad at Glinda I thought I was going to kill her with my anger, but nothing happened. When I thought you had died was actually the only time that I got mad enough for something to happen. Even then all that happened was that he was in pain."
Damaran nodded, and she yawned, then caught herself. Fiyero stood up, though. "We should go," he said to Elphaba. She stood up, too, and nodded, though he saw that she looked wistful. He clutched her hand for a moment, and then he and Damaran left. She was too tired to waste much time thinking about it, though, so she lay on the ground and fell asleep within five minutes.
A/N: I'm making longer chapters! Yea! So we had a little bit of original character development in this one…not very good original character development, but it's there all the same!
SinfulPurgatory: I'm glad you like it!
PoetryOutLoud: Well, you guys are sweet enough to drop me a note each chapter, I think it's the least I can do to do the same, right? Thank you for your review!
Silvermoonset: Yes, last chapter was too sappy, I didn't like it much. This one has less of it, I think, which is good. Yeah, my original characters are very…shallow, in that they don't have well-developed personalities. I'm kind of picking out a trait for each one of them and running with it, LOL.
Jemima: Well, I'm glad you did like the sappiness of the last chapter! Even though I didn't like it much, it's good somebody did!
Countrybutterfly: Yeah, the ending was definitely the worst part of the last chapter. Your favorite story? Aww, thanks: )
Zafr0: LOL I shall, I shall! Thanks for your review, I love getting new reviewers!
FrederickCharleston: Hooray for dialogue! And thank you; I like Lillany's name too. : )
Viva-taquitos: …What? LOL your comment made me laugh but I had no idea what you were talking about. Thanks for the review, though! Lol…
Animes18: Yeah…Glinda's pretty stupid…LOL it's just more fun to write her as being stupid than write her as being smart. Thank you for your compliments!
Whogirl: Yes, Oveel will be somehow important later on…foreshadowing. Thank you so much!
Ari: Aww, thank you! Though, I admit, Fiyero doesn't have much of a character at all...oh well, thank you very much!