(NOTE): So, you've noticed the Wizard acting a little bi polar huh? grins Well, you'll see why eventually. BTW, I know the tense usage in this chapteris horrible, but that's always been a problem with me when I'm writing. Also, I was really unhappy with the last chapter. I had made a better one at first, but it got erased when I tried to save it so I had to re-write it from memory and I was really mad at myself at the time, so it didn't turn out as good. Oh, well. I'm glad you liked it anyway!
A year. It had been a whole year since Elphaba had been brought to the Emerald Palace. She mournfully looked out the the locked and barred window of her room. She thought about all that had happened since she had been locked up in the dungeons. For weeks, she had been left there in misery, seeing only the Wizard, the guards, and the doctor.The only thing that had kept her determined to survive was the small chance of Fiyero escaping and the baby. She had finally been brought out, after the Wizard realized that keeping her there could do harm to the baby, only to be locked back up in her room. Bars had been put outside the windows, and they were only unlocked occasionally for fresh air. She dressed in simple black or white dresses and was 'persuaded' to constantly wear some kind of royal jewelry.The Wizard visited her for lunch or dinner from time to time. She would never talk to him, though. She would just stare at the ground as he would pull her into a fatherly embrace or (when she had still been carrying the baby) place his hands on her bulging stomach. He had sometimes brought the doctor in and watched attentively as he checked on her. The only person whom she was ever happy to see was Sarah. Sarah was what the Wizard considered Elphaba's 'personal slave'. If there was anything Elphaba wanted or needed, Sarah would get it for her, as long as she had the Wizard's permission.
A tear slid down her cheek as she remembered the night the baby had been born. It had come a little earlier than expected, and her water had just broken when the Wizard had came in for dinner. His eyes had gone wide and he had screamed at Sarah to fetch the doctor as quick as she could. It had taken many hours (and much effort) before the baby had been born. The Wizard's eyes had twinkled with pride when he had looked down at his new grandson as he was handed to his mother. Elphaba had cried and had kissed her son many times before she had fallen asleep with him in her arms. But the next day, after she had first nursed him, the Wizard had come in and snatched him away from her. Elphaba allowed more tears to escape as she played that day in her mind
"I'm sorry, Margaret," he said "but I cannot allow you to teach my grandson to hate me as you do. So, I'm afraid that you will have very little to do with hisupbringing.But, don't worry. I'll allow him to see you sometimes." When he turned to leave, holding the wailing boy in his arms, Elphaba, still too weak to stand stand, cried out to him.
"NO!" she cried "Please! You've taken everything from me! My friend, my husband, my freedom, my name! Please, I beg you, do not take away my son as well!" The Wizard looked back to her with what almost could've been pity in his eyes.
"Margaret, my dear Margaret, ever since I found out you were my daughter, I've had the greatest feeling of regret that Iwas not there to love you and raise you as a daughter. But I am hoping that I can raise my grandson with the love I was never able to give you."
"It's not too late to give me that love." Elphaba said. She held her hands out "Please, Father. Give me my son." The Wizard stared at her a moment. He then shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Margaret. But I can't."
"Sir," Sarah, who had been in the room this whole time, said nervously"I could watch over the baby if you wish." The Wizard glared at her.
"Why?" he sneered "So you can bring him in here every night to see his treacherous mother?" He shook his head again and stomped out of the room, locking the door behind him. Elphaba sank into the bed, weeping with all the strength she had left.
That had been about six or seven months ago, and she hadn't seen her son since that day (she learned the Wizard had named her son Hamilton, after his father). Her death celebration had been cancelled, due to people knowing she was still alive, but the Wizard had told the people that he had made a deal with the witch to stay hidden in the mountains as long asno bodywent up there. That seemed to keep the people content, at least for now. For her anniversary, Elphaba had tied a string to her finger to substitute for her wedding ring. That hadn't made the Wizard very happy. He had made that clear when he grabbed the string off her finger and threw it in the fire. Elphaba had noticed that his temper had been getting worse. Sometimes,when she had refused to even acknowledge him, he would grab her arms and shake her to force her to look at him, but he would always apologize afterwards. She didn't question his strange behavior, though. Still didn't even particularly care. Right now, all she wanted was her son back. Her thoughts were interrupted by the door opening. Thinking it was the Wizard, she just continued to stare out the window.
"Margaret, turn around." she heard his voice say. Slowly, she turned to see the Wizard standing, as usual,with Sarah holding a tray of food, but he was with a woman Elphaba guessed to be Glikkun whom she didn't know. The Wizard gestured to the woman. "This is Prince Hamilton's nanny, Katie. For months she has been requesting to have lunch with you. She claims it is a custom in the Glikkus for a child's nanny to have lunch with the mother, and as you know, I'm always open to new ideas" Elphaba resisted the urge to snort "so, enjoy."He walked over to her and gave her the usual kiss on her headbefore he left. Katie walked nearer to her as Sarah walked back into the parlor to lay the tray on the table. Katie smiled and sat down next to her.
"Miss Elphaba?" Elphaba looked up at her, shocked. She had not heard her real name spoken by anyone (not even Sarah since the Wizard ordered her to call her Madame or Madame Margaret)in a long time. "Miss Elphaba, despite what the Wizard told you, my name is Wendara (when-DAR-ah) of Glikkus. I'm part of a secret organization called the Galindaizers started by an old friend of yours, the Tin Woodman, Boq." Elphaba stared at the woman.
"Boq?" she breathed. The woman nodded. Sarah came back in and sat down on the bed as Wendara began to explain.
"You see, when Lady Glinda" Elphaba's heart sank at hearing her name "was sentence to life imprisonment, not everyone was happy with it, especially Boq. So, after he was exiled from the Emerald City for standing up for her, he traveled throughout Oz, trying to find people still faithful to Lady Glinda, myself included. After he had gathered enough of us, we spent much of our time on planning how to get Lady Glinda out of prison without creating a big scene. We sent in one of our men dressed as a guard, but the problem was on how to get her out unnoticed. We were all surprised when you and your husband tried to get her out, especially Boq.We were also very fortunate. When Lady Glinda and Fiyero were brought back to the prison, our man who was posing as a guard volunteered to stand guard at the cell door. He told Lady Glinda and Fiyero who he was and, after hearing that Fiyero knew of a secret way out, he let them out, gave them directions on how to find the rest of us,and told them to knock him out, so as not to make him look suspicious. They escaped and flew on the brooms that you and Fiyero had hidden in the trees to our hide out in the Glikkus. We then began working on a plan of how to save you. After many months, we heard that the Wizard was looking for a nanny for 'the child he had chosen to be his heir'. We knew immediately that it was your child he was talking about and that this was a perfect opportunity. We sent many of our people to apply for the job and I was the one chosen. I told the Wizard about our 'Glikkun custom' and practically begged him to let me see you. Well, he finally has, and I'm here to get you and your son out." Elphaba stayed silent for a long time, trying to take all this in. Glinda was still alive, both she and Fiyero were free, and they were helping her escape. Her breath quickened in happiness and she smiled for the first time in months. "Now," Wendara continued as she reached into her pocket and took out two viles full of a strange blue liquid "this is how we're going to get you out of here. This potion was made by Lady Glinda. She had found it in that book you gave her when she finally learned how to read it. It took a lot out of her trying to remember it and make it. But, unfortunately, she wasn't blessed with the power that you posses, so she was unable to say the spell that would make it work" she took out a piece of paper and handed it to her"so you must say it." Elphaba looked over the strange words that had clearly come out of the Grimmerie. She then raised an eyebrow.
"What will the potion do?" she asked Wendara.
"You and I will both drink it. What it does is switch the appearances of the drinkers for 24 hours. In other words, you will look like me and I will look like you. Oh, and you must also put a little of your hair in mine." Wendara opened one of the vials and held it up to her. Elphaba gave her a look.
"You mean, you'll take my place? No, I can't let you do that."
"Trust me. I promise, we have it all planned out. But I can't explain now. Lady Glinda shall tell you what to do when you see her. Hurry, put a little of your hair in here and say the spell." Elphaba, still a little unsure, tore off a little piece of her hair and shoved it into the vail. She then murmered the spell and watched as the liquid in both vials turned purple. She took one of them from Wendara and gulped it down. Wendara did the same.They both felt a shock run throught their bodies and felt themselves begin to change. Sarah watched in awe as she watched them transform into each other until Wendara was sitting where Elphaba had been sitting and Elphaba was sitting where Wendara had been. "Good. It worked." Wendara/Elphaba said "Now we just have to switch clothes."After that had been done, Elphaba looked at Sarah as she styled Wendara hair in the style Elphaba's hair had been in.
"Can Sarah and her mother come with me?" she asked. Wendara sadly shook her head.
"Not today." she said apologetically.
"It's ok, Madame Margaret." Sarah said.
"Elphie." Elphaba corrected.
Sarah smiled "Miss Elphie. Mama and I will be fine." After she finished Wendara's hair, she walked back to the bed.
"OK" Wendara continued "what you're going to do is this. When you go downstairs, Prince Hamil...er, by the way, what did you decide to name him?"
"Liir." Elphaba aswered, looking at Sarah "Is that ok with you and your mother, Sarah?" Sarah looked delighted.
"My father's name? Oh, Mada...Miss Elphie,that would be fine!I know Mama would be more than happy to let you name him after Papa!"
"Thank you, Sarah." she walked over to Sarah and gave her a tight hug. "I promise" she whispered "I'll find away to free both you and your mother."As she let go, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. She couldn't help but stare at the face looking back at her which was, for the first time in her life, not green. She looked back Wendara and finally knew what it felt to be a normal color and see a green girl. Wendara merely continued.
"Anyway, when you go downstairs, Liir will be waiting in a stroller for his afternoon walk.When I first came here, the Wizard had me followed for the first few weeks to make sure I didn't run off with him, but now he lets me walk unaccompanied so you shouldn't worry about that. You're going to walk down the main path until you come to the intersection near Oz Deer
Park. I usually go left, but you are going to go right. You then keep going straight until you reach a bookstore called Timbens. When you go inside, tell them my name, Wendara, and they'll be able to help you. OK?" Elphaba nodded.
"But how will you get out?"
"Don't worry about that now. Just hurry. You have to get to Timbles in at least an hour, but don't make it look like you're rushing. While we eat, I'll tell you how to act aroundthe Wizard should you see himand you can tell me how to act."
After an hour or so, the Wizard waited outside the door for Katie to come back out. He straightened as he heard the door open and saw Sarah and Katie walk out.
"Good bye, Madame Margaret!" he heard Katie say as she shut and locked the door.
"Well?" he said as he approached her "Did you have a pleasant lunch, Katie?" Katie shrugged.
"It would have been more enjoyable if she had at least said hello."
"Yes" the Wizard agreed "I know what you mean. She rarely even talks to me. Well, I assure you I shall have a long talk with her while you take Prince Hamilton for a walk."
"Oh, it's perfectly alright, Your Ozness." Katie said as she and Sarah walked towards the stairs "I wouldn't want to trouble you. There's really no need for it."
"No. She must understand that even though she is unhappy, she must show certain people at least a little of the proper respect." Katie sighed.
"Very well, Sir. If you think that is best. Well, Prince Hamilton is waiting. Good afternoon, Your Ozness!" she made a quick bow and rushed down the stairs with Sarah, carrying the empty tray, close behind. The Wizard then unlocked the door and stepped inside to see Elphaba still staring sadlyout the window.
Elphaba rushed to the entrance and looked around frantically for the stroller. When she found it near the two guards standing near the door, she ran towards and looked down to see the gurgling baby inside. Her son Liir. It was the first time she had seen him in months and she wanted to lift him up in her arms and never let go.But she got behind the stroller and waited as the gaurds opened the door. As she walked out into the sunlight, she took one last look at Sarah before the door was shut. She then took a deep breath and began to walk down the main path into freedom.