(NOTE): I'm sorry if I have bad tense usage in this one, but, hehe, you know me!
By the time two months had passed, Elphaba had gotten used to the arrangements. She had abandoned the green dress and had made a simple, long sleeved frock out of black material. Throughout the day, she would help the rest of the women with the chores while Glinda (and Chistery) would babysit Liir and Fiyero would work with the men. At the meals, she would sit with Fiyero, Boq, and Glinda at the Head table. When she had at first met everyone, it was strange having people instantly warm up to her, but she certainly couldn't be happier about it. Most of the Galindiazers were men in their prime (and their wives if they had one), but there were also a good deal amount of young women who seemed to really look up to Glinda. There was an occasional grimace or look of distaste on one or two of the young womens' faces when they met her, but, overall, everyone was completely comfortable with her.
Everyone especially took a great liking to Liir. Some of the other married couples had young children of their own, and it made Elphaba very happy to see them play with her son. He was not treated at all the same way she had been when she was an infant. He was more than welcome to even look at another child while, when she had been his age, people would shield their children from her. But that was all in the past, and for those past couple of months, she finally felt accepted.
Lately, she had been noticing that Glinda and Boq had been spending an awful lot more time together.Glinda's looks towards Boq were certainly more tender, and their conversations had become more frequent (not to mention more interesting).Glinda had constantly been complaining to Elphaba about how her feelings for Boq were all muddled up and although she dearly loved Glinda, it began to slightly annoy her. Like now, for instance, when she went to check up on Liir.
"Elphie, it's just so confusifying! Every time I see him I don't know whether to jump on him and smother him with kisses or just give him his space! Tell me the truth, is this how you feel with Fiyero?" Elphaba thought for a moment as she sat on her bed and fed Liir his afternoon bottle. Chistery was resting on his perch from after eating a small snack.
"No, with him it's more like a strong warmth. With a touch of intense heat now and then of course." at this, Glinda giggled "But, most of the time, when we're together, I just feel a sense great, deep warmth."
"And when you're apart?"
"Well, if we're extremely far apart, longing. But only a few yards away, normal."
"When ever I'm even a few feet apart from Boq I feel longing. Why is that, Elphie?" Elphaba shrugged as Liir finished the bottle and she put him against her shoulder, lightly tapping his back.
"I'm not sure Glinda. It could be love, but then again, it could just be a strong attraction to his looks. Many of the other girls have been noticing them as well, and they definitely don't mind being around him as often as they can." Glinda felt a strange twing in her heart as she heard this. It was the same feeling she had felt when Fiyero had first run off with Elphaba. I think that people call it she thought jealousy.
"Oh, Elphie, what should I do?"
"I really don't know, Glinda. I suppose just wait and see what happens." Before Glinda could say anything else, Fiyero burst into the room, a look of excitement on his flushed face.
"Fae" he gasped "you'll never guess who's here!"
"Who?"
"Kaphion! He's here with Inchea; they arrived a few minutes ago. They're in the Main Room just now talking to Boq."
"How did they know where we were?" asked Elphaba as she laid Liir back in the cradle.
"I sent them a message." said Glinda. Fiyero and Elphaba turned to look at her. "I wanted to tell you, but I wanted to wait until I got a response from them."
"A response to what?" Fiyero asked.
"If they would help us. You told me that they said to ask them for help if anything happened to you, so I... thought I would just ask for you if you wouldn't."
"Glinda! I don't want to put them at risk!" Elphaba said.
"Elphie, you don't understand! I simply wrote what had happened to you and Fiyero and asked if they'd be willing to send any help! I didn't ask them to come themselves!"
"Well, what's done is done." Fiyero said "And I have to admit, I'm very happy to see my little brother again. Don't think about it now, Fae, just comeon see them. And bring Liir, too."
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"Elphaba!" Inchea rushed over to her and wrapped her into a hug. As she pulled back, her eyes caught sight of Liir in her arms. "Oh, Elphaba! What an adorable little thing! Is it a boy or a girl?"
"It's a boy, Liir. It's nice to see you, Inchea. And you, Kaphion."
"Hey, Elphaba." He walked over and gave her a hug.
"Hello." Glinda said, coming in "You must be Kaphion and Inchea. I'm..."
"Glinda?" Boq said "Um...could I talk to you for a clock tick?"
"Oh, Boq" a blush crept into Glinda's cheeks "sure. It was nice to meet you two!" She waved at them before following Boq into the hallway.
"So..uh...Fiyero,"said Kaphion "why don't you guys show us around?"
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At dinner, Kaphion and Inchea discussed with Elphaba and Fiyero (Glinda and Boq still hadn't returned) about what they intended to do.
"Glinda wrote about some kind of plan to help the Munchkins, and we decided that we're all for it." said Kaphion "So, we've chosen to send some of the tribal Arjiki and Yunamata warriors to help fight."
"Does Father approve of this?" Fiyero asked his brother "And, Inchea, what about your parents?"
"Father has given me total control of the tribe." Kaphion answered "He thinks that he 'doesn't have much longer to live', but you know how Father is. Always over dramatic, always thinking something's wrong with him." he then spoke to Elphaba "I swear, if it weren't for our mother, he would've been bedridden years ago."
"My parents died just a few months ago." Inchea said "The tribe has been split up between me and my younger sister, who's married to one of the nobles. Basically, my share of the tribe has been added to the Arjikis."
"As if the Arjikis wasn't big enough already." Fiyero commented "If your two tribes intermarried, it could start a whole new one."
"I doubt it." said Inchea "They'd just consider themselves part of the Arjikis. But getting back to the point, we need to know exactly what the plan is before we can arrange everything."
"It's still in progress," Elphaba said, handing Liir to Fiyero, who had offered to take him "but we do know we will need as many fighters as possible. Only, we don't really have enough room to fit everyone in here so..."
"There's no need to worry about that." said Kaphion "We can keep the warriors where they are for now, and when you need them you can just give us a call."
"That's very generous of you." They turned to see Boq coming up with a flushed looking Glinda. "Any help you could offer would be very much appreciated."
"Elphie? Inchea?" Glinda said to the two women "May I speak with you a moment?" They each nodded and excused themselves from they table as they followed Glinda into her room. "Oh, girls I'm so happy!" Glinda said "Boq asked me to have dinner with him...alone!"
"Why that's wonderful Glinda!" Inchea said, giving her a hug.
"It took him that long to ask you?" Elphaba asked. Glinda blushed.
"Well, you see, he had led me into his room, saying that he wanted to ask me something and the next thing I know I'm spilling my heart out to him, saying how happy I was around him and how I dearly missed him when he wasn't around. There was an awkward silence after that, but eventually he told me that he was glad I felt that way and asked me to have dinner with him. And, after that, we..." her face grew even more pink "shared a kiss." Inchea squealed happily and gave Glinda another hug. Elphaba thought they looked exactly like two giddy school girls. She smiled and held Glinda's hand.
"I'm happy for you Glinda. I hope you have a wonderful time. When is the dinner?"
"Tonight." Glinda said "That's why we didn't show up. We wanted to have it tonight. Oh, sweet Oz! I have positutely nothing to wear!"
"Oh, don't worry about that!" Inchea said "I brought some of my good dresses with me (I always carry them if I'm going somewhere, just in case). You can borrow one of those!"
"Oh, Inchea, really? You're a life saver!" Elphaba rolled her eyes and stared at the two girls. Inchea and Glinda were so much alike, and she was glad that now at least Glinda had someone to stylize with.
"Well, it looks like you two don't need me anymore, so I'll just..."
"Oh no you don't Elphie!" Glinda grabbed her friend's arm. "You have to help!"
"Me?" Elphaba raised an eyebrow and looked down at her plain black dress "Glinda, I don't think you've noticed but I'm not very good at..."
"Come on, Elphie!" Glinda insisted, dragging her reluctant friend into her room. "It'll be fun!" I doubt it Elphaba thought, but she said nothing and just watched as Inchea rushed back in after a few moments with a few different colored dresses. "These are lovely!" Glinda gushed as she looked through them.
"They're the usual dresses worn by royal Yunamata women at special dinners." Inchea said proudly.
"Why did you bring those all the way out here?" Elphaba asked, amused.
"That doesn't matter, Elphie!" Glinda said, picking up a rose-colored gown "Look at how beautiful this is! I think I'll wear this one."
"And that's final." Elphaba said "I know how you are Glinda. Knowing you, you'll try on every dress until you find the right one."
"So?" Glinda said, slipping the light blue frock over her head and putting the red gown on.
"I'm not staying for that long. So if you want my help..."
"Oh, very well Elphie!" Glinda said, pretending to be extremely annoyed "I like this one any way. Don't you?" Elphaba nodded, she had to agree it was pretty. It fit Glinda perfectly snug, outlining her petite body beautifully, and the thick straps hung down her shoulders, leaving them bare. Inchea nodded approvingly.
"That one was always too small for me." she said "But it fits you perfectly." Glinda giggled with delight.
"Now, Inchea, you help with my make-up, and Elphie, you can do my hair!"
"Glinda, honestly, I don't anything about any of this!"
"Elphie, I trust you!" Glinda said, putting a hand on her shoulder "As long as you don't cut or color it, I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever you come up with. Now, Inchea, what kind of make-up do you have?"
By the time Inchea was done with Glinda's make-up, she already looked stunning. Her lips were covered with red lipstick and her eyelids were painted with creamy light pink . Inchea then went back out to find her husband, wishing Elphaba luck. "Ok, Elphie," Glinda said, sitting down in the chair near the vanity, flipping out her long, gold hair "your turn." Elphaba groaned as she took the hair brush and ran it through Glinda's hair, grimacing nervously as she saw Glinda shutting her eyes so the result would be a surprise. She racked her brain trying to come up with a fitting style and her mind went back to Sarah. She remembered when Sarah had put it up in an elegant bun, when she would have dinner with the Wizard. Trying her best to recount what Sarah had done, she took Glinda's hair in her green hands and twisted up as best she could into the same bun she had remembered. By the time she was finished, Elphaba was astonished at how well she had done. She picked out a few short, wavy wisps and let them hang around Glinda's face.
"You can look now." She said. As Glinda opened her eyes, she let out a large gasp, clearly pleased with how she looked.
"Elphie!" she exclaimed "Why didn't you tell me how good you were at this!" Elphaba shrugged.
"I didn't really know, to tell you the truth, but I'm glad you like it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go and see how my husband and son are." She leaned down and gave her friend a quick hug "Have a great time."
"Thank you, Elphie!" Glinda said as Elphaba left the room. She then turned back and stared at herself in the mirror, still shocked at how well Elphaba had done her hair.
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When everyone else had gone to bed (Inchea and Kaphion were staying in an extra room), Boq had set up a small table in his room, set with the best plates, glasses and silverware he could find. He had extinguished the usual torches and had lit two candles on the table and around certain parts of the room, hoping that this would be more romantic. He had also borrowed one of Kaphion's best suits, and luckily, due to him being taller, it fit him fairly well. He hadn't wanted to bother the cooks with making an exquisite meal, so he had just used what was left of that night's dinner. He paced anxiously around the room as he waited for Glinda.
"Boq?" He stopped moving around and looked at Glinda, who had just came in. His eyes widened at the sight of her. She looks dazzling Boq thought and he told her so. Glinda blushed and looked at the neatly set table. "Boq, everything looks absotutely beautiful." He thanked her as he pulled her chair out and she sat down. The dinner went smoothly, with interesting conversation and compliments here and there. When they finished eating, Boq pulled out a small wooden box and handed it to Glinda.
"It's not much." he said as she opened it "but I hope you like it." Glinda smiled at what was inside. It was a necklace with a small heart attached; it looked like it was made out of the same metal they were using to make the swords, and that's more than likely what was made out of, but she felt like this was more precious than any gold or silver.
"I love it Boq." she said as she put it on "Thank you so much." Boq's eyes shined as he saw it on her. He then saw her stifle what looked to be a yawn and realized that it was pretty late. He got up at offered her his arm.
"I can tell you're tired Glinda. Shall I lead you back to your room?" Glinda nodded gratefully and took his arm. As they arrived outside her room, they turned to look at each other.
"I had a very nice time tonight, Boq." Glinda said "Thank you."
"My pleasure." he said looking into her eyes. Their faces got closer and they shared their second kiss. It seemed to last for an eternity before they finally let go and said good night. As Glinda walked into her room, she sighed with happiness and fell onto her bed in eternal bliss.
Two months the Wizard thought angrily as he paced his room. Two whole months and not a trace of them! The only hint we've had is the body of that traitor Katie or whatever her name was. I must have combed the Great Kells at least a dozen times and not one damn clue of their whereabouts! He pulled out the necklace he had taken from Elphaba and clenched it in his fist. He had searched evry inch of Gillikin and The Glikkus and had found nothing. Munchkinland and The Vinkus were being throughly investigated, but not much, except Wendara's dead form, had turned up. Only the two Fallows and the Lesser Kells left to be searched he thought and then I'll move to the Quadling Country and Quox. He clenched the necklace even tighter And when I get them back, my dearest daughter will be sorry she ever left! Madame Morrible walked in at that moment, carrying a green glass bottle.
"Oh, Your Ozness, you looked all riled up!" she said offering him the bottle "Perhaps this shall help to calm you down." He snatched the bottle away and took a long drink from it. He felt himself go calm after that and nodded a thanks at Morrible. "Sir, I'm just here to tell you that we have searched every inch of the Wend Follows and are proceeding towards the Nest Fallows."
"I take it you did not find anything?" Morrible shook her head. The Wizard grunted and sank into his armchair. "Is there nothing you can do about this? Is there not one spell you can use to help me find them?"
"I'm afraid that magic cannot solve everything, Your Ozness, and there is little I understand from the Grimmerie. Miss Elpha...forgive me, Madame Margaret, is apparently the only one in all of Oz who can understand it fully." The Wizard sighed angrily and took another sip from the bottle. "I believe I shall retire for the night now, Your Ozness. Good night."
As she shut the door, she grinned smugly to herself. Yackle's words echoed in her ears: Bring her to me so I can take her powers. What the Wizard didn't know, was that the only way Yackle could take Elphaba's powers, was to kill her and absorb the energy that emitted from her dying body. And personally, Morrible couldn't wait.