Happy Bunny Day to all of my Easter-celebrating readers! I updated a little earlier than expected and here's a surprise, since I don't know when I'll next update. I'm going to try to get in the habit of once a month. Reviews may goad me to sticking to this new regime :wicked smile:.
Disclaimer: Own nothing. Wish a lot.
Here you go: Chapter 13…
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It almost seemed as though, with Boq and Crope back in her life, Glinda had crossed over an invisible border, back into her youth. Together, they chatted, laughed, and resurfaced memories that she had almost forgotten. Well, not forgotten, Glinda thought as Crope told an amusing anecdote that involved her in second-year sorcery classes and a magicked pair of sewing sheers. Just stored into a box in the back of my mind.
Another box was breaking down the barrier of her maturity. Reading Elphie's letters brought back painful memories that Glinda would have liked to forget. But also, she learned things that she was sure Elphie would have tracked her down and murdered her, best friend or not, had she found out Glinda had read them. The box was addicting. It was, to her, a box of yummy chocolates that she was just aching to gobble entirely. But, she knew, if she tried to take everything in at once, she would make herself sick off of the memories. A nervous breakdown was something Glinda was keen to avoid.
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16 July, 3039 Ozian date.
Minik ot Bellun
Dear Glinda,
I'm huge. I look like a big green warship. It's disgusting. Not only have I swollen to monsterous proportions, but my legs are cramped all the time (not just when I am walking) and the baby won't stop kicking. All I get all day is thump, thump, thump. I swear to Ozma, I hear it in my sleep.
To make matters worse, Yackle has moved in. Well, that's not exactly true. It's just she's always there when I wake up, even when it's around five in the morning. And she doesn't leave till well past midnight. Though I am supposed to be sleeping. ("Nine o' clock, every night! And don't let Yackle hear any lip from dolly! The little ducky needs it." As though the big ducky doesn't.) I swear, I am going back in time. I haven't felt this chained since I was living in Quadling Country, when I was to be in at six in the evening, sharp. That Melena had a nasty temper if you were late.
Not that Yackle is any better. All day long, I hear, "Are you drinking enough water?" What a lovely question! Am I drinking enough water? What do you think, Yackle?
Well, according to Super-Nanny, no, I am not. And by the Unnamed God, if this child turns out to be severely deformed, I will have only myself to blame.
I don't tell Yackle that this is my worst fear. I would never forgive myself if my child had my deformity. Although, I must say, Liir was perfectly normal colored, but a bit on the pasty side.
As always,
Elphaba
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3 September, 3039 Ozian date.
Minik ot Bellun
Dear Glinda,
Oh, sweet Ozma! The baby came yesterday!
It's a girl! She's five pounds, six ounces, and she's just darling. (Oh, Ozma, that sounded like you, didn't it, Glinda?) The labor was only about three or four hours.
She has my eyes- dark, dark, dark. Her hair (well, what she has of it) is the color of midnight. But her skin is her true beauty. She is tanned, almost golden. Like a gypsy. She is absolutely stunning. Even Yackle said, "Well, the dolly didn't screw it up this time."
And she's right.
She has no blue diamonds, though. When I remarked upon this, Fiyero gave me this sort of incredulous-quizzical look and said, "Well, she wouldn't. The blue diamonds are tattooed on as a sign of manhood. No one is born with blue diamonds, Fabala." Then I felt stupid. I suppose I was expecting a blue-green-diamond-patterned Lurlinemas decoration to pop out. But it didn't. She's perfection. She's all the beauty I wish I had.
We named her Merylene. Yero's mother was called Meryl, and the "lene" part is after, well, Melena. Believe me, Glinda, that wasn't my idea. But Fiyero insisted. We are going to call her Merry for short. And I am making a solemn vow. You can be witness to it, Glinda. I will not screw up Merry's life, as I did Liir's.
As always,
Elphaba
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Well, do you like it? Merylene: yes, odd, I know, but I (May) am rather partial to "M" names. Tee hee. Review, and I will send hugs and kisses by mail.
P.S.- I may skip some years because I don't want this story to be 50 chapters long! But don't worry; there will be plenty of letters (and surprises) from Elphie in the future.