Author's Note: well, I've begun to write with new vigor thanks to you all who still want it, really like practically all of you I didn't even know you were reading, lol, so I'm going to keep it up and keep updating as long as readers are plentiful, though nancystagerat's comment was what really made me start writing again, so I'm dedicating this chapter to her- I'm going to try and keep this author's note short and just leave you with this thought of IF YOU READ PLEASE REVIEW, its not for the reviews, its for me to know people are still reading, I'm not going to write unless I know you're reading, and reviewing is the only way to do that, so here is the chapter… (PS: SECRET PRIZE TO ALL REVIEWERS!!!)

IMPORTANT Chapter Info: opps… one more thing before you're allowed to read, lol, hehehe, umm me and my friends consulted it, and we created a Charmed Circle Age Chart, though, I believe, Maguire did mean the book to end with Elphaba in the age of 43, his math adds Elphaba up to be 37/38… so here's the chart (well, some of it), if you want me to explain any part of it, I would be more than happy to and post my explanations in the next chapter:

Charmed Circle Age Chart (abridged version):

Age When Glinda Comes to Shiz-When Elphaba Leaves Shiz-When the Book Ends (In My Fic)-When My Fic Starts-Birthday

Elphaba/":18-19-37-38-June

Galinda/": 17-18-36-37-July

Nessarose/: 15-16-34-34-Late April

Boq": 18-19-36-36-Early February

Fiyero": 17-18-36-36-Early December

Birthday Based on Book/

Birthday Based on Me"

Chapter 14
Glinda sighed as she saw the fist signs of morning peek into her room. She massaged her temples in a futile attempt to ward off the ever-persistent migraine that seemed to plague her no matter how hard she tried to rid herself of it. For the past six months, nights for her had been restless. A sleep that was more like just simply going unconscious; awaking each day just as exhausted as the night before. She just couldn't get her thoughts together to figure out how she could possibly feel better. Though, of course, she knew it had to do something with the fact that she was working twice as much as she had ever done before.

She left her down pillows and silk sheets to have her bare feet greeted by satin slippers. Matching her long nightgown she slipped on a light blue robe, tying it around her waist, but before leaving she toke a quick glance in the mirror. She couldn't help but smile at what a contrast her outfit was to the gowns she wore daily. After a short comb to make sure her hair wasn't all over the place-imagine looking like a mess in front of the servants-she departed from her room into a long hallway that was comfortably equipped with hand-woven rugs from Wittica.

The head servant of the household, Kathleen, greeted her with a courtesy once she finished descending the staircase down into one of her many living rooms. "My lady, the morning is a picture. I suggest your breakfast be served in the Eastern wing dinning room, the one with a view out into the courtyard." Kathleen spoke with a voice of experience; heaven knows she probably did have a lot, seeing as how she must be over twice Glinda's own age and having worked in this profession her entire life.

Come to think of it how old was she…36…no, 37, "When did that happen?" she whispered, asking herself, forgetting that she wasn't alone. The maid gave her a look but Glinda dismissed it. "That sounds lovely. Lead the way." She followed Kathleen.

After being seated in an embroidered cushioned wooden chair at an antique hand-carved table her meal was served. Though in fact the breakfast was more like a banquette fit for thirty, but as usual she said nothing about the over-large portions. She knew the cook would take offense if she told him to prepare less, so she simply tried to eat as much as she could. Lately she didn't care to watch how much she ate at breakfast anymore; she often went without lunch and dinner most days, her life was a constant hustle and bustle. The morning was the only time during the day that was solely under her control and she reveled in it.

A minimum of six servants was always at her attendance, but she had become accustomed to their presence and now they simply melded into the background; just part of the scenery. Most likely more than half of the mansion's yearly expenses would go to the wages of her workers. She paid them generously and in return she was being given service fit for an Ozma.

Though, she thought, it is appropriate I suppose. It had taken a time getting used to, and she still didn't think of herself any differently, but she was the new ruler of Oz. Temporarily though, as she assured the public. It wasn't as if she had wanted the job, there was just not a single person adequate for it beside herself, according to those who had unanimously voted her into office, at least. Though, she had been unknowing about the entire 'need' for her to take the position until three days after The Wizard's departure, when she was approached with the topic. But what could she have done, refuse? No. She accepted and hoped to do the best she could at it, which apparently wasn't all that bad, so far. But once the proper person was found she would gladly put him, or he, into office. And hopefully whoever this person was would be given a better title than her own. Apparently to the public she was known as The New Ozma. She detested being compared to the Ozma reign and hoped nobody considered anything of it. She was doing everything in her power to deject the idea, but so far nobody thought twice about her efforts.

After eating a good portion of the bacon strips, eggs (scrambled and sunny-side up), and buttered cinnamon-toast that had been served, she moved to the more flavorful breakfast choices. She loaded her plate with a stack of warm fluffy buttermilk pancakes that tipped ever so slightly, threatening to fall over. Each was topped with, alternating between, sweet, juicy strawberries, rich blueberries, and cinnamon-apple, along with a whipped topping. She also added several pork sausage links and a few slices of ham to her already-over-full plate. She smelled the delicious food and couldn't help but shoving mouthfuls of it into her mouth, lest she start to drool.

When she finally came up for air she decided to slow down a bit; Half the Battle is Pacing Yourself, oh how she loved revisiting her old quotes, they brought back so many memories. She turned her head to take a look to her left at a giant window, the main attraction of this particular dining room. Currently it was covered with red and gold curtains, threaded with a design so elaborate Glinda herself was sure she had not seen all of it. To think she had lived with those curtains since the day she and Sir Chuffrey had married, it had been a wedding present.

Her lips let out a sigh, the second one within the hour. She placed down her fork; a break from eating was only proper while remembering her deceased husband. She brought her head up to take a cursory glance at the chair across the table, just to register that it was empty. She had loved him; the two had fit together well. Though true she had married him for his money, she wasn't fooling herself into not believing that, and true she had always wanted children... and true she wasn't always- faithful to their marriage, but he had been familiar. He had been sweet and kind to her, which was more than any other lover of hers could say. It had only been six months since his death and she still wasn't used to being alone. She reprimanded herself for not caring more about him when he had been alive.

She clapped, "The window, please," she directed to the nearest servant. He dashed to the curtains and opened them slowly, allowing the white morning light to spill into the room. Kathleen had been right; it was a beautiful day, in a bare-silence sort of way. In a pale elegance outside the window stood the rest of Glinda's palace, well, most of it. Her home was built in a 'U' shape, though, with many wings crossing over or just simply jutting out of the two main wings, there were even some halls that bridged across randomly on the upper floors, she loved it.

She had wasted not a single breathe in designing it. Architecture was her passion and suddenly she was set free. The designing of her masterpiece took all of a week, she knew what she wanted and she dove in head first to get it. Taking blueprints, designs, paintings, sketches, descriptions, anything of the architecture in Shiz, she used it all to envision what she was looking at right now.

When she had been told she must take up residence in the Emerald City as Oz's new ruler she didn't think she would have been able to stand living in a monstrosity built in the design of High Hostile Crudstyle. Even looking at the wealthiest parts of the Emerald City makes her want to cringe. So as a solution to her opposition against moving into the Wizard's old palace, she had it removed instead. She wanted her place of residence to be not just a mansion, but also a home, and she knew very well that the best part of her life was spent at Shiz. It seemed only proper to make her home some sort of reflection of the city where she spent her college years.

Merthic, Bloodstone, Bluestone, Gallantine, all the styles mixed together to create stunning towers that reached heights beyond any emerald tower. Narrow arches topped with distorted pediments, curves, curves everywhere, oddly shaped ogees were especially common when leading outdoors. Pedestals too, Glinda chuckled, when was the last time the Emerald City had seen pedestals? True only the most ancient buildings of Shiz still had pedestals, but hers were special. They were gorgeous things that burst into waves and waves of arches, twisting and entwining in and out, seeming as if the very stone they were built out of had grown up out of the ground in an eruption of physical grace and elegance.

All of it hand carved, though that depends on how you define 'hand carved'. It would have cost the entire country an arm and a leg if it hadn't been for her hiring of a few skilled individuals in the art of sorcery. Of course the palace wasn't simply magicked into existence, all the stone had been set, all the wood had been built in place, the metal frames forged. Her specialists simply shaped the materials, via sorcery, into her preferred image. They had taken all of Shiz and shaped it, morphed it randomly into her monument of a house built with a mixture of wood, stone, with just a touch of metal, as a kind of… garnish. True sometimes it took days to simply shape a few arches, but it was faster than the conventional method, and cheaper. The job had been finished little below a month ago, groundbreaking efficiency.

In this morning light her goliath of castles looked absolutely gorgeous. The branches of trees, bare, reaching up, grasping for the stone that towered over them, and ivy strategically placed, falling, growing off of balconies, with vine just beginning to creep up the walls. It was hers, and all hers. But what she liked the most about it was the fact that it wasn't green, it made a statement towards The Wizard's rule.

She sipped her tea and grabbed a few biscuits out of a bowl and buttered them, taking some cheese and putting it inside each, along with the final touch of some ham. She relished in her ingenuity at putting together these little 'breakfast-sandwiches', savoring each bite of the first one and soon moving onto the second when she was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"You may come in," she answered. It was a proper manner of politeness and respect to knock before entering. Glinda had made sure her servants were well taught in the ways of higher etiquette.

Kathleen took a step in and curtseyed quickly before delivering her news. "My lady, I'm sorry for disturbing you but your guest would like to speak with you. If you would like him to come back at a better time then-"

"No its fine, see him in and then you may go." Kathleen nodded and curtseyed before bringing in her surprise visitor who had arrived last night.

Chapter Dedication: nancystagerat