Chapter 3

Fiyero paced up and down the room, weighing his options. Elphaba wasn't doing well, and that was a serious understatement. Right up until the last month, she had been fine, and now this. He didn't know what to do. If he sent for Glinda, that would be endangering all of their lives. But if he didn't, he could lose the one woman he ever truly loved. He could hear her cries of pain in the next room. It was tearing him to pieces. When she had first gotten sick, she had made him swear not to send for Glinda. But that promise was becoming easier and easier to break. The moans and wails got louder and louder until Fiyero's heart could bear it no more. He called Christery in. He would have to risk their lives.

Christery slowly scaled the walls of the palace. He hoped he was following Fiyero's instructions right. If he couldn't get to Glinda . . . Well then all hope was lost for Elphaba. He waited on the trellis for what seemed like hours. Suddenly Glinda glided in. He decided to wait until she came to the window, so as not to frighten her by just walking through. Luckily, he didn't have to wait long. After Glinda daintily took off her crown and sighed, she approached the balcony.

Glinda walked out. The cold night air felt wonderful to her face after being in that hot ballroom all evening long. She noticed a movement out of the corner of her eye. She spun around to see Christery walking towards her. She knew in her heart that this couldn't be good. She gave him a smile and said in a voice that betrayed her anxiousness, "Christery, what are you doing here?"

"Ms Glinda, you must come with me at once! Elphaba's life hangs in the balance!"

Glinda felt the blood run out of her body. No! This couldn't happen! She had lost her friend once, and she couldn't lose her again. "Give me five minutes," she said with all the calm she could muster. She quickly pulled out a suitcase and packed in it as many clothes as she thought she could. She stuck the Grimmere in on top. Then in pink pen she scrawled out a note to Nerote, telling him only there was an emergency that she had to take care of immediately. She sat for a minute, and added that she was taking Elphaba with her and to cancel all public appointments.

She went into the nursery as quietly as possible and picked up little Fae. With that, she walked out to the trelace, stepped into her bubble, and followed Christery into the moonlight.

Glinda had no idea where she was heading. She simply followed Christery. They had been flying for what seemed like ages. Little Fae had woken up a few times, and they had had to stop so as not to completely terrify the tiny girl. Without warning, Christery stopped. "We've arrived," he said quietly.

At first, Glinda couldn't figure out what on earth he was talking about. The only thing she could see was a clearing in the forest surrounded by fog. She studied a moment longer. The fog began to lift, and there it was. A modest castle, cleverly hidden, with only one light lit. Glinda didn't want to waste anymore time. "Take me to Elphie," she said. So the monkey flew into the castle and lowered the door. She quickly entered. Christery flew up a passage of stairs, Glinda closely on his heels. Finally they reached a long hallway. Fiyero was standing at the end of it. Glinda handed little Fae to Christery and ran to him. She looked at him, straight in the eyes. "Where is she?"

Fiyero silently pointed her towards the door. Glinda marched in. There on the bed lay Elphaba, moaning in agony, muttering words. Her green skin was covered in sweat, yet she was shivering. Glinda ran and held her in her arms. "Oh Elphie, Elphie!" and she broke down.

Fiyero walked into the room. "She's been this way for a little over two days. It started all of a sudden. I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry I had to call you, but the thought of losing her . . ." soon his tears joined Glinda's.

"Bring me the Grimmere," Glinda asked with a quivering voice, trying to bring herself together. "It's in my suitcase. There must be a spell to save her and the baby. I can't lose her again, not until I have tried to save her."

Fiyero did what he was told without question. Glinda sat stroking Elphaba's head, silently muttering promises to do so many sacrifices if only Elphaba would be spared. Suddenly Elphaba opened her eyes.

"Glinda," she said weakly. "Is that really you?"

"Oh Elphie! Yes, it's me! We are going to get you better. You and the beautiful child of yours. I promise."

"Galinda."

"What?"

"We've decided to name her Galinda," said Elphie with a smile that was so pitiful it almost set Glinda to crying again. "Glinda, you must make me two promises."

"Anything you ask," Glinda said, gently wiping the sweat from her friend's forehead.

"If you have to choose whether to save me or Galinda, save Galinda. Don't choose me. I don't think I could live with myself if didn't have her. And if something does happen to me, take care of her and Fiyero. Please Glinda. I need to know they'll be alright."

"I will, I will. But let's not talk like that. You both are going to make it through! You have to for me, and Fiyero, and Galinda, and little Fae. Look! She came to see her aunt Elphaba," taking the baby from Chirstery and laying her next to Elphaba. Elphaba gently stroked her blond curls and smiled.

"Take care of my Galinda. Please . . ." and she slipped back into the deep sleep.

Fiyero brought the Grimmere in silently. Glinda began to flip through its pages. How was she supposed to know how to read it She had never really had to use it, except for show. And now, if she didn't use it, she would lose one of the things most dear to her: her friend. Please wake up, Elphaba, please she silently begged of her. And as if she had heard her plea, Elphaba's eyes flickered open for what might be one of the last times.

"Elphaba! How do I read this? What spell do I use? Elphaba, you have to help me!" begged Glinda, the tears of frustration and concentration blending in with the ones of fear.

"Have heart, and you'll understand . . . " and with a final smile, Elphaba slipped back into a coma again.

Glinda felt like screaming. This couldn't be happening. With more determination than ever before, she carefully studied each page. None of them cause her heart to understand. With exasperation she continued, until one finally caught her eye.

The writing was smudged, but it was as if this particular spell was set apart from the rest. Glinda suddenly understood what Elphaba had meant. She studied the marks, and then began to chant what came to her. She chanted it over and over again, closing her eyes as if to put all her force into it. When she finally finished the incantation, she opened her eyes and looked at Elphaba. She was still the same.

This was more than Glinda could handle. She lay her head down on Elphie's shoulders and cried, letting forth all of her emotion. Not again. She hadn't been strong enough. She hadn't saved Elphie. She hadn't even saved the unborn Galinda. She had failed. A false smile or a cheery comment couldn't fix this. Nothing ever could. Her sobbing echoed throughout the halls of the stone castle. She could never forgive herself.

But then, she felt something. She sat up with a start. Elphaba opened her eyes and sat up, confused yet knowing. She looked at Glinda with eyes full of happy tears. "You saved us! Glinda you did it!"

"Oh Elphie!" Glinda said, rushing to hug her best friend. "You're alright! You and the baby are going to be alright!"

Fiyero heard Glinda's sobbing in the other room. It felt like a dagger to his heart. That's it. Glinda couldn't save her. He looked at the tiny Fae, cradled in his arms. His Elphie was gone. He let out a sorrowful cry, and then began to sob. The love of his life. The one who had caused him to think. The one woman who hadn't just taken him for an ignorant fool. Nothing would ever bring her back. He didn't know how long her cried. It could have been seconds, but then again, it could have been ten thousand years.

Then he heard footsteps running down the hall. Glinda coming to tell me the news, he thought to himself.

"Fiyero, co-"

"I know, she's gone. Just leave me in peace… to mourn," he said as a sob escaped his throat.

"Fiyero, she isn't dead! Far from it! Oh, come quickly! Hurry!" and with that she took little Fae in one arm and yanked him up with the other. She pulled him down the hall and into the bedroom. Fiyero could have passed out when he saw it. There sat Elphaba, and in her arms a buddle wrapped in pink cloth. He rushed over to her and pulled her into his arms. "You're alive! I thought that you were-"

"Shhhhh! You'll wake the baby!" she said with a mischievous smile. Fiyero looked down. There, in Elphaba's arms, laid the baby Galinda. And what a shock he received, for the baby wasn't green, as they had expected her to be, but rather resembled Fiyero! Well, as he used to be. Her hair though was as black as coal, and her eyes, which were now wide open, were a bright emerald green.

"Elphaba, she's beautiful . . . "

"Yes, she doesn't take after her mother, but rather her father!" Elphaba said with a laugh. Fiyero and Elphaba cooed over the baby as if they had never seen one before.

Glinda had been standing in the corner, watching with a smile. Finally she walked little Fae over to little Galinda, and running a loving hand through her daughter's curls, told her in a motherly voice, "Fae, this is your best friend, Ali."

If she only knew how those words would ring true, and how much little Elphie and Galinda would change Oz. But for then there was only happiness over the two little girls, little knowing that in their arms they held the future of Oz.