Here it is! What you've all been waiting for the (in)famous chapter 9. Now, I'm waiting for at least four reviews before I post another chapter. So, get reviewing people:-) Elphaba-thropp: COMMENT!

CHAPTER NINE: Sweet, sweet surrender

The next evening, Madikien had succeeded in not pressing her to talk during the morning and afternoon. In fact, he didn't even mention their disagreement at all. But he wouldn't touch her at all, either.

Elphaba, too, had accomplished her goal of keeping him far away from the subject. But she wasn't sure if he'd already had the intention not to say anything or if she'd been lucky to evade further prying. She didn't really care, as long as she held most of the power.

One of them would have to break.

After dinner, Elphaba relaxed on the bed and began reading her book. Madikien sat at the table, just thinking – or trying to pretend he wasn't looking at her. Her black hair was all the way down and she was constantly pulling it back behind her ears so it wouldn't get in the way while she was reading. She was wearing a long sleeved blouse with a flowing, long black skirt. It was tied around her – not so easy to remove as the one with the waistband, he noted shamefully – and was made with thick cloth that was almost too long; he couldn't see her bare feet.

They weren't deliberately not saying anything, there wasn't tension lurking beneath the words they weren't speaking. It was a peaceful silence. The room itself was peaceful, with the small fire giving off warmth, with the traces of frost still on the window. There were occasional scratching noises within the walls from the mice and rats, but even Elphaba wasn't bothered.

The fire crackled and Elphaba looked up for a moment, catching Madikien looking at her. She smiled at him and went back to her book. When he found it difficult to look away, he yawned indiscreetly, trying to put the idea in her head that she was tired. He couldn't continue looking at her this way. But the way the firelight hit her skin was tantalizing. It was difficult to remind himself that he'd decided not to touch her until she opened up more.

Elphaba wasn't looking at him the same way; she really was actually reading her book. But though she took in every word on every page, her thoughts were elsewhere. She glanced at him for a moment, curious to see if he was still looking at her. Their eyes met and she raised her eyebrows at him. "What are you staring at?"

"Nothing, really. I'm just thinking."

"And why do you have to look this way when you're thinking?"

"It happened to be the way I was sitting."

"Well, sit some other way. You're making me uncomfortable.

"Oh, now you admit when you're uncomfortable?"

"And now you have a problem with it?"

"No, but it would've been nice if you had done so a few days ago."

"How long are we going to fight about this?" She put the book to the side, exasperated.

"I don't know. That's why we need to talk about this, Elle."

"We've tried that twice, my dear, it didn't work so well, if you recall."

"Something has to change. Can't you please just tell me what went wrong?"

"No. It doesn't concern you or anything that happens from now on."

"I wish you'd tell me these things."

"I've told you too much as it is."

"I'm not sure if I actually know you."

"Don't worry about that," she said, examining the sliver of a scar that remained long after the rat had bitten her and would remain longer still.

"Why? Doesn't it matter?"

"You know enough."

"I don't feel the same way." And he didn't only mean mentally. His eyes traveled her body; he wanted to know everything.

Perhaps seeing the way his eyes moved across her, she wouldn't look at him for a moment. The wind shook the little building and she looked out the window, though there wasn't much to see in the black of night. "There are no stars tonight."

He went along with her for a while. "Well, winter will be over soon enough."

"That depends. In this part of Oz, winter could last all year if we aren't lucky."

"But we wouldn't know. Not unless we figure out which part of the year we're actually in."

She laughed carelessly. "I think I might've missed my birthday."

"And Lurlinemas."

"I don't care about that. But imagine me writing home and asking, 'Father, how old am I now?'"

"I can't even imagine you writing home."

"Good point." She closed her eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to figure out how old I am. I'm trying to see how much older I feel."

"That's bound to be accurate." He rolled his eyes.

She opened her eyes and leaned back on the bed. "You'd be surprised."

"I don't think you can surprise me anymore."

She looked at him with a challenge in her eyes. "Don't say that until you're sure."

He didn't talk, trying to bait her into talking about herself.

She wasn't taking it. For a little while, she was silent. She was trying to think of something to say that wouldn't lead them to anything she didn't want to talk about. "The cat brought me a dead mouse this morning."

"Isn't that precious?" He teased.

"One less mouse."

"That mouse could've been sick."

"Would you stop worrying about this? The cat is fine. Stop being so afraid of it."

"I'm not afraid of it!"

"Then what is with your constant questions about it? It's harmless."

"I love that you haven't given it a name."

"I'll name it sooner or later. I haven't gotten around to it. Besides, what's so important about naming the damn thing, anyway?"

"It gives it a little more dignity."

"And you care about the cat's dignity?"

"Not really."

"Then it will have no name."

"If you want it that way." He shook his head, trying not to laugh.

"Hey, don't laugh at me like that! You're the one who came up with the brilliant idea of naming the rats and mice."

He stopped laughing. "Which I never actually did, for a good reason."

"You're afraid they'll bite you. Don't worry, it'll happen sooner or later."

"Not this again."

"Then what should we talk about?"

"I don't know. Tell me something about yourself. There's got to be a lot of things I don't know."

"And you don't know them for a reason."

"Elphaba…"

"Would you stop? I'll tell you what I feel like telling you when I want to tell you, all right?"

He moved towards her and sat down. "I'm curious."

"Well, that's too bad." She smiled mysteriously.

"This is silly. There's no reason not to tell me anything."

"And there's certainly no reason to be pushing it, Madikien." She was facing the window again.

"Would you at least look at me for a minute?" He grabbed her hand.

"Fine."

"Elphaba, I care about you no matter what you did or were through before."

"I know."

"Then what's there to hide?"

"Haven't you asked me this before?"

"You're being impossible right now, do you know that?"

She looked at him, more than a little irritated now. "It's better if I keep some things to myself, don't you understand?"

"Yes. But you've barely told me anything. All I know is a short outline of your past."

"And you haven't told me much, either."

"I would if you asked."

"Well, I'm asking." She said, and kissed him.

There was a brief moment where he remembered that he'd decided that he wouldn't allow her to do this, but that was quickly forgotten as they sank onto the bed. Well, he told himself, some things were easier said than done, and resisting her was one of them. The way he longed for her was insatiable. He felt as though he'd been starving and thirsty for much too long. As ravenous as he was, he had to remember to be gentle with her. His hands obediently stayed above her waist (for the moment, anyway) as he delicately undid the buttons of her blouse, slowly, one at a time.

"I'm still sorry about before." She murmured, her eyes on him. There was no uncertainty in those eyes anymore, no fear. Her eyes only reflected the desire in his.

"Don't bring it up just now." He whispered. Still toying with her blouse, he kissed her shoulders, the curve where her neck and shoulders met. Her body was soft and responsive. She tugged at his shirt, wanting the warmth and safety of his body pressed against hers. He pulled it off with ease and then finished removing her blouse, kissing her tenderly.

He sucked on her neck softly and she moved a little, sighing. He combed his fingers through her hair effortlessly. Running his fingers up the small of her back, he tickled her a little, teasing.

"In case you didn't know," she said, trying to suppress a laugh, "you're absolutely not doing anything wrong right now."

"Good." With an arm around her waist, he pulled her to him and kissed her without holding back. Her hair fell in front of her face and he brushed it away with his hand. He pulled back and looked at her for a moment.

She squirmed under his gaze. "What?"

He was only able to smile at her.

"Are you going to let me in on what that was about?"

"I thought I already told you that you're beautiful." He ran his hands along her torso and across her stomach, enjoying how much it tickled her.

"You're not fair. You're using flattery. And I told you that torture tactics are off limits."

"I can make you give in without torturing you."

"You're welcome to try."

He grinned. "Oh, I will." Pushing her hair away, he went back to her neck, knowing now that it was one of her weak spots, all of which he intended to find sooner or later.

"Mmmm. Well, well, you know me better than I thought you did."

"But I haven't gained near enough knowledge to end this war."

She laughed softly. "Do you plan to?"

"That depends," he said, nibbling on her earlobe, "would you let me?"

"I refuse to give you any information, but perhaps I should allow you the chance to search for it."

"I like searching for it better, anyway."

"Good. Because I'm not handing it to you on a silver platter."

"Not yet." He kissed her, slowly running a finger along her spine, making her shiver.

"I think I'm making this too easy."

"Nope. I haven't gotten close enough."

She kissed him again, tempting him to get closer. They wrestled each other playfully, each needing their own form of control.

"I know you don't want me asking this," he breathed, "but are you all right?"

The look she gave him was irritated, yet not angry. "Never better."

"No lies?"

"No lies. Don't push it or you'll ruin this moment."

One last, brief thought of stopping everything ran through his head. But there was no letting go now. She wanted the same thing, why anger her by asking her about it? What she'd said was right, it would only ruin it. And things had just barely begun.

She couldn't deny her need to give in anymore. This wasn't doing anyone any harm, anyway. Even Yackle had told her to do this. And there was something in Madikien's eyes that excited her. It dawned on her then that she hadn't known what it was like to be wanted in such a way until that moment. The feeling was breathtaking, she found. What had she been afraid of?

"Elphaba…"

"What?"

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about this?"

"You are so close to killing the mood right now. If you ask me one more time to talk about it, we'll talk about it, but we won't end up actually doing it."

"Sorry. I just don't want to do anything that we won't both enjoy."

"Maybe you can't tell, but I'm enjoying this quite a bit. And I'm pretty sure you're enjoying this, too."

He drew her to him, stealing a very sensuous kiss.

She arched her back, pressing her hips against him, allowing him the room to untie the cloth that made her skirt impenetrable. There was a swift movement and the skirt was thrown recklessly to the floor. Now all that was left on her were her undergarments, leaving her feeling a little exposed. But it was only the two of them, and he wasn't going to hurt her – she knew that. Still, she pulled the blanket over them a little, wanting to create more distance between their bodies and the rest of the world. This was their time and moment; neither one of them believed that the outside world mattered just now.

Very attentively and slowly, he helped her out of everything that was left covering her body. More than a little thrilled, he ran his hands over her, tickling, weakening and taunting her with his hands, one coming to rest on her waist. His other hand rested just below the small of her back. And he kissed her, starting at her mouth, continuing downwards on a thoroughly planned path that reached its destination just below her waist. He teased and pleasured her with his tongue, stirring up friction inside of her, causing her to tremble – but not out of alarm or pain.

Her eyes closed and one hand held his on her waist, the other lay calm and helpless at her side. She found that her breathing had changed pace and a soft moan escaped her throat. And she let him take her away for a little while, let him erase all of the nervousness and apprehension. After some time, she shifted slightly so he would look in her eyes again. Within a moment, the remainder of his clothing fell away and left them looking at each other, knowing – but not saying – what must come next.

"Hey." He smiled at her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ears. They were both a little hesitant, not out of fear, but out of the sheer knowledge that these next few moments and what they were about to let happen would change things. Yes, it would change things; though how it would, neither one of them was quite sure.

"Madikien?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Yes?"

Hating to admit how easily she could be hurt, she said, "Just… be careful with me."

"I will."

"But not too careful." She smiled evenly.

"I know."

"All right," she said, bringing her lips to his, "I give in."

"Totally and completely?"

"I'm waving a white flag." She braced herself for the final moment; everything was about to change.

"Do you surrender?" He asked, gingerly slipping inside of her.

Something in her snapped. "Yes." She whimpered a little. There was a pinch of hurt and then it was gone.

He glanced at her, afraid that she'd whimpered in pain, not pleasure. She'd winced, he noted, but the pain left her face immediately after and a more loving, gentle expression took it's place, her eyes on him, looking at him with an intensity that he'd never seen in her. "Say so, then." He told her. "In a full sentence."

"This isn't fair."

"Oh, it's more than fair."

"I surrender."

He cleared his throat.

"Fine, fine. I surrender totally and completely."

"That's better." He kissed her and softly began to move gradually back and forth.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, for she had dissolved into weakness, unable to hold herself up much longer. And as the night drew on, she let go of herself and reveled in the heat and feeling of such a sweet and merciless surrender.

When the sun was beginning to rise, Elphaba was half asleep, her head nestled on his arm; Madikien was still awake. He looked at her, meticulously taking in everything. It wasn't the way he'd expected it to have been, but it was sweet all the same. He noted, with no surprise, that she'd bled a little. As the sunlight spread across her face, she seemed to glow for a moment, a stunning, emerald glow. "Elphaba? Elle?"

"Hmm?" It took her a moment to focus. "What is it?" She yawned.

"I need to tell you something."

"Madikien, as much as I adore you, I don't want to talk to you right now. I just want to sleep, that's all. Whatever you have to say can wait. Wait until morning…" She muttered, closing her eyes again.

"Elphaba, my jewel," he said, knowing now that she was his (and happy to be able to say so), "my gem," he added, making a not-so-subtle pun on her soft, emerald-tinted skin, "it is morning."

"Oh, well. I'm still tired. So, if you don't mind, my dearest, I'm going back to sleep. I don't even have the energy to listen and comprehend right now. And I'm surprised that you do." She gave him a weary smile and stretched out, trying to get more comfortable. "Good night, good morning, whatever. If you want to get up, do it now, so you don't wake me later. But you should get some sleep, darling. It's been a very, um, interesting night." She kissed him sweetly and curled up against him, pulling the blanket up to her chin.

He laughed at her bluntness. "I think I could use a few hours of shut-eye, too."

"Good. I didn't feel like being distracted."

"I think I distracted you enough last night." He teased. "But you weren't complaining then."

"There was nothing to complain about. But now, dear, I'm tired and I would like nothing better than to fall asleep with you." She looked at him sleepily. "Madikien, honey, just hush up and fall asleep, all right?"

He put an arm around her and watched her breathing rise and fall beneath the blanket. It was hard to tell if she'd fallen back asleep yet or if she was still trying to. She looked like the very image of beauty to him. Quietly, he murmured, "I love you."

As if the words came from far away, she heard them. But she simply continued to try getting to sleep, for she feared the word "love" much more than she had feared the act of making it.