A/N: Thanx to everyone who has reviewed! It means a lot to me,a dn I thank you deeply:-) Anyway, I've made some changes to chapter 1 and hope you like chapter 2! They may be a little short, but this is how I write…so keep R&R! I love reviews, even if they say "bad" critics! ;-)
Oh! I almost forget about disclaimers!
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Wicked. I just borrow the characters for a little while and for some personal fun, which I hope to share!
Note: does anyone know how many sisters were they in Sarima's family?
Chapter 2: What the rain dropped by
It was a cloudy morning. For the past few days it had been raining non stop, except for today. The sun hadn't come out yet, but at least it wasn't raining anymore.
Inside Kiamo Ko's principle castle, Six and Four had been preparing breakfast in the kitchen, while the other sisters cleaned and fed the animals. Six was cooking scrambled eggs and some fruit, while Four was taking out the milk and pouring it into several glasses.
"It seems like the Unnamed God has stopped crying." Said Six, looking out the window, giving a content sigh of release. 'At least some quietness and no water. Water can be so tiring sometimes…' thought Six.
"What would he be crying for? The Unnamed God doesn't cry." Replied Four. She was the least religious of the family. And everyone looked at her badly for that.
"Yes, yes, Four." Said Six, dismissively. She couldn't understand why was it that her sister was so unreligious. She herself found it fascinating how an almighty entity was able to control everything! And the story of it all! It was just overwhelming!
Returning back from her thoughts, Six added, "Well, this fruit and eggs are done. Is the milk and tea ready, sister?" The girl cleaned her hands on her washed out apron, and turned around to see what her sister was doing. Indeed, her sister was looking outside with a somewhat lost expression. Four had never been one for housekeeping really. With Sarima's marriage, she had hoped that her husband would get her a spouse and she would be able to flee away from this castle in the middle of nowhere. Four had dreamed of a wealthy husband, someone who would take her to Grand Balls and took her to the Emerald city, away from her family roots… but, of course, those dreams where washed away when Sarima's husband had disappeared… though one never lost the hope—or at least those dreams where never washed away… not even with the rain.
"Four…?" Six called again. With a startled look, Four turned her head towards Six and gave a sigh.
"You startled me!" said the eldest sister. She took a moment before answering. "What was your question, again?" she continued with a frown.
"I asked if you had finished with those."
"Oh, yes. They are all done. I'll put them on a tray and hand them to you." Four did as she said, and gave the tray with extreme caution so that the liquid wouldn't fall of the glasses. At that moment, Manek, Irji and Nor entered the kitchen screaming and running.
"Give me that, you idiot!" Screamed the girl to her oldest brother, Manek. The boy had stolen her precious doll, and was teasing her about it. He had threatened with 'ripping that stupid and ugly head off' of the doll's body. Irji had been observant at first, but decided that it would be much fun to tease her little sister as well. He had followed Manek all around the castle and making faces to her sister, along with repeating every word his oldest brother said.
Four and Six jumped slightly at Nor's cries, and immediately after they realized what was happening, Six put the tray down as softly as possible and said, "Children! Please, go play outside! You almost make me drop the entire breakfast!" but the children didn't seem to listen, as now Manek was holding the doll up high so that his little sister couldn't reach it. Nor, on the other hand, was trying her best to catch her treasure (which was given to her by his father before he left to the Emerald City and disappeared, which was why it was her most precious possession.). In the meanwhile, all you could hear was the outcry of the youngest child, the mean laugh of her elder siblings, and the desperate shouting of Six to try and put some order. Four, however, was holding her hands over her ears because of the unbearable chaos surrounding her.
At that second, the lady of the house entered the room, making everyone there shut up and look at her.
"What's going on in here!" Sarima looked from Six, to Nor, to Manek, to Irji and finally, to Four (who was lowering her arms from her head slowly, as if scared to do it) looking for some kind of answer for this confusion. As no one answered, she just sighed heavily and put her arms on her hips.
'Uh oh!' Manek thought at the sight of her mother putting her hands on her hips.
"Manek! I told you not to tease your sister anymore! I'm disappointed of you! You are supposed to take care of her, not pick on her!" Sarima scolded as she looked intensely at her eldest child. "Now give back that doll to Nor." The woman said. Seeing that the boy wasn't reacting, she gave a harder look than the one she already showed. That did it. The boy lowered his hand and gave her sister the doll, who had the biggest smile, and hugged the toy with so much enthusiasm that it seemed the doll was going to explode. "As for you Irji… you should know better." Sarima said angrily to her middle child. Irji only looked downwards, not answering her mother. "Now," said Sarima, softening her look, "you children go on and wash up, then go to the table. In a minute the food will be served." The children did as they were told, too scared to do otherwise. Sarima and her sisters watched the boys and the girl leave.
As soon as they left, Sarima turned to her sisters and gave a sigh which showed tiredness, while she put her hand over her forehead and close her eyes to calm herself. "It's so tiring--having to deal with the kids alone…" Sarima said. Her sisters looked at her with a sympathetic look. When Sarima's husband had left to the Emerald City, he had left young Sarima at the time with a 2, 4 and 5 year old kids, whom she had to learn to raise. She had to learn quickly, for the children could be a nightmare sometimes. She had thanked the Unnamed God for her sisters, for without them, she wouldn't have been able to do it all by herself. Fiyero had sent letters and gifts for the kids and her when he had been away, but that wasn't enough—it barely even covered what a father's job is supposed to be. Then he had disappeared and she and her sisters had to learn how to keep going without a father figure for the boys. Sarima didn't want the children to leave the castle in case something happened to them (not even for education –that's why they were home schooled-). After all they were the sons and daughter of the Vinkus prince, and for all she knew, several wars were carried out in this lands for mere politics. No, she didn't want that for her children, not until they were ready to face their destiny.
"Sarima, are you ok?" Asked Six with a concerned look. Four only stared at her sisters, not knowing what to say. The comment took Sarima out of her thoughts, and with a loud sigh, she continued.
"Um, yes… yes, everything's ok, don't worry." answered Sarima. Six didn't believe her for one second, but decided that letting the subject go would be the best for now.
"Well, let's continue with the morning routine." Sarima said as she gave a tender smile to assure that she was doing well, and that her sisters shouldn't worry. With that, they left for the dinning room with the tray full of food and drinks, where the other sisters were waiting anxiously, and where Manek, Irji and Nor awaited for the food with hungry eyes.
After the meal, everyone helped with the dishes. While at it, there was a strong knock on the wooden doors heard. Everyone stopped for a minute and looked at each other. "I wonder who that might be?" Sarima thought aloud. "I'll go." Said Six. She gave the stuff that she was holding to Three and headed for the door. 'Weird hours to come visiting.' thought Six.
As she went to the door, she had to skip some of the little water pools that were formed due to the rain. Every time she stepped on one, she would shriek and make a little jump to get out of it as quickly as possible.
When she reached to the wooden door, she stretched her hand so as to pick the keys which were hanging on the side of the gate. The keys fell down and made a splash sound as they fell over the water. With a reluctant face, she grabbed them and unlocked the door. Through great effort, she moved the wooden piece and hung her eyes wide open at the sight of the person in front of her.
'Could it be? No… it must be a trick of the light or something…' Six thought. But as the woman stood closer, she could see it more clearly. The woman was green.
"Is this the home to the prince of the Vinkus' wife?" asked the woman. It took Six a moment to compose herself and gather some coherent thought. After blinking and a strange look from this woman, she said, "Yes… who are you?"
"I'm just someone who must talk to the lady of the house." Answered the green woman.
"Well, then… come in, please. Be our guest." Six showed the woman the way in, and was about to shut the door when she discovered another traveler behind the woman. He was a small child… of about 7 years old and with some resemblance to the woman… though he wasn't green.
"Are you coming too, sweetheart?" Six asked to the little boy who seemed to struggle with his own suitcase. Though Sarima's children were some little demons, Six loved children. The boy just looked at her and shrugged.
"I guess…" said the child. Six looked at him and helped him with the luggage. She walked past the woman who had turned around to see why was it that she was taking too long to show her the way. She then, led them into the castle. Six tried asking what their names were but only the boy answered. His name was Liir and he was 7 years old, as she had guessed. As for the woman, she didn't talk. She just looked ahead and stared into the empty halls, as if reading every little piece of furniture and corner of the palace. They kept walking until the top of the tower, where the guests would be staying, at least until they talked with Sarima.