Chapter 5
Back in the woods, the group tied up their horses again, and made their way back to the metal grate at the entryway of the creek tunnel. Solis had the grate off quickly, once again.
'Still no guards. Even after last night's ruckus.' Elphaba noted mentally.
The group headed into the tunnel, and Solis quickly picked the lock to the gate. The afternoon was quite warm, and Elphaba was getting very uncomfortable in her cloak, as was Fiyero. As soon as they were inside the courtyard, and across the concourse from the library, they both removed their overbearing cloaks. From their hidden location, she chanted, waving her arms in a circular motion.
"A tay nahmen nisis a tum papaver" she chanted, repeating the chant three times until a group of potted poppies appeared. "Now, something with poison in it, but attractive to the eye, and soothing to the smell. Poppies will put them to sleep."
The spell was finished quickly.
"Linc, Zeph, come over here." Fiyero called in an elevated whisper.
Linc and Zeph walked over to Fiyero and Elphaba.
"Take these to the guards, but don't breath in their aroma or you two will be asleep within moments." Elphaba warned.
Linc and Zeph acknowledged the warning. They took a deep breath before lifting the flower pots and hurried towards the guarded library door.
"Flowers for you sir." Linc stated matter-of-factly to the first guard as he and Zeph placed their pots next to each guard.
The guards looked puzzled. As Linc and Zeph started to walk away, they turned back so they could see the guards examining the flowers in a suspicious manner. Within moments of inhaling the fragrance of the poppies, the guards were overcome with sleep.
Glinda was still amazed at Elphaba's powers. Her spells came so easily to her. Elphaba had always thought of herself as being limited, but Glinda thought she was just selling herself short. She couldn't help but admire the way Elphie had produced those poppies so easily and effortlessly. 'She doesn't even know what she's truly capable of.' Glinda thought.
One by one, the group made their way past the guards and into the library. Each took an area of shelving and began their search. Elphaba and Glinda chose to stay within close proximity of one another while they searched. The others were out of sight.
Elphaba glanced at the bookshelves that Glinda was searching and noticed that it was coming loose from its secured wall moorings.
"Glinda, be careful. Those shelves are heavy, and it looks like those shakes this morning have made them unstable." She warned.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful. I'm not touching anything, just scanning the titles."
"Maybe I should search over there. Why don't you come look over these shelves?"
"Elphie don't be silly. Now you're wasting time. Let's keep looking shall we?"
Elphaba felt uneasy inside. She allowed Glinda to continue, but she kept a close eye on her.
Each woman secretly stole glances at one another. Elphaba watched Glinda, admiring her beauty, the gentle curls in her golden hair, the soft complexion. She was mesmerized by the woman, but Elphaba averted her glances whenever Glinda looked up.
Glinda was watching Elphaba as well. She was taken with the breathtaking glow emanating from Elphaba's skin. Tracing the green woman's profile, Glinda also appreciated Elphie's pronounced cheek bones and strong jaw. They were just two of the elements that made Elphaba so beautiful and attractive to her.
"Elphie, if Baraq was using the Grimmerie this morning, what makes you think the book would be in the library now?" Glinda asked.
"Well, we don't know for sure, that's the problem. It's entirely possible that he didn't have the book with him when he made the land shake this morning. If he's memorized the chants and arm motions, he wouldn't need it at all." Elphaba replied.
"His powers are starting to scare you aren't they?" Glinda asked feeling more and more concerned.
Elphaba stopped her search and faced Glinda. "Until now, Morrible was the only one who could control weather and geophysical forces like that. It's a great and terrible power to have. You saw what happened to Nessa."
Glinda silently acknowledged Elphaba's loss. She was tormented by the fact that she had unknowingly had a hand in Nessa's death. It wasn't intentional, but if she hadn't told Morrible and the Wizard that Elphaba would fly to her sister's aid if she thought she were in trouble, there might never been a tornado. There would never have been a flying house. Nessa might still be alive.
Elphaba saw the anguish in Glinda's eyes. She was sorry she'd brought up the subject, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she just turned back to her task.
Only moments later, Glinda and Elphaba felt a small tremor again. They looked at each other, unsure of themselves when another large jolt knocked them both off their feet. Elphaba immediately looked up at the shelving that was prying away from the wall.
"GLINDA!" she yelled.
She scrambled to her feet as the ground began shaking furiously. Glinda had tried to get up, but couldn't manage to maintain her balance, dropping to one knee. Elphaba ran to Glinda and pushed her out of the way just as the shelves and their heavy contents came crashing down upon her.
Glinda was sent sprawling to the floor out of harms way. She lay face down until the tremors ceased. Then she slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position and tried to get her bearings. Suddenly it dawned on her. She snapped her head in the direction of the shelves that Elphaba had pushed her away from. The shelves were in shambles. Books and pieces of broken wood were piled on top of one another. Then she saw it. Protruding from the edge of the debris was Elphaba's hand. She was buried underneath the fragmented remains of the book shelves.
Glinda inhaled sharply at the sight of Elphaba's unmoving hand. She tried to get up and go over to her, but felt a sharp pain in her knee when she started to rise. Grabbing her knee, Glinda fell back onto the floor in anguish. However, she couldn't allow her pain to sidetrack her. She looked up, knowing that Elphaba needed her, and summoned the strength to crawl over to her friend.
Using her arms and elbows to propel her forward, Glinda reached the pile of debris and grabbed Elphaba's hand. "Elphie! Elphie can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me."
There was no reaction. In a panic, Glinda began pulling books, and heavy, splintered wood away from Elphaba. Ignoring the pain in her knee, she worked furiously, fueled by panic and adrenaline until she had removed all the debris off of Elphaba's body. Elphaba was lying on her side, her left arm extended, her right arm draped around her head in a protective posture.
"Elphie, talk to me. Open your eyes" Glinda pleaded. She felt Elphaba's arms, back, ribs and spine, trying to catch any sign of broken bones. It was a relief to her when everything seemed normal. She put her hand on Elphaba's shoulder and slowly turned her over, gasping at the telltale bruise that ran from the hairline around the left side of Elphaba's forehead around her temple and slightly under her eye. Even through green skin, the bruising was evident. Elphaba was unmoving and unconscious. "Elphie please, wake up." Tears began to form in Glinda's eyes as Elphaba remained unresponsive. Glinda gently put her arm around Elphaba's shoulder and pulled her up to her, cradling the unconscious woman's head in her chest. "Please Elphie. Don't leave me. I can't lose you again. Please wake up."
No response.
As Glinda sat holding her precious Elphaba, Fiyero rounded the corner. The sight of Elphaba lying unconscious in Glinda's arms unnerved him. He ran over to Glinda. "What happened?"
"She saved my life. The shelves were about to crush me when she pushed me out of the way. She took the hit instead." Glinda said as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"We have to get her to a doctor. There's one near the safe house who's sympathetic to our cause. We can trust him." Fiyero said frantically.
Glinda nodded in agreement as Fiyero tried to take Elphaba from her grasp. Instead of letting go, Glinda held on tighter.
"Glinda" Fiyero said compassionately putting his hand on Glinda's shoulder. "I'll take good care of her. I promise."
Glinda looked down at Elphaba. She knew she needed to let Fiyero take her, but she didn't want to let go. She lightly kissed Elphaba on the forehead before reluctantly handing her over to Fiyero. Fiyero scooped Elphaba up in his arms and headed for the door. He looked back in time to see Glinda struggling to stand.
"Glinda, are you alright."
"It's just my knee. I'll be fine. Just make sure she's taken care of."
At that moment, the rest of the group rounded the corner, eager to escape the library.
"Iriiq, Glinda's injured. Help her out of here."
Iriiq nodded and ran over to help support Glinda as the group made their exit. Linc and Zeph decided to grab the discarded cloaks and dispose of the poppies as they exited. The potency of the flowers was already diminishing, but they couldn't take the chance that someone would make the connection between Elphaba and the poppies. One could never be too careful.
The group covered their tracks as they exited once again. They reached their horses, but Glinda convinced Fiyero that Elphaba would be better off riding in the carriage that she had concealed just over the hill. Iriiq helped Glinda along until they reached the carriage, while Solis pulled Elphaba's and Fiyero's horses to the site. Iriiq helped Glinda into the carriage before he helped Fiyero hand Elphaba over to her. Glinda folded her arms protectively around Elphaba's limp form, pulling the green woman's head to her shoulder and instinctively running her fingers through Elphaba's hair. Fiyero secured his and Elphaba's horses to the front of the carriage. He climbed into the carriage, and gave the reigns a snap. The horses galloped off, taking the trio away from the woods, away from the castle, and away from immediate danger.
Glinda sat in the doctor's office, impatiently waiting for him to return. Her leg was outstretched on the examination table as her wrapped knee allowed the accompanying ice pack to start the healing process.
"Here we go." Doctor Frinly said as he re-entered the room. "I've mixed up this elixir for you. It should help with the pain. You have a mild sprain, but you should be able to still move around freely. I expect that within a few days, you'll be good as new. Just keep the weight off it for tonight."
He handed her the small bottle of blue elixir, and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Doctor, can I ask……..how's Elphie?"
The doctor could see the fear and concern in Glinda's eyes. "I won't lie to you Glinda. She has a complex concussion, and she's still unconscious. I'm very worried. If she doesn't wake up soon, there's a very real possibility that when she does wake up, she'll have a very long rehabilitation process ahead of her…….if she wakes up at all."
Glinda's eyes widened. "What do you mean IF she wakes up?"
The doctor sighed, and put his hand on Glinda's shoulder. "Glinda….."
"Don't sugar coat it for me doctor. I need to know the truth."
"I've seen complex concussions before. Sometimes they're not that bad. The patient loses consciousness for a brief period, but regains it and is well again shortly with no recurring symptoms. However, in cases like Elphaba's, the longer she stays unconscious, the worse the problem can become. Glinda, she took a pretty good blow to the head. There's a very real possibility that if she doesn't wake up soon, she may never do so."
Glinda couldn't believe what she was hearing. How cruel and unfair it seemed. She'd mourned Elphaba these last six years only to have her show up miraculously alive. And now that all threatened to be taken away. Glinda didn't know if she could survive if she lost Elphaba again. She took a deep, ragged breath. "Can I see her?"
"I think it would be a good idea. Talk to her, try and stir her. Anything you can do to try and bring her back would be helpful."
"Thank you doctor Frinly."
"You're welcome my dear. Let me help you off that table."
The doctor put his arms around Glinda's waist and helped ease her onto the floor.
"Here, take this cane and use it for the rest of the day to help keep the weight off of your knee. Elphaba's room is right next door. I've forbidden any of the nursing staff to enter. I'll be taking care of her myself, so if there's any progress or setbacks, let me know immediately. When I'm not checking in on her or doing my rounds, I'll be in my office."
"Thanks again doctor." Glinda smiled. She limped towards the door, using the cane with a small amount of discomfort. As she exited her room, she felt like she would collapse. Glinda steadied herself against the wall, took a deep breath and continued towards Elphaba's room. She opened the door quietly, and saw Fiyero keeping vigil at Elphie's side. Fiyero looked up as Glinda entered the room. He smiled and stood up from his chair at Elphaba's bed side.
"Hey Glinda" he said quietly, giving the blonde woman a hug. "How's that knee of yours?"
"The doctor says it'll be just fine in a few days. How's she doing?"
Fiyero looked over at Elphaba. "No change. I can't get any reaction out of her. Maybe you'll have better luck. I think if anyone can bring her back, it's you. She cares a great deal about you. I hope you know that."
"I do, and I care about her too. More than you know."
Fiyero smiled. "I'm glad you're here. I need to step out and find out if my men have any more information on the whereabouts of the Grimmerie. We have someone on the inside now, so that will help us tremendously. I know you'll take care of her. Just make sure you take care of yourself as well."
Glinda nodded. Fiyero hugged her again. "Take care Glinda. I'll see you in the morning."
"Thank you Fiyero. For everything."
Fiyero gave Glinda one last squeeze before heading out. Glinda made her way to Elphaba's bedside. She cupped her hand over Elphaba's right cheek, then slowly ran her fingers through Elphaba's hair, gently massaging her scalp as she did so. She started massaging Elphaba's temple with her thumb, then she started to lose herself in thought. 'That dream! The first part of that dream!' She replayed it in her mind over and over again. Her Elphie gently and passionately kissing her was something she had longed for. Briefly, her dreams had provided her with that perfect moment. It seemed so real. Now, more than ever, Glinda needed to have Elphaba back.
"Elphie….listen to me. I need you to hear me. Somewhere in there, I know you can. You need to fight Elphie. Do you understand? Fight this and come back to me. I can't lose you now. I don't think I could survive if you were gone. You see Elphie; there are so many things I wanted to tell you. Things I couldn't tell you before because I was too afraid of your reaction. I was afraid you'd leave or ask me to go. But I can't wait any longer. I love you Elphie. No….I don't just love you. I'm IN love with you. I am so madly, so deeply in love with you that sometimes it hurts just to be near you and not be able to touch you the way I want to."
Glinda looked at Elphaba to see if there was any reaction at all. She cupped Elphie's face in both hands and continued. "Elphie, I lost you once. When I thought you had died, a part of me died with you. I just can't go through that pain again. I need you to wake up. Fight this Elphie. I know that somewhere in there, you can hear me. If you need strength, I have enough for the both of us. You take what you need, but just fight. Please, for me."
Glinda's face was mere inches from Elphaba's. She wanted so badly to kiss those lips, but that would have felt like a violation of some sort. Elphaba had never indicated that doing so would be ok with her. Unless and until she did, the kiss would have to wait.
In her darkness, Elphaba could hear Glinda pleading with her to fight. "Glinda, where are you?" Elphaba fought to make her way towards the voice that was calling her back to the light. She could hear Glinda's voice.
'I love you Elphie. I'm in love with you.'
"Glinda, where are you? I can't find you." Elphaba was exhausted. Glinda's voice was fading, and with it, she faded back into her own darkness.
Tears formed in Glinda's eyes as she pleaded with Elphaba to fight for her life. These tears, however, would not be allowed to fall. Elphie needed her to be strong, and for Elphie, she would be. She sank down into her chair, but held onto Elphaba's arm. Eventually she took Elphaba's hand. Interlocking their fingers, Glinda brought Elphie's hand up to her face. She nuzzled the back of the green hand, and lightly kissed it before placing it back down on the bed again, but she didn't let go.
Glinda was exhausted. She was spent emotionally, physically, and mentally. She wanted to close her eyes for just a moment. Only a moment was needed to regain her composure. She laid her head down on the bed and fell asleep, still holding Elphaba's hand.
Hours seemed like minutes when Glinda awoke. She looked at the clock and was appalled that she had allowed herself to doze off for so long. Three hours had gone by, but it seemed like she had just put her head down moments before. She looked up at Elphaba. Their fingers were still intertwined. Elphaba hadn't moved in those three hours. The reality of this made Glinda's heart sink. She lifted herself from her sitting position and leaned over Elphaba to study her face. She was searching for even the most minute sign of sentience, but the disappointment she had become all too familiar with reacquainted itself with her again.
"Elphie" she whispered. A flood of emotions began to envelop her as she continued. "I was just thinking. All those years I thought you were dead, yet somehow, you were always with me. Maybe it's presumptuous of me to think so, but looking back, I think our souls were connected all along. What else could it have been? It's something that's so far beyond my understanding, but I swear there were times when I felt a tangible presence from you." She smoothed Elphaba's hair back from her forehead. "You see Elphie, I believe in fate, and I believe in destiny. What we've done over the last six years, the events that have transpired, the decisions we've made, they were our providence, and they all lead us to find each other once again. That's why I don't believe……..No! I Can't believe that you're going to die now. Elphie, come back." Glinda lifted Elphaba's hand. "If you can hear me, if there's even a small part of you that's alert in there, just squeeze my hand."
Once again, no response was forthcoming from Elphaba.
Glinda felt like the walls were caving in around her. She needed some water. 'Where's the damn water!' she thought feeling frustrated. Glinda glanced around the room, and finally spotted a water pitcher and four glasses in the most obvious place, on the nightstand next to Elphaba's bed. She poured the water hurriedly into the glass and took a quick drink before slamming the glass down on the nightstand. Her hand was shaking as she fought to regain some emotional control. She had promised herself she wouldn't cry, but this was becoming too much for her. She started sobbing uncontrollably as she collapsed to her knees. The pain from her earlier injury seemed insignificant at this moment.
Glinda needed to get this out. She needed this catharsis. Six years of hurt, pain, mourning and longing, the joy of finding Elphaba again, the fear of losing her just as soon as she found her, it all had to come out. And it did in an explosion of tears that Glinda had never experienced before. She cried until there were no tears left. As she tried to catch her breath, she pulled herself up against the wall and drew her knees gently in towards her. She wiped the tears from her eyes and wrapped her arms around her legs. Only now did she notice the sensation of pain in her knee. It didn't matter to her. She needed a moment to gather her thoughts. Suddenly, Doctor Frinly's words came back to her. "Glinda, she took a pretty good blow to the head. There's a very real possibility that if she doesn't wake up soon, she may never do so."
'No!' Glinda thought. 'I won't let that happen. I can't let that happen.'
Glinda gathered the strength to raise herself off of the floor. Her resolve was stronger than ever as she made her way to Elphaba's bedside once again. Once more she placed Elphaba's hand in her own. Once more she stroked Elphaba's cheek, softly and delicately with the back of her fingers. Once more, she began the process of calling the woman she loved back to her.
"Elphie, it's me, Glinda. I know you can hear me. Somewhere deep inside there, I know you feel my presence. Come back to me Elphie. Come back. I'm right here waiting for you." she said this softly, but she said it with conviction, willing the green woman back to consciousness.
'Come back to me Elphie.' Elphaba began to stir in her darkness once again. 'Come back.' Elphaba was searching for the source of the voice. 'I'm right here waiting for you.'
Elphaba began to stir. Glinda's eyes widened with the slightest movement of Elphie's head. "Elphie?"
Elphaba moved again. Glinda's heart began to beat rapidly. "Elphie, open your eyes. Please open your eyes. You can do it. I'm here for you. Come back to me. Please come back."
Elphaba moved her head slowly and slightly from side to side. Glinda's heart nearly stopped as she saw Elphaba's eyes begin to flutter open. Her eyes were glazed over, half open and looking straight ahead. Just when Glinda thought she had no more tears, her eyes began to fill with them again. 'There must be a special reserve for happy tears.' She thought as the new tears seemed inexplicable considering what she had just gone though. She continued stroking Elphaba's hair, her cheek, her temple, and she watched as glazed eyes began to regain their clarity and focus.
Elphaba was aware of her surroundings now. She looked over at the blonde woman standing over her. "Glinda" she managed weakly with a hoarse, scratchy voice.
"Elphie!" Glinda cried. She smiled broadly and hugged her green friend ardently.
Elphaba groaned at the contact.
"Oh Elphie I'm sorry. Here, let me have a good look at you" Glinda said as she gently released her grip around Elphaba.
"Water" Elphaba scratched out.
"Oh, yes, of course" Glinda looked over at the mess she'd made of her water glass and the nightstand. Thankfully, there were still three more glasses and the pitcher was unharmed. Glinda quickly poured the water and took it to Elphaba. "Here, let me help you with that." Glinda added as she gently slipped her arm around Elphaba's shoulders and helped her to sit up.
Elphaba drank the water greedily before handing the glass back to Glinda. Glinda took the glass and gently eased Elphaba back down onto her pillows.
"How do you feel?" Glinda asked.
"My head is pounding and my body feels like it was run over by a heard of buffalo, but other than that, I couldn't be better." She smiled at Glinda.
Glinda laughed. "Well, at least you still have your sense of humor." Glinda smoothed Elphaba's hair back from her forehead again. "Listen Elphie, Doctor Frinly asked me to get him if there was any change in you. Will you be alright until I come back?"
"Of course I will. Off with you." Elphaba replied wearily.
Glinda smiled and gave Elphaba a kiss on the forehead. "I'll be right back." She placed the glass back on the nightstand, then left the room to find Dr. Frinly.
Elphaba strained to remember exactly what happened to land her in Dr. Frinly's care. She remembered being at the castle, the poppies, searching in the library. She strained a moment more until she remembered everything. There was a tremor, and a sudden jolt that knocked her off her feet. She remembered seeing the shelves come unhitched from the wall. They were going to fall on Glinda. Elphaba inhaled sharply and shuddered at the memory. She was so close to losing Glinda at that moment. Elphaba closed her eyes and was silently thankful that she had enough strength to push Glinda out of the way. The pain she was in now was nothing in comparison to the pain she would have felt if Glinda was lost to her forever.
Just then, Glinda came back into the room with Dr. Frinly.
"Well hello there Miss Elphaba."
"Doctor, how are you?"
"I should be asking you that." He replied.
"I'm fine." Elphaba said as the doctor started looking her over.
Elphaba hated being prodded and examined. Dr. Frinly knew this and completed his examination as quickly as possible.
"So, can I go home?" Elphaba asked.
"Elphie, you can't be serious. You just had a terrible accident." Glinda admonished.
"Actually, I think you probably can recuperate at home." The doctor replied.
Glinda looked at him incredulously.
"Normally I wouldn't do this, but you're a special case. It may be more dangerous for you to stay here than for you to be back at your safe house. Since my staff has direct orders to stay out of this room, the longer you stay, the more their curiosity will get the better of them. The sooner you get home, the safer you'll be." Dr. Frinly turned to Glinda. "I'm counting on you to make sure she does exactly as I say."
Elphaba crossed her arms and feigned a pouting expression.
"Any strenuous activity is to be avoided. We don't want her having a relapse. Once again, if you need me, you know where you can find me. Call me if anything happens."
"I promise." Glinda said. "But how will we get her back? Fiyero won't be here until the morning."
"I'll send for him. Fiyero and I have a close network, and I'm sure I'll reach him in good time."
"Thank you doc." Elphaba waved to him as he began to leave.
"Yes, thank you Dr. Frinly. I don't know what we would have done without you." Glinda added.
The doctor gave both women a short salute and left the room.
"What happened to you?" Elphaba asked as she noticed Glinda using a cane to get around.
"I was pushed to the floor by some green woman." Glinda replied as she made her way to Elphaba's bed. She sat on the bed next to Elphaba and stared intently into her eyes. "That woman saved my life. I owe her everything."
"You owe me nothing Glinda. After everything I've put you through, I'm the one that owes you. I owe you so much."
Glinda reached down and wrapped her arms gently around Elphaba. "I'm so grateful you're alright." She whispered.
Fiyero was talking strategy with Iriiq and Solis when he received a note from Dr. Frinly.
"What is it?" Iriiq asked.
"Good news!" Fiyero stated. "I'm going to pick up my girls and take them home." Fiyero waved the note in the air as he headed off.