✉ Chapter Thirty-Three: The Match ✉
Elphaba dragged herself into her and Fiyero's abandoned honeymoon suite and stared at it broodingly. How had they used this room only one day prior? She stretched on the bed with the intention of resting her eyes only for a few minutes, but cursed her fate when she next opened her eyes in the late afternoon.
"Blasted royals and their comfortable beds," she grumbled.
She scurried down to the bedroom where Fiyero was convalescing only to find in a heart stopping moment that it was empty.
"Fiyero?!" she screamed, terror billowing in her gut as she imagined the worst. "Fiyero!"
"She's awake!" Elphaba heard from the drawing room along with the screeching of chairs and hiss of voices.
She stalked into the room and found Nessarose, Doctor Dillamond, Amalia, and the Vicar sitting calmly in the drawing room with Chistery perched on the windowsill. She then gritted her teeth upon spotting Fiyero sitting among them as well.
"What is he doing up?!" Elphaba scolded harshly, pointing a strong finger towards him. She turned a fierce eye on him. "What are you doing up!?"
"Elphaba sit down," Nessarose instructed, gesturing to an empty chair to the left of the sofa where Fiyero sat.
"Get back to bed this instant!"
"Miss Elphaba, take a seat," Doctor Dillamond said.
"Not until he goes back to bed," Elphaba pointed. With the use of a cane Fiyero hobbled to his feet with effort and Elphaba's eyes widened. "What are you doing—sit down!"
"You sit first," Fiyero wheezed.
"I'm not the one who was beaten into a pulp!" she yelled. "Don't tell me what to do when you—"
"Fae, sit down!"
Elphaba abruptly sat down in the chair and Fiyero eased himself back onto the sofa.
"Trust us, Master Tigelaar's healing and comfort is well in mind. He insisted on being here of his own accord," Doctor Dillamond assured.
"The one we're really worried about is you," Nessarose continued.
"Me?" Elphaba laughed nonchalantly. "Why would you be worried about me?"
The group stared at her.
"Hold on…is this an intervention?" Elphaba snapped her head towards Fiyero. "Is it?"
"Yeah."
"Oh." Elphaba sized up the group with a long, tense look. "Why?"
"Elphaba you can't keep going like this. You're running yourself ragged with this wicked witch stuff," Nessarose said.
"Noted. Don't have a choice." Elphaba rested her elbows against the armrests and steepled her fingers. "Who's next?"
"You do have a choice!" Nessarose insisted. "You just won't let yourself see it."
"Gee, maybe you're right. Maybe the witch mobs won't kill me if I ask them really nicely not to," Elphaba mocked.
"We aren't saying that you can change anybody's mind," Dillamond said. "That is out of our control. But you can control what you do."
"And what can I do, huh?" Elphaba leaned forward. "What can I do besides what I've done? I'd love to know."
"You could leave," Fiyero spoke up softly. Elphaba slowly turned her head to look at him with a stunned expression. "We could leave."
"Leave?" she said softly. "You mean leave—"
"Oz. We could leave Oz. Together."
"Fiyero…" Elphaba said in a hushed tone. "We—I—"
The group remained quiet as they gave Elphaba a moment to process. She shook her head resistantly and began to pace as she formulated her rebuttals.
"I can't leave Oz. There's—there's too much unrest. Too much unfinished business. I mean…the cause! The Animals. I promised that I'd make things right. I have to see things through…I have to finish what I've started!" Elphaba insisted. "It'd be selfish—it'd be cowardly to leave."
"Miss Elphaba! We Animals will persist!" Doctor Dillamond said passionately. "We've faced difficult times before and we'll face difficult times again. Waiting on all of Oz to change before you begin to live is a fool's errand. Things may never be completely right."
"But that doesn't mean we don't try! Remember, Professor? You're the one who instilled that in me—you're the one who taught me that!"
"Yes, but—"
"What has this all of this been about, then? Huh?! What—what have my sacrifices been for?" Elphaba raised her voice. She rubbed her face with an agitated, troubled expression. "Is that just it, then? I cut and run after everything I've done…with nothing to show for it?"
"Nothing to show for it?!" Doctor Dillamond stood from his chair. "Miss Elphaba, you have quite the habit of undercutting your own work."
Amalia took Dillamond's cue to pick up a bundle of newspapers that'd been set aside. She began distributing them to the others in the room before clearing her throat and reading in a clearly heard voice.
"Animal Colony rebuilds community after fire. Spokes-Hedgehog Jerusha Pendleton credits Wicked Witch for their freedom, stating she single-handedly thwarted relocation efforts by turning herself into the guard."
"Ox and former professor regains powers of speech and incites movement to have The Hall of Animal History exhibition reopened in The Greater Ozian Institute of Natural History within the year. Cites The Witch's recitation pamphlets for his success," Dillamond read before clearing his throat emotionally. "A very dear friend of mine, actually."
"Munchkinland, seeking secession from Oz, proposes a new bill protecting freedom of religious speech for Animals," The Vicar read with pride.
"Public Execution of Monkey thwarted by The Witch. Small but vocal group of human protestors picket outside The Wizard's Palace, calling for an end to Animal Restrictions," Nessarose read.
"Lion, reportedly cubnapped at birth, timidly speaks out at Emerald City press conference. Claims Wicked Witch behind his liberation from existence in a cage," Fiyero read. Elphaba turned her attention back to him in understanding and he winked before giving the newspaper a shake. "I don't know that this one is all true though…I heard The Witch had help with that one."
Elphaba turned her head when a final voice made itself heard from the windowsill.
"M-M-Miss Elphaba," Chistery said. "Miss Elphaba saved Chistery."
Elphaba swallowed a lump in her throat in a rare moment of speechlessness. Doctor Dillamond approached her and gently took his former student's hands.
"You lit the match, Miss Elphaba," he said, giving her hands a pat. "You mustn't combust yourself along with it."
"But what about all of you? What will become of you?" Elphaba asked anxiously. She turned her head to her sister. "Nessa? Oh, Nessa I couldn't possibly leave—"
"Yes you can," Nessarose asserted.
"But—but where will you go? What will you do?" Elphaba asked as she kneeled beside Nessarose's chair.
"Whatever I want," Nessarose promised in a hushed, excited tone. "Glinda is working on my public perception, The Wicked Witch of the East is to be rehabilitated in the eyes of Oz. But for now I'm going to go with The Vicar to assist the religious speech movement. I've amends to make with Munchkinland. This is what the Unnamed God has called me to do."
Elphaba looked to the Vicar who confirmed Nessarose's plan with a nod.
"I'll be going too," Amalia spoke up. "I don't know about this Unnamed God stuff but I'll be there to assist Miss Nessarose."
"I've been a terror at times, Elphaba…but you never gave up on me," Nessarose expressed, squeezing Elphaba's hand again. "It's just as I said…change is slow, but the world is changing and you saw to it! It just needs time. Oz will be fine, Elphaba. It's you that's at stake here."
Elphaba blinked at her sister, feeling as if she were seeing her through different eyes. There sat a poised, mature woman who was finally making her own decisions. One who'd learned from many mistakes, one with a temper, one who consistently tried, and sometimes failed, to be good. While Elphaba did not always understand Nessarose, she was struck with meaningful amusement to realize that perhaps they had never been so different after all.
Elphaba kissed Nessarose's hands and rose to face Fiyero.
"You're my husband, Fiyero. This involves you too," she acknowledged as she sat beside him. "What do you think?"
"You already know what I think, Fae," he said softly. "You said you wanted a life together. Let's go out there and find one."
In the end, that was all that Elphaba needed to hear.
"Well, then…" she said with a quick laugh. "I suppose Glinda's opinion on the matter is the only thing missing."
"Oh! She sent a missive," Amalia remembered. Chistery pulled a letter out of his jacket pocket and handed it to her.
"Dear Elphie, somebody has got to say it. You are out of control!" Amalia read animatedly. "You've always been a wild card but this is freaking nuts. Get your hat on straight and do what we say. Anyway, I've got some huge important plans I must attend to. Lots of stuff is happening. I'll fill you in later. I've sent some macaroons with Chistery. Have a great intervention! xoxo Glinda."
Chistery screeched and the room turned to watch him quickly conceal a full macaroon into his mouth. He turned out his pockets to prove his innocence but when a bunch of pink crumbs spilled out he came clean with a guilty shrug.
"Damn!" Fiyero complained. "I love her macaroons…"
"Okay so since everyone here is so smart, tell me this. How am I—"
"We."
"Right—how are we going to waltz out of Oz? So long as the Wicked Witch is alive, people are going to be after me."
"Exactly right," Doctor Dillamond agreed.
"So…you see my problem?" Elphaba prompted slowly.
"They'll be after you so long as the Wicked Witch is alive…so we kill the Wicked Witch!" Nessarose said excitedly.
"Alright, I'm confused," Elphaba closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache come on.
"Think about it. This Dorothy girl is already on the way to kill you…" Nessarose supplied.
"Oh sweet Oz…" Elphaba groaned as it suddenly clicked. "You want me to let people think the farm girl killed me?"
"Well—"
"You can't be serious!"
"I know it must be troubling," Nessarose nodded. "To fake your own death—"
"That's not it, I think that's brilliant—but being bested by a twelve-year-old?! That's the legacy you're suggesting I leave behind?"
"Elphaba—"
"I mean out of all the ways to fake die I think that really takes the cake," Elphaba griped. "I might actually die of shame."
"It's the best plan we have, and it ensures the young girl's protection as well…" Doctor Dillamond alluded.
Elphaba grumbled dramatically. "Fine. Fine! I'll let the brat kill me. Happy? What's next?"
"Well the plan is really quite brilliant!" Nessarose enthused. "She's already led to believe that water will melt you, we'll just let her melt you. You put on a smoke and mirrors show for her and the story spreads like wildfire! Then all you have to do is—"
"Nessa—" Fiyero warned suddenly.
"—hide under the trapdoor!"
Fiyero sighed grimly and rubbed his forehead as Elphaba's face slowly fell.
"Hide under the…what?" Elphaba asked numbly.
"The trapdoor!" Nessarose repeated. Her eyes shifted between Elphaba and Fiyero in confusion. "I mean…it was Fiyero's idea."
Elphaba swallowed and Fiyero shot a look to the group.
"Can you all give us a moment?"
They nodded and began to clear out.
"I don't know what the problem is," Nessarose muttered as Amalia pushed her out. "It's just a silly trapdoor."
The couple sat in silence until the footsteps had receded and they were left alone. Elphaba stood and crossed to the fireplace, gripping the mantel and drumming her fingers on it.
"A trapdoor, huh?" she said faintly.
"…yes."
Elphaba turned to face him. "It goes without saying that it's…"
"Pitch dark," Fiyero confirmed regrettably.
Elphaba took a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth.
"For how long?"
"Until I come for you," Fiyero said softly. "Hours…if we're lucky."
"Hours?" Elphaba squeaked.
The sheer thought of waiting in the dark for hours made her breathing begin to shallow. Fiyero stood with effort as she began to falter and crossed to her.
"I know, Fae. I know."
"Can—can I bring a lantern?" Elphaba asked desperately. "For while I wait?"
"There's cracks in the hatch…they'd see the glow."
"Is there another way, Yero? Any other way?"
"None as safe…none as sure," Fiyero mumbled. "I've gone over it in my head a thousand times now. I've tested things. This is the best way…if we want to be free."
"You've given this a fair bit of thought," Elphaba pointed out. "How long have you been planning this?"
"Since we arrived at Kiamo Ko," Fiyero answered.
Elphaba pressed the heel of her palms to her eyes and her lips quivered as her brain fought to find an alternative…and came up blank. Using his free hand, Fiyero wrapped an arm around Elphaba who leaned her head against his.
"Damn my coward's heart!" Elphaba choked.
"This is no small thing we're asking of you, Fae," Fiyero assured her. "If you can't…if you feel like you can't…I won't make you do this."
Elphaba lifted her eyes to his. His face, still significantly busted and bruised, looked upon her with preemptive forgiveness.
"You'll come for me?" she asked shakily.
He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed an earnest kiss to her knuckles.
"I'll come for you. I swear on our lives that I will come for you and we'll leave this place for good. Just a few hours, Elphaba. A few hours stands between us…and our future."
An era came to an end the following evening as the inhabitants of Kiamo Ko gathered outside of the fortress to bid their farewells. Elphaba spared thankful hugs to The Vicar and Amalia to see them off as they prepared for their next journey before at last turning to Nessarose. The sisters pulled each other into a long, heartfelt embrace.
"Nessa I—uh…I have something for you. A parting gift," Elphaba cleared her throat as she pulled out of the hug. She opened Nessarose's palm, hesitated for a moment, and gently placed her little green bottle in her hand. "This was Mother's…and now it's yours."
Nessarose was silent as she turned the green bottle in her hands a few times.
"How funny…" she mused. "I've waited my whole life to see something that belonged to Mother and now that I have…it's nothing more than a bottle to me."
Elphaba frowned in confusion as Nessarose calmly placed the bottle back into her hand and closed her green fingers around it.
"You've cherished this keepsake for years, Elphaba. You've kept it safe all this time. I couldn't bear to take it from you now. It's yours."
"But you wanted something of Mother's…you've always wanted something of Mother's," Elphaba pressed.
"Yes, Elphaba, but don't you see? From the moment I was born you've put me first, you've always put me first," Nessarose said as tears built in her eyes. "Let me do the same for you now. Let me return the favor. That's all the gift I need."
"I never thanked you, you know," Elphaba whispered, dutifully brushing away Nessarose's tears.
"For what?" Nessarose sniffed.
"For making me sign up for that stupid pen pal program."
The sisters shared one last parting hug and Elphaba cleared her throat as she stood, waving the trio of travelers off before she could lose her resolve.
"I love you, Elphaba," Nessarose said with a final tearful wave.
"Oh, Nessa." Elphaba blew her a kiss and folded her hands over her heart. "I love you too."
Fiyero wrapped an arm around Elphaba's waist and kissed her temple as they watched them depart.
"And then there were three," Fiyero sighed.
"Now Miss Elphaba, it's imperative that as many people witness the melting as possible. Guards, witch hunters, anyone who may come for Miss Dorothy."
"Oh, a crowd will come for Dorothy. I'll make sure of it," Elphaba promised. Fiyero side eyed her suspiciously. "If I'm going to say goodbye to The Witch I'm going out with a bang—or a splash, rather?"
"Okay, but she is just a kid—"
"Sweet Oz, I'm not going to hurt her!" Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Even if the twerp did break my broom..."
"Master Tigelaar and I will wait in a safe house nearby, but we cannot risk having him seen at the castle and certainly don't want to risk him getting hurt further. Once the coast is clear, you will be free to make your escape."
"I'm afraid I haven't asked, Professor. Where will you go after this?" Elphaba frowned.
"No need to worry about me, Miss Elphaba. I've been displaced before and I've always gotten back on my feet," Dillamond assured.
Fiyero clicked his tongue.
"That's too bad, Doctor Dillamond. I was sure hoping to find someone to keep watch over the castle seeing as the missus and I will be dead soon," Fiyero hinted. He pulled a rolled-up document out of his back pocket and handed it to the Goat. "Even took the liberty to put the deed in your name…if you want it, that is."
"Master Tigelaar! I…I'm speechless!" Dillamond said before chuckling at his ironic phrasing. "So to speak."
"Well the Monkeys like it here," Fiyero nodded his head towards the towers. "They'll need an excellent professor to help them keep up with recitations. Plus, my parents will hate it. It's a win-win."
"I accept with gratitude. You have my thanks."
Dillamond turned his attention to Elphaba and smiled fondly.
"Miss Elphaba…"
Dillamond let out a winded chuckle as Elphaba threw her arms around him in a grateful hug.
"Thank you Doctor Dillamond."
"For what?" he asked, pulling her at arm's length.
"For lighting the match…in me."
Dillamond stepped aside to offer Elphaba and Fiyero some privacy. Fiyero took Elphaba's waist and gently turned her towards him.
"For promising to go everywhere together we sure do part a lot," Elphaba chuckled miserably. They pressed their foreheads together and Elphaba closed her eyes. "I'm scared, Fiyero."
"You can do this. I wouldn't let you do this if I didn't know that to be true," Fiyero promised. "I'll see you on the other side."
"I love you so much," Elphaba whispered.
They parted with a tender kiss and Elphaba watched as Doctor Dillamond assisted Fiyero away for safekeeping.
"Hey Tigelaar," Elphaba called after him. He turned with a lifted eyebrow and she gave him a hopeless shrug. "To think…that we used to hate each other."
He offered her a wise smile.
"Ah, Fae. We never hated each other. Not really."
Dorothy Gale held Toto close to her chest as she walked through a snarled forest at dusk. She quivered in fear as her eyes cast towards the sky, wishing with all her might that Glinda the Good had been able to come along with her. It was frightful to be traveling alone with nary a companion, nary a friend.
A twig snapped from behind her and she squeaked.
"I'm scared, Toto." She stroked her dog's fur nervously. "That mean old witch is after me."
"Ozsakes…I'm not even that old."
Dorothy gasped and whipped around, coming facing to face with the towering Witch in all of her green skinned, pointed hatted glory.
"You're coming with me," The Witch said in a tone Dorothy could only describe as bored. "And your little dog too."
Only one chapter (and an epilogue) remains! Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think as we near the end!