As promised, here, I am updating. This chapter is still relatively short (don't hurt me please for all the short chapters (: ) This is the last in the me-filling-in-detail-of-Fiyero-being-gone chapers. Promise. I already have the next chapter started, so it will be up rather soon.

Oh, and also. The last line in the first part of this, the one about crying, is from My Sister's Keeper. So credit goes toJodi Picoult for writing it, but maybe I get points for thinking to put it in my own story? Either way.


In the midst of June, an epidemic swept mercilessly from one end of the worn mauntery to the other. The air was filled with the sour smell of unwashed linens, and the walls echoed of faint, raspy coughs.

Elphaba, whose convalescence had not quite restored her to her normal self, knew that she was predisposed to any illness worth catching, which is why she made such an effort to fight even harder whenever a weakness gripped her bones.

She woke from her sleep abruptly, a cough wracking her slight frame. Taking a deep breath to calm herself and settle her lungs, she rose from the bed and drifted to the crib across the room.

She leaned against the rail of the bed, gazing at her baby with a perplexed look on her face. How could I have possibly brought such a beautiful child into this unforgiving world? She, of course, didn't attribute any of Kaiya's loveliness to herself. She had long ago reasoned that somehow Fiyero's dominating good looks had overpowered any insufficiencies of her own.

As she watched, Kaiya began to stir, opening her brilliant blue eyes meekly. Her heart wrenched slightly—seeing those shining eyes gave purpose to each day.

Very gently, she stooped and raised Kaiya from her crib. As usual, she hummed as she began her morning routine of straightening up the room before heading out to start her duties. After a moment, she realized that Kaiya had not joined in the humming with soft cooing noises of her own, as was her custom.

"Kya?" she asked quietly, pulling the child away from her chest to examine her. She coughed, very faintly, in reply.

She furrowed her brow, slightly worried. Is her cough a reason to be concerned? Silently, she reprimanded herself for not knowing the things that a mother should, but also found herself feeling slightly taken aback by the thought.

Vaguely, she noted that someone had entered the room, and turned her head. It was Sister Alma—an elderly maunt that quietly demanded respect in her gentle, intelligent way. Elphaba watched as she approached and held her arms out for Kaiya.

Hesitating slightly, she complied, relinquishing her hold upon her daughter. Sister Alma's keen gray eyes swept over Kaiya before quickly turning to Elphaba, who felt herself stiffen under her gaze—the gaze of someone who appears to see everything, right down to the very soul of anyone she lays eyes upon.

"You are both sick. Why have you been avoiding the infirmary, Sister Saint Aelphaba?"

Elphaba felt disinclined to answer, bowing her eyes to the floor.

"Child," Sister Alma spoke gently. "I see the pain that you harbor beneath the surface." Silently, she searched Elphaba's face before continuing. "You mustn't feel guilty. After all, you too are merely human. Come."

With that, she swept from the room, Elphaba trailing uncertainly behind her. They entered the crowded infirmary, immediately immersed in human sickness and pain. Grimacing, Elphaba continued into the room, placing a head wearily against her temple.

Sister Alma led her to a warm bed in a corner of the room. Handing her Kaiya, she said, "Rest here until I have said you are better." Elphaba bowed her head respectively as the maunt retreated from the room.

Still hugging Kaiya to her chest, she quietly tended to the needs of some of the other patients. After a while, Kaiya became restless, yanking halfheartedly on Elphaba's temptingly shiny hair and coughing slightly.

Getting the message, Elphaba headed back towards the bead, sighing, annoyed at the pressure building in her temple. Maybe some extra sleep would do me some good.

She settled into the bed and laid Kaiya next to her, looking at her as she began coughing and fidgeting. Elphaba absentmindedly rubbed her back as she fell into a light sleep.

Weird, she thought suddenly. Kya never cries. Isn't it customary for babies to fuss and wail?

Her thoughts wandering, she began to drift to sleep, inadvertently reaching out for Kaiya. She jerked her hand back impulsively when it brushed against dampness upon the sheet. Drowsily, she opened her eyes. She learned from her own daughter that you don't have to be awake to cry.


Fiyero stiffened when his subconscious alerted him to a presence in the room. He turned his head to see Alena enter, followed by a rather ancient-looking woman.

He sat up in respect as they approached, being unsure as to whether or not he could stand. "Fiyero, this is Eirny. She cares for our village whenever she visits," Alena said, gesturing to the woman.

"Nice to meet you. I would like to thank you for-" He paused when she held up a hand to silence him.

"How are you feeling?" she asked in a reedy voice.

I've been better, he thought, but immediately knew it would sound rude. "I'm not sure."

She moved closer to him, rubbing a hand along the side of his face. He shivered at her touch, wanting to pull away. She gently squeezed his arm as if checking to see that it was holding up. "Everything seems to be in order. I assume that you'll be wanting to leave within a few days?"

"Yes," he said, nodding anxiously, then added, "please," for good measure.

She motioned to Alena and they left the room with their heads bowed in conversation. Several minutes later, Alena returned with a small package, from which she removed some herbs to prepare a pot of tea.

As the water brewed, he asked her of her life in the Outer Vinkus, having never actually been there himself. She spoke of her childhood, and asked him some questions of her own, though for the most part he avoided speaking of his past. Somehow, it seemed impersonal to him to discuss a person as deep as Elphaba with a complete stranger. Weird how whenever I think of my past, all I think of is her, he thought.

Alena handed him a cup of tea, bringing him back from his thoughts. "Thanks."

○ ○ ○ ○ ○

He walked along the deserted shore of the Truth Pond, mulling things over. His voice reverberated off of the still water, seeming to reflect itself in accordance to the moonlight. "Truth Pond," he spoke quietly. "Do you reveal the truth? Then answer for me how the world would be so cruel as to take me from the one I love when she needs me most."

His thoughts were bitter, but he made no attempt to stem them. Perhaps, a voice whispered into his consciousness, this is what Elphaba needs.

He shook his head dismissively, flinging a rock onto the glassy surface of the water, sending ripples across it. "The Truth Pond solves no mysteries," he said quietly.


I don't know if I liked this chapter or not, please tell me what you think and what I could have fixed. Also, as always, I have added a new name. Alma means... (dramatic pause here) "soul." I thought it was quite fitting, myself. And to sesshomaruobsessed, I will tell you the language origins of the names. Alma is Latin, Alena is Slavic, Avariella is American, Eirny is Scandinavian, Kaiya is Japanese, and Kya is African. Hehe, I have a secret love of names and I find them to be important, which is why I make such an effort to name my characters well. Also, bonus points to anyone who can guess what is the deal with mysterious Sister Alma and/or Eirny? Anyone?