A/N - So here's the deal, y'all: this very well may be the last chapter for quite a while. Don't be surprised if it is.
"So, what have you planned to out Tiggular, Fae?"
It was almost more than Elphaba could take. For days now, Skyla had been pestering Elphaba about Fiyero, despite the obvious signs that Elphaba did not want to talk about it. She sighed, impatiently. "Nothing, Skyla. Ihaven't really given it that much thought. You know about my trepidation towards this specific mission," she said, not turning to face Skyla.
It was days like these in which Skyla, unabashed, invaded the private sanctuary that was Elphaba's home. She had never been asked in, and to Elphaba's knowledge, had never been enlightened on where the green woman resided. But she didn't question the ritual, nor did she oppose it. It was a weekly routine, and since Skyla had connections in high places, Elphaba dealt with it. "Yes, I know of your trepidation. Get over it. You said yourself that you haven't seen the man in almost three years. For all you know, he could be a shallow, self-absorbed-"
"Shut up, Skyla. Really, just shut up. Yes I did say that, but it doesn't matter. I still remember him how he was back at Shiz.." Elphaba's voice trailed off then, and she seemed to go into a sort of trance. She was thinking of the day with the Lion cub.
'So no matter how shallow and self-absorbed you tend to be..'
"Oz to Fae!"
"Oh," Elphaba mumbled, her eyes returning to focus. She walked to the other side of the little room, in more of a nervous habit than in search of something. Somehow or other, her cat eyes caught the sight of the Grimmerie, lying in the corner where she had set it.
"What's that old book doing there?"
Elphaba had a notion that Skyla was younger than she appeared. "Is it always like you to be so intrusive? Why are you here, anyways? Anything of importance, rather than bug the eyeballs out of my head?"
Skyla shrugged and looked down at the ground. "I don't know. Just wanted to see how you were getting along - Have I ever told you that this is a bad neighborhood?"
"And..? There's more, Skyla. I'm not as daft as you think I am." Elphaba eyed Skyla expectantly.
"Oh…and there's…that. Um, there's a ceremony thing outside of the palace tomorrow. Captain of the Guard's supposed to be present. Thought it would be a perfect opportunity for you to assassinate him, Fae. You know?"
"That's it?"
Skyla looked thoughtful for a moment. "Umm…yes. I'll be taking my leave now." She grabbed her cloak, and looking tentatively out the door, bounded out the door and dashed down the street, looking all around her warily. Probably watching for rapists.
Elphaba shook her head with disgust as she watched Skyla leave. The girl was exceedingly obnoxious, and her girlish-like splendor was disturbing on a level. Probably because she reminded Elphaba of Glinda. In a way.
"Assassinate him?" Elphaba asked herself. "No," she growled at herself. Not because of the assassination concept, but because heard that talking to yourself was the first sign of craziness. But no, she couldn't assassin him. There was no way she could do that. Sitting down next to the Grimmerie, her head in her hands, Elphaba stared at it malevolently. "Stupid Grimmerie," she muttered, disgusted with herself for talking to a book.
She decided that she'd go to the ceremony. She'd stay hidden, of course. All she wanted was to see Fiyero, to see if he really had changed. In a way, she hoped he had, because it would make her job much easier.
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Her feet, light, and quick, and barely touching the remnants of the morning dew that was on the grass, Elphaba headed towards a tree, her hood low over her emerald face. She grabbed at a low branch, glad she had worn gloves when her sleeve fell, revealing the whole of arm. She swung herself onto the branch and climbed to the top of the tree. Perched precariously at the canopy, she could see all of the going-ons that the ceremony provided.
A large banner hung across a podium, "Obviously, some congratulations are in order," said Elphaba to herself, dryly. She had to admit, though, that she was curious about the occasion.
"Everyday more wicked! Everyday, the terror grows! All of Oz is on alert! That's the way with Wicked - Spreading fear where e'er she goes. Seeking out new victims she can hurt!"
Elphaba's head snapped up so fast she heard her neck pop. This 'ceremony' was…was a press conference! And, moreover, a press conference about her! Elphaba seethed in her tree. Skyla had been right after all. This had probably been arranged by Fiyero, Captain of the Guard…Elphaba felt mocked.
Getting ready to jump from her spot while all of Oz's attention was focused on the podium, Elphaba heard Glinda start to speak:
"Fellow Ozians, as terrifying as terror is, let us put aside our panic for this one day…and celebrate!"
Elphaba froze for a moment. Was it possible, that over the years, Glinda had succumbed to the peer pressure to hate her best friend? That did seem like Glinda, but Elphaba felt slightly put down either way. It was then that she noticed Fiyero standing next to Glinda, looking slightly dazed, as if he had just woken up. Elphaba couldn't seem to keep her eyes off of him for some reason. She sat back into the trunk of the tree, her brown eyes locked on his every slight motion.
"Do you hear that water will melt her? People are so empty-headed, they'll believe anything!"
All at once her heart melted. Just hearing him stick up for her made her breath catch in her throat. Maybe he wasn't so bad..? Oh, sweet Oz, things just kept getting harder for her.
"For all this joy, we know who we've got to thank: Thank Goodness! That means the Wizard, Glinda-"
"And fiancé!"
Fiancé. Of course, Fiyero and Glinda had been courting each other since Shiz, they had been bound to get married. They were both perfect. They deserved each other. Elphaba sighed and leaned back. She wished she had never come. Gazing out onto the palace grounds, the green woman began to softly sing: "There's a girl I know, he loves her so…I'm not that girl." Quickly, without waiting for the Ozians to dissipate, Elphaba jumped from the tree and walked quickly back to the slums.
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"Do you hear that - water will melt her! People are so empty-headed, they'll believe anything!" Without waiting for Glinda to respond, Fiyero ran off. He didn't even hear her call after him. He was pretty much fed up with Glinda. He knew know that he didn't love her. Not like that. And now he knew that Glinda knew. Otherwise, would she of planned a whole secret engagement party? He didn't think so. It was stated, not asked, this engagement.
Running across the grounds, he could've sworn that he heard singing, but looking around, he saw no one. But someone was around, either that or he was going crazy. The song that was being sung seemed oddly familiar, although he couldn't figure why.
(the day with elphaba and the lion cub)
And again it seemed that his subconscious was the winner in a battle of remembrance. It was true that he had heard Elphaba singing that day. He had tried to ignore it, but he knew what she was singing about, and he had to admit, grudgingly, that he shared the feeling with the green girl.
He looked around, longing to see that soft emerald skin that for so long, he had longed to touch, and that perfect ebony silk that he had longed to run his fingers through. But she was no where to be seen. He felt oddly comforted by her presence, and he knew she was close. An ample came up then, bringing the song closer to him. A melody…a melody softly soaring through his atmosphere.