Elphaba startled awake. She glanced around getting her bearings. She tried to think about what had startled her, and thought she had been dreaming, but it was very hazy- Manif, Hyrut and Glinda were there. She was dancing with Manif and he seemed to be kissing her. Elphie shuttered at the thought.
"Good thing that dream is hazy," She thought.
She put the thought away for the time being, not really wanting to dwell on it.
She re-focused her attention and heard rain tapping on the window, and her roomie snoring. She smiled and looked over at the next bed. Glinda was sprawled out, blonde curls all over her pillow and face and a dainty leg sticking out from under the covers. Elphie got up and carefully put her friend's leg back under the covers. Glinda shifted position mumbling "This is fun!" but stayed asleep.
Elphie laughed softly "I wish I knew what when on in that head of hers"
She looked at the clock. It was mid-morning, late for her to arise. She went in to change clothes then slipped out to go down to the café, knowing Glinda would be asleep for hours. She grabbed some milk and some muffins and hurried back up to the room.
Glinda was still sleeping, as Elphie figured she would be. She had planned to go to the library to study for the exams she had the coming week, but since it was raining and the sleeping blonde would probably wake up hung over- she decided to stay home and study. She grabbed some milk, a muffin, her textbook and glasses and folded herself into Glinda's comfy chair. She took a long drink of cold milk. Her throat was a little sore from last night's wine and the milk felt good going down.
She picked up her book and glasses, and munching on a muffin, started to study. Every so often she would glance up from her book to check on her snoring roomie.
She tried to gage what she was feeling sitting there watching her roomie sleep. She was comfortable, relaxed, and happy. She liked that, but it still amazed her how so much could change so quickly
She went back to her book. After a two or three hours, Elphie heard a groan coming from her roomies bed.
Glinda was trying to stretch and sit up, but was doing neither well.
"Elphie?" She croaked looking around
"I'm here." Elphie replied and Glinda looked over.
"Good morning my sweet"
"Ugggggh" Glinda responded finally sitting up in her bed and leaning against the headboard.
"Is it early? - It seems dark" she grumbled
"No, It's way past noon actually- how do you feel?" Elphie said quietly
"Like I've eaten cotton and someone is playing Ozscotch in my head." She closed her eyes and groaned again. "And please Elphie, stop yelling"
Elphie chuckled and got up to get her suffering friend half of one of her pain pills.
"Glinda" The green girl said softly "Take this, it will help your headache, and if you can, drink this" She handed her the milk.
"Milk?"
"If you can- it will coat your stomach, so the pill won't upset it"
Glinda took the glass and drank some milk, making a face. She took the pill from the green hand and took it with some more milk.
"That's my girl" Elphie said kissing Glinda's forehead.
"Yuck" She said
"You don't like milk, or the kisses?" Elphie asked teasingly
"Milk, but right now nothing is good- except the kisses" She made an attempt at a smile.
Elphie gathered up her things and went to sit on her own bed.
"There's a glass of water on the nightstand if you want it" She was still speaking softly
"Elphie, was I horrible last night?"
"Not at all- my sweet- but if the barkeep comes by and asks you to sing the Oz national anthem at the next Wizard Appreciation Day- decline."
"Ohhhhhhh" She moaned "What else happened?"
"We'll talk about it later- when you are not quite so fragile" She tried not to laugh, but failed.
Glinda managed to get up and shuffle into the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face and tried to rinse the fuzz off of her tongue. A few more splashes later and she felt almost human- except for the headache.
"Better?" Elphie asked when Glinda emerged
"A little" She said sitting down "I have no idea why I drank that much" She looked at her gown
"I'm assuming you helped me with this"
"Yes, although I wouldn't go so far as to say you actually helped. I almost let you sleep naked."
"Oh no!" Glinda said dismayed
"It's Ok- once I convinced you that I wasn't instigating a tickle fight- things went more smoothly" Elphie chuckled
"Oh dear! -Do I even want to know anything else?"
"Maybe we should start with what you remember"
"You sang, didn't you- our school song" Glinda closed her eyes trying to focus
"I had to- or you wouldn't leave" She smiled
"We all danced, and you were drinking wine. You drink wine?"
"I do, but rarely and in very small amounts- too much too fast burns my throat. But I like the taste- so I nursed a glass over the entire evening" She explained to the very confused girl
"Wow- I'll have to remember that, for future reference. Everything is fuzzy- and I can't recall much after we left the bar- did we dance in here?"
"We did- So you would change your clothes"
"I was being a beast wasn't I?"
"Not really- actually you were acting more like a spoiled child" She laughed.
"Do I need to apologize for anything?"
"Not at all- you were silly, giddy and very hyper, but not obnoxious"
Glinda closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. Elphie got up and went over to her
"I can help you with that- move over"
She sat down on Glinda's bed and created a space between her legs.
"Sit here my sweet and lean your head on my chest"
Glinda did as she was asked. Elphie put her palms on the backs of Glinda's hands and intertwined their fingers.
"I'm going to rub your temples. I learned this from a Quadling healer, so I could help Nessa." She spoke in a soft calm voice.
"Now, my sweet- close your eyes. Take a deep slow breath," She took a breath and Glinda followed suit.
"Good, again--- and one more"
She slid her fingertips slowly and lightly up Glinda's arms, neck and face positioning her fingertips on her best friend's temples. Using her middle and index fingers she made small light circles on her temples while her thumbs lightly stroked the soft cheek.
"This feels wonderful Elphie- someday you must show me how to do this."
"We can show each other our magic finger maneuvers-but for now- Shhhhhh"
She changed the direction of the circles and lightly caressed her jaws. 10 or so minutes later, she switched her fingertips for her thumbs and used her fingers to caress Glinda's forehead
"Elphie this is working wonders, my head barely hurts anymore."
"I'm glad"
Elphie closed her eyes and continued her friend's facial massage, listening to the rain pound on the window
Glinda was basking in her best friend's touch, savoring the soothing fingers that were caressing away the pain.
Last night was still fuzzy, but she did remember Elphie helping her to bed and singing to her.
"You sang me to sleep last night didn't you?"
"I did- I haven't sang that much in one day- since I was young"
"I'm sorry I asked you sing in public, I never would have done that if I hadn't been drinking- and I'm a little upset that I did"
"Why, my sweet, I would never have done it, without your nudging- but I wasn't upset" She stopped massaging and Glinda shifted position to face her.
"I know- that's the point- you don't sing, except to yourself, and to me- It was our secret- something for just us"
She thought about what Glinda said last night about that name she said when she tried to say Glinda with a bag in her mouth.
"That's very important to you, isn't it? Having little things just between us"
"It's silly, I know, but it does make me feel special"
" You are special my sweet, and if it means something to you, then it is not silly, and I shall do my best to accommodate you"
"Elphie yesterday, all of it, was wonderful. I've never had so much fun- the shopping, dinner, and what I can remember of the sing-a-long bar."
They both smiled.
"I had a wonderful time as well- in spite of the public singing" She laughed lightly
"Thank you Elphie- for choosing me, I love you- you know"
Elphie remembered her friend's comments from the night before.
"I know- and I love you—Lyndie"
Glinda squealed and hugged her roomie with glee.
They sat together for awhile, listen to the rain and wind. Glinda was obviously delighted that Elphie had called her by that nickname. After a time, Glinda got up reluctantly
"I'm hungry, I think"
"Do you want to go down to the café- or shall I go get something for us" Elphie asked stretching
Glinda suddenly looked very distressed "Please don't leave me here alone" She whispered looking like a lost little girl.
Elphie regarded her friend carefully "Then we will go down together- but you may want to change first." She said indicating Glinda's nightdress.
"Yes of course" She scurried off to change.
Elphie wondered what was troubling her roomie, but knowing whatever it was would come out in it's own time, she decided not to push it. Glinda came out dressed very casually, no make up, hair in a ponytail, and looking very wrung out.
"Glinda, you know a storm is immanent-Would you rather us bring dinner up here."
"No, I'd like to try to eat in the café" She said
"As you like, my sweet" She said taking Glinda's hand and leading her out the door and down to eat.
They were just finishing up dinner at the café when the rain that had been falling all day finally started to turn into a storm. Lightning flashed in the sky and there were low rumbles of thunder in the distance.
"Glinda, would you feel better, if we went on back up to the room." Elphie said seeing that her friend was starting to look tense.
"Would you mind terribly?" Glinda replied her voice quivering slightly
"Not at all my sweet, Come" She put her arm around her as the rain and wind picked up.
The walked hurriedly up to their room and once they were inside Glinda went over to her bed and sat hugging a pillow. Elphie sat down beside her, pulling her close.
"I'm sorry Elphie, every time a little storm comes up I turn into a 3 year old. I've been trying to not let them bother me, but I can't seem to help it." The thunder grew louder and, as she always did, the scared blonde moved closer into the arms of her best friend.
"Glinda, being able to be here for you, to give you what you need has helped me. I admit at first I helped you through the storms because you seemed so lost and desperate, but now- all I want is for you to feel safe and protected. You are frightened of storms, you always have been. It's as much a part of you as being a mean green thing is to me." She smiled at her friend, hoping she would laugh.
She did.
"So no apologies, As you told me, take what you need from me whenever you need it."
A loud clap of thunder made both girls jump. Glinda started to cry softly. Elphie held her tighter. The wind was blowing hard and they could hear the rain beating on the window.
"Elphie" Glinda said sniffling " Does hearing the rain frighten you?"
"Not really, not any more. I know it's out there and I'm in here." The thunder and lightening kept up its assault.
Hoping to distract her shaky friend Elphie decided to tell her something about her childhood.
"As you know, I spent a large part of my childhood in Quadling Country."
"Are you going to tell me an Elphie story?" Glinda said still cuddled close. "But you hate talking about your childhood."
"Not always, my sweet." She said kissing Glinda's forehead after a series of loud thunderclaps " And this one is for a good cause"
The storm showed no signs of letting up.
"Quadling Country was wet- swampy really. And it rained a lot. When I was out with my father, on his convert recruiting missions I was protected of course, cloaks and umbrellas waterproof boots. But the houses were often leaky and I spent a great deal of time, not only being the object of intense curiosity from the Quadlings, but also playing dodge the drips"
Glinda had been listening intently to Elphie talk, trying to ignore the storm outside
"Oh dear-Elphie, that's awful"
"Now don't go getting all sympathetic, or I shall not continue"
Glinda snuggled and apologized
"Ok then. Wherever we went, and we traveled a lot, we usually had a small house. Father attempted to patch all the leaky places and keep it as dry as possible, mainly to keep Nessa from catching a cold, but it served me well too."
Glinda, for some reason, leaned up and kissed Elphie's cheek, then snuggled back down.
"One place we had was very small. Nanny, Nessa and I slept in the small bedroom and Shell and Father stayed in the living area. Our room had a window that had a mind of it's own. It opened for no reason, wouldn't open when we wanted it too. And for some reason it didn't like Nanny's attempts to put up curtains.
Glinda giggled at the thought and whimpered at the thunder at the same time.
"Every time it rained we never knew if that window would stay closed or not. I would listen to the rain hit the panes and wonder which ones would be the ones to make the window decide to open. It always seemed when It was really coming down, that window stayed closed. And when it was just a light mist it opened and closed at will, especially if I was the one awake to deal with it."
Glinda tried to tune out the storm outside and imagine the willful window.
"It drove Nanny and Father crazy because it upset Nessa so much, but I liked to think that the window was on my side. Since I was usually awake, I was the one who had to get up in the night and try to fix it if it opened, and usually it was not raining or not raining in enough to harm me when I did. But on the rare occasions that Father would come in and try- it seemed to fly open on a whim and spit rain in at him."
"Elphie, you're making that up" Glinda giggled
"No the whole thing is true- but I'm sure I was seeing the events through the eyes of a scared young girl, who needed someone- or something doing what was best for her. Since then hearing rain on the window doesn't frighten me, rain scares me a little sometimes, but I sort of like hearing it on the window panes."
The storm had abated somewhat and Glinda had calmed, but she stayed close to Elphie anyway
"How can one person have so much to be frightened of, and yet not be very frightened, and another have little to be frightened of and be very frightened."
"I don't think that is a fair way to look at this issue. You were allowed to be scared, and react in what ever manner you did and someone one, I'm guessing, would tell you it was Ok. I learned to either not be frightened, or not let anyone know I was, because it didn't really matter to anybody- and I was on my own to figure out how to deal with it. - Until here. Now I can be frightened if I am, and you will let me."
"Yes I will" Glinda said resolutely "Thank you my love for telling me an Elphie Story"
"You're welcome my sweet, but remember our deal, No extra coddling when you learn these little bits and pieces of my childhood, or I shall tell you no more"
"I know, but you can't stop me from caring enough to want to coddle"
"Not only can I not, I wouldn't want to try." She laughed and kissed Glinda's cheek. "Are you feeling stronger my sweet."
Glinda nodded, but didn't want to leave Elphie's arms
"Good, May I suggest that we separate, just long enough to get ready for bed, because I fear this storm is not over yet. Then we can cuddle together all you need"
There was still lightening and thunder, but it had moved off into the distance, and Elphie knew Glinda could cope with that, if she had to. Glinda whimpered and pouted, but complied. She got up and broke the speed record for getting ready for bed.
"What? No bath tonight?" Elphie said with no hint of a smile
"Don't tease me, you very mean green thing"
"Mean huh? Just for that, I shall not sing to you tonight"
She winked at Glinda and strode off to the bathroom to get ready for bed. She cleaned up very quickly, using Glinda's favorite oil and put on her nightdress.
"Elphie. Hurry up, please" Glinda whined
"I'm here. Let's grab some books and crawl into bed"
Glinda looked upset
"The same bed, of course. Have you seen my glasses?"
"On the shelf, with your books" Glinda said grabbing her spell book getting in Elphie's bed, because hers had better light for reading. Elphie saw the book she choose and chuckled
"Oh no- I'm not getting into bed with that" she pointed to the book "you'll tun my blanket into a ball gown or something" She laughed, although she tried hard not to.
"Don't worry, no chanting- no wand- I promise" She chuckled at herself. Although she was getting better at sorcery, her enthusiasm for the craft often led to some interesting mix-ups.
"Elphie, you know you have some skill with this stuff too."
"Precious little" She said climbing over her small roomie to get to her preferred corner. "And besides you know I don't really care about it."
"I know" Glinda humphed "It's just fun to see what you can do- I think you have a natural talent"
"I think you should study- and leave me be" Elphie said kissing her forehead and letting her snuggle close.
They had worked out a comfortable arrangement for sitting on Elphie's bed to read, which was especially useful during storms or nightmares.
The storm was still in the distance, and they both knew it was only a matter of time before it blew back in, probably worse than before. It wasn't to long ago that Glinda would have been quite distressed at the mere thought of an oncoming storm. But Elphie was always very sensitive to this and intervened ahead of it, like now.
They read for awhile, the storm slowly moving closer. As the thunder got louder, Glinda moved closer, finally Elphie put her book and glasses on the night stand and put both arms around her roomie.
"Let's lie down, my sweet and try to sleep" She said quietly, although she doubted that sleep was in the offing.
Glinda curled up against Elphie, who held her close. They heard the rain pound harder on their window, lightening lit up the room and thunder rumbled loudly, shaking the windowpanes.
Glinda, trying very hard not to cry, said "I hope this window is your friend and will keep out there, out there"
"I'm positive it will" Elphie said soothingly
She stroked the blonde's hair and hummed a wordless melody in her ear
"Close your eyes my sweet" Elphie crooned as lightning lit op the room
"Sing away the storm, please Elphie" She started to cry.
"Elphie hummed the melody again and was suddenly over come by a wave of emotion, She desperately wanted to do something to ease the fear of her crying, trembling roommate. She made up some words for the melody she had been humming and sang softly to Glinda
"I will always love you,
I will always need you,
Never will I leave you,
Lyndie my love.
Hear my words sung to you,
Feel my love enfold you,
You are, my precious Lyndie,
Safe in my arms.
Though the storm may swirl around us,
The lightening flashes, thunder cracks,
These walls they are a haven,
You're safe in my arms.
If ever you should need me.
You only have to whisper
I'll be that close beside you
Trust in my love.
I will always love you,
I will always need you,
Sleep my precious Lyndie,
Safe in my arms."
Elphie felt a burning on her cheeks and realized she was crying. The depth of emotion she felt for Glinda at this moment frightened her. The storm was raging full force and Glinda was pressed up against her, quaking, but not crying. Elphie sang again, trying to keep her voice from cracking.
After what seemed like an eternity, the storm eased off. Glinda had been whimpering and shaking for so long, it took awhile for her to settle. Elphie sang to her again. After a time Glinda had calmed enough to speak
"Elphie you sang the storm away for me"
Elphie gave her a light kiss on the cheek. "Are you Ok? That was awful"
"Elphie, You made up a song for me, It was beautiful"
"I wanted to calm you, ease your fear, I needed you to know you were safe." Elphie said quietly
Glinda turned to face her friend and saw her face
"Elphie, your face!"
"It's nothing my sweet, barely a sting, let's try and sleep, we have classes tomorrow" She said trying to change the subject.
"May I stay here with you, please"
"Absolutely my sweet, I insist upon it"
"And will you sing me to sleep?"
"If I must" She sighed in mock resignation
Glinda snuggled close and Elphie sang to her. And they both drifted off to sleep.
A/N- For those of you familiar with Mannheim Steamroller, the song "Traditions of Christmas" on their A Fresh Aire Christmas album is the song that Elphie is humming whenever she "hums a wordless melody" and the tune used for the "storm song". The song is an instrumental- slow, sweet and slightly haunting. It plays a lot in my head, so in my story, it plays a lot in Elphie's.