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Misunderstood Chapter 3

Raven pulled a chair from a table that seemed not to need it, and meticulously covering herself, sat next to Elphaba. She felt the eyes of two of the boys staring at her like she was an exhibit, yet when she looked they didn't look away as most people would. The other young man, the clumsy dwarf, was carefully averting his eyes. Raven blinked but decided not to be bothered with it. Then Elphaba began to speak, supposedly after everyone at the table had undergone enough suspense and/or uncomfortable silence.

"Boys, I have some one who would like to introduce herself." She motions with meaning toward Raven.

Before speaking, as was expected, Raven wondered about the abnormal emphasis Elphaba had used on the last word. She wondered if maybe giving her name was not something she should do. But she decided that Elphaba would probably not get her into anything that might lead to an arrest - and what harm can a name do? "I am called Raven," she stated simply, not wanting the confusion that had transpired earlier.

The blond man huffed. "That's hardly a proper introduction! Do you expect it to be sufficient? We don't know where you're from, whether you're married or not, or even who your father is." Raven's eyes shot wide open, but the short student didn't seem to notice. "For instance, should I be reduced to introducing myself--"

"You introduced yourself to me," Elphaba injected.

"I fell in your cabbages," he supplied, and then continued with his tutorial. "As I was saying, should I be reduced to introducing myself, I would say something approximately like this: 'I am Master Boq of Rush Margins, Wend Hardings, Munchkinland, son of Bfee," he concluded.

Crope snickered. "He's exaggerating a bit. We don't need to send you a letter. But your proper name would be nice."

Under his breath Tibbitt added, "The better to seduce you with, my dear."

Raven disliked feeling put on the spot, but now was as good of a time as any to roll with the punches. "Well then, I guess I'm Miss Raven of Azarath, daughter of--"

Elphaba cut her off and Raven breathed a sigh of relief. "Hold it right there, Miss Raven." She cursed the title with her tone. "Haven't I just finished telling you that we are trying to do away with all this formality? People don't need to know my grandfather in order to have a conversation! And here you are, bowing to his whim like a puppet."

"Bah!" the man, apparently named Boq rebutted. "She's just mad because she's the 'Eminent Thropp, Third Descending' and no one will let her forget it."

Raven was becoming increasingly aware that she was a pawn in a war between the two, but luckily Elphaba didn't allow her to dwell on it. "My lineage has nothing to do with this! The point is that people need more freedom and less formality!"

"Your lineage has everything to do with it. It's the only real reason you took up this fight. Or maybe it's because you don't have an Ama," Boq suggested, hitting his friend where it hurt.

"Wait!" Tibbitt called, as though a light bulb had just popped into his head. "Raven of Azarath? I've never heard of the place." The table froze. Evidently each person was considering whether (or not) they had (in fact) heard of a town (or state) called Azarath. Elphaba and Boq even stopped fighting. They all seemed to agree that no place existed in Munchkinland (or else surely Boq would know.) or in Quadling Country (as Elphaba forever claimed it was her home). And none could place in the Gilikin and that left only the Vinkus. But she couldn't (or wouldn't) introduce herself like that - would she?

"I agree," said Boq after a moment. "I can't say that it's familiar."

"Earlier she said she wasn't Vinkian," Elphaba supplied.

"Where precisely is Azarath, Miss Raven?" Boq asked in a polite voice.

"Uh…out of the country." Raven prayed that was enough even as her voice quavered in doubt.

"And you crossed the poisoned sand!" Tibbitt said, amazed. He had never heard or met someone from out of Oz.

"Maybe she's a witch, a very clever sorceress," Crope suggested.

Raven blanched (even for her!), but she managed to relax as she realized they had not said this with spite or malice.

"Oh don't be stupid!" Elphaba insisted. "The sands aren't poison and I can guarantee that Raven couldn't have a degree in Sorcery. She's far too young." Elphaba rose from the table, grabbing a large umbrella. "Now if you don't mind, I think we should find Raven some appropriate clothing."