Authors Note: For MyLittleElphie, by request. :) In seriousness, I have about two more chapters written for it, and the outline planned out, but I'm giving Fighting For Happily Ever After my full attention so updates here will be sparingly (so roughly once a week).
As they gathered their jacket and cloak, there was a knock at the door. Glinda looked quizzically at Elphaba but she shrugged. Neither knew it who it could be. They opened the door and there stood the headmistress.
"Madame Morrible!" squeaked Glinda.
"Oh, good, my dears, you're in. After the events of yesterday I was worried you may have done something foolish."
"Like?" there was a dangerous edge in Elphaba's voice.
"Like drown your sorrows and go out to some disreputable place like the Philosophy Club."
"Madame, please!" said Glinda, embarrassed. "We would never frequent a place such as that. Though I do admit I may have too many drinks in remembrance of Ama Clutch, so if you could lower your voice I would appreciate it. "
"I'm sorry dearie." Morrible replied, not changing the volume of her voice at all, "I was worried when the porters did not report you coming back."
"So you checked on Milla, Shenshen, and Pfannee too, then?" Glinda asked, and Elphaba's heart soared in pride. She had Morrible in a trap.
"Of-of course, dearies. I-I was on my way to right now. You were the first door I came to, though. Well, now I know you're fine, I shall continue checking. Unless of course they came home with you?"
"No Madame, we separated and came home by ourselves. I positively don't know how they got back." Glinda replied.
"I see. Well, good day to you." She said stiffly, and walked away. As she did, Nanny came through the adjoining door.
"What did that old miser want?"
"To check up on us." Elphaba said flatly, then shot a sideways glance at Nanny. "She said the porters didn't mention that we returned, yet we came through the front door. Strange, don't you think?"
"Didn't think it was anyone's business where and when my girls come and go. Especially after that terrible memorial service."
"Thank you, Nanny."
"No need to thank Nanny. But you're welcome. Where are you off to?"
"Shopping!" said Glinda excitedly, and Nanny looked at Elphaba questioningly.
"Don't ask."
"Well, you have fun. Nessarose is still sleeping, some I'm going have me a sit. Strange, though, that I didn't hear either of you get ready." She said, and closed the door.
As the girls walked down the hall towards the stairs, they passed a very hung over looking Milla. She grumbled a greeting of sorts but kept moving. Glinda giggled and Elphaba smiled a bit. After they had cleared Crage Hall, Glinda mustered the courage to say something.
"Hey Elphie?"
"Hm?" Elphaba responded distractedly
"I….may have…lied a bit last night."
Elphaba stiffened and gave Glinda her entire attention. "About what?"
"I may have been still a little bit tipsy."
"Oh." Elphaba's voice was flat.
"It doesn't change anything! I meant everything I said."
"You sure? It's fine if you don't."
"Of course I'm sure." Glinda paused. "I also gained an understanding of why people like to meet at bars."
"Why's that?"
"It's easier to approach people when you're a little tipsy."
That comment got a laugh out of Elphaba, causing Glinda to giggle too. She then looped her arm through Elphaba's. She gave Glinda a questioning look but Glinda just beamed up at her and laid her head against Elphaba's shoulder. They walked like that, close but not overly intimate, for a long while in silence.
"So Elphie?"
"Yes?"
"Is Morrible having us watched?"
"Seems so."
"So if we had left last night she would have known?"
"Yes. I always assumed she would have known. I just thought we'd have at least a few days head start."
"How long does it take to get to the Emerald City?"
"A week if you're in first class. We would have taken a bit longer. Probably a week and a half to two weeks."
"So, wouldn't that have canceled out our head start? Plus, nobody just waltzes in and sees the Wizard. We would have had to wait a little bit."
"True."
"So, if Morrible is working for the Wizard, wouldn't he already known we'd be coming since Morrible would have warned him?"
"If she is. I doubt it."
"Why?"
"Why would the Wizard associate with someone like her?" Elphaba said through gritted teeth.
"True." Glinda responded, letting the conversation die. Elphaba was becoming upset and Glinda did not want to spoil their day. They walked in silence until they got to the clothing district. Glinda broke away from Elphaba (much to her disappointment) and carefully examined the wares in every shop window. She finally found one she wanted and hurried in. Elphaba sighed, and followed.
The shop contained racks upon racks of dresses, displaying the products of the ever spinning looms of Gillikin. Glinda had found the owner, an older man, and was talking to him. As Elphaba approached their conversation ended and he waved over an assistant. The young man, dressed in coat and tails with the stores symbol emblazed on it, came over. He was of average height, average build, and only slightly darker skin tone. Overall, he was very nondescript. The owner left to attend some other clients.
"Hello, my name is Duran, and I'll be assisting you." He said with a light bow.
"Good morning. My name is-" Glinda started politely.
"I apologize but by your beauty you could only be Miss Glinda Upland." he interjected. Glinda stopped and looked at him quizzically. He then turned to Elphaba.
"Let me guess," She said acidly before he could start, "by my hideousness I can only be Elphaba Thropp."
"No, not hideous at all. Though I can say by your sharp tongue you must be her."
"Sir," Glinda said, taking on her society voice, "you seem to have us at a disadvantage."
"I apologize. I'm not nearly so well-mannered as you ladies," at that Elphaba quirked an eyebrow, unsure if she was being insulted, "I am an acquaintance of Masters Avaric and Fiyero, and by proxy Masters Boq, Crope, and Tibbett."
"Funny, they've never mentioned you. " Elphaba bit out.
"Nor would I expect them too. I'm at Briscoe Hall on a patronage scholarship. Not quite high enough class for a Prince or Margreave to mention. Especially to the Lady Glinda, and the Eminent Thropp."
"So, your dorm mates of theirs?" Glinda asked politely.
"I live in the community dorms, so no. I run into them occasionally in classes or at the gym." Elphaba perked up at the news.
"I did not know there was a gym on campus." She said.
"There isn't. There's a little private club on the outskirts of Shiz. Members are allowed to bring guests with them. I sometimes work there as staff."
"What do you do there?" Glinda asked. Her old self would have recoiled at talking to such a lower class person. Now she enjoyed learning of people and their stories, regardless of class. She also realized it is good to have friends in all places.
Duran smiled. "I am usually retained as a fencing trainer or sparring partner."
"That's an interesting job." Glinda replied, unsure of what the appropriate response was. Duran, however, held Elphaba's rapt attention.
"How does someone so young get that job? I've read that position normally goes to older, more experienced men." She asked. Something about him felt off to her.
"Very astute. My father is a professional bodyguard for some of the wealthier businessmen in the Emerald City and around Oz. I was made to follow in his footsteps. His patron, however, offered him the chance to send me to school and he took it."
"Ever spar Fiyero or Avaric?" Elphaba asked, looking for something to bring up at a later time. Duran smiled.
"A bit. Every so often they get in a fighting mood."
"Who wins?" came immediately after but Duran smiled and replied,
"It's all in good sport."
"Well," Glinda cut in, "that's very interesting and nice to have met you. However, I still need to find a dress."
"Of course, Miss Upland." Duran said, now stiff and formal. "What are you looking for?"
"Something nice. Something sophisticated. Something regal."
"I see. You won't find that here," he said, gesturing around, and her face fell, "this is the front room that's designed to pull students in. The second, floor, in the back, is where you'll find what you are looking for. Would you require assistance?"
"Please."
"Follow me then."