Thank you to MyLittleElphie for reviewing. Elphie's not an intuitive romantic, more an intellectual one. And her nose does take a beating.
Thank you to RavenCurls for reviewing. I'm glad you like Fiyero.
Thank you to nursejoy7 for reviewing.
I apologize for the lateness and the shortness of this chapter. I was actually looking forward to writing this chapter but it kind of stalled out on me. I'm hoping to wrap up the school year in the next couple of chapters and then this story may take a little break for me to focus on finishing up Fighting for Happily Ever After. I've found that trying to write 8k+ words a week and review just isn't sustainable.
There's an easter egg in this chapter, though, written for my own personal amusement and possibly someone else's. See if you can spot it.
As always, read, enjoy, review. Comments and Critiques welcome.
7/8/14
"Mother, Father; what a pleasant surprise." Glinda said. She may have been surprised but it would not do to show poor manners in front of her parents. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Can we not simply drop in to see our daughter?" her father asked.
"Of course." Glinda replied warily. There was a pregnant pause.
"Are you not going to invite us in, Galinda?" her mother prodded.
"Let me ask my roommate; I do not wish to be rude to her." Glinda responded. She turned to look at Elphaba who shrugged. "Please come in. Excuse the mess."
Her parents nodded as Glinda opened the door fully. Her mother gave her a small peck on the cheek as she passed and her father did likewise. As Glinda closed the door she saw the pair surveying the room, but noticed Elphaba was nowhere to be seen. Glancing behind her parents she saw the green girl throwing one of her frocks on over her head. Glinda raised an eyebrow to which Elphaba countered with one of her own. Her parents turned fully and finally caught sight of Elphaba. They recoiled slightly.
"Galinda, dear, this must be your roommate." Her mother said with a polite smile. "I'm Larena Arduenna, and this is my husband Highmuster Upland. How do you do?"
"Well." Elphaba said, and stepped into her boots. There was an awkward pause.
"And you are?" Larena urged lightly.
"Just leaving." Elphaba replied curtly as she was lacing up her boots. "Glinda, I have some studying to do. I won't be back for most of the day; feel free to use the room as much as you want."
"Elphaba." Glinda said. The tone in her voice made Elphaba hesitate for a second as she was making her way to the door.
"So this is Her Excellency, Elphaba Thropp." Larena said sweetly. Elphaba's eyes narrowed and she turned them on the older woman.
"That I am." She replied coolly.
"I must say it is a pleasure to meet you."
"If that is truly meant, it would be the first time anyone could say such a thing."
The comment left Larena with a baffled expression. Highmuster stepped in cover his wife's lapse.
"We can say we are truly happy our Galinda has a friend like you to help her these tough times."
"And what times would those be?" Elphaba challenged.
"Adjusting to a new environment and expectations, and of course the terrible business with Ama Clutch. It greatly saddened us to hear of her passing."
"So much were you in grief that you forgot to send flowers?" Elphaba retorted.
Highmuster did not reply as he knew there was none adequate. Elphaba took the opportunity to examine them both. A taller man of stocky build, Highmuster Upland had broad features with greying brown hair and green eyes. His wife was a short woman of slighter build with light brown hair and grey eyes. Something niggled in the back of Elphaba's mind, but she could not place it. She noticed that her examinations had caused the pair to grow uncomfortable and stared for a moment longer before turning to Glinda.
"I think I've quite changed my mind, my dear. Send me a note and we shall get together for lunch." She said and turned a toothy smile on her parents. "I shall enjoy getting to know your parents better."
"Of course, Miss Elphaba." Glinda replied. Elphaba flashed her a smirk and then with a whirl was gone.
"She's a very…unique young lady." Larena commented after the door shut.
"She is that." Glinda said, looking after Elphaba but then turned to her parents. "Mother, Father; why are you really here?"
"Galinda, really, such tone." Larena admonished. "Do we need any other reason besides wanting to see you?"
"You have not come to visit me in the year and a half I have been at Shiz." Glinda replied.
"Nor have you come to see us." Highmuster reminded her.
"I was not given the appropriate funds to do so."
"That is true. We thought it best for you to stay in Shiz to cultivate friendships." Highmuster admitted. "And we see you have done quite well. To room with the future Eminence of Munchkinland is quite a feat, darling."
"It came about by pure happenstance. I will say though she took much getting used to, I am entirely grateful to count Miss Elphaba as my friend."
"As well you should, my dear." Larena said. "And what of other associates? Surely you must have cultivated other contacts."
"Of course. There is also Miss Nessarose, Elphaba's sister. Miss Shenshen of the Minkos clan, Miss Pfannee of Pfann Hall, and a few others."
"A small circle, dear. We expected more." Highmuster said.
"A close circle, father, and well regarded at that. They may not all be the highest in terms of class or wealth, but they are all driven to excel. They will be the best kind of contacts; cultivated ones."
"Well, the future Eminence of Munchkinland is useful enough. That will make things easier."
"I wouldn't recommend name dropping, father; Elphaba despises it and would cause you more trouble than good." Glinda replied. She paused for a moment, and then said, "How did you know she was the Eminence? Elphaba does not speak of her station."
"How very strange of her. Her banker contacted me about a transfer of sums - quite a bit too! – and used her name and title. We transferred the money into your Shiz account while here too; though we did take a bit for expenses."
"How very proper." Glinda intoned. Her parents gave her a quizzical look. "Would you care for a tour of Shiz? I know how both of you have never been here before."
"Do we have the time for some breakfast? We missed it in our hurry." Her father asked.
"If you can wait a half an hour I can take you myself."
"Really, Glinda, and what state would you be presented in just half an hour?"
Glinda smiled.
"Mother, you did not think I would go to Shiz and learn nothing, did you? A half an hour, and then breakfast."
"Quite a strange habit she has, spending all her time in a place like this." Larena said as Glinda and her parents entered the library. Highmuster looked around.
"Seeking knowledge can be a worthy pursuit as long as one does not distract them from larger matters." He said.
Glinda nodded and stuck out her wand. A slight incantation later, and she tucked her wand away. She had cast a simple sending spell to let Elphaba know they were coming. It could only contain one word, and it was only readable by the intended receiver.
Coming, it had said. She led her parents around towards a staircase.
"It always amazes me to watch you do that; first your appearance and now this." Highmuster said with a smile.
"It is not proper for a lady to practice sorcery like some common charmer." Larena retorted. Glinda inwardly sighed and clenched her fists. She slowly unclenched her fist as a piece of paper appeared in it. A word shimmered on it.
Later. It said before slowly fading away.
Glinda silently huffed and tossed her hair to hide her blush. Really, what was Elphaba thinking? Glinda led them up through the back and up the hidden staircase until she finally pushed the door open to Elphaba's secret spot. There was a book along with some nuts in cloth, but no sign of Elphaba. Her parents followed her in and looked around.
"An...interesting place." Larena said.
"I think so." Came Elphaba's voice from behind them. Glinda's parents jumped while Glinda herself merely pivoted. She watched Elphaba detach from the shadows.
"Do you always hide in corners of rooms?" Glinda asked. Elphaba smiled ruefully.
"You should always check the shadows; you never know what danger may be hiding in them."
"You know what you are, Elphie?" Glinda teased as her emerald girlfriend walked past her.
"Wicked?" Elphaba supplied jovially.
"Mean and green." Glinda replied in the same tone. Elphaba cackled.
"Oh no, whatever shall I do. Perhaps I should become as lady like as you, Miss Glinda; though I'll never be anything but green."
"A nice pink dress may help." Glinda replied and had to giggle at Elphaba's horrified look.
"Glinda, such familiarity is not proper." Larena chastised. Elphaba raised an eyebrow towards Glinda with a light quirk in her lips. Glinda lightly scrunched her nose in response. It did not escape Glinda's parents. "It is highly rude to communicate silently when in the room with others."
"I can say it out loud, if you wish." Elphaba retorted with a large smile. Glinda felt a flicker of fear.
"Her Excellency was simply expressing her disdain for rigid social structures that seek to impede honest dialogue."
"All that from an eyebrow raise?" Highmuster asked.
"We've had this conversation before." Elphaba interjected. "Your daughter's response is that the bounds of propriety create a situation where civil discourse can be undertaken, even when the topic may be extremely divisive. A very nuanced argument; your daughter has excellent oral skills."
Glinda almost died of embarrassment. She worked hard to not let it show on her face.
"Well, it is good to know Shiz has had a positive influence on her." Larena said. "Glinda said you would be joining us for lunch, Your Excellency?"
"It's Elphaba. And yes, I will. I would have loved to stay for breakfast but I had some research to do."
"You're very studious." Highmuster said. "What are you researching?"
"Something to do with Life Sciences, I bet." Glinda said with a smile. Elphaba returned it.
"You are correct. I was doing a more in-depth study of genealogies and how they affect characteristics."
"Anything profoundly interesting?" Highmuster said. Elphaba smiled at him.
"It all is, but additional research must be done before I can come to any conclusions."
"I hate to interrupt, but if I don't Elphie will keep on going until it is dark." Glinda said with a bit of amusement. "Where do you want to go to lunch? I was thinking Romenie's."
"Why not Heraquin's?" Elphaba answered and Glinda was a bit taken aback. That was a bit upscale.
"Are you sure?" Glinda asked.
"Yes. It will be my treat. However, we need to stop back at the dorm for me to freshen up and to change into something more suitable." Elphaba replied. Glinda did not know what was going on but she would steal Elphaba away when she had the chance.
Her chance did not come until they got back to the dorm. Glinda's parents elected to stay outside in the warming spring air while the girls went to change. As they entered the dorm Glinda finally said what she had been thinking the entire way back.
"So what is going on here?" she asked suspiciously.
"What do you mean, my sweet?" Elphaba asked as she placed some books down and went to her closet.
"I mean first you did not explode at them when they called you Excellency." Glinda started and then realized her mistake. "Which I did not tell them, by the way. I don't know how they-"
"Firamen." Elphaba answered as she slipped off her frock and pulled out one of her nicer dresses. It was the midnight blue with long sleeves. "His letter would have addressed me as such."
"Ah. That makes sense." Glinda said relieved.
"Anything else, my sweet?"
"A nice lunch; a very nice lunch, one you with you willingly dressing well. I just don't get it."
"Perhaps I felt like it?" Elphaba answered while she donned her nicer boots.
"Unlikely. Tell me, Rae; what is going on?"
Elphaba straightened up and looked at her intensely. The emerald girl's gaze burned into Glinda and she shivered as Elphaba approached her and leaned forward.
"Perhaps I merely wish to make a good impression." She whispered. Glinda nodded dumbly. She could feel Elphaba's hot breath on her lips. Those dark lips of hers quirked in slight smile, as if they knew they were the focus of her attention, and then Elphaba turned. "Can you button this up for me?"
"Y-yes." Glinda replied and as she did the buttons she cursed herself for being affected such. Which reminded her. "What is with you today?"
"You'll have to be more specific, my sweet."
"You've been a big tease all day. First with your cute response to my message, and then telling my parents I have great oral skills! You aim for me to die of embarrassment."
"Not at all, my sweet. The world would be less bright without you. I cannot particularly say what is with me, only that I am being what I am with."
"Don't you riddle me, Elphaba Thropp. I want a real answer." Glinda retorted and Elphaba lightly laughed.
"Perhaps I am a bit put out I did not get my accustomed morning time with you."
"Are you saying you enjoy cuddling with me in the morning?" Glinda teased gently.
"I am saying I have been accustomed to it, and you know how I can get when my accustoms are interrupted."
"I'll take that as a yes."
Elphaba turned and enveloped Glinda in her arms. She bent low and lay a long, gentle kiss across her lover's lips, teasing her tongue across them as they broke apart. Elphaba smiled as Glinda fought to catch her breath.
"You may take that however you feel." Elphaba whispered.
"I'll take it as a very passionate yes."
The next afternoon Elphaba sat with the Circle minus Glinda, who was currently still visiting with her parents. Elphaba had taken Glinda's parents out to lunch and then gave them a tour of Shiz in high style. She had spent more money that day than she had in her entire life but she could tell Glinda's parents had been enthralled.
"So, what are Glinda's parents like? I imagine very hoighty toighty from Glinda's manner." Tibbett said.
"Yes, she's always been very well cultured and well read." Pfannee agreed.
"Very country, actually." Elphaba replied as she took a sip of tea.
"Really?" asked Shenshen.
"Really. Our Miss Glinda, while giving the appearance of very high society, comes from very rustic origins." Elphaba confirmed.
"Strange. Why would she pretend otherwise?" Fiyero asked.
"Gillikins are very class obsessed; even more so than other countries' elites." Elphaba said, earning a dark look from Pfannee, and even darker looks from Shenshen and Avaric. "They have made it an art of showing off their wealth. For our Miss Glinda to not seem at a disadvantage, she has developed certain social tics that distract from her lack of ostentatiousness."
"You sound almost pleased, Miss Elphaba." Pfannee sniffed. Elphaba gave her a thin lipped smile.
"I am, in such a manner. You see, Miss Pfannee, whereas money can buy diamonds and pearls, it takes a much rarer resource than gold for Miss Glinda to do what she does."
"And what is that?"
"Intelligence."
"I am sure to be quite offended." Pfannee huffed.
"Then I am doing my job."
"Why are you here, then?" Avaric asked. "Surely not just to insult us."
"No, I am not." Elphaba conceded. "Miss Glinda's parents have requested a lunch date with her circle of friends to see she is properly socializing."
There was a long pause as Elphaba stopped. After a few moments of her not saying anything, Boq had to add,
"And?"
"And I was here to inform you as such. Seeing as we are her companions I thought it would only be fair for us to be there."
"Where were we going to meet?" Boq asked.
"We were to decide and then to notify her." Elphaba answered.
"How fancy ae we looking?" Crope asked. "Are we going for a pub, or full gown and wig?"
"Perhaps a good ruffled shirt." Tibbett added.
"I was thinking more informal than formal." Elphaba replied.
"Why not the Emerald?" Fiyero asked. They looked at him.
"You just like it because of the name." Avaric quipped.
" have good food."
"Perhaps he likes it because of the cook." Crope said with a wink.
"Corvus is cute." Tibbett agreed. Fiyero looked aghast.
"I am not of the persuasion. Corvus is a good cook and a better owner. His café is second to none in Shiz." Fiyero defended himself.
"Not to mention that accent." Crope added dreamily.
"Oh yes. So foreign and so honeyed." Tibbett swooned. "Where did he say he was from?"
"He's from a southern isle." Fiyero quickly put it. The boys looked at him with telling looks. Fiyero refused to be embarrassed for his knowledge.
"We hear he's a prince. Perhaps the Prince likes that." Crope said and swooned over Fiyero. Tibbett soon joined him. Fiyero's only rejoinder was to throw them off.
"The Emerald is fine." Elphaba said, and put her tea cup down. She stood. "I'll let Glinda know. An hour?"
"Better make it an hour and a half. Fiyero needs time to primp." Crope said. Fiyero shot them a glare.
"An hour." He said and Elphaba nodded. She then turned and set off.
An hour later they had gathered at the café. It was a nicer one on the edge of campus with wooden furniture and back dropped by a small forest. It was smaller than many of the others, but the food was good and it was relatively quiet. A perfect place for a parental meet and greet. The Circle had appropriated a couple of tables and shuffled them into a corner. The owner, Corvus, was a tall man with long dark hair that was pulled back, and pale skin. He had sternly ordered the tables back, but when Fiyero explained the reasoning he relented. Fiyero gave him a big smile but the young man did not return the gesture.
The group began to get anxious when the door chimes rang and the pair of girls entered followed by what they assumed where Glinda's parents. The Circle stood to greet them as was proper. Glinda stopped the group in front of her friends.
"Mother, father, I would like to introduce you to my friends. First, this is Miss Shenshen of the Minkos Clan." Glinda started and Shenshen curtsied. Larena did likewise and Highmuster took the proffered hand and bowed low over it. "Next to her is Miss Pfannee of Pfann Hall."
The same repeated itself for Pfannee and Milla, and then Glinda moved to the boys.
"First is Master Boq Bfeeson of Munchkinland." She said and Boq bowed low (which was quite low for him). Larena curtsied and Highmuster bowed, and then held out a hand. Boq shook it firmly.
"Estate manager?" Highmuster asked.
"Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Irrigation." Bow replied firmly. Highmuster nodded.
"After Master Boq is Master Fiyero Tigelaar, Crown Prince of the Arjiki." Glinda continued, a slight quiver all but undetectable in her voice. Fiyero bowed low and Larena curtsied, but not as far as previously. Highmuster's bow was also noticeably shallow. After a moment, it was Fiyero who held out his hand, and Highmuster grasped it.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, sir." Fiyero said evenly.
"Likewise." Highmuster answered in the same tone. Glinda let out a silent sigh of relief. She introduced Crope and Tibbett, who were respectful for once.
"And this," Glinda finished, "is Master Avaric Tenmeadows."
"Any relation to the Margreave of Tenmeadows?" Highmuster asked after he bowed.
"My father." Avaric replied smugly.
"Ah. I see."
Glinda's parents took a seat and began to strike up idle conversation with the group. While polite, it was not missed by any of the Circle that the questions were very probing. Elphaba in particular noticed how they paid most attention to the girls and Avaric while giving less attention to the less well-off boys, and almost no attention to Fiyero. Every time a question would be sent her way Elphaba skillfully dodge it, though there were not many since they had spent most of the day yesterday asking her questions. There was silence for a little while after food came.
As conversation started again Elphaba stood and walked to the counter. The young man who was the owner, Corvus, was behind it wiping it clean. He stopped as he saw Elphaba approach. As she reached the counter Elphaba slowly drew out a large fold of bills and placed them down. Corvus arched an eyebrow.
"For the food, and for some cake for the table." Elphaba said.
"That's an awful lot of cake." He responded. His voice was a bit higher than most men's but smooth.
"The rest is for you."
"What for?" he asked suspiciously.
"I know what it is like to be different." Elphaba replied evenly and Corvus blanched.
"How?"
"I am very perceptive." Elphaba answered and then turned away.
"What was that all about?" Glinda whispered as Elphaba returned.
"Nothing important." Elphaba replied.
"Galinda, dear, it is rude to whisper." Larena interjected.
"I'm sorry, mother."
"It was nice to see you, Galinda." Larena said. They were standing on the train platform as her father loaded their meager baggage.
"It was nice to see you too, Mother." Glinda replied. She gave her a hug as Highmuster walked up.
"Now, dear, don't be stranger. Write more often." Highmuster said.
"I will, father."
"Miss Elphaba," Larena said, "you are welcome to visit us in Frottica whenever you want."
"Thank you, Miss Arduenna." Elphaba replied evenly. After a moment of expectation, Larena turned back to her daughter.
"I forgot to tell you; your Uncle Garon asked after you."
"Did he?" Glinda asked weakly. Elphaba noticed her change in demeanor.
"Yes. He's been traveling for business and was thinking of stopping next time he passed by Shiz."
"I'm afraid, mother, with the end of the year coming up I will have little time for socializing." Glinda rushed out. Elphaba wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Well, that is unfortunate. I shall send him your apologies."
"Yes please."
The conductor gave a final call, and with one last hug Glinda's parents were on their way back to Frottica. Elphaba had to almost lead her back to their dorm, and up the stairs. As they entered the dorm Glinda let out a rattled breath.
"What is it my sweet? You are acting quite strange." Elphaba asked.
"Nothing." Glinda said, smiling weakly. "My parents just are draining to be around."
"I can imagine."
"Can we go to bed early tonight? I'm particularly tired."
"Of course."
The two prepared for bed, and Elphaba drew the curtains as it was still light out. They cuddled close in bed and Glinda buried her face in her girlfriend's chest. There she fell asleep, safe from the world.
This chapter covers the dates of the 15th to the 18 of Highspring.