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9/21/15
Elphaba stood in front of Peerless' desk. The Eminent Thropp sat and motioned for her to do likewise. She did so and waited for him to speak. He looked down at some paper on his desk for a moment, and then back to her.
"You mentioned something you needed to speak about in your letter." He stated matter-of-factly.
"Yes." Elphaba answered. "Do you remember my mention of Avaric, son of the Margreave of Tenmeadows?"
"Yes." He replied. "You said he was quite arrogant."
"He still is. He has offered Boq, Bfee's son, one hundred acres of land and five percent of the profits to acquire and manage a large estate."
"How large?"
"The number proposed is a thousand acres." Elphaba replied. Peerless sat up straight.
"That's quite the number. There isn't that around Rush Margins; he'd have to find it somewhere else."
"That was my thought."
"What else were your thoughts?" asked Peerless. "You brought this up to me for a reason."
"I thought you should know."
"And your loyalty is noted. However, I don't believe you left it there."
Elphaba squirmed a bit. Her grandfather's hard eyes pierced her.
"I thought you could expand towards Old Pastoria. I know you don't get along with the Eminence there, and having Boq's family expand into that area would cut down on his influence."
"An astute observation." Peerless nodded in respect. "And that could be true, but we would have to find the land first. If they catch wind of it, the Eminence there will oppose it."
"I did not know any of that; I merely thought it would be a good opportunity not only for you but also for Boq." Elphaba conceded. Peerless raised an eyebrow.
"Do not take that as chastisement; your instincts were true. It just will a bit more complicated than simply finding the land. But not undoable by any means."
"Thank you."
"Now, your friend Pfannee: how true were her words about having no suitors?"
"Very." Elphaba replied. "I'm not particularly close with her, so I did not know she had siblings. However, she was pursuing Avaric for some of the year. That has seemed to cool, but she has not set her sights on anyone else."
"How suitable of a wife would she be?"
"For an aristocrat? Poor. She likes her vices."
"I know the type." Peerless replied evenly. Elphaba searched him for some form of emotion, but found none.
"But she could help getting contacts in northern Munchkinland as she is quite cunning. I know Dragon's Cupboard has been stonewalling you for some time." Elphaba finished.
"That is also a good insight."
"Merely an observance of fact."
"I see. How is Shiz else wise? I apologize for not sending an Ama with you last year; however, you know that it was a bit of a trying time."
"It is fine."
"Has the Headmistress treated you well enough? I know Nessarose was not happy with her treatment."
"She has treated me with the same disdain she treats everyone else; perhaps more so due to my skin."
"I can see that. After Nessarose told me of her treatment I started looking at possible recompense to the woman. She is deceptively well connected." Something akin to worry crept into Peerless' voice. "My recommendation, Elphaba, is to step warily around her."
"I shall try to do so."
"How is your relationship with Miss Glinda?" asked Peerless. Elphaba froze and then forced herself to relax.
"It is well. She has grown to be a close friend." Elphaba replied.
"As I can tell. Your travel itinerary was much different from the previous year."
"There was no reason to stay this year."
"Yes; that was particularly nasty business of your professor's death."
Elphaba looked at Peerless closely. Once again, she felt like he knew more than he was saying.
"It was a great loss." Elphaba replied, the sadness creeping into her tone.
"It was a well traveled list for a young lady like yourself." He continued, picking up a paper. "Lake Chorge, Red Sand, Wittica, Frottica, and the Emerald City. Enough time to get our feet wet, but not enough to really make a splash on the scene."
"I wouldn't want to make anyone uncomfortable." Elphaba replied. "Besides, they are far from where I would be staying; except, perhaps Shiz."
"Have you thought anymore on what I said about the Eminenceship?"
"No." Elphaba answered quickly. "I do not want it."
"It's not a matter of want; it's a matter of duty." Peerless retorted.
"What duty? To oversee our serfs? People should be free to live their own lives."
"Unlike my peers, we hold no direct control over Munchkinlanders. Yes, they pay tithe, but that's not stopping them from living. In fact, they get much from us as well."
"Like what?" Elphaba shot back.
"Like help with their livestock, doctors when they get ill, money when they need something. We are there for them when they need us."
"I'd rather them not need us."
"A perfect world will never be. We only make the differences we can."
Elphaba said nothing. It was a phrase she had heard from him before. She did not want to admit it had stuck with her, but her own methods of changing the world were different. The silence stretched on as Peerless. Finally, he looked down.
"As I stated before, you have time. While you are here, however, I will call upon you to participate in the work."
"Why not ask Nessa?" asked Elphaba defiantly.
"The people would see her disability and not take her seriously." He answered.
"And with my skin they would?" she challenged.
"Your skin marks you as intimidating; her lack of arms marks her for pity." Peerless countered.
"She's much more capable than you suspect." Elphaba growled.
"That I know; however, appearance can be many things."
Elphaba did not like the echo of Glinda in his words. It once again stank of falsehood. However, Glinda had shown her it mattered to some extent. Elphaba would not let Peerless know that, however.
"So, as I was saying: I will call upon you while you are here to shadow me with the Eminence work. That way, if you so choose so, you can take over the job after I pass."
"And if I don't?" asked Elphaba.
"Then you can take your stashed savings and live your life how you want."
Elphaba could not keep the shock from her face. She had hoped that Peerless had not known about it.
"Don't look so shocked, Elphaba. You're a smart girl, but inexperienced. You think I wouldn't notice you had withdrawn your total stipend every time? Unless you gathered a sudden taste in luxury, or a private library, you must have been saving it."
"Then why did you increase it?" she could only ask. Peerless let a small smile tug at his lips.
"Because of the reasons I stated. I did not want you to have to dip into your private funds to travel in the manner worthy of our status."
"But it will give me even more reason to say no."
"If that's what you wish." He replied evenly. "You can take your savings and invest them, and you and your precious Glinda can live a happy, though small life."
It was the second time in so many minutes that Elphaba felt shock hit her like a blow. Her pained expression must have been visible to her grandfather, as he softened.
"Do not look so distressed, my dear; you forget I raised your mother, grandmother, and married your great-grandmother. The tastes are not foreign to me nor are they repulsive. However, I wish you would join with someone to continue the line; it's not necessary, however. Your brother has the makings of a Thropp man, and most likely will have many children."
"At least there's no reason to worry." Elphaba added darkly. Peerless gave her a hard look.
"Elphaba, it is well known to me the faults of my grandchildren. Unless Shell grows up to be a more measured man, he does not have the temperament to be a good Eminence. Nessa is much of the same, but she has grown considerably in the last year. However, as I stated before, her disability would make being Eminence difficult for her."
"So the green girl is all you have left?" Elphaba interjected.
"You are the best of the lot. You may be stubborn, snide, and brash at times, but you are also highly intelligent with good instincts and a natural charisma. And you've grown considerably more careful in the last two years. Combined with your slight manic devotion to whatever you do, you would make a good eminence, if not an exceptional one."
"I'd rather not. My mother did not want it either."
"When she was younger that was true." Peerless said. Elphaba detected a bit of a strain in his voice. It slowly became more distant. "All she wanted to do is be free. She married your father at a young age; not much older than you are now. A seventh son of seventh son of all preachers? I thought that maybe after some proselytizing work he'd settle down into a good clerical position in Munchkinland and be a worthwhile addition to the family."
"The incident with the Time Dragon Clock stopped that." Peerless continued, his voice strained. "Frex lost respect in the church's eyes, and his own. There would have been no settling after that. I did ask them to come home after your birth, but, as you might not remember, they did not visit until you were four. At that point, your mother still did not want to be here; though whether it be out of freedom or despair I know not which. Nessa was born shortly after, and then she left again."
Elphaba sat in silence. This was the most she had heard of her family relations from her grandfather.
"They did not visit until your mother was pregnant with Shell. At that point I think she finally wanted to come home. Nearly ten years in the wilderness had exhausted her, and she wanted a comfortable place to live. Alas, it was not meant to be. Between the chaos of that time and the stress of the third birth, your mother passed. Though I do not doubt the pinlobble leaves and whatever concoction she took had a part in it." Anger had crept into his voice then. Elphaba noticed the old man had clenched his hand. Peerless slowly relaxed.
"The point is, Elphaba," he said slowly, controlled, "is that sometimes opinions change. Don't be so closed to it."
"I'll keep that in mind. But I don't think they would be as accepting as you hope." Elphaba countered.
"That's possible. But I've been getting many letters from Munchkinlanders, both those in our domain and not, praising your conduct at Shiz."
Elphaba huffed. Peerless smiled.
"I'll assume they have addressed you there as well from that expression. And that is why I think you may be more apt for the position than you think." He said. Elphaba merely gave him a hard look. "Now, is there anything else you want to speak about?"
"How is your health?" she asked. Peerless scoffed.
"As well as it can be for a man in his late fifties. I get sicker easier and take longer to recover, but tales of me being on my deathbed are vastly exaggerated. After the last bout, however, the doctor prescribed a more restrictive diet. Closer to what you eat, I might say." He said with a twinkle in his eye. "I must say it is dreadful, and I am not always perfect on it, but it has helped. I shan't be passing anytime soon; at least not expectedly. Did I alleviate your fears?"
"It is just nice to know. I hate hearing things second hand." Elphaba replied.
"You can always write. I do respond to family." He retorted. Elphaba ducked her head in acknowledgment.
"Well, I've kept you from your guests for too long. I do have a meeting later today I want you to sit in on; nothing drastically important, just some boundary disputes. But it will be good for you to see."
"Of course, Grandfather."
"Then take care, Elphaba. I shall call for you later."
Elphaba rose from the chair and walked to the door. Her last look at Peerless showed him engrossed in some papers; a picture of eminence.
"What was the meeting about?" Glinda asked. Elphaba had just returned from the meeting Peerless had called her to later that day.
"A land boundary dispute. Someone claiming another has started grazing animals on their property; the other stating that it was his to begin with, and so on."
"Sounds like fun. How did it resolve?" Glinda asked. Elphaba sighed.
"Peerless told them to split it. They both objected, and he stated he would get surveyors out on the properties to assess them. Neither wanted that."
"Why not? That seems like it would solve it."
"Because surveyors do more than just look at the land. They look to assess it." Elphaba answered. "Usually it's only done once a decade; in that time, they have more property, herds, crops, etcetera. A reassessment means they would end up paying more."
"Very smart." Glinda replied. Elphaba nodded.
"So they end up agreeing to it. Both are happy enough with the solution, as they most likely don't remember where the lines were."
"So, off of stuffy business; what are we going to do today?"
"I am going to take you on a tour of the grounds." Elphaba answered. "I know how you love the architecture, and there are many different sections to the house."
"Really? How exciting!" Glinda bounced happily.
Elphaba smiled and held out a hand. Glinda took it. As she was pulled closer she transitioned into grasping Elphaba's arm. The green girl led them out of the room and down the hallway.
"Colwen Grounds is actually several smaller houses linked together." Elphaba explained. "This section is the newest; it was built not long before Peerless became Eminence. My twice –great-grandmother had a taste for extravagance, and spent an exorbitant amount of money on getting this house built when it could be spent for better uses."
"I see. It does have a Traum-style to it, which was popular then." Glinda said. Elphaba nodded.
"That it does. Now, there are three other houses going back a number of years; they are shaped in a U as the Courtyard between them used to be the receiving area. When my twice-great-grandmother built this house, she enclosed the courtyard by linking the houses together through arches. You can actually walk over two of those arches as there is a hallway above; the ones linking to the original house at the rear do not. Instead, she walled the houses in at right angles and made two smaller courtyards. It will make more sense once we get out there." Elphaba said as they neared the exit. The green girl deftly plucked a blanket from a rack, draping it over her unoccupied arm.
"I think I understand." Glinda replied.
As they walked out the back of the great house's peristyle Glinda stood in awe at the courtyard. No, it was less a courtyard and more of a garden. As Glinda's eyes resolved the image she realized there were many gardens. Here there was a small reflecting pool and fountain with benches; there was a small apple tree ad a shaded lawn; another had beautiful rose bushes; and another continued the columns of the peristyle to have a hanging garden. It was marvelous.
"Come, I'll show you the interesting parts." Elphaba said with a smile.
Elphaba led her over to the fountain. As she grew nearer, Glinda realized there was a figure atop the fountain. Glinda felt heat creep up her neck as she noticed it was of a nude woman. The sculptor had captured the woman vividly in the stone. As they walked around the front Glinda could make out every detail as if the woman was in front of her. Her artist mind, however, noticed the woman diverged from the classical form. She was not full figured and soft, but a bit more angular with smaller breasts. Glinda recognized some similarities.
"Elphie, who is this?" Glinda had to ask. Elphaba had a small wry smile.
"My great-great-grandmother. She was engaged to a wealthy Eminence's son, but a poorer one was in love with her. She entertained his affections, to say the least. He was an amazing artist, and sculpted this figure to try and win her affections and her hand."
"What happened?"
"She accepted it, and married the rich one anyway." Elphaba chuckled. "The Thropps, crazy as we may be, most often have a practical head on us."
"She looks a bit like you." Glinda commented. Elphaba nodded. Glinda noticed a slight blush creeping up her girlfriend's neck. "What is it?"
"I recognized that, but never put the thoughts of it together. It's almost as if it is me." Elphaba replied, a bit hoarse.
"Oh? Do not fancy the thought of being portrayed nude for everyone to see?" Glinda teased.
"Not quite, my sweet."
"Then I shall perish the thoughts of commissioning my own statue." Glinda said. Elphaba barked out a laugh.
"I do not think you could find the artist, or the stone, for me."
"Now there's a challenge."
"Don't take it as such."
Elphaba led her to the other niches. The taller girl plucked an apple from the tree. It quivered almost as if in protest. Elphaba let Glinda have a bite before she began to gnaw on it herself. Elphaba led her to one of the enclosed courtyard. A gnarled tree grew in the middle of it, almost blocking the arched entrance way. Elphaba slinked past it, and help Glinda over.
It was almost as if entering a different world. The tree's leaves fractured the light, letting only streams of it in. In the sun's beam motes of dust floated clear to their eyes. The grass that managed to survive was short but soft. Elphaba went to a back corner and laid the blanket down. Both girls sat and Glinda leaned against her emerald girlfriend.
"When I was younger I used to steal away here." Elphaba said quietly. "It was my haven from the world. After my mother passed, it became the only place I truly felt comfortable. Probably because it is the only place where I could shut the world out."
"It does seem very you." Glinda replied. It was the only thing she could think of. Elphaba looked up.
"All the other places are public places or have windows. My own room has a balcony." Elphaba's lips twitched. "Useful for escaping; not so much for isolating one's self."
Glinda glanced up at her girlfriend. There was no expression on her face, but Glinda could tell she was hurting. It was an old pain so easily controlled, but it was pain none the less. Glinda reached up to kiss Elphaba on the cheek. Elphaba looked at her quizzically.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"Just because." Glinda answered.
"Hm. Let me try this reasoning." Elphaba replied and bent low to capture Glinda's lips. The kiss was light and loving. Elphaba pulled back. "Seems to hold up."
"You know what science says; one must repeat the experiment." Glinda breathed and captured Elphaba's lips again.
The two lovers shift towards each other. Elphaba naturally leaned down to Glinda, who arched to give her easier access to her lips. Elphaba ran her hands over the small of Glinda's back while the blonde wrapped her around Elphaba's neck. Glinda leaned back and Elphaba followed.
The lovers fell into comfortable roles. Hands explored, caressed, drew circles. Tongues danced over lips and entwined with one another. Nips were not uncommon, and deep breaths were the only ones taken. Light fingers slid through dark hard and gasped tightly. A sharp inhale of pleasurable pain slipped from Elphaba's lips. She responded by nipping at the special spot on Glinda's neck.
"Why are you always on top?" Glinda pouted breathless.
"It's natural because I'm taller. Plus, you have more cushion." Elphaba mumbled into her neck. To emphasize her point, she drew a hand over Glinda's breast.
"Well, that's enough of that." Glinda humped and bucked Elphaba over. The emerald girl grunted in mild surprise but let herself be rolled over. Her blonde then mounted over hips. Glinda grinned wickedly as her fingers slipped under Elphaba's dress and found their target, causing Elphaba to buck. "I've got you now my pretty and this little thing too."
Elphaba bucked again as Glinda deft attentions were paid to her most sensitive area. The blonde placed another hand on her chest, partially for balance and partially to torment the stiff buds pressed against the fabric. Elphaba let out a gasp.
"Glinda, were in public." Elphaba protested.
"Don't put on, Rae; you like it."
"I do not – ah! – think you're right."
"Oh? If you do not, why did you play with me every night on our way here with Boq so close?"
"That was – oh – that was just pent up- ah- lust."
"Maybe the first, but I gave you your own the next night. And you enjoyed quite a bit. And multiply, I might add."
"You would. Ah!" Elphaba gasped as one of the blonde pushed her dress up even more to grind her palm against Elphaba and slip a finger inside.
"Now hush and give me what I want." Glinda ordered.
Elphaba shivered at the tone. Her pleasure clouded mind contemplated the effect of being commanded had on her. Sometimes it made her angry, but others it made her warm. That conflicted with what she knew, in that one in the relationship was the dominant. Her last thought was to look further into it; though she did not know how. Then, everything was lost in first wave of pleasure washing over her.
Glinda rode lightly as her emerald lover bucked in her throes. She always loved the look of anguished pleasure Elphaba made. She wondered what hers looked like. That thought burned the fire brighter, and she continued her ministrations; though lightened them. Elphaba was always more sensitive after the first, but Glinda as determined to bring her lover to more wonderful releases. To help her erase the pain of this place and replace it with happiness.
Glinda sat down, bringing the emerald girl back to earth before she resumed her intentions. She willed Elphaba to another fit of spasms, and then another. Satisfied with her lover's content look, she unmounted. Glinda still burned for her own release, and her mood caused her to envelope her lover and bring her to the source of her passion. Elphaba responded in thanks with her studious focus of tongue and fingers, and soon brought her lover to her reward. Elphaba drank deeply as always.
A few days later it was market day in the little town near Colwen Grounds. Glinda had dressed as a proper lady should: dainty shoes, dress with bustle and busk, hat, fan and parasol. She even had a small coin purse. Now she was waiting patiently as Elphaba had been called into another meeting with the Eminent Thropp on some business.
"Are you a fairy?" a small voice asked. Glinda turned to see a young boy, maybe nine years old, standing there. Brown hair and eyes with a fair complexion would have given Glinda clue to who he was even if the Thropp nose had not.
"A fairy?" Glinda asked, and laughed lightly. The boy seemed entranced by it. "Dear me, no. I am not. What would give you that idea?"
"I've been told fairies are very beautiful." He said. Glinda blinked.
"Why thank you, but no. I'm Glinda Arduenna Upland of Frottica." She said and curtsied. She held out a hand. The boy stared at it, confused. "And you are?"
"Oh, my name is Shell. I live here."
"Shell Thropp, I presume?"
"Yes, how did you know?" he asked suspicious. Glinda opened her mouth when another voice rang out.
"Shell, what are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be studying?" Elphaba's stern came. The young boy pouted.
"I don't like studying." He replied.
"No one likes studying," Elphaba retorted, "but we do it nonetheless."
"You like studying." Shell countered.
"I don't," Glinda interjected, "but I do it also."
"Really?" Shell turned to look at her.
"Yes. I've been studying and practicing the entire summer." Glinda replied. "Even here."
"Papa says sorcery is evil." Shell repeated.
"Sorcery is no more evil than science." Glinda explained. "It has its own rules and method. And, if the Unnamed God created everything, then he must have created magic."
"Huh. I never thought of that." Shell said, his brow knitted in consideration.
"Now, off you go!" Elphaba said, and gave him a gentle push. The boy took a couple of steps, and turned to stick his tongue out. Then he took off laughing. "Little rascal. He'll grow up like Avaric if we're not careful."
"What a horrible thought." Said Glinda. She glanced at Elphaba. "You're not wearing that, are you?"
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" asked Elphaba. She looked down at her simple pull over frock. Glinda sighed.
"So much to learn. Elphie, we are going out to see people. Your people! You must make a good first impression."
Elphaba opened her mouth to protest, then closed it.
"I'm not going to win this one, am I?" Elphaba asked.
"Not particularly when I agree with her." Came Peerless' voice. Elphaba eyes narrowed slightly.
"I thought you were going to busy the rest of the afternoon?" she asked.
"My meeting shifted into town." He replied. "It isn't until later afternoon, and I should get out more."
"I see." Elphaba answered.
"Besides," Peerless continued, "unlike Gillikin, it would not seem well to have two ladies unescorted."
"What would we ever do?" Elphaba said sarcastically. Glinda rolled her eyes.
"But back to the topic at hand," Glinda continued, "go change. Cream or blue dress, and bun your hair. Bring your atrocious hat if you must."
"I'd prefer the black with button up dress." Elphaba replied.
"I know you do, but I don't want you to intimidate them. I want you to be a bit more approachable."
"Good luck with that." Elphaba snorted. Glinda gave her a hard look.
"Elphie, you're wasting my shopping and socializing time. You know I don't do well when you do that." Glinda teasingly warned. Elphaba sighed.
"Fine." Elphaba said. She strode off towards her room.
"You two seem very close." Peerless said. Only now did Glinda realize the error of being alone with him.
"Two years of habitation have made us so." Glinda responded.
"I can tell you've had a profound effect on her. She actually cares for her appearance, now."
"I like to think she is more mindful of her appearance than care for it. And she has had a profound effect on me, also."
"There is an old proverb in Munchkinland: we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them, and help them in return."
"I don't know if I believe that is true, but your granddaughter has helped me become who I am today."
"And you her."
They stood in silence then until Elphaba came back. She was wearing the dark blue dress and her hat.
"Can we go now?"
This chapter covers the days of 16-19th of Highsummer