Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2009. Found: 2018.- Licia

"Watch your hold on her, Yero! Easy!"

She studied them, watched the pair as they moved across the ice; instead of working on Roaring, Mulhama decided they could take the day and work on skating. She didn't mean to push as hard as she did, but she knew that if she didn't, the students she trained would never reach their true potential.

And so she pushed, and she pushed hard.

Her gaze moved to Fiyero, watching as he effortlessly landed a triple axel, and she sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. If only you could see the young man he's become...

Elphaba tumbled during her quadruple, pulling Mulhama from her thoughts, and without another word, she rushed to the girl's side. "Fabala! Are you okay?"

The girl looked up at her, catching her breath. "I'm fine, I just... got distracted..." She turned back, and the other two followed her gaze; several students sat in the bleachers, watching the pair skate. The older woman helped her to her feet, helping to dust her off, before moving to the crowd of students.

"If you're going to watch, I need you all to be quiet. Distracting my skaters is what causes injuries. So if you're going to sit here and watch, zip it!" She turned back to Elphaba. "Go get some water." As the two moved to do as told, Mulhama turned back to the ice beneath her feet. She remembered her years training on ice like this, in rinks like this. Her gaze moved to the young pair, who stood talking softly together.

Oh, to be young and in love again... She shook her head. You were in love like that once, remember? You and Liir had perhaps the greatest love story in skating history. Married at seventeen, a son at eighteen... and then... tragedy...

Leaving her charges to catch their breath, she proceeded to skate the length of the ice, becoming lost in her thoughts, her mind returning to that... that day. She'd gotten up early, taken a shower, leaving Liir asleep in bed...

But he wasn't sleeping. He'd gone to bed the night before, kissed you goodnight, closed his eyes... and never woke up, suffering a heart attack in his sleep, and you didn't even know. The realization that he would never wake again had hit hard, and she'd been inconsolable for months after. Her gaze moved back to Fiyero and Elphaba, who were engaged in conversation, in between sips of water. You'd been seventeen when you married him... and he'd been merely twenty... and Cattery had had a fit; your marriage had shaken the skating world, because there were four years between you... and when you had your son at eighteen, he was just two months shy of turning twenty-one...

"So, what do you want us to work on next?"

Her thoughts were broken as Elphaba and Fiyero joined her again, and she swallowed hard the lump in her throat.

"Do you think Mulhama's acting... funny?"

Yero looked up from his book as Elphaba joined him at their table in the cafeteria that evening for dinner. "What do you mean?"

She shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee. "She's just... quiet. And... distant."

He raised an eyebrow. "It's Mulhama. She's always quiet and distant. That's nothing new." A sigh escaped her throat, and he closed his book, pushing it aside. "You're really worried about her, aren't you?"

"I just... it's like she's... pulling away from us."

"She's got a lot on her mind, Fabala. We've got Qualifications coming up, the skaters she also trains have Qualifications coming up-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, she's distracted." Elphaba waved it away. "I just... I'm worried about her, is all."

He took her hand, squeezing it gently. "Fabala, she's fine. But if you're really so concerned, I'll get in contact with her and make sure, okay?"

She nodded. "Thank you, Yero."

"You ready for this?"

She met his gaze, tossing her braid over her shoulder. "Do I have a choice?"

"Not if we want to make the team." He replied, tossing her her broom. She caught it effortlessly, before slinging her duffel over her shoulder. Mulhama stood by the car, waiting for the pair. They had a train to catch; Qualifications would be a week-long process, which meant the pair would be missing a week's worth of classes- not that either were bothered by it. Both had gotten extensions on their homework or had gotten it early and finished it a week ahead. He slid an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "Come on, Fabala, don't stress. We've got this."

She shoved him lightly away. "Stress is what makes me play my best, remember?"

He chuckled, pulling her back to him, and kissing her soundly. "It also makes you gorgeous." She shoved him again, before pulling away and stalking towards Mulhama.

"Elphie!"

With a roll of her eyes, the green girl turned back, only to find Glinda and the other girls from Crage standing there with signs wishing them good luck. "Ah... what is this?"

"Good luck at Qualifications!"

"I can see that, Glinda, but... it's not like we're going to the Games. We have to see if we even qualify first-"

"I know." Glinda shrugged. "But what's that saying? Something about luck going-"

"A long way." Mulhama replied, joining Elphaba. She quickly took the girl's duffel, meeting the teenager's gaze. "Ready?" Elphaba nodded. "Yero, you coming?" With a nod to Glinda, the former skater headed for the car, and after a moment, both Elphaba and Fiyero followed. As the doors closed and the car pulled away, Mulhama turned her attention back to the window, and the students who now stood at the gate, waving their signs and shouting wishes of good luck. "I'd say you two have your own little cheerleading section."