Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2006. Found: 2018.- Licia

"What is going on?"

At the sound of her voice, Cata immediately rose. "Your Majesty." Her gaze flit over Elphaba; the young woman looked as though Death itself had walked over her grave. Dark eyes darted back and forth between Cata and Trism, to the coffee cups on the table and back. Trism stood, hurrying to his wife, an arm slipping around her waist when he got close enough.

"Fabala, what are you doing out of bed? You need to stay down-"

"You weren't there." Elphaba whispered, gaze going back to Cata. She studied the woman, as though seeing her for the first time, before a small smile tugged at her lips, and she pulled away from her husband, hurrying to the cook. "Oh, Cata!" Her arms went around the cook, who hugged her in response. She glanced at Trism, who sighed in relief at the moment of normalcy.

"What over my brother and sisters, Cata."

Trism's heart fell. Just because his wife had gotten some much needed sleep, didn't meant she was out of the woods yet. Clearly the stress Dillamond spoke of still held his wife in its grip, though not as tightly as before. Slowly, Cata pulled away, taking the younger woman's hands in hers. She glanced at Trism briefly, before turning her gaze back to Elphaba. "I will, Kauri. I promise."

"I'm not a Kauri anymore, Cata." Elphaba replied, shaking her head. Cata's gaze filled with concern, and she reached up, gently brushing a wayward strand off Elphaba's cheek.

"You will always be a Kauri, no matter your station in life."

Elphaba nodded, lowering her gaze before letting out a gasp and lifting her head. "My diary! Cata, please, take it-"

"Shh, shh, Kauri." The cook reached up, gently taking the young woman's face in her hands. She cradled Elphaba like a child, whispering to calm her. "I'll keep it safe, Kauri. I promise. And when you and your family reach wherever you are going, send for me, and I will bring it."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Elphaba's mouth, and she wrapped her arms around Cata again. Tears filled Cata's eyes, as she once more spoke the promise she had not kept, for the family had never called for her, never sent a sign, because they had never come back-

Not even Elphaba, the beloved middle daughter, who had been squirreled away from the final resting place of her family and dumped in a field in Munchkinland with no memory. Elphaba, who had spent ten years in a Munchkinland orphanage, under the protective, watchful eye of Mistress Morrible, having no idea who she was or how she'd ended up in Munchkinland. But when she had returned, she'd sought Cata out immediately.

Then, gently, she walked the girl back, so that she had to take a seat at the table, beside her husband. Without a word, she poured a cup for Elphaba and set it in front of her as Trism took a seat beside his wife. He slid his arm around her waist, pulling her close; Elphaba turned to him, and he smiled softly at her. Her brow furrowed briefly, before recognition seemed to hit. "Trism."

He nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "I'm right here, love. I won't leave you." Gently, he kissed her temple, tugging her closer until her hips slid against his. She sighed, settling against him, content in the moment. Cata watched the couple, relieved to see her mistress so calm, if even for the briefest of moments. A moment passed, before Trism kissed her softly on the lips, murmuring something that set Cata's heart racing. "I love you so much. So, so much, my black pearl."

She stopped, just outside the Kauri's room, a bucket of warm water in her grasp and fresh towels in her arms. Melena had requested that the maids help Elphaba, still recovering from measles, into a warm bath, to help bring encourage sweating to release the toxins and relax her. It was Cata's job, as the girls' companion, to keep the young princess company-

As she reached for the handle of the door, she stopped, a voice causing her pause. Slightly gruff and yet lilting at the same time, it sent shivers down the young maid's spine, for she knew that voice, and the person attached to it.

"You shall be better soon."

Yackle.

The horrid mystic had somehow managed to weasel their way into the royal family's good graces, entrancing Melena with the promise that they could heal the young heir, Shell, from his bouts of illness. Were they here to also heal the young Kauri? Had Her Majesty really-

"Can you not heal me like you heal Shell?"

Cata covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her gasp, being careful of the bucket in her grasp. On the other side of the door, Yackle chuckled. "Unfortunately, my powers have been greatly reduced because I have healed your brother. But you will be fine in a week's time, back to yourself, my little black pearl." There was silence on the other side, before the door finally opened, and Cata stepped back.

She glanced up at the mystic, not allowing her gaze to linger for too long, for she could not bear the sight. From what she could gather, of the rumors flying within the household, Yackle was neither male nor female, but possibly something in between. All Cata knew for sure was that Yackle had the ear of her mistress, the hands of the children, and the disgust of the rest of the Fliaanian court, as well as several courts outside of Fliaan. A moment passed, before the mystic moved past, and Cata wrinkled her nose at the smell; once gone, she hurried into the room, fearing what she'd find, but she only found Elphaba sitting up in bed, long black hair down around her shoulders. In no way did the sight lessen the twisting of her stomach, but it did relieve her to find the girl waiting patiently for her. She set the towels on the end of the bed and then made her way into the bathroom, dumping the water into the bath before returning. Helping Elphaba up, she took her into the bathroom and quickly helped her to undress, subtly checking her for any mysterious marks or bruises, but found nothing. She helped the girl into the water, pulling up a stool to sit beside her as she dipped a cloth into the water and wrung it out over the girl's shoulders. "Come, Kauri. A warm bath will be just what you need."

The memory faded with the sands of time, and Cata found herself back in the kitchens at Colwen Grounds, watching Trism brush a soft kiss to his wife's temple.

"Cata? Cata, are you okay?"

She blinked, to find the royal couple watching her with concern in both their eyes; Trism's lips rested against Elphaba's forehead, and she reached out for the cook, the edges of her lips tugging into a slight frown. "Cata? Are you alright?"

A moment passed, before she reached out, taking Elphaba's hand and squeezing as Trism gently tugged his wife closer, melding her body to his, worried gaze never leaving the cook. The older woman sighed, realizing that though the memory had been strong, it was no longer reality, for Yackle was dead, and Trism held Elphaba tenderly in his grasp, realizing the fragility of his wife. The love the young king held for his queen now, far outweighed the vile intentions the mystic had once had in regards to the royal children, and for that, she was eternally grateful to the young Vinkun royal. Trism kept her safe when Cata could not. She would always be indebted to the former prince, for however long she lived. A small smile tugged at her lips, and she squeezed Elphaba's hand again.

"I'm okay, Your Majesty. Just... got caught up in a memory, is all."