Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2012. Rewritten: 2014. Found: 2018.- Licia

She had so many questions- did they hurt? How were they added? Why were they added? What was the significance of the green? Why diamonds? Tibbett had said something during dinner about her being a princess- were they a sign of her status?

And then her sister turned around, and she saw the soft, supple curves that spoke of a woman's body, a woman who had been touched by a man in that way, who had born children from her womb, who had known the desires of the flesh.

Tibbett had said when they arrived that Elia had had children. Was it against her will? Was she forced to... to bear a savage's children, or did she do so willingly? No, that's preposterous. Nothing those... those savages do is willing. Most likely she was forced. She swallowed, letting her gaze rove over her sister's body. She's almost proud. She is not ashamed, why? A proper woman would be ashamed to be see in nothing but bare skin-

Without a word and a blush covering her cheeks, she hesitantly held out the nightgown; a moment passed, before Elphaba slowly stepped forward, allowing Nessa to help her into it. At least it was a shimmer of cooperation, compared to earlier. A flicker of sadness passed through Nessa's gaze, as she watched her sister's body disappear beneath the cotton garment; those beautiful, startling tattoos vanishing from sight in seconds. As she gently smoothed the material, she let her hands linger on Elphaba's waist, fingers gently moving up to trace the curves she possessed- curves Nessa could never dream of possessing. To do so, would I too have to lay with a savage, like my sister?

She bit her lip, glancing up at Elphaba. The girl's dark gaze latched onto hers, and a for the briefest of moments, she caught something glimmering in the dark eyes. Recognition? Or confusion? Sadness? Or pity? Or perhaps a little of each. "I... I missed you."

It was forced, strained, as tears began to prick her eyes and clog her throat. The older girl pulled away, turning from her, hands moving lightly over the material of the nightgown, as though she were trying to figure out the best way to remove it from her body without having to touch it.

Releasing a sigh, Nessa moved to perch on the edge of the bed, and Elphaba turned, watching as she did so. "I'm sorry, Elia. I just... it's been so long... seven years... last time I saw you, you were just about to turn fourteen... and now... now you're... you're grown... not my sister at all... but you still are..." She sniffled; Elphaba said nothing. A soft knock on the door stopped broke the awkward silence, and after a moment, Melena poked her head in.

"I just... wanted to check on you; see how you two were doing."

"She won't talk, Mama." Nessa whispered, and Melena nodded. Tibbett had informed her and Frexpar that there was a language barrier- that, having assimilated into the Arjiki, having lived with them for the last seven years, her native tongue was completely forgotten, now replaced with the language of the tribe. Melena sighed; if the language barrier would be a problem, then she would try her best to reach her daughter despite it. After a moment, Melena slipped into the room, letting her gaze rest on her oldest.

How could this have happened to us? What spiteful god deemed it important for my beloved daughter to be snatched from us? To be kept from us for seven long years, while she lived among the... the... Melena shook her head. No, she wouldn't allow herself to be caught up in the fear. Tibbett had told them that the Arjiki were a peaceful people; that they lived a harmonious existence with nature, that they had given him- as they'd given her- safety, food, shelter, a life. A home.

Within the wild lands of the Vinkus, there had been a home for her.

She let her gaze rove over her oldest, who stood frozen in the nightgown, long black braids tumbling over her shoulders. With the garment on, it was impossible to tell that she was a grown woman at all; she looked a teenager. The cotton material hid the curves she'd retained after childbirth, hid the fact that she had even borne children at all, hid the diamonds tattooed on her back, and stripped away the years. After a moment, she reached out to brush her thumb against her daughter's cheek. Elphaba jerked away from her with a glare.

A soft sigh escaped Melena's throat, and she sank onto the bed beside Nessa. She looked around, drinking in the room. Her gaze lit on the hope chest at the foot, where the quilt she'd made for her daughter resided; when she was ready, when the time was right, when Elia finally remembered who she was and decided to remain, to stay, to return home, then Melena would give her the quilt. "Yes, well, we had best let Elphaba get some rest. It's been a long day. Come along, Nessa."

Without a word, she stood, going to the door. After several minutes, Nessa followed. As she followed her mother down the stairs, she spoke, her voice soft. "She has the tattoos, Mama." Melena stopped, at the foot of the stairs. "The tattoos written about in the papers. They're all down her back, like a waterfall of green diamonds."

Her mother nodded, silent, before making her way into the kitchen. Shell had already gone to bed, and Nessa looked up to see Papa and Tibbett sitting at the table. Eventually, Tibbett got up, bidding everyone goodnight. Melena turned to her daughter. "Go to bed, Nessa." The girl didn't protest, doing as told. Once the girl was gone, Melena took a seat beside her husband. She turned to Frex. "What do we do? Do we let go at the end of the week? Or make her stay?"

"If we refuse to let her go, the Arjiki will kill us."

She met his gaze. "And if we let her go, we lose her forever."