Elphaba landed with a thump.
The smoke surrounding her began to clear.
She had done this before but not often. It always made her feel ill, her head spinning. Her stomach left behind as if jumping off a cliff.
Putting her green hand on the wall she steadied herself. Trying to get her bearings.
She could hear mumbling behind a large cubical. She heard Glinda attempt to scream, but it was soon muffled by one of her kidnappers.
Still trying to settle herself Elphaba approached the door. Taking her leg and kicking it open.
Both men turned to see ' the wicked witch of the west' glaring at them.
One was holding Glinda's arms. The other had his hands under her dress, moving them around, a rotten glint in his eyes.
Glinda looked at her. Her eyes were dead but panicked.
Both men stopped. Dropping Glinda and pointing at the green figure before them.
"You're the-"
"Wicked Witch?"
She cackled, laughing at there shocked faces.
They ran.
Elphaba picked up her friend. Glinda leaned on her. Both of her eyes were welded shut from crying. The pretty pink dress torn.
Before anyone had the chance to see the wicked witch she had disappeared once again in a sea of fire.
Xxxxxxx
Appearing back where she stood only moments before, Fiyero approached them both. Taking a floppy, weak Glinda from Elphaba's fragile frame.
Elphie looked terrible. Her face greener. She looked as if she was about to throw up.
Holding her hands out she guided herself to the table. Leaning into it, trying to settle her spinning head.
Fiyero places Glinda down gently. Propping her against the wall.
The other witch was gasping for air. Leaning down onto her hands.
"Are you ok?".
He asked, still watching her from across the room.
" I got her. That's all that matters".
"Had they-?"
"No, but they nearly had".
An image of those dirty men running there hands over Glinda's body entered Fiyero's mind.
"They saw me. Everyone knows I'm here".
She was close to weeping. Her voice cracking.
" I did say I would... Elphaba?"
She had turned to him. Her green skin looked grey. Her hazel eyes dull.
She didn't respond.
Causing him to approach.
Her gaze remaining in the same place.
Suddenly her eyes rolled and she flopped forwards. The scarecrow just about caught her.
Xxxxxx
When Elphaba came to all she could see was blackness.
She called to Fiyero. Wondering if he was somewhere in the darkness.
Getting no response.
The air felt cold and damp.
"Glinda?"
She heard a shuffle come from a corner, then a weak response.
She crawled towards her friend's voice. Beneath her, the floor felt icy cold and made with slippery stone.
Where was she?
Finally reaching the corner, her long fingers reached out to a barely visible Glinda.
"How did you get here?"
The white shadow of a girl asked.
Glinda was filthy. Her face was bruised and bloody. Her white dress was near black. Her little arms where chained.
What had happened?
"Glinda, I don't under-".
Elphaba woke up with a start. Sitting up. Her breath was ragged.
She was back in the great hall. The gentle amber sun pushing inviting rays through the windows.
Fiyero was beside her.
Glinda was snoring her head off, sprawled out on a table.
A bad dream?
A vision?
Sometimes it was hard to tell the difference.
"What happened?"
She rubbed her sore head.
"You passed out. Then fell asleep for ten hours".
He replied. Chuckling.
" I think maybe you should give that spell a miss for a bit. You need to start looking after yourself".
And the baby.
Elphaba added in her head. Knowing that was what he really meant.
"I know".
She leaned her head back onto Fiyero's lap. He began playing with her hair.
" I know you don't want to talk about it.I'll quite happily wait till you are".
At that moment her love for him could have exploded.
Fiyero's hand ran behind her ear. Her breath quickened. He allowed his gloved hand to drift down the side of her. Stopping and running round to her hip.
There was a loud snore from her goodness.
They each chuckled to themselves.
Elphaba let out a little sigh of annoyance.
"I'm going to go into the village and get some supplies. What's left in the kitchen is very questionable".
He stood up and wobbled his way to the exit. Turning just before leaving, in a very Fiyero way.
" Would you?... Do you...?"
"Do I crave anything?"
She said cocking her head and raising her eyebrows.
"Yeah".
He ran his hand over his head awkwardly.
"Apple Crisps".
She grinned.
" Right. One bag of apple crisps it is".
With that, he turned to leave.
"Better make that two!"
She shouted as he left.
When he had gone her grin disappeared. She gently placed a soft hand on her belly. Everything was starting to get very real. She was scared of what was to come. The thought of motherhood scared her more than a gang of witch hunters.
Her hand fluttered over her tiny pot belly. No one else could see the changes happening. But she knew.
Glinda snored again.
Elphaba was happy with her decision to give her the child. She would make a fantastic mother. She just prayed to the unknown god that it wouldn't come out green.
Xxxxxxx
Fiyero walked into the shop. It was pretty large to be based in a village. Crates and straw were scattered across the floor. No one seemed bothered by his strange scarecrow state.
He swaggered around, picking up different food items and popping them into the wicker basket on his arm.
Approaching the till ( remembering to pick up two bags of apple crisps) he stood with the queue of people. Two older looking women were just in front of him. Nattering away about gossip in the village. It was only when one of them mentioned 'the wicked witch of the west' that Fiyero started listening.
"Cursed them she did. But she disappeared back to her new hideout".
"Oh yes, I heard someone had seen her around the school".
Without giving it a second thought Fiyero dropped the basket and ran as quickly as possible back up the hill to Shiz".
Xxxxxxxxx
It was a lovely day. The two witches sat on the edge of the stream. Skirts pulled up with there legs dipping into the cool water. Glinda had washed and changed. She'd pulled her hair into a lazy high ponytail. She wore no makeup.
The girl sitting next to her had changed so much since they last sat in this spot.
" I don't know why I even bother with those other girls anymore Elphie".
She sat in her plain smock, green legs in the water.
Glinda sat next to her pulling off her heels to join.
"I don't know why you ever bothered".
She answered her nose still in her book.
Glinda looked elegant as ever. Her hair curled into ringlets. Her makeup making her eyes appear bigger. She splashed her legs into the water. Then raised her pale face to the sun.
"They said I should have a party in my room again. I said no because it was unfair on you".
Elphaba brought her book down.
" If your that desperate I could always just vacate the room for the night".
"No, no that's not my point. They then started calling you all sorts of names. It was just unnecessary".
Elphaba brought her book back up. A green piece of paper was pushed in the back.
" What's that?"
"A letter".
She continued reading. Which irritated Glinda who wanted to know more.
" From whom?"
"The wizard".
She replied coolly. A grin attempting to tug up the corners of her mouth.
" The wizard? Ahhh!!"
She screamed. Raising her hands and kicking her legs in celebration. Causing the green girl to place her book on her lap and grin at the overexcited blonde beside her, handing over the letter for her to read.
"Oh, Elphie. I'm so proud of you. This is what you've always wanted".
She hugged her tightly. Elphie held a ridged shape.
" This is going to change your life forever".
"I feel like rubbish".
Groaned Glinda
"You look like rubbish".
" Thanks"
She replied rolling her eyes.
"You, on the other hand, are glowing".
She went to answer something witty but was distracted by Fiyero running at full speed up the hill towards there location. His arms flapping. Panic in his material face. Glinda looked round to see what had distracted her friend.
" What's gotten into him?"
She asked her white brows frowning.
He wasted no time when he reached them.
"We need to leave now".
" What? Why?"
The girls replied in unison.
"They know you're here. Come on we need to go".
He pulled them both onto there feet. And they ran into the hall, picking up what little belongings they had and ran into the woods.