Rifiuto: Non Miriena
A/N: Written: 2010. Rewritten: 2015. Found: 2018.- Licia
Two months had gone by since Elphaba's surprise visit to Shiz, and in that time, Fiyero and Glinda had gone through every possible reason for her staying in the City with no luck- either it wasn't plausible or was out of Elphaba's character.
It was now mid-March, and the school was preparing to close for the week-long break. Midterms had come and gone, and everyone was ready for a much needed reprieve from lectures and assignments. He and Glinda sat in the cafeteria, making plans to spend their week in the City- Fiyero had written his parents weeks earlier, informing them of his plans, and had casually suggested that perhaps, if he were so lucky, he could possibly meet the Wizard, and possibly bring up probable trade between the City and Vinkus, in hopes of strengthening relations, and, as the Crown Prince, he would be acting on behalf of the King and Queen.
He didn't mention that he most likely would not see the Wizard, but more than likely end up speaking with the Wizard's Grand Vizier, who handled the majority of the schedule for the Wizard. He said nothing about the Vizier being the girl he'd fallen in love with at Shiz, nor about his hopes of trying to convince her to return to Shiz-
"Will it really work?"
He snapped out of his thoughts, turning blue eyes to Glinda. "What?"
The blonde rolled her eyes. "Do you ever listen at all?" She muttered quickly under her breath, before grabbing her coffee cup. "If we go to the City for break, do you really think we'll get to meet the Wizard. Er, I mean, see Elphie." She blushed at her slip up, but Fiyero ignored it. He handed her the letter, and she took it after a moment's hesitation.
"My parents' response. They think it's a wonderful idea. We need to establish more relations with the other countries of Oz if we're going to truly expand on trade, and my audience with the Wizard- or his Grand Vizier, which is more likely- will show the City that the Vinkus means to be a serious partner in trade, if given the chance."
Glinda raised an eyebrow. "But you're not planning on talking trade with the Wizard. Or Elphie."
"I'll talk trade to keep up appearances." He muttered, sipping his coffee. "But the first instance I get her alone, I'm going to drop the act and try to talk her into coming back to Shiz."
"But we graduate in three months," If we both pass. "What would be the point of her returning if we're leaving?" He sighed, setting his cup down.
"Then I'll tell her to tell us what the reason was behind her staying. See if I can convince her to let us back into her life." The blonde nodded, opening her mouth to speak as other students who had just finished their last classes swarmed the cafeteria. Without a word, Fiyero stood, nodding for Glinda to follow. Once they had both escaped the chaos and returned to Glinda's dorm, the blonde spoke up, taking a seat on her bed, beside a couple of packed suitcases. She'd been slowly sending things back home- dresses she never wore anymore, shoes she didn't need, purses she hardly looked at, let alone used, anymore, coats she thought would be better used by those in need; each box had a note requesting the things inside be given to the charities in Gillikin. Yes, she kept the things she had worn for years, the clothes she truly loved, but the rest-
"And what if she doesn't come back?" Fiyero watched her, saw how much she had changed in the year since Elphaba had left them. She'd become subdued, hesitant almost, in the way she spoke and acted. She attempted to blend in with the crowd as opposed to standing out, as she'd tried so hard to do their freshman year. Suddenly, being the most popular girl in school no longer interested her. She threw herself into her schoolwork, convinced it was what Elphaba would have wanted, insisting that if she didn't do well, Elphaba would never forgive her. "Fiyero? If she doesn't come back? Don't say you're going to leave me too."
He shrugged, leaning back against the door. His gaze flicked to the other side of the room, where Elphaba's things had once resided, where she had slept and done schoolwork. It was strange, being in this dorm now that Elphaba was no longer here. It seemed even emptier now than when it was first discovered that she was not coming back. "If she doesn't come back," He sighed, pushing himself away from the wall. "I don't know what I'll do."
"We can't convince her to come back, Fiyero. If her mind's made up, her mind's made up. It's her choice." Sadness tinged Glinda's voice, and he sighed.
"Then what do you suggest we do, Glinda?" He asked, taking a seat beside her. "Just... let her walk away for a third time while she's out... finding herself or... whatever it is she's doing?"
"I don't think she's out to find herself. I think the Wizard offered her something major, and she took it, thinking it would get her what she wants. And if you want my honest opinion, I don't think Elphie knows what she wants. I think she's doing the Wizard's bidding, without actually getting anything in return."
"You think he's holding her hostage?" Fiyero's brows rose in surprise. Glinda shrugged.
"Even if he's not, he's got something she really, really wants, and he's probably using it to keep her there. I don't think she's staying in the City of her own volition. She may be his Grand Vizier, but there's more to it than that. There's something personal keeping her at his side, we just need to figure out what." The blonde shrugged, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
Fiyero nodded, Elphaba's words from those two months previous coming back to him. Personal. Something personal. "The only thing I could think of that would be personal enough for her to even consider staying would be if it had something to do with her sister. Or her mother."
Glinda's head snapped up, eyes suddenly wide with realization. "That's it!"