Rifiuto: Non Miriena
A/N: Written: 2010. Rewritten: 2015. Found: 2018.- Licia
Glinda had hastily explained what she thought was keeping Elphaba at the Wizard's side, and after some contemplation, Fiyero agreed that there was a fair chance she could be right. He'd then gone to Madame Morrible, feigning that his parents had written him and asked him to hurry immediately to the City, that there was urgent business to attend to, and that since he was to be on break for the next week or so, that he was to go in their stead, as a representative of the Vinkun royal family. At first, Morrible was unconvinced, until Fiyero brought up the possible meeting with the Wizard and his Grand Vizier.
"Yes, yes, of course, it's perfectly understandable, Master Fiyero. You are your parents' dignitary while you're here, after all. And as I'm to understand it, your classes were finished two days prior, so of course, you may take off early for the spring break if you wish."
He relaxed, giving her a soft smile. "Thank you, Madame." With a quick nod, he turned to go, but stopped. "Madame?"
"Yes?" She looked up from the paperwork she'd returned to.
"Miss Glinda and I share several classes. Hers have also finished, and if I am to understand correctly, she is returning to Gillikin for the break. Would it be all right if I were to accompany her as far as the station in the City?" He waited, biting his lip.
Silence filled the air, before eventually, the giant fish-woman nodded, lost in thought. "I suppose, if it is all right with Miss Glinda, then yes, she may accompany you to the Emerald City, Master Fiyero."
He smiled again, genuinely this time, and gave a quick bow of thanks. Once out of Morrible's office, he hurried to the gate, where Glinda stood waiting with a couple suitcases; the others she'd shipped home weeks earlier. "Well? What did Horrible Morrible say?"
He took the suitcase she held, before grabbing his rucksack and slinging it over his shoulder and grabbing the only suitcase he planned to bring with him. "I'm to escort you as far as the train station of the Emerald City so that you may catch your train to Gillikin."
Her face fell, and she quickly grabbed the other one, hurrying to catch up. "I'm not going home for break."
Fiyero stopped, whirling back towards her. "What do you mean you're not going home for break? You said-"
"I know, Fiyero, but... but I wrote to my parents last week and informed them that a group of friends were planning on spending the week in the City, and that I wished to join them. They said it was perfectly okay." She had the decency to look slightly guilty for deceiving him, and after a moment, the young prince sighed before yanking the door of the carriage open.
"Get in."
The ride to the Emerald City was long, but Fiyero and Glinda kept the time at bay with conversation and card games, for Fiyero had brought a deck of Vinkun playing cards along. By the time they rolled into the City, the lights shimmered in the darkness, and Glinda leaned out to look at the lights. "Oh, wow."
Though a year had passed since her visit to the City, it always managed to take the blonde's breath away. The beautiful green of the city shone like a fresh cut emerald set in a tiara; street lights glowed in the light rain that was coming down, and some distance away, sat the Emerald Palace, where the Wizard and his family- or, household, rather, since it was not known whether the Wizard had any family or not- resided. People wandered about, umbrellas out, some dressed in evening attire, probably headed to see a show or dinner, or were hurrying home from work.
Eventually, the carriage pulled up in front of The Wilted Rose, a beautiful little hotel with the grandeur of old, that looked directly on the Emerald Palace. After hurrying inside to get out of the rain, Fiyero gave the receptionist their names- for Glinda had managed to weasel the name of the hotel out of him two weeks earlier, and then made a reservation for herself, and was handed two keys- one for Glinda, one for him. They resided in adjoining rooms, with a door between them. After putting his things away, he helped Glinda unpack, but all too soon, the girl found herself drawn to the window. Both rooms looked out on the palace, and she sighed.
"If she's his Grand Vizier, then that means she's staying at the palace, right?"
Fiyero nodded, shutting the drawer of the dresser and moving to put her suitcases away. "Yeah. Why?" He joined her at the window, his own gaze going to the palace that looked down on them.
She sighed, turning back to him. "It just... she's so close now. We're in the same city, not... miles apart. We can go to the palace and request an audience with the Grand Vizier if we wished." She met his gaze. "I mean... you're going to have to, if you want to keep up the ruse." He nodded. "The Wizard's frightening, but... it's Elphie. How scary can she be? Don't answer that." He smiled softly at her, before quickly kissing her forehead and going to the adjoining door.
"Good night, Glinda."
She watched him go with a whispered reply, before turning back to the window. The rain was obscuring her view but only slightly; the emerald palace still shone bright, like a beacon in a storm. To think, that Elphie was so close- she was somewhere in the City, now it was up to Glinda and Fiyero to find her. She sighed, resting her head on her arms as she let the sound of the rain begin to lull her to sleep, the beauty of the Emerald Palace. "We'll find you, Elphie, and bring you home. I promise."