Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2010. Rewritten: 2015. Found: 2018.- Licia

The City was bathed in the early morning light, left over from the rainstorm the night before. Turning from the mirror, she grabbed her gloves and then slipped out of her room, nodding to the staff as she went. She had an early morning engagement- a meeting with the Headmaster of Emerald University, in regards to making college more accessible to students of all monetary class.

"I'll be back in a couple hours!"

"Are you sure you don't want a guard with you?" She stopped, hand on the doorknob and turned, to find the Wizard coming out of the parlor, a cup of coffee in his hands. She sighed. "Don't give me that look. I worry about you."

"I know you do, but I'll be fine. I'll only be gone an hour, two hours tops." She quickly did the top button of her coat, before adjusting the clutch she held. Then, with a small nod, she pulled open the door and stepped out into the early morning sunlight. The Wizard sighed, before hurrying to the door.

"El-" He swallowed. "Eleanora!"

She stopped. The name was foreign, and yet, distinctly familiar to her. Since learning of her real name, of her real lineage, she had been eager to have her name returned to her- her real name, the name she'd been given at birth. The name Melinda- not Melena- had chosen. She turned, meeting his gaze. The valet held the door open to her, but she ignored him. Without a word, she made her way back to him, heels clicking on the pavement. "Say it again."

The older man sighed, kneeling down to set his cup at his feet. "Please, be careful, Eleanora. You're not just my Grand Vizier, you're my daughter."

A small smile tugged at her lips, and she leaned down, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I'll be careful, I promise." Then, she pulled away, hurrying back to the car and climbing inside. He watched in silence as it pulled away from the curb.

As the car made its way down the streets of the City, she let her mind wander back to that night, when he had finally told her the truth- of who her mother had been, and who she was. In the time that had since passed, she wanted to learn all she could about her past, her mother and the Wizard's world. And she insisted, when they were not in the public eye, that the Wizard refer to her by her real name, the name she'd been born with.

Eleanora.

It was beautiful, when she thought of it. There was a dignity about it, an old world beauty about it, even. She let her head rest against the glass of the window. If she were still, she could almost see her mother staring back at her. Melinda, not Melena. Melena was cold and distant, but Melinda-

Though she possessed no real memories of the woman her mother had been before Oz, the Wizard's stories had given her enough of an understanding that she could imagine what the woman who had lived in his world was like. Loving, tender, gentle. Funny and carefree, despite the hardships they faced. A woman who loved her daughter and the life she'd built.

She lifted her head when the car pulled up in front of The Wilted Rose. The old hotel had the nicest cafe- The Fallen Petal- in all of the City, as far as she was concerned, and when she went out, she often chose to stop at the Fallen Petal before returning to the palace. She smiled at the valet as he stepped back and allowed her to exit the car. "Thank you. I should be done in an hour or two." He nodded, shutting the door behind her before climbing back into the car and pulling away from the curb.

Once he was gone, she turned back to the hotel; with her old Emerald City charm, she was a historic marker, having lived through the chaos of years past, when the City ran wild, having seen the ravages of war, and the shining health of new beginnings. She loved The Wilted Rose. Those first days after she'd agreed to the Wizard's offer, she'd spent at The Wilted Rose, while she got accustomed to living in the City, and all that came with being his Grand Vizier.

Taking a deep breath, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and made her way into the hotel, ignoring the whispers of those she passed. It was rare, to see the Wizard, and even rarer to see his Grand Vizier out in the City unattended. Often, she had a guard following behind her, a few feet away, which often forced people to keep their distance.

Once inside, she relaxed, drinking in the beautiful marble floors beneath her feet, and the art Deco designs that decorated the hotel's lobby. Without a second thought, she made her way across the marble floors towards the cafe. "Ah, Madame Vizier. What a pleasure."

"It's good to see me, isn't it?" She chuckled softly. "My usual table, Cattery."

"Right this way." The young hostess with the violet eyes reached for a menu, when she stopped. "Is it just you today?"

"I have a meeting with the Headmaster of Emerald University." The younger woman nodded, grabbing a second menu before leading Elphaba through a maze of small tables towards one at the back, near a small reading nook.

"I hope everything goes well, Madame. Shall I fetch your usual coffee while you wait?" She nodded as she took a seat, and the young hostess hurried off to fetch the requested drink. Once she was gone, Elphaba quickly glanced over the menu, before setting it aside. She ignored the usual whispers, only looking up from her thoughts when Cattery set the coffee before her, and flashed the hostess a small smile.

A couple tables over, Fiyero and Glinda were discussing where to start in regards to finding Elphaba, when voices caused them both to turn. They watched as a man not much older than them made their way to the table not far away; the woman stood, moving around the table towards the man. She held out a hand, which the took and brushed a kiss to. She smiled at him, engaging in small chitchat as they took their seats across from each other. Glinda narrowed her gaze. In this light, the woman looked really familiar-

"Fiyero, I... I think that's... that's Elphie!"