Sunlight streamed through the window, shepherding in a new day. Gone were any signs of the storm that ripped through the Uplands the night before. At least the physical storm anyway. The aftermath of the emotional storm was still alive and well in the form of Addena, who was curled in a ball on the bed.

Glinda still wasn't quite sure how she managed to get a shell shocked Addena from their father's study to her bedroom by herself, but she did. And now she was keeping watch over her sister as she slept.

Addena mumbled something under her breath as she rolled from her side to her back.

"Shhh." Glinda quickly moved back to the bed, crawling in next to her sister. "I've got you." She barely brushed her fingers against Addena's hair for fear of waking her up. Her slumber was fitful but at least she was getting some rest.

"Linny?"

"Yes sweetie?"

"I don't want to get married." A tear made its way down Addena's cheek.

"I know." The honesty in those words tore at Glinda's heart as she gathered her sister in her arms. "I know."

It took a good ten minutes to get Addena back to sleep. Glinda didn't say a word the whole time. She just held her sister close, letting her know she wasn't alone. If the shoe was on the other foot she would have wanted someone keeping up a steady stream of jabber about how everything would be all right. But not Dena. Empty words had never placated her sister. Besides, Glinda wouldn't have known what to say anyway. How did you try to soothe someone whose life had literally been turned upside down?

She still couldn't believe the mess their father had created. Up until last night it had been kind of hard to take Addena's engagement seriously. The thought of an arranged marriage in a society as advanced as theirs was ludicrous. She was convinced her sister could go to their parents, tell them there was no way she would go through with it and the whole thing would go away.

She couldn't have been more wrong if she tried.

Poor Dena. Glinda never really stopped to think about what it would be like to have something, or rather someone, like Eadlyn hanging over your head your whole life. She could remember her sister standing in front of the mirror in this very room when she was no more than ten, looking at herself in a white dress their mother had bought for her to wear to a classmate's birthday party. When she asked if that's what she would look like in her wedding gown Glinda giggled. Getting married seemed so exciting to her. She couldn't understood the lost look in her sister's eyes or the sadness in their mother's voice as she pulled Addena into a tight embrace, telling her everything would work out in the end.

But she understood now. And look at how things were working themselves out. Addena was an emotional wreck, their mother was being held who knew where until the wedding took place, their father wasn't doing a damn thing to fix their broken family and she was powerless to do anything about any of it.

Tears clouded her vision as she wished yet again that Elphie was there. Arduenna women were notoriously tough but even the strongest person needed someone to lean on. For a long time she didn't have anyone to fill that role. She and Addena grew apart when her big sister went off to medical school and she barely got a chance to get close to Elphaba before she went on the run for her life. Then Morrible made her move and not only did she get her sister and her lover back, she got Breena as an added bonus. Now she had three woman who would do anything for her. If only Bree or Elphie was there for her to turn to now.

She swallowed hard, trying to get a grip on her emotions. She couldn't break down. Dena needed her.

"Glinda?"

The sound of her father's voice made her look up. She'd been so lost in thought she didn't even hear the door open. "What do you want?"

Max tried but failed not to flinch at the iciness of her voice. "Are you all right?"

"Am I all right?" A humorless chuckle passed her lips as she furrowed her brow. "Dena is the one who cried all night and you're asking if I'm all right?"

"I..." His adam's apple bobbed. "I know yesterday couldn't have been easy on you so I thought..."

"You'd come in here and rescue me?" Glinda glared at him. "Don't bother."

"Glinda..."

"And don't use that 'poor me' voice either. You're not the victim here."

"I never said I was."

"No, but you certainly act as if you are." Glinda shook her head. "Just go away."

Max frowned. "Now hold on a minute."

"I'm trying not to say something I might regret later."

"I'm still your father, Glinda and I..."

"What? Demand I show you the respect you deserve? After what you've done I think I am."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means the pedestal I've had you on for so long is gone."

"Pedestal?" Max's frown deepened. "What are you talking about?"

Glinda rolled her eyes. "Playing dumb doesn't suit you."

"I'm not playing anything. And don't call me dumb!"

"Bree?" Addena groaned.

"It's all right Dena." Glinda tightened her grip on her sister, making sure she wasn't going to wake up completely before growling, "Keep your voice down," at their father.

"Me?" Max pointed at himself. "What about you? You were being just as loud as I was."

"You have an answer for everything don't you? Everything except how to keep my sister away from that monster."

"Eadlyn..."

"Don't you dare defend him!"

"I wasn't going to." Max sighed. "Glinda..."

"Don't. Just don't, all right? I can't deal with you right now."

"Deal with me? But..."

"But nothing."

Max leaned his head against the doorframe as he watched his youngest return her attention to Addena. "I didn't do this on purpose. It was supposed to be a means to an end and now..."

"Now you've ruined your daughter." Glinda finished for him. "I hope you're happy with yourself."

"Of course I'm not happy! Do you think I like seeing her in so much pain?!"

Glinda shrugged. "To be honest, I didn't think you felt much of anything for her."

Max was shocked. "How can you say that?"

"Because it's true!"

"Like hell it is! She's my daughter just as much as you."

"You might try acting like it sometime."

"It's not my fault she's always been closer to your mother."

"Maybe that's because Mom actually noticed she was around."

"I'll admit Addena and I have had more than our fair share of problems in the past, but no one is perfect Glinda. It took both of us to create the relationship we have."

"I used to think you were."

Max looked confused. "Excuse me?"

"Perfect." Glinda clarified. "I used to think you were perfect. I used to think that's what every little girl was supposed to feel about their father. No one ever could or did measure up to you in my eyes." She looked down at her sister lovingly. "But Dena never felt the same. I can't believe I never listened to her when she tried to explain why. I just assumed she was jealous of the bond we share." She finally look at her father. "Or should that be shared?"

"Don't say that Linny."

Glinda was shocked to see her sister's eyes were open.

"He's still our father." Addena pulled away from her sister to sit up. "And just because I don't particularly like him right now doesn't mean you have to feel the same way."

"Dena." Glinda moved with her sister, staying close as they sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you?"

"Fine."

"The truth please."

"I said I'm..." Addena's voice trailed off when she saw the concern in her sister's eyes. "I've been better. Is that what you want to hear?"

"No." Glinda tucked a piece of hair behind her sister's ear. "But I knew that's what you were going to say."

"I don't know if I like being that predictable." Addena gripped her sister's hand when her attempt at humor didn't go over so well. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that."

"You don't have anything to apologize for." Glinda assured her.

Max was quick add, "No you don't."

Glinda shot him a look. "No one asked you."

Addena sighed. "Linny..."

"Don't ask me not to be mad at him Dena because it's not going to happen."

"It's all right Addena." Max spoke before his eldest daughter could. "She has every right to be angry with me." He hung his head. "You both do."

"There you go again." Glinda pointed at him. "Trying to make yourself out to be the victim."

"I was doing no such thing." Max growled. "Politics has made you harsh."

Glinda narrowed his eyes. "It's better than being a sneaky, underhanded..."

"Enough!" Addena looked back and forth between them. "Glinda, I appreciate what you're trying to do but I really don't have the energy to listen to the two of you argue right now."

"I'm sorry Dena. I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't." Addena tightened her grip on Glinda's hand. "At least not any more than I already was. But if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to be alone."

"What?" Glinda was shocked.

"I just... I need some time to myself right now."

"Of course you do." Max agreed.

"No she doesn't." Glinda contradicted him. "No you don't." She turned back to her sister. "What you need to do is come up with a plan."

Addena wrinkled her brow. "I thought I already had."

"You call marrying Eadlyn to save Mom a plan?" Glinda rolled her eyes when Addena nodded. "Well it's not. It's more of a solution. What about after the wedding? What are you going to do then?" She paused, knowing the next question would either make her sister mad enough to slap her or have her in a ball on the bed again. But it just might make her stop and listen too. "What about Breena?"

Max frowned again. "Who's Breena?"

"I..." Addena licked her lips. "I've been trying not to think about her."

"That's not fair. To her or you."

"Who's Breena?" Max repeated his question.

"I know." Addena didn't seem to hear him. "But it's so much easier than thinking about what might happen." She gestured helplessly with her hand. "I don't want to lose her Linny."

"Who?" Max tried again.

"And you won't." Glinda ignored his question, asking one of her own instead. "What time is the ceremony supposed to happen tomorrow?"

"What? Oh." He shook his head as if he were coming out of a fog. "Three."

"Perfect." Glinda clasped her hands in front of her. "We'll send a message to the Wizard. He can arrange for a battalion of guards to come here and find a way to keep Elphie and Breena busy until everything blows over. The guards can be here well before the ceremony if they ride all night."

Addena pondered her sister's words for a second. "What are the guards supposed to do exactly?"

"Intimidate Eadlyn and his men?" Max added his two cents worth, hoping to become part of the conversation.

"No." Glinda sighed. "Having the guards arrest Eadlyn before the wedding won't work because we have no idea where Mother is right?"

"Right." Addena nodded.

"Then we keep the guards in hiding during the ceremony. Once it's over you tell Eadlyn you kept your end of the deal and demand that he release Mother. When we know she's safe we have the guards arrest Eadlyn and his men and get one of Dad's magistrate friends annul the marriage. We get Mother back and rid of him at the same time."

Addena opened her mouth to answer but another voice cut in before she could.

"Bravo." Eadlyn clapped as he stepped into the doorway next to Max, startling the older man. "Don't you just hate when the good guys come up with a plan that just might work only to have the bad guy overhear the whole thing?"

"I... Uh..." Max stammered.

Eadlyn switched his focus to the girls. "Who's this Addena?" He eyed Glinda appreciatively. "The brains of the family?"

"You stay away from her." Addena sprang off the bed, putting herself between her sister and her fiancé.

"Or what?" Eadlyn smiled. "Hi." He extended his hand as he took a step into the room. "I'm Eadlyn."

Glinda leered at him. "And I should care because?"

"Oh I like you." He gave her another once over. "We could have some fun."

Addena shoved him. "Stop looking at her!"

Eadlyn smiled again. "I'll hand it to you Max, your woman here in the Uplands have spunk."

"Leave them alone." Max finally found his voice.

"But what fun would that be?" Eadlyn asked. "If I hadn't decided to come see what my lovely bride to be was doing I wouldn't have overheard you talking." He looked at Glinda. "Good plan by the way. It just might have worked if I hadn't been eavesdropping."

"Shut up and go away," Addena hissed.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. You see, I have to make you understand what's going to happen tomorrow." Eadlyn walked in a circle around Addena. "You and I are going to be married. And you're going to be so convincing that no one will ever be the wiser that anything is wrong. Immediately after the ceremony we'll leave for our honeymoon. Once my men receive word that we've reached my family's estate safely they'll release your Mother."

"You're taking me back to Winkie country?"

"A wife's place is at her husband's side." Eadlyn ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. "And I plan on keeping you with me for a long, long time."

"No!" Glinda rushed toward them.

"Stop!" Addena motioned for her to stay where she was.

"But..." Glinda shook her head. "He can't do this."

"No he can't." Max squared his shoulders as everyone looked at him. "I'll give you the money."

"Money?" Glinda frowned. "What money?"

"I asked old Max here for a handsome sum of money to stay away." Eadlyn moved in closer to Addena. "But that was before I met this little wild cat. And now that I have I couldn't possibly settle for anything less." He glanced at Glinda. "Unless you'd like to sweeten the pot by volunteering to come with us."

"She's not." Max spoke before either of his daughter's could. "And I'm serious. I'll give you whatever you want."

"Wait a minute." Addena furrowed her brow. "Are you saying if he had given you the money none of this would be happening?"

"Yes." Eadlyn nodded.

Addena whipped her head toward her father. "And you refused?"

"I didn't think he was serious." Max defended himself.

Eadlyn chuckled. "That's what you get for thinking."

"I can't believe this." Addena's face was a mask of wonder. "You could have paid him? All he wanted was money and he would have left me alone?"

"More like he needs the money." Glinda huffed.

"What was that?" Eadlyn quirked an eyebrow.

"You didn't ask for the money because you wanted it did you?" Glinda stared at him. "You asked for it because you need it don't you?"

He ogled her again. "You're a smart one."

"It doesn't take a genius to see through someone like you. Why don't you just take the money and go?"

"I can't." Eadlyn shook his head. "It's not enough anymore. Not when I can take her with me and come to Max for money any time I need it."

"But your family has money." Max argued.

"No, we used to have money. My father made more than a few bad business investments around the time he died. And what they say about the apple not falling far from the tree is completely true. I needed to find some way to save the family business or face the wrath of my mother." He shrugged. "So I came to Max. But obviously money means a lot to him too because he turned me down flat."

"I've changed my mind. I'll give you whatever you want." Max cut in. "Just leave my daughter alone."

"No."

Max scowled. "No?"

"That's right." Eadlyn grinned. "She's mine now."

"But you need the money." Max pushed the issue.

"Yes I do. And I'm going to get it. You, my dear friend," Eadlyn pointed at Max, "are going to be my cash cow."

The older man scoffed. "I don't think so."

"Then don't think. Either I get my money or your wife dies."

"But that's why I'm marrying you." Addena countered. "To keep my mother safe."

"Oh don't worry. I intend to have you too."

Max was bewildered. "Which is it? The money or the marriage?"

"Both." Eadlyn's voice had a dangerous edge to it. "I just upped the ante. Either I get your daughter and the money we discussed or you'll never see your precious wife again."

Glinda glared at him. "You're despicable!"

"I am aren't I?" Eadlyn beamed. "Now if you'll excuse me I need to go check on my men. But I'll see you," he grabbed Addena's arm, planting a kiss on her lips, "when you least expect it."

Addena stood where she was for a moment before turning on their father. "Money? That's all it would have taken to keep this from happening? What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"I..."

"You weren't supposed to answer!" She stormed out of the room.

Max quickly turned to his youngest daughter. "Glinda?"

"You're unbelievable." Glinda hurried after her sister.

"Great." Max pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering if things could possibly get any worse.