Under different circumstances she might have laughed. After all, watching the way the men practically tripped over each other with chairs and swarmed the gazebo in an attempt to fix the damage the storm had caused was pretty comical. But knowing they were bending to someone else's will just like her put a major damper on her already sour mood. Only in their case they were being paid handsomely to make the gardens look perfect for the ceremony in the morning whereas she was being blackmailed into walking down the aisle to a man she couldn't stand.
If Glinda and Elphaba weren't out there somewhere at the mercy of the elements she would have wished for another storm to come along and completely destroy things this time. But she couldn't. Not until...
Addena growled as frustration made her turn away from the window. She loved the woman for crying out loud but she couldn't even bring herself to think her name. If she did she would break down again and she couldn't possibly have any more tears left after the way she'd bawled her eyes out downstairs. Thank goodness she managed to make it to her room before her father or Eadlyn saw her. The last thing she needed was either one of those bastards giving her a hard time.
The clock down the hallway from her room chimed, reminding her that in a few short hours she would be married. The idea made her physically sick to her stomach. How was she supposed to pull it off? How was she supposed to get up in front of what was bound to be all of the Upper Upland muckety mucks and make people believe she was happy to be with Eadlyn?
It wouldn't be easy, that was for sure. But it had to be done. She couldn't let anything happen to her mother. Not after everything she'd given up to ensure her safety.
She threw herself down on the bed to stare up at the ceiling. How many times had Glinda laid beside her just like this when they were younger, fantasizing about the day she met her prince charming and the perfect storybook wedding they would have? She should have known then how different she was. Never once did she dream about getting married. As a matter of fact, she never even thought about being with someone. She lost count of the lectures she got from her father about turning away would be suitors. But what was she supposed to do? She couldn't play the debutante like her sister. She just didn't have it in her.
Her father nearly had a stroke the day she announced she wanted to go away to medical school. She was supposed to date a doctor, not become one herself. But with a lot of begging and even more intervention from her mother she finally got to go. She had hoped maybe, for once in her life, her father would be proud of her. But it didn't happen. He was constantly complaining about how much her schooling cost and inviting the sons of people he worked with over to meet her when she was home on breaks.
It finally got to the point where she stopped caring what he thought. Why should she when it was so abundantly clear that he didn't give a damn about her? He could care less that he ruined her life with his deal making. How was she supposed to get involved with someone when she had the specter of a finace she'd never met looming in her future?
But all that changed the day a certain witch scared her as she was trying on some of her mother's new clothes. One look into those emerald green eyes and she was hooked. Yes she fought the idea of falling for her tooth and nail but it didn't do any good. She was completely and utterly in love and there wasn't a thing she could do to change it.
Too bad they barely had a chance to be together before everything fell apart.
She angrily swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. It wasn't going to do her any good to linger over something that could never happen. She had to face the fact that that part of her life was over and done.
She got up and went back to the window. That was her future now. A big, splashy wedding in the family gardens complete with a drop dead gorgeous man who was bound to make her miserable for the rest of her life.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Elphaba emerge from the tree line near the gardens. She practically pressed her nose against the glass in anticipation of who would be following her. First came Glinda, then a horse followed by... Something wasn't right. Instead of another witch there was a motley crew of tiny animals with them.
She watched as Glinda shepherded everyone toward the kitchen door. It was hard to read her sister's expression but she could tell from her body language that things hadn't gone well. A desperate need for information had her marching over to her door but she stopped just short of actually opening it. She didn't want to leave her room and risk running into anyone. Glinda would come talk to her eventually. But eventually wasn't good enough. Her imagination was going to drive her even crazier than she already was until she knew exactly what was going on.
She opened the door, looking in both ways down the hall before stepping over the threshold and starting toward the kitchen. She kept a watchful eye on her surroundings as she went, thankful that no one seemed to care where she was or what she was doing.
"Eadlyn."
Hearing her father's voice had her ducking onto one of the couches in the sitting area near the main foyer.
"Well hello Max." She could make out Eadlyn's cocky smirk as the two men came toward her, stopping just short of discovering her hiding place. "What can I do for you?"
"I, uh..." Max swallowed hard. "I need to talk to you." He gestured nervously with his hand. "About this whole marriage thing."
Addena held her breath. Was her father about to tell Eadlyn he couldn't let her do it? Was he, for once in her life, actually going to stick up for her?
Eadlyn cocked his head. "What about it?"
"Well..." Max swallowed again, obviously trying to choose his words carefully. "I think we have a problem."
"A problem?" Eadlyn echoed his statement. "What kind of problem?"
"You see, uh... Well…"
"I have no idea how you make it in the business world. You stammer too much. If you're going to tell someone something you should just come right out and say it, not..."
"Glinda told the Witch everything!"
It took the meaning of his words a minute to register with Addena. Once they had she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Not only was her father not going to bat for her, he was ratting Glinda out.
Eadlyn frowned. "What?"
Max nodded. "The Witch knows. She and..."
"Her name is Elphaba."
Max frowned. "What?"
"The Witch, her name is Elphaba. Or as your daughter so affectionately calls her, Elphie."
"Whatever." He waved the information away. "The important thing is they went to find the one who ran away..."
"Breena."
"What?" Max's frown deepened.
"The one who ran away has a name too." Eadlyn explained. "It's Breena."
He paid attention, Addena would give him that. But she couldn't stand hearing him say her love's name.
"Fine. Glinda and Elphaba went to find Breena, happy now? They're going to tell her everything too so they can come up with a plan to stop the wedding."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Eadlyn cocked an eyebrow. "How very interesting."
"Is that all you have to say?" Max shook his head in disbelief. "They know what's going on."
"And?"
"And you made it abundantly clear what would happen to my wife if anyone found out." Max gripped the taller man's arm. "Please don't hurt her."
Eadlyn looked at the hand on his arm in disgust. "Are you still going to give me my money?"
"Of course."
"And has Addena changed her mind about going through with the marriage?"
"No! I mean, at least I don't think she has." He added, "She better not have," under his breath.
"Then what reason would I have to hurt your wife?" Eadlyn pulled out of his grasp. "The only ones who could make me do that are you and Addena."
"What?" Max was flabbergasted. "You mean you don't care about the Witch..."
"Elphaba."
"You don't care that she knows?" He continued as if Eadlyn hadn't spoken at all.
"Why should I?" Eadlyn shrugged. "As far as I'm concerned it's only going to make things more exciting."
"Exciting?"
"You have to admit, it got a little boring around here after Addena so readily agreed to marry me. I mean, I thought I would be in for a little more of a challenge. Even Glinda has been holding her tongue when I know what she really wants to do is lay into me for what I'm doing to your family."
"You mean I..."
"You sold Glinda out for nothing." Addena finished his thought for him as she stood.
"Addena!" Max took a half step back, a look of complete surprise on his face.
"I think she's mad." Eadlyn grinned as he eagerly looked back and forth between them.
"Damn straight I am." Addena agreed. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I... You were eavesdropping." Max tried to turn things around on her.
"Bad move." Eadlyn continued his commentary, practically squirming with anticipation as Addena glared at her father.
"How could you stab us in the back this way?"
"Me?" Max scoffed. "I'm not the one who told the Witch about..."
"He already told you her name is Elphaba, so stop calling her a witch." Addena growled. "And I'm not talking about telling anyone about this stupid charade we're all carrying out. I'm talking about the fact that you're our father and could have shown a little bit of loyalty to your daughters by keeping your mouth shut."
"I most certainly could not." Max contradicted her. "Not when you're mother's safety might have relied on it."
"So you did this for Mom?"
"Of course. Why else would I..."
"That's funny." Addena interrupted him. "I thought maybe you did it to hurt Glinda."
"What?" Max looked at her like she was crazy. "Why would I want to hurt her?"
"Don't act so innocent. We both know how disappointed you are in her for loving another woman, let alone one with a past like Elphaba's. Someone might frown on their relationship so you decided to get back at her for possibly damaging your precious reputation. It's what you do best. I of all people should know. I've been a stain on the family name my whole life."
Max furrowed his brow. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I know." Addena sighed. "That's the sad part." She continued to look at him for a moment before shaking her head. "I'm done."
"Are you kidding?" Eadlyn threw his hands in the air. "That's pathetic. At least slap him or something."
"You and I," she ignored him, concentrating on her father instead, "we're through."
"Addena?" That got Max's attention.
Eadlyn rubbed his hands together. "This is so much better than a slap."
"It's obvious you don't love me. You never have and you never will." She raised her hand to silence him when he opened his mouth to reply. "We both know it's true. As far as I'm concerned, I no longer have a father."
"What? Wait!" Max turned to follow her with his eyes as she walked toward the kitchen.
"That was intense. I guess I won't have to worry about inviting you over for dinner once we're married." Eadlyn clapped him on the shoulder. "Now if you'll excuse me."
He went in the same direction as Addena, leaving Max to contemplate what his daughter had just said.
For her part Addena felt better. She might not have yelled and screamed or clawed his eyes out, but she was pretty sure her message got through loud and clear. And she meant every word of it. Even if the others were successful in finding a way to get her out of marrying Eadlyn, she would never speak to him again.
"Make sure they get whatever they need. And send for one of the footmen. We need to get a message to their parents to let them know they're safe."
She arrived in the kitchen in time to find Glinda talking to Bernice, who was looking at their new guests with bewilderment.
"That might not be such a good idea."
The poor woman nearly jumped out of her skin when the Colt spoke.
He didn't notice as he continued. "Our community is still a little leery of humans."
"They wouldn't hurt whoever you sent," the Wolf agreed. "But they probably wouldn't listen to them either."
"I didn't think of that." Glinda fretted.
"I'll summon one of the Monkeys." Elphaba provided a solution. "He can deliver the message and guide their parents here to get them."
"Do you mean one of the flying Monkeys?"
Glinda nodded in response to the Tigress' question. "Yes she does."
"Did you hear that?" The girl squealed. "We get to meet one of the flying Monkeys!"
"I should go have that look around." Elphaba spoke as the Wolf and Goat joined the petite feline in her excitement.
"Promise me you'll be careful, Elphie." Glinda gripped her lover's hand. "Please."
Elphaba pulled her into her arms. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"You shouldn't go at all."
Glinda turned her head to look at the Colt. "What?"
"I don't mean any disrespect." He swished his tail. "It's just that that broom isn't going to be of much good. She won't be able to see through the tree tops no matter how low she flies. And she can't go traipsing around by herself on foot. It's too dangerous and the area is too big for her to search on her own."
Elphaba held tight to Glinda, not wanting to admit he might be right. "Do you have a better idea?"
"I don't know about better, but you could summon the Monkey and let me go with him to my village. My dad is one of the elders. I can talk to him and have a group of Animals here to help with the search by morning."
Glinda pushed back to look at Elphaba. "He's right. You shouldn't be out there alone. What if something happened to you too?"
Addena listened to the exchange with growing trepidation.
"You could use the mirror spell to go to the palace and get some Gale Force guards." Glinda reasoned with her. "They could be here by morning too."
"But what about now?" Elphaba whispered. "She's out there Glinda."
"I know." She lovingly caressed a green cheek. "And we'll find her, Elphie. But you can't do it alone."
Addena couldn't hear what they were saying but from the way Elphaba was acting she knew who they were talking about.
"What's going on here?"
She nearly jumped out of her skin when her father's voice sounded in her ear. She was surprised to find him and Eadlyn both standing behind her.
"What are all these..." Max pointed at the children. "Creatures doing in my kitchen?"
"Father?" Glinda pulled out of Elphaba's arms, visibly paling when she saw her sister too. "Dena."
"I asked a question." Max tried again.
"What's going on Linny?" Addean swallowed hard. "What happened?"
"I'll tell her." Elphaba volunteered.
"No." Glinda gripped her hand. "Go do whatever you need to do to summon. I'll take care of this."
Elphaba furrowed her brow. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "But come find me before you go to the palace."
"You know I will." Elphaba leaned in to give her a gentle kiss, meeting Max's disapproving gaze as they parted. "Send for me if you need me."
"I will." Glinda gave the hand she still held a squeeze before letting go. She waited until Elphaba had gone out the back door to turn back to Bernice. "Can you handle the children?"
"Of course Miss Glinda." The maid tried to sound confident but looked at the Animals wearily.
Max frowned. "Certainly you don't think they're going to…"
"Yes they are." Glinda cut him off, leaving no room for argument in her statement as she took her sister's hand, pulling her out of the room.
"Now just a moment." Max was hot on their heels. "What's going on?"
Glinda sighed. "This has nothing to do with you."
"Oh yes it does, young lady. I'll remind you that this is my house and anything that happens under this roof concerns me."
Glinda clinched her jaw. "I don't have the energy to argue with you right now. So keep following us if you must but keep your mouth shut."
Max's eyes went wide. "I won't be talked to in such a manner!"
"You will be if you want to hear what I have to say." It was her turn to contradict him.
"Would you just shut up already and give her a chance to tell us what's going on?" Eadlyn finally spoke as he followed close behind them.
"Go away." Addena didn't even bother to look at him.
"Now is that any way to talk to your future husband?"
"It is if he's an interfering jackass like you." Glinda responded.
"There you go with that temper again." Eadlyn gave her an appreciative look.
"Don't start." Addena tightened her grip on her sister's hand to make her stop. "Tell me what's going on, Linny."
"It's…" Glinda paused, trying to come up with a way of not upsetting her sister too much.
"What? 'It's' what?" Eadlyn impatiently motioned with his hand.
"Ignore him." Addena kept her attention on her sister.
Glinda turned her sister so her back was to Eadlyn and their father. "Breena's missing."
"Missing?" Addena felt like someone had punched her in the stomach.
"Is that all?" Eadlyn interrupted again. "And here I thought it was something important."
"Shut up!" Glinda spat at him.
Eadlyn just chuckled.
Addena shook her head. "What happened?"
"Some trappers attacked those poor babies and their teacher and Breena tried to help. Apparently there have been four other attacks in the last week and the trappers and their victims disappear without a trace." Glinda bit her lip. "None of them have been found."
"None?" Addena put her hand on her chest and drew in a shaky breath. "By the Unnamed God what have I done?"
"You didn't do anything." Glinda was quick to answer.
"Didn't I?" Addena chuckled humorlessly. "I'm the reason she left in the first place. If it wasn't for me she wouldn't have been out there to be... To get..." Tears filled her eyes.
Glinda pulled her into a hug. "This isn't your fault, Dena."
"She's right." Eadlyn agreed. "Who knew she would be such a drama queen and ride off on one of my horses?" He gave Glinda a 'what' shrug when she glared at him. "If it makes you feel any better I'll join the search after the ceremony tomorrow."
"Ceremony?" Addena pulled away from her sister. "There's not going to be any ceremony."
"What?!" Max looked at her like she'd sprouted a second head. "But what about your mother?!"
"Yeah." Eadlyn pointed at her. "What about your mother?"
"You're the one who told me I need to make this whole marriage thing look as believable as possible." Addena turned on him. "How the hell am I supposed to do that when the woman I love is missing?"
Max rolled his eyes. "You don't love her."
"Yes I do!" Addena took a deep breath, trying not to lose it completely. "I can't get married without my wedding party."
"Huh?" Eadlyn was confused.
"Glinda will be my maid of honor, but no self respecting bride gets married without at least two other bridesmaids."
Max frowned. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying Elphaba and B..." She fought the quiver in her voice.
"Elphaba and Breena are her bridesmaids." Glinda finished for her.
"So short of her walking through that front door sometime between now and tomorrow morning, we'll be postponing the ceremony indefinitely." Addena found her voice again.
"You can't do that!" Max growled.
"If he wants me to go through with this I can." She looked at Eadlyn. "So what's it going to be?"
"I don't like ultimatums." Eadlyn sighed when he didn't get a rise out of her. "Fine. We'll put off the wedding for a few days but not indefinitely. If she isn't found in two days, we go on with our wedding."
Addena hesitated before saying, "Fine." With that she walked away.
"I hope you're happy." Glinda directed her comment at their father. "She's going to be devastated if we don't find Bree."
Max scoffed. "She didn't seem too broken up over her leaving earlier."
Glinda frowned. "Were we in the same house? She was and still is heartbroken over what she did to Bree earlier."
"She'll get over it."
"Get over it?" Glinda echoed the phrase. "Who are you?"
"I'm your father."
"No father treats one of his children that way."
"Actually he squealed on you for telling Elphaba about everything too." Eadlyn smiled when Max shot him a look. "I wouldn't want her to feel left out as far as your fatherly love goes."
"You what?!" Glinda's mouth hung open in disbelief. "I… You…" She slapped him hard across the face before taking off after her sister.
Eadlyn laughed. "That looked like it hurt."
All Max could was frown as the younger man walked away too.
A/N Thanks for all the well wishes. My trip was great and, of course, Wicked was the highlight of the whole thing. Stephanie and Kendra are amazing. And I have to say, Hairspray was awesome too. So if you get the chance, go see them both... but if you can only see one make it Wicked. Thanks for reading! You're all wonderful.