"No."
"Glinda please." Elphaba sighed. "Be reasonable."
The blonde crossed her arms over her chest. "I said no."
"But..."
"You heard me Elphie."
"And you heard me." Elphaba retorted. "You're riding in front and that's final."
"Oh it is, is it?"
"Yes." The green woman nodded. "I'm putting my foot down."
"Ha." Glinda chortled, regretting the move when she saw Elphaba clinch her jaw. "Look Elphie, you're the one with the head injury." She lightly traced the angry looking gash on her lover's brow. "What if you have a concussion?"
"I don't have a concussion." Elphaba resisted the urge to lean into her gentle touch. "You're the one who got kidnapped, jumped off a horse and lived in a cave where you didn't eat or sleep properly." She raised an eyebrow when Glinda started to open her mouth. "And don't even try to deny it. I know you."
"Then you should know I'm not going to give up until you agree to let me ride in back."
"And you should know that's never going to happen."
"All I want to do is hold you Elphie." Glinda walked her fingers up a green arm as she batted her eyelashes. "Is that such a crime?"
Elphaba somehow managed not to shiver at the gesture. "Emotional blackmail won't get you anywhere."
"Are you two ready to go?" Cade took an involuntary step back when he got matching glares from the women. "Is something wrong?"
"She's just being stubborn," they both answered at the same time.
"Oh." He nodded. "Well one of you is going to have to give in because we're leaving. We don't know how long the weather will hold so we need to make a run for it while we can."
Glinda glanced outside, still finding it hard to believe that it wasn't raining anymore. Right after Cade and the others took Eadlyn into custody it abruptly stopped, like someone had turned off the tap.
"It's your choice Glinda." Elphaba gestured toward the already mounted guards, who were all staring at them. "You can either ride in front or we can stand here and argue while everyone else goes back to the house."
She frowned at her predicament. "I could say the same to you."
"Which won't get us anywhere." Elphaba answered.
"Last chance." Cade called as he mounted his horse.
"Fine." Glinda finally relented. "But I'm not talking to you."
She thought maybe that last ultimatum would get her her way, but it didn't. So she made good on her word about not speaking, taking it a step further by refusing to even look at Elphaba as she climbed into the saddle.
Elphaba rolled her eyes at Cade as she waited for the blonde to get situated on the horse, earning her a grin from the captain. She returned the gesture as she swung into the saddle behind her lover but her grin quickly faded when she felt the blonde stiffen as she put her arms around her.
Glinda was so concentrated on pouting that she didn't realize Elphie was behind her until she felt someone touching her. Her body went poker straight for a moment before her brain reminded her that these were the arms she wanted to spend the rest of her life in. Once her initial shock wore off she settled back against the green woman, amazed at how perfectly their bodies fit together, even in this position. She couldn't hold in her contented sigh.
"I thought you weren't talking to me."
She could almost picture the self satisfied smirk on Elphie's face. "I'm not."
"Sighing, talking..." Elphaba shrugged. "It's all the same to me."
A grin tugged at Glinda's lips as they followed Cade, the rest of the guards forming a circle around them as they rode away from the cave. The captain had been serious when he said he wasn't taking any chances now that he had them back.
"I love you."
Her grin became a smile at Elphaba's whispered words. "I love you too." She answered as she put her right hand over the two green ones clasped just above her navel.
Relief shot through Elphaba when she felt the pink hand close over her own. "Does that mean you're not mad at me anymore?"
Glinda could have kicked herself for giving her lover such a hard time. Yes she had wanted to hold her in her arms to prove their reunion wasn't just another figment of her overly active
imagination but in the long run, what did it matter who rode where on the horse as long as they were together? "I never really was. I just..."
"I know." The witch saved her from trying to come up with an explanation. "So was I."
Her heart melted. She knew how much it took for Elphie to admit her part in their now ridiculous seeming tiff.
No more words were needed between them as Elphaba tightened her grip and Glinda leaned back against her. This is how they both wanted it to be forever. The two of them against the world. Because as long as they were together, they could handle anything.
Glinda was surprised to find her eyes getting heavy. Between the rhythm of the horse beneath them and the affection radiating from the woman behind her she felt safe for the first time in what seemed like forever.
"It's all right my love, let yourself go." Elphaba placed a kiss on the side of her head. "I've got you."
She tried to resist temptation but just couldn't do it. Another kiss on her curls was the last thing she felt before she drifted off.
It didn't take long for her soft snores to reach Elphaba's ears. That had to be the sweetest sound in the world. Next to the blonde's giggle of course. And her voice. Oh who was Elphaba trying to fool, every noise Glinda made wound her just a little more tightly around the good witch's pinky finger.
Except when she was in pain or scared, as she had been when Elphaba first got to the cave. It wasn't something she wanted to think about but she couldn't avoid it. The images she had seen of Eadlyn hurting Glinda in her vision were bad enough without knowing they were well on their way to coming true when she finally got to her lover.
Tears blurred her vision as she craned her neck to look at Glinda's face. What if she had never seen it again? What if those few moments in the woods after Glinda jumped off the horse were it for them? What if...
She told herself to stop. How many times had she told other people they couldn't live by what ifs and could have beens?
"Elphaba?" Cade spoke in a quiet tone, not wanting to wake the dozing blonde or startle the green witch.
Hearing her name pulled Elphaba from her thoughts. "Cade?" She was shocked to find the captain had slowed down to ride beside them. "Is something wrong?"
"Not at all." He was quick to reassure her. "I just wanted to let you know we're almost to the house." He nodded toward Glinda. "In case you wanted to wake sleeping beauty. She's going to have quite a welcoming committee." He smiled. "You both will."
"Thanks for the heads up." Elphaba gave him a grateful look. "The last thing we need is everyone thinking she's unconscious." She swallowed hard at her choice of words as she wondered yet again how Breena was doing.
Cade noticed her change in demeanor. "Are you all right?"
"Fine." She gave him a half hearted smile.
He nodded, not completely convinced but knowing not to push his luck. "I'll leave you to wake her then." With that he rode ahead again.
"Linny." Elphaba gave her lover a gentle shake. "Wake up."
Glinda mumbled, "Five more minutes."
"No." Elphaba gave her another shake. "I need to open your eyes for me all right?"
"Why?"
"Because we're almost to your house."
"But I'm tired," the blonde whined.
"I know my love. And I would like nothing more than to let you sleep. But everyone is going to want to know that you're all right and it will be hard to convince them of that you are if you're out cold in my arms."
Glinda blinked. "We're home?"
Elphaba nodded. "Almost."
"Then why can't I sleep until we get there?"
"Because I don't want you being a grump with everyone."
"Grump? I'm not a grump." Glinda huffed. "If anyone is a grump when they first wake up it's you."
"And if getting in a snit wakes anyone up it's you."
"Sneak." The blonde growled.
Elphaba grinned. "Whatever works."
Glinda didn't rise to the bait to continue their banter as she sat up a little straighter, stretching the best she could. "How long was I asleep?"
"Not long."
She yawned. "I'm sorry I haven't been better company."
Elphaba gave her a squeeze. "You were perfect company."
"Because I wasn't talking your ear off?"
"Because you were here," Elphaba leaned down to nuzzle her neck.
Glinda tilted her head, giving her more access. "I thought you said we were almost home."
Elphaba pulled away long enough to say, "We are," before continuing her work.
"Then why are you trying to start something we won't be able to finish right away?"
"Captain Cade!"
Elphaba jumped, detaching herself from Glinda and pulling her closer at the same time as she looked around for the source of the voice.
"It's all right Elphie." Glinda put her right hand back over her lover's on her stomach as she pointed with her left one. "It's just a guard."
The witch relaxed a little when she saw a man in Gale Force uniform come running through the circle of riders around them.
"It's good to see you sir." The man smiled. "And it's a relief to see the two of you again. Master Fiyero and a group of others were just about to come looking for you Miss Elphaba."
She frowned. "They were?"
The man nodded. "It's not every day someone disappears into thin air."
"Disappears?" Glinda furrowed her brow.
"The spell." Elphaba reminded her.
"It's good to see you again too Smithens." Cade saved Elphaba from having to say more. "I warned the ladies they would have a welcoming committee."
The man chuckled. "That's putting it mildly." His good humor disappeared when he saw Eadlyn thrown over one of the horses in chains. "Is that the bastard who caused all the trouble?" He blushed as he cast a baleful glance at the girls. "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it." Glinda waved away his concern. "We think he's a bastard too."
"He's the one." Cade confirmed. "I want your squad to help my men get him back to the house and take over guarding him once you get there. He's not to be left alone or let out of those chains for any reason. Tell anyone who even thinks of going against that order they'll share a cell with him at Southstairs."
"Understood." Smithens saluted before bowing toward the girls again. "Welcome home."
"Thank you." Elphaba acknowledged his words.
Cade motioned for the rest of his men to go with Smithens as he started walking away.
"You can go with them." Elphaba told him.
Glinda nodded her agreement. "I know my way from here." She pointed toward the house in the distance to prove her point. "See."
"I don't think we need to be tempting fate like that." Cade pooh poohed their idea. "I mean the Wizard will want a full report on what happened at the cave." He changed his tone when they both frowned at him.
It looked like someone was throwing a party when they reached the house a few minutes later. There were guards and Animals and staff members milling around outside, almost as if they were waiting for something.
Elphaba swallowed nervously. "What's going on?"
"I have no idea." Glinda tightened her grip on her lover's hands.
"There they are!" A cheer went up from the gathered crowd as they realized whoever had spoken was right.
Cade smiled as the girls looked to him for some kind of guidance. "Didn't I say there would be people to welcome you home?"
"You mean they're all here for us?" Elphaba was amazed.
"They're all here for you." Cade confirmed as they stopped just outside the front door. He motioned to a few of the guards as the crowd started to close in around them, everyone trying to speak at one time. "Keep them back! At least until they have a chance to get off their horse!"
One of the guards reached up, offering Glinda a hand down. She gave him one of her best Glinda the Good smiles. "Thank you."
"You're welcome my lady." He bowed once she was on the ground again. "Miss Elphaba?" He quickly reached up to help her too.
Elphaba stared at his proffered hand. Since when did the guards try to help her?
"Come on Elphie." Glinda encouraged her.
"Thanks." Elphaba accepted his assistance.
"It's my pleasure ma'am." He gave her a genuine smile.
"You're home!"
"Praise Ozma!"
"We knew she'd find you Lady Glinda."
"It's true. We had every confidence in you Elphaba."
Everyone around them spoke at once but it wasn't until they started moving that Elphaba grabbed Glinda, shoving her behind her in a protective gesture.
"It's all right, Elphie." Glinda put herself back at her lover's side, taking her hand. "They're not going to hurt us."
"How do you know?" Elphaba eyed them wearily.
"Because I do." Glinda gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Trust me."
Elphaba opened her mouth to say it wasn't the blonde she didn't trust but never got the chance. A woman stepped forward and started jabbering excitedly about how great it was to have the two of them back. Glinda barely had a chance to acknowledge her kind words before someone else took her place.
Glinda slipped into public figure mode, listening attentively to what everyone said while giving them a smile or a nod or a little pat on the arm. And the crowd ate it up. As soon as someone had their say, they moved aside to give someone else a chance. And all Elphaba had to do was stand there. They didn't expect anything. They just wanted to share their happiness at seeing them.
Elphaba's head spun at the concept. Would she ever get used to the fact that people accepted her now? That they no longer saw her as a threat but as the daughter of their beloved Wizard and lover of their darling Glinda?
"You're back!"
A familiar voice sounded in her ear as she found herself being drawn into a tight embrace.
"You're back!" Lion repeated himself as he held them close.
"Give someone else a turn big guy." Fiyero nudged the feline out of the way. "Thank Oz you're both safe." He gave them a hug before pulling back to look at them, wincing when he saw the scraps and bruises on Glinda and the gash on Elphaba's brow. "Are you both all right?"
Glinda smiled. "We're fine. Just a little the worse for wear."
"You can say that again." Maeve teased as she joined Fiyero.
"Don't either of you ever scare me like that again!" Fiyero chastised them. "I think you gave me grey hair!"
"And I think they've been through enough without you yelling at them." Maeve gave him a look. "And you don't have grey hair."
"How would you know?" He huffed.
"I see the locator spell worked." She ignored the comment as she returned her attention to Glinda and Elphaba. "And whatever you and Breena used to get you to the caves."
"How is Bree?" Elphaba finally found her voice, swallowing hard when Maeve, Fiyero and Lion shared a look.
"She asked a question." Glinda pursed her lips when no one gave her lover an answer.
"We're not sure." Penny spoke up from behind the others.
Glinda did a double take when she saw her. "There are two Lions now?" She leaned in close to whisper to Elphaba.
"Glinda, this is Penny. Penny, Glinda." Elphaba handled introductions. "She and Bree became friends at the trappers camp."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Glinda." Penny gave her a shy glance.
"Please call me Glinda." The blonde informed her. "And what do you mean you don't know how Breena is?"
"She passed out after Elphaba disappeared." Maeve fielded the question. "Addena is with her now but we haven't heard any word on whether she's woken up again yet."
"But that's not necessarily bad." Fiyero tried to help when he saw Elphaba's face fall. "Maybe they're talking or something."
"We'll go check on her." Glinda's tone was soothing as she stroked her love's arm with her free hand. "Cade, can you fill everyone in on what happened at the caves?"
"Of course." He readily volunteered.
"Come on Elphie." Glinda led her away. "Everything's going to be fine, you'll see."
Elphaba wanted to believe she was right but steeled herself for the worst as they walked into the house.