Chapter 2

Seated in her spacious suite of rooms in the Emerald City, Glinda was wide awake, even though it was past three o'clock in the morning. She had been sitting beside the crystal ball that had once been Elphaba's idly at first, unsure if she wanted to spy on her best friend from afar that way. Glinda couldn't help thinking of it as very intrusive, eavesdropping on things she had no business knowing.

She had only indulged herself tonight because she was having a horrible bout of insomnia, and she could tell from the deathly silence pervading the rest of her little corner of the city that noone would see her use the crystal ball. It didn't seem to work due to any talent she possessed. Instead, it seemed more as if the strength of Elphaba's magic still surrounded it. Glinda thought now that may be exactly the case. That she had been meant to witness the terrible things she had seen.

Seeing Elphaba trapped in such a helpless position had been a terrible shock. Glinda had never seen her friend so much at anyone's mercy. Though the words of the wizard's spell had been incomprehensible to her, Glinda knew it must be a killing spell. One that would be slow, and painful. The wizard had made that clear enough. Seeing Fiyero placed under a spell of his own, unable to help Elphaba when she most needed it, had caused equal pain for Glinda.

As soon as the attack had concluded, Glinda had rushed around, preparing to leave in such a hurry it was as if she were a dervish rather than a person. She had only taken her seat again because she was so worn from lack of sleep, and the worry that so quickly ate away at her already frazzled nerves. She didn't intend to wait for daylight to begin her travels to the Vinkus. She knew there would be questions, but honestly did not care. She knew where she was needed, and she was going.

As she gathered up the things she would need in her travels, Glinda thought it would be best to leave a note for her fiancee. Though Travion wouldn't be able to accompany her, he was sure to call on her while she was gone. There was no danger in admitting to him where she was going. Glinda had taken Travion to the most private, quiet part of the city that she knew and had told him everything about her friendship with Elphaba, including the truth about where she was now living. He had sworn not to tell anyone of what he knew.

Before dawn came, Glinda was ready to strike out along the road. Though it was tempting to use her bubble for the sake of speed, it was far too conspicuous. Besides, Elphaba had always thought it laughable. So, Glinda had decided on traveling by carriage, even though it would be a lengthy, exhausting and dusty trip.

She left Travion a note that read 'Dearest-- I have gone to help a friend. Please don't try to follow, even though you will realize where I've gone. Keep a thought for me, that I will be able to do what needs to be done. Love, Glinda'She sealed it with wax, wrote his name on it, and left it where her maid would be sure to find it if Travion came for a visit. Then, she gathered up her surprisingly small traveling bag and the Grimmerie, and went quietly out her bedroom door. Once she had made her way out the main door, she went to one of the pair of carriages that were kept always at the ready and climbed in. Without a word of complaint about the extremely early hour, the driver asked her destination. "The Outer Vinkus," was all she replied, her mind consumed with thoughts of what may happen if she ended up arriving there too late.

It was past dawn before Fiyero emerged from his state of forced immobilization. He only had an idea how long he had been under the spell by the stage of the daylight. He slowly flexed his stiffened body, and thought how lucky he was that nothing worse had been done to him. Then he remembered. Just before the spell had been cast, Elphaba had emerged from the bedroom and instantly become furious. He looked around, wondering where she was. He felt fear beginning to grow when he saw her, crumpled to the floor in an obviously uncomfortable position. He went quickly to her side. She was watching him intently, but seemed unable to move. That made Fiyero hesitate to touch her, for fear of hurting her more. Instead, he called her name, more forcefully than he normally would.

"I can still hear, you don't have to shout," Elphaba snapped. Fiyero was so surprised to hear her voice, he jumped slightly. Then he asked hesitantly, "Does anything hurt? I can tell he did something... I'm sorry, Ivy. I didn't know it was him. If I'd ever guessed, I..."

"I don't blame you. I'm sorry I snapped at you, too. He cast some kind of spell on me I couldn't understand. I was completely numb for a while, but some feeling is starting to come back. I should be able to get up soon. Are you all right?"

"Fine. Can't I help you up? You look so uncomfortable."

"My legs wouldn't hold me yet, Fiyero," she said gently. "And I don't think you could carry me. It's better to wait." Elphaba's eyes suddenly took on a distant look, as if she were gazing at something no one else could see.

"She can't come here... Fiyero, when she shows up, you have to make her go back to the city."

"Her who?" Fiyero asked this even though he was quite sure he knew the answer. He knew about Elphaba's ability to see things that were about to happen.

"Glinda," she answered, sounding almost frightened. "She can't stay here. Someone will see her, someone will know!"

"Are you sure she's coming here, Ivy? What did you see?"

Fiyero hadn't seen Elphaba this agitated since their earliest days in their new home. At that time, she had been nervous that they would be discovered, and dragged back to the city to face certain death. This time was different, though. Elphaba was actually afraid, an emotion she almost never had to endure. Fiyero couldn't fathom why she should be afraid to see her best friend, despite the risks involved.

"She has my crystal ball... She was using it to watch over us. She saw what he did to us, and now she's coming. I'm not that surprised she's found out where we are, but actually coming here is going too far! Things were safer the way they were!"

"Safer, but not better," Fiyero countered quietly. He watched as Elphaba was able to move into a sitting position. "She must think she needs to come... That something more we don't know about yet has happened to you because of that spell. When she gets here, I don't intend to turn her away. She deserves the chance to try and help."

Elphaba nodded slightly but said nothing else. She sat for a few minutes as the feeling returned to her extremities. Once she felt ready, she stood up. Fiyero rose to his full height beside her, then they joined hands.

"Fiyero, while the wizard was here, he told me he wants to kill me, because of how I betrayed him. That I knew, but then he said... He told me he's my father. He left that bottle on the table, as proof."

Fiyero looked greatly and unpleasantly surprised, but didn't draw away as Elphaba continued. "It explains a lot. I know now why the man I thought was my father never wanted anything to do with me. He must have known I wasn't his, all along. I still have no father... I never want to see the wizard again! All he has brought to my life is shame, and brought pain to others. I don't owe him anything!"

Before Fiyero could make a reply, Elphaba walked to the table, picked up the fragile-looking bottle and hurled it across the room. It flew so far that when it landed, it nearly came to rest on the logs in the fireplace. It shattered instead into uncountable tiny pieces on the wooden floor just in front of the flames. Once this was done, the rage in Elphaba's eyes calmed, and all she appeared to be was very weary. Fiyero could see this as soon as he approached and offered some words of comfort.

"You had every right to do that," he said gently. "I hope we never see that man again. I'm sorry he ever found us here and put you through that." He gently kissed her forehead before continuing. "You look exhausted. Maybe you should take a nap now."

Elphaba frowned slightly, and went into the bedroom without another word, closing the door behind her. After a moment or two, Fiyero followed her. He went in and closed the door again, then sat on the bed. "You already don't feel well, do you?" he asked hesitantly.

"I feel fine right now. We'll just take things as they come. What else can we do? I'm so worried about Glinda coming here, putting herself in that kind of danger for us." Elphaba suddenly sighed. "It's just so unfair."

Fiyero understood the many ways in which Elphaba meant that, and nodded his agreement. Then, he laid down on the bed beside her and let his eyes drift shut. After just a moment, Elphaba realized he was fast asleep, and allowed herself to drift off as well.