Note: This chapter has been reposted to correct 1 simple typing error. I tend to write VERY late at night. Sometimes things get past me unintentionally, and are not meant to be funny.

Chapter 11

There was silence as Symana absorbed all that had been said. Riordan, who had sat silently since his arrival, now spoke up. "I can't speak for your mother," he began cautiously. "But as far as I'm concerned, anything you want for the wedding is yours for the asking. It's very selfless of you to do this for your friends. I have no reason to dislike them, I don't even know them yet. But I'd like to. Do you think they'd allow me to get to know them better?"

Symana threw a shocked look in her husband's direction, but could not even think of words to make a reply. Glinda smiled when her father made his kindhearted offer.

"Fiyero is very friendly, I'm sure he'll take to you right away. But as I said before, Elphaba is extremely shy. It will take her some time to warm up to you. She never knew what it was like to be cared for, until we became best friends. And Fiyero, of course... She loves him so much, and he adores her. I can't grudge them that... They need each other."

"I could see that, and I do understand. Would you mind showing me upstairs? I'd like to see how Elphaba is doing." Glinda and her father rose as one from the table, heading up the staircase. Symana, for her part, was left speechless and alone in the dining room.

When Glinda and her father reached the upstairs room, they found the door closed. Riordan looked questioningly at Glinda, but she went ahead and quietly knocked on the door. After a moment or two, Fiyero answered, looking relieved that someone had come to keep them company. When Glinda saw that the lights inside the bedroom were turned off, she grew even more worried.

"Is the pain that bad?" was all she asked, knowing Fiyero would follow her meaning.

"No, she's just trying to fall asleep," he explained. "But come in, she was hoping you would..."

He trailed off as he heard Elphaba begin to call his name. "Fiyero, where are you?" she called weakly, her breathing sounding labored and painful. Fiyero left the doorway, bidding their visitors to enter as he returned to the bedside.

"I'm right here, Elphaba. If you can open your eyes for a few minutes, Glinda has come to see you."

Elphaba slowly opened her eyes, and took a moment or two to reassure her best friend that there were no ill feelings over what had happened downstairs. "I need to rest, tomorrow will be better. Thank you for coming. I'd like to talk longer, but I'm so tired..."

Glinda assured Elphaba that she understood, then she and her father took their leave. On the way to their respective rooms, Riordan asked if someone should call a doctor. "The kind of illness Elphaba has can't be helped by a doctor. It's a long story, Papa, and we're both very tired. Maybe tomorrow I can..."

Riordan shook his head. "I understand. It's none of my business," he said gently. "You keep your secrets. Good night." They parted in the hallway after Riordan kissed his daughter good night. He watched her as she went down the long hallway to her room, marveling at how she had matured since he had last seen her. Riordan had worried for some time that Glinda would turn out to be as shallow and bad-tempered as her mother. But tonight, seeing her gentle behavior toward her friends, he felt very reassured. Riordan knew instinctively that Glinda's change of demeanor was due at least partly to Elphaba's influence, and for that he was very grateful. Riordan's serenity was not disturbed even when his wife ascended the stairs, saw him lost in thought there in the hall, and began berating him for looking foolish.

"Really, must you stand there gaping? I don't know what's the matter with you sometimes! It's late, and it's a good thing Glinda invited us to stay here tonight. I do need my beauty sleep, after all."

Riordan barely contained a smirk, then replied quietly, "Yes, of course dear." They walked off to the bedroom they were to use for the night. Symana was too focused on her preparations for bed to care about anything else, but Riordan's mind dwelt on his daughter and her friends, and his hopes that they would have a happy wedding day.

Over the next two days, Elphaba's pain ebbed considerably. She seemed like herself again, and after spending an entire afternoon talking with Glinda about every possible detail of the wedding, she seemed very happy. Glinda's parents had left early on the morning following the failed dinner party, which also helped lift the sour mood that had settled over the household.

After Glinda reluctantly gave Fiyero the sad news about his parents not wanting to attend the wedding, he asked that she invite Colverus and his parents instead. Glinda immediately agreed, and sent out the invitation even before her friends left for home.

Travion arrived very early with the carriage on the morning Elphaba and Fiyero were to return home. So early, in fact, that Fiyero and Elphaba were still sleeping, and Glinda was still making herself presentable to visitors. Travion waited for her in the parlor where she greeted any guests to her home. She soon came down, looking radiant, happier than she had in months.

"The wedding plans are going full steam ahead, I take it," he said with a smile. "I'm glad, Sunshine. It's so nice to see you this happy."

"You make me very happy too, you know," Glinda replied gently. "Where did that nickname come from? You've never called me that before."

Travion actually blushed as he replied. "I know. But Elphaba's nickname suits her perfectly, and I thought I should find one for you. Don't you like it?"

"Of course I do, it's very sweet," Glinda answered immediately. "Would you like some breakfast? The maids will be serving it soon, and all of you could use a meal before you go." Her brow furrowed with worry. "Please try to make sure Elphaba gets enough rest. When she's overtired, the pain gets..."

"I know," Travion interrupted gently. "She'll be fine. I've packed plenty of food to last us the trip, and just in case I have some medicine. For whatever good it might do."

"Probably none," Glinda said with a sigh. "Elphaba won't take it if she knows what it's for. Thank you, though, it was very thoughtful of you to bring that."

Travion and Glinda sat talking for several minutes more, then a maid quietly entered to say breakfast was served. The two of them went and took their usual seats at the table, but decided to wait for their friends to join them before beginning the meal. Fiyero and Elphaba came to the table some ten minutes later, still looking tired and only half-awake.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Fiyero began. "It's my fault. Slow riser." Fiyero's eyes widened at the feast on the table, and he helped himself to something from each dish before politely passing them along. Soon everyone but Elphaba had a feast piled on their plate. She had just a bite or two of some things, and nothing at all of some others. Fiyero put his fork down slowly, and turned to face Elphaba.

"Ivy, are you feeling sick again? I want you to be honest. Please."

Fiyero's concern was touching, and Elphaba smiled. "I'm fine, really," she assured. "Just not hungry, and I'm sad to be going home. It will be so lonely there."

"We'll have each other, and Cole will visit," Fiyero said with a smile of his own. "Someday soon, this will be home, you'll see. Next time we come, we'll have to look for a place to live. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Living here, I mean."

Elphaba's smile widened to a joyous grin. "Are you joking? Of course I'd like that! But the idea of having to look like another person for the rest of my life isn't thrilling at all. I thought I'd like looking 'normal.' But now I have to get married looking like a stranger even to myself. I don't want to do that. It just isn't me."

"I'm sorry, Elphie," Glinda said, a frown crossing her face. "Maybe by the time the wedding day arrives I can find another solution. Even if I can't, the three of us know what you really look like. We'll be picturing you as you really look."

Elphaba fixed her eyes on her plate, and wouldn't look up again. Fiyero even entreated her, to no avail. At last, he asked what was wrong.

"Glinda's mother hates us, I know she does," Elphaba whispered. "How can we accept her paying for our wedding when she despises us??"

"Never mind Mama," Glinda replied. "Papa is the one who makes the decisions about money. It's the only thing Mama gives him control of, because he has a better head for numbers. And like I told you, he says we can have anything we like for the wedding day. No questions asked. "

When Elphaba and Fiyero reached home, they seemed glad to be there only because the trip itself had been rough. They had traveled most of the way through stormy weather, which had made it nearly impossible for Elphaba to climb out of the carriage during the journey. Travion had done his best to entertain his friends with stories and jokes, succeeding splendidly. Fiyero hadn't seen his fiancee so happy in a long time. When they reached the end of the trip, it was she rather than Fiyero who invited Travion to stay for dinner, and rest for the night, before returning to the city.

"I'd love to," Travion accepted enthusiastically. Of the three of them, he looked the most weary and disheveled. They all went inside and freshened up, and within the hour, Fiyero was at work in the kitchen preparing dinner. Elphaba and Travion sat down near the fireplace to talk. After nearly two full days of having nothing to do except talk, Fiyero was surprised to see Elphaba still in the mood for company. She was obviously extremely fond of Travion, and had already accepted him as a member of the family.

"You just have to try to forget about Glinda's mother," Travion was saying. "I've met her before, she's always like that. Overly opinionated and judgmental... It is her way. Even my mother doesn't like her, and she's friendly to everyone."

Elphaba tried to smile and failed. "I wish I could say that other than her attitude, we had a good visit. It was very good to see you both, and the time we spent visiting was just what I needed. But those dressmakers... That was a disaster. I hope it goes better next time."

Travion laughed softly. "What's done is done. Next time, you'll be prepared. Glinda explained to me what those women said to you after you shared it with her. I'm sorry those ladies were so beastly to you. Next time you should punch them in their gossipy little mouths. Despicable people!"

Elphaba looked up in surprise at Travion's suggestion, which caused him to burst out laughing. Elphaba then realized his jest, and smiled to herself. When he spoke again, Travion changed the subject completely.

"Now that you're home, aren't you going to lift the masking spell? It will be nice to see the real you again after all this time."

Elphaba admitted that she had for the moment completely forgotten about her transformation. She quickly reversed it, then removed her wig. Not five minutes later Fiyero called them to the table. They shared a pleasant, quiet meal together, then turned in very early. Travion planned on leaving as early as possible in the morning and was badly in need of rest. His fatigue helped him to rest peacefully, and as usual Fiyero's sleep was deep and untroubled. Elphaba, however, was plagued by bad dreams all night long. She could only vaguely recall what any of them were about upon waking, and so she could offer no substantial explanation for what was troubling her, even when Fiyero was roused during her third nightmare and asked her gently what was wrong.

By morning, the dreams were nothing but shadows, more annoying than frightening or worrisome. Fiyero seemed more disturbed by them than Elphaba did. Travion also inquired about things at breakfast, saying that once or twice he had been briefly awakened by Elphaba crying out through her sleep.

"I'm sorry," she said earnestly. "I almost never dream like that, I haven't since I was a child. I'm sure it was just a passing thing... anxiety over the preparations for the ceremony, maybe."

"Maybe," Fiyero agreed, but it was clear he still had his doubts. Elphaba then steered the conversation away from her fractured night's sleep, not liking the fact that she was the center of attention. Shortly thereafter, breakfast ended, and Travion prepared to leave. Once he was ready, he had some words of reassurance for his friends.

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to send a message to the city. I know how isolated you feel out here, and I'm sorry the journey is so far. But if necessary, Glinda or I can return here. It will be weeks until you return to the city. I'll miss you both very much."

"We'll miss you too," Fiyero replied. "Thank you for making the trip back and forth. I know it must be exhausting."

"It was worth it to make us all so happy. I'll see you again in a few weeks. Take care of yourselves."

Travion then left quickly, seeming like he was about to cry. Before long, his carriage had vanished from sight. Elphaba sighed, and busied herself cleaning up from breakfast. Fiyero sensed she simply needed the distraction, and did not say anything to try and put a happy spin on Travion's leaving. Once the kitchen was clean, both Elphaba and Fiyero decided to return to bed, having nothing better to do. All they could do was await their next trip to the city, which was too far in the future to please either of them.