Tale As Old As Time
They Have a Troubled Meeting
The ride to Drammenheim was not a smooth one; Gerad led them up a steep and rocky trail rather than the main road to save time. Boq nearly toppled off the back of the horse three times before Glinda finally grabbed his arms and wrapped them around her waist.
"Thanks," he said bashfully.
"Just don't pull me off with you're gonna fall," she told him.
"You bet," Boq murmured lightly, hoping he wasn't about to make a fool of himself.
As they climbed further up the mountain the wind picked up strength. Glinda's hair whipped about and blinded Boq. She pulled her cloak tighter with one hand and wished it was thicker. Boq noticed that her skin had turned as icy white as it had been the night before and wished the same thing.
"Don't worry," Gerad yelled above the wind. "We'll make the pass before the storm breaks."
Boq and Glinda both sent worried glances skyward and hoped the Wolf was right. Black clouds were covering the sky; the full moon had nearly disappeared behind them, leaving very little light to see the trail by. In a few minutes even that bit of luminescence would be gone.
Glinda shivered and shrank back towards Boq, hoping his large tin frame would provide a little shelter against the freezing gale.
"Are you all right?" He asked, concerned that she might be getting hypothermic again.
"I'll be a lot more all right once we're out of this weather," Glinda gritted out, trying to keep her teeth from chattering. Boq pulled her cloak even tighter and hunkered down over her, cursing, once more, his inability to provide her with any extra warmth.
"How much further Gerad?" Boq yelled when the Wolf stopped suddenly.
"Not far at all, this is the pass."
Boq looked around and could vaguely make out the end of their trail as it met the road at the mouth of a cave. He squinted at it skeptically; it looked barely large enough to take a small carriage through.
"This is it?" Glinda asked her tone less than impressed.
"Well, it's not the main pass," Gerad admitted. "It's more of a back door, but it'll get us in and out of the weather at least. C'mon."
He began to pick his way over the rocks, and paused, "Oh, you probably ought to lead your horse Master Boq; the ceiling's a bit low."
While Glinda tried to decide whether she should be offended, Boq slid down awkwardly and pulled the reins from her hands. She clung to the horse's mane as Boq followed Gerad into the dark cave, leading them behind.
It was considerably warmer inside, if only because there was no wind. It was still dark, but despite that she could tell the tunnel was larger than it had looked from the outside. She only worried that they would stumble over rocks on the cave floor.
"It'll get lighter," Gerad promised.
True to his word, they went ten yards into the pass and it lit up quite suddenly. The path they followed was a flat plane of rock, that didn't touch the tunnel walls. Instead it dropped off sharply on either side and met water. In the little streams swam hundreds of tiny fish whose fluorescent bodies gave off enough electric blue light to illuminate not on the water but the rest of the passage way as well. Flecks of iridescent mica in the tunnel walls glittered as they passed, casting pinpricks of multi-colored light onto the travelers.
"It's beautiful," Glinda commented, as she marveled at the phenomenon. She giggled when she noticed Boq was literally glittering in the odd light. Boq noticed as well, and tried to glare but couldn't help but smile back at her.
"We're quite proud of it," Gerad replied, ignoring the significant glance the two humans shared before turning embarrassed gazes back to the trail. "All the mountain passes have shimmer fish. No one knows where they come from but they each have just enough magic to light their bodies. Unfortunately this makes them a highly sought after commodity, so the passes are rather heavily enchanted."
"Enchanted," Glinda asked, startled.
"Yes, they're one way only," Gerad explained. "You can't go out the way you came in. And of course there are guards posted to protect the city and ward of thieves and poachers."
"I see," Glinda said. "Did your Sorceress place the enchantments on the passages?"
Gerad barked in Wolfish laughter, it echoed off the stone walls and spooked Glinda's horse a bit, but Boq gave a tug on the reins and calmed him.
"Sorry," Gerad said tritely. "No, these caves have been magicked for centuries. The Sorceress isn't much older than you and has only been here a little over a year besides."
"And she's already an advisor to your Queen?"
"You sound as if you think this is unwise," Gerad said carefully.
"I'm sorry, I mean no disrespect," Glinda said diplomatically. "It's just, where we come from it usually takes much longer to reach that kind of position."
"Few are qualified for such a duty," Gerad agreed seriously. "But the since the necessary talents are rare, it narrows down the competition. And I think you'll find that the Queen herself is no stranger to sorcery. She has ways of discerning ability and character that allow her some speed in choosing her counsel."
"I see," Glinda said, and tried not to shudder when Gerad's description of his ruler reminded her just a little too much of her own former mentor; what with her ability to spot talent and "determine" character.
"Tell me more about the sorceress," she prodded. "I don't want to be completely ignorant when I meet her."
"Oh you'll be fine Lady Glinda," Gerad assured her in a friendly tone. "She's really not as intimidating as her title makes her sound."
"I'm sure she's lovely, but I'd still like to know what I'm dealing with. Does she have a name? How should I address her?"
"She'll introduce herself I'm sure," Gerad said uncomfortably. Elphaba hadn't told him how pushy this friend of hers would be. "After that there's really no need for formality, unless you require it. I suppose you technically outrank her anyway."
With that he picked up his pace, hoping if he stayed far enough ahead the blonde would get the hint and quit prying. Glinda sighed. Knowing so little about their "host" unsettle her, but she supposed she was really in no position to be making demands.
"You'll need to get down here Milady," Gerad informed her apologetically. "The guards will let you pass since you're with me, but they prefer you don't ride."
"Very well," Glinda said and swung her leg over to join the other. Boq offered his assistance and she surprised him by accepting it. He lifted her down as gently as he could and smiled when she immediately began to smooth her hair and skirt.
"You look beautiful," he assured her honestly.
Glinda glared at him but it was softened by her fierce blush, and she quickly realized she was on the verge of being a beast again.
"Sorry," she said.
"No need, I'm as anxious as you are."
"Ready then?" Gerad asked impatiently.
They nodded, so he began walking again. The streams ended and the tunnel plunged into darkness once more. A dim light broke through the blackness about twenty feet ahead of them and they moved toward it cautiously, worrying about rocks that lay waiting to trip them.
"The ground's smooth," Gerad told them, as if he sensed their concern. "Just move straight toward the exit and you'll be fine."
Glinda and Boq followed his instructions and in less than a minute they followed Gerad out of the cave and into the open air. Glinda squinted to see, but even outside of the cave it was too dark to see more than a few feet ahead.
"Aren't there lights in this city?" Boq asked, uncomfortable with the dark now that they were out in the open once more.
"Sure, but we're getting here kinda late," Gerad shrugged. "In any case it's safe to ride now. Just stick close to me and you'll be fine."
Boq sighed, and turned to lift Glinda up to the horse. He took the reins and led the horse once more, though he knew she was more than capable of guiding the animal after them.
"How much further?"
"Not far. This trail leads right to the palace; we'll be out of the weather in a few minutes."
"Let's get going then."
The wind met them as they started down the trail, but it wasn't as cold or fierce as it had been on the far side of the mountain. The path they followed was steep, but Boq and the horse managed to be as sure-footed as Gerad as they followed him through the dark. Glinda continued to clutch at the horse's mane, but relaxed enough to look around during her ride. Off in the distance she could see a few twinkling lights and wondered if they came from houses or obscure street lamps.
She turned her attention back to their path when they stopped suddenly at the edge o f a cliff.
"Where now?" Boq demanded, growing more than slightly exasperated with his own helplessness.
"Here," Gerad said simply, then threw his head back and howled.
Glinda's horse reared at the feral sound and she gripped scrambled for more hair to hang on to in terror.
"Whoa!" Boq commanded and pulled the horse's head down.
Glinda glared at the Wolf.
"Some warning, when you're going to spook my horse, would be nice," she said acidly.
Gerad ducked his head sheepishly but didn't apologize. Instead he turned back to the cliff where a heavy marble draw bridge was descending as if by magic.
"Here we are then," Gerad said and stepped carefully on the crossing.
The palace was stunning, even in the dark. Opalescent streaks in the marble caught the limited light and glimmered. Though the wind swept easily into the open air corridors, it calmed to a gentle breeze as it passed the pillars lining the walkway. Above the wind, and the clack of Gerad's claws, and clink of Boq's Tin feet against the floor, Glinda could hear the roar of falling water.
"Is there a waterfall nearby?" She asked, feeling out of sorts, because she could hear it but couldn't see it.
"The palace is built around on," Gerad informed them, pride coloring his voice. "A spring keeps it flowing, on the other side of the lake there's an outlet that feeds the Evian River."
"There's a lake," Boq asked, ever wary of bodies of water, "And two waterfalls?"
"Oh there's more than that, or the Hold would flood. But they're not very big or as important."
Glinda marveled at the prospect of seeing the city in the light of day.
"Here we are," Gerad said as they descended a final stair case into a courtyard. There were a few lamps gleaming from posts, casting light across gardens sunk into marble and cobblestone. Glinda's appraising gaze caught two figures as they rose together from a stone bench. They were too far away for her to make out their faces but she could tell it was a man and a woman. The woman was just a few inches shorter than the man; they both wore dark clothes that seemed to absorb the light.
Glinda schooled her features into a regal expression, she donned a polite smile she often used on the press and prepared to introduce herself. Boq stood tall, proud and protective behind her.
As the Evian pair stepped into the glow cast by a lamp however, it became apparent that no introductions would be necessary.
"Glinda," the name fell from the woman's lips, loaded with relief, joy, regret and apprehension.
The blonde witch paled dramatically, and her smile disappeared as she gaped at the green woman before her.
"You," Boq spoke first in disbelief, to shocked to remember his hatred for a moment.
The two best friends ignored him, their eyes locked on one another's, neither sure what else to do. Elphaba was nervous and Glinda was completely overwhelmed, but not with joy.
"This isn't happening," she said, her voice cracking beneath the weight of her raging emotions. Pain clouded her features and her blue eyes glittered with tears. Everyone present stared at her, all of them having expected a vastly different reaction.
"I don't believe it," she insisted with a sob. She wanted desperately to turn and run but her body would not cooperate.
"No, Glinda, it's really me," Elphaba said gently, hoping to convince her friend their reunion was no dream.
Unfortunately it was more like a nightmare for Glinda. Though the memory of Elphaba's death had tortured her constantly in the two-plus years since that horrible day, she'd never considered that there could possibly be anything worse than that. Never in her most terrible dreams had she imagined that her best friend had not really died, but had abandoned her and let her live with the lies. No, the Elphie she had known would never have taken that easy way out and let those she cared for suffer for it.
"No," Glinda gasped and stumbled backwards and Elphaba tried to close the distance between them. She stopped only when her back hit Boq's body.
Elphaba looked to Fiyero, uncertain for the first time since they'd discovered the Grimmerie.
"Glinda," Fiyero tried gently. "It's okay, we're real. Everything is all right."
"No," the distraught witch said again, this time her voice was fierce through her tears. "No, it is not 'all right'. You left me!"
She swiped at the traitorous tears blazing trails down her porcelain cheeks. Fiyero took a step forward and again she tried to step back. Even Boq was confused. Glinda had spent a good portion of their trip defending Elphaba's memory. Her behavior now was completely contradictory.
"Glinda, we-
"Is something wrong?" A new voice cut in, this one unfamiliar but pleasant and entrancing.
"You're Majesty," Gerad said, and bowed.
Fiyero and Elphaba declined their heads respectively to the speaker standing behind Glinda and Boq. The two turned, and Glinda promptly fainted.
A/N: Please review!