Elphaba paced back and forth in the room that she now used as her bedroom. It was windowless, cold, and didn't have a cozy feeling to it at all. She had lied to Glinda, the first person to ever accept her for who she was, and for that she truly did feel wicked. Many times she had considered going back to Glinda, or writing her to let her know that she was okay. And just as often she had told herself that it wasn't worth it. If Glinda found out that she was okay and had to witness her death again….she didn't want to think what would happen.
Elphie's hair was darker than ever and her eyes were tired. There was a slight purplish color beneath her eyes due to stress and lack of sleep. Her green wasn't as 'phosphorescent' - as Glinda called it - as it used to be. Things just weren't the same any more. Fiyero left and Chistery had died a few years back. She was now alone. Something she thought she would never be again. After she met Glinda everything in her life started looking up. Then just as quickly her world fell around her.
The green girl headed up the staircase in her room to the tower that looked north-east. All she could think about was how Glinda must have felt that night. Many celebrations were going on in Oz. Celebrations caused only by her 'death'. She sighed softly and looked over at the walls below her. It was then that she saw the only entrance to the castle that wasn't boarded up, moving. As if someone had entered. Quickly yet quietly she made her way down the stairs, through her room, and down another stair case. It was a thin staircase, just wide enough for maybe another half of her. The book case that hid the secret entrance was slid to the side about three inches and what – or who – she saw took her breath away.
-X-
Glinda landed around the front of the castle, wearing the same dress that she wore to the Emerald City with Elphaba. She hadn't worn the dress since that tragic day but now felt like the appropriate time for such wardrobe. That day meant something to her and so did the dress.
Her deep blue eyes looked over the castle, trying to find any way in. It seemed that all of the entrances were blocked except for a side door on the eastern wall. It wasn't too hard to find her way around the castle, for it was exactly as she remembered it, except there was a cold and lonely feeling that wasn't there before. Tears stung her eyes as she navigated to the room where she lost her best friend. The screams, the cries. It was as if it were happening all over again. A very shaky hand pressed open the final barrier between her and her destination. Her steps were slow and hesitant but she made her way over to the middle of the room and sat on her knees, placing Elphaba's hat in front of her, on the floor. It was when she started apologizing for everything that the tears started flowing freely.
"I'm so sorry my Elphie. I'm sorry for everything that I've done to you. I'm sorry for not going with you that night, for not sticking up for you. I'm sorry for always putting my popularity and reputation first. I'm sorry for giving Morrible the idea of putting Nessa in harm in order to capture you. I'm sorry for trying to embarrass you at Ozdust, and for all of the cruel things I said about you to my friends." Glinda kept her list going. There were so many things she wished she could have done better but it was too late now to fix it.
"I killed you Elphie. It's all my fault. If I hadn't been jealous and selfish none of this would have happened. I killed you and I can never forgive my self."
-X-
Not once did Elphaba take her eyes off of the figure in front of her. Her Lyndie thought that she was responsible for her death? Did she really carry that guilt around with her? Elphaba had her hand over her mouth as she tried to control her tears. No, she had to be strong. Especially right now. As much as she wanted to go and tell Glinda that it wasn't her fault, to hold her and to never let go, she knew that it wasn't possible. It would only create more trouble for the poor girl. She was already going through so much and knowing that she was alive and wasn't able to ever see her again would be much too hard on her. Losing someone once was more than enough.
-X-
Glinda stood with the hat, putting down a flower that she had grabbed from outside. "Goodbye my Elphie. I'll be back. I promise. I'll visit as often as my life allows. I love you."
She small blond got up and slowly walked to the door, which was out of Elphaba's sight. Glinda stood with her hand on the door for a few moments, trying to will herself to leave. It was just too hard. She felt as if she were abandoning Elphaba all over again.
-X-
Once Elphaba thought that Glinda was gone she turned and headed back up to her room. She turned much too early and the heel of her foot accidentally hit the bookcase, causing it to shake slightly which sent a book tumbling to the floor. She held her breath and stood in silence for a few moments before heading up to her room. She had figured that Glinda was already down the hall and hadn't heard anything. Little did she know that Glinda was still standing at the door when this happened and was frozen in her place. The noise had startled her greatly and disturbed the peaceful silence and ringing was sent through her ears at this sudden thud.
Of course she had heard the rumors about Elphaba's ghost haunting the castle, but had it been true? Glinda figured that it was all hocus pocus; that the Ozians were simply trying to continue the lies that they had created about her. But maybe, just maybe Elphaba's ghost was there and it was trying to tell her something. She turned on her heels and silently walked over to the book case, sliding it to the side on its tracks. Her movements were cautious as she made her way up the staircase and to another door that heightened her curiosity. With a gentle push she eased the door open and her breath caught in her throat. Was it…no. She was…alive? There stood Elphaba, the pink flower in her hair. She was holding onto the dresser with her head hanging down. A small sob passed through the green girls lips. She hadn't meant to hurt Glinda so much.
Glinda moved with such stealth that Elphaba hadn't heard her. Had this been any other day she would have been able to feel Glinda but she was so overwhelmed with emotion that she wasn't used to that at the moment she would have been oblivious to anything.
"Pink really does go good with green," Glinda said softly. The sudden presence caused Elphaba to jump and turn while taking the flower from her hair.
"You lied," Glinda reprimanded harshly. "For seven years, god damnit, I have been crying and heart broken over a death that was staged?"
The words had hurt Elphaba greatly but she also understood how angry Glinda must have been. Elphaba didn't want to imagine how she would've reacted had she been in Glinda's place.
"How could you do that to me?"
"I'm sorry, Glinda. I was trying to keep you safe! Do you know what would have happened if they found out I was alive, and better yet, in contact with you? I know how much your popularity means to you and if you lost the praise of the Ozians it would crush your heart. I was only trying to save you."
"Not having you hurt more than anything. It just took me a long time to realize it! But if you hadn't gone insane in front of the Wizard and Morrible maybe we wouldn't be in this position!"
Glinda had Elphaba fuming. This was the exact reason she hadn't shown herself to the small blond when she had the chance.
"Maybe if you hadn't gone to Morrible and told her how to lure me into some trap that only ended up in Nessa's death along with my own, I would be free!" Elphaba yelled. The instant it escaped her mouth her features softened and she moved towards Glinda. The words had been like a dagger through her heart and she wasn't going to let Elphaba get away with saying that.
"Glin, I'm sor-"
"I hate you!" Glinda rushed at Elphie and attacked her, trying to throw punches at the green girl. The small blond was screaming and kicking and was much harder to hold off than she thought.
"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!"
Glinda quickly grew weary of fighting and collapsed onto Elphaba, her arms wrapping around the green girls neck as she sobbed into her shoulder.
"I hate you," Glinda sobbed out, tears flowing freely.
"I'm so sorry Glin. I was so far out of line. It wasn't my place so say such things. I'm so sorry, Glinda."
"Me too," Glinda nodded, "me too. Promise me you'll never leave me again. Please……you are going to let me stay, right?" Glinda pulled back and looked at Elphie, her cheeks stained with tears of frustration, anger, and pain. "Please." Her voice was so soft it was barely audible.
"Things are quite lonely around here. And as much joy your company would bring me, I fear I can't let you do that. It's far too dangerous."
"Doesn't Chistery keep you company?"
"He passed away a few years ago," Elphaba said softly, her voice filled with emotion as she hung her head.
"Oh. I'm sorry. That must have been hard…Look, Elphie. I'm willing to do what ever it takes to stay here with you. Anything." Glinda was nearly begging to stay. She didn't know what she would do if she had to lose Elphaba again.
"You have your duties as Glinda the Good; you have all of Oz to take care of. People are depending on you and you can't just abandon them."
"I already have." Elphaba's head snapped up and her eyebrows knitted in confusion.
"I stepped down today. Celebrating your death was too much for me to bear. The lies, the fake smiles, and the occasional question about how I knew you. After seven years I finally learned that I couldn't handle it. I announced my retirement early today."
"But Glinda…Your popularity, your reputation, all of Oz loved you and praised you and you gave all of that up…gave it up for me?" Elphaba was honored, guilty, happy, and upset all at the same time.
"All of that means so much to you, though." Elphie just couldn't understand Glinda's reasoning behind her actions.
"But you're worth it. And all of the hurtful things that were said about you caused me too much pain." Glinda's features became stressed at the memories of the celebrations.
"Wait, if you're not ruling Oz, who is?" The answer had her worried. What if the person that was currently ruling was cruel to the Animals, and ruined everything Glinda worked for?
"The night that you supposedly died, there were four of them traveling together. The tin man, the lion, the scarecrow, and Dorothy. And since Oz wanted someone that deserved the position, I chose the scarecrow."
The answer to her question caused her eyebrows to raise in shock.
"Wait, the scarecrow?" Elphaba couldn't believe her ears. Was Fiyero really ruling Oz?
"Elphie, I know you don't like him for wanting to kill you but-"
"Fiyero is ruling Oz," Elphaba said so softly that Glinda couldn't make out what she was saying.
"What was that Elphie?" Glinda asked as her eyebrows knitted with confusion.
"Fiyero is ruling Oz." The realization caused her spirits to brighten instantly. The Animals would definitely be taken care of, he also knew of Elphaba's whereabouts and would be able to take extra precaution to keep her safe if need be.
"But I thought…" Glinda started, trailing off with confusion.
Elphaba spent time describing everything that had happened between their fight when Fiyero was taken away and up until that moment.
All of this information was too much for Glinda to grasp at one time. But she had understood the gist of it.
"Glinda, where are you staying?" Elphaba asked, her voice strewn with worry.
"In Frottica, maybe. Actually, I'm not sure. I was hoping that I could stay here. I don't want to have to leave you again," Glinda admitted softly. Her voice and features showing her emotion and desperation.
Elphaba opened her mouth to try and talk Glinda out of it when she heard the roll of thunder in the distance. She gently took Glinda's hand and took her up the staircase to the tower and looked at the sky. Clouds could be seen near Gillikin and she wasn't going to let Glinda travel in this weather. Not to mention it was very dark and the only light was from the moon. When Glinda saw the storm, she smiled, knowing that Elphaba wouldn't dare let her travel through it.
"I'll let you stay for the night. This doesn't mean that you can live here. We'll talk about that in the morning, my sweet." Once they were back in the room Elphaba pulled Glinda into a hug, holding her close and nuzzling her face into her hair.
"Will you ever forgive me for the pain I put you through? For not giving you word of my existence? It was nothing personal. I was just scared for your wellbeing."
Glinda chuckled softly and nodded. "Of course. And I understand your reasoning behind it. It was selfish of me to act that way just because you didn't want me to get hurt. I was upset, Elphie. And I'm sorry." A few moments of silence passed before Glinda spoke again, her arms still around the other girl.
"Elphie, I'm scared." Elphaba pulled back and took the small girl's face into her hands. "Of what, my sweet?" Brown eyes searched blue ones for an answer.
"I don't want to lose you again. I love you." This caused Elphaba to laugh softly and hug Glinda again. "Everything will be fine. I promise. And you know I love you, as well."
"No," Glinda said, pulling from the hug, "I'm in love with you. I have since the first day at Shiz when you scared us all half to death. Between your…alarming yet beautiful shade of green and your magic you had us all terrified." Both girls laughed and rested their foreheads together. Green hands cupped Glinda's cheeks and thumbs stroked her cheekbones. Once again, she opened her mouth to speak but instead of saying how she felt she pressed her lips to Glinda's. If she once thought that she felt chemistry between her and Fiyero she had no idea what this was.
"I'm in love with you too, Glinda."
They both leaned in again, their lips hungry for attention. The kisses gradually got deeper and more intimate until a small hand slowly made its way up Elphaba's back and moved to the zipper on her dress.
"Elphie, I-" Glinda didn't even get to finish her sentence before lips gently pressed against hers, willing her to go on. They took their time undressing each other, savoring every moment. They spent a good portion of the night making love in the candle light; the once cold room now warm and moist from sweat and body heat. They both basked in the afterglow of love-making, looking into each others eyes and just holding each other close.
"Sing me a song, Elphie. Just one simple song," Glinda requested softly. She stifled a yawn but everything else about her gave away her exhaustion.
"Just one, my sweet, for we both need rest." Elphaba gently pressed a kiss to Glinda's forehead and held her close.
I have been blind, unwilling to see
The true love you're giving.
I have ignored every blessing.
I'm on my knees confessing
Elphie paused for a moment, just to take in Glinda's smile. Her voice was beautiful. Soft yet filled with emotion and it soothed any worries that the blond had.
That I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide it
Now hear my confession.
I have been wrong about you.
Thought I was strong without you.
For so long nothing could move me.
For so long nothing could change me.
Now I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am captured by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide it
Now hear my confession.
You are the air that I breathe.
You're the ground beneath my feet.
When did I stop believing?
Cause I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart
Falling into place.
I can't hide it
Now hear my confession.
I can't hide it
Now hear my confession.
Hear my confession.
Elphaba let a tear slide down her cheek as she watched her love sleep. "Goodnight, my love. Just remember that I'll always love you. I'm never going to leave you. You'll never be alone again."
Glinda smiled in her sleep and nuzzled closer to Elphaba. The green witch knew that after tonight there was no possibility of letting each other go again and Elphaba found herself needing Glinda's love to live. It wasn't long before Elphaba fell asleep as well, both girls safely in each other's arms.
-X-
One more chapter to go! I hope you all like it so far. And the song is My Confession by Josh Groban. I love his music! Well, the English stuff. I use it for fan fictions because they are just so emotional. I recommend listening to it right now, especially since you just read what happened. I hope this chapter wasn't too much. I've been sooo busy between packing for NY, dance, singing, and acting classes, plus homework. I'll try to update as soon as I can.
R & R!