firebolt669: Yeah, I think everyone was getting annoyed with waiting for them.
The-Good-Die-Alone: Dhert's explanations will come a little later. He's being quiet for the time being. Haha.
Mosrael Chaos: That mental image made me giggle! pokes horse with wand
ClarkeWithAnE: Yay indeed!
elphabathedelirious32: Here's your wish!
The Phantom's Muse: I totally agree, Dhert is very cute. ;D
Disclaimer: Guess what? I still don't own Wicked!
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"Not so loud, you fool!" Elphaba, for it was she, whispered fiercely, "I see you are as blonde as eve--" She was cut off by an enormous hug from Glinda and she nearly choked on golden hair.
"Elphie!" Glinda said, containing her joy in a loud whisper, "I knew we'd find you!"
"You mean, you knew I'd find you."
"Well, yes."
"You know, Glinda, there was a reason that I told you not to come looking for me," Elphaba said, though she didn't really sound mad.
"Elphie, you should know me well enough to know that I would come to look for you no matter what," Glinda told her.
"Yes, well, I didn't think you would know where to look for me."
"Well, you did use paper made in the Glikkus and someone drew an emerald in the corner of the letters."
"Fiyero! I told him not to mess with them. He never listens," Elphaba said.
"Well, those were sufficient clues to lead me to the Glikkus," Glinda told her.
"But you still didn't have any idea where I was. You were just wandering. I know; I was watching you."
"How?"
"I acquired a crystal ball."
"Oh, Elphie, how dreadfully cliché!" teased Glinda.
"I know, I know," Elphaba said, "But it has been helpful. I was able to keep an eye on you and Ayenna. Is that her over there?" She gestured to where Ayenna lay sleeping.
"No, Elphaba, that's just a random green girl I picked up along the way," Glinda said, "Of course it's her! Elphie, how are you and Fiyero still alive?"
"No need to be grumpy, and we can discuss my miraculous escape later," Elphaba said, skirting the fire and the question and going to where Ayenna slept. She held a hand beside her daughter's face. They were almost the exact same color, with Ayenna only slightly lighter.
"She's just like you, you know," Glinda said softly.
"Lucky her."
"Are you going to wake her?"
"I don't know."
"You aren't scared, are you, Miss Elphaba Thropp?" asked Glinda.
"No…I just…I don't want to wake her."
"You are scared. She's your daughter, not a rabid dog. You will have to talk to her sooner or later," Glinda said, a little amused at this timidity in Elphaba she had never seen before.
"Yes, well, later would be better," Elphaba said stiffly.
"Where are you living at?" Glinda asked, remembering how Elphaba had seemed to appear from nowhere.
"Fiyero and I found a network of caves just screaming to be moved into. We only live in a small portion of them, but they go through most of The Scalps. You just have know where to look for the entrances. In fact, we should all go there right now. Goodness knows they are warmer than this valley."
"And you plan to do this without waking or talking to Ayenna?"
"No, I will have to speak to her, but first, Glinda, tell me about her," Elphaba said, almost desperately.
"Like I already said, she is just like you. She retains your sarcasm, wit, and love for Animals," Glinda told her.
Elphaba's face was hard to read, "And who is that?" she asked, gesturing to Dhert's quiescent form.
"His name is Dhert. Apparently, Ayenna got a job at a newspaper in the Emerald City and he is a coworker. Ayenna's boss told them to come out here to do a story on the recent outbreaks of fighting. It's just as well, because Ayenna and I were coming anyway."
"What's he like?"
"He's a gentleman. Usually pretty quiet, but I think he has feelings for Ayenna. You know how good I am at telling things like that," Glinda said.
Elphaba had the grace to not say that she must have had a lapse of that talent when she had believed that Fiyero loved her.
"I suppose we should wake them," Elphaba said, a little reluctantly.
"Yes. Where's Fiyero?" asked Glinda, just realizing that he wasn't there.
"Oh, I didn't tell him you were coming. He would have had a fit trying to get everything ready for Ayenna, and I didn't want him jumping about like a sugar-high puppy. You three will just be a nice surprise for him," Elphaba said, "Would you like to wake her…?" she seemed scared to touch her daughter.
Glinda thought this was a bit odd, but then again, was there anything about Elphaba that wasn't? She nodded and went to where the teenagers slept. She woke Dhert first, knowing he would be the easier to get up. Next, she moved to Ayenna, noticing how Elphaba had effaced herself into the tree line to avoid being spotted by the boy. Ayenna was a bit more difficult to wake, but Glinda finally managed the feat.
"What do you want now?" Ayenna asked in a sleepy groan, "I would like at least a little sleep."
"Ayenna, dear, someone is here who would like to meet you," Glinda said nervously.
"They can wait until morning, can't they?"
"No, they can't," Elphaba said, stepping out from behind a tree.
Ayenna's mouth literally fell open, "Is that…?" she asked Glinda.
"Yes," Elphaba answered for her, "I am your mother."
Dhert knew her as only one person, "You're the Wicked Witch of the West!" he said, his voice trembling from fear and excitement.
"Yes, I suppose that would be me."
"But…but…you're dead!" Dhert cried.
"Well, obviously, I'm not."
"Oh Dhert, she isn't really wicked, you see--" Glinda started.
"For all intents and purposes, I am wicked, Glinda. Everyone in Oz believes it, why go trying to change it now? It's easier just being considered dead," Elphaba said testily.
"Mother?" Ayenna said. She wasn't really asking anything, just trying out the word. However, it was so new to her that it came out as a question.
Elphaba seemed to understand this and she merely nodded, "Everyone get your things together," she said after a moment, "I'm taking you to my home."