Hm... 10 reviews. I think this calls for an update, don't you?
The Wizard Of Wicked: Um… sorry. Nope.
Nynjin: Thanks. And it's Queen Nia the First, the Wicked Queen of Referencing. And Elphaba's blindness is permanent. Sorry.
This chapter is dedicated to the amazing ExoticPeachBlossom, who has been reviewing my stories since the start of my fanfictional career and who taught me everything I know about writing angst. Check out all her stories. They're Ozmazifying!
"Y-Yes?" Galinda whispered, trying to be strong for Elphaba.
"There was a bombing at the camp site," the messenger boy said slowly.
Elphaba broke down sobbing. Galinda quickly wrapped her arms around her friend, trying to comfort her.
"And not many people were fortunate enough to escape."
Elphaba loud wails echoed through the castle. All of the servants stopped their work, all knowing what had happened.
"I have with me a list of casualties," the messenger boy said, taking a rolled up piece of paper and handing it to Galinda. Gulping, Galinda slowly unrolled the paper and glanced at the names.
"Elphie," Galinda said, shaking her friend's arm.
Elphaba sniffed and looked up. "Y-Yes."
"Fiyero's not dead."
"What?"
"He's not dead. He's not on the causalities list."
"H-He's not?" Elphaba asked, slowly pushing herself up.
Galinda shook her head. "No, he's not."
"Fiyero's alive!" Elphaba smiled.
"There's more," the messenger boy said. "I have two telegrams, one for each of you."
The happy moment stopped. Galinda slowly took Elphaba's telegram and opened it. "We regret to inform you that Fiyero Tigulaar has been reported Missing in Action. Please await further details."
Elphaba bit her lip. Fiyero was missing. That meant they didn't know if he was alive or dead. She closed her eyes. "What does yours say?"
Galinda slowly opened her telegram. Her eyes scanned the small piece of yellow paper. Gasping, she slid off the couch, unable to breath.
"Glin?" Elphaba asked, falling to her knees next to the blonde. "What is it?"
Galinda was hyperventilating, unable to form words. She clutched the crinkled paper against her heart, begging the words to be false.
"Glin?" Elphaba whispered.
"H-He… Elenus…." Galinda sobbed, wrapping her arms around her waist.
Elphaba quickly gathered Galinda in a hug. "What is it?"
"He… he's dead."
"Oh, Galinda," Elphaba whispered, hugging Galinda closer. "I'm so sorry."
"He's dead," Galinda repeated over and over, trying to convince herself otherwise.
"I'm so sorry."
"He didn't die in the bombing. That's why his name isn't on the causalities list," the messenger boy said, slowly walking out of the parlor. "I'm so sorry that I only have bad news to report, Your Highness."
Elphaba slowly nodded as the messenger boy left. She continued to rub Galinda's back. She suddenly remembered how Galinda was comforting her when she was upset about Fiyero.
"It'll be okay," she whispered, kissing the blonde's forehead.
"He's dead," Galinda whispered.
Elphaba rocked her friend in her arms. She tried to think of a way to comfort her, but none came to mind.
"I'm so sorry," Elphaba whispered again.
The two women stayed like that for a while. Galinda cried herself to sleep, occasionally muttering, "He's dead."
Elphaba carefully wiped the tears from the blonde's cheek. Slowly rocking her in her arms, she tried to think of something that would make her feel better.
"Is everything alright?" Castie asked, coming into the parlor. She stopped when she saw Galinda fast asleep in Elphaba's arms. Her face was tear-stained, causing her make-up to run.
"What…?" Castie whispered, afraid of the news she would hear.
"Elenus died," Elphaba whispered.
Galinda whimpered, causing Elphaba to tighten her grip around her.
"Oh no," Castie whispered, kneeling beside the blonde and hugging her. "Is she alright?"
"I don't know," Elphaba said, closing her eyes. "She's been crying for a while."
Galinda slowly opened her eyes and saw Castie standing over her. She tried to force a small smile onto her face, but failed miserably.
"H-Hi," she sniffed, wiping some of her running make-up from her face.
"Hi," Castie said gently.
Galinda slowly rose to her feet. "I… I'm going to lie down now," she announced, walking up the stairs towards her room.
"I feel so bad for her," Elphaba whispered.
Castie helped Elphaba sit down on the couch. "Is Fiyero…?"
"I don't know. He's missing."
Castie's hand flew over her mouth. "No…"
"I'm so sorry," Elphaba whispered, hanging her head.
"No, Elphaba. You have nothing to apologize for. None of this is your fault."
"I just…"
"Don't do this to yourself. None of this is your fault," Castie said, wiping a tear from Elphaba's eye.
Elphaba squeezed her eyes shut. "Thank you," she whispered.
"It's okay." Castie stood up, gave the emerald girl a gentle hug.
Elphaba stood in front of her window later that evening, the gentle breeze whistling through her hair. She hadn't heard anything from Galinda in a while, and decided to see if she was alright. An idea of how to make Galinda feel better slammed into her head like a ton of bricks. She walked over to her dresser and grabbed her hairbrush before hurrying to the blonde's room.
"Galinda?" she asked, knocking on the door.
Galinda opened the door a few seconds later. "Hi, Elphie."
"Hi. Are you feeling any better?"
"Yeah," Galinda whispered, twirling her engagement ring around her finger. "C-Can I help you with anything?"
Elphaba fingered her hairbrush and gently smiled at the blonde. Galinda giggled, knowing exactly what Elphaba wanted. Taking her hands, she led the emerald princess into her room and helped her sit down. Taking the brush from her, Galinda went to work brushing Elphaba's hair.
"Are you sure you'll be alright tonight?" Elphaba asked as Galinda untangled her hair.
"I'll be fine," the blonde responded.
"Are you sure? 'Cause I can tell the servants to put an extra bed in my room and –"
"Elphie, you've been so good to me through all of this, and I'm truly grateful for that, but really, I'll be fine by myself."
"O-Okay. As long as you're sure."
Galinda squeezed her friend's hands. "Trust me, I'm sure."
That night, while Elphaba was sleeping peacefully, she heard the sound of her window being open. Shivering because of the evening air, she opened her eyes and forced herself upright.
"H-Hello?" she asked in the darkness.
She heard footsteps coming from her left and she turned. "W-Who's there?"
She felt someone grab her hand and pull her from her bed. Someone else grabbed her around her waist and hold her hands behind her back. "Who are you?"
"Silence!" a gruff voice said.
Elphaba was about to scream out, but someone clasped their hand over her mouth. She felt something hit the back of her head with such a great force that it knocked her out.
"Princess Elisa?" Sir Iyeron said gently, approaching the young princess.
"Yes?" Elisa asked, looking over the top of her book.
"I have something to tell you," he said gravely.
"What is it?"
"Um… well… you see…"
"Just spit it out."
"Princess Elisa, I regret to tell you that your father, the king, has died in battle."
Elisa's eyes widened, begging the news not to be true. "N-No."
"I'm terribly sorry," Sir Iyeron bowed. "Your Hi- Majesty."
Elisa couldn't believe her ears. Her father was dead. He was the only family she had left. She was not expected to be the queen. She wasn't ready. She couldn't do it. She ran out the room, crying her eyes out.
Lanie slowly opened her eyes, registering two things. One, that she was only wearing her nightdress and it was below freezing. And two, she was in some sort of prison cell.
"Well, well, well," a cold voice said.
Lanie looked around, not seeing anyone. "W-Who's there."
A figure stepped out of the shadows. Even in the dark, Lanie could make out the guard uniform he was wearing.
Gulping, she looked at the guard, trying to give him the hardest, coldest look she could.
Fiyero lay on the dirty ground of the forest. He had been fortunate enough to escape the bombing. He cried as he thought of all of those who weren't as fortunate. Elenus. Poor Galinda. Fiyero knew the blonde must be extremely heartbroken. He softly smiled to himself as he remembered how excited Galinda was for the wedding. The were going to have doves and everything. He tried to get up, but stopped when he felt a stabbing, shooting pain coming from his right arm. He had been injured. He had been able to stop the bleeding, which was a good sign… hopefully. Wobbling to his feet, he made up his mind that he was going to find some way back to Elphaba.
"I'm coming Fae," he announced to no one in particular.
That all changed when he heard horses behind him and a single gun shot rang out in the quiet forest.
Same rules apply: Depending on the number of reviews I get, the characters MAY make it out of the story alive. But it all depends on the reviews. So… REVIEW!