Wanli8970: Someone would have told the Wizard if his daughter died.

The Wizard slowly walked the halls of the palace. Ever since Glinda came, he found himself thinking more and more about Elphaba. He had never thought of his daughter this much since Melena's death. He wondered how much she had grown, how much she had matured, what she looked like, and if her verdigris had grown darker. He felt guilty for abandoning her the way he did. She just looked so much like her mother and every time he looked at her, he was reminded of Melena and the fact that nothing could have saved her. He felt like he couldn't be the father he once was without Melena by his side. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going and soon found himself back in the gallery again. He walked all the way down and opened the door to a smaller room. Sighing, he opened the windows to let the light in. Dust floated around the room and he made a mental reminder to himself to ask the maids to clean up the room. He walked around looking at the paintings of himself, Melena and little Elphaba. There were many of them in the gardens, in the parlor, in the throne room, one of Elphaba, who looked about four in the painting, being tickled by her father, both of them laughing. How the painter managed to capture that moment was beyond him. There was one of the royal family a few months after Elphaba was born. The Wizard was wearing an official emerald Ozian suit and had his arm wrapped around Melena. The Queen was dressed in a royal blue gown and her hair was down and cascading off her shoulders. Elphaba was cradled in her mother's arms, a soft smile on her lips, dressed in a dark purple dress with golden trimming.

The Wizard slowly lifted up his hand and touched his daughter's cheek. A soft sob slipped past his lips and he quickly retracted his hand. He moved away from the painting. The last painting on the wall caught his eyes and he stopped. It was the last royal family portrait he had of his family together. It was not long after Elphaba's sixth birthday. Melena had been perfectly healthy and he had planned to give it to her as an anniversary present. But, unfortunately, he never had a chance to.

"Come, Princess Elphaba, we're almost finished," Salmya said as she tried to get the princess ready for the portrait.

"No!" the six-year-old princess frowned, tossing her pink dress to the ground.

"Princess, please. Your parents are waiting," Salmya practically begged.

"I don't like pink!" she said as she scrunched up her nose.

"Then how about… ooh, blue?"

"No!"

"Purple?"

"No!"

"Maroon?"

Elphaba scrunched up her nose and pulled the ribbon out of her hair. "No!"

Salmya was at her wits end and slowly leaned against the wall. "Princess…"

"Is everything alright in here?"

Salmya straightened as Melena walked in the room, her brown hair curled and flowing down her back. Her dress was a turquoise ball gown, with black lace on the collar and sleeves. The sleeves were long and flared at the elbow. There was a wide lace panel with an intricate design that went up her chest. In short, she looked beautiful.

"My Lady," Salmya curtsied.

Melena nodded and looked down at Elphaba. "Fabala, why aren't you in your dress?"

Elphaba pouted and ran over to her mother. She clung to her and buried her face in her skirt.

"Her little highness doesn't seem to like pink… or blue or purple or maroon," Salmya quipped.

Melena sighed. "Well, Fabala, you must pick a dress. Your father is waiting and the painter will be here soon." She walked her daughter over to her wardrobe and went through her dresses. "What about… this one?" Melena asked, pulling out a violet gown with sleeves that would stop at Elphaba's elbows, a full skirt and a large bow in the front.

Elphaba looked at the dress, tilting her head to the side. "Okay," she agreed.

Melena smiled at Salmya. "You are excused, Salmya. I will get Elphaba ready."

"Of course, My Lady," Salmya curtsied before leaving the room.

Melena smiled as she helped her daughter into her dress. She took her daughter's hand and walked her over to her vanity before grabbing her brush and running it through her long, raven hair.

"All done, Fabala," Melena smiled as she put the brush down, lovingly running her fingers through Elphaba's raven locks.

"Yay!" Elphaba smiled, jumping up and running out of the room.

"Elphaba Melena, princesses do not run through the castle like a madman," Melena chided, but chuckled to herself and she caught up with her daughter and took her hand.

"Where's Daddy?"

"He's in the parlor, waiting for us."

Elphaba let go of her mother's hand and hurried to meet her father. "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!"

The Wizard turned and smiled, seeing his daughter run up to him. "Hi, sweetie," he smiled as she jumped into his arms and kissed his cheek.

Someone knocked on the door and it opened, revealing one of the guards. "Your Ozness, the painter is here."

"Thank you, send him in," the Wizard smiled.

"Oscar, why are we having another portrait done? We already have three," Melena laughed.

"I just wanted to make it an even number," the Wizard smiled as he set Elphaba down.

Melena rolled her eyes.

"Your Majesties, it is such a pleasure to be called once again to paint the beautiful likeness of your family," the painter said as he entered.

"Thank you for coming again, Plauto," the Wizard smiled, shaking the painter's hand.

"Always glad to be of service, Your Ozness. Lady Melena," Plauto smiled, bowing to the Queen.

"So nice to see you again, Plauto," Melena smiled.

"Likewise, My Lady. And young Princess Elphaba. My, my, look how much you've grown."

Elphaba giggled and tugged on the painter's shirt. "Can I paint, too?"

"After we are done, your little highness. And if it is alright with your mother and father."

"Of course," the Wizard smiled. He turned to his wife. "Maybe she'll actually sit still for this one."

"Shall we begin?" Plauto asked as he began to set up his paints and canvas.

The Wizard nodded and escorted his wife and daughter over to a cushioned armchair. Plauto looked up and down as he began to sketch. About fifteen minutes into the painting, Elphaba became restless and began to fidget.

"Fabala, you must remain still," Melena said gently.

"I'm tired," Elphaba complained.

"Fabala, please," the Wizard whispered.

Elphaba moaned loudly and sat down on the floor, resting her chin in her hands.

"Fabala," Melena sighed.

"I have an idea, Your Majesties," Plauto said, stepping out from behind the easel and approaching the young emerald princess. "How about we play a game, Princess?"

Elphaba looked up. "What kind of game?"

Plauto smiled. "This game is called 'Still as a Statue'. The only rule is that you cannot move, just like a statue."

Elphaba smiled. "I can do that!"

"Really? Because I bet Mama and Daddy can be more still than you can."

Elphaba looked up at her parents, who were smiling down at her. "No, they can't."

"We will just have to see. Can you win the game, Princess?"

Elphaba stood up and stood as still as a statue.

"Perfect, Princess. Now, you cannot move when I start painting again. Okay?"

Elphaba didn't answer. After all, statues can't talk.

Plauto smiled and started to walk back to his canvas, but was stopped by a cry of "Wait!"

"Princess, statues can't talk."

"I have to go to the bathroom!"

Plauto turned around and smiled slightly. "Very well."

Elphaba turned and grabbed her mother's hand. "We'll be back shortly," Melena said as she stood up and escorted her daughter to the bathroom.

The two returned after a few minutes and Elphaba ran back to her spot and stood as still as a statue.

Plauto was able to get the past the sketching phase and moved into painting. Elphaba, for the most part, stood completely still, except for occasionally wrinkling her nose and scratching behind her ear.

"I am finished, Your Majesties," Plauto announced after a few hours.

Elphaba, who was sitting on the floor after being given permission to move once Plauto was past the stage where she had to remain completely still, looked up from her book. "Can I see it?"

"Not yet, little majesty. But, I do have this for you," Plauto smiled as he pulled out a plant piece of paper, small bottles of paint, and a brush.

Elphaba's face lit up and she ran to the painter.

"What do you say, Fabala?" Melena asked as she stood, feeling exhausted.

"Thank you," Elphaba smiled as she took the art supplies and sat down on the floor again before attempting to open the paint bottles. Melena knelt down next to her, smiling as she watched her daughter paint.

The Wizard looked at the painting and smiled. Melena was sitting in the armchair, her hands neatly resting in her lap. Elphaba stood next to her mother, her fingers intertwined and resting against her abdomen. The Wizard was standing tall and proud next to the chair, with one hand on his daughter's shoulder. They all smiled softly, looking completely relaxed and content.

"I hope it is to your liking, Your Ozness," Plauto said in a hushed voice so only he could hear.

"As always. Thank you, Plauto. Melena will love this," the Wizard smiled.

Plauto bowed and smiled at the Wizard. "Always a pleasure, Your Ozness."

The Wizard looked at the portrait again and sighed. He looked at his daughter and noticed her smiling face. He doubted she still smiled like that.

"Oscar?"

The Wizard turned around and saw Morrible slowly walking up to him. He turned back to the portrait and placed his hand against his daughter's cheek.

"You miss her, don't you?" Morrible asked, stepping up next to the Wizard.

"I regret the decision I made. I was selfish," the Wizard whispered. He turned back to Morrible "Is she…"

"She's grown up, as you can imagine," Morrible said softly. "She's stubborn, smart, hot-tempered, but kind, just like her mother. She misses you, too, Oscar."

The Wizard nodded. "I don't suppose you can…"

Morrible shook her head sadly. "Once a spell cast, there's no way to change or alter it. We just have to wait it out. It's only two more weeks."

The Wizard nodded. "Very well. Send out the invitations for the ball."

Morrible opened her mouth, but immediately closed it again. She didn't know what to say to make the Wizard feel better. She just hoped he could wait two more weeks.

The picture of Melena's dress from the portrait is on my blog.

Happy Easter to all my readers who believe.