A/N: I said I would post an alternate version, but I epic failed. I haven't found the right storyline yet, so it's really hard to write, and I'm enjoying this one too much! Now...I felt really displeased with this chapter. I don't know why - maybe you guys can tell me. Thanks for the awesome reviews - they made me very gleeful. I nicked off from the Wicked rehearsal to post this, so I'll get on with it before someone discoverates me!
Elphaba landed hard, wincing slightly as the impact ricocheted throughout her body. Fiyero jumped up, ready to envelope her in a hug. Instead of embracing him, like Fiyero hoped, she swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
"You're going back Glinda. You'll go and tell you killed me, while I was sleeping. You killed me, Fiyero and Liir. Take my hat as proof. Try to clear my name…and Fiyero, Liir and I will go. We'll find a settlement far to the north of Emerald City, completely out of Oz. We'll come back in three years…and we'll turn up at your back door, and depending on the circumstances, we'll either reveal ourselves or not…" she said finally, and Glinda frowned.
"Are you sure?" Glinda asked, and Elphaba nodded.
"I was thinking about it a lot, and I believe that it's the only way around our problem. Now conjure yourself a bubble and go," Elphaba said, and Glinda looked sad.
"Just like that? You're gonna send me off in a bubble without saying goodbye?" she asked, stepping forward.
"I've never been very good at goodbyes," Elphaba said softly.
"Nobody is. Come here," Glinda said, her arms outstretched.
The two embraced, holding each other for a long time before finally parting.
"We'll see each other again. I promise," Elphaba whispered into Glinda's ear, and she nodded.
"I know…" Glinda murmured,
"Glinda! You're bleeding!" Fiyero suddenly said, and Glinda looked down.
A dark red patch of blood had soaked into her dress, and her eyes widened.
"It's not me…" she said softly, and looked at Elphaba's side, where she was shot.
Elphaba touched her side, wincing, and lifted the black shirt she had on. The stitches were torn and the wound was open, blood seeping out constantly.
"Oh…" Elphaba said softly, and Fiyero raced to be behind her, supporting her.
"Elphie?" Glinda asked, grabbing her hands.
"Lie her down," Fiyero instructed, and they lowered her gently, resting her head on his lap.
"Does it hurt?" Glinda asked softly
"Not really…kinda…yeah. A little," Elphaba struggled to make up her mind, and she closed her eyes.
"No…stay awake," Fiyero said, but she shook her head.
"I feel…really tired all of a sudden…" she said, closing her eyes again
"Elphaba!" he cried out sharply, making her eyes open in alarm. "Stay awake. I'm serious!"
"But…" Elphaba protested
"Elphie! Tell me about your childhood. Tell me about you…" Glinda tried to help, and Fiyero nodded gratefully.
"Melina…my mother…she was…well…different. And my father…no, not my father. My…something. Frex…he was unkind…he beat me…a lot," Elphaba muttered, before losing consciousness.
"We need to get her to Emerald City…" Fiyero said softly.
"But…they'll kill her!" Glinda protested
"You'll have to stop them. Wake up Liir, get him on a broom," Fiyero instructed, and she nodded. "Chistery!"
The monkey scampered towards him, watching Elphaba carefully.
"Herb?" he asked hopefully.
"No, not herb. Carry! We need to carry Elphaba. She can't fly. We'll use the cape, to carry her to Emerald City." Fiyero tried to tell him, pointing to objects and using hand gestures.
Finally, Chistery understood and gathered up the cape, laying it out on the ground near Elphaba. He screeched and four other monkeys joined him.
"Glinda! We're leaving!" Fiyero called, still on the ground with Elphaba's head on his lap.
"Liir and I will go by bubble," Glinda said, and Fiyero nodded.
"Chistery!" Fiyero called, motioning for him to come over.
Chistery held Elphaba's head up gently, while Fiyero moved away. After a series of quiet chattering between the monkeys, they lifted Elphaba gently and moved her onto the cape. Fiyero took a broomstick and swum his leg over.
"Let's go!" he cried, grabbing a bag that held the few belongings they owned.
The broom, monkeys and the bubble all rose together, then they made their way out of the cave.
"Holy crap!" Fiyero shouted as the broom jerked and swerved under him.
Chistery screeched, calling a nearby monkey to take his place holding the cape. He swooped towards Fiyero and grabbed his broom, righting it and guiding it so he was within reaching distance of Elphaba.
"Thank you," Fiyero said, making Chistery chirp happily.
The rest of the journey was silent, aside from the random chattering of the six monkeys.
"Emerald City is just beyond that hill…you ready?" Glinda asked
"No…but let's go anyway," Fiyero said, smiling slightly.
They glided down into the centre of the city. Confused gasps made Glinda feel sick, but she bottled it down and turned towards Chistery.
"Keep her covered…" she hissed as people started recognizing her.
The monkeys lifted slightly, throwing another cape over Elphaba.
"Fellow Ozians, I have returned! But I have done something terrible. I broke the treaty we had decided with the witch. She was returning me, quite peacefully, to Emerald City, when I struck her down. Now I feel terrible. It would only be right to let her stay here until she has healed," Glinda said to everyone who was gathered.
There were several cries of disagreement, but Glinda held her arms up to silence them.
"Remember…Oz values it's agreements. Since the imprisonment of Madame Morrible, and the departure of the Wiz-"
"She's losing too much blood," Fiyero interrupted, anxiously glancing at Elphaba.
"Umm…so Oz has always been strict about its treaties – why is this any different?" she asked, and finally the crowd agreed, although reluctantly, and dispersed. "Can we get a medic in here!"
Three men in white coats ran towards them, studying Elphaba.
"This way…bring her in here," one yelled, and the monkeys rose, following their instructions.
Once they were in the hospital, the medics made a better observation.
"She's losing blood fast…" one murmured, and looked up at Fiyero. "Does she have human blood?"
"She IS a human. Her skin is just green!" Fiyero told them, and they nodded, all looking slightly embarrassed.
One doctor touched her side, letting the blood run onto his gloved hand. He brought his hand to his lips, and licked the blood off his gloves.
"She's type O, get the IV in!" he said after a second, and Fiyero frowned.
"Please step out sir, we'll need to stitch her up," the last man said, and Fiyero started to protest. "It'll be about two minutes, sir. Please. If you want to save her…"
Finally, Fiyero agreed and stood outside, anxiously pacing while Glinda, Liir and the monkeys watched him.
"Don't worry…she'll be fine," Glinda said, not really very sure of herself.
After two minutes and fifty-three seconds (Fiyero had counted), the doctor who had tasted her blood came out, inviting them back in. She lay on her back, looking lifeless. The only real indication that she was alive was the shallow breathing, and Fiyero glanced at the doctor.
"And she'll be okay now?"
"We're not sure…we're leaving her in the care of one of our most experienced Animals. Only time will tell," he said, and stood in the corner of the room.
"Tell somebody to come get me when she wakes. I would like to apologize," Glinda announced, then nodded at Fiyero. "Come get me if something goes wrong,"
"Thank you for your patronage. As soon as she is able to fly, we will leave and no longer be a burden to you. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause," Fiyero said, winking at Glinda as he walked towards the bed.
"Monkey. You and your mob may reside with the other Animals. They are currently living in a well-built barn, as their new living quarters are being renovated. Sir Fiyero, and your boy?"
"We're comfortable here," Fiyero said, laying on the lounge.
Liir lay on the lounge adjacent to him, and they smiled. She nodded and left, glancing back at Elphaba only once.
"Good Morning!" a cheery voice bellowed, interrupting Fiyero from his dreams.
His eyes fluttered open and he saw someone he thought he would never see again.
"Doctor Dillamond?" he asked, sitting up.
Liir was still asleep, and Elphaba still looked pale and dead, but was still breathing. The old goat turned towards him and blinked.
"My…the young prince…" he said after a long time.
"You have a good memory,"
"Ah…yes, well, as they say, Goats have excellent memories," he said, then turned to the hospital bed. "Now – who do we have her-"
Doctor Dillamond saw Elphaba and froze, his deep brown bovidae eyes searching her green face. His mouth parted as if he was going to saw something, but the words were lost.
"Why…Miss Elphabaaa…" he bleated.
"I take it you haven't re-mastered all of your speech yet," Fiyero commented
"I've been in rehabilitation lessons for two months. Lady Guhhlinda made a law for all the Animals to be allowed back into society, so she set up classes to rehabilitate our speech."
"Whoa, that's pretty good, but I'm pretty sure Lady Glinda has stopped being called Galinda." Fiyero informed him, and he nodded.
Suddenly, Elphaba stirred, and Doctor Dillamond and Fiyero looked up expectantly. She opened and closed her mouth, seeking moisture, then she turned her head. Her eyes opened slowly, taking in the sight of the man and the goat in front of her.
"Water…" she croaked, and Fiyero passed her a paper cup, which she took and downed, managing not to spill any.
She blinked a couple of times, then focused on the goat.
"Doctor…Doctor Dillamond?"
A/N: OMG Dr. Dillamond! Yay! I really should get back to my rehearsal...We've started doing full run-throughs of the first act (up to Defying Gravity). We're still doing it in our civvies - I can't wait to try and figure out the costume changes. I should have enough time, because I've got six stage hands to help - three to get the costume off, then three to get the next one on. So many buttons.... Oh! We did 'As Long As You're Mine' and..hehe...after watching the musical, the guy - Glen - playing Fiyero, and I figured out how much of an Euphimism it is for...well, you get the point. We giggle each time we have to sing it. Hopefully we'll get over it by Opening Night. Allthough, I'm sure it wouldn't matter. Being in love is all about being a twit - giggling and falling all over each other. Hmmm.... Anyway - did you notice i didn't put a disclaimer on this one? I figured that anyone reading this would've gotten the point by now. Okay...gotta go, I think they're calling me.
Oh yeah, one last thing.
Bovidae - true goats, cows, oxes etc.
I was trying to go for a cool sentence, like 'He stared at her with his large feline eyes', but then I couldn't find a word that related, so I googled it and found Bovidae. It looks out of place...and I'm not sure if it fits.....but whatever.