A silvery mist started at her feet and drew itself slowly up, shrouding her in fine iridescent smoke. The outsiders stared as the mist swirled around her, seemingly taking her away from them, Toto barks getting shriller and Dorothy's tearful face getting blurrier. 'Goodbye! Thank you! Goodbye!' She was crying out and the lion waved frantically and shouted back 'Goodbye Dorothy!' The scarecrow only lifted a hand in response.

Elphaba was almost entranced by this phenomenon, she had never made a magic that took such a form. She had even forgotten her threat if the ridiculous spell wouldn't have worked but Dorothy, for the first time in her life, remembered something of significance. She bent down, her face disappearing for a second and before she vanished into thin air, the shoes had been thrown from the fray of silver, clattering onto the floor with a final thud as the girl, her dog and the precious book faded from sight. They lay there, free of feet and helplessly calling to Elphaba. She ran forward to pick them up and the minute her hands touched them, they seemed to relax and sigh contentedly. A cool breeze flitted in through the windows and the tension of the night seemed to ebb away. She knelt on the floor and looked at them, those glimmering shoes.

A loud sniff made her look up as the lion wiped tears away from his furry face. 'That was sad' he muttered. 'But I'm glad she's finally gone back. She was so homesick you know.' Elphaba found that she didn't care for talking right now. She laid her attention on the shoes again. The scarecrow looked over her shoulder and saw the silvery light reflecting on that severe beauty of her face. She looked radiant. A slight smile tugged at her eyes and her mouth was no longer twisted and bitter. Fiyero realised how much she must have missed her sister, as trying as she had been. For Elphaba would have done almost anything for Nessarose. But she couldn't help her in the end, only Nessa could have done that herself. She had died not knowing any better but Elphaba had another chance. An unknown feeling of joy was welling up in her, like she had never seen the dawn so clearly as before.

'Well I guess I'd better be going now.' The lion's thoughts had broken the spell. He scratched his head, tears all dried with the help of a tablecloth from the kitchen that Toto had mauled. 'Can I get some provisions before I go?'

Elphaba felt light headed. 'Take what you want from the kitchen.' The lion wasted no time in emptying the cupboards and drinking out of the tap. 'Take that piece of tin with you' added the witch as he left by the front door, merrily swinging his tufty tail.

'It's funny' he mused, as he swung the still unconscious tin man on his shoulders, ready for the way down. 'I feel better now. Kind of...liberated. Even though I'm not sure I've learned much.'

'Saying goodbye to a friend is courage enough' Fiyero assured him.

'You know, I think you're right' said the lion easily. 'I'll dump him in the nearest town I think. Goodbye then.' They stood by the door and waved him off into the sunrise, figure blazing bronze against the light.

Elphaba could hardly believe it was real, that the nightmare had drifted away with the early morning breeze. She looked at the shoes in her hands, sparkling like the sunlight on water. She suddenly didn't feel so afraid of water now.

She sat on the floor again and admired them some more. Fiyero came to sit by her and they spent another few minutes staring at them. Then he slowly slid a hand up her ankle, revealing the heavy boots she always wore and leisurely untied the laces. She said nothing. He eased them off of her feet, encased in their plain woollen black stockings. She still said nothing. He put the stockings to one side and stroked her long slender feet and toes, they curled up and down as his touch seared into her veins. She closed her eyes and sighed inaudibly. But he heard. Taking the shoes from her, he glided each one gently onto her foot. As if it were made for her, they fit perfectly. She drew her feet up and stroked the shoes softly, almost admired her feet in them. Fiyero leaned in, slipped her collar down and kissed her shoulder. She leaned into him as he brushed her hair back and wrapped his arms around her.

'I don't think I can walk in these' said she with a faint smile.

'So let's practice' said he.

'Maybe later.'

'What would you say to him if he came looking for the book?'

'The wizard? I'd tell him to look down the well for it.' She stifled a laugh. 'Good luck to him.' It was out of her hands.

They lay on the floor comfortably entwined. They had no need for anything else. They were all that mattered in this world.