My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!
"Oh, this is so exciting! I can't remember the last time I left the Emerald City!" Nessa said, unable to contain her glee, as Elphaba gently lowered her into her chair before going back to retrieve the brunette's and the blonde's bags.
Galinda smiled at her. "And it is a great day for a picnic. The weather is so perfect, isn't it, Nessa darling?"
"Yes, it really is a beautiful day."
"If you're all done gossiping about the weather like hens," Elphaba said, thrusting Galinda's bag into her chest, but not nearly hard enough to hurt her, "Shall we actually make our way to the picnic in question?"
"Alright, Elphie." Galinda practically skipped over to the group gathering by the lake.
The green woman rolled her eyes, as she wheeled the brunette over. "What do you say we hop back in the carriage and ditch her?" she asked Nessa in a low voice.
"Elphaba, we couldn't!" the brunette replied, but she was trying to hide giggles.
Galinda greeted everybody, finally reaching the blonde prince. She gave him a quick hug and a smile. "Hello, 'Yero. It was such a fantabulous idea to have a picnic here. Thank you so much for inviting us."
"Well, I couldn't very well host a picnic and not invite my dearest friend, now could I?" He looked around, checking to see who had arrived. "Well it seems like we're only missing one person from our- ah! There she is." He noticed the brunette making her way over to him, and he greeted her with a forced smile.
The blonde smiled slightly to her as well. "Hello again, Miss Sarima. It is so good to see you again."
Sarima moved stiffly, going to stand by Fiyero's side and giving him a small kiss in the cheek. "So sorry I'm late...I had some trouble with our fountain the other night..." She gave Galinda a nod. "Nice to see you too, though I wish I didn't look quite so awful." Elphaba chose this moment to examine the fine detail of Nessa's hair, figuring that was better than trying to deal with the brunette. "Has everyone arrived?" Sarima asked the prince.
Fiyero nodded. "Yes, darling. Everyone is here. Shall we begin the festivities?" He called to the group, receiving an enthusiastic response.
"Darling?" Elphaba said before she could stop herself. The green woman immediately looked down.
Sarima cast a glance at her, but not too long. She would not allow herself to hurt anymore. "Fiyero...I don't know how much longer we can keep this a secret from our...friends." Sarima struggled to get that last word out.
The prince nodded, turning back around to face everybody. "Look, everyone, Sarima and I have an announcement to make." He saw Galinda move over to stand by the green woman and her sister, a confused look on her face. Fiyero wrapped an arm around Sarima, pulling her close to his side. "Sarima and I...are engaged."
The blonde's jaw nearly dropped, but she quickly stopped herself, putting on a smile instead. "That's wonderful, Fiyero. I am so happy for you two." Elphaba shared the blonde's shock. Sarima engaged to him? After everything she'd said...after how she had acted? It didn't fit at all! Sarima herself could only nod, fearing that if she opened her mouth, the truth (as well as her breakfast) would come back up.
"But I thought-" Nessa started, but Elphaba quickly placed a hand over her mouth.
Fiyero made sure to keep a smile pasted on his face through it all. "So let's get to celebrating. We're free for the summer!" he cheered.
Elphaba grabbed the blonde's arm, as everyone started to follow the prince. "What's this about getting engaged? I thought they broke up?"
Galinda sighed. "I did so hope this wouldn't happen to him..."
"Care to explain what's going on?"
"I'm afraid that Miss Sarima is most definitely pregnant with Fiyero's child. As the prince of the Vinkus, Fiyero is now bound by duty to marry her."
Elphaba scratched the back of her head. "So...because he got her pregnant, he has to marry her now?"
The blonde nodded. "That's exactly what I'm saying."
"Oh." A pause. "Well, he got what he deserved, I guess."
"Elphaba, that's awful to say!" Nessa said.
"But it's true! If he knew that, he shouldn't have been sleeping around!" She looked back at the blonde with a gasp. "What if he had gotten you pregnant? And he would have known about that law! That bastard!" Elphaba began scanning the area for the prince, her anger renewed.
"Elphaba, please...just don't bring it up. It's in the past. Nothing happened, so there is no need to get angry over it now. Let's just enjoy this picnic, alright? We're supposed to be having fun."
Elphaba let out a growl, and she crossed her arms. "Fine. Then lead me to this 'fun'."
Galinda moved behind Nessa's chair and started pushing her to follow the group. "Let's go then."
Elphaba followed them to where a net had been set up, and the group was gathering around the prince, who had just announced that himself and Galinda were "captains" for the day. "Captains for what?" Elphaba asked the blonde.
"Oh, goody!" She clapped her hands in joy. "It looks like we're going to play badminton."
"Oh..." The green woman had only seen the game played once or twice before. "Well, Nessa and I will be...moral support!"
"Are you sure you don't want to play, Elphie?"
"I-I don't know if I'd be any good, Galinda."
"Well, I'm not going to force you to play if you don't want to." She gave her a reassuring smile.
"I-If you want me to...I'll try, I suppose."
"Then come on, Elphie." She took the green woman's hand and pulled her over to the others. "I pick Elphie to be on my team."
The green woman blushed and looked down, dragging the toe of her boot through the dirt, while Boq tried to not look too disappointed that Galinda hadn't chosen him first.
Fiyero gave her a grin. "Alright. I pick Crope for my team. Let's see if the ladies can match up to us, eh?" He gave his friend a clap on the back.
The blonde gave a playful pout in their direction. "Oh, do go easy on us, please. We are just poor defenseless women, after all."
"You very well may be, but I don't appreciate you speaking for both of us," Elphaba said, picking up a racquet.
Galinda picked up her own racquet as well, pulling Elphaba over to their side of the court. She whispered to her, "Are you forgetting that you've never played this game before?"
"It seems simple enough. Hit the...feathered thing with the racquet. As long as I don't lose my glasses, we'll be fine."
The blonde grinned at her. "Then try not to lose your glasses, will you?" She called over to the other side of the court. "Are you ready, boys?" Both of them nodded in return, serving the birdie over the net to the girls and thus beginning the game. Elphaba swung when the birdie came to her, hitting it with far more force than necessary and sending it rocketing back towards them, flying over Galinda's head by mere inches. Galinda gave a small squeak at the close shave, throwing a scared look over at the green woman. "Try not to swing so close to me, please! I would much prefer to keep my head on my shoulders."
"Don't worry. I'm a bodyguard. I won't let anything happen to you," Elphaba said with a grin. "Duck!" The blonde did as she was told, quickly ducking down. The green woman swung again. "See? I told you; it's simple physics." She pulled the blonde to her feet. "Your turn." Galinda smiled at her, hitting the birdie back over the net the next time it came their way.
It was about halfway through the game, and the girls were winning when the birdie was hit towards Elphaba at an odd angle. She made to swing, missed, and it ended up hitting her right in the face, knocking her glasses into her face harshly before causing them to fall to the ground. Elphaba put a hand to the spot with a low growl.
"Oh, Oz! Elphaba, are you alright?" The blonde dropped her racquet and rushed to the green woman's side.
"I'm fine, but I don't think I can keep playing...sorry, Galinda." She stooped down to retrieve her glasses and made her way to where Nessa was, sitting beside her.
No sooner had she left than Boq had taken her place on the court, racquet in hand. "I'll stand in for her!" Galinda watched Elphaba leave the court with a frown. She reluctantly picked up her racquet again, returning to the game. When the birdie came her way, she hit it back over to Fiyero and Crope. As the game progressed, Boq managed to inch closer and closer to the blonde, his eyes almost more on her than the actual game.
When Galinda nearly tripped over the munchkin because he was so close, she politely said, "I think it's time for someone else to get a turn." She handed her racquet over to Shenshen, giving her a turn, and moved over to stand next to Elphaba and her sister.
"Galinda, you need to deal with this issue now. You've waited long enough," Elphaba said, rubbing her sore eyes. "Boq is only going to continue coming after you."
The blonde sighed but nodded her head. She called back over to the game, "Excuse me, Master Boq, would you be so kind as to take a stroll with me?" She watched as the munchkin eagerly handed off his racquet to somebody else. Galinda turned and started walking towards the not too far off benches.
Boq quickly followed, taking her hand in both of his. "Y-yes? What is it you want to talk about? I apologize for what happened during the game; I seem to have lost myself there."
Galinda nearly grimaced at his adoration, gently prying her hand away. "Listen, Boq...we need to talk about this." When she received a confused look from the munchkin, she continued, "We need to talk about us."
"U-us? What about us? Did I do something wrong? I'm so very sorry if I did. Please, tell me what I did wrong. I can fix it! I can change!"
"You didn't do anything wrong. I just...I don't love you. I'm sorry..."
Boq felt his heart sink. "B-but...when we went out...and we kissed...Galinda, I'm devoted to you!" He grabbed the blonde's hands. "Please, tell me what you want me to change! I can change for you! I can be the person you love!"
"No, you can't, Boq. I'm sorry. It isn't you...I have feelings...for someone else." She gently pulled her hands away from Boq's again.
The munchkin sighed. "Well...then who? Fiyero still, even after what he did to you? Who is it, and what do they have that I don't?"
"For Oz's sake, it's Elphaba!" She immediately clapped her hand over her mouth, shocked at what she had just said. "I...I'm falling for her..." The blonde's eyes widened in shock, as the realization hit her. For months, she had been pushing away the feelings she was developing for the green woman, but it wasn't until now that she could actually admit it to herself.
"E-Elphaba?" The munchkin was genuinely surprised. "But she works for you...and she's a woman...and green!" He sighed, calming himself down. "Galinda, as much as it pains me...I won't give up on our friendship, for it means too much to me. I'll...I'll do my best to support you...as a friend."
"Oh, thank you, Boq." She pulled him into a tight hug. "Thank you so much...but can I ask you for one more thing? Can we...keep this between us? Nobody else knows..." She blushed.
"O-oh really? I'm the first?" His face brightened. "Well I...of course! I won't tell anyone."
When Galinda didn't come back for a while, Elphaba left to go after her. She found the blonde, and...why...why was she hugging Boq? The green woman felt her anger grow again. Galinda said she'd deal with this! She'd said she didn't love Boq! Elphaba turned and stalked off, feeling betrayed yet again.
Boq gave Galinda a smile, as they walked back to where the others were. The blonde gave him one last hug before moving over next to Nessa. She looked around, not seeing the green woman nearby. "Where did Elphaba go?"
"She hasn't come back yet. She went to find you. Did you two not run into each other?" Nessa replied.
It was at that moment that Elphaba returned, standing beside Galinda and Nessa. "Oh hello. Did you two have a nice chat earlier?" the green woman asked, looking at the blonde.
Galinda nodded with a smile. "Yes, we did. Everything between me and Boq is finally settled." She blushed a little at seeing the green woman. Now that she realized the extent of her feelings for her, she couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful she looked.
"Yes...it certainly seems settled," Elphaba said, turning away from her.
The game had ended and everyone was soon moving towards the picnic tables, as Fiyero and Sarima were preparing the food. The green woman wheeled Nessa to the table, but upon seeing Fiyero beginning to cook meat, she immediately decided that she would refuse to eat. Her anger with Galinda didn't exactly help either.
"I refuse to eat any of this," she stated.
The blonde looked at the food selections. "But why not, Elphie? Not everything has meat in it. There's salad and veggies and stuff."
"Because I'm not hungry, thank you very little!"
"I...um, alright." Her eyes widened a little in shock at the outburst. "W-would you like anything, Nessa?" She turned to her sister.
Nessa was looking at Elphaba in slight shock as well. "I...I don't know...give me a few moments to...decide." She gave Galinda a look that said 'what did you do?'
The blonde gave a discrete shrug in her direction, mouthing, 'I don't know.'
Nessa gestured towards the green woman with her head. "Talk to her!" she hissed.
"Do you want food or not? Decide and sit down, please!"
"I'll get it, Elphaba. It's fine."
"Well, hurry up miss independent!"
"Alright, alright. Jeez..." She bustled off to get food for herself and Nessa.
Once Galinda had finished with that, Elphaba moved to sit across from the blonde, crossing her arms with a huff. Great idea, Galinda, she thought bitterly. This is loads of fun. Nessa elbowed her sister, giving her another stern look.
Galinda slid Nessa's food over to her before turning to the green woman. "Elphie, are you okay? You seem a little...upset."
"Upset? Me? Why NO! Of COURSE not! Whyever would you think THAT?"
"I...because you're yelling at me..." she frowned.
Elphaba's eye twitched slightly as she tried to contain her anger, but she had kept everything bottled up for so long...she just wanted to scream at the blonde, telling her how she felt...but no. Best to keep it in and spare her the humiliation. Elphaba stood up. "Well, I can't help it if my voice is loud! Perhaps you should have thought of that before you brought me here with all your wonderful friends!"
"Elphaba, you're not embarrassing me, if that's what you think. I just...I want to know what I did to make you so mad at me!"
"You...you..." She couldn't bring herself to say it, so she instead turned on her heel and stalked off, choosing to sit on the sandy shore near the lake edge, her back to the group.
"I don't think you did that right," Nessa said.
"Well what else am I supposed to say? That's what I honestly wanted to know..." The blonde's head fell forward to bang against the table lightly.
" can't afford to lose brain cells."
Galinda sat up and stuck out her tongue at the brunette. "Meanie..." Nessa shrugged and turned her attention back to her food.
Sarima had noticed the confrontation, though she told herself she didn't care. Still...her gaze wandered up to Elphaba's back, and soon she ignored her meal altogether.
After lunch was over, everyone chose to ignore the "wait one hour" rule as they stripped down into bathing suits and headed for the water. Elphaba jumped back with a growl to avoid being splashed. The blonde didn't follow the group into the water, not wanting to get wet yet, so she pushed up Nessa's chair and laid out a towel. She called Elphaba over to join them. The green woman approached upon hearing her name. "Did you need something?" she asked as she gently lifted Nessa from her chair and set her on a towel.
"Nope. We just thought you'd like to join us. Are you feeling better? I am sorry for whatever I did."
Elphaba grunted a sort of reply, as she sat down beside the brunette. "Why aren't you with your friends?"
She shrugged. "I just don't feel like going for a swim yet." She stripped off her dress and began putting some of her sun lotion on her face so she wouldn't burn. "Besides, I would much rather soak up some sun and work on my tan." She turned to the two women. "Can I get one of you to put this on my back for me, please?"
Elphaba had to stop herself from volunteering too fast. "I suppose I will...being your servant and all," she said, taking the bottle from the blonde and moving behind her. She began to rub it into the blonde's back, her face darkening as she felt the smooth skin under her fingers. "Nnn...what will people say, Miss Galinda?"
The blonde blushed as well, as Elphaba's hands ran over her bare back. "That my friend is helping to save me from a sunburn?"
"Yes...that must be it..." Elphaba continued to move her hands, even though all the lotion had been rubbed in. She hesitantly put her arms around the blonde, her face turning another dark shade of green.
Galinda looked down, her face bright red. "Th-thank you, Elphie." The green woman nodded, her lips brushing ever so slightly across Galinda's neck before she pulled away, moving to sit back beside Nessa. It took a moment for the blonde to snap out of her shock. She slowly laid down on her towel, resting her head on her arms as she looked out over the lake. Did she...I must have imagined it...or did that really happen? Did Elphaba just...kiss my neck. She shook the thought away. No. It's just wishful thing, Galinda.
"I...I'll be right back," Elphaba said, standing up and heading back towards the tables. She was rifling through the fruit baskets when a hand holding a green apple appeared before her. Elphaba followed the hand up the arm and to its owner. "S-Sarima..."
"I assume this is what you were looking for."
Elphaba could only nod, as she took the fruit from the brunette, surprised when she was met with no resistance. "Congratulations on your marriage and...well..."
"Pregnancy. You can say it; everyone knows by now, I'm sure." It could be true. The brunette was boasting that slight bulge, her long, loose dress only helping slightly. "Not that I really care what they all think of me..."
Her tone...it sounded so unlike her. Before she could stop herself, Elphaba took Sarima's hand gently. "You'll be all right. Fiyero will take good care of you..."
Galinda was still mulling over about that kiss (or imaginative kiss?), when suddenly somebody picked her up and threw her over their shoulders, running towards the water. Galinda pounded on their back with a squeal, realizing who it was. "Fiyero, you asshole! Put me down!" But Fiyero kept running with her, reaching the water's edge. Galinda cried out, "DON'T YOU DA-" and she was thrown into the water anyway. She came up out of the water, sputtering. Her eyes narrowed on Fiyero, before she tackled him down into the water too.
After she felt she had dunked Fiyero enough times, and even dunking Boq under once for good measure, Galinda strutted back up to her sister, muttering under her breath, "Jerk...ruined my tanning..."
Elphaba turned at the sound of Galinda's voice and saw her and Fiyero. Her jealously immediately flared back up. Galinda said she wouldn't replace her? Ha! It was only a matter of time before the blonde realized that there was so much Elphaba couldn't do that Fiyero could.
Sarima could sense Elphaba's disdain. "Elphaba...sit. Calm down..." she said gently, pushing the green woman to sit on the bench. She sat beside her, leaning her head against Elphaba's shoulder, though she told herself not to get sucked back into this. Still...the green woman was so comfortable. "Is it hard...not being able to go in the water?" Sarima asked.
"I live with it." Acting on a sudden whim, Elphaba picked Sarima up, much in the over the shoulder fashion as she carried Galinda.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Sarima shrieked.
"Involving you so you'll stop looking all depressed." Elphaba ran across the sand before she reached the water's edge, skidding to a stop as she threw Sarima in.
The brunette surfaced and tried to splash Elphaba back with a laugh. "You awful green thing!"
Galinda had just laid down on her towel again, when she looked up to see Elphaba with Sarima. She laid her head down, hiding her hurt expression by burying her face in her arms. ...don't wish...don't start...
Elphaba brushed her hands off and went back to where the blonde was. "Are you all right?" she asked, squatting down beside her.
"Y-yeah." She sat up, giving her a half-hearted smile. "I was just...thinking of ways to get back at the boys, but I think I figured it out." She got up, quickly making her way back towards the water.
Elphaba felt her anger and jealously building up again, threatening to burst out. "GALINDA ARDUENNA, DON'T YOU IGNORE ME!" But Galinda did just that. She went underwater for as long as she could and only came up for sparse breaths, so she could pretend she hadn't heard her. Finally, Elphaba had had enough. "FINE, IF YOU WON'T COME, THEN I'LL GO OUT TO YOU!" She looked down at the water and, taking a deep breath, took her first step into the shallow water, which just covered the bottom of her foot. She grimaced at the pain and prepared to take her next step.
The blonde had still been underwater, when a hand pulled her up to the surface. She looked at the munchkin somewhat peeved. "Boq, what-" But then she looked to where he was pointing, her eyes widened in horror. Galinda made her way back to the edge of the lake as fast as she could. "What in Oz are you doing?" She finally reached her, pushing the green woman back out of the water.
"You weren't answering me!" Elphaba replied, grabbing the blonde. Oz, she was about to explode! "You...you...we need to talk. Alone. NOW." She started to drag the blonde off, her whole body trembling.
Galinda followed her, stumbling over her first few steps. "Just because I don't answer you doesn't mean that you should hurt yourself!"
"Why did you ignore me in the first place, 'best friend'? Oz, I can't believe you!" They were finally alone, and Elphaba spun Galinda to face her. "I can't take your SHIT anymore, Galinda!"
"What shit? I have been nothing but the best friend I can be to you!"
Elphaba let out a humorless laugh. "Oh really? Is that what you call it? I seem to recall you lying twice to my face! Tell me, is that something best friends do?"
"When did I lie to you?"
And finally, it all came tumbling out. "I saw you with Boq! You told me you settled things, but apparently you settled them in a different way than I was thinking! Ozdamnit, Galinda, if you're going to do shit like that, have the guts to say it to my face instead of lying!"
The blonde was shocked by her words. "Wh-what? I did settle things with Boq. He understands that we're just friends now. What did you think had happened?"
"It looked like more than that to me! Are you really that desperate that you have to be with any available man who remotely likes you?"
"It was just a friendly hug! Why in Oz are you acting more like a jealous girlfriend than my understanding best friend?"
"BECAUSE I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU, OKAY? PRETTY SURE I FUCKING LOVE YOU, GALINDA ARDUENNA!"
"Wha-" The blonde felt herself getting a little dizzy, as tears of shock flowed down her face. She leaned back heavily on the tree behind her to keep herself from collapsing, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth.
Elphaba watched her, her chest heaving slightly. "Galinda...I...I'm sorry. I didn't intend for it...to come out like that..." She approached the blonde. "I know you could never feel the same towards me, but at least now you know...why I've been acting like this."
Galinda looked up at her. "But I do..."
Now it was Elphaba's turn to be shocked. "Wha- what? You...surely you can't...can you?"
"I do..." She slowly nodded her head. "I've fallen in love with you too. I didn't realize until I was talking with Boq earlier. He was making me so frustrated, and it just tumbled out before I could stop it and...and I knew that it was true. That's what you saw earlier. I was hugging him mostly because I was so happy that I had finally sorted out my feelings for you."
For once, Elphaba found it difficult to find words to say. "Galinda, I...I never thought we would ever...we could ever...um..." She stopped her rant by leaning forward and kissing the blonde gently.
Galinda pushed herself up onto the tips of her toes, bringing her hand up to rest gently on her neck. She let the kiss linger as long as she could, looking up adoringly at the green woman and whispering under her breath, "I love you, Elphaba Thropp. I don't know how you did it, but you have made yourself at home in my heart..."
The green woman blushed slightly, as she pushed her glasses back up her nose. "I...I love you too, Galinda...a feat I never imagined possible..." She looked down at her own hands, unsure of what to do with them. She finally chose to let one rest on Galinda's hip while the other ran through her blonde curls. "Um...so...n-now what?"
"Don't...You'll burn yourself." Galinda pulled the green woman's hand out of her moist hair, holding it in her own after giving it a soft kiss. She blushed, returning her gaze up to her eyes. "I...I'm not sure...What would you want to do?"
"I don't mind a slight burn...and I don't really know. I...I've never been in this situation before." Elphaba looked down at their joined hands. "If anyone finds out...you'll be ruined. I can't let that happen to you...but I can't live without you either." She breathed those last few words, as she pulled the blonde into a tight embrace.
Galinda held her close as well. "I can't live without you either, Elphie...well, Boq already knows...but besides that, do you want to...um, at least try? See where this goes, you know? It can be...just our secret if you'd like..."
"Of...of course I want to try. Perhaps it would be best...to keep this a secret for the time being...as you said." Elphaba kissed the top of her head. "Come what may...and hell to pay."
"As long as we have each other, we can make it through." She gave the green woman a smile, squeezing her hand.
Elphaba nodded. "We...we should head back before someone...comes after us. Wouldn't want our secret revealed already." She smiled slightly.
"Alrighty." She started walking back towards the lake. Before they came into view of their friends, she slowly came to a stop, turning to Elphaba with a heavy blush. "Can I...um...one more?"
The green woman looked at the blonde, her brow slightly furrowed. "One more what, my sweet?"
"...kiss..."
Elphaba smiled slightly, before she placed a hand on the side of Galinda's face. "I don't think...you need to ask..." She leaned down, pressing her lips against the blonde's, a little more confidently than before.
The blonde smiled into the kiss, feeling as though she would explode from happiness. When the contact finally ended, she turned back to continue to the lake, pulling Elphaba along with her. "Thank you, Elphie." The green woman nodded, allowing the blonde to lead her back.
She had tried to remain calm. She had backed off this entire time. Damn it, she was even going to have someone's child! And now...now she had finally reached the end of her rope. As she had feared, that 'bitch' had swooped in and had taken the brunette's only happiness. As they pulled away from the kiss they had believed to be unseen, Sarima finally decided she was through being decent.
When they reached the lake again, Galinda turned to the green woman. "Is it alright with you if I go for another swim? It's okay if it isn't. I'll stay here if you want."
Elphaba shook her head. "N-no...you go. Have fun. I'm going to find that apple I dropped earlier and keep Nessa company."
"Okee dokee. I won't be long, I promise." The blonde skipped off to the water happily. Elphaba smiled, as she watched the blonde. She turned and went back to the tables to begin her search.
Sarima's eyes fell on the blonde entering the water, and they narrowed. As Galinda passed by her, the brunette "accidentally" knocked her feet out from underneath her, watching her go down.
Galinda sat up, pushing her wet hair out of her face and glaring up at her. "What was that for?"
"Oh, Miss Galinda! I'm so sorry!" Sarima said. "Are you hurt?"
The blonde didn't believe the act Sarima was putting on at all. That was no accident. "I'm fine," she nearly growled, as she managed to get back to her feet, turning to leave.
"Oh...well that's TOO BAD!" Sarima leapt on the blonde, using her height to her advantage, as she shoved Galinda underwater, holding her there. Galinda struggled to free herself, frightened at not being able to breathe. She tried pushing her away, but failed. The blonde knew she couldn't last much longer with the little air she had. Sarima pulled Galinda back up only long enough to say, "Where's your green lover now?" She shoved Galinda back under, holding her there for a little longer before pulling her back up, grinning distantly at the noises the blonde was making. She shoved Galinda back under again. The blonde didn't even know which way was up anymore, she was so disoriented. Galinda tried rolling out of the brunette's grasp, but she found it to be stronger than she had originally thought.
Nessa looked up from her book and dropped it when she saw Sarima shove her sister back underwater. "ELPHABA!" she screamed.
The green woman whipped around at the sound of her name and felt her heart stop. "SARIMA, DON'T!" She sprinted across the sand and ran into the water without a second thought. Elphaba let out a yell, as she threw Sarima a good three feet back. She grabbed Galinda and carried her onto the sand, laying her down gently. "Galinda! Galinda, are you all right?" The blonde coughed loudly, her body trying to get the water out of her lungs. She rolled onto her side, gasping for air, as she weakly nodded her head. The green woman pulled Galinda into her arms. "I thought...I thought I would lose you before we even got time together..."
Galinda clutched her tightly, shaking in her arms, as tears flowed down her cheeks. "...thought...gonna die..." she gasped out.
Elphaba held Galinda closer. "I...I was scared too...but I made a promise, and you're safe now. I've got you. I won't...I won't let anything happen..."
The blonde looked down at Elphaba's hands, her eyes widening in fright. "Elphie, you're burned." She pulled away, looking at the green woman. "You're wet all over!" Galinda quickly grabbed her towel and her dress and pulled Elphaba to her feet. She rushed across the grass, taking Elphaba to where the carriage was.
"Galinda...I'm fine...just a little burn." Elphaba said, the pain starting to catch up with her.
Sarima had regained her footing and was starting after them again, all self-control gone, but when she felt a hand grab her arm and stop her, she reacted violently. "Let go!" she screamed at her fiance.
Fiyero held her firmly. "No! What the hell do you think you're doing? Galinda hasn't done anything to you! You need to calm the fuck down, Sarima. This has gone too far."
"I SAID LET ME GO!" Sarima turned and scratched him across the face. "SHE TOOK HER FROM ME!"
The prince glared at her with a growl. "I think you need to go home, Sarima. Clearly this heat and your hormones are getting the better of you, and it's time for you to leave." He half-dragged her away from the lake, pausing only to pick up her stuff before taking her to her family's carriage. He forced her inside and told the carriage driver to take her home, turning back to the lake afterwards with a sigh.
The blonde kept pulling her, opening the door to the carriage and holding her dress out to the green woman. "Elphie, you're soaked. You need to get out of that as soon as you can. I know we aren't the same size, but this is all we have that you can wear. Now go change before you hurt yourself more."
Elphaba took the dress weakly from her. "This will be...a little short...on me..." The pain kept her from thinking straight, and, instead of retreating inside the privacy of the carriage, she pulled her dress off right where she stood.
Galinda gaped for a moment before quickly turning away with a blush. "I...how bad is it?"
"Nnn...not too bad..." Elphaba managed to get the blonde's dress on. "Too short..." she said, as she slumped against the side of the carriage. "Sure you're...all right?"
"I'm fine. I'm more worried about you. You were soaked, Elphie."
"It only...went up to my knees." Elphaba gave her a small smile. "I told you...I'd protect you, didn't I? What kind of...friend would I be if I...didn't?"
"You didn't have to do that for me," she wailed, throwing her arms around Elphaba and burying her face in her shoulder.
Elphaba winced slightly, but she hugged Galinda back. "Did you forget...what I said to you earlier? I love you, Galinda...I wasn't about to lose you."
"You could've..." she sniffed, "let Fiyero or someone else save me. You didn't have to hurt yourself."
"Galinda...I had to because you mean so much to me. Now please...it's done. We're both fine."
The blonde shook her head. "Nuh uh. Your shoes need to come off too. That's what got wet the worst, and it won't be good to keep them on."
Elphaba sighed. "Fine." She removed the offending footwear and peeled off her socks with a wince. "Satisfied?"
The blonde gasped at the sight. "How can you even walk? This looks so painful..." She pushed Elphaba down gently to sit so her feet were dangling from the carriage. Galinda kneeled down to look at the wounds more closely.
"Galinda, really, it's fi- DON'T touch them..." The green woman inhaled sharply.
Galinda frowned. "That is not fine, Elphaba." She leaned forward to very gently lay a kiss to the top of each foot, breathing a quick spell over them.
Elphaba clenched her teeth in pain, looking down at the blonde. "W-what are you doing?"
"A spell." The blonde sat back on her heels. "How does it feel?"
"Ah...how...how did you...?" Elphaba stared at her.
Galinda giggled softly. "I did learn something this year, Elphie. I'm not so good at normal spells, but for some odd reason I can heal just fine." She shrugged. "I took some of the pain away, and I cast a protective spell on your wounds so that infection won't set in before we can you to a doctor. So how do they feel? Did I take enough pain away? I can try to take more if you'd like."
"N-no...they're fine. Thank you..." The green woman smiled slightly. "I'm impressed..."
"Thank you." She helped Elphaba up with smile. "Perhaps you should have more faith in me." She looked back out in the direction of the lake. "I think it's time for us to be heading home."
"I have all the faith in the world in you." Elphaba took her hand gently. "We don't have to leave because of me..."
"It's fine, Elphie. I just don't feel like staying anymore..." She gave the green woman's hand a soft squeeze. "Shall we go get Nessa?"
Elphaba nodded. "Forgive me if I stay here? My feet won't exactly...cooperate at the moment."
"I understand." Galinda gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll be back in a few minutes." She turned and walked back to the shore to get her sister and the rest of their things.