Disclaimer- I don't own Wicked or Rent.
When Elphaba awoke, Fiyero was dozing beside her in the chair. It was daytime, early afternoon by the look of the light coming in the window. Why were they…Grale!
Remembering made Elphaba's heart hurt. She felt an almost surreal numbness for a moment, and then pictures flew through her mind. Grale escaping the Wizard with the others…Grale sitting ever so still as she tried to heal the knife cuts on his cheek…Grale playing with the girls…Grale lying with his throat torn out in the back garden. Her mind spun and then began to work. Why? The girls. Emmy absolutely. She had been with Gorrian in her portent. The way Emaurie had described Gorrian then, matched Grale's appearance now. Why Gorrian? Unknown. Right here, right now, the girls mattered, the loss of Grale mattered.
Quietly, Elphaba rose and checking on Fiyero, grabbed some new clothes and dressed. In her mind, she knew what truly mattered. She had to check on her daughter and her niece. As she dressed, Elphaba replayed the scene in the garden. Thank Oz for Mark! While the girls had seen a sight no child should, the details and total horror was spared them because Mark thought quickly. Elphaba made a mental note to thank him. She was almost at the door when Fiyero's sleepy voice piped up.
"If you want to sneak past your sleeping husband, you're going to have to do better than that, Fae." She jumped and then spun around, only to find him still in the same position in the chair…but now his eyes were open and watching her.
"Yero, how long have you been awake? You scared me to…well, you scared me."
Yero smiled a devilish smile. "I woke up when you got out of bed. You were naked, Fae. You didn't expect me to miss watching you dress, did you?"
"You're impossible, Yero!" He got up and moved toward her, taking her in his arms when he reached her. "You wouldn't have me any other way and you know it." He kissed her temple gently.
"Too true."
"So where is it exactly you're going…as if I didn't know? The girls?" He asked, but for them it was merely a formality. Yero knew her first thoughts would be for the girls. Her nod was simply an acceptance of his knowledge of how she thought.
She had questions first though. "How are they? How did Reena explain it?"
Yero ducked his head and looked toward the floor. "She didn't… she couldn't. Emrys gave it a try, so did I, but Fae…"
"They need to hear it from me. They need me to make sense of it for them, am I right?"
His sad nod was joined by his arms sweeping up and down her back. "I'll be there. I'll help any way I can, Fae."
"I know. I know my Yero. Shall we go?"
Never before had the nursery doors seemed so imposing, so ominous. Emrys' guards looked at her mournfully. One of them spoke to her softly, "Princess, we'd like to extend our sympathies. Grale…all the Monkeys, we hold them in the greatest regard. If there is any way we can help, please tell us."
She took a deep breath, thanking them quietly. Then, she straightened her shoulders and back and walked through the doors the guards had waited to open for her. The sight inside the room made her catch her breath. Not only were the girls there, but Mark and Joanne along with Maureen and Emrys. Heads turned as she entered. Seeing her, Elfie jumped up and ran into her outstretched arms. The child burrowed her face in her mother's long black hair and took in the smell. Mama! For Elfie, this embrace meant safety and complete uncompromising love.
Elphaba looked for Emmy now, but she remained curled on the window seat, Maureen was sitting nearby and the look that passed between the sisters told Elphaba that Emaurie was far from alright. It also told her that Maureen and Emrys couldn't reach their daughter.
Elphaba knew how to reach her, though. "Elfie, why won't Emmy hug me? Is she afraid?"
Elfie pulled back a bit and whispered to her mother. "No Mama, but she…"
"Elfie?" Her mother's voice was more insistent now, but gently so.
Taking in a deep breath and sighing Elfie finished. "She thinks it's her fault, Mama! Emmy thinks that if it wasn't for her, Grale would be … I tried to tell her!" Her mother kissed her when the child could not finish, and she ran into her father's open arms, nesting there snug and safe; however much forlorn.
Elphaba had eyes only for Emmy now. She knew this hurt, this pain, this confusion. She had felt all of them herself. She walked to the window seat and took Maureen's place.
"Emmy? Won't you hug me?" Emaurie shook her head sadly. "Why not, little one? Why not?"
The small voice was barely a whisper. "It's because of me…"
The mother in Elphaba snapped into place…the mother with very special knowledge and experiences. She reached her hand out to her niece praying she would take it.
"No! No, little one. It is not because of you. It's because there is evil in the world. But it's not in you, little one…never you! Grale loves you…yes, loves. Love is not something that dies. Emmy, Grale would want you to remember how much he loves you and how much he loves Elfie. You're his friends."
"But I took him from you…" Emmy's eyes were on the seat cushion.
Elphaba shook her head violently. "No! No! You don't have that power; and even if you did, why would you hurt Grale? You love him. No, evil took him from us little one; but if you'll help me, we can make sure this evil never, ever hurts anyone again. We promised to share our feelings, didn't we?" Emaurie nodded looking at her aunt for the first time. "Well, right now I'm sad, and I'm angry and I hurt…I hurt and I want to know why."
Meeting her aunt's eyes she spoke firmly now, "Me too! I want to know and I'm angry and confused and…and sad…"
The dam broke and Emmy grabbed Elphaba's hand. Their touch was almost magic. It launched Emmy into her Aunt Faba's arms and let her cry. She sobbed and Elphaba rocked. "We'll see this through, little one, don't worry."
Maureen broke down in Emrys' arms. Her relief wrapped around them like a blanket. When Emaurie had calmed down, Elphaba held a hand out to Elfie.
"Before we make things right, we need to say goodbye for a time. Shall we find a way to do it together?"
Emrys spoke up, "Elphaba, we're holding a ceremony in my family's resting place. I've spoken to Chistery and the other Monkeys…Is tomorrow morning suitable?"
Elphaba nodded and held her girls firmly. Tomorrow she would say farewell; but after that, after that she would make the cause of all this pain wish for blessed, eternal peace…if it was the last thing she ever did!
The next morning, they gathered together. It was time to say farewell for a time. Emrys had a beautiful area in his family's resting place prepared for Grale. In his mind, that honor was more than deserved. It was green and lovely and peaceful; and looked upward to the wide open sky Grale loved to fly in.
It seemed as if everyone attended. The palace's staff wished to attend because they remembered his polite kindnesses to them. The guards wished to attend out of respect. They knew that Grale had placed himself in harm's way to protect Princess Emaurie and Princess Elfie. He had paid the ultimate price and the guards wished to honor that.
Mark and Joanne attended out of friendship and a desperate desire to find some way to help the family. Maureen, Emrys, Fiyero and the girls were there to mourn a friend, playmate, and protector. Elphaba however, was there to mourn a family member.
They crowded the cemetery and looked skyward as the Monkeys flew down. Grale's body, now wrapped in gold silk and placed in an achingly small casket, was held between them and they landed gently before the crowd. With tenderness and reverence, they placed the casket on the bier before Elphaba. She stood silent and held her pain in her eyes. For once, Elphaba's black gown seemed appallingly appropriate. Emrys stepped forward and addressed the crowd.
"We have come to show our respect and gratitude for a beloved friend. Any honor we might show Grale is little beside all the gifts he has given each of us. Some believe that courage requires toughness. I disagree. I have long believed that true courage requires only two things; love and a compassionate soul. If I am right, Grale was and is tough. His love for his friends was deep and true. His devoted love for the two little girls he protected and who love him so was beyond measure. For all these things, we will hold Grale in our hearts and minds forever. Only one person held his heart above my daughter and niece, and that's Princess Elphaba." Emrys spoke to her now gently, softly. "Elphaba, will you say a few words?"
At first, she froze. Her emotions were too raw. She couldn't manage to do that! Then she remembered what Grale had endured for love and stepped forward. It took her a moment to gather herself; in fact she still held Fiyero's hand tightly.
The other Monkeys gathered about her, Chistery by her other side. As she spoke, her eyes moved from the small casket to each of the faces around her.
"Grale did not always have the ability to fly. That gift was forced upon him by the late Wizard of Oz. He wanted to use Grale and the other Monkeys as tools and servants. The change caused all the Monkeys pain, yet Grale never held his misuse and mistreatment against the other humans around him. At first, the only human around him was me. Grale and the other Monkeys were my only friends, my only…family...for some time. They forgave me their pain, and gave me the gifts of their friendship and love. Few gifts have mattered more to me.
"When Burzee was in danger, Grale and my other friends fought beside me. The reason was simple, I needed them… and at one point, I especially needed Grale. At the height of a battle when I was caught unaware by a tin man's axe, Grale flew between me and the danger. The axe cut his hand deeply, yet, his only concern was for me…and my safety. In no time, he transferred and added to his concern and love. Two baby girls, Emmy and Elfie, found themselves wound around his heart.
"I remember watching him hover over their cradle when they were crying, he would hover above them, back and forth, until they smiled and later laughed. It was all the payment Grale ever wanted. Many games and giggles were shared through these short years, so when evil raised its hand against his Elfie and his Emmy, Grale did what any loving friend…family member, would do, he stepped before the danger again.
"His fight is not lost, though. As long as the ones he loves are safe, Grale is easy. As long as we remember that likenesses mean more than differences, Grale is peaceful. As long as each of us holds him clutched tight in our hearts, Grale will be with us always…free to defy gravity and bring us there to fly with him."
She could say no more. Elphaba leaned into Fiyero's chest now, and wept…silent, mournful tears. The only sign of it was her shoulders shaking against her husband's jacket. His arm wrapped around her and stroked her back easily. Elfie, holding Fiyero's other hand, reached over and patted her mother gently. Chistery clutched her other hand firmly. He knew the pain his Elphaba was feeling. It was his pain too. Grale had passed on though. Chistery knew however, that Grale would want him to take care of Elphaba. She had saved all of the Monkeys and was their family, as she had said. So for now, Chistery held onto her for dear life.
Emrys took his cue from Fiyero and brought the service to a close. As each person left, he passed Grale's casket and placed a rose upon it. First the staff, then came the guards of Burzee. Each of them paused to salute before they moved off. Everyone paid their respect yet lingered on.
Joanne and Mark moved up. They had done this too many times. The ache of it never got easier though, they noted.
Maureen and Emrys moved forward next. Each of them said a prayer of gratitude to their friend for what he had sacrificed and done. Emaurie lingered back, though.
Fiyero moved up alone now. He paused, remembering everything he knew that Grale, Chistery, and the other Monkeys were to his Fae. He remembered watching across a battlefield when Boq took her by surprise and he had been unable to save her. Grale had been there. He remembered watching Fae rip her gown to form a makeshift bandage and then apply it. He understood the warning that Grale had left for them as he died. Fiyero placed his hand on the casket.
"Thank you for being there for Fae. All of you were her lanterns in a very dark time. When she had no one…she had you. Thank you for keeping her safe. I promise, Grale, I'll see this through. We'll keep them safe…no matter what." Fiyero looked behind him at Fae and the girls. He moved over to Maureen and Emrys.
Elfie and Emmy had decided they wanted to thank Grale. Now, holding hands, they walked forward. The roses they placed upon the casket were white. In a sea of pink, red, peach, lavender, burgundy and yellow roses, only their flowers were white.
"We miss you, Grale." Elfie began.
"We always will. Thank you. Thank you for being our friend." Emmy held her head high.
"We'll think of you every time we fly. We promise." Elfie added but knew how they needed to finish. She looked at Emmy and they spoke together. "We love you, Grale."
They moved off then, still holding hands until they reached their parents. Then they watched, as did everyone, when Elphaba moved forward. She placed a red rose on the now unseen casket.
"Ah Grale, my friend, my family, my knight without the armor…fly free, Grale. Fly free and soar!" With that, Elphaba turned and joined her family, head held high. Her eyes were locked on Yero's and she attempted a smile…failing miserably. Reaching his arms, she held him and then stepped back. Taking her daughter and niece by their hands, in a gesture they had planned together, they stood and dipped into a deep curtsy in Grale's direction. Rising, Elphaba bent with a kiss for each girl and they headed back to the palace.
The on-lookers were awe struck, and up in a window that overlooked the scene, Glinda Upland wiped fresh tears from her face. Oh, Elphie! I wish I could be that strong! Well, it's time for me to get strong too. One way or the other, I will help you fight, Elphie, one way or the other!
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That night, it was quiet in the palace. After Elfie and Emmy had gone to bed, they found it hard to sleep; even talking didn't seem to help. They knew there were guards outside their doors; guards who would lay down their lives for them, still though, sleep was non-existent. After a short time, Emaurie got out of bed and joined Elfie in her's. The cousins lay close together, holding hands, simply comforting each other with their presence.
In Fiyero and Elphaba's suite, there was love…passionate, life-affirming love that reminded them both that life would go on despite all the pain and uncertainty. The same could be said for the King of Burzee and his Queen. Long into the night they made love. Having dealt so closely with death, both of them felt the need to reaffirm life in its most tangible sense.
Tomorrow would be handled tomorrow…but tonight, Maureen and Emrys loved. To Emrys, it almost seemed as if Maureen was needier that night. Her loving was wilder, more passionate than it had been since they had fought Morrible. He understood. Her calm and peace had been rocked to the core and here, with him, she found faith in life again. It was late when she finally slept, exhaustedly secure in Emrys' arms. Sleep took longer for him.
Joanne quietly entered the sitting room that adjoined her room and Mark's. She was several steps in before she saw him, awake in a chair by the fire, observing her wryly.
"You too?" he asked.
Joanne flopped down on the love seat nodding, "How'd you guess? I can't sleep. Maybe I can borrow a book from the library. Walk with me? I just …"
"Don't feel like being alone?" Mark finished, hitting the nail right on the head. "Me neither, but I figured maybe it was just me."
"Not a chance!"
They stepped into the corridor and began to walk slowly, speaking in soft voices, so they would not disturb anyone.
"I keep picturing those little girls today. It breaks my heart, Mark. How are they supposed to get through this?"
Mark shook his head, "I know. They're so young, but still…they're strong, Joanne…deep down where it counts. Something just tells me that they'll come through this…maybe even stronger. At least I hope so. "
They had almost reached the nursery when they saw it. A soft blue light was shining beneath the doors.
At first they thought it was a nightlight, heaven knew they probably needed one. That's when they both heard it…soft, gentle singing from within the nursery. Lullabies. They both thought it and the guards seemed not to notice it.
Suddenly, Mark stopped dead in his tracks, grabbing Joanne's arm, pulling her to a halt. At her quizzical look, he made her face him…his face was ashen.
"Listen! The voices…listen!"
She knew then, she had trouble believing, but she knew.
"There's only us…There's only this…Forget regret. or life is yours to miss…"
They both knew those voices. They were voices from a long way off in place and time. They were the voices of friends. They heard them now, Angel, Mimi and Collins. All of them were gone, yet… Mark lurched forward to the doors. The guards were curious but not worried about them entering.
As he put his hand on the doorknob, Mark felt a hand on his stopping him.
He looked to see Joanne with tears in her eyes shaking her head. "No, they're here for a reason, Mark, and the reason isn't us. Let it be."
It was the hardest thing Mark had ever done, every fiber in his body screamed at him to open the door and see his friends again. Yet deep down, he knew Joanne was right. They weren't here for him, or Joanne, they were here for two little girls who had just been through hell. Taking a deep breath, with eyes closed to stop the tears, Mark stepped back. He smiled when he looked at Joanne's face.
"Well, you wanted to know how they would get through it all. I think you have your answer."
She nodded. "You know, I don't think I need that book after all."
Mark nodded, and they slowly made their way back to their suites, listening for as long as possible.
In the nursery, Elfie and Emaurie finally slept. Their hands were entwined, their heads together, and their guardians singing soothingly beside them.