Sorry, this chapter is a bit boring. I appear to have misplaced the inspiration that kept me writing for about forty-eight hours straight...Thanks to everyone who has reviewed that last few chapters, especially PhoenixBird777, who reviewed every single chapter of the last four stories I have written, all while feeling ill. Get well soon! :D
Review, if you like. And once again, sorry this one is rubbish. I'm trying to keep moving steadily, and properly develop relationships. How am I doing?
Fiyero paced back and forth, running an impatient hand through his dark hair. The evening breeze cooled his warm cheeks and calmed his nerves almost enough to stop his stomach writhing with nerves. Clenching and unclenching his fists, he ran down the castle steps, hovered at the bottom, then turned and trotted back up them again. He was desperate for her to arrive, certain that he would go mad with anticipation.
He knew that he wouldn't get the reception that he wanted. Elphaba would not run into his arms and kiss him passionately, nor would there be any sweeping, romantic music playing. He knew that she would be as understated and quiet as she had been the first time they met; and the most he would get would be a handshake.
But Fiyero knew. He knew from the language she used in her letters that she felt the same excitement as he did. He could tell that she loved him, just from the way that she signed off at the bottom of each page. And for the first time, Fiyero was almost positive that he felt the same way. It frightened him slightly, but felt exhilarating at the same time.
The young man sighed gloomily and turned to re-enter the building. Just then, the unmistakable clatter of hooves alerted him to the approaching carriage, and he spun around so quickly that he felt dizzy. When the carriage stopped, he caught a glimpse of harlequin green. The world seemed to grind to a halt, and the next few moments lasted an eternity.
Elphaba took a glance at Rilt, who lay sleeping against the plush cushions. A small line of saliva trailed down his chin and into his fur coat, which he wore regardless of the fact that it was high summer. She herself refused to wear fur, just as she refused to eat meat. Anything that could only be gained by the death of an innocent was not acceptable in her book.
Instead, she was dressed in a simple black frock that reached just below her knees, with a pair of black boots. Too hot for the Vinkun summer, which could probably have melted the already drooping skin off of Rilt's waxen face, but it was all she felt comfortable in.
The carriage stopped and her heart immediately began to pound uncomfortably. The palms of her hands began to sweat, and she knew it had absolutely nothing to do with the heat. The footman opened the door, and blood thudded in her head.
She saw him.
When their eyes connected; cobalt and sillimanite, they smiled. Elphaba descended slowly from the carriage, clinging to the door handle to steady herself. The boy crossed the courtyard to meet her, while both young people arranged their features into less delighted expressions.
By the time the pair reached one another, Fiyero looked very surprised and Elphaba was glowering, both desperate to hide their glee at seeing one another. She bobbed a dainty curtsey and he waved his hands at her impatiently.
"You don't have to curtsey to me, Elphaba. We're friends." Fiyero smiled, raising her gently by a finger under her slightly pointed chin. The young woman kept her eyes downcast, afraid she might melt into a little green puddle on the ground if she dared glance up. She trembled slightly, and jerked her jaw away from his touch.
Elphaba immediately regretted the irrepressible flinch, as Fiyero's brow drooped forlornly. His large hand still hung in the air, and she gently took it within her own, squeezing his fingers before placing his hand back at his side.
"It's good to see you, Fiyero." she grinned. He smiled in return.
"In your last letter you said you'd always wanted to see the Vinkus, and it's most beautiful in summertime, because the sun only sets for a couple of hours and it turns the sky a sort of blue-ish violet. So, I figured I'd invite you for the best month of the summer, so that you could see the most striking sunsets in Oz." Fiyero explained as they walked back towards the castle, indicating the jets of indigo that shot through the orange and yellow sky.
"It really is gorgeous!" she smiled, craning her neck upwards. The sun looked so much bigger than home in Munchkinland, a huge amber disc hanging weightlessly in the evening sky.
"You think it's beautiful now, but just you wait another hour. The sky will be a thousand different colours…Like a rainbow!" the young man enthused, subconsciously taking her hand and glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. He noticed that her dark eyes were possibly even more melancholic than they had been when they had previously met, and he puzzled at the reason why.
"Are you sad? Because of your aunt?" he quizzed. Elphaba snapped to face him, before she threw her head back and laughed with great mirth.
"Sad? No! Why would I be sad? I'm glad the old witch is dead!" she cackled, the muscles in her stomach tightening with exertion.
"Then why are your eyes so sad?" he pressed. The young woman stopped mid laugh, and looked askance at him.
"What?"
"Your eyes. They're…heartbreaking. Beautiful, yes, but…I don't know. Forget I said anything."
"If my eyes are sad, then yours are too. Your expression is, well, sorrowful." Elphaba sighed, allowing her eyes to connect with his. It was then they she noticed their entwined hands, and she opened her mouth to speak again.
"Elphaba! Stupid girl! Why didn't you wake me?" Rilt screeched from the carriage, breaking the nervous silence. The pair jumped apart, and Elphaba abandoned Fiyero to help Rilt out of the carriage. The young man smoothed down his hair and cursed himself for putting his foot in it not half an hour after she arrived. 'Typical,' he thought, 'One word from you and she's running for the hills.'
At Rilt's request, the servants of the Tiggulars had prepared two separate rooms in the castle for the married couple. Biaxana led Elphaba to her room, and opened the door with a warm smile.
"I hope you'll feel at home with us, my dear." she beamed, her voice low, husky and homely.
"I feel more at home here already than I ever have at Colwen Grounds," Elphaba admitted, "All I need here now is my close family, and I could stay here forever. It's so beautiful!" She added, crossing to the window and gazing dreamily at the vista on display. As Fiyero had promised, the ruby sky was shot through with every colour imaginable; gold, lilac, cerise, azure, violet, indigo…
"Yes, it's beautiful, but it can be a very cruel place." Biaxana warned, standing beside the younger woman. Being a true Vinkun, she towered a head and shoulders above the Munchkin girl, who was actually tall for her race.
"Everything can be cruel. Life is cruel. I defy anyone to find something that is not inadvertently cruel in some way. Even love is cruel, in a painful, beautiful kind of way." the girl sighed, resting her elbows on the stone window ledge. The Queen caught the regretful, faraway look in her eyes, and immediately understood.
"You're not speaking of your husband, I presume?" Elphaba shook her head slowly, sadly.
"I was forced into that match, your majesty. And for all his years he looks to have a lot of life left in him, so it seems that I'm stuck until he dies. And by then it will be too late! He'll be gone!" she exclaimed softly, raw emotion and anger in her voice. Her long fingers stiffened in frustration, and she tossed the hair from her face, trying to settle herself.
"If the one you appear to love so passionately is the right one, my dear, fate will bring you together."
"But when-"
"Don't try to rush her, Elphaba. If your destiny is with this young man, whoever he may be, fate will guide you together. It may take twenty years, it might take twenty four hours. Wait, my girl. It will happen, I promise you." the Queen reassured, turning the girl to face her. With motherly compassion, she pressed a kiss to her forehead and left, leaving Elphaba to her own thoughts.
The girl smiled wryly. She suspected that if the Queen knew who it was that she was in love with, she would not be half as supportive.
Mneh. Sorry, that REALLY sucked.