Hello, all! I'm back and freshly inspired from having seen Wicked on 3rd March. I LOVE Rachel Tucker! She's just amazing :)
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this new chapter. From now on in, Elphie will be included.
So, this was Shiz. Galinda gazed up at the ornate buildings, feeling more than a little intimidated. In one hand she held a large trunk and Dora clung tight to the other. Mrs Espa walked behind them, carrying another trunk. They wove their way through the crowd of people toward an officious looking woman who was allocating students to their rooms.
The woman sneered at Galinda. "Who might you be?" she asked snootily.
"Galinda Arduenna, Ma'am," Galinda replied, trying hard not to show how frightened she was.
"Ah, Miss Arduenna," the woman said. "You will be joining me for sorcery, I believe. I am Madame Morrible, the headmistress." They shook hands briefly, then she continued. "You will be rooming with Miss Elphaba Thropp. She comes from a very important family in Munchkinland, so you must be nice to her. Do I make myself clear?"
"You'll be fine, dear," Mrs Espa said reassuringly. "Don't be intimidated."
Galinda smiled back uncertainly. She was feeling very out of place now. She was pleased when they got to her room and found it to be empty.
"I can't believe I'm actually here," she breathed as she put down her trunk. "I keep thinking it's a dream and any minute I'll wake up."
"You deserve this, Galinda," Mrs Espa told her. "You've worked hard and we're all very proud of you."
Galinda really did smile this time. She was so grateful for all the support she had been given.
They unpacked Galinda's things quickly, with Dora playing around when she got bored.
Suddenly, a small shriek went up. "Mr Rabbit's hurt!" Dora wailed. "Fix him, Lindy!"
"Ok, let's have a look," Galinda said gently. "His side's split hasn't it? Hold him still for me, Dora." Deftly, she sewed a few stitches. "Good as new."
"Thank you," Dora sniffled, giving Galinda a kiss on the cheek.
It was at this moment that Galinda felt the first prickle of tears.
Later on, Galinda escorted Mrs Espa and Dora back to the train station. She was now starting to feel anxious and wished that she could go back with them.
On the platform, Mrs Espa turned to her. "There's something I need to give you," she said. From her bag she took an old looking, crinkle-edged piece of paper. Galinda took it and read the all too familiar words.
School Nurse's report on Galinda Arduenna:
Extensive bruising to the ribs – possible fractures to several. Pronounced bruises to upper arms with significant evidence of finger indentations. Large, isolated bruise on left leg.
Once again, tears prickled at Galinda's eyes. She blinked against them fiercely. "Thank you," she breathed. "This means a lot."
"I know," Mrs Espa responded, laying a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Keep it safe."
Far too soon the train pulled into the station. Dora threw herself into Galinda's arms and clung on tight. "I'll miss you, Lindy," she whispered.
"I'll miss you too, sweetie," Galinda replied, hugging Dora back.
Mrs Espa gently removed Dora from Galinda's embrace. "Goodbye," she said in a slightly muffled voice, "and good luck."
As she watched the two figures get on the train Galinda finally succumbed to her brewing tears. They fell hot and fast as the train pulled out of the station, leaving her marooned in this strange new world.
The walk back to Crage Hall was long and lonely. When she eventually reached her room, Galinda could hear someone moving around inside. She took a deep breath and opened the door.
Her roommate was not at all as she had expected. For one thing, she seemed to possess very few clothes and what there was appeared to be all black. And the girl's skin was quite unmistakably green.
Galinda gathered her courage and spoke with what she hoped was an accurate approximation of warmth. "Hello. You must be Miss Elphaba. I'm Galinda," she said, extending a hand.
Elphaba looked at her incredulously. "Are you sure you want to touch me?" she said sarcastically. "You're not worried that it might be contagious?"
"I rather think, Miss Elphaba," Galinda replied, "that you would not be here were you contagious." Besides, I've seen weirder, she thought.
Elphaba blinked rapidly in surprise. "Good reasoning," she conceded. "Not what I had expected from a girl such as you."
Galinda shook her head. "Well, I like to defy expectation."
They lapsed into silence, giving Galinda the opportunity to study her verdant roommate more closely. The girl certainly had a lot of books which more than made up for the lack of clothes. Most of them were rather weighty and intellectual looking too, giving Galinda the distinct impression that she may be ever so slightly out her depth.
Galinda mulled over the day's events as she lay in bed that night, listening to Elphaba's shallow sleep breathing. She wondered what Elphaba had meant by 'a girl such as her'. Did the green girl know that she was a care kid? How could she possibly have found out such information?
She wondered whether Dora was alright and whether she had managed to get to sleep. In her experience, a bed time without a story about Mr Rabbit was very rarely a success.
Most of all she was looking forward to seeing Lila in the morning. A friendly, familiar face amongst all the strangers was just what she needed.