Chapter 13! (Are you as excited as me?)
"Nessa, I can't do this."
"Elphaba."
"No."
"Elphaba, come back." Ness grabbed her sister's arm and pulled her back in front of the mirror. Elphaba groaned.
"I look ridiculous."
"You look fine."
"I don't belong in a room with a bunch of well- dressed, snobbish… official people." Elphaba sputtered, her fingers fiddling with a button on the dress she was wearing. The brunette slapped her sister's hand away.
"Stop fiddling with your dress!" she snapped. Elphaba sighed. "Now, listen to me. Everything will be fine. Just go in there, sit down, and listen to what they have to say." The green girl sighed and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "And stop fidgeting!"
"What if they ask me a question?"
"You've read a lot of books. Give them the most sensible answer you can think of, even if it isn't true."
"You want me to lie?"
"Well, you didn't think they got their jobs by telling the truth, did you?"
The door opened and a woman stuck her head out.
"Elphaba Thropp? They're ready for you." she said before disappearing. Elphaba looked back at her sister.
"Well… here I go. Wish me luck."
"You'll be fine. Trust me." Elphaba nodded weakly and went through the door, her heart pounding in her chest.
I am going to die.
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Galinda found that news of what she had done to Fiyero had traveled fast.
"Keep your voice down. We don't want to anger the blonde." students would say whenever she walked by. Galinda just kept her gaze forward and never gave them the satisfaction of looking, or worse, responding.
In her classes, she didn't really pay attention, but just looked at her ring and thought about Elphaba. Sometimes she would catch herself absently playing with her ring and that would always make her smile. The professors eventually gave up on asking her to answer questions because she never knew what they were talking about.
Until a letter was delivered in Doctor Dillamond's class.
"Miss Upland." he called. The blonde sat up straighter.
"Yes?" she asked. She had no idea what he had just been talking about and she just knew she was going to get into trouble again and-
"There is a letter for you." Galinda did not expect that. She stood and walked to the front of the room, which was deathly silent. She took the letter from the student who had delivered it and walked back to her seat. When she sat down and looked at it again, her heart jumped.
It was from Elphaba.
Galinda wanted to open it right there and then, but she resisted the urge. Too many people. She wanted to read what Elphaba had to say in private.
After class, Galinda ran to her room and shut the door behind her, not caring that she still had classes to go to. She jumped onto her bed and ripped open the envelope.
My sweet,
I know we have only been apart for a few days, but it feels much longer. Does it feel this way to you as well? Today has been especially tiresome. We arrived at the church in the early morning. I saw my father for the first time, which of course, made me feel terrible. I couldn't even remember my own father! But, now I have seen his face, even if it is in death. Nessa won't admit it, but this has hit her hard. Of course I can't remember, but Nessa strikes me as the kind who never cries. Well, that did not hold true today. It hurts me to see her like this, but she seems to be keeping it together. Well, for now, at least. But Nessa also strikes me as the strong type.
Soon I will be heading to a meeting with other officials and they will probably assess if I am fit to become the next Eminent Thropp. I hate to say this, but I fear they will be disappointed. I am not fit to uphold this position, but as Nessa told me, that's not for me to decide. It's my duty and even if I can't remember it, I must do what is expected of me.
Enough of my babbling. What about you, my sweet? Are you holding up? I do hope you are doing well without me. As I promised, we will be together someday, perhaps sooner than you think. Of course, I can make no guarantees on the actual day, but I do know that it will come. Keep your head high and never give up hope.
Every day I go without you, I hurt a little more, but the thought of seeing you again is worth the pain.
But now I'm afraid I must end this letter. I have to get ready for my meeting and as much as I would love to miss it and continue to write to you, I cannot. Farewell for now, my sweet. We will be together soon.
All my love,
Elphaba Thropp
Galinda set the letter down and wiped her eyes. It was a beautiful letter and written only in a way that could be done by Elphaba.
"I love you too, Elphie." Galinda said aloud before she started to read the letter a second time.
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Elphaba sat in her seat, her elbow on the table and her head leaning on her hand. The officials were discussing something or other about Frex (her father, she had found out) and she was listening patiently. Well, it looked as though she was listening. Elphaba's mind was wandering and she found her thoughts turning back to Galinda often.
She wasn't sure how long she had been sitting there, but she knew she wouldn't be able to take much more. If this was what her new life was going to be like, she would gladly give it up to someone else.
"What do you think?' someone asked her. Elphaba was jerked from her thoughts as the table turned to look at her. She straightened up quickly.
"Oh, I um… yes. I agree. Yes." she said. The table was silent and Elphaba feared she had said something wrong, but the silence passed and they continued talking again. Elphaba let out her breath and leaned back in her chair.
She did not expect the chair to tip over backwards.
Elphaba fell from the chair and struck the back of her head on the wall behind her.
"Elphaba, you have a new baby sister."
"You promised you would stop fighting!"
"No, you'll be rooming with Miss Galinda Upland."
"Give me the book, Galinda!"
"Elphie, I didn't expect any of this to happen. I'm so sorry."
"Take this. One day we'll be together."
"I love you, Elphie."
The memories came rushing back so fast that it took her breath away. The next thing she knew, she was being helped to her feet.
"Are you all right?" one of them asked. A grin spread across Elphaba's face.
"Actually, I feel great. Better than I have in a long time." she said. She received strange looks for that one. "As the new Eminent Thropp, I have some suggestions to make. Please, sit so we can talk."
---------------------------------------------------
"Miss Upland? There's another-"
"Thank you!" Galinda said, taking the letter before the Goat could finish. She then fled to her room and opened it eagerly. It had been almost a week since she had heard from Elphaba.
My sweet,
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner, but I've been very busy (as you can imagine). The meeting was a success, thank Oz. The group was much more receptive than I thought.
While I was in the meeting, something dawned over me. A revelation, if you will. I realized what I had to do and as painful as it was, it had to be done. The new Eminent Thropp has now been instated and she is working quite hard (I hope you know who I am referring to!).
I hate to end this letter short, but I am meeting someone today at about twelve noon, so I must bid you farewell. Until we see each other again, my sweet.
All my love,
Elphaba Thropp
Galinda set the letter down. What a strange letter! Why had Elphaba been so vague? The blonde was thoroughly puzzled.
"I miss you, Elphie." she said aloud. "I wish you were here to tell me what this meant."
"Certainly. What would you like to know, Miss Galinda Upland, of the Upper Uplands?" The blonde froze before turning around slowly.
"Elphie…?" she breathed. There was no mistake. It was her Elphaba, standing in the doorway, a smile on her face. The blonde ran to her and threw herself on the green girl, kissing her fiercely. Elphaba wrapped her arms around the smaller girl and spun around a few times. The blonde laughed and Elphaba set her down.
"But... who's the next Eminent Thropp if it isn't you?"
"As I said, I wasn't fit for the job. I was able to convince them that Nessa was a better choice."
"And she was okay with that?" The green girl laughed.
"She can't complain. She has all the power now." Galinda smiled and leaned against Elphaba, but then something else came to her.
"Wait… I never told you where I was from."
"As I said, I had a revelation." The blonde then knew what she meant.
"You got your memories back!" The green girl nodded. "And you still remembered me?"
"I made a promise. And I intend to keep it." The blonde smiled and leaned in again for another kiss.
The courtyard clock struck twelve just as their lips met again.
I've been dreaming of a true love's kiss
Oh, for ever ever after
The end! Hope you all enjoyed this story! Thanks to all readers and reviewers, I couldn't have gotten along without you!
Yes the end song is Ever Ever After by Carrie Underwood