Chapter 15. Comfort

Rifiuto: Non Miniera

Thanks to witch-of-the-west9482 and ReallyObsessiveWriter for reviewing 14.

"That's it. I'm going to go get her. She's had enough time to calm, and we need to talk." Fiyero said, heading to the door.

"Want me to come Dad?" Liir asked, getting up and joining him. Fiyero shook his head.

"No. Stay here with the others. Try to come up with some way to get your sister back."

"But--" Liir started; Fiyero took his son by the shoulders.

"Liir, your mother's upset. You don't know how to handle her when she's riled up. You've never delt with her when she gets like this."

"I know but--"

"Let me handle your mother. She's got a temper and it can flare when she feels threatened. I've been on the recieving end of it, trust me, it's not a pretty place to be. But I also know how to calm her temper; I can get her to relax and talk. With your mother--with Elphaba--you have to get her to calm down, otherwise she won't talk. She'll sit and stew about it for days on end, and then something will happen to set her off, and she'll do whatever she can to stop whatever set her off in the first place."

Liir lowered his head.

"I'll bring her back. I promise." His son nodded, and Fiyero released him, heading out the door.

"Dad?"

"Yes?" Fiyero asked, turning back.

"What do you have to talk to Mom about?"

"Your sister."

As Fiyero made his way to the mermaid pool, he kept his eyes pealed for his wife. Sneaking up quietly, he finally found her at the edge.

The mermaid was moving away, pulling Elphaba in with her. She never took her eyes from the mermaid's, never focused on anyone or anything but the mermaid and the water below. From Fiyero's point of view, it looked like assisted suicide.

"Fae!"

The spell was broken, and both Elphaba and the mermaid looked up at Fiyero. She rushed to Elphaba, and grabbed her hand, tugging her towards the water, Elphaba didn't put up a fight. Fiyero hurried over and grabbed his wife's waist, pulling her back. When she broke contact with the woman, the mermaid looked from Elphaba to Fiyero and back.

Yours? The one you desire?

Mine, yes. But not the one I desire.

Come back when you're sure.

Giving a screech, the mermaid fled beneath the water, as Fiyero pulled his wife to him, her back pressed against his chest. Elphaba, was numb. Finally, everything registered, and she spun on her husband.

"How could you? Why did you do that?" She screamed, beating his chest, sobbing.

"Fae. Fae!"

"Don't call me that! Don't! That's our daughter! And she's dead!" She screamed, her fists continuing to fly. She beat him until her emotions overtook her, and she collapsed in his arms, in the grass, sobbing.

Fiyero held her, stroking her hair, whispering to her. Then, he lay down, Elphaba on top of him, her head pillowed on his chest. Her sobs wracked her body, and she clung to him, as he rubbed her back.

"Hush love. Hush my love. It's okay. It'll be okay. We'll find her. I promise. And you have to calm down. You have to relax, and let me take care of you. You need to calm down love. Or you'll make yourself sick."

They stayed that way, Elphaba laying on top of her husband, her head resting on his chest, her body shaking with sobs. Fiyero held her close, allowing her to cry, comforting her in any way he could.

When she had finally calmed down, they got up, and climbed back on Elphaba's broom, Elphaba in front of her husband. His arms tightened around her waist as they flew back to Shiz, and she gently laid her hand over his, lacing their fingers.

Glinda soon looked up, to see Elphaba and Fiyero enter the room. As soon as they set foot on the floor, Fiyero kept his wife close. They could all see the red welts running down her cheeks, and Liir's fists tightened, at the thought of someone making his mother cry. Silent, he got up, and went to her.

"You okay?" Elphaba nodded slowly, and wrapped her arms around her son. He glanced at his father, who nodded.

Silently, Liir held his mother close, giving her as much comfort as he could.