Chapter 47. Two Queens
Rifiuto: Non Miniera
Thanks to Akasharouge for reviewing 46.
Elphaba yawned for the twelth time that morning.
Apparently to coffee wasn't working.
"Would you like me to fetch you a cup of raspberry tea, Your Majesty?" Janseta asked, getting up. Elphaba shook her head.
"No thank you, Janseta. I don't think it'd do much good anyway."
Glinda looked around, before closing her book and getting up. She stalked over to the sofa, and planted herself firmly in front of the green sorceress.
"What is it Glinda?"
"You need a day out."
"Excuse me?"
"You need a day out of this hotel room, away from these spell books....let's go out." Elphaba raised a delicate eyebrow.
"Out? Glinda, if this has any reminants of your attempt to make me popular back at Shiz, I want no part of it."
"But Elphie--"
"NO!"
Just as Glinda was about to respond, a knock sounded on the door. Fiyero hurried to it, opening it to reveal one of the pages.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry to bother you, Your Highnesses, but--"
"Spit it out." Elphaba ordered, joining her husband.
"Queen Ozma is here to see you, Your Majesty." And he stepped aside, to reveal a woman in a couple years younger than Elphaba. Long red hair was twisted up in a French twist, and she wore a dark green dress that came to her ankles.
"Ozma."
"Hello Elphaba. May I come in?" Silent, the green girl stepped aside.
"Honey, why don't you go freshen up, you could use a good oil rub." Fiyero whispered, kissing her forehead. Elphaba nodded and excused herself. Janseta, nervous at not having to follow someone's orders, looked at Fiyero. Chuckling, he nodded.
"Thank you Your Highness." She said, bolting to join Elphaba.
"Poor girl, we treat her as part of the family, and she still feels like she has to serve us." He said, joining as the others sat down.
"And you've been so good to Janseta." Ozma said. The others got up to bow, and she stopped them. "There's no need to be formal. Please, we're all freinds here."
Twenty minutes later, Elphaba entered, looking and feeling better than she had before. Her hair was pulled back in an elaborate twist, and she had chosen a dark purple dress instead of the usual black dress with the black threadwork at the waist.
"Sorry about that. I wasn't---"
"I know. Lady Glinda filled me in." Ozma replied, getting up and going over to her. "I'm so sorry Elphaba." She said, giving the older woman a hug.
"Thank you Ozma. But, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to help." She said, returning to her place on the sofa.
"Well, any help would be greatly appreciated." Elphaba said, leaning against the door. She pitched forward when the door was pushed open, landing on her rump on the floor, and she turned, to see Makinla hurry into the room.
"I think I--"
"Makinla." The blonde stopped, and slowly turned, to see Elphaba sitting on ground, her conical hat on the ground next to her, several strands of her hair coming out of the twist she wore it in. "Makinla."
"I'm so sorry Auntie Elphie." Makinla said, rushing over to help her aunt. Elphaba stopped her.
"I've got it." Once she'd stood, she grabbed her black hat and placed it back on her head, tucking the loose strands from her twist into it. Then, she sat down in the armchair, as her husband came back from fetching tea. He settled on the arm of her chair, and genlty rubbed her shoulders.
"So, what were you thinking, Ozma?" Fiyero asked.
"Maybe I could send out search parties to help find Fae?" The young woman asked, sipping her tea. Elphaba shook her head.
"No. She's not in Oz. We're starting to think it's a magical disappearance." Elphaba told her.
"Magical?"
"Yes."
"How could it be--"
"I, accidently cast a spell that sent Fae somewhere." Makinla said, causing all the adults to look at her.
"You?"
"Yes."