Chapter 85. The Only Thing I Wish
Rifiuto: Non Miniera
Thanks to Elphaba1Fan and -greenTARDISgal- for reviewing 84.
"Elphaba? Honey?"
Fiyero's voice broke through the chaos that had taken hold of Elphaba's mind.
Slowly, the queen looked up, to see her husband, her king, her Fiyero standing in the doorway of Fae's room, concern evident in his face. Sometime, during her breakdown, Elphaba had curled up on the floor of her daughter's room, clutching the cat to her chest, sobbing violently. Every once in a while, she'd rip at her hair, screaming, violent sobs wracking her thin body, as she forcefully- violently- ripped long raven strands out of her scalp. Red welts ran vertical down her cheeks, and her voice was hoarse from crying.
"Elphaba." Fiyero whispered, slipping into the room and going over; kneeling next to his wife. Slowly, gently, he helped her up, and wrapped a strong arm around her waist, guiding her to the bed and sitting her down. He sat next to her, and gently kissed her knuckles. It was then that he noticed it.
Little flecks of dried blood was on her nails, and Fiyero noticed whenever he touched her head, she winced. Then, he looked down, to see the long black strands of hair entangled in his wife's hands and laying on the floor. Red welts ran down her cheeks, and her eyes were puffy, swollen shut.
"Yero." She sobbed, pressing her face into his shirt, he held her close.
"Come on love. Let's get you cleaned up." And slowly, he helped her to her feet, and took her hand. As he led her out of the room, he was met with the staff as well as Liir, Candle, Glinda, Nessa, Boq, and the girls. "Excuse us." He said softly, leading his wife through the group and down the hall. Elphaba, sensing Glinda near, pulled her hand out of her husband's grasp, and turned back to find her friend.
"Glinda? Glinda?"
"Elphie? What is it?" The blonde asked, moving to her friend. Elphaba reached blindly for her, and, instead of grasping her friend's hands, found herself reaching for the cold wall. She moved along, until she passed her and Yero's room, and moved to the stairs. Only, when she reached for the railing, she misstepped, and fell.
"Elphie!"
"Fae!"
"Fabla!"
"Mom!"
The staff and others hurried to her, all concerned, all wanting to reach her first. When they finally got to her, she was laying on one of the stairs, her face buried in the cold stone beneath her, sobbing. Her long black hair tumbled around her back and shoulders, and she violently beat a fist against the stone under her skin, as if that would bring Fae back.
No one moved to touch her; when the queen broke down, the staff was ordered not to touch her, usually because following her breakdowns were uncontrollable outbursts of magic, that ranged from violent winds to books flying off the shelves, to glass shattering at unannounced times. Seeing no one else move towards her friend, Glinda reached out to step down, when Liir grabbed her wrist. She looked back at him, he shook his head. Relenting, Glinda looked back at Elphaba, and her heart broke.
"Fae, honey." Fiyero hurried down the steps to his wife, and gently picked her up, cradling her in his arms. Then, he came back up the stairs, and walked down the hall to their room; the others had parted for them. "Glinda, fetch a towel. Her oils are in our bathroom. The rest of you are excused."
Glinda hurried down to the kitchen, and soon came back, to find the others, minus the servants- except Janseta- in thier room, gathered around the bed. Elphaba was sitting up against the pillows, Fiyero next to her. Silent, Glinda handed him what he'd asked for, and, thanking her, he poured some oil onto the towel, before gently dabbing at her eyes and face. Elphaba jerked at the contact.
"Shh. Azzittire mi amata." He whispered softly, and slowly, his queen calmed. Liir reached out to take his mother's hand, and she turned her head from her son's touch, reaching out for her husband. He let her grip his wrist.
"Yero. Where is she? Where's Fae?" Fiyero stopped. His wife looked pale. Gently, he reached out and continued bathing her burns.
"She's gone, love. Missing." He whispered. Elphaba gasped, and reached out.
"Glinda." Glancing at the others, Glinda joined her friend, sitting on the edge of the bed. She reached out for Elphaba's long slender fingers, and, once Glinda finally grasped her hands, she saw that Elphaba's eyes were puffy, red, and swollen from her own tears.
She was blind.
"What is it Elphie?" She asked softly.
"Is Fae really gone?" Glinda nodded, confused slightly by her friend's delirium.
"Yes." Elphaba lay back against the pillows, sobbing, tears sliding down the oiled welts. She'd released Glinda's hands, and now reached for her husband; he grasped her hand tightly.
"Shh. We'll find her love."
"But, Dad, she know's Fae's gone." Liir said. Fiyero glanced up at his son. Elphaba quieted down, sniffling, until her body relaxed against the pillows. Then, he leaned over and kissed his wife's forehead.
It was warm.
Fever.
"Janseta, tell one of the stable hands to run to the village and fetch the doctor. Quick!"
"Yes, Your Highness." Janseta said, going to the door. She turned back. "W...what should I tell him?"
"Tell him that Her Majesty is sick. And we need his assistance quickly."
"Yes sir." Janseta said, leaving.
"Sick? Fiyero? What's wrong with her?" Nessa asked, wheeling herself closer to her sister. Slowly, Fiyero turned to his sister-in-law.
"Fever."
Soon, the doctor arrived, and he sent everyone out of the room. Fiyero, however, refused to leave his wife's side. When he came out to the hall, Fiyero behind, his face was grave.
"What? What is it?" Nessa asked.
"Will Mom be okay?" Liir asked, pulling Candle into his arms.
"Is Elphie all right?" Glinda asked.
The doctor held up a hand to stop all further questions.
"It seems, that Your Majesty has the Vinkun flu."
"Is it bad?" Glinda asked.
"Not usually. Usually it's treatable. However, it is fatal."
"Will she be okay?"
"She should be. Now," The doctor turned to Fiyero. "Your Majesty. I want you to give her one of these pills twice a day for four weeks. Keep dry compresses on her forehead, and make sure she gets plenty of fluids. If her fever spikes, contact me immediately. Overall, she should be fine in about four-five weeks. And the swelling of her eyes should go down also. She should be able to see at the end of four or five weeks, just keep dry compresses on them."
"Thank you doctor."
"Your welcome." And he left. Then, Fiyero opened the bedroom door, and went to his wife.
His queen.
She looked so pale, so weak.
Gently, he reached down and took her hand, kissing her knuckles.
"Ti amo, mi regina. Mi amata." He whispered. The others gathered in the doorway, watching. Sighing, Fiyero sat next to his wife, and leaned over her, resting his forehead against hers softly. They watched, as he pulled away, and then kissed her lips softly, before placing soft, feather light butterfly kisses on her cheek.
"Butterfly kisses?" Glinda asked, looking at Liir. He nodded.
"It's....my parents' way of....saying 'I love you'. It wasn't unusual to see them exchanging butterfly kisses when Fae and I were growing up. It's just.....They use butterfly kisses when they can't find the right words." The others nodded.
Softly, her voice filled with sleep, came Elphaba's reply.
"Fiyero.....stay with me."
He got up, and, noticing the others at the door, nodded silently to them, before climbing onto the bed, fully clothed, and spooning into his wife's side. The others watched only long enough for Elphaba to turn in her husband's arms, lean up, and kiss him softly. He planted gentle butterfly kisses on her cheeks, and she reached up, tracing his eyes, feeling his lashes on her fingertips.
"I love you, Yero." She whispered.
Content that the king was taking care of his queen, the others left them to sleep, and retired to their own rooms for much needed rest.