Chapter 94. The Queen's Soprano
Rifiuto: Non Miniera
Thanks to Elphaba1Fan for reviewing 93.
A week passed.
Things had quieted down. Fae avoided all confrontation with herself or Elphaba.
Better to be safe than sorry.
So it was on Thursday when Fae went down to the library to find her mother picking out a tune on the piano in the corner near the far right window. Gently, Fae closed the door behind her and listened to her mother pluck the keys. She crept to the armchair near the piano, and settled on the arm of it. Elphaba paid her no mind.
It wasn't until Fiyero placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump, that she realized how wrapped up she'd become in her mother's playing. She looked back at Fiyero, and he smiled at her, squeezing her shoulder gently.
"It felt like spring time
On this February morning
In the courtyard
Birds were singing your praise
I'm still recalling things you said
To make me feel alright
I carried them with me today
Now
As I lay me down to sleep
This I pray
That you will hold me dear
Though I'm far away
I'll whisper your name
Into the sky
And I will wake up happy"
Elphaba's tune carried through the closed library door, into the other rooms, and soon brought everyone from the rest of the family to the staff to the library door. Soon, the door opened, and the others crept into the room, gathering around, or sitting on the sofa and chairs. Some of them even settled on the floor. They were quiet, all listening to the queen's lilting, strong, breathtaking voice soar through the air.
"I wonder why I feel so high
Though I am not above the sorrow
Heavy hearted
Till you call my name
And it sounds like church bells
Or the whistle of a train
On a summer evening
I'll run to meet you
Barefoot barely breathing
As I lay me down to sleep
This I pray
That you will hold me dear
Though I'm far away
I'll whisper your name
Into the sky
And I will wake up happy"
Fae had tears sliding down her cheeks, and she reached up to wipe them away. She looked over her shoulder, to see her father wiping away his own tears. He settled in the arm chair and gently rubbed Fae's back. It was a major comfort to her, and she reached up, grasping her father's hand. Gently, he squeezed her hand reassuringly. Fae had slipped into the room; she leaned against the door, trying hard to ignore her mother's voice.
"It's not too near for me
Like a flower I need the rain
Though it's not clear to me
Every season has its change
And I will see you
When the sun comes out again
As I lay me down to sleep
This I pray
That you will hold me dear
Though I'm far away
I'll whisper your name
Into the sky
And I will wake up happy."
Finally, Elphaba finished, the last note fading, and she turned, to see her audience wiping tears from their eyes. She paled instantly, and got up to flee, embarrassed by her singing. Fiyero got up, and followed, grabbing her wrist before she could reach the door leading to the study. He turned her slowly, lifted her chin to look in her eyes, and silently, reached out, taking her hand. He gently placed her hand on his chest, over his heart, and met her eyes.
You aren't the only one grieving, love.
Elphaba choked out a sob, and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder, sobs wracking her body.
Finally, she cried.
Elphaba hadn't cried at the funeral, she hadn't cried after the funeral. She'd kept her distance from everyone, put on a strong face, played the dispassionate card, if only to protect her children from the heartache. Now, however, she'd broken. She'd let her feelings show, leaving her vulnerable.
Fiyero saw it, and let her grieve.
Silently, the staff left, letting the family grieve together. Liir patted his mother's shoulder, hugged her, and returned to his studies. Musetta kissed her daughter-in-law's hair and left to oversee the servants. Fiyero's sisters returned to their afternoon tea in the parlor, after giving their brother and sister-in-law both a hug and kiss each. Only Fae stayed, perched on the arm of the chair, wiping tears off her cheeks. Her twelve-year-old self stayed hidden against the door, unnoticed by her parents. When Elphaba had calmed down, she kissed her husband gently, and returned to the piano. Slowly, she plucked out another tune; a tune Fae knew well. Soon, however, she began to sing, almost cautiously.
"Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high.
There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true."
Fae let out a soft sob, and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She pushed herself from the door, and moved to the armchair. Fiyero looked up, to see his daughter standing in front of him, and he reached out for her; instead of giving him her hand, she climbed into her father's lap, and snuggled into him, burying her face in his chest. He rubbed his daughter's back, gently, in the rhythm of the piano.
"Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops.
That's where you'll find me."
Fae took a shaky breath, she remembered her mother singing this song to her as a child, before bed. She remembered crawling into her mother's lap as a toddler, and curling into her embrace, as Elphaba wrapped her in her arms. She remembered the steady rhythm of the rocking chair, and her mother's fingers running gently through her hair; feeling the vibrations in her mother's chest, hearing her mother's heartbeat in her ear. She closed her eyes, imagining the rocker in the corner of her room. She could almost feel herself climbing into Elphaba's lap, cuddling into her arms.
"Somewhere, over the rainbow, bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why then - oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow,
Why, oh, why can't I?"
When the last note faded, Fae opened her eyes. Elphaba was still sitting at the piano, wiping tears from her eyes. She stood, removing herself from the instrument, and passed by the otehr three. Silently, she reached out and patted Fae's cheek, before leaving the room. The door closed softly behind her, as she headed to the cemetery.