AN: Thank you to all who had sent reviews for the first chapter. It was wonderful reading everyone's comments. To Ravencurls, yes fangs, don't worry, it will all make sense soon ;) Again thank you all for the wonderful reviews. Enjoy the new chapter and, reviews are love, spread the love. Lol
Chapter 2
Daddy?
Has my life finally started…has it finally begun…I've waited…so long…for my life to begin
Loathing…I absolutely loathe you! Vile, witch with skin the color of sin!
Dancing through life…never caring…never having to worry, taking life without strife!
Bestest of the best of friends…I'll make you popular…beautiful…loved…oh yes; I'll make you popular…but not as popular as me!
I'll never be…that girl
Alone…I walk in the rain, my heart aching for him. On my own, I whisper secretly in the shadows, my love for the one who will never know
A dark shadow creeps though the darkness of the night, haunting me, stalking the very air I breath. He watches me, his eyes, the color of death, of ice, chilling my bones, my blood to freeze within my veins.
Who is this man, who stalks my dreams, follows every step I take, always hidden beneath the shadows. I know him, yet I don't. My memories stir, his face, fades in and out of my dreams, my memories. I know him, yet I don't. Who is this man, who walks in shadows, who hides beneath the waves of darkness, who thirsts for my taste, my touch…my blood and my soul.
"Who in Oz are you? Why are you keeping me here?"
Fiyero stood frozen, his body completely numb, paralyzed against the torrents of pain and horror. Was his eyes truly deceiving him, or was his mind just playing tricks on him. For this couldn't be the green girl, the emerald witch so powerful, so strong, never showing any emotion or hints of pain. This woman, trembling before him, shaking, eyes alight with fear, was not the woman that he had fallen in love with. That he was deeply, in love with. That he wanted her more than anything else in the world, more than food, more than even air. She was his life, and now he felt like that light, was slowly fading away.
Shaking away the invisible shackles, bounding him in place, Fiyero very carefully, took a timid step, towards the crumpled woman. His sapphire eyes sparkled with unseen tears of pain and agony.
"It's alright…were not going to hurt you" replies Fiyero, his voice so soft, almost like a ghost of a whisper, dancing lithely on the wisps of the wind. It was soothing, yet held an edge of comfort that only one, as fractured as the emerald witch, could have picked up on.
Though his voice was comforting, and held nothing of a threatening tone, the emerald woman still, allowed her fear to overtake her senses. For even as the man took a gentle step towards her, she once again slammed her body against the wall, her long slender fingers digging deep into the dark wood, cracking the nails, and splitting her perfect emerald skin. Rivulets of crimson bubbles, percolated through the cracks of emerald flesh, to pour down her arms before cresting and splattering to the floor.
Slowly, Fiyero kneeled to the floor. His fingers splayed against the deep oak of the floorboards, turning red against holding the weight of his body. He ignored the pain, as he climbed infantile, towards the cowering woman.
"We're not going to hurt you…your safe…I won't hurt you" whispers Fiyero gently.
"Wh…who are you…why have you brought me here…where's my daddy?" quivers the green girl, as she slowly curls herself further against the wall.
"Where do you think you are?" asks Fiyero, his voice calm. Slowly, he falls back on his hunches, as his dark sapphire eyes watch the woman who held the key to his heart, deep within the recesses of her soul.
"Munchkinland" was the short, timid reply.
It broke Fiyero's heart, the child-like voice escaping emerald lips, for her voice, so soft, so weak, and heavy with innocence and pain, so different from the normally strong, defiant woman that he knew mere hours before.
"Fiyero"
So lost in his own thoughts, Fiyero had not realized how long he had stared at the green girl Fiyero had not known how long he had stood there, staring at the quivering woman, cowering in the corner; seconds, minutes, hours perhaps. He was not fully aware, until Glinda's bell-like voice shattered the trance that had fallen over the normally flamboyant prince.
Reluctantly, Fiyero tore his gaze away from the object of his heart's desire. Slowly, ever so slowly, Fiyero turned his gaze back to the normally stoic, bubbly blonde.
What he sees breaks his heart, for the normally perky girl of Shiz, stands shaking, her eyes, sparkle with unshed tears of pain and fear. Though she and the green girl weren't extremely close, the friendship already forged, was apparently growing stronger. Though Fiyero couldn't help but notice, a small twinge of heartache, twinkle within the blonde's eyes, heartache, of a broken heart, belonging to one who lost a piece of themselves, to their one true love.
"Galinda" whispers Fiyero. Slowly, he extends a hand out towards the blonde.
Hesitating only for a second, Galinda's stiletto heel's clank madly against the floorboards, as she scurries over to Fiyero's half hunched over form.
In a flash, oleander white arms wrap fiercely around Fiyero's neck. It took Fiyero a second to process what had happened, for the blonde's Gardenia perfume, was overtaking his senses, and numbing his entire body.
Slowly, with trembling fingers, he reached down, and entwined his thick fingers around Galinda's tiny wrists. Gently, ever so gently, he pulled the blonde away, until her angelic face, stared teary-eyed, back into his own. A small pang, echoed within his heart, at seeing her pink glossed lips, tremble.
"It's alright Glinny" replies Fiyero softly, using the childhood nickname the he had given the blonde, all those years ago, when life was easier, more sane, and less dark.
Instinctively, Galinda's arms tighten around Fiyero, burying her face against his chest, her crystal tears soaking into his dark, silk blue shirt.
The dorm room, the cool of the equinox's crisp, cusps wintery kiss, down to curve slowly into the shadows of the moon, till all of it fades away, leaving just the blonde and the prince, alone, holding each other close, relishing in each other's embrace.
Reluctantly, Galinda pulls away. Her dark cerulean eyes mirrors the same sparkle of confusion held within the dashing Prince's eyes. Yes they were friends, yes his heart beat only for the green girl, yet, there was still a small part of her, a piece of her heart, which yearned for the Prince's heart to belong to her.
"Galinda" whispers Fiyero.
Gently, Galinda places a delicate hand on Fiyero's shoulder. Giving it a gentle squeeze, a small smile, graces the delicate blonde's slender lips.
Unconsciously, Fiyero's hand rises up, and caresses the apple of Galinda's cheek. At the feel of his touch, small crystals tear slides down her cheek. The tear, so small, echoed the pain, rippling deep within the blonde's heart.
Her heart split in two at the Prince's gentle touch. Oh how she loved to feel his fingers caress her silken flesh, her lips hungered for the taste of his own. She hungered for him, yearned, yet she knew, she could, would never have him.
Pain echoed within Fiyero's eyes at the sight of the petite blonde before him. He loved her yes, but not the way the beautiful Gillikinese Princess deserved. She deserved someone who would love her unconditionally, who would hold her the way she needed to be held, should be held. Someone who could protect her, and make all her dreams come true.
Gently, Galinda reached up, and entwined her fingers with the Prince's. With a gentle tug, she removed both their hands from her face, and brought them to rest at the base of her heart.
"I know Fiyero…I know" whispers Galinda, before bringing their joined hands up to her lips for a gentle kiss.
"What about Elphie?" asks Galinda, after an uncomfortable silence, fell between the two friends. Neither knew, exactly how long they stood like this, hands entwined, staring into each other's eyes.
It must have been quite a while, for when a light snore ripped through the silence, both Galinda and Fiyero turned, to see Elphaba asleep, half slumped against the wall. Her long slender arms wrapped loosely around her torso, and her legs, half tucked against her chest. She looked so vulnerable, and lost.
"I'll put her to bed" sighs Fiyero.
Galinda watched in silence, as Fiyero tenderly scoops the green girl up in his arms.
Unconsciously, Elphaba untangles her arms from herself, and wraps them loosely around Fiyero's neck. Sighing, the emerald beauty snuggles her head against his chest, before drifting back into a silent slumber.
Fiyero's heart fluttered at the feel of the green girls arms wrap almost desperately around his neck, and a strange head, flooded his cheeks, feeling the enchantress snuggle her head against his chest.
Why, why couldn't anyone else see past her emerald skin, to the beauty that she was? She was rigid yes, hard as an emerald, stubborn and overly sarcastic, with a biting tongue. She could be mean, loathsome even, and downright wicked, yet she had another side, a softer side, which only those who were allowed to get close to the emerald beauty, could see.
It took a while, almost the entire semester, for Elphaba to warm up to Galinda, and a decade for her to let down her walls and let the Winkie Prince in.
Elphaba was extremely loyal, and protective to the people she cared about. She would and did everything in her power to protect Galinda, from the atrocities of the world, she protected her from the evils, the darkness that threatened to taint the white witch's soul so pure, it radiated, like the stars in the sky. She made sure no one hurt the beautiful blonde, not even her supposed "friends". She even risked her own academics, to ensure that Galinda passed all her studies.
And then there was Fiyero, the dancing-through-life prince without a care in the world. Elphaba did everything she could, to tutor the Prince, securing his stay in the University. She protected him from those who wished to do him harm, and even defended his actions; which normally would have landed him out of Shiz, to Madame Morrible.
In truth, it was because of Elphaba that both Galinda and Fiyero were not kicked out of Shiz University, one, for the atrocities of grades, the other, due to over partying, and the pranks, which would have sent any other student packing ages ago; though it was funny when Madame Morrible stumbled across the statue of the great founder of Shiz University, dressed in a pink, fluffy tutu, complete with tiara. How Fiyero and his friends ever managed that, Elphaba would never know.
Galinda was torn from her thoughts at the sound of a low, pain filled moan, slipping past torn, emerald lips. Her soft, cerulean eyes fell upon the sight of Fiyero, sitting on the edge of the green girls bed, his right hand gently caressing her bruised, and cut up cheek.
"No…don't…please don't touch me" moans Elphaba in her sleep.
A small tear slides down Fiyero's cheek, hearing the pain entwined within the emerald witches voice. The nightmares of that night, though forgotten from her waking memory, would haunt the beauty in her dreams, where neither Fiyero nor Galinda could venture.
"Fiyero…I" starts Galinda.
But her words fade, once Fiyero's finger rises to his lips, signaling for the blonde to be silent. Shaking her head, Galinda very slowly tiptoes her way out of the bedroom, and into the hallway. A few minutes later, Fiyero joins her.
"Fiyero, I really think her father should be summoned here, as well as her sister" replies Galinda, not even giving Fiyero a chance to close the door to the dorm room.
"Why?" asks Fiyero frowning.
"Perhaps, if Elphie sees her father, her memories would return…plus her father should be notified…about the incident and her current state" replies Galinda, her words slowly fading into a whisper.
"Galinda, you know as well as I do, that her father could give two twigs less regarding Fae's health" replies Fiyero, a hint of anger, tainted within his words.
"Regardless of that, he's still her father, and needs to be notified" argues Galinda.
"And what if seeing her father only frightens her more?" asks Fiyero.
"It wont. Her father loves her; he just doesn't know how to show it"
Sighing, Fiyero steps up next to Galinda. Placing a gentle hand on the blonde's shoulder, Fiyero waits, as soft cerulean flickers up to stare teary eyed back into dark sapphire.
"It's hard I know Galinda…but Fae is in a very precarious position right now. If were not careful, then she'll run, and never trust us again. She's lost Galinda, without her memories" replies Fiyero, his voice cracks, making whatever he was about to say, die within his throat.
Galinda watches as the Prince steps away from the blonde. Walking over to the window, Fiyero places one hand on the wall. His head bowed, and his back hunched, stood as the epitome of pain.
It broke the blonde's heart, seeing her best friend in so much pain, conflicted by emotion, and by the emotions of the heart.
"It's like she's lost in the woods and has no way to escape…even if I or you were there, we'd be just mere shadows to her. Terrifying, and evil. There's no way to reach her, to help her…I feel so lost without her, yet she's right here" confessed the prince.
"Fiyero" whispers Galinda, tentatively, she takes a step towards Fiyero, but stops, at seeing the Prince tense up.
"Do what you must Galinda" starts Fiyero. Slowly, he turns back to face the blonde. The pain once sparkling within his eyes is gone. Only darkness remains, as he almost glaringly stares back at the blonde, "but know this, I will not stand by…when this plan blows up in your face"
With that, Fiyero walks away, leaving Galinda alone once more in the hallway. Trembling, Galinda wraps her slender arms around her tiny waist. Shivering, Galinda fights to hold back her tears, as she steps back into the silent dorm room.
Taking a seat at her desk, the blonde's dark cerulean eyes fall upon the bedraggled figure, of her best friend, laying half twisted in the sheets. The peace on her face morphs as her dark, slender eyebrows scrunch up, her lips twist into a small grimace, and flashes of pain, flicker across her face. She was dreaming, lost within the swirl of her nightmares. Nightmares that not even the blonde could reach.
A small sob slips past quivering lips, before Galinda turns in her chair. Her hand shakes, as she reaches out to grab a piece of pink tinted paper, and pencil. Stilling her tears, the blonde puts pencil to paper, as silent tears spill from her eyes.
"Forgive me…Elphie"
Time passed slowly for the blonde. Each and every day, Galinda and Fiyero tried their best to help bring back Elphaba's memories. Some days, it seemed that they had broken through the haze, yet once they felt that they had made headway, the green girl would shake away those impractical thoughts, and once again crawl back into her shell.
The hardest part for Fiyero was having the enchantress pull away from his touches. Course it wasn't just his touch that Elphaba would pull away from, it was Galinda's as well.
Elphaba remained hidden in the dorm room, Galinda had lied to Madame Morrible the next day, claiming her roommate had come down with Munchkin pox, and simply couldn't leave the dorm, lest she wanted an epidemic. Which convinced the HeadShiztress, and in fact, the HeadShiztress made it her personal responsibility to not only notify the emerald witch's teachers of her condition, but even went out of her way to collect all of her homework.
No one but Galinda and Fiyero stayed by the emerald enchantress's side, both claimed to have been inflicted with the disease earlier in childhood.
Keeping Morrible and the other students away from Elphaba was easy, keeping her sister Nessa away however, was an entirely different story. Each day, the two had to come up with different reasons to why her sister was not seen around campus, or to why she wasn't allowed to enter the dorm room.
Galinda prayed that they would be able to keep this up long enough, until Elphie's father arrived here at Shiz. She still hoped that the sight of her own father would crack the prison to which the emerald witch's memories were locked within.
Though Fiyero disagreed, he always made sure to slip some kind of snide comment to the blonde, whenever he got the chance.
Finally, the day came when the official carriage to Munchkinland, pulled up to the gilded gates of Shiz University. Regally, the Governor to Munchkinland, Frexspar Thropp descended the steps.
He grumped rather rudely to Galinda, who had waited at the gates to greet the Governor, and walk him to their shared dorm.
"Miss Upland I presume?" grumbled Frex.
"Good day Master Thropp" bowed Galinda.
Even though the title of Governor was below her status, Galinda still bowed to the reigning dictator to the rich, fertile farmland.
"You wrote to me regarding most grievance news about my daughter…might I ask exactly what, this urgency to my visit is for?" asks Frex, the annoyance easy to hear within his voice. It was obvious, even to the blonde that he did not want to be here.
"Yes, but I fear this is not the most appropriate of places to be, regarding such terrible news. If you would, please follow me" replies Galinda.
Nodding, Frex follows the blonde; reluctantly back to her dorm room. Once there, Frex stood frozen at the sight of his daughter, lying writhing in the sheets, sweat dripping from her forehead. His dark blue eyes stared almost horrified at the bruises and gashes, covering almost every piece of uncovered emerald flesh.
"What…what in Oz" replies Frex.
"This…is the reason why I had written to you Master Thropp" replies Galinda.
It took Frex a moment to realize exactly what he was looking at. His daughter, the abomination to his fine family lineage, thrashed in the sheets, having been beaten. The extent to her injuries, Frex was unsure of, nor the damage done. For a moment, a small ache of pain, rippled across his heart, before his hatred for the green abomination, once again steeled his feelings.
"You requested I leave Munchkinland and my duties for this?" hisses Frex, as he points an almost disgusted finger towards Elphaba.
"Master Thropp…this was not a trip of inconvenience…I summoned you here for a reason. Now please, take a seat" replies Galinda, her voice hard, and cold. A part of her, now understood why Fiyero did not want Frex to be brought here. And a small amount of guilt, started to flood her heart.
Huffing in anger, Frex flashed the blonde a warning glare, before taking a seat at the blonde's desk. His eyes, cold as ice, glared back at the blonde, as he awaited her explanation.
"Master Thropp…your daughter had a very traumatic experience, one that has caused her to lose her memories" replies Galinda.
"I…excuse me?" gasps Frex, taken back by the blonde's boldness.
"She was maliciously beaten and raped here, a foot away from our dorm room. My friend and I found her and brought her back to the safety of our room. He cleaned your daughter's wounds and dressed them. It was only after she awoke, that we found out that she lost her memories"
"She…has no idea who she is?" whispers Frex.
"No…I'm afraid not…nor any of us. I was hoping, that her seeing you, would help stir her memories…help her remember who she is"
"You…you dared to waste my time by having me come for some mediocre thing!" roars Frex.
Both Galinda and Elphaba jump at the ferocity of Frex's voice. Cowering, Elphaba immediately slams herself against the side of the wall, her dark chocolate eyes stare terrified back at the man now glaring maniacally, back at her.
"You stupid girl!"
"How dare you! Your daughter was attacked and molested, and all you care about is the time spent away from your work? Have you no heart!" screeches Galinda.
"Who…who is this?" asks Elphaba, her voice soft, like a childs.
Galinda turns to face Elphaba the anger boiling within her veins dissipates at the sight of her friend. Fear, sparkles within her eyes, her body, remains tense, as Fiyero protectively wraps his arms around her, holding her. His right hand soothingly rubs her arms, trying yet failing, to rub away the trembles over taking her body.
"Elphie…this is your father" replies Galinda softly.
"Daddy?" whispers Elphaba, in a small voice.
A look of disgust flashes across Frex's face, hearing his aberration of a child's voice, so soft, so weak and child-like, whisper back, with such innocence, and hope.
"Daddy?" repeats Elphaba.
"I' am not your father" growls Frex.
"Daddy" replies Elphaba, recognition laced softly within her words.
Hope echoed deep within Galinda's heart. Hope that perhaps, maybe, her plan had worked, and the sight of her father, her own flesh and blood, the man who raised her, had unlocked her memories.
Timidly, Elphaba untangles herself from Fiyero's embrace. Ignoring his protests, Elphaba very weakly, rises from the bed. Small winces cross her face, as she stumbles towards the Governor of Munchkinland.
With each timid step, Frex's body stiffens. Unconsciously, he takes a step back, as his eyes widen in both horror and fear as the green girl steps closer.
Backed up against the door, Frex automatically holds out his hands, gesturing for the green woman to stop.
Obeying, Elphaba stands but a breath away from Frex, her dark chocolate eyes, stare back into Frex's. Slowly, her hand reaches up, to touch Frex's cheek.
Angrily, Frex smacks the green woman's hand away from his face.
"Don't you dare touch me you abhorrent abomination!" roars Frex.
"Daddy…daddy please" cries Elphaba.
"I' am not your father…I could never be a father to such a monster!"
"Daddy" cries Elphaba. Tenderly, she reaches a hand up to touch Frex's face.
Angrily, Frex grabs a hold of Elphaba's wrist. Squeezing it hard, a small cry of pain slips past Elphaba's lips, before Frex throws her hand away. Blinded by his anger, Frex reaches back, and slaps Elphaba hard across the face with such force, that makes the green girl spin and crash to the ground.
"Daddy!" cries Elphaba, as she half rises up from the floor.
"I'm not your father…get it through your mind. I could never be your father…no one could be your father! No once could love an aberration like you!" roars Frex.
Kicking her, Frex spins around, grabs the handle and throws open the door. Both Fiyero, and Galinda remain frozen, as Frex storms out of dorm and down the hall.
"Daddy…daddy come back…please come back…don't leave me!" cries Elphaba.