Chapter 12
This is My
Silent Lullaby
AN: Thank you all again for the wonderful reviews. And a huge shout out to Coming and Going By Bubble, and Oh yes, I did! Lol. Glad your all enjoying the last chapter. Thank you all for staying with me. Thanks again and another chapter will be coming soon, course, it could come faster with a lot of reviews. Reviews are love! Lol, thanks again and if you have any questions, please ask them, I'll try and answer them. Thanks again
Galinda didn't think her senses went numb, as the entire world shattered into nothing but beautiful silence. The air stilled, making the dust particles float like crystal snowflakes in the wintery blue sky. The last conscious thought that skipped across her mind, was to protect the man she loved.
Instantly, she covered Fiyero's body with her own, lithe, porcelain arms wrapped around Fiyero's waist, staining her oleander skin in crimson blood. Her beautiful curls hang limp around her, shielding her eyes from the horrors of the arrows soaring towards her, sealing her fate in an explosion of agony and blood.
"I love you" whispers Galinda to an unconscious Fiyero. She wasn't sure if he heard her, yet in her heart, she believed, hoped, that even in adrift in a sea of ebony and bliss, her words, so soft like the summers breeze, had reached him, giving him comfort.
Slowly, she tightened her grip as the whistle from the arrows, grew closer. A small crystal tear slipped down her face, as she held her breath, preparing for Death's claw to reach up, and snatch away her soul, dragging it down to the abysmal pits of Hell. And for a clock tick, her heart stopped…
Time seemed to pass slowly, as images of her childhood flash within her mind. Her days running through the fields of the Gillikin, in a meadow of Golden Orchids, and Fire Blossom's, and scooping a handful up of the exotic flowers with the intent of gifting them to her mother later.
Her days growing up in the Chateau de la, with her Momsie and Popsicle searching for her in the house, her squealing when they found her, and the beautiful dresses that had once belonged to her mother, conveniently hidden in an antiquated chest in the attic, and the fashion shows she put on; a grand display if ever there was.
Her first crush; a simple Gillikin boy whom she befriended at the simple age of nine, their first kiss, than his subsequent betrayal when he left her for another girl who was more "developed" and the drama that followed. She had vowed to her mother, that she would never fall in love again, due to her heart having been shattered, by this heartless boy.
Her memories flashed forward, to the days of finishing school, and the friends she made, and the enemies. That was when the blonde had her first taste of popularity, and it was then, that she vowed she would do whatever it takes, to keep herself in the spotlight.
Her heart ached, when her memories of Shiz, drifted into her mind. Her grand arrival, Morrible "dismissing" her attempts at getting into her sorcery seminar, the green girl. The girl with skin like shimmering emeralds, eyes like warm chocolate, sprinkled with gold star dust, and hair like a raven's; silky and smooth like velvet.
True, the two loathed each other, but secretly, beneath the loathing there was fascination, curiosity, and a small ache of want that throbbed within Galinda's heart.
Galinda never understood why, for she never felt such a flurry of heat ignite within her, whenever her eyes beheld the emerald enchantress. These feelings were new, strange, and unsettling to the blonde. After all, her Momsie always said, that such feelings were to occur, when she laid eyes on the man she loved, not on a woman!
Her heart twisted deep within her chest, when her memories shift once more, to that dreadful night, when she and Fiyero found Elphaba lying unconscious, covered in blood, bruises and gashes, her clothes half torn, her skirt ripped up to the hem, and her beautiful raven hair surrounding her, like a river of ebony silk. The moment when this nightmare started, and for a fleeting moment, Galinda wondered when, this nightmare would end, though it was obvious now, that this violent nightmare riding on the tides of rage and despair was quickly nearing its end, with her and Fiyero's blood, being spilt.
"FiFi" whispers Galinda.
Clenching her eyes, Galinda whispers a silent prayer, before the whistling arrows rain down upon her, tearing her flesh, and plunging deep into her body, severing her arteries, cracking the bones, and spilling her blood upon the vast, emerald sea of shimmering crystal and marble.
Emptiness, followed by silence whispers within the blonde's ear, and for a moment, she believed she was dead. For she felt nothing, no pain, no anguish, she couldn't feel the warmth of her blood spilling from her body, nor the cool of the arrow's silver, plunging into her skin.
The whistling of the arrows dissipated within the silent folds of ice and emptiness, leaving the blonde numb, as an icy wave crashed over her body, making her shiver.
Is this Death? Have I entered the afterlife already?
These questions and more, spun within the blonde's brain. At first, she dared not open her eyes, too afraid of the horrors that she would behold.
Slowly, the silence vanished back into the horizon, as a gasping breath, soon flooded her ears. At first, she thought the breathing was her own, but soon she realized, the rhythm was not in tuned to her racing heart. Slowly, Galinda cracked an eye open, and what she saw, made her heart swell with pain.
Elphaba, her Elphie, lay on top of her, shielding her from the arrows. Her face turned away from the blonde, all but glared at the encroaching arrows of silver, as one long slender arm wrapped protectively around the blonde's petite waist, the other, held up high, palm open, fingers splayed. Her eyes flickered up to see the barrage of arrows floating mere inches from impaling her, Fiyero, and Elphaba.
A hard gasp, slipped past Galinda's lips, as her eyes continued to stare in wonder and horror at the arrows, suspended in midair, the tips, barely piercing the tips of Elphaba's fingers.
With a wave, the arrows fall from the sky, clattering to the ground in a rainfall of metal and wood. No one dared move, nor speak, for no one knew exactly what to say, nor think.
One question haunted and hurt the blonde the most. Why, why did Elphaba save her? When mere moments before, she wanted nothing more, than to see them rot in hell, lost forever, within the current of crimson waves and darkness.
"Elphie?" whispers Galinda.
Slowly, Elphaba's eyes flicker towards the blonde, capturing her eyes in a tide of chocolate velvet. The two remained frozen, each peering into each other's eyes. Neither daring to move, or speak.
A whistling breeze swept through the throne room, tussling raven locks to billow around the emerald witch. For a split second, the breeze heightened, swirling almost violently around the emerald woman. Glitters of gold and white sparks danced around her, slowly melting the hideous mask till Elphaba, her Elphie's face returned. The sharp edges of her face softened, the darkness in her eyes melted away, the lackluster emerald returned to its original ethereal glow, and her raven locks, once again softened, returning to silk.
"Elphie" whispers Galinda.
Slowly, oleander fingers stretch towards sparkling emerald, and relishing in the feel of the warmth of her skin against the pads of her fingertips.
Smiling, Galinda's hand gently cradles Elphaba's cheek, and unconsciously, Elphaba nestles her face against the vibrant warmth, only the blonde witch could possess. And for this moment, there was nothing but warmth, of bliss, of happiness and Light. The darkness melted away, breaking the invisible chains once binding her soul to the encapsulating nightmare.
"Glin" whispers Elphaba.
For a moment, for a fleeting moment, Galinda dared hoped that the darkness once imprisoning her friend was finally gone. But even that fleeting moment of hope, could not last, for an ear-piercing scream, shattered the dreamscape, propelling the blonde to rivet back to reality.
Her eyes snap open, beholding the sight of her friend, writhing before her, emerald hands splayed out, trembling in pain, the look of absolute agony flashing across her friends face.
Confused, the blonde's eyes look past her friend, to see a guard stand above her friend, a sword buried hilt deep into her back, the tip of the sword half protruding from just beneath her ribs.
It clicked at that moment, for whilst the two were lost in each other's eyes, a Gale Officer had snuck up behind Elphaba, and had sliced her through with his sword.
Rage and darkness once again flooded her eyes, quelling the Light once radiating from within. The warmth flooding her body melts away, replaced once more by ice.
Letting out a roar of agony, Elphaba whips around; the handle of her umbrella clutched tight within her emerald hand. Swinging it, her umbrella slams hard against the guards face with such force, that he is sent flying towards the wall.
A sickening crunch of bones cracking, shattering, before the guards limp body slowly slides down the wall, and slumps to the floor in twisted mess of metal, limbs and blood.
Elphaba slowly, gracefully rises to her full height, her dark, onyx eyes glare maniacally back at the Sovereign ruler of Oz. The umbrella, still clutched tight within her fingers, rises up, till the tip once again points directly at the Wizard's heart.
"That" growls Elphaba, her voice low, and acidic. "Shall be the last time…you or your guards shall spill my blood. The next time…your blood and those who serve you…shall rain down upon these floors, staining the emeralds red"
"Elphie!" cries Galinda.
Whipping around, Elphaba glares icily back down at the bubbly blonde. Tears sparkle within her dark cerulean eyes, her hands rest placidly against her sides, as her limp blonde curls cascade over bruised and cut shoulders. She looked, so much like a doll, a broken doll dressed to the nines of the night.
"Please don't do this…come back to me" whispers Galinda.
Growling, Elphaba swings her umbrella back, before cracking it hard, across Galinda's cheek, sending her crashing to the ground. Stepping up next to her, Elphaba points the tip mere inches from Galinda's face; an ebony flame once again dancing along the edge of the tip.
"Don' . . " growls Elphaba through clenched teeth.
"Elphie…I love you…please…return to me" pleads Galinda.
Growling, Elphaba steps closer to the blonde. Raising her hand, she slaps Galinda hard across the face, before pointing the end of her umbrella once again, in the blonde's face.
"Don't say that!" screeches Elphaba.
"Fae" whispers Fiyero softly.
Startled, Elphaba's eyes dart away from the blonde's, and rest at the twisted face of Fiyero, lying in a pool of blood. His face was a deathly pale color, and if she closed her eyes and listened, she could hear the Prince's heart, slowly beat its last breath.
A strange presence overcame her, washing away the darkness. Opening her eyes, Elphaba mechanically walks over to the fallen Prince. Kneeling before him, a small, crystal tear dances down her cheek, leaving behind, a trail of red, vicious welts in its wake.
Slowly, she takes her free hand, and trembling, hovers it above the Prince's injuries. Closing her eyes, a strange, emerald glow appears around the two, growing stronger with each weak pulse of her heart.
Galinda watches, as Elphaba's slender lips, slowly move in rhythmic motion as she chants a spell beneath her breath.
The glow disappears, leaving both the Prince and the wicked witch in silence. The blood surrounding him vanishes, the wounds on his back have all but healed, and his skin, has once again taken on a healthy glow.
Relief washes over Galinda, knowing the Goodness within her friend's heart, had helped to win out, over the darkness, allowing her to heal her love.
"Elphie" whispers Galinda.
Slowly, long lashes flutter open, revealing magnificent sapphire.
Elphaba's breathe hitches within her throat, as Fiyero gazes back at her, lovingly. Weakly, Fiyero reaches a hand up to cup an emerald cheek.
"Fae" whispers Fiyero. "I knew you would return"
"Yero" whispers Elphaba hoarsely.
Closing her eyes, Elphaba's slender fingers intertwine with Fiyero's. Gently, Elphaba turns her head towards Fiyero's touch, kissing his hand.
The moment, though tender, does not last, for once again, the darkness within her takes over. Painfully, Elphaba wrenches herself away from Fiyero, as the last pieces of her light, fold beneath the darkness consuming her.
"Fae?" whispers Fiyero confused.
Taking her umbrella, Elphaba raises it high above her head. Her dark, ebony eyes stare imploringly back at her lover, as her body begins to seize.
An ebony plume of smoke, swirls around her, as the air starts to whip violently around the throne room, making everyone duck for cover.
As the plume of smoke all but consumes her, Elphaba manages to mouth the words "forgive me" before vanishing beneath billowing clouds of ash and smoke.
The smoke clears, Elphaba, and Langwidere have vanished, leaving only the Wizard, Morrible, Galinda, Fiyero and a contingent of Gale Soldiers alone in the emerald throne room.
"She's escaped" whispers Galinda.
"Not for long…Guards, search the perimeter, search all of Oz. I don't care if you have to tear all of Oz apart! Find her, seize her, and bring her to me!" roars the Wizard.
"Yes your Ozness!" replies the guard, as they slam their spears down on the ground, saluting the Wizard, before withdrawing from the Throne Room.
The Wizard and Morrible, lost in their own conversation, slowly disappear behind a heavily ornate door, leaving Galinda and Fiyero, alone in the great throne room.
"This was not what had promised me Madame!" snarls the Wizard as he storms through the door.
"Don't worry your Ozness…all will be rectified soon" replies Morrible, scuttling after him.
"You have no more control over this situation than she did. And now look what's happened! I knew I shouldn't have allowed you to go ahead with this plan!"
"Your Ozness!" Exclaims Morrible, recoiling in both fear and horror.
"No" snarls the Wizard, before stopping in his tracks. Whirling around, the Wizard points a menacing finger in Morrible's face. "You either fix this mess…or find someone who can!"
The rest of the conversation fades, as the great doors close, leaving Galinda and Fiyero alone once more in the aftermath the nightmare world the two had been imprisoned within.
"FiFi" whispers Galinda, as she turns to face Fiyero, still half lying on the ground. His arm rests at his side, holding him up. His dark, sapphire eyes stare at the vacant spot where his Fae, once kneeled before him, her breath, a ghost of a touch, tickling his skin, sending rippling sensations of warmth, to skip across his heart.
"She was here Glin…she had returned" replies Fiyero.
"Fiyero" replies Galinda.
"No Glin…she was here…you saw it! If not than why would she heal me! I was almost close to Death's door. She could have let me die, and yet" Fiyero's voice trails, as his mind continues to spin violently.
Unable to say anything more, Galinda merely give the Prince a small, painful smile, before turning her eyes heavenward.
"Elphie" whispers Galinda.
Meanwhile.
The darkest part of Oz, an old iron mountain rises into the ebony sky of night and stars. This mountain, was home to the gnomes, creatures of molten rock, who were long ago forbidden to ever leave their mountain, long ago banished to this barren land by the last ruling Ozma's.
It was here, where two figures materialized along the side of the great Gnome King's Mountain. An emerald hand, felt along the edge of the wall, while dark, onyx eyes scanned the area.
"Mistress…what exactly are you looking for?" asks Mystle.
"The entrance to the Gnome King's realm" growls Elphaba.
"The Gnome King!" squeaks Mystle, fear laced deep within her words.
"Yes you fool the Great Gnome King!" snarls Elphaba.
"But…why seek his help?" asks Mystle confused.
"He hates the Wizard and the people of Oz as much as We…he is the missing piece We need to put Our plan into action" growls Elphaba.
"But" starts Mystle, but her words soon die on her lips, as a great roar echoes around them, shaking the mountain, spilling rock and dust to rain down upon both Elphaba and Mystle's head.
"WHO DARES SEEK TO ENTER THE GREAT GNOME KINGS MOUNTAIN!"
"We do" smirks Elphaba.
Instantly, a face appears out of the rocks. Two blank eyes, stare incredulously back at Elphaba, sizing her up.
"AND WHO ARE YOU?"
"The One who seeks the utter destruction of the Wizard and his people" smiles Elphaba.
"YOU…A MERE MORTAL?" laughs the rock face.
"Not mortal…something much much more" cackles Elphaba.
"THE GREAT KING CARES NOT FOR ANY HELP…HE IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO TAKE DOWN THE WIZARD!" boasts the rock face.
"Not powerful enough alone. But with our help…he will be" smiles Elphaba.
"HOW EXACTLY" sniffs the face.
"Let me in, and I shall tell him"
A great crack and the side of the mountain that Elphaba and Mystle stand before opens up, allowing them access to the Gnome Kings dwelling. Smiling Elphaba takes Mystle's hand, and leads her deep inside the Mountain.
Following several networks of tunnels, Elphaba and Mystle finally step into an elaborate room made of Limestone and Mica. The walls were a dark, almost shimmering brown with large crystal emeralds poking out of the walls. Several creatures made of stone filled the room, all glaring back at the two. A few foot away, sat a man with long raven hair tied back by a leather strap. His onyx eyes stared bored at a silver chalice held tight within his thick fingers. The man was tall, with rippling muscles. This was the great Gnome King, a fearsome warrior.
"Your highness" bows Elphaba, as she and Mystle stand before the throne.
"WHO ARE YOU, AND WHY HAVE YOU SOUGHT ME AND MY PEOPLE!" roars the Gnome King, as he turns to stare back at Elphaba.
"Great King of the Gnomes, I come with a proposition" smiles Elphaba, as she bows before the King.
"A PROPOSITION? Of what?"
"Vengeance, vengeance against those who have wronged your people, who had banished you to this wretched land and stole your precious emeralds" replies Elphaba.
"AND HOW CAN YOU, A MERE MORTAL, HELP TO GIVE US VICTORY?" laughs the King.
"Chaos…Darkness, and the twisted magick of the most powerful witch in all of Oz" replies Elphaba, as she gracefully gestures towards herself.
"HA DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!"
"I assure you this is no joke" replies Elphaba, her voice full of anger.
"YOU A PUNY HUMAN CANNOT HELP ME. BEGONE, BEFOR I SEND MY HAREBRINGER HOUNDS TO TEAR YOU TO PIECES!"
Angrily, Elphaba spins her ebony umbrella around her in a graceful gesture, before aiming it at the King. With a snarl, she lets out a bolt of ebony electricity, shocking the King, and sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Now, do you doubt my power?" asks Elphaba.
All the gnomes stare in awe at the emerald witch, for no one, not even the great witches that came before her, were able to hurt the great King, and yet this witch, this woman with skin the same color and sheen as their precious emeralds, stands before them, toppling their great leader to crumble to the ground in pain and agony.
"WHO ARE YOU?" asks the King.
"Chaos Incarnate" smiles Elphaba.
A wicked smile slides across the Gnome King's lips as his eyes roam over Elphaba's body. Hungrily, he licks his lips, as his eyes trace the elegant curve of her hips, her perfect hourglass figure, and her bustling bust.
"PERHAPS WE CAN COME TO SOME ARRANGMENT…FOLLOW ME" replies the Gnome King, as he rises back to his feet.
Elphaba slams the tip of her umbrella down on the ground, before throwing it towards Mystle. Catching it, Mystle watches as Elphaba steps up next to the Gnome King.
Holding out his hand, Elphaba gracefully slides her hand in his, before following him to his hidden chambers, carved deep into the limestone and granite walls.
Snickers follow, before the sound of clothes ripping, moans and cries of ecstasy, echo within the chamber.
Shivering, Mystle covers her ears, as the moans grow louder.
'What have you done" replies Mystle.