Chapter Forty-Two: No More Excuses

She skipped breakfast the next morning, preferring to sleep in after the late night she'd had with Fiyero. After she rubbed oil on her aching muscles (refusing Fiyero's offer of "help" since she knew it would only cause further distraction), dressed and grabbed a bit of toast, she headed to find her best friend.

Glinda had been sitting in the small library, waiting expectantly with her eyebrows raised. "Up late, Elphaba?"

"Oh, stop."

"We'll have to get ready for the party in a few hours or so, you know."

"I don't see why we have to spend so much time getting ready for this stupid party when I'm not even actually engaged."

Glinda patted the couch beside her. "Let's talk about that."

"Please, don't." But she sat down. "I told him I'd stay. That's enough for now. If he wants more than that, he can tell me."

"And when he does tell you? What will you say?"

"I…"

"Just agree, will you? He's good for you, Elphie. And he loves you. I know it scares you, but you are so happy with him and you should stay happy. Please, give it a chance."

"I've given it a chance for a year now, you realize that, right?"

"I mean give marriage a chance, give the idea a chance. Stop obsessing over your preconceived notions on the idea of marriage and just think about whether or not you want him. It's that simple, Elphie."

As was usual lately, Glinda had a point. Her doubts had never had anything to do with Fiyero, but with the thought of forever, or the idea of marriage or children. That wasn't fair. The only thing that mattered should be him, right? "I don't know how to do simple."

"Don't worry about what you don't know how to do! What did I just tell you?"

"I worry. It's in my nature."

"You need to just let love take its course."

"I don't trust love enough for that."

"You trust him, right?"

"Of course."

"Then do what your heart tells you."

"Glinda, I've told you, the heart tells us nothing. That's a silly turn of phrase."

The young woman threw her hands in the air. "You're impossible. Just promise me, Elphie, that you'll consider marrying him?"

"I never said I wouldn't."

She didn't see Fiyero until moments before they entered the large hall where they were holding the engagement party. He smiled at her. "You look beautiful. As usual. You also look regal, just like a future queen should."

Elphaba decided not to remind him that she wasn't actually going to be queen. Instead, she nodded and asked, "How bad is this going to be? How many people will be here?"

"Quite a few, and they won't all be from my tribe. The kings of the other two tribes and their families have been invited. Everyone will want to see you, probably to meet you. I know this is a lot of pressure and I'm sorry, my love."

But it didn't scare her much. After everything they'd been through, this was just one more step. It wasn't so daunting when she saw it that way. Besides, if so many people wanted to meet her, she'd only have to say one or two things to each person, probably the same thing over and over. That should be simple enough.

His father introduced them. "I thought it would be a fitting occasion to have this celebration before my son's coronation tomorrow. As I'm sure you've heard, my son has chosen a bride. I would've preferred they'd been married already, but since he met his intended at school, the two of them have managed to avoid making any plans." The man turned to Fiyero and Elphaba, who stood in the corner of the room. "No more excuses, you two. Being busy with school isn't going to work anymore."

Elphaba swallowed hard. She hadn't thought about that. How much longer could she stay here without their little ruse being discovered? Shiz had helped them avoid making permanent plans, but, as his father had just so keenly pointed out, that was no longer a valid excuse. Fiyero squeezed her hand and she forced yet another smile.

"Now, the soon-to-be-wed couple will start off the dancing." Fiyero's father gestured to the center of the room as a small band began to play.

Fiyero pulled her to the middle of the hall and led her easily in a formal dance. She was so focused on making sure she got it right that she didn't even think about all the people who might be watching them. At the end, he drew her in for a deep kiss and the partygoers cheered.

"Are you excited for tomorrow?" She asked him as they sat down.

"I'd just like to make it through tonight." He replied.

She'd thought the party was more stressful for her than him, but looking at the concern on his face, maybe she'd been wrong. Was he worried about being found out? Did he think this wouldn't hold up under pressure? Elphaba slid her hand back into his and gave him a comforting smile, which seemed to surprise him. "I love you," she told him.

"I love you, too. Are you ready for the onslaught of people wanting to meet the future queen? You probably won't get up much all night. They'll come to you. I can stay with you if you want, Fae."

"If you want to. I think I can do this. I know I can get blunt and mean, but I also know how to handle myself, Fiyero."

"I know you can, believe me." He kissed her cheek. "I'll mingle a little, then. If we're in separate places, maybe not as many people will flock to us."

"That's a good idea."

"I might send Glinda over, though."

"It couldn't hurt."

Before Fiyero left the table, a middle-aged man came up and bowed to them. "Prince Fiyero, Mistress Elphaba."

Fiyero bowed in return. "King Nadko. I'm glad to see you here."

Elphaba stood and curtseyed. "A pleasure."

"I wanted to be the first to congratulate you. You see, I was the first of any of the Vinkun royalty to marry outside the Vinkus. My wife is a Quadling. She couldn't make it tonight. No one has married outside the Vinkus or much less outside their own tribe since I married my wife, and no one ever had before. I might not have come tonight, but when I heard you were marrying a young woman from Munchkinland, I wanted to be here."

"I didn't realize it was such a big deal," Elphaba said softly.

"I remember your wedding. I was very young, but I was there." Fiyero smiled at the man. "I suppose I should thank you. You set the precedent. I don't know if my parents would've allowed me to break tradition if it hadn't been done before – and successfully, I might add. You've forged some sort of alliance with the Quadlings, haven't you? A trade agreement? The Yunamata are known for it now."

"Yes. Maybe you can do the same. It is time we started to expand our views, isn't it?" He shook Fiyero's hand. "I wish you both the best."

"Thank you kindly," Elphaba smiled and curtseyed again.

By that point, a small line of people had begun to surround her and Fiyero excused himself. Glinda came up beside her and patted her shoulder. "Hey, Elphie."

She looked gratefully at her roommate and then back at the crowd of curious people, smiling politely and nodding as they spoke to her, not remembering a single name. It went on like that for what must've been hours. It only took minutes for her to start to wish she was back in the bedroom with Fiyero. Of course, by the time they headed back there, she was so exhausted she couldn't think of anything but sleep.

Fiyero followed her to his room, yawning. "That felt like so much longer than it was. It was tedious. But you did so well, Fae."

She laughed, reaching for the doorknob. "No wonder you kept me up all night. You knew I'd be too tired to do much of anything tonight. I just want to get back to your room…" She opened the door and froze.

"Our room, I hope," he murmured.