Chapter Three:
The maid pulled hard on the taut strings of the corseted dress that was on Galinda's body. Galinda gasped in pain as she felt her waist and ribs being crushed by the hard bodice. She gripped the posts of her bed with digging nails as she gritted her teeth.
"Beauty is pain, Galinda," reminded Larena as she entered her daughter's bedroom dressed in a pale shade of purple.
"Then I must look stunning because I feel like I'm going to faint," grimaced Galinda as she stood up, and released her death grip on the posts.
She turned to face her mother.
Larena's eyes suddenly got glossy, "You do look stunning," she said choked up as she reached for a tissue. She dabbed her eyes lightly, "You look like an angel from the Other World."
Galinda tried hard to resist the urge to roll her eyes at her mother's dramatics. She moved to a full-length mirror as her mother tried to compose herself again, and looked at the reflection.
Even though she flaunted her looks a lot, Galinda could not deny that she had never looked more beautiful than today. Her blonde hair was curled in bouncy glittering locks, her eyes were lined in silver eye shadow and black mascara and eyeliner, highlighting the dark blue in them, and her mouth was the perfect shade of red lipstick. Her dress was simply gorgeous. A tight lace bodice with a sweetheart neckline that showed just enough of her breasts for it to be acceptable to wear with all ages of people around. The skirt was just out enough so that Galinda could move her legs around, and it was adorned with silver roses. In her hair were a silver rose hair clip and a small veil that covered her eyes hung from the clip.
"Everyone is here, the last time I checked," said Larena as she glided towards her daughter. She hugged her tightly, "You're going to be so happy with him, Galinda. I promise you."
Galinda felt tears brimming her eyes but she stopped them and forced herself to smile at her mother graciously, "Thank you, Mom. Can you call Elphie in to make sure I'm ready?"
Larena's face drooped at the mention of the only green guest and maid of honor, and she smiled and turned away to fetch her.
Galinda dismissed the maid away and stood, gazing at her reflection until Elphaba knocked on the door asking to come in.
Galinda opened it for her, and shut it when she entered. As Elphaba walked in, Galinda got a good look at her dress. It was not black Lurline above Galinda could not believe that but a very pretty dark blue color with a simple design on the front of crossed stitching. Elphaba had her hair down for once, in pretty black waves, and a silver rose hair clip was in her hair as well. Larena had decided that if all the girls were going to be wearing different dresses than they could all at least wear the same hair clip. If Elphaba didn't like the clip than she was keeping her opinions to herself.
"I think you should change the honorific on the programs," said Elphaba after a moment of silence.
Galinda raised a questionable eyebrow at her, "Why?"
"Because I think my title now is the maid of horror. Of course I'm just going by people's reactions to when they see me…" Elphaba snorted, and Galinda found it endearing.
"You are my maid of honor, and yes honor not horror for a reason. You're my best friend," said Galinda simply.
"Then you obviously don't have many friends if I'm your best friend," Elphaba smirked and Galinda giggled but the action caused her stomach to stretch in a corset that did not allow stretching.
She grimaced, and Elphaba noticed.
"How tight is that dress?"
"Like a second skin," replied Galinda in a mutter.
Silence brought Galinda to move about in that tight dress, and she stiffly sat down next to Elphaba on the edge of the bed.
"So how many people do you really know out there? Because they all look ancient," commented Elphaba dryly.
"Our group of friends, a couple of people from my town, and the rest of all Chuffrey's business men and co-workers," said Galinda.
She continued; "I haven't even seen him at all this week. It's been hectic, going from this store to that store, buying these flowers, getting this type of food… and I didn't sleep well last night either," admitted the blonde.
"Nerves?" guessed Elphaba as she looked straight ahead at the door.
Galinda gulped, "Yes."
"I wouldn't worry. I mean I've never been to a wedding before, so I don't know what's the worst that could happen but I've seen some funerals get out of hand and-"
Galinda stopped her with a glare, "Elphaba. You're not helping. And it's not the wedding I'm worried about… it's everything afterwards…" she trailed off leaving Elphaba to fill in the blanks.
"Oh, yes well I'm sorry but I can't help you there my sweet. Maybe it will be a one time thing where you get pregnant, have an heir and you're done." The statement was said with the driest sarcasm Galinda had ever heard and she whimpered in response.
Galinda buried her face in her hands and almost had a nervous breakdown when she felt Elphaba's arms around her.
"Galinda, I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you. It's just- I can't promise you anything because I don't know what will happen tonight. No one can promise you anything."
Galinda's crying ceased and from her leaned over state she wailed, "Can I die from bleeding to death?"
At this, Elphaba yanked the blonde up and sat her up straight.
"Galinda, listen to me. You are not going to die. You're going to be just fine. I'm sure he'll be gentle with you. Try and enjoy it."
Galinda sniffled and wiped the tears off of her face. "I guess."
"Besides," said the green girl with a false smile, "You love children, right?"
"Yeah," said the blonde as she finally stopped crying.
Galinda compensated on that for a minute or two, "I feel much better now, Elphaba thank you."
Galinda looked at Elphaba and the two friends smiled at each other.
The door opened then and in walked both of Galinda's parents.
"Alright darling, it's time!" squealed Larena as she ran over to Galinda and hugged her fiercely. Galinda could feel the blood draining from her face but she arranged a smile on her face instead. Her mother then strode off to take her seat, and it was just Galinda, Elphaba, and her father.
Taking one last glance at Elphaba before she slid her arm into her father's, Elphaba winked at the blonde, making her feel secure. She looked at her father and watched as the rest of her bridesmaids lined themselves after Elphaba. They were mostly girls from Frottica, and then Elphaba. Galinda wouldn't have had it any other way.
"You ready?" her father asked giving her hand a light squeeze.
Galinda nodded, and then gripped her father's arm tightly when the music began to play, "Don't let go of me until we get to the altar, promise?" whispered Galinda as fear clenched her stomach.
"I promise," swore her father as the doors opened and they started walking down the aisle. Galinda was flabbergasted at just how many people were here. The lines of pews seemed to go on forever and she remained steady as she strode slowly down the carpet.
Everything was going fine, Galinda was smiling at the numerous guests; Madame Morrible, Shen-Shen, Pfannee, Fiyero, Boq, Avaric, Crope and Tibbett, and the other people that she had no idea who they were.
Finally she came to altar where Sir Chuffrey was standing. She had been so nervous that she hadn't looked at him at all as she came down the aisle. She was too stressed about not wanting to trip in her white 5' heels.
Her father unlocked his arm from hers, hugged and kissed her, and then gave her to Chuffrey who held her hands in his.
Galinda watched nervously, trying to keep that smile on her face, as the bridesmaids came, and the ring bearers, who were Galinda's little cousins. Galinda waited for Elphaba to arrive, and had purposely put her last so that Galinda could make sure that no said anything about her friend while she was walking.
Suddenly Elphaba appeared in the doorway and began in her walk in her army combat boots. Galinda struggled to keep herself from giggling. Elphaba was certainly not comfortable with all eyes on her, but she kept her own glued to Galinda's either as a warning that she was going to kill her after this or she was so nervous she couldn't look at anyone else.
Galinda heard Crope and Tibbett call out something obnoxious that made all the friends in the charmed circle from Shiz laugh but no one else. Even Elphaba apparently heard it and was now trying to keep her face expressionless but bouts of laughter kept creeping up in her smile.
She made it to the altar and handed Galinda her bouquet of white roses, "You owe me for this," she whispered as she took her spot behind Galinda. The blonde smirked.
The priest now held up his hands and Galinda focused her attention on Chuffrey.
He looked very nice with his graying hair combed back, and his black tuxedo made him look very presentable. His dark eyes though had no emotion in them and he stared at her blankly.
"You look beautiful," he commented in a low gruff voice, though it sounded like someone told him to say that. Either way, Galinda thanked him and told him that he looked handsome. He merely nodded at the remark.
Suddenly Galinda felt hot, burning actually and her whole body felt like someone set a fire to it. Her skin was radiating off heat, and she felt her cheeks flush redder and redder. She couldn't understand why she was feeling this way. She squirmed in the dress, trying to loosen the corset thinking that was the problem but Galinda only felt hotter and sicker.
Nerves, she told herself, its just nerves. Galinda took a long deep breath to calm herself but that did not help either.
She watched as the priest was saying things, but Galinda couldn't hear him. The images in front of her became blurry and she felt herself swaying.
"Catch her she's going to faint!" she heard Elphaba yell, and Galinda briefly wondered if Elphaba was talking about Galinda or someone else.
It was only a matter of time before Galinda crumpled to the floor in a faint…
While her world was dark, Galinda could still hear the voices around her talking.
"She needs… shock-" said a voice familiar to her, probably her mother.
"I'll kiss her, I will be-" rang out Boq's unmistakable voice as he jumped at the opportunity to what was it? Kiss her?
"Shut up, munchkin that won't give… shock… someone else…" piped up Crope and Tibbett.
"If no one…. I will," said a voice as Galinda's world became darker and darker and her hearing faded away.
The next thing Galinda saw when she woke up was Elphaba's lips pressed against hers.
I had to do that! Hehe, I'm having way too much fun with this story! Warning: next chapter will be gruesome. Do not read if you are under age 13!
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