Thank you to heatqueen for reviewing. Glinda more disengaged from her parents in that moment and just put it away. And Elphaba may start to learn some control.
Thank you to MyLittleElphie for reviewing. Didn't go too badly at all. And sharing would be an interesting story indeed.
Thank you to Varia for reviewing. Mush's are always welcome.
Thanks to nursejoy7 for reviewing. I understand being busy.
Sorry about the wait, but I promise I'll be better. I've deep outlined the rest of this story and the first fifteen chapters of the sequel. Also, this chapter will place the story over a 100k words, and it has over 10k views. Thanks all who have been on this journey on me.
As always, read, enjoy, review. Comments and Critique welcome.
5/24/14
X
"One short day and were off to the lake house!" Glinda bubbled. The two women were sitting in Glinda's room and Elphaba's veil was undone but not off.
"And then we'll be done with these incessant social calls." Elphaba grumbled happily. Glinda pouted.
"Elphie, don't tell me the months of work has been undone already? It hasn't even been that long!"
"No. But you could never force me to like it." Elphaba replied. Glinda opened her mouth to reply but there was a knock at the door. A moment later her mother walked in.
"Dear, there's some callers for you here."
"Who?"
"Some old friends of yours from Shiz. Miss Pfannee of Pfann Hall, and Miss Shenshen Minkos nee Arivistus."
Elphaba's eyes narrowed and she quickly veiled herself. Glinda's face scrunched up into concern.
"Hm. I haven't seen those two in years." she said. "Well, best not to keep them waiting."
The two straightened up and went to the foyer. As was announced, there stood Pfannee and Shenshen dressed in fine livery. Glinda could almost hear Elphaba mentally sigh. Glinda smiled and floated down the stairs but Elphaba had to force herself not to trudge. She hoped the two women could not tell she was tense, but then again they were not the brightest pair.
"Miss Pfannee; Miss Shenshen; How nice to see you again! It's been too long." Glinda greeted.
"Yes. Ever since that nasty business with the Wicked Witch of the West." Pfannee replied, smiling. Glinda did not let it show the comment bothered her. She knew that Elphaba would brush it off.
"Yes. It was quite a trying time for everyone." Glinda deflected. "But let's not talk about such times. We should talk about happier things."
Glinda motioned to the parlor and the three women moved into it while Elphaba brought up the rear. Elphaba could tell that Pfannee was paying close attention to her. She attributed it to the women's distaste for the lower class. Elphaba chose her customary seat near the door while the women sat at the table.
"So, we hear you had an adventure of sorts; kidnapped, how dreadful!" Pfannee said.
"Yes; it was very trying." Glinda replied.
"What did they want?" Shenshen asked.
"I don't rightly know. Their leader, a sorceress of some kind, kept ranting about how she could take over Oz now she had me. It did not make much sense." Glinda lied easily. She had been saying it enough over the past two weeks.
"Did you recognize her?" Pfannee inquired. "I thought all you witches knew each other."
"I'm a sorceress, Pfannee. I'd like to point that out."
"I'm so sorry."
"It's fine. Most Ozian's don't know the difference. But no, I didn't recognize her."
"I can only imagine what a hideous sight she was. Most witches are." Pfannee continued.
"She was a sorceress, Pfannee, and just because they are evil does not mean they look it."
"Oh, dear me. I just assumed since the Wicked Witch was so ugly."
"I've found, Pfannee, that sometime the most wicked people are those that are the handsomest." Glinda replied evenly.
"Oh, but we would never think you evil, Miss Glinda." Shenshen said. "You're far too good."
"Quite true, Shenshen." Pfannee added.
"Thank you, both, ladies." Glinda replied.
"Let's be onto happier things. This talk of doom and gloom is depressing." Shenshen said. "Have you thought about settling down, Glinda?"
"No." she replied stiffly. "I have been much too busy."
"Oh, well, you should." Shenshen continued. "Having a man take care of all the work is nice. It's almost as if you don't have to think. Marrying was one of the best decisions I made."
"I'm still heartbroken over the loss of Fiyero." Glinda replied, adding a bit of sadness into her voice.
"Oh, Glinda, I'm so sorry! We didn't mean to bring up such sad memories!" Pfannee apologized.
"Yes; do cheer up! We shall talk of other things." Shenshen added.
After that, they moved onto idle conversation of little importance. Glinda controlled her impatience of this mundane prattle, wondering how she had stood it before. Then again, that was a decade ago now, and things had changed. After another hour, Glinda begged apologies at a busy schedule and saw the two ladies off with a fond farewell. The two smiled and walked to their carriage.
As soon as Glinda and Elphaba were inside Elphaba unhooked her veil.
"That was painful." She said.
"Yes it was."
"I don't know how, but I think they knew it was me."
"Elphie, you're letting your paranoia run away with you again."
"I don't think so. Pfannee seemed especially antagonizing."
"She was always like that. I think, my love, you're letting your intense dislike ascribe motives that weren't there. Aside from pettiness."
"Perhaps you're right."
"Good. Now let us relax. We have at least two more of these today."
Elphaba groaned.
X
"Well, that was interesting." Pfannee said. They were aboard the train from Frottica to Wittica in a private compartment.
"Yes it was. Not even a peep." Shenshen replied. "That's not the Elphaba I remember."
"She has been in hiding for almost a year. Apparently she has learned to control herself."
"Will it be much more difficult for you to force her out, then?"
"The plan wasn't necessarily to do that. Both of them are just as tired as I am. I was trying to make Elphaba reveal herself so they would have to move before they would have been full strength. Then I could have ambushed them again, perhaps getting another Adept to help."
"Why can't you get one to help anyway?"
"All the other Adepts are much less experienced than I am, and less trained. They're mostly for espionage." At Shenshen's confused look, Pfannee smiled lovingly. "Spying, my dear."
"Oh."
"Anyway, Morrible doesn't like us associating because she's afraid we'll try to usurp her. But if I could get them to move in a weakened state, I'm sure she would have agreed. Now, however, we have to wait."
"How are you going to keep an eye on them from Wittica?"
"Remember when I accidently sneezed into my powder?"
"Yes. How embarrassing."
"Well, that actually is a tracking powder. I can scry for it easily."
"Oh."
"Now, my dear lady, all we can do is we wait."
"And what could we do until they move?"
"I have a few ideas."
X
"Elphie, come on!" Glinda yelled.
She was standing just outside the cabin by the lake. Elphaba, mumbling inside, thought she looked a picture. Her one piece light blue swimsuit that covered her entire torso was accented by a white sunhat and matching wrap for her legs. Elphaba, the other hand, was clad in black one piece with similar hat and wrap. She had never felt so exposed in her life.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." She grumbled. Glinda sighed.
"Well, you always protested in school. Remember that time you threw a fit in front of everyone?"
"It was not a fit. It was a well-constructed argument."
"Elphie; there is nothing else you could call your rant about the objectification of women by forcing them to swim. Really, we were covered up more than the boys were."
"It's true! The progressive sexualization of women's clothing…" Elphaba started and Glinda tuned her out.
Glinda walked down to the beach and stopped in front of the water. Elphaba followed, continuing to rant. Glinda smiled and dropped her wrap, revealing her long legs. She stretched up and then bent to touch her toes.
"And with that…." Elphaba's voice died out as she watched Glinda warm up. Glinda gave her butt a little wiggle, and Elphaba realized she was being teased. She looked up to see Glinda grinning, who giggled.
"Thought that would get you attention. Now, let's swim!" she yelled happily and tore off to the water. Elphaba smiled and followed at a much more subdued pace.
Glinda splashed happily into the water and then dove in. Elphaba slipped more cautiously into it. She never particularly liked swimming and most did not invite her to do so. Elphaba reasoned it had something to do with her skin. The water was cool to her and it helped eliminate some of the coming summer heat. Elphaba was startled when something large and wet jumped on her back, toppling her forward. She came up sputtering to see a smiling Glinda.
"What was that for?" Elphaba asked.
"Because I felt like it."
"What?"
"Yep, just like this." Glinda answered and tackled Elphaba. The green woman fell backwards, her bottom landing hard in the sand. She posted up onto her elbows to glare at her blonde. Glinda just giggled and captured Elphaba's pressed lips with hers. The blonde released a less chagrined looking Elphaba and giggled again. She ground her hips a little.
"Oh, I see why my romance novels always have a hot beach scene." Glinda cooed. Elphaba arched an eyebrow.
"You read that trash?"
"Something has to get a girl by. And not for a while now. I have something better." Glinda replied and bent low again.
X
"Why don't you want to go ring today?" Glinda huffed the next day, arms crossed.
"I've done quite enough riding for my lifetime, my sweet." Elphaba replied with a slight smile. "Plus, I think I'm still getting sand out of places that it shouldn't be."
"I'm sorry. How was I supposed to know it gets everywhere?" Glinda pouted.
"Did they leave that part out of your smut novels?"
"Yes."
Elphaba smiled and leaned down to catch those pouting lips in her own. The blonde tried not to soften her pout, but eventually melted, wrapping her arm around Elphaba. When Elphaba broke the kiss Glinda sighed and put her head against the taller woman's chest.
"So what do you want to do, Elphie?"
"I think we should start practicing our spells some more."
"That's all you ever want to do; study and practice. Oh, and exercise."
"I haven't heard you complaining about the exercise." Elphaba replied and Glinda grinned. She reached around and grabbed large handfuls of Elphaba.
"It does give you a great butt."
"Glinda!"
"Oh please. There's no one around to see us."
"Still. Behave."
"I have a better idea. How about we makes some magic of our own, and then we can practice."
"Is that all you ever think about?"
"I have six years to make up, Elphie. I thought you alone would understand needing to devote time to catching up."
"That has to be the absolute worst line I have ever heard." Elphaba said with a grin.
"Really? Worse than all of Avaric's?"
"Maybe not."
"So?"
"So."
"What do you think?"
"A lot of things."
"Elphie!"
"I think it is a marvelous idea, my sweet."
X
Later, Glinda was practicing with her wand. The witches had moved on from simple water spells to combining water and air magics. Glinda was currently trying to conjure a cloud. Elphaba was lounging in the nearby chair. Neither woman had completely redressed. Glinda was in her short camisole. Elphaba was in one of her sleeveless button up frocks, but the buttons were undone, leaving an unbroken trail of green from neck to navel. Her breasts were hidden by the edges of the frocks with just a tease of the swell. All in all it was making it very difficult for Glinda to concentrate.
"Focus." Elphaba drawled. Glinda frowned. Since when did Elphaba drawl? She had never drawled in all the times she knew her. "Focus."
The cloud slowly coalesced across from her and began to rain small droplets. Glinda let sigh of happiness, but the cloud exploded and poured water all over her. Elphaba cackled, standing, and Glinda glared. Both of their attentions were broken by a polite cough. They turned to see her mother standing at the corner of the cabin.
"Momsie!" she squeaked and blushed. She hurried for her top dress. Elphaba turned a deep violet and spun around to button her own, and then do her hair.
"Hello, darling. I see you two have been busy." She said and Glinda blushed as she threw her dress on. "Come dear; they are respectable now."
At the call her father came around the corner. Both women blushed deeper.
"Popsicle! Did you see…"
"No, princess. I did round the corner for a second but turned around when I noticed the clothes pile. I thought it best for your mother to see the state of your dress, as I remember you are not comfortable with people seeing your skin, Miss Elphaba."
"Thank you." Elphaba replied, blushing. "It's nothing personal."
"I know." Vitorili replied. "A father always thinks about protecting his girls, even from himself."
"Oh Popsicle!" Glinda said and threw herself at him. He caught her with practiced ease and pet her head. She sniffled happily. Elphaba walked up to him shyly.
"I'm not the one to be overly expressive, Vitorili, but understand these past couple of weeks has meant much to me. My own father was not like you, and you have been more a father to me than him." Elphaba blushed a bit, and looked down. She added awkwardly. "I like our talks."
"I do too, Miss Elphaba."
"Can I…give you a hug?" she asked. Vitorili smiled and let go of Glinda (who happily latched onto her mother). Elphaba smiled and embraced him.
"You will always have a place with us, Elphaba." He said. "With or without my cupcake."
"Why did you come, Momsie; Popsicle? Not that I mind having you around."
"Four reasons." Her father said and let go of Elphaba. "One: to make sure you're both still alive. Check. Two: to make sure you haven't fled somewhere without telling us. Check. Three: to bring you food and supplies. They're in the cart so we'll mark it up as in progress. Four: to give you news."
"Oh."
"I'll go inside, dears, while you straighten up and your father brings in the supplies from the cart." Larena said. Vitorili sighed.
"You know what they say, Miss Elphaba." he said with and threw her a wink. "No rest for the wicked."
"Boo, Popsicle. Bad joke." Glinda grumbled. Elphaba laughed and he did too. He smiled and moved around the cabin back towards the front. Larena watched him go with a slight smile on her lips. She sighed.
"He's quite charming." Elphaba said.
"That he is. What did I say, Galinda, about charming men?" Larena replied.
"To be wary of them." Glinda answered.
"And that is still true. My parents' should have agreed when he asked for my hand; except that he charmed them. So, always be careful. Charming men get much more than you think possible." She replied with amusement, and moved into the cabin.
"Now I know where you get it from." Elphaba said and Glinda smiled.
"Momsie can be quite charming herself, so I get it from both."
X
"So, what news?"
"It seems that Jinjuria has stopped heading south and has turned eastward." Vitorili said quietly. Glinda blinked and Elphaba's brow furrowed.
"Eastward? Why?" Glinda asked.
"I'm guessing Boq finally got enough troops together so they couldn't storm Colwen Grounds." Elphaba answered and Vitorili nodded.
"Yes. Reports are that Jinjuria has been arming and training her female recruits. She's serious about it now." He said.
"But why east? Is she heading to Gillikin?" Elphaba asked.
"No. She would get no traction here, and I don't think she is going to Quadling Country either." Vitorili answered. "The only thing I can think of is that she is making for the Emerald City."
"No." Glinda gasped. "There's no way she could beat the Gale Force and the Home Guard."
"Unless she turned the women of the City against them." Elphaba countered.
"Even if not, she will be dragging Munchkinland's militia behind her like a tail." Vitorili responded. "If she shows up with a large army, and sways the City's women to her side, the Gale Force and Home Guard could be in for it. Combined with having a Munchkinland army right there, it is a very explosive situation."
"I agree." Elphaba said, "But there's not really much we can do about it right now."
"I know." Vitorili replied and stood up. "I just thought you should be informed."
"Thank you." Glinda said and gave him a hug, followed by her mother.
"Take care, darlings." Larena said and she wrapped her arm around Vitorili's. They saw them out and watched as Vitorili helped Larena up into the cart. Soon, they were just a speck in the distance.
X
Glinda padded slowly onto the patio deck wrapped in her fluffy pink robe. The moonlight cast deep shadows over the world, but she could still see the object of her search. Elphaba stood, a tower of shadows herself, staring into the distance. Oddly, she had wrapped herself in her dark robes and placed her old hat upon her head.
"I'm sorry that I woke you." Came her voice, timid and soft.
"Fiyero again?" Glinda asked.
"Yes."
"He always had that annoying habit of showing up when you least expect it." Glinda joked and she saw Elphaba relax slightly.
"That he did."
"The same as last time?"
"Yes. But this time he told me he loved me." Elphaba all but whispered. Glinda's heart froze.
"I…see." Was all that she could think to say. Elphaba did not seem to notice.
"That's when I woke up. I saw you, and how beautiful you look when you're sleeping, and I just had to leave. Had to get away. Something has been eating at me, Glinda. Something I don't know the answer to."
Glinda said nothing. She realized this was not a conversation, but a confession. Her mind, body, and soul stood frozen, waiting for the next words.
"What if I still love him?" Elphaba whispered to the moon. Glinda shattered inside, the words she feared now being out in the open.
"Do you?" the words were dredged up from somewhere, and Glinda was surprised to find it was her own voice.
"I don't know. No…Yes…Maybe." Elphaba bumbled. Glinda saw her shoulders begin to rise and fall quickly, and heard Elphaba's ragged breathing becoming louder.
"Elphie, calm down. Close your eyes and focus on something. The cloud spell." Glinda said. She saw Elphaba square her shoulder and take a deep breath, and a few minutes later her breathing had returned to normal.
"Glinda, I…"
"Tell me, Elphie, do you love him?"
"I don't know. I think-"
"Don't think. Feel. Close your eyes and feel."
There was silence, an eternity and a moment.
"Yes." Elphaba said quietly and she turned around. She was staring at her feet, and the moonlight cast dark shadows over her face. "But I love you too."
"Are you sure? Not as a friend and not just because of everything?"
"I…I don't know. How could I tell if it were? All I know…all that I'm certain of…is that you're the most important thing in the world to me."
Elphaba finally looked up and Glinda could see the look of terror on her face. She walked over and placed a hand on Elphaba's cheek.
"That's all I need to know." Glinda lied. She was worried Elphaba would notice, as she could always tell, but the look of relief on her face told Glinda she had missed it. The emerald woman leaned down and captured Glinda's lips needfully. Glinda responded in kind.
"Let's go inside, my sweet." Elphaba suggested huskily as they broke the kiss. Glinda shook her head.
Glinda went to kneel, and pulled Elphaba to follow. She pushed Elphaba lightly and the emerald witch switched to sitting. Glinda kissed her, and the pressure caused Elphaba to lean backward. Glinda stood and bestrode her, slipping out of her fluffy robe. Seeing the pale moonlight bathing her lover, Elphaba was reminded of the dream she had. As Glinda's hands started sliding over her shoulders, divesting her of her own robe, Elphaba went to remove the hat.
"Leave it." Glinda's voice commanded and Elphaba removed her hand.
Soon, Elphaba was bare to the world and Glinda pressed her back against the spread robes. The blonde sat on Elphaba's hips and leaned down to press her lips against hers. The sensation of Glinda's skin against hers caused Elphaba to moan into the kiss and wrap her arms around Glinda.
Glinda's hands began to roam, and Elphaba's clenched her back in paroxysms of pleasure. Glinda broke the kiss from her emerald lover and hungrily began to work her way down Elphaba's body, reveling in the sounds of her witch. Elphaba gasped at the sensation of warmth contrasting with the chill of the night air. Something about the openness of their act of love with the moon above her uninhibited Elphaba and her moans carried across the night.
When Glinda rested Elphaba turned the buxom blonde over and admired her in the moonlight. As always, Glinda felt her skin warm at the look of pure need and adoration in Elphaba's eyes. A thought came into her head and she could not help but giggle.
"What?" Elphaba asked amused.
"Oh no. Is the Wicked Witch going to ravage me in the moonlight?" Glinda giggled. Elphaba gave her a quizzical look until she remembered and then she cackled.
"It may not be me swooping down to your balcony, but the moonlight is there." She replied sultrily. Glinda shivered.
"Then let's not waste it."
X
The next week, the women were waiting as the cart pulled up. They had seen it coming. Both women were concerned when they saw both parents' serious faces, and Elphaba's only deepened when she noticed they had another horse with them. Elphaba also noted that the supplies it carried were not for another week of stay.
"Momsie. Popsicle. What's going on?" Glinda asked. Vitorili got down and helped his wife as custom. Both did not say anything until they were in front of them.
"The situation has changed. Let's go inside and talk." Vitorili said.
"Ok, Popsicle."
The three women walked into the cabin and sat at the dinner table. Vitorili remained standing. This put both witches on edge.
"We heard news from the Emerald City. Apparently, your old school teacher is no longer imprisoned." He started.
"Did the Administration release her?" Elphaba asked angrily.
"No." Vitorili responded grimly. "The rioting in the Emerald City has continued, and when Jinjuria started moving towards it the military got nervous. Not a couple of days ago the Gale Force, led by their commander Cherrystone, overthrew the Throne Minister and set Morrible in his place. She is now the Throne Minister."
The news hit the women as a blow. Glinda looked shocked as Elphaba's face slowly hardened. Vitorili watched as a dangerous look appeared in her eyes. Elphaba stood.
"We need to leave then." Elphaba said, voice emotionless. "If Morrible is in charge, we are no longer safe. She'll be coming for us."
"Maybe she already has." Vitorili added, and Elphaba looked at him. "Coups don't just happen. They take planning. Something tells me that she has had some hand in this entire situation."
"The sorceress certainly." Elphaba agreed, and Vitorili nodded. "What I don't understand is why they did not elect this Cherrystone Throne Minister."
"The barons and court never like having a military man in power. It solidifies too much power behind them."
"I see. So, what's the plan?" Elphaba asked.
"We start your move to Kiamo Ko. There's a path through the Pertha Hills that will take you near the Great Kells. Do you know the way to Kiamo Ko from there?"
"Yes. Through the Pertha Hills and down to the Vinkus were part of the Gillikin underground railroad." Elphaba replied and the others looked at her.
"You built and underground railroad?" Glinda asked.
"No, my sweet. It's an analogy. The underground railroad was a series of paths and safe houses to smuggle the Animals and Resistance around Gillikin. They stretched from the Great Gillikin Forest to the Vinkus to Glikkun and even to the Emerald City."
"Fascinating." Vitorili said. "So you know the path already?"
"Not from here."
"Ok. We will take to it and set you on the way. I've brought a horse for the both of you, some clothes, and the supplies to get you there."
"Thank you, Vitorili. We should start packing right away."
"Of course. I'll prepare your horse."
X
Glinda was standing in front of the cabin. She had switched into her riding gear, a light white and blue ensemble. Her father had let her know that the Vinkus was a bit hotter than Gillikin. Elphaba had packed their things up as Glinda had changed, and then sent her ahead to put them on the horse. Glinda was handing the bags to her father when she heard her mother gasp. Glinda turned and was shocked by the sight.
Elphaba was dressed in all black. She had black knee high boots that led up into a black mid-calf skirt. Her bodice hugged tightly over a blouse that flowed into long dark sleeves. The entire ensemble was loose enough to move in but tight enough not to get caught. Elphaba threw her black mantle over her shoulders, and placed her witch's hat firmly on her head.
"Uh, Elphie? That's not exactly inconspicuous. Rather the opposite, I would say." Glinda said. Elphaba turned to her.
"If the bitch is back, then so is the witch."
X
Author's Note: The inspiration for Elphaba's dress was a cover from Legends of Oz: The Wicked West. It is the Oz story through the Wild West lens. I haven't read it but the picture of Elphaba on a horse is amazing.