Thank you to LillyFae for reviewing. It is, but trial has to move along, doesn't it? And my inspiration right now is to finish this.

Thank you to chinaluv for reviewing.

Thank you to MyLittleElphie for reviewing. I'm glad you're enjoying the trial. They really don't have to find Duran, he just has to bet there. And is Glinda pregnant or poisoned? That's a good question.

Thank you to byalencar for reviewing. Good thing no one asked if they're lover! And this pregnant thing again. That would be an interesting twist.

Thank you to nursejoy7 for reviewing.

RavenCurls. Yes, a cliffie. Mayne to be resolved here?

Thank you to Varia for reviewing not once but three times! And finding Duran won't be that difficult.

Thank you to Bri for reviewing. I'm glad I hooked you. The promiscuous Gelphie scenes are in Reading the Signs. Try to keep it T here.

Thank you to TakeAMessageBackFromMe for reviewing. I'm glad you like the story! The heart to heart may (or may not) come. Sometimes people do not act the way they should.

My sincere apologies for the wait. I have been interviewing for jobs which has eaten most of my free time. I've gotten a bit of a lull, and just managed to get this together. As always, it turned out longer than I expected. I had hoped to conclude the trial in this chapter, but I hit a very good stopping point so I left it at that. The next chapter will be the last, encompassing the second half of the trial and the epilogue. After that, I post the first chapter of the sequel, but then switch gears to Reading the Sign for the foreseeable future.

As always, read, enjoy, review. Comments and critiques welcome, in review or pm.

2/14/14

The interim week was busy for Glinda. With the trial on hiatus, Glinda began to catch up on the work of Throne Minister. She did not think so much work could pile up over gone one day. Alas, it did.

Her first order of business was to call all her ministers in. The group had been stalling her; trying to wait her out until the next Throne Minister came in when they could go back to doing nothing. Glinda was not going to have it. The ministers entered with an air of smug satisfaction, feeling the revelations at the trial would weaken her. The men sat while Glinda stood with her back to them. Her deep purple ball gown enhanced her air of authority.

"I know you've been dragging your feet on my requests." Glinda started the meeting quickly.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Throne Minister." One of them said. Glinda did not care to distinguish which one.

"Oh, it is not a feeling; it is a fact." Glinda replied. Her voice was hard and cold, and the ministers shifted in their seats. This is not what they expected. "As such, you have failed at your jobs as ministers."

"That's a bit of an overstatement." Another said nervously.

"No. Once again, it is a fact. Just like it is a fact that your employment with this administration is over." Glinda countered. There were gasps as guards walked into the room. One man stood.

"You can't do this!" he protested. Finally, Glinda turned around.

"On the contrary." she replied, her eyes cold. The men shivered. "It is already done. You'll be taken to your offices to clear out your personal items. These men will supervise you. You are also banned from leaving the City for the next year. Just in case we find any evidence of impropriety."

Glinda gave them a smile, but it did not reach her eyes. As they were ushered away, the ministers knew they had underestimated Glinda the Good.

After installing her replacement ministers, Glinda went to tour the City's lower neighborhoods. As her coach clattered along the cobblestone road Glinda was disappointed that Elphaba could not be with her. For obvious reasons the veil disguise would no longer work, and she felt Elphaba's presence may still set some on edge.

Exiting her carriage, Glinda observed the crowd waiting for her. At the front there was still the adoring members of the lower classes, but Glinda heard the hushed whispers in the crowd. The mix was different now; those who idolized Elphaba now joined her own admirers, but some who detested Elphaba fell to the back.

Glinda moved amongst the crowd, touching hands and offering words of encouragement. Even those that approached her were more subdued. Glinda saw some shifting eyes in the crowd and suddenly her own blue locked with deep brown. Jui Lin had met her eyes. Glinda motioned that she should wait for her. Jui Lin nodded and went into a familiar building. Glinda then turned her attention back towards the crowd.

An hour later Glinda walked into the Upland School for Young Minds. Jui Lin was tending one of the young students but the boy instantly stopped paying attention when Glinda walked in. His eyes went wide and his mouth fell open. Glinda smiled at him.

"And just who might this be?" Glinda asked. The boy worked his mouth but could not answer.

"His name is Jamark. He was not doing his work so I decided a bit of a scolding may help." Jui Lin replied. Glinda smiled at the young boy.

"You don't want to go to do school work?" Glinda asked. The boy finally managed to eke out some noise.

"I'm sorry, Goodness. My mom says I should be thankful, but it's just so boring." He said, not looking at her.

"I understand. I wasn't much for school when I was younger." Glinda confessed. The boy looked wide eyed at while Jui Lin gave her a dismayed look.

"Really?"

"Really. But a good friend of mine who didn't have all the advantages I did showed me that it was worth it. Showed me that you have to work hard to get what you want in life. Especially if there was no one to help you, as in her case."

"Are you talking about the Wicked Witch?" the boy asked. Jui Lin grimaced but Glinda smiled.

"Yes, we are talking about Elphaba." Glinda answered.

"She isn't wicked?"

"No, she isn't; just misunderstood."

"But she's greeeeeeeeen." The boy emphasized.

"And I'm ivory; you're brown; and Miss Lin is red skinned." Glinda replied politely. Jiu Lin's eyes widened slightly. "We're all different colors. It would be silly to judge people on that."

"But she's reeeeeeeally a different color." The boy protested.

"Stick out your arm." Glinda said, and did her own. The boy did likewise, eyeing her as if she had gone crazy. "See? I'm so light and you're so dark. What's the difference with green?"

"No one's green."

"She is."

"Yes but-"

"Elves are."

"Yes but-"

"Faeries are."

"Yes but…but…"

"But?"

"Nothing." The boy said and looked down. Glinda smiled.

"Good. Now run off and do your homework. I have to talk to Miss Lin."

The boy sulked off after a few more words from Jiu Lin, and then the woman motioned towards a side room. Glinda lead and Jiu Lin shut the door behind them.

"So, how long have you known him?" Glinda asked. Jui Lin cocked her head.

"Who?"

"Don't be coy, Jui Lin. I saw the ring."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Duran, Jui Lin."

"I've only known him a few years; if you could say I knew him. I've only met him a handful of times when we crossed paths for some job."

"That's a lie. You wouldn't wear is sigil around your neck if that were true."

Jui Lin's hand came up to her chest and Glinda could tell she clasped something underneath. The darker woman closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.

"How did you know?"

"I've met a few of his adherents. They all have two things in common: he helped them and they wear his ring. So what did he do for you?" Glinda asked sternly.

"He saved me from some Gale Forcers who wanted entertainment." Jui Lin answered after a moment and opened her eyes. "They grabbed me while I was coming home from the market and pulled me into an alley. I screamed but none of the people passing by were going to stop. You don't interfere with the Gale Force; they're untouchable. Well, they thought were untouchable. Duran appeared and promptly told them to let me go. They went after him, and let's just say I would never want to meet Duran in a dark alley."

"What happened after?" Glinda asked softly.

"Some compatriots of his showed up and began removing the bodies. He took me home; made sure people watched over me. He took an interest when I said I wanted to teach and found me a mentor to apprentice to. I asked him how I could help after everything he did, and he gave me this ring; told me always be ready to answer the call if he needed me."

"How long ago was this?"

"Eleven years now."

"Eleven years?" Glinda whispered to herself. She turned her attention back to the other woman. "Jui Lin, do you know how to reach him? It's important for the trial."

"No. He reaches me."

"I see. Thank you."

"You summoned me, Throne Minister?" asked Ess Tee as he walked into a receiving room of the Palace. Glinda was facing away from the door in a green, admiring the lights of the city. Ess Tee took a moment to admiring the reflections of the City in the woman's dress. The lights dancing over the green ball gown made her seem as the City incarnate. Glinda turned at his voice.

"I did. I have orders for you." She answered evenly and motioned towards a document on the table. He strode over and opened it. Scanning the words, he inhaled sharply.

"This…is…effective immediately?" he asked. Glinda nodded.

"Yes. The Gale Force has turned into a corrupt institution that thinks itself above the law. Effective immediately, it is dissolved. Gale Forcers will be first tested for eligibility in the Emerald Palace Guard; if they are unsatisfactory, they will test for the Home Guard. If they fail that, they will be excused from service. Please coordinate with the Captain of the Palace Guard to see it done."

"Who will protect you then, Throne Minister?"

"In the City, the Emerald Palace Guard will see to the Throne Minister's safety. When they travel abroad, a specially selected regiment of Home Guard will serve that function. Is there anything else?"

"No, Throne Minister." He said with a bow. She nodded.

"Good."

The General of the Home Guard left. He gave a friendly nod to the man passing by to see the Throne Minster next. The man walked into the room and Glinda thought his mustachios less dramatic without his prominent smile.

"Avaric. To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked calmly. The man still did not break out into his charming smile, which began to worry Glinda.

"The Hall of Approval, what else? I'm sure your father has told you that the nominations for Throne Minister have stalled out."

"No, he hasn't. I haven't seen him in a week as I've been busy."

Avaric blinked. That was not like Glinda. "Of course. Well, they have. The rumor is that the Barons are doing it on purpose."

"To what end?" Glinda asked, voice hard and eyes narrowed. Avaric was put slightly off balance by this harsher Glinda.

"For one, they do not wish to elevate one of their own to greater prominence."

"That's simple; propose someone who isn't in the Hall. It's been done before. I didn't think them that dense."

"They are not. The larger reason is that they think if they do not choose a new Minister, you won't step down. While they may not like you, you are good for business."

"That's very foolish of them." Glinda responded coldly.

"I agree. I was wondering if you could come by and give them a kick in the pants."

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Avaric echoed, slightly shocked. "So soon?"

"I have just under two weeks left, Avaric. If they think I'm staying even an hour longer than that they are senile. So tomorrow. I assume you will arrange it?"

"Of course, Glinda." Avaric said.

"Then, I hate to be rude, but I have much to do." Glinda replied and turned away. "Thank you, Avaric, for your service."

"Of course, Throne Minister." Avaric said and bowed, but his words only met an empty room.

In another room of the Palace five hooded figures waited. They spoke softly to each other, discussing nothing much at all while eyeing their compatriots. This was the most each had ever seen, and it did not sit easily. A door on the far side opened, and Glinda entered. Each figure thought she looked like the City incarnate in her dress.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Please, uncloak and join me." Glinda said and took a seat in a large chair.

The figures glanced at each other but followed suit. Two took chairs with Glinda while the remaining sat on a small couch. Glinda smiled at them and reached for a pot. Pouring herself some tea, she whispered and it warmed. Placing a small pastry on a plate, she sat back with both. The figures looked at her, still hooded.

"Please, take down your hoods. I don't want to make it an order." Glinda said.

The figures glanced at each other for a moment. Finally, dirty blonde hair appeared as one dropped her hood. Glinda smiled at Pfannee. One by one the Adepts dropped their hoods. Light brown hair, dark brown hair, and dark red hair appeared. The last hesitated before dropping their own hood. Glinda concealed her shock well, but these women were trained how to read people.

"Sarima. I did not expect to see you here." Glinda said evenly. Sarima bowed her head.

"I'm sorry, My Lady." Sarima replied demurely. The Vinkun woman did not raise her eyes. The other Adepts held their breath in expectation.

"Things make a bit more sense now. However, that is all in the past. I'm guessing you are the Adept of the West?" Glinda said and Sarima relaxed. The tension left the room.

"Yes, My Lady."

"Please, Glinda will suffice for all of you. Speaking of which, some introductions are in order. I don't know any of you; however, you look familiar." Glinda said and pointed to one with light brown hair. "Locasta, wasn't it? I met you are a seminar."

"Yes, My- I mean, Glinda." The woman said. Glinda guessed the woman was a few years older than her. Only slightly taller than Glinda with golden brown skin, her features spoke of Munchkinland.

"You look like a Munchkinlander. Are you the Adept of the East?" Glinda inquired. The woman nodded.

"Yes, Glinda."

"And you are a sorceress?"

"A marginal one, yes."

"Even the best of us were once marginal. Keep working on it."

"Thank you."

"And you, Miss?" Glinda asked the one with dark brown hair.

"Gloma, Lady Glinda. I'm the Adept of the South." The dark haired, tanned woman said. Glinda saw she was a couple years younger than herself.

"You don't have Quadling features."

"I'm not; my parents immigrated from Munchkinland. My father is a merchant, mostly glass."

"Are you a sorceress?"

"Only slightly, Lady Glinda."

"Just Glinda, please. How do you mean slightly?"

"I took a correspondence course. Small spells like messages and other tricks I can do. I don't have a wand, or anything."

"I see. And you?" Glinda asked, referring to the redhead. The woman was the youngest of the group.

"Singra, Throne Minister. Adept of the City. I'm a basic sorceress; I just started training last year."

"I see. Well, it is a pleasure to meet all of you. I'm sure you know Miss Pfannee, Adept of the North?" Glinda asked, and the women nodded. "Good. Now I bet you wonder why I called you all here. I understand Morrible rarely let you know of each other."

"That's true, Lady Glinda." Locasta said.

"I called you to make you the same offer I did Pfannee. You can part from your lives as Adepts, no ill feelings or repercussions."

"Or?" Singra asked. Glinda smiled. All the women were astute.

"Or, you can continue in my service. I will not use you to control or subvert others; however, I have recently become aware that I may need talented friends I can rely on." Glinda finished. They looked at each other.

"What would we do for you?" Gloma asked.

"To start, you'd all continue or learn sorcery. Frankly, it is a magnificent resource to have. Pfannee here will be taking over the sorcery instruction at Shiz come the new school year; I'd want you all to be her students. Furthermore, I would supply you with a stipend to maintain your independence."

"And we would do the same as we are now?" asked Locasta.

"Probably less. I do not care to keep you separate, or direct your lives. Outside of my one demand, you would just keep your ear to the ground for me and possibly act as my representative in your region." Glinda finished. Pfannee scanned the four other women. Singra and Gloma were cautious, Locasta was excited, and Sarima…

"Yes! I will continue in your service, Glinda." Sarima jumped in. Glinda smiled at the young woman, who beamed back.

"I, also." Locasta said.

"And I." Gloma and Singra said almost in unison.

"Very good. Miss Pfannee has some bank scripts for you. I want you to get your affairs in order, and report to me in two weeks' time, the day after I step down from being Throne Minister. I'd like to interview you all personally, to learn more about you."

The women nodded, and Glinda smiled.

Elphaba wove her magic in front of her, sending air and water dancing around. The trees in the garden swayed with the breeze. Fog, water, air, clouds; all sprang to life and died at the emerald sorceress' command. Lounging on a blanket nearby, Fiyero looked on in amazement. His own green and gold uniform helped him blend in with the surroundings.

"Nice, Fae! You've gotten so much better at this." Fiyero said. Elphaba let the magic slip away and smiled at him.

"That's what daily practice will do for you. Especially against other top-tier sorceresses."

"Speaking of which, where is Glinda?" Fiyero asked and Elphaba frowned. She came over to sit next to Fiyero on the blanket.

"I don't know. She's missed the last week and a half of our practice. When I do see her it's late, and she's exhausted." Elphaba answered gloomily. Fiyero's own brown knitted.

"Throne Minister stuff?"

"I'd assume. She doesn't tell me." Elphaba grumped. Fiyero sighed.

"Probably. She's got twelve days left in office. I mean, she dissolved the Gale Force not two days ago!"

"Really?" Elphaba replied, surprised.

"Yep. It's been a headache for me, sifting through those that might be useful for the Palace Guard. I also heard she is going to be at the Hall of Approval meeting tonight. Something about encouraging us to pick a new Throne Minister."

"You think it will work?" Elphaba asked and started unwrapping her braid. Fiyero scooted over and took it from her hands. Elphaba stiffened for a moment, but let him.

"Probably not. They don't want to do it, and know Glinda won't leave Oz without a Throne Minister." Fiyero said as he finally undid the braid. He ran his fingers through Elphaba dark hair, and massaged her scalp near where the braid's base was. The emerald woman sighed.

"Don't be too sure." Elphaba retorted softly. "The Glinda everyone knew is still there, but there's another underneath."

"What do you mean?" Fiyero asked. He broadened the target of his massage to the rest of her head.

"I mean that underneath her smiles and good will a harder, colder woman now lies. Glinda keeps that part shut away in a small room of her mind, but if they back her into a corner she'll open the door. If she does, I pity those who stand in her way. An angel of wrath is a terrible foe to face."

"That was very…spiritual of you, Fae." Fiyero said uneasily. Her voice had drifted into an almost prophetic lilt.

"Not so. The more I study the Grimmerie, the more I see shades of things that exist. I can't see them clearly, not yet, but they cast shadows that are starting to make sense."

"Ok, Fae, I have to be honest; this is creeping me out." Fiyero said. Elphaba shook her head, dislodging his hands, and laughed. She stood while still laughing.

"As it should. Now, thanks for the massage, but I need to get back to practice."

"Throne Minister Glinda the Good." Intoned the Master of Arms.

The Hall of Approval rose and applauded as Glinda floated down the aisle. While most of the Hall was oblivious, Fiyero, Sarima, Avaric, and Vitorili knew that something was off. Her ball gown was of a red and gold style that she had never worn. Glinda also carried the large ornamental wand in her left hand. After a period of hand shaking and greetings, she finally reached the speakers platform. Turning to the assembled Barons, she motioned for them to sit. They did and the Hall quieted. Glinda lightly set the butt of her wand down, and looked regal.

"My good Barons of Oz, I must say it is a pleasure to be before you." Glinda started, her voice sweet and charming. The men in the Hall warmed at her words. Those that were close knew they hid something else. "It is good to see you doing Oz' work once again, and with your guidance Oz will have a bright future."

Applause erupted from the Hall, and it was not just from Glinda's supporters. The Barons were on their feet, cheering the woman that restored their power. Fiyero and company clapped uneasily. Glinda bowed her head with a humble smile. The applause slowly died out, and they resumed their seats.

"We have concluded a costly war with Munchkinland and members of this Hall have spearheaded the efforts to establish a peaceful relationship with them. We have brought back legitimacy to the Ozian government through the Hall and dismantled the Gale Force, banishing the specter of coups and leadership by brute force. We have expanded Ozian prosperity into the West and South, including those who have yearned to be a part of it, and they have made us stronger. Oz has come through a trying time and we are better for it. The future ahead is alight with possibilities."

Once again the Barons were on their feet applauding, and once again Glinda's demure smile graced her face. Looking about the Hall, she made eye contact with those that knew her, and tossed Fiyero a wink. As the applause died Glinda lifted the wand and paced a few feet to the left. Her posture had changed though, from sweet to something else.

"However, my dear Barons, I hear whispers of things." Glinda continued, and her voice had an eerie lilt to it. Fiyero swore he heard an echo of Morrible. "Whispers that the Hall is perhaps dragging its feet on their most important duty. Whispers that the Hall is not doing it because of any actual difficulty, but for their own benefit. That they do not wish for it to be done."

Glinda paused, and there were murmurs across the Hall. The young woman waited until they had stilled. None now were lost on the Throne Minister's demeanor; she was stalking prey.

"I thought, 'No, this cannot be true. The Barons that I had so championed would not do such a thing'." Glinda's voice held mock shock. Her voice then took on the sweet, dangerous edge. "Am I wrong to think it could be so, my dear Barons? That you of the Hall that I so recently reinstated would purposely be negligent in your duty?"

Glinda's cold blue eyes scanned the crowd, her head a slow pivot. The Hall knew what she was implying but none dared breach it. Most held the irrational hope that if they did bring it voice that Glinda would leave. Those that knew her held no such hope. As the minutes dragged on, one question took hold of every Baron's mind; who would say it?

"What duty, Throne Minister?" came the solitary other female voice in the room. There was a collective intake of breath and small groans from across the Hall. Glinda smiled predatorily at Sarima, who looked steadily back. The girl was playing her part well enough.

"Ah, Miss Sarima. Perhaps the single innocent in the den of scoundrels." Glinda replied, and a nervous chuckle cut across the room. Glinda shifted her gaze and her voice softened. "Not to insinuate you are a scoundrel, Popsicle, but you are a very charming gentlemen. And you know Momsie always says: beware charming men. That goes for you too, Fiyero. Master Tenmeadows I won't even dignify with separating from the scoundrels."

"Rightly so." Avaric replied, and relieved laughter broke across the Hall. Some thought that the young woman would soften. They were grievously mistaken. Avaric knew that the hard switches between moods was to open the Barons for the next part.

"But Throne Minister, you never answered my question." Sarima's voice cut across the din. Glinda's smile turned hungry again.

"Quite right, I did not." Came her cold voice. Most of the Barons took notice but had no time to brace themselves. "The duty of which this house is negligent is the selection of a new Throne Minister. There are eleven days left that this Hall can select one. It is then I will step down from my position."

Her icy eyes bored into the Barons. Her voice grew even colder, bringing winter with it.

"Make no mistake, my dear Barons," she said and this time they caught the patronizing tone, "in eleven days I will step down, be there a Throne Minister or not. I have done righteous by Oz, and leave with a clean conscious. If you cannot pick, then you best figure out how to run Oz yourselves."

"But My Lady, the process if long and difficult. It cannot be rushed. It may not be completed by that time and you cannot-" some Baron on the opposite side of Fiyero started.

"I can and I will, Viscount!" Glinda smashed her wand against the ground. There was a crack of thunder and the entire Hall flinched. Fiyero swore he saw lightning bleed from the corner of Glinda's eyes. "I have given Oz a decade of my life. A decade! And mine did not start at thirty-eight! It started just before I was twenty!"

The Viscount flinched; though Avaric thought not so much at the tone of the words but their content. The Viscount (of Carei) had been inducted into the Hall at the age of thirty-eight twenty years ago. Glinda had known who he was and used that information to emphasize her point.

"At the age when I should have been attending social gatherings I was touring Oz telling people how good things were." Glinda continued, her voice full of righteous indignation. "At the age when my friends were getting married, I was tending to the sick and hungry! At the age when my friends were having children, I was picking up the pieces of Oz and trying to make something out of it! At the age when I should have been watching my children having their first days of school, I was trying to avoid two states of Oz going to war!"

Glinda's voice started to drop in volume but not in vehemence.

"I have missed friends' and family' birthdays, weddings, births, and funerals; all because of my duty to Oz. I have watched this country hound my best friend, ostracize her, declare her wicked, kill her sister simply to hurt her, beat nearly to death her friend and my fiancé, and finally drive her from Oz' borders simply due to the circumstances of her birth. I have watched Oz sacrifice so many other good men and women, Animal and Ozian, simply to feed its own need."

Glinda's voice became a low growl.

"So when you say I can't, Viscount? Understand that come eleven days, I will. If you pick a Throne Minister and keep Oz moving along? Fine. If you let Oz fall into chaos? Fine by me also." Glinda's hard eyes roamed the crowd. "Because eleven days from now, I am done."

There was dead silence in the room. Most of the Barons had forgotten to breathe. Of those in attendance, only Fiyero had suspected something like this could come from her, and only due to Elphaba's warning. The stunned silence continued, and Glinda stared down the long aisle to see if any dared challenge her. None met her eyes. Finally, she broke the silence.

"If there are no further questions or comments, I must get back to work. Eleven days, Barons. Get to it."

And with that, Glinda the Good strode out of the Hall of Approval.

"I heard Glinda shocked the Hall today." Elphaba said. She was brushing her hair out as she prepared for bed. Fiyero was in the antechamber to her room, as it was not yet time for visitors to leave.

"Yeah, you could say that. Apparently Avaric had called her in to give them a kick in the pants."

"Was it?"

"As Avaric put it 'More like a kick in the balls'."

"Think it will work?"

"Already has. But I'll tell you something, Elphaba, I've never seen her like this. It was…terrifying. There's no other word for it. She almost seemed…."

"Wicked?" Elphaba postulated. Fiyero nodded his head.

"Yeah. I'm scared for her."

"Don't be. I told you, that Glinda is normally trapped in a room."

"That wasn't Glinda."

"Fiyero." Elphaba sighed and put down her brush. "That was Glinda. While we were gone, she had to do the hard work of building Oz all by herself. She made decisions that let bad people off, and got good people hurt because she believed it made Oz better as a whole. At the same time, she constantly had to put up with people mourning your death and cheering mine. The Glinda we knew is there, and the one we see most often. However, the cracks that formed from those years were filled with a harder, colder material. It's that she sometimes relies on."

"That's one of the saddest things I ever heard, Fae." Fiyero said. He sat down and put his head in his hands. Elphaba came up and ran a hand over his hair and braids.

"It is, Yero. It's the saddest thing I've ever seen. And you're a good man to recognize it. But it is not for us to fret; Glinda is tougher than we give her credit."

"I know."

A soft knock at the door and an Emerald Palace Guard entered.

"It's lights out, sir. All visitors have to leave." He said.

"Thank you, Yarrick." Fiyero answered and stood. "Good night Fae."

Fiyero left slowly, and Elphaba could tell that he now held another burden on his shoulders. Elphaba sighed. A few moments later the door opened again, and Glinda tiredly floated in with her red dress. Elphaba went to meet her.

"Here, let me help you with that." Elphaba said, and Glinda dutifully stopped so the emerald woman could loosen the cinches that held it tight. The dress fell away from her, and Glinda sighed at the sudden lightness. The blonde ran a hand to her neck and gently massaged it. She almost flinched when a warmer hand joined her own.

"Do you want a massage?" Elphaba asked. "I heard you had a big day today."

"No, thank you." Glinda said and stepped away. She did not see the frown on Elphaba's face. "I just want to go to bed."

The blonde tiredly walked away from the green woman and shut the adjoining door.

"Pleasant dreams, my sweet." Elphaba whispered, though she knew the blonde could not hear her.

The blonde shucked the rest of her clothes on her way to the bed, but spent just a moment to locate her training wand on the nightstand. Next to it was a smooth stone that fit in her palm. In the twilight that was the City of Emeralds, she gripped it tightly and focused on it. It warmed.

"Please, Duran, please get here as soon as you can. Not only for Elphie's sake, but my own."