Chapter 14: Crage Hall at Shiz, The Same Day
Elphaba bit her lip, choosing her words carefully. "Galinda, I think Morrible knows more about what just happened than she's letting on. If she knows who did this, I want to know, too." She was careful not to directly accuse the old woman of orchestrating the murder herself.
"There are hundreds of reasons why that is a bad idea. First of all, I don't control what secret I see. Usually it's the worst one. That may not be it. Second of all, Morrible knows about my power, remember? She's the one who has been working with me on controlling it!" Galinda looked at her, shaking her head with incredulity.
Galinda was right. This sudden idea of hers did pose quite the risk. But she couldn't think of any other way to find out, to make certain the right person was accused and hopefully punished. "I can't feel it when you do it. She can't, either. And if she knows you've been getting better at controlling it and it's an accidental brush of the hand, she won't think anything of it." Except maybe she would. Morrible, for all her faults, was an adept and intelligent woman.
"I don't know, Elphie. And I'm certain Morrible has no idea what happened to him. It was probably a terrible accident. Why would she hide anything about it, anyway?"
"I just had this feeling when we talked to her that she knew more than she was letting on. And…" Elphaba decided to lie. If it convinced Galinda to do something for the greater good, it couldn't hurt. "I'm worried that since Fiyero confessed to finding the body, she'll suspect that he did something awful. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to him." She heard her own voice get weak as she said it, but she hadn't been trying to make it sound that way.
Galinda gave her a sympathetic hug. "Oh, Elphie, you really love him. I'm sure he'll be fine. After all, he didn't do anything wrong."
She didn't deny Galinda's statement, hoping it would work in her favor. "Sometimes that's not enough."
"I'll see if I can maybe do something." Galinda sighed. "But I make no promises."
At least it was a step in the right direction. "Thank you. You're such a good friend." And she meant that.
Ama Clutch hadn't returned when the girls went to bed less than an hour later, but it was early yet and they assumed she'd be back before they woke. Elphaba stayed up, staring at the ceiling and trying not to think about anything. It didn't work well, and images of Dr. Dillamond's twisted corpse haunted her memory as she tossed and turned.
She didn't even know she'd been asleep when a loud, authoritative knock came at their door. Elphaba sat up, seeing Galinda do the same. Galinda hopped out of the bed and went straight to the door, Elphaba just behind her.
"Girls," Madame Morrible was standing there, her brow furrowed. "Good morning. I'm sorry about the early hour, but it was an urgent matter."
Perhaps they would be questioning her, after all. "Of course, Madame. If you need to ask me anything, I'll answer as best as I can."
"I'm afraid it's not about the unfortunate accident, ladies. And it concerns both of you. May I come in?"
Elphaba merely nodded, quickly getting out of the doorway and pulling out her desk chair for Morrible to sit on. She sat on the edge of her bed, and Galinda did the same. "What is it?"
"I have some distressing news. I realize how unpleasant the timing is. Things like this never strike just once. Last night, Ama Clutch was found in a daze, wandering not far from campus. The Gale Force picked her up, and at some point one of the things she babbled led them to believe she'd come from here. I have placed her in the infirmary. Those moments of terrible confusion that you, Miss Galinda, said she always had, have seemed to become more long-term. I hope that she will recover, but it doesn't appear to be clearing up."
Galinda stood. "I need to see her. She's my Ama!"
Madame Morrible nodded. "I had expected that. I will take you to her as soon as we are finished here. I must urge you to be careful, though, when it comes to physical contact? I worry about what sort of damage any visions or feelings could do to you coming from such a damaged mind."
Elphaba wondered for a moment if she should go with Galinda, but decided not to offer. Galinda had always been fond of Ama Clutch, and perhaps she needed to be alone. So she merely sat quietly, waiting for Morrible to continue.
"I'm willing to wait a week for this situation to resolve. I understand this is difficult. But we can't have the two of you without a chaperone. Other arrangements will have to be made if Ama Clutch does not recover."
Elphaba cringed. Would they separate her from Galinda? For the first time, she realized how much she genuinely liked her roommate, and she didn't want their friendship to be torn apart. They'd shared so much, secrets they'd never tell another person. Galinda had been the only person - outside of Fiyero, and their situation was anything but ordinary - that she could call a friend. While she liked being independent, she also enjoyed having friendships. "Is there anything we can do?"
"Find another Ama, I suppose."
But Amas weren't cheap, and usually they'd been with a young woman since she was an infant. Galinda's family likely couldn't afford that (though she'd probably never admit it). Her mind raced trying to solve the problem. This could be a problem for more than just her friendship with Galinda. Another Ama might question her father more, wonder why he pulled her out of the dorms on Saturday night when church was Sunday morning. She needed to speak with her father. "Madame Morrible?"
"Yes, dear?"
"As you know, my father lives here in town. Between Dr. Dillamond's death and this news, I'm a bit overwhelmed. May I have permission to go seek out the comfort of his church?"
"It's understandable that you might be devastated, Miss Elphaba. Of course you may go see your father." Madame Morrible stood up. "Miss Galinda, I'll be at the front of the building once you have changed and are ready to see Ama Clutch." She hovered in the doorway for a moment. "Again, ladies, I'm sorry about all of this."
Galinda immediately began changing. "It's not possible," she muttered.
"What isn't?"
"Ama Clutch's illness worsening. It can't."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I made it up!" She exclaimed tearfully. "She never had flights of fancy or periods of confusion. I made it up so she wouldn't put me in the group hall!"
"Galinda, there are plenty of things that could cause those symptoms, though. Perhaps she hit her head." Elphaba didn't want to upset Galinda further by agreeing with her that it was a strange turn of events, though she thought so. When she had more time, she might investigate it, but it was crucial she talk to her father first.
"Maybe you're right." Galinda sighed. "I just… she seemed so normal. And why was she out of the room?"
"I can't answer that for you, Galinda. Maybe when you see her, she'll be coherent enough to explain." Elphaba tried.
"I wouldn't count on it." Galinda grabbed her purse. "Um, Elphie?"
"What?"
"Don't stay with your father too long. I… well, it'll be lonely here without either of you when I come back from visiting Ama Clutch and it would just feel odd."
So Elphaba did something she'd never done before, had never even considered. She hugged the blonde tightly. "I'll be back as soon as I can. I'm sorry, Galinda."
Galinda hugged her back. "Me, too," she whispered before she left.
Elphaba finished gathering her things and dressing before leaving the room herself. She rushed across town to her father's church. It was still evening, and they never locked the doors anyway. She let herself in and gazed around the rectory.
There were candles everywhere, some were lit. She knew her father always kept one lit for her mother, and wondered which one it was. Elphaba shuddered a bit. She'd never liked it inside a church. It felt stifling and false.
Her father must've heard footsteps, for he came out from an open doorway. "Elphaba?"
"Father, something has happened at Shiz." Elphaba sat down in the front pew. "Actually, a few things have happened. Yesterday, a professor died. They haven't told us what happened yet. But last night, Galinda's Ama was found. She's unstable. They don't know what happened. Madame Morrible said that if she hasn't resolved the situation within the week, they might put us in the group dorms. Father, you know I can't… too many people would notice my absence."
Her father surprised her by smiling as he sat beside her. "This is quite convenient."
"What?"
"I had been thinking that perhaps it was time to send Nessa to Shiz. Of course, Nanny would have to join her. I was going to wait until the fall, and have you moved into a room with them, just the three of you. But this presents the perfect opportunity. And Nanny will assist in making sure that you have the appropriate time and place to be alone with Prince Fiyero and conceive Our Savior…"
But that would still separate her from Galinda, wouldn't it? "Father, I'm not leaving my roommate."
"Fine, fine. I'm sure Nessa and Nanny can take the adjoining room. It would be good for Nessa to meet new people, anyway." Frex shrugged. "I knew the Unnamed God would make things happen as they should!"
Elphaba bit back her rage at that comment. Her father's implication that the Unnamed God had caused Dr. Dillamond's death and Ama Clutch's illness just to make certain she and Fiyero could be alone was outrageous. But she knew better than to fight him on this now. At least he would let her stay with Galinda. "I should get back," she said quickly.
"Did you say you had no Ama for the next few days?"
"Father, don't." She knew what he was thinking. But she and Fiyero needed to recover from what they'd seen. And weekday evenings were her time - time to study and talk to Galinda and read. Her father couldn't have those.
"Why not? Maybe it's a sign."
"Father, I'm sure they'll be monitoring my coming and going even more since they knew there is no Ama present in our suite. It would be too big a risk." She doubted Morrible would pay attention to her at all, actually, with all of the chaos.
He frowned. "I suppose that makes sense."
She hoped that her father didn't think that using Nanny as her chaperone would make it possible for her to spend weekday nights with Fiyero. Elphaba needed to get her work done. And while she was fond of Fiyero, she didn't have the time to see him constantly, even if she wanted to, which she didn't… well, not really.
"I will meet with this Madame Morrible tomorrow and get this all sorted out, Fabala. Don't worry about it."
Elphaba nodded and stood up. Galinda had wanted her back as soon as possible, and she did want to tell her what the plan was, anyway. "Thank you, Father. I'll see you this weekend."
"And Fabala?"
Elphaba looked at him.
"Nanny will have access to your room. She will know if you're taking or keeping anything that you shouldn't be. If it happens again, I'll pull you out of Shiz and you'll be locked in that inn. The only human contact you'll have is him, and not for companionship." He gave her a stern look before he waved her off.
She nodded. "I understand." Elphaba fled the building after that, not wanting to hear more. It had been her decision, and she didn't regret that she'd taken the potion. But she did realize it hadn't been fair to Fiyero - she didn't much care if it upset her father, though. And now, though she didn't relish the thought of getting pregnant, it didn't bother her nearly as much. With each passing day, she got more and more frustrated with the current state of affairs in Oz.
Dr. Dillamond was dead - possibly murdered by her own headmistress. He was dead likely for nothing more than being different. No one cared, and no one would bother to look into it. Did that mean the Wizard condoned it? She couldn't allow things like this to continue to happen. If having this child was the only way to change things, the only way for a rebellion, then she'd do what she had to.
Elphaba wondered what questions Madame Morrible had asked Fiyero, and if he had been plagued by constant images of the body splayed out on that floor, as she had all night. She wished she could go and check on him, talk with him. It occurred to her that there wouldn't be anymore alone time with him outside that room. They couldn't walk freely and slowly back to her room every other evening, chatting as they went. And it surprised her to realize that she was disappointed about it.
Galinda looked up as she entered. Without saying anything, she merely shook her head sadly.
"It wasn't good?"
"She's completely out of it. Nothing she says makes any sense. I was so tempted to touch her and to try and find out what was wrong, but Madame Morrible warned me."
"And in this case, Galinda, I actually understand why she would be concerned about that. You said you feel what the other person feels. Imagine how it must be inside her head. It could be overwhelming." Elphaba sat beside her.
Galinda sighed. "It's not Galinda, anymore. It's Glinda. For Dr. Dillamond, and for Ama Clutch. I'm not her anymore, anyway. I haven't been."
"That's a nice gesture," Elphaba said halfheartedly. She doubted it would make a difference, but for Galinda, it was a grand decision. She had always been so haughty about the pronunciation of her name.
"Are you well? You saw him dead, Elphie."
"I'll be fine," she said.
"We should have a memorial or something, just our friends. Have a drink in his honor and talk about him, all the memories of his class." Galinda suggested.
"Next week. It's too… it's too fresh right now," she admitted. "I'd also like to see what sort of announcement Morrible makes about it."
"You don't trust her, do you?"
"Obviously not." Elphaba took her roommate's hand. "Look, I understand she's your mentor. She's clearly taken a major interest in you. That's great. Something doesn't feel right."
"She's never been anything but helpful and kind to me, though. When I was struggling with those visions and feelings, she's the one who helped me."
"I know, Glinda."
"I'm not going to spy on her for you."
"I understand." She was disappointed, but perhaps maybe with time, Glinda would come around. For the time being, however, she would have to do this on her own.
