Nessarose was in her unusually quiet office at nine in the morning on a Sunday. She never thought she'd miss just lying in bed beside Glinda. But she was happy her friend was enjoying her time in Ev. The letter she had received from Dr. Dillamond proved the blonde was genuinely happy and there weren't any recent scars. He explained how Glinda took an hour a day to write in her new journal. She wouldn't share the information with him, but he hadn't asked. Nessa figured once Glinda was ready to talk, she would.
There was a knock on her window, and Nessa looked over and saw the Crow she had hired to search Oz for Elphaba. She opened the window, hoping for good news. When the Crow smiled, Nessa knew she had found her. After all, Ral was one of the best detectives out there. "She was in the west," Ral said immediately.
"Where, exactly?" Nessa asked him, anxious as to find the whereabouts of Elphaba.
"Kiamo Ko in the Vinkus," Ral reported.
"Thank you so much for finding her," Nessa beamed as the black Bird flew into the room. "Go on down to my secretary and she'll make the arrangements for your payment."
"You're welcome. And thank you. Nobody has ever paid me so handsomely before," Ral said before he flew out of the room.
Nessa abandoned her work and ran through the mansion into her bedroom. She opened her closet and dragged a suitcase out she had prepared for when Ral found Elphaba. When she was in her wheelchair, traveling wasn't fun and very tiresome for both herself and whoever was the one lifting her from chair to carriage or train. She was enjoying her newfound freedom and planned to travel alone.
The governess carried her suitcase down the large staircase, wanting to leave immediately. If she left as soon as possible, the faster she could get back to Munchkinland to make sure she was back for Glinda's arrival. "Madame, what are you doing?" Boq asked her when she reached the bottom of the stairs. "Actually, I should ask where you are going?"
"Just a quick trip," Nessa replied hastily as she continued on her way. She heard Boq following her.
"Just a quick trip where, may I be so bold to ask?"
"The Vinkus. Nothing exciting, really," Nessarose had made it to the simple wagon instead of the luxurious carriage she usually used and put her suitcase inside. She double checked her purse and was satisfied with the amount of money in it. "Asper, a horse for the wagon, please," she said to one of the butlers. "Tell them to get a strong one. I'm going on a long trip."
"Yes, Madame," the butler bowed and made his way towards the stables.
"Madame, why are you going to the Vinkus?" Nessa grimaced at how proper Boq always spoke around her; it was somewhat infuriating. And, she still wondered, why in Oz he was still under her employment. They had gotten in an argument a few nights ago. He had called her ungrateful, and she had called him desperate. She told him to leave the mansion for good; Boq had stormed out of the room, but was there the next morning with her tea. She really wondered about him; he claimed to hate her, but he never left. She was beyond confused since he was giving her mixed signals. It didn't matter to her, though, because she didn't need a man to care for her. She was Nessarose Thropp, the Governess of Munchkinland, the Eminent Thropp!
"Why does it matter?" Nessa rolled her eyes.
"Well, then, who's going with you? That matters to me," Boq replied nonchalantly.
"And why is that?"
"Because for some reason, I care for you just a little bit. And it's my job to care about your wellbeing."
"If you must know, I am going alone," Nessarose stated proudly.
"Madame, you cannot go alone."
"Why not? I am perfectly capable."
"Sure," Boq chuckled. "A woman traveling alone, especially in the wilderness of the Vinkus, is not a smart move. Things can happen. Besides, you're an important figure and lead a country. I am pretty sure you'd be a good and easy target. Look, I'll accompany you so that you don't do anything stupid."
"I wouldn't do anything stupid," Nessa grumbled. "If Elphaba can handle herself, so can I. I am her sister, after all."
"You two are complete opposites. The only thing you have in common are some genetics."
"Fine, come along if you want," Nessa said after her horse was hooked up to the wagon. "I'll give you ten minutes to pack. If you aren't here in exactly ten minutes, I'm leaving without you."
"What do you think of this one?" Glinda questioned Dr. Dillamond. She pointed at a bracelet that was made of white gold and had light blue stones all around it. She smiled at its beauty, and she knew this was the one.
"It is beautiful, Glinda," Dr. Dillamond responded.
"I think Nessa will like it. Don't you?" she asked him without her eyes leaving the piece. "Lurline, Ev jewelry is exquisite."
"That it is. Now, is this the one?" Dr. Dillamond questioned. He didn't know that Glinda could spend all day mostly window shopping. She hadn't asked for anything for herself. Her only mission was to find Nessa a gift. He was glad that Nessarose had taken Glinda in while he was at Shiz. He, too, was scarred from his time in Southstairs as well as when they forced him to become an Animal. However, unlike Glinda, he was able to talk about it if he had to whereas she kept quiet.
"Yes it is!" Glinda nodded.
"I forgot to ask," Boq said. The two were sitting on the wagon with Nessa looking at the map occasionally and driving. She looked so determined as to whatever it was she was doing, and he felt himself enjoying her profile more than he should. "Why exactly are you going to the Vinkus?" She didn't turn towards him, but continued to look ahead, putting the map aside.
"I'm going to pay my sister a visit," she replied as if it was nothing. Boq's eyes went wide, being one of the few people who still knew who the Wicked Witch of the West was, as well as believing she was insane. Most people had moved on from the green skinned woman and focused more on the Wicked Witch of the North, if anything. However, a majority of the people shrugged their shoulders at the mention of any of the witches considering Glinda hadn't done anything in a while. But if they were to choose which one was the worst, everyone would say the Wicked Witch of the North while Boq would say the Wicked Witch of the West.
"Are you insane?" he asked her.
"Maybe."
"Why are you doing this?" he questioned, not wanting to fight. After all, he invited himself to go along on her journey across Oz.
"Well, she's my sister. I do miss her, but I am terribly mad at her for everything. But, I'm mainly doing this for Glinda. She loves Elphaba and I just figured it wouldn't hurt to reach out to my sister. I think Glinda needs Elphaba to heal properly," Nessa explained.
"Glinda doesn't need to heal," Boq said. Nessa shook her head at his ignorance, knowing that Boq didn't want to believe how tortured Glinda had been, how many times she was probably raped, how many times she wished for Elphaba to come save her from hell.
"You are so dense," Nessa replied.
"Dr. Dillamond?" Glinda said without taking her eyes off of the sunset. She gripped the rail of the balcony of their hotel room tightly, and she bit her lip nervously.
"Yes?"
"Am I…insane? Did I lose my mind?" Glinda asked the Goat.
"Of course not!" he assured her. "What makes you think that?"
"The way I killed some of the Gale Force; I killed, Dr. Dillamond. And what doesn't seem right is that I don't feel bad about it. I think it's wrong that I feel that way, but I cannot bring myself to feel bad about the lives I ended."
"Glinda, if I may say this, they were going to put you back in that Oz awful place," he said, realizing how he couldn't even bring himself to say Southstairs. He could think the word, but he couldn't say it. "If…if somebody could lock someone down there without feeling guilty, then they deserve to die. Think about all of the people you saved; you saved me from being merely an animal. You saved all of the Animals of Oz from being repressed."
"But I still killed," Glinda replied calmly. "Would Elphie judge me? Would she still love me?" Glinda let tears fall down her cheeks, but her expression was still the same.
Just another filler chapter. Next chapter will be more exciting, I promise! Thanks for the reviews and reading!