AN: Yes, another update, because I'm happy :D. You know how I originally failed one of my exams? I was very anxious about the resit this Monday, because if I didn't pass this time, I'd have to do an extra Master year.

Today, however, I went through the exam with my teacher, and it turned out that I only missed two points to have me pass... and then he gave me two extra points, so I PASSED MY EXAM! :D I thought I'd share my happiness with you through an update ^^.

Oh, yeah: credits for the "ding-a-ling" in the previous chapter go to my friend Meike. I nearly pissed myself when she tweeted that and she agreed to let me use it in this story :P.

3.

Elphaba mostly spent her time with Kevon and Cyara after that, enjoying the company of both. Nessarose often joined them when they were walking through the gardens or having tea in one of the sitting rooms. Elphaba and Kevon could sit in the library and endlessly discuss books or politics; and Cyara sometimes took the green girl out horseback riding, once she had learnt that Elphaba liked doing that.

Kevon was the one who finally told Elphaba what she had wanted to know from the start – what the real reason was that she and Fiyero had to be married.

"Having been a politics student at Shiz University," he began solemnly, "you have probably heard all about the Animal banns and the Wizard's anti-Animal campaign."

Elphaba nodded, staring down at her hands in her lap. "I couldn't believe it at first," she said softly. "The Wizard… he's always been my hero, ever since I was a little girl. When I started taking my Sorcery classes, I was even told that I could meet him, possibly work with him… I dreamt of that for about a year. But then it became common knowledge that the Wizard was the one installing the Animals banns in the first place. He was the one who ordered the production of cages and who started shipping Animals away to live in separate communities, away from the humans. I wanted to change something after I graduated – I wanted to make a difference in Oz, to help the Animals… but the moment I received my degree, I was whisked away by my father to Munchkinland and not long thereafter he told me I was going to be married to Fiyero."

Kevon reached out to squeeze her knee, at which she jumped slightly, but then she managed a shy smile at him. He returned it.

"Fiyero's parents don't agree with the Wizard," he said. "They wanted to find a way to fight His Ozness' decisions, planning on either changing the Wizard's policies or overthrowing him altogether. However, they could not do that alone and so they needed an alliance. Gillikin insists on mostly staying neutral and the Glikkus agrees whole-heartedly with the Wizard, so those two provinces are not an option. An agreement has been struck with Quadling Country, but your father was not so easily persuaded. Eventually, Humberto and Danna offered Frexspar a marriage between their crown prince and his eldest daughter, and he agreed to give the Vinkus Munchkinland's support. That is the real reason why you're here."

She was looking at him in astonishment. "Are you serious?"

He nodded.

She was completely dumbstruck. "So, basically," she said slowly, "by marrying Fiyero, I am, indirectly, helping the Animals and changing things in Oz…"

Kevon smiled. "Basically, yes."

He was a little surprised when he saw the look on her face and realised that she was actually excited now.

"That," she said, "is a much better reason than the one I have been given so far. Changing the world is something big. Even if I'm doing it indirectly, I'm still contributing to the greater good. I thought my only purpose from now on was to keep Mr Prince from doing stupid things."

"That, too," Kevon said in amusement. "And preventing him from plummeting the Vinkus into disaster, of course. Once Humberto and Danna step down and you two rule the province, you're going to be the brains of the Vinkus, Elphaba. Think about that."

Her eyes were shining. "I'll be doing something that matters." She gave him a smile. "Thank you," she said sincerely, "for telling me this. Knowing this, I… I don't think I'd mind so much anymore, to marry Fiyero."

Kevon blinked. "Because there's a good reason for this marriage?"

"I don't think I'll ever be happy with him," she said softly. "But I can be unhappy if I know that it makes a difference for someone else. My happiness is a small sacrifice if that means the Animals will be safe again and Oz is going to change. I had never really counted on being happy, anyway," she admitted, fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "Shiz changed me – a lot – but I have always suspected that Father would either marry me off after graduation or keep me to take care of Nessa for the rest of my life. At least this way, there's a purpose bigger than my husband, or Nessa, or me."

Kevon shook his head. "You are a remarkable girl."

She smiled wryly. "I know."

"I meant that in a good way."

She met his gaze and was startled at what she saw there. She lowered her eyes, mumbling, "Thank you."

He patted her shoulder and then returned to his book, as she thought about everything he had said.

"Elphie!"

Fiyero peered into the hallway when he heard this strange exclamation, only to find a young woman that looked suspiciously like a cupcake throwing herself at Elphaba in a big hug. Much to his surprise, he saw Elphaba hugging the girl back. He hadn't thought Elphaba was even capable of hugging.

Cyara brushed past him, grabbing his arm and dragging him into the hallway behind her. "You must be Galinda!" she said brightly, letting go of her brother. "I've already heard a lot about you from both Elphaba and Nessarose. I'm Cyara," she introduced herself and Galinda gasped and curtseyed.

"Your Highness."

"Oh, no need for that," Cyara waved her away.

Galinda looked at Fiyero and her face lit up. "Ooh. Is that your husband-to-be, Elphie?" She grinned. "He's handsome!"

Elphaba, however, had stiffened, and she was avoiding Fiyero's gaze, staring instead at the floor.

"Yes," she said timidly. "That's Fiyero."

She had not so much as spoken to him ever since their little encounter in the hot springs, but she didn't seem angry with him, exactly. He was sure that if she had been angry, she would have done something to let him know – yell at him, or slap him, or hex him again. Instead she had turned quiet and she looked like a beaten puppy, which maybe unnerved him even more, because it made him feel guilty. Maybe he had been a little mean to her… okay, he had definitely been very mean to her. He had expected her to fight back, though, not… this.

"Nice to meet you," Galinda gushed, grabbing Fiyero's hand and shaking it enthusiastically. "My name is Galinda Upland. Of the Upper Uplands," she added. "It's a pleasure, Your Highness."

"You can call me Fiyero," he said and Galinda giggled, eyeing him up and down.

"Okay."

"Why don't we go to the parlour to have tea?" Nessarose suggested.

"Mum wants me and Cyara to attend some meeting," Fiyero interjected quickly. "We'll join you later, though."

The others agreed and Fiyero pulled his sister with him. Once they were out of the girls' sight, she yanked her arm free from his grip.

"What was that about?" she demanded. "What meeting?"

"No meeting," Fiyero said, peeking around the corner. "I'm just curious. I want to know what they're saying."

"About you," Cyara said knowingly and he flushed a little.

"Is it so bad that I want to know what my future bride thinks of me?"

"Considering the fact that you have been nothing but rude to her and she mostly ignores you," Cyara said drily, "I think I can guess what your future bride thinks of you, Fiyero."

He looked cross. "I still want to know." He waited until Elphaba, Nessarose, and Galinda had disappeared into the parlour and then went into the room beside it, which was an empty study. He searched for a hole in the wall, knowing it would be there, and smiled when he found it. Leaning down, he peered through the hole. He could just see the side of Galinda's face, but only the back of Elphaba's head. Nessarose was entirely out of his sight.

"So, Elphie," Galinda began, her blue eyes twinkling. "Tell me about him."

Elphaba shrugged. "What's there to tell? He's Fiyero Tiggular – you already know all about him. You're the one who filled our entire dorm room at Shiz with pictures of him from magazines, not me."

Galinda made an embarrassed sound. "Well, of course I did. He's handsome," she protested feebly. Fiyero couldn't see Elphaba's face, but he knew she was probably smirking.

"I don't want to know all the things you read in magazines, though," Galinda continued. "I want to know what he's like."

There was a brief silence. "He's alright," Elphaba muttered finally. "He seems… nice. We haven't really spent that much time together yet."

Galinda was frowning. "Nice? Is that all?"

"Oh, come on, Fabala," Nessarose suddenly burst out. "He's not nice. He's mean to you and he insults you all the time."

Elphaba sighed. "Okay, but… it doesn't matter," she said. "It's nothing new."

"Maybe not," Galinda said, "but he's going to be your husband, Elphie. Is it about your skin?"

Elphaba's shoulders rose and fell in a half-shrug. "Mostly, I guess. He thinks I'm repulsive," she admitted and Fiyero heard Galinda gasp. "Oh, don't be like that, Glin," Elphaba chided her friend. "He's not responding to me any differently than ninety percent of the other people in my life. I'm used to it."

"But you don't like it," Nessarose said. "What happened the other day, now that we're talking about this? At first, you and Fiyero only yelled at one another all the time; but now he's only insulting you occasionally, and you have been strangely quiet. Did something happen?"

"Nothing," Elphaba said. "It doesn't matter."

"It does if it upsets you," Nessa argued.

Galinda leant forward. "Elphie, we're your friends," she said gently. "You can talk to us. And if we need to murder your fiancé for you, we will."

Elphaba huffed a laugh. "Thanks, Galinda, but I could do that myself. I don't think it would be much appreciated, though." Her voice became softer. "And besides, he hasn't said anything that isn't true. Can we talk about something else now?"

Fiyero pulled away from the hole, unsure of how to feel about this.

"And?" Cyara asked from behind Fiyero. She was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

He bit his lip.

"Do you feel like a hero now? Making your future bride feel inferior because her skin is a different colour?" Cyara's eyes flashed dangerously – a look Fiyero had hardly ever seen on her before. "You disgust me," she spat at him before leaving with her head held high.

Fiyero hung his head. All of a sudden, he disgusted himself, too.