Chapter 27
Elphie
"I AM OZ, THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE! WHO ARE YOU, AND WHY DO YOU SEEK ME?"
Elphie gave a gusty sigh. "For Lurline's sake, Oscar, it's me, Elphie."
"Oh! Elphie! I didn't realize!" Oscar came out from behind his great head. "Sorry, you know it's hard for me to see people's faces when I'm back there." He took her hand warmly. "Welcome home, Elphie! Wonderful job down in Quadling Country! Thanks to you, every part of Oz is now connected economically. Well done!"
"So, Madam Morrible is dismissed?"
"And in Southstairs awaiting trial. You were right, Elphie. She was plotting to overthrow me. I should've listened to you." He paused. "Elphie? You know Lukas Valentinis, right?"
"Yes," Elphie said slowly. "Why?"
"Come with me. There's something I think you should see."
Concerned, Elphie followed Oscar down several flights of steps, down to the basement of the Palace. Oscar nodded at two guards, and Elphie realized that they were in fact in Southstairs. "Oscar, I don't need proof that Madam Morrible's incarcerated. If you say you arrested her, you arrested her."
Oscar shook his head. "We're not here to see Madam Morrible. Here." He led her down one more hallway, which dead ended into a cell. The inhabitant of the cell shocked Elphie. She stepped closer.
"Lukas?"
He growled at her, and slammed against the bars.
"Lukas? Hey, Lukas, it's me, Elphie. It's Emerald."
Lukas bared his teeth and growled again, looking her right in the eyes.
She tried again. "It's Elphaba. You know? From Restwater High School? We had Biology together senior year with Ms. Greyling, who really didn't know anything about biology! And, we used to sit at lunch together and laugh at all the people who thought they were so cool. Please, Lukas, it's Faba." She hadn't used that nickname in a long time, but she was desperate now. "Please. Say something."
"The guards say that he came in here swearing that he would never lose his humanity," Oscar said solemnly. "But it appears that he has."
Elphie ignored Oscar and stepped even closer to the door. "Lukas, I know you're in there somewhere. You have to be. Please. Please, Lu-…"
Lukas lunged at her angrily, and she impulsively stepped back.
Oscar put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry. I swear, I did not order his arrest."
"Not directly," she spat. "This was my friend! He was a fucking firecracker, and you destroyed him!"
"I'm really sorry." He dug something out of his pocket. "Here. The guards tell me that just before he was completely … gone, he all but begged them to give you this." He handed her a piece of paper. It read:
To Miss Elphaba Melena Thropp, Grand Vizier of Oz:
/
You don't need to need me,
It's better that you don't.
If each of us can walk away,
It won't matter that I won't.
/
We'll both be self contained,
But together, not alone.
You can keep me in the dark,
Oz, it's all I've ever known.
But we both could use a friend
Who will always check the phone,
And take the call.
You don't need to need me
At all.
Let me be your emergency contact,
Your occasional plus one,
Your excuse to take a sick day
When the forecast calls for sun.
We can keep on being lonely,
But we don't have to be apart.
And I'll never even ask you
To let me have your heart.
So I'll never break your heart.
No, I'll never break your heart!
You don't need to love me,
To let me help you through.
You don't need to confide in me,
I've got crap enough for two.
You don't need to answer,
I'll know before you do.
But hear me,
And believe me
That you don't need to love me
The way that I love you.
Elphie was normally a very controlled person, but Lukas' poem had her almost in tears. "Lukas … Oh Oz, Lukas, I'm so sorry!" She balled up the paper and glared at Oscar. "I quit. I don't care if you … make all your advisors Animals; I quit! I don't ever want to see your face again!"
"Elphie, wait!" Oscar exclaimed. "I believe one of these is yours." She turned, and saw that that he was holding two green glass bottles.
She walked back and snatched one from him. "How did you get a hold of this?!"
"It fell out of your pocket one day. The other one is mine. Elphie, where did you get that bottle?"
"It was my mother's," Elphie said stiffly. "It's all I have left of her, and you had no right to take it."
Oscar was obviously nervous. "Was your mother … Melena Thropp?"
"Yes. How did you …?" A horrible thought suddenly struck her. "I-Is that other one yours?"
He nodded. "I'm afraid so. And it was just over twenty years ago when we-…"
"Stop."
"Elphie, she was pretty, and she was lonely, and I was a young man then!"
"All I know is, you drugged and fucked my mother, causing me …" She gestured to her skin. "… to have all of this!"
"Now, there really is no need to use that kind of language, Elphie."
"And you're already trying to be my Papa two minutes after finding out that you're my father?! See above: I QUIT!"
"Elphie, please!" He grabbed her hand, causing her to flinch. "I'm sorry about your friend. And I'm sorry I told you the way I told you. But forget me for a second. You're living your dreams! Animals are getting back their rights, you're respected, not taunted … Look, I'm not expecting us to have a warm, fuzzy father daughter relationship, at least not yet. But let's make a brand new map, just me and you."
"I won't quit," she said slowly. "You're right about that; I can't sacrifice my career for my emotions. But if you don't need me for the rest of the day, I have to go!" And she dashed up the stairs and out of the Palace.
She didn't go over to Glinda and Milla's. She didn't call Boq or her family. She wanted to talk to Lukas, but he was no more. If only she had appreciated him when she had him. When she got home, she found that she had a letter from her father. Her real father, not the liar who incarcerated her friend.
Dear Fabala,
Nessa tells me that you are helping out the Quadlings. That is so great! I am so proud of you! Know that your old room is just as it was, and you can come visit anytime.
I love you,
Father
She would write to him later, telling him how much she loved hearing from him, and that she would visit as soon as she recovered from her trip, but for now, she needed a drink. She went out to a local bar, and ordered a bourbon. As she sipped her drink, someone suddenly spoke from behind her. "Now what's a pretty girl like you doing sitting alone?"
She turned. "Fiyero!"
"There's my Fae!" he exclaimed, hugging her. "I missed you so much! And sorry for the no letters thing. The Scrow are very good at intercepting mail. But I thought about you every minute of the day! And I come back to find that you're a hot shot Vizier, doing all sorts of awesome stuff!"
"You had me worried sick! I thought you were dead! But a lot's been going on."
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Well, for one thing, Glinda got married."
"Oh! Who's the lucky man?"
Elphie smirked. "Milla Jeefer."
"Milla?" Fiyero repeated confusedly. "Wait. GLINDA MARRIED A LADY?!"
"Way to be mature about it," Elphie said with a laugh. "But yes, she did. They're a great couple."
Fiyero shook his head in disbelief. "I really have missed a lot. But enough about Glinda! What about you?"
She sighed. "It's been a long day, and a long two years."
"Want me to buy you a drink and you can tell me about it?"