Glinda and Elphaba watched the coronation ceremony in the courtyard from atop the ramparts. Both women were glad not to be a part of it. Glinda was happy to be able to sit, and Elphaba did not have the patience for pomp. Nor was this something for them; it was the culmination of the Tiggular's ambitions. They were both happy to observe this moment, though.
Fiyero, Marillot, and Baxiana stood near the doors to the Great Hall. Surrounded by attendants and retainers, they were resplendent in their finery. For this moment they needed to be the image of new royalty. Though their dress and jewelry might pale in comparison to those in the Emerald City, they still struck awe in the Vinkun tribal representatives that came to pay their respects.
From the far side of the couryard, a herald announced the first party. The smaller subordinate tribes of the Arjiki - many cousins of the Tiggulars from generations of cross marriages - brought small offerings of grain and goods as tokens of friendship. Marillot, Fiyero, and Baxiana exchanged them for small gifts of the same. After a dozen or so tribes, the Arjiki congregation filled the end of the courtyard behind the three soon-to-be royals.
A single person was announced next. Sarima walked alone in representing the Garamana. Overshadowing the lack of delegation was the woman herself. Her long dress flowed with many skirts and baubles that danced in the wind. Likewise, her hair was down, wild, and woven with talismans and beads. But what really drew the hushed awe of the crowd was the oar she carried upright in proclamation of her status as a shaman. The fact none protested her claim meant that none felt confident enough to test the woman. When Sarima reached the three, she bowed in respect but offered no gift. The subtle gesture of status was returned. With that, she stood near but apart from the Arjiki.
Finally it was the moment all had waited for. To the sounds of ivory horns and leather skinned drums, the smallest of Yunamata tribes entered. In their warrior garb of animal pelts they carried spears, arrows, and shields but - as tradition - their bows were unstrung and spear heads covered. Reaching the three Tiggulars, the delegation offered their arms to Marillot. He took them and in return offered grain and goods. A traditional ritual of peace after war.
The Yunamata tribes continued to flow in, crowding the courtyard. Several of the Yunamata shamans cast disdainful looks at Sarima but said they seemed to whisper and grumble among themselves, none of the Yunamata shamans would dishonor themselves or leaders by causing a scene. The woman ignored them. Elphaba and Glinda could tell even from the ramparts that Sarima's composure and posture was a challenge to them.
The Chieftain of the Yunamata entered last. His retinue was the largest, and carried firearms and swords as well as the traditional weapons. The crowd held their breath as Marillot and he came eye to eye. After a moment's pause, the Chieftain held out the weapons to Marillot. Taking them, Marillot returned the symbols of peace. The Chieftain of the Yunamata passed them to his retainers, and went to stand closest to, but behind, the three Arjiki.
With a closing prayer by the Arjiki Shaman, it was done. Power in the Vinkus had coalesced under one tribe. But all the ramifications were for another day. Today, Marillot led them into the Great Hall to feast together as allies for the first time. For Elphaba and Glinda, it was a hopeful sign of quieter times ahead.
A knock came at Sarima's door. Shooting a curious look at Wynne sitting across from her, she stood, straightened her dress and charms, and then opened it. Behind it was Elpaba.
"Can I speak with you for a moment?" she asked.
"Of course." Sarima replied and stepped back. The green woman took the invitation to enter. Seeing Wynne there, she paused.
"I didn't think I'd see you here." she said.
"Likewise." Wynne replied with a smirk.
"That...was kind of rude of me, wasn't it?" Elphaba winced. Wynne held her thumb and forefinger a small distance apart. "Sorry."
"It's fine. Your forthright attitude is one of your charms."
Sarima scowled at the redhead.
"Be polite yourself." she said. Wynne shrugged in response.
"Good thing I'm not a noble lady that needs pleasantries."
"I'm sure Lady Glinda will be happy to know you are conducting yourself as appropriate to one of her retinue." Elphaba retorted. Wynne chuckled.
"Point taken."
"What can I help you with, Miss Elphaba?" asked Sarima. "I doubt you came to bandy words with wiley women."
"And now who is showing off?" snorted Wynne.
"A true lady's command of words." Elphaba said with a smile. Sarima dipped her head.
"Thank you. Now what can I help you with?"
"I was wondering if you knew how to…" Elphaba stopped. Sarima waited patiently. "How to...go about starting a relationship with someone."
"Oh." Sarima replied. After a moment she said, "Why me?"
"Well, I asked her," Elphaba gestured to a grinning Wynne, "but it wasn't much help."
"I said give them the sex eyes and ask to kiss them." Wynne elaborated. Sarima sighed.
"Of course you did."
"And the only other person I could ask…" Elphaba elaborated.
"Ah." Sarima ran her hands over her hair to smooth it down. "Yes, I could see the predicament of asking an ex-lover about how to go about wooing his ex-lover, who is also your ex - and hopefully future - lover."
"That's about the mess of it." Elphaba huffed and plopped into a chair.
"Well, let's start with how you got into those relationships to begin with." Sarima continued, still standing. "That might be a good basis."
"With Fiyero we were running away from the Wizard who was trying to kill us, and with Glinda we were running away from Morrible who was trying to kill us." Elphaba answered sardonically.
"Yes, well, maybe not then." Sarima replied. "I guess we're going to have to go with the traditional courtship."
"What exactly is that?"
"You're going to ask her out on a date."
"A date?" Elphaba sat straight up. "Where to? There isn't exactly a coffee shop we can pop down to."
"You city girls." Sarima shook her head. "It's not about the where but the how."
"And exactly how am I to go about this? Especially with...you know who here."
"I'll take care of Fiyero." Sarima replied. She was pacing a bit now. "I'll tactfully let him know to be scarce."
"It is his castle, you know." Elphaba reminded her.
"That is inhabited by three witches, a swordswoman, and their retinues." Sarima countered. "Besides, Fiyero is busy with the confederation talks. He'll be happy to be out of the castle for some time."
"Okay, but then what do we do on this date?" asked Elphaba. "It's not like I can take her out to dinner and a long walk in the park."
"That's a splendid idea." Sarima clapped her hands and gave Elphaba a smile. "Make a special meal for her and then take her for a walk on the rampart at night. See? You do know how to do this. What is her favorite food?"
"Two problems." Elphaba retorted. "I don't know and I can't cook."
"She's been really liking that grain dish." Wynne jumped in. "Like, I almost lost my hand the other day."
"Ah! Wonderful. That's quite easy." Sarima said. "You can use the side dining room in the west wing. More intimate and out of the way."
"Clean the table first." Wynne interjected quickly. Both women looked at her. After a moment Sarima said,
"Really?"
"What? He's cute and buff."
"At least tell me he was from one of the Arjiki tribes."
"Fiyero's cousin, Gawae. He wanted to see how the skill someone Duran trained held up. We sparred and then," Wynne winked, "you know."
"Ugh." Elphaba said. "Girl talk."
"Anyway," Sarima returned her attention to Elphaba, "we can show you how to make the dish and you can take Glinda out."
"There's a full moon this weekend." Wynne pointed out.
"Excellent." Sarima nodded.
"And how exactly do I go about asking her to go on this date?" Elphaba grumbled.
"Like this." Wynne said. She stood and walked over to Sarima. Looking the woman straight in the eyes, she said, "Miss Sarima, I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me this week and go for a walk afterwards?"
"I'd love to, Miss Wynne." Sarima simpered. She turned to look at Elphaba. "Simple."
"That's it?"
"I mean, you could ask her back to your room afterwards," Wynne added, "but that might be a bit fast."
Elphaba groaned and covered her eyes. Sarima gave Wynne an admonishing look.
Glinda leveraged herself up from the bed to answer the knock at the door. She was a bit annoyed at how difficult that was. Composing herself, she opened it.
"Elphie." she said to the green woman standing there. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm sorry. Was I interrupting?" Elphaba asked, twiddling her fingers. Glinda smiled. The woman still knew her so well.
"I was trying to lay down for a nap. Don't worry; I wasn't much succeeding."
"Okay." Elphaba took a deep breath.
Glinda waited for her to say something. Moments dragged on. Elphaba fingers twiddled faster. Glinda waited. Whatever it was Elphaba was struggling to say Glinda was not going to drag it out of her. She was starting to tire a bit, though. Elphaba looked down and then to the left. Glinda still waited. Elphaba looked back at Glinda. The blonde, feeling like it was starting to get a bit ridiculous, raised her eyebrows. It had the desired effect.
"I was wondering…" Elphaba started and looked away.
"Wondering?"
"If you….wantedtohavedinnertomorrownight?"
Glinda looked at the green woman slowly turning a shade of violet. Part of her wanted to drag it out more. To ask for clarification. Play a little coy and hard to get. However, she decided that she should be above the games of young adulthood and just be forthright. No matter how unfun it was.
"I'd love to have dinner tomorrow night." she replied. Elphaba visibly sagged in relief.
Well, maybe a little fun. Glinda thought. And so she added wickedly,
"Is it just us, or will it be a group?"
Elphaba turned violet much quicker this time. However, looking at Glinda's small smile gave her the temper to say,
"Just us."
"I look forward to it." Glinda replied, amusement in her voice. "However, I do think that nap is creeping up on me. Is there anything else?"
"No."
"Until tomorrow night, then."
"Tomorrow night."
Glinda slowly shut the door. Taking a deep breath, she leaned her head against it. That was unexpected. She never would have guessed Elphaba would ask her out on what was obviously a date. A light sound came through the wood. Glinda put her ear to the door to hear better. It was a familiar laugh. As it trailed off, Glinda turned and leaned against the cool wood. She did not even try to keep the big smile off her face. Giving a light giggle herself, she pushed away from the door and made her way to bed. She had not lied; that nap was sounding good. And now she had sweet dreams to look forward to.
"You did your hair." Glinda said as she opened her door. Elphaba blinked.
"I was under the impression that was what one did for a date." she replied. "You did yours."
"Well, yes." Glinda smiled. "But I always do my hair."
"That's true." Elphaba replied. The woman stood there for a moment without saying anything. Glinda waited. Finally, she said, "Can I escort you to the dining hall?"
"Relax, Elphie. No need to be so formal." Glinda giggled. Elphaba's cheeks turned lightly violet. "But I would love you to."
Glinda looped her arm through Elphaba's and the pair walked the halls. Neither said a word. Glinda was enjoying this moment and Elphaba was too nervous to think of anything to say. As Elphaba led Glinda to the west hall, the blonde woman's lips broke into a smile when she saw the table lit with candles. Elphaba led her to her seat, and pulled it out. Glinda noticed the wood chair even had a cushion for her. Just like Elphaba to think ahead. She raised an eyebrow as the other woman disappeared through a side door. Glinda gave a little gasp of surprise when she returned holding two bowls. Spying the grain dish, she gave a little clap of joy.
"Oh, Elphie! I've been craving this all week! How did you know?"
"A little red bird told me." the woman replied with a smile. Glinda blinked as Elphaba left, wondering what Animal she talked to. By the time the woman returned with a pitcher of water she had figured it out.
"You asked Wynessa?"
"Sarima, actually. Wynne happened to be there, though." Elphaba answered, taking the seat next to Glinda.
"I see. You planned ahead."
"I'm not exactly experienced at the whole...courting thing."
"Is that what this is?" Glinda asked, a trace of tease in her voice. "Courting?"
"Isn't it?" replied Elphaba. Glinda conveniently taken a bite of her food as she asked the question. She chewed, letting the question hang. Elphaba wavered. "I mean, I'd like it to be. If, you know, that is acceptable to you."
Glinda chewed some more and swallowed.
"And what exactly are the plans for this courting? Is it just dinner?" Glinda asked, taking another bite.
"I had planned on taking a walk out on the parapet." Elphaba answered.
"Oh my."
"Yes. The weather isn't exactly cooperating." Elphaba laughed drily. As if on cue, a soft roll of thunder was heard.
"So what is the plan now?"
"I figured we could walk the west wing. It has those large windows you like so much."
"Not exactly much to see tonight."
"No, but it gives some view."
"And what shall we do on this walk?"
"Talk, I suppose."
"What about? Not much goes on that we don't already know about."
"Just...whatever comes to mind?"
"I see." Glinda replied. She took another bite. Elphaba, relieved at the pause in conversation, took another bite as well. Glinda pounced. "What do you think will come into your mind when we are alone in a dimly lit corridor?"
Elphaba coughed on her food and reached for a glass of water. The woman's scowl did nothing to dampen Glinda's smile. After a moment, Elphaba's own grey lips twitched.
"I seem to remember a certain someone describing an image of a wicked witch swooping down to steal people from balconies." Elphaba replied. Glinda raised an eyebrow, but then gave a light laugh.
"I'd quite forgotten about that."
"Perhaps there is something in your subconscious that keeps getting it brought up."
Glinda giggled but did not say anything further on the subject. The two made light conversation as they finished their meal, mostly discussing idle bits of gossip from around the castle. Glinda slowly got to her feet while Elphaba cleared the table. When she returned the pair headed over to the west wing, Glinda's arm in Elphaba's.
The west hall was a favorite of theirs. Its large windows gave a view over Kiamo Ko. It was there they had met all those years ago when Elphaba had faked her death. Time and familiarity had stripped the place of its sadness so they could appreciate the view. The pair slowly walked, listening to the rain patter off the windows.
Soon enough they were past the pleasant vistas and to the stained glass windows. These looked inward into the castle, and so were backlit with torchlight. Their colors danced as the torches flickered, casting the women in multi-colored hues. Glinda thought it looked quite wonderful on Elphaba. Elphaba thought it almost reflected that ethereal quality Glinda had.
"Elphaba?" Glinda said softly.
"Hm?" she replied, startled out of her musings.
"This has been a wonderful evening. However, I think it is time for me to go to bed."
"Oh, yes, of course. You are probably tired from walking."
"It's hard to do when one looks like they've swallowed a house."
The two women chuckled as they walked back to her room. Elphaba could see Glinda wane as they got closer. Finally, the pair stood outside.
"Sweet dreams, my sweet." Elphaba said. Glinda lifted onto her toes and gave Elphaba a kiss on the cheek.
"You as well. Thank you for the lovely evening."
"It was my pleasure."
Glinda ducked into her room shortly after. Elphaba walked back to her tower, smile firmly in place.