A/N: Hello, my dear readers! I hope you enjoy this next chapter, and happy holidays! Also, please be warned: it's quite a dark chapter.
"Who?" Galinda asked, not believing her ears, as she sat on the royal throne in the hosting room, surrounded by guards and a team of royal advisers before lunch.
"A Munchkin by the name of Boq has requested a meeting with Your Royal Highness. He has a royal pass."
How in Oz would Boq have a royal pass? Unless…Could it be? Could it be the one she gave Elphaba? But why would Boq have it? Had something happened to Elphaba?"
"I'm happy to send him away, Your Royal Highness," Crope said.
"No, no!," Galinda said, beckoning with her hand for Crope to let the visitor in.
A week ago, Tibbett helped her sway the royal court, and Galinda began conducting business on her father's behalf, signing royal decrees into laws and meeting with royal guests.
Never did she imagine a Munchkin from the forest would brave the palace guards to gain a meeting with her. Why had Boq come? Would he even recognize her? Did he know what happened to Elphaba? Before she could sort her worries, castle guards opened the royal door, and down the long entranceway, at the other end of the red carpet streaked with light from the tall lancet hall windows, she saw an old friend.
He looked more haggard than she remembered. His brown jacket worn, his hair shaggy, his hands fidgeting at his chest. A guard, Nikko, clutched his arm and escorted him toward Galinda. As Boq drew closer, his eyes grew large. He recognized her, clearly.
Realizing her misstep, Galinda wanted to pull Boq into a hug as much as much as she wanted to exile him to the furthest realm. If Boq were to reveal her past, with a slip of the tongue, everything she worked for, everything decree, every new law, every hope she had for Elphaba's safety—would end. Suddenly, she wished she could turn Boq to stone, blink him into a bird, disappear herself into a bubble—anything—but face him.
But he drew closer, still. Until there were no more steps to take. Until he stopped two feet away. Until she could see the bags under his eyes. Galinda's underarms went cold then wet.
"Your Royal Highness," Boq spoke, and Galinda jumped.
The guard kicked Boq behind his legs, and the Munchkin fell. Galinda gasped, and Boq inhaled sharply as his knees met stone. He tumbled forward onto all fours.
"Kneel when you address Her Royal Highness!" the escort commanded.
"Enough!" Galinda said. "This Munchkin is unaware of our customs. Let him state his business."
The guard nodded and grabbed Boq by the crook of his arm, yanking him up on his knees. Boq steadied himself and wrenched his arm back. He cleared his throat and, keeping his head bowed, said,
"Your Royal Highness, I've news of an urgent threat to Gillikin."
The escort snarled as if the Munchkin's warning was the threat itself. Galinda hadn't known what to expect, but she wasn't prepared for a herald of impending doom.
"Tell us more," Galinda said.
"I'm not at liberty to speak unless we speak alone, Your Royal Highness."
Gasps sounded throughout the hall. Galinda's face reddened. Boq's request in a Gillikinese court was beyond forward. At her silence, Boq looked up, and for a moment, Galinda felt her chest warm at his eagerness. It was as if they were looking at each other in the cabin.
"Please, Your Royal Highness," he begged.
The guard looked as if he was ready to slap the back of Boq's head and said,
"Munchkin, Her Royal Highness does not speak with strange men alone!"
"Thank you, Nikko!" Galinda said to the escort, trying to hide her annoyance of being spoken for, yet again, "I'll see our guest in a private room with my cousins, Tibbett and Milla."
More whispers sounded. Galinda would deal with the rumors later. She needed to get away from their prying eyes. She led Boq and the escort to the orange parlor, sat down at a round wooden table in the center of the room, and waited for her cousins for what seemed like a fortnight. The three sat equally spaced around the table. Their breaths were like competing sighs, falling one after another. Galinda kept her gaze high, her eyes tracing the paintings that crowded the walls, their thick gold frames leaning toward them, pressing in on all sides. Finally,
a knock.
The guard rose to let the cousins in. Tibbett entered first; his eyes flitted over Boq before he searched Galinda's face, trying to ascertain why he was summoned. Milla entered next, looking at Galinda and then appraising their Munchkin visitor. For a moment, Galinda was afraid for Nikko to leave, afraid Boq might let go of the act. He might interrogate her, ask why she came to the forest and suddenly left, without a goodbye. How would she explain herself and the sadistic actions that brought her to the forest? Boq would finally see her as Galinda, not the Glinda he adored. Her cousins, no doubt, would be horrified and cease all relationship with her if not reveal her before the court.
Imagining her swift demise, her cousins sat down on each side of her, staring at Boq and waiting for Galinda. Galinda cleared her throat. Become the woman you want to be. Even if you only get to be her for a moment. Feeling her palms sweat against her white gloves, she started:
"I-I'm afraid this is as private as I can be, Master Boq. Will you share your news with me now?"
Raising his chin, Boq's eyes traveled upward. He blinked hard at the top of Galinda's bared breasts and promptly moved his gaze to her eyes. Her heavy gowns and jeweled crown did nothing to shield her from the intensity of his stare. Galinda wanted to run, hide, and leap out of her body. Instead, she sat fast in her severity.
"Paltos means to invade Runcible," Boq uttered, and Milla gasped, giving voice to Galinda's surprise.
"Impossible!" Tibbett said.
"How have you come by this information?" Galinda asked.
"Munchkins have spotted Paltos military spies and heard them talking amongst themselves in the Great Gillikin Forest. They plan to attack the castle in one to three months time."
"Why would Paltos want to attack Runcible?" Milla asked.
"We do not know," Boq said.
Galinda remembered her father's letters. Sir Chuffrey's threats. Why hadn't her father written him back? Was he waiting for Galinda's health to improve, or did he not want her married because he wanted Galinda's body for himself?
"We, Munchkinlanders, know how inhospitable Paltos is toward us," Boq continued, "There is no benefit to us if Runcible is overthrown. We wish to warn you."
"How do we know what you say is true?" Tibbett asked.
Boq pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, the seal of Paltos sewn in the middle of it—an eagle with a fish in its talons and the word Valor written beneath—and said,
"One of their scouts dropped this."
Tibbett passed it along to Galinda. The feeling of the maroon satin seal beneath Galinda's fingertips brought back the memory of Sir Chuffrey's black velvet jackets—this seal was sewn on every pocket.
"You've come to advise Runcible to protect itself?" Galinda said.
"No, Your Royal Highness," Boq said. "I've come to request that Your Royal Highness visit the Munchkinlanders in the forest."
Galinda's stomach turned into worms. Here it was—her great reveal.
"You jest, Munchkin!" Tibbett scoffed. "Why would the Princess of Runcible—interim Queen of all Gillikin—have any business visiting Munchkin serfs?"
Please don't tell them! Galinda pleaded with her eyes, beads of sweat blossoming at her hairline. Her breath felt stuck.
"It doesn't make sense," Milla said under her breath, but loud enough so Galinda could hear her.
Boq searched her face, and Galinda felt her breakfast rise to her throat. Seeming to recognize the Princess's struggle, he said,
"I believe Munchkinlanders could be a great ally or a great foe to Runcible, depending on the Princess's visit. If—"
"Is that a threat, Munchkin?" Tibbett interrupted, his palm smacking the table, causing Boq and Milla to start.
Galinda put a hand on Tibbett's forearm, a sign she wished to let Boq finish.
"If Your Royal Highness visited the Munchkinlanders," Boq began again, "and spoke about the new decrees and Runcible's plan for Munchkinlanders, I believe you can win them over."
"What need is there for the Princess to win over Munchkins?"
"Because the remnants of Munchkin's army plan to attack Runcible, too."
"What?!" Tibbett said. "Galinda, have this brash imp thrown into the dungeon for intimidation!"
"If I meant Her Royal Highness harm, why would I ruin a surprise attack?" Boq argued. "I've come because I want to help Gillikin."
"He does have a point," Milla said, and Tibbet glared at her.
"If Your Royal Highness could convince them—that you were alive, then they would forgive Runcible," Boq said, his eyes fastened to Galinda.
"There's been no proclamation of the Princess's death, you imbecile!" Tibbett yelled. "And Forgiveness?! You make no sense. What right do Munchkins have to start another war? The last one ended with their full surrender!"
"Love never surrenders," Boq said.
"Love? For Munchkinland?" Tibbett asked, misunderstanding Boq's intimation. "Your defeat would surely be worse than before. And just why would the Princess meet rabble-rousers herself? Even if she believed your half-witted story, she would send a messenger on her behalf or a company of the Runcible army."
"It must be the Princess. And she must come alone." Boq said.
"Do you think the Princess dim? Your offer of help sounds closer to a plot to kill her!" Tibbett said. "Clearly, this is some base scheme, Galinda. Lock this fool away!"
Galinda paused, her throat thick. Tibbett was right. Boq's story didn't make any sense. Why should a Gillikinese Princess, or even Glinda, be able to stop a Munchkin rebellion? As much as she wanted to believe Boq brought news of Elphaba, it seemed more likely that her old friend had become unhinged.
"Boq, I believe it's best if we end our—" she started.
"Elphaba will die if Your Royal Highness doesn't visit the forest!" Boq blurted.
Goosebumps zipped up Galinda's spine. Elphaba—dead?!
"Who?" Tibbett asked.
"Galinda's handmaiden," Milla uttered, her eyes darting between Boq and Galinda. Tibbett's eyes grew wide.
"If we spoke alone, I could tell Your Royal Highness more," Boq said.
"Galinda, why trust this Munchkinlander?" Tibbett asked. "Just how would he know about your handmaiden and your…your…care…for her?"
Galinda could not respond. Not here. She barely let Tibbett know about her love for her handmaiden. She wasn't ready to tell her cousins about her year in the forest. Boq, sensing her fear, kept quiet. Finally, Galinda said,
"Tibbett, tell Nikko he's relieved of his post. Once he leaves, stand outside with Milla."
"But, Galinda, this is surely nothing but extortion!"
"Tibbet!" Galinda said firmly. Tibbett sighed, rose from the table, and went outside. After a moment, Tibbett opened the door again, announcing Nikko's departure. Milla searched Galinda's face.
"Will you be okay alone?" she asked.
Galinda nodded, doing her best to exude certainty.
"You don't have to do this, even if your handmaiden is in trouble! I don't trust him," Tibbett said.
"I wouldn't hurt her!" Boq said. "I would never hurt Gl—…Her Royal Highness."
Milla looked curiously at Boq. Galinda knew how it must look, her request to be alone with a mysterious Munchkin man who swore to protect her while begging her to visit Munchkin rebels in a haunted forest. But she must know what happened to Elphaba at any cost to her reputation.
"We won't be long," Galinda said.
Milla tugged Tibbett's arm.
"Come, Master Tibbett. Give our Princess a moment."
Tibbett gave his loudest sigh yet and, glaring at Boq, said, "If you harm Princess Galinda, I shall see to it that you suffer far worse things than death," and closed the door.
For several notes, Boq stared at Galinda in silence, studying her face. Until he finally said slowly,
"Is it…really…you, Miss Glinda?"
Miss Glinda. Galinda wanted to smile. No one had called her Miss Glinda in a very long while. How should she answer? 'Miss Glinda' wasn't enough to hold everything she had been before or had become after the cabin.
"After you left, I found Elphaba in a clearing," Boq continued. "She had been outside for days. Her grief pressed her to the spot you left her."
Out in the elements? For days? Elphaba hadn't said anything like this when she returned to the castle. Why would she? Why would she think the person who deserted her would care?
"Elphaba loved you dearly. Didn't you notice? Didn't you think she would miss you when you left?"
She had not thought that. Galinda imagined Elphaba laughing as she ran back to Gillikin, but if Boq's story were true, if Elphaba hadn't returned her memories to complete her revenge on Galinda, then that night—she acted to set Galinda free.
Finally, Elphaba's actions made sense. Shell's treatment of her wasn't Elphaba's plan after all. Elphaba hadn't known. She wasn't aware that Shell was harming her.
Once Elphaba learned of Shell's behavior on her birthday, she risked her life to set Glinda free. Even though she knew once Galinda had her memories back, a swift revenge was likely. Galinda had every means to execute it.
Elphaba sacrificed her own well-being to set Glinda free. And Galinda had run away. Didn't even look back. Not once. She hadn't imagined Elphaba could love someone like her. Nothing Glinda did in the forest was good enough to wash away Galinda. But somehow, Elphaba managed to see her, to love her. If only Galinda had believed herself worthy of it, she could have stayed, anything but desert the person she loved the most. A sting was building behind her eyes.
"Oh, Miss Glinda, it is you!" Boq said as warm tears coursed down Galinda's cheeks, "But why didn't you say goodbye? Didn't you love Elphaba?"
"Beyond words," she mumbled.
"Was it Miss Nessa that made you leave?"
The butcher. Galinda shook her head. She could have endured Nessa's open disdain and quiet discontent, for eternity and back. Anything to be near Elphaba.
"Was it Shell?" Boq asked.
Galinda's throat narrowed. She couldn't swallow fast enough to deny it.
"He must have said something to make you leave," Boq guessed.
It wasn't what he said but what he made Glinda feel. Again and again. And Galinda knew why. He was trying to feel larger than the horror Galinda had made the siblings bear.
"Before I met you all in the woods, I hurt Elphaba and Shell, terribly," Galinda said.
"Here, in the castle?"
Galinda nodded and said,
"I did unspeakable things to Elphaba."
"But then, why did Elphaba take you in?"
"I didn't remember who I was when Elphaba found me."
"She didn't tell you?"
Galinda shook her head.
"Why?"
"She must have feared what I would do to her."
"What would you have done?"
"I-I don't know," Galinda realized, shivering in revulsion at the possibilities.
"I don't know who you used to be," Boq said. "But, the laws against Munchkins have been recently repealed. It's you who's fighting to protect us, Munchkinlanders, isn't it?"
Galinda slowly nodded. It felt like a compliment she wasn't worthy of. She hadn't done anything that amounted to protection. She had only managed to repeal the worst laws curtailing Munchkinlanders' freedoms.
"You would never betray us, Miss Glinda!"
"It's not enough, Boq. I've hurt Elphaba too much to ever be forgiven."
"Isn't it clear? She's already forgiven you. And if she can forgive you, who am I to hold your sins against you?"
Galinda looked away swiftly to hide the tears that poured. Wiping them with her gloved hand, she turned to him and asked,
"Where is she, Boq? Why hasn't Elphaba come back?"
Boq told Galinda everything, including Shell's deception of the Weaver children and why Galinda was needed to clear up the misunderstanding.
"This is disastrous!"
"Shell doesn't want her to see you. He's bound Elphaba and is keeping her in the basement of the cabin."
"Bound in the basement?!" Galinda repeated. How could he hold his own sister captive? And the basement, of all places—it was dark and damp, with no light and plenty of mold.
"Avaric instructed me to tell you that Shell plans to kill Elphaba after the war is over."
"Kill her?!" Galinda shot from her seat.
"I don't believe it myself," Boq said, "How could he kill his own sister?"
Galinda remembered Shell's ruthless hands. It didn't matter how hard she cried. He didn't relent. Was it possible he held the same animosity for Elphaba?
"What I do know is that Shell plans to kill you once you go to the cabin. Avaric's request is meant to be a trap. Your cousin was right. Avaric knows that your love for Elphaba will compel you."
"But why would Avaric work with Shell? Especially after Shell banned the Munchkins for talking to the Gillikinese?"
"He doesn't think I know, but word is out that Shell's captured Pfannee, too. Avaric doesn't know where Shell's hiding her. Shell's promised to free Pfannee if he hands you over."
"Elphaba and Pfannee must be so afraid, and the children!" It was all because of Galinda's cowardice. That night. That unforgivable night. When she forced Shell to betray Elphaba in the worst possible way. Nothing Galinda or Glinda had done had since had tempered it. If only she had stood up to Sir Chuffrey, to her own fears. Now, not only was Elphaba in danger but two wars might be waged. One by a man who aimed to marry her, and another by one who aimed to kill her. She had to see her students, prove she was still alive. Then, she would face Shell. She would sacrifice herself to free Elphaba. She saw her path clearly. She would give him whatever he wanted, and in return, Elphaba and the Weavers would be given their freedom. And if she lived through Shell's torture, she would marry Sir Chuffrey if it meant the Munchkinlanders would be safe. She was the price that could be paid for Elphaba and Liir's protection.
"I must see her."
"It's too dangerous, Miss Glinda."
"I'll have you to protect me, Boq," she said, knowing quite well he couldn't save her from her fate.
"I'm not enough. Shell will have the entire forest ready to pounce on you when you arrive. There must be another way."
"If you've come this far, you must be willing to try. We'll start with the Weavers and then visit the cabin. I'll prepare for our travels. We'll go tomorrow night without delay," Galinda said, rising to her feet.
…
While Galinda talked with Boq, Milla stood in the dark hallway with Tibbett, who paced, rigid, and muttered to himself.
"What did you mean?" Milla asked.
"Hm?" Tibbett responded, his marching undisturbed.
"What did you mean about Galinda's care for Elphaba and that comment, 'even if it's your handmaiden'?"
Tibbett stilled completely before he turned around to face Milla and said,
"You know how tender-hearted Galinda is toward the servants."
Milla scrunched her nose. Tibbett was keeping something from her. The way his eyes widened when he heard who Elphaba was. How long did everyone intend to keep her in the dark? Didn't anyone trust her? Milla pressed again, "Our cousin may be tender-hearted, but she's not foolish. Why do you think she would risk her life for this?"
"Perhaps you should ask Galinda yourself," Tibbett said.
"She never tells me anything," Milla insisted, remembering how Galinda tried to hide her pregnancy and deny she was giving birth even while the baby came.
"I imagine Galinda has her reasons for secrets."
"What secrets?" Milla said.
Tibbett exhaled, pinned by Milla's quickness.
"Then they wouldn't be secrets."
"But why would she tell you and not me?" Milla asked. Would she never be someone's first choice?
"Perhaps," Tibbett said, noticing Milla's glumness, "Galinda's trying to protect you from something."
Milla wasn't so useless.
"It's Galinda's safety that's at stake! Ever since she returned to the castle—" Milla immediately clapped her hands over her mouth.
"Returned from where?" Tibbett asked.
"Nowhere!" Milla said.
Tibbett snorted.
"It seems you have secrets of your own, Milla. Out with them. No one believed it was an illness that kept Galinda away from the public, anyway."
"If you won't tell me your secrets, neither will I."
Tibbett scowled.
"We don't have time for pouting! Our cousin's life is at stake!"
"Fine!" Milla said. "Galinda was hurt by someone outside the castle once. I'm afraid that whoever hurt her will try to harm her again. Perhaps they've even captured Elphaba to get a hold of her."
"What do you mean 'hurt her'?"
"Why don't you ask her yourself," Milla said, repeating Tibbett's words back to him.
Tibbett snorted.
"If Galinda gets hurt again, this time you'll be to blame."
"I won't let her go alone," Milla said.
"She'll never let you accompany her."
"She doesn't need to know I'm following."
"You mean to spy on her?"
"Have you got a better plan?"
Tibbett shook his head.
"I wish I did, but Galinda seems determined to trust this Boq."
"If we don't come back by the next morning, send the army for us."
"Count on it!" Tibbett said.
…
All night, Elphaba struggled against the ropes but only managed to scrape her wrists raw by the time her brother returned that morning. The hatch opened, the morning light stinging her eyes shut. She sat in her usual position in the basement, gagged and bound tight by her ankles and wrists.
"My men saw Avaric leaving here yesterday evening. I suppose he told you the good news then," Shell said. "The time has come at last—our Galinda is returning tonight. Thanks to Boq, it'll all be over soon, and once Glinda's gone, everything will be as it was before."
Elphaba thrashed her head.
"Something to say?" Shell asked and removed Elphaba's gag.
"It will never be the way it was! If you kill Galinda now—"
"We'll be even! She took everything we could have been. Now, I'll take everything from her."
"We're still something!"
"What's that?"
"We're family—siblings!"
Shell gave a deep-throated laugh.
"No siblings do what we've done!" he said, wearing a long crooked grin.
Elphaba's cheeks bloomed with heat. How could he speak about it so cavalierly? As if he felt no shame at all.
"You feel it. I know you do," he said.
Elphaba's chest felt like a nest of hot worms.
"I…I—I don't know what you're talking about!"
"This heat…between us," he said, sitting on a crate next to her. He raised his hand and, slowly, very slowly, grazed his thick knuckles against her cheek, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear. Elphaba shivered at the unbrotherly touch, and Shell snickered.
"That!" he said. "I thought it was just the memory of that night. A memory that would dull if I spent time away. But when I came back to the cabin, when I saw you, I felt more than any sibling should. I wanted to—"
"Stop!" she whispered.
His eyes were dilated. Full to the brim. Their intensity made Elphaba remember how he filled her, plunging, deep, deeper into her horror. Impaling her with his hardness, his sack hitting her rim.
"I tried," he said. "Tried to hold it back. Tried so many Munchkin women. I even tried Galinda, in every corner of this cabin."
Elphaba cringed. Her brother had hurt Glinda much longer than she let herself imagine.
"But no one satisfied me like you did."
Elphaba's stomach shriveled. She was his object of desire?! Not Galinda. He punished Glinda for what Elphaba wouldn't give him. How could she have missed it? The way he looked at her while Glinda was near her and the ways he massaged her of late. He desired her.
"Galinda didn't let on about us, did she? Did you ever wonder why she didn't tell you?"
Glinda hadn't said a word on Elphaba's birthday—no, worse, Glinda had lied to her. Elphaba could still see Glinda with the cake Shell forced her to eat smeared across her mouth. Elphaba had been useless to protect her. She let her love be hurt right in front of her. A fresh wave of self-loathing scorched Elphaba. Her chest tightened unbearably.
"She must have been so ashamed," Elphaba realized, her voice cracking. How could Elphaba be stupid, so careless with her?
"Did you ever wonder what she was ashamed about?"
Elphaba glared at him, warning him not to gloat. Her caution went unheeded.
"She didn't tell you how I satisfied her on your birthday, did she? She came right on the table above us. She was dry at first, screaming, crying, but by the end of it, she was soaked in her own cum. She—"
Elphaba struck her brother across the face with her tied fists. He grunted in surprise and fell off the crate. How dare he suggest Galinda wanted it! How dare you have the gall to boast! How dare he wound her love in that way!
She lunged at her brother, still on the floor, getting on top of him and beating him with her bound hands. He brought his arms up to cover his face, his body shivering while Elphaba struck him. Twitching. Shaking. Was he crying? Then, Elphaba heard it—a deep howling laughter. Shell tossed Elphaba off of him and, with a strength unforeseen, pounced on top of her.
"Jealous of our rollicking, are you?"
"What you did to Glinda, with such intention, such pride. You're not the brother I once knew!"
"Well said, Fabala! I no longer wish to be your brother at all," he said and pushed his pelvis into hers. She felt his excitement and grimaced, squinching her eyes closed. "This heat I feel is because I love you more than any brother could," he said, lowering his chest against hers.
Her heart thudded in her ears. She didn't want this. She never wanted this. She turned away as his warm lips grazed her cheek. She trembled. He kissed down her jaw, coming up to kiss the corner of her mouth.
"Please, don't do this," she whispered.
"Why are you ashamed of my love but not hers?"
"You're still my brother."
"She's still your rapist!" he shouted, making her ears ring. He clutched her tied wrists, whisked them over her head, and smacked them against the floor. Shimmers of pain flooded her fingers.
"You're hurting me," she said.
"How can you forgive her and not me?" he asked, his hurt clearly more important.
"You never apologized for that night," she said.
"You blame me?"
"How can you accept no responsibility?"
"I was blindfolded! I didn't even notice you."
"Couldn't you tell by my breathing?"
"Why would I assume it was you in that chair? Why were you even there that night?"
Elphaba remembered how Galinda wet her, like all the times before when she forced her to orgasm. Elphaba's fists clenched. She thought she banished those memories. But suddenly, she heard Galinda say, 'Please. Don't make this more difficult.' The difficulty was all Elphaba's. What had the Princess meant that night? Elphaba had forgotten about the strange phrase. But Shell afforded her no time to dwell on it.
"Why didn't you call out?" he yelled at her. "Why didn't you say anything? Any time you could have said something! But you didn't, because it was you who wanted it!" he said, torturing her with the memory of her shame.
"Wanted it?" Elphaba felt tears at the corners of her eyes. Could she have prevented it? Would a whisper have gone unnoticed by Sir Chuffrey? Had she wanted it? She had been so scared. So paralyzed. "Sir Chuffrey waited with a knife to slit your throat if I spoke. My silence spared your life!"
She had never mentioned that detail. Never wanted Shell to feel guilty. But she had no choice. His guilt was better than his lust. But no contrition arose in Shell. Instead, his eyes grew menacing.
"I didn't ask for your help, Fabala! And I know you liked it! You were wet for me! I felt your body respond to mine! Your walls clenched repeatedly."
Elphaba shuddered. To have that moment repeated back to her. In such uncensored detail. By her brother.
"I was that way because Galinda wet me," she hissed.
"What does that have to do with anything?" he asked, his eyes hard.
"You know about my al-allergy?"
"Your response was anything but adverse! You had a choice, and you chose to stay silent. Somewhere you wanted it!" Shell needed her desire. Only then could his fantasy of righteousness be held intact.
Elphaba couldn't breathe. She needed to get up. She needed her brother to get off of her. She struggled, twisting.
"You wanted to forget what happened to us. I did too. But we don't have to. I now accept it as the biggest gift Gillikin ever gave us. Galinda tried to humiliate us, but it only made us stronger!"
"It wasn't a gift, you fiend! You raped me that night under the guidance of Galinda. Except you show no remorse for it," she said, speaking up for herself at last.
"I acted on my love for Galinda at that time, I admit, but now I know better. I realize I loved you," Shell said, reframing his assault as a badge of pride, "Now, we can restore the royal family, restore Munchkinland."
"You're not making any sense."
"Marry me, Fabala! We could rule Munchkinland together as the royal family again."
"You've gone mad!"
"You were wet for me that night. You can get wet for me again," His other hand pulled up her dress and traveled underneath it, up her thigh.
"Stop! You know it was a trick that night! I didn't feel anything for you! I still don't," she said writhing away from his warm fingers that felt between her legs, proving her honesty.
"If you need some help for the time being," he said, pushing himself off her. He picked her up and flung her body over his shoulder, carrying her out of the basement and walking toward the kitchen table. His fingers pressed into her thigh, dangerously close to her precipice.
After that moment, everything became a series of ripples. Elphaba's memory was like a moon hiding behind clouds. He tore off her clothes. He tied her to the kitchen table. Just like Glinda had been tied by the sheriff—shadow. Elphaba couldn't see what happened next. Not clearly. Buckets of water were poured on her. Her body contorted against the ropes. Pulling to avail. She could not hide herself. Her body twitching on its own. Shell's laughter sounded in her ears. He's body crushing hers. He took, and took, and took. His mouth biting. His fingers prying. His smell pervading. Her screams. His fingers descending. Her throat raw. His fists catching her breasts. Her canal gripping his engorgement. When she awoke, she was naked and alone. Still tied to the table. Wet, bruised, and sore. The cabin dark, the smell of sex in the air, and another cloud came.
…
Boq arranged for Galinda to visit the Weaver students in the trees first. Close to a hundred gathered round her. They had grown while Galinda was in the castle. It took Galinda a moment to recognize them all. Her students squinted at her, cocking their heads, stretching their hands out to touch her royal fabrics and jeweled hair pieces, commenting on her face powder. Only when she recounted her memories, the lessons she taught them, the meals she fed them, and her love for Elphaba, did they embrace her and cry,
"We thought you were dead!"
"Shell has lied to you."
"But why did you leave us?"
"I—I needed to attend to some business in the castle," Galinda said.
"What business?" one of her most gifted students, Nor, asked.
Galinda had prepared for this question. She kept her face blank.
"It's hard to explain," she said, not wanting to lie but unable to reveal the truth.
"Why are you here now?" Nor asked.
"Shell's holding Elphaba and Pfannee captive. He's asked me to go and meet him in exchange for Elphaba."
Murmurs sounded from her students.
"It's too long to explain why, but I have a favor to ask of you all. While I'm gone, please tell everyone I'm alive and find Pfannee!" The students nodded, swearing their loyalty to their teacher. After the talk, Galinda and Boq descended from the tree-tops and headed toward the cabin.
"They've missed you…I've missed you, too," Boq said, his words reminding Galinda of his meek doorway confession.
Galinda missed Glinda as well. Mostly her innocence.
Soon, the two reached the cabin. Memories kept coming back to Galinda, both sweet and sordid. She remembered her summer with Elphaba, the lessons, warm dances, and warmer sheets. Nessathorn praising her cooking, eventually. The Sheriff wounding her. Shell. Ending her. She put her hand on the door knob.
"Wait!" Boq whisper-shouted. "Shell's likely waiting, ready to kill you. You don't have to go inside. Now that we've proven you're alive, in time, his army will crumble."
"I didn't come all this way to leave Elphaba in the basement."
"I could go inside instead."
"You know it's me he wants."
"You won't be persuaded, will you?"
Galinda shook her head. Boq sucked air through his teeth and drew his dagger in preparation. Galinda knocked. No response. Galinda opened the door and stepped inside. She glanced around. The place was quiet. The only sound was the wind rustling the tall trees surrounding them and brushing against the windows. The only light in the cabin was the moonlight pouring from the window, spraying the floorboards and fireplace. Suddenly. The hair on the back of Galinda's neck rose. She saw her. Elphaba's naked body. Bound. Her eyes shut and mouth open. Before Boq could notice the immobile Munchkinlander, Galinda caught Boq by the crook of his arm, turned him around, and escorted him outside.
"Wait outside by the door for me!"
"But, Galinda!"
"I mean it!" she said in a firm tone that made Boq blurt formalities.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness!"
"I mean," she said, softening, "I don't think Shell's inside. It will be better to have you posted as a lookout. I'll search for Elphaba."
"It could be a trap."
"We know that it is," she joked with a weak smile.
Boq didn't smile back.
"I'll come right out as soon as I scout the place."
Boq reluctantly nodded. Galinda left him and closed the door behind her before she hurried to the table.
That cursed table. Galinda remembered the Sheriff and Shell forcing her on top of it. Elphaba's body took her place now, lacerated and bloodied, covered in bruises, cuts, and teeth marks, thoroughly drenched. Her hair was sopping wet. Whoever hurt her knew about her water allergy and used it against her.
"Elphaba, Elphaba!" Galinda called out.
Elphaba didn't budge, and Galinda's heart raced. Had Elphaba left her for good? She put a finger under the woman's nose and felt a faint warm breath. Still alive! Thanks be to the Unnamed God.
"Oh, what's been done to you?" Galinda whispered. Had the Sheriff returned and found Elphaba? Galinda would have his head on a pike! She took a knife from her traveling belt and began cutting the ropes. Her wrists bore marks, a ring of scrapes, sores, and scars that clearly took more than a day to accrue. Once Galinda removed all the ropes, she took off her mantle and rolled Elphaba into it, threading Elphaba's arms through the wide sleeves, and wrapped it around the woman, fastening the hooks to cover Elphaba's nakedness.
"We must go," Galinda said. But when Galinda tried to prop Elphaba up, her body snapped to life, and she feverishly punched Galinda's chest, arms, and face, trying to get away.
"Elphaba! You're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise you're safe with me."
Elphaba kept fighting, and Galinda didn't know how to comfort her.
"Elphie!" she shouted, feeling desperate. Elphaba stopped.
"Galinda?" Elphaba asked, her eyes focusing.
Elphaba said her name. Her royal name. Galinda nodded, half expecting Elphaba to start beating her again, but instead, the Munchkinlander said, "You must leave now! It's all a trap! Shell plans to murder you."
"I know, Elphie."
"Then, why didn't you stay away?"
Galinda's cheeks warmed uncomfortably. Her feelings for the woman felt painfully obvious. But Galinda knew they would never be welcome, especially not now when Elphaba thought Galinda capable of selling her off to Fiyero. Galinda chose her words carefully.
"You were in danger," she said.
Elphaba looked down at the table and then down at herself, seeming to take in what she was wearing. She shook her head, her face darkening.
"You saw how he left me. He, he…" She couldn't finish her sentence.
Galinda knew the shame Elphaba felt too well. She said gently,
"The Sheriff can't harm you like this in the castle. Come back with me. Stay as long as you like. My father's health is waning. I'm not worried about him any longer."
Elphaba shook her head, Galinda assumed in response to her invitation until Elphaba said,
"It wasn't the Sheriff."
"Then, who? Who would do such a thing to you? Tell me, and I'll have his head," Galinda said. Elphaba looked away, and in dawned on Galinda. The only people who knew about Elphaba's water allergy were her, Sir Chuffrey, and her family. If it were Sir Chuffrey, he would have killed her. That meant…"But it can't be! Shell was angry with me, not you! Even if he was angry with you. Why would he—he—he do this?"
"He said he fell in love with me that night," Elphaba said, and Galinda felt her heart stop. It was truly her fault. Her cowardice caused this. Her inability to defy Sir Chuffrey—her actions, as much as Shell's, had tied Elphaba to this table. Had Galinda really thought that repealing laws from the safety and comfort of the castle would transform and erase her monstrous actions?
"He hurt you like this many times, didn't he?" Elphaba asked.
Galinda's lip trembled as she remembered the many ways Shell humbled her.
"He hurt Glinda, not me. Remember?" Galinda said, trying to find her way out of the memory with humor and distance.
Elphaba placed a long bony finger under Galinda's chin and raised it, till they were looking squarely at each other. Galinda felt squeamish, so small, dirty, and pathetic. How could Elphaba stand to look at her?
"I should have noticed. I should have stopped him. I should have been there for you. I'm sorry I failed you…Galinda."
She said her name again and, as if for emphasis, said,
"You are worthy of an apology and protection, Princess."
Galinda was reminded of their conversation:
"I would exchange my life to take back what Shell did to her—"
"But not to me," Galinda had said.
Elphaba had kept silent.
Elphaba wasn't silent any longer. Galinda burst into a sob, remorse filling her, bubbling out of her mouth.
"Oh, Elphie! It's all my fault. I'm the monster. I made him hurt you. I was a coward. I was cruel. And I can't stop hurting you. I keep failing you!"
Elphaba didn't get a chance to respond. Suddenly, the door burst open, and Galinda cried out in fright. Boq stumbled inside the cabin, followed by Milla and two burly Munchkinlanders.
Milla?!
"Milla, what are you doing here?" Galinda asked, wiping her eyes. Her cousin ran straight into her and circled her arms around her waist.
"You're still alive!" Milla whispered, looking disheveled and wrapping her in a tight hug. "I followed you out of the castle."
"Followed me?"
"I'm sorry, Galinda," Boq said. "I couldn't protect us."
Galinda barely had a moment to feel her cousin's embrace when she heard a familiar voice say,
"Welcome back, Galinda," and she felt her insides quake. Shell walked inside. "I see you've brought a guest for us to enjoy."
Elphaba hopped off the table in an attempt to move in front of Galinda but stumbled, wincing in pain.
"Elphaba!" Galinda called out. Milla and Galinda flanked the Munchkinlander and propped her up.
"Shell, you have me. You don't need them," Elphaba said, clutching Galinda's arm.
"Changed your mind about marrying me?" Shell asked.
"Marry you?" Galinda voiced. He wasn't satisfied with violating Elphaba? He wanted her legally bound to him.
"Let them go, and I'll stay with you," Elphaba said.
"No, Elphie! You won't sacrifice yourself on my behalf," Galinda said.
"Stay for a while then, Galinda. Entertain us," Shell said and yanked Galinda away from Elphaba, toward him and the Munchkinlander men.
"Get your hands off her!" Elphaba said, hobbling forward.
"Good idea, Elphaba. It might be more entertaining to see our dear Galinda put her hands on our charming guest. You prefer women, don't you, Galinda?" Shell asked.
Galinda felt her face go hot and her stomach drop. Elphaba stuttered to a stop.
"What's he saying, Galinda?" Milla asked.
Galinda felt like she would vomit. How could she tell Milla? Liking women was one thing, but the things she did to Elphaba in the castle.
"She doesn't know about your perversities?" he asked. "I suppose you haven't told her how you raped your lady's maid and made me screw my own sister?"
"Galinda would never!" Milla defended, her voice shrill, caught in a pitch Galinda had never heard.
"Lies!" Boq yelled.
Galinda's chest felt like it was sinking, as if an oak chest lay on top of it and her ribs were made of sand. She couldn't speak.
"Am I lying, Galinda? Did Elphaba and I make it all up?"
Elphaba's eyes fell to the floor, her jaw hard. She's embarrassed, Galinda realized. While they were in the cabin, Elphaba had borne their memories alone. She became the sole witness of those terrible nights. It was Galinda's shame that she had been made to carry. Galinda felt revulsion as her own cowardice. She wouldn't hide from her crimes any longer. Galinda had to face herself, once and for all.
"He's…He's not lying," Galinda admitted. Milla gasped, and Boq shook his head, in disbelief or disgust. Their reactions fit her crimes, their horror reflected who she was, and still their reactions pierced.
Shell snorted, apparently not expecting Galinda to admit her sins. Elphaba looked up, holding her gaze for a moment. Was she surprised, too? Elphaba looked back at her brother.
"That's enough. Let them go," Elphaba ordered.
"Not until Galinda pays for what happened to us."
"When will it be enough? When will you finally feel better? Galinda's paid for her sins again and again in this cabin. There's no amount of hurt you can inflict on her to make your pain go away. You've already tried that," Elphaba said.
"I'm just getting started," he said in a low voice. "Galinda, why don't you use Milla to show us what you used to do to Elphaba? Apparently, she liked it so much she's willing to side with the Gillikinese over her own blood," Shell said.
Galinda's face flashed with cold, then heat. This is how it felt to feel helpless. To feel like you would be forced to harm someone you love dearly. Galinda found herself looking for something sharp. She would not let herself become a vessel to harm Milla. She wanted to end herself, but found nothing to use within reach.
"Don't. You. Dare," Elphaba said in a steely tone Galinda had never heard.
"Shell, we're alike, aren't we?" Galinda asked. If she was about to meet her end, meted out by Shell or herself, she would tell him her mind.
"What?"
"You resemble so many Gillikinese royals—especially me, before I found my way to this cabin," Galinda said.
"Watch your tongue!" he said.
"We, royal Gillikinese, use others' bodies to feel or prevent ourselves from feeling. We don't care of their want. They don't feel anything compared to us. In fact, if they do feel pain, they deserve it, they've earned it, or, better yet, they weren't of high enough quality to deserve better. They never deserve an apology because apologies are for those who aren't strong enough to meet their own needs. It seems our spirit has worn off on you."
"Enough of your chatter!" he said.
"But Elphaba's still a Munchkinlander through and through," she continued, "Do you know how she waited for you in this cabin?"
"What are you talking about?"
"While you left your sisters here, she waited for you. Even when Gillikinese sheriffs broke into our cabin, she wouldn't leave. Confident you would return, she risked her life to stay here in case you ever came back."
"I think we know she only stayed to diddle you."
"She could have done that anywhere," Galinda said, surprising him, "I would have followed her to the ends of Oz. It was you she sacrificed herself for."
"She stopped caring about me the moment she loved you," he shot back.
"My love for Galinda isn't about you," Elphaba spoke up for herself. "It's about me. I loved Galinda for myself, and I still loved you. One love didn't replace another. They weren't fungible."
Her love for Galinda? Not Glinda? Galinda shook her head. That wasn't the point of this moment. Galinda was about to face her death, and all she could think about was Elphaba's comment, likely a blunder. But what if it wasn't? What if she could love her? Not now!
"You can't have us both," Shell yelled at his sister.
"And you will never have me in the way that you want," Elphaba said. "It doesn't matter what you do to me or Galinda. I will always be only your sister."
A knock on the cabin door almost went unnoticed. One of Shell's henchmen turned and opened the door, and Nessarose wheeled herself in a freshly carved wheelchair. She wore an elegant black dress that fit tight against her body.
"Nessa!" Elphaba called.
"Enough, Shell," Nessarose said, ignoring Elphaba. "You've kept Elphaba here long enough now. And release Boq. He's done as we've wanted. He's brought us Galinda."
"You knew," Elphaba realized aloud, her mouth shaking. "This whole time you knew that Shell was keeping me captive? And you plotted with him to trap Galinda."
Nessarose rolled her eyes.
"It was for a good cause."
Elphaba's jaw stiffened. She pulled the mantle back from her shoulder, revealing a collar bone and one upper arm, dressed in bruises and Shell's teeth marks.
"This was a good cause?"
Nessarose startled, caught off guard.
"What, exactly, did you do to her?" she turned to Shell and asked.
"She needed to be persuaded," Shell said.
"You said you were keeping her from helping Gillikin, not helping yourself to her. You embarrass us."
"Embarrass you?" Elphaba said, her voice rising.
"Don't act as if you could be embarrassed," Nessa shot back. "You slept with your servant. You betray your family. You have no honor, and you are no longer my sister. I want my ruby red slippers back. We shall keep that Gillikinese woman here," Nessa said pointing at Milla "until Galinda brings them to me."
Ruby red slippers? Galinda suddenly remembered her last night with Elphaba as Glinda. It was those slippers that returned her memory. But they had disappeared as soon as she remembered who she was.
"I don't have them," Galinda said.
"Then you better get them!" Nessarose said. "Or your friend will be staying with us indefinitely."
"Nessarose!" Boq said.
"Don't look at me that way," Nessa said. "You know as well as I do that, without those shoes, all you see when you look at me is a cripple. If I have them, you'll see me as a woman."
"Nessarose, I—I—" Boq stuttered. "Shoes or no shoes, legs or no legs, I will never see you as the woman for me."
Nessarose's eyes grew beady. "You only say that because she's here again!"
"None of us will be here by tomorrow," Milla finally said.
The room turned to face her.
"What are you prattling about?" Nessa asked.
"If Galinda and I don't return tomorrow, the royal Gillikinese army will be dispatched to burn down this wretched forest!" she said.
Galinda felt her face pale.
"What do you mean?" Galinda asked, trembling.
"I told Tibbett that I was going to follow you here, and if we didn't return to send the army for us."
"Milla!" Galinda said.
"I didn't know a better way to protect you. You never told me about any of this," Milla said. "You never told me about you at all."
"Let them come. We're ready!" Shell said.
"You don't know what you're saying. They'll kill every Munchkinlander if they suspect you're keeping me," Galinda said. "You can't sacrifice Munchkin children for your vendetta. Keep me if you will, but let everyone go! Milla can make up a story to stop them from finding me."
"I don't trust you, her, or any Gillikinese. If I kill you now, at least there'll be a happy ending no matter what!" Shell said and pulled out his knife.
Just then, the door opened again, and an arrow shot through, grazing the side of Shell's face.
His two henchmen turned toward the open doorway and charged outside. Shouts were heard and the clashing of metal.
Shell jerked back toward Galinda as if to catch her before she ran out of the door herself. He hadn't noticed Boq move in front of her, nor Nessarose flinging herself out of her chair to stop him.
His knife caught his younger sister in the neck.
"Nessy!" he said in shock, wrenching his bloodied knife back. Nessa's body lay limp on top of the Munchkin man, whose body covered Galinda. Blood poured everywhere. He peeled Nessa off of Boq. There was no life left in her.
Shell's face crumpled. His hands shook. Boq righted himself quickly, looking surprised that Shell's knife had missed him but then noticing Nessa, he gasped. Galinda scooted backward on her bottom out of the way. Nessarose lay on the floor, between Galinda and Shell, frozen in her heroism. Felled by her own house.
Elphaba moved forward and knelt by her sister. Holding her sister's face in her hands, she looked as if she might kiss her cheek—or, perhaps, spit in her face. Elphaba did neither. She closed Nessa's eyelids and said, "Goodbye, Nessarose."
Boq came around Nessa's other side and knelt beside her.
"You made me do it!" Shell screamed back to life and moved to lunge at Galinda again. Elphaba rose sharply between them. Shell couldn't pull himself back in time. He plunged his knife into his older sister's breastbone. Elphaba stood solemn for a moment and then fell backward to the floor.
"Elphaba, no, no!" Galinda screamed, "No, no, no, no…" She rushed to kneel beside her love. Blood spurt around her collarbone. "You can't leave."
Shell stood still, surveying his bloodied sisters, before he dropped his knife and dashed out of the cabin.
"I'll go get help!" Boq said and ran outside, the sound of metal still clanging.
Milla knelt down beside the Munchkinlander and put her hand by her left breast.
"Her heart still beats. Galinda, you must get Elphaba to a physician."
Galinda nodded. Just as she decided they needed to go back to thicket, where she and Boq left their horses, Boq rushed back in and shouted,
"Shell's men are fighting the Weavers. We need to leave now before they find us here."
Galinda nodded, and the three of them propped Elphaba up and put her on Galinda's back. They walked toward the door and left the cabin, leaving Nessa behind.
They treaded through the fray, dodging the fighting and hiding in shadows until they reached a thicket of trees. There was one more horse than they came in on. A slumped figure sat upon it.
When they got closer, Galinda noticed it was Pfannee. The woman looked as broken as Elphaba. She was no longer conscious.
"Quickly," Boq said and knelt so Milla could use his knee to climb onto the first horse. He did the same for Galinda, and she climbed onto the second horse with Elphaba still on her back. Boq then climbed the third horse behind Pfannee and grabbed the reigns.
Galinda pulled Elphaba in front of her and leaned her love on one side of her so she could hold her tight as they rode.
The sound of screams and clatters could still be heard as they escaped the forest, and Galinda prayed she wasn't too late to save Elphaba.