Taking matters into her own hands would have to wait until later, because the following morning, she was whisked away to the mavazi, which she learned meant 'modiste' on the way there. Sissalíne and Tsie accompanied her, explaining the town's layout and culture as best they could. Elphaba tried to pay attention, but her mind was elsewhere.
With the wedding three days away, she didn't want to think about it, but it was all she could think about. But it was taking over the town. Decorations were already up, with more being set up. Strings of mini, Vinkun flags hung from lampposts, along with banners, streamers, and a few large balloons. People stood on ladders to continue hanging decorations, shouting orders to others on the ground or on other ladders.
The people seemed to love the royal family, specifically the prince. She knew a majority of Munchkins were loyal to the Thropps, but the local Vinkuns seemed to have a genuine love for the family. Or it could just be their love of the festivations. Either way, they all seemed happy. She silently entertained herself by taking in the view until the carriage stopped in front of the mavazi.
The driver helped the three women down, and Sissalíne and Tsie ushered Elphaba inside. She had never been to a dress shop before. Only Nessa and Melena were interested in stuff like this, and the green girl was more than happy to stay behind. Besides, she was always told there weren't many colors she could wear that wouldn't clash with her skin, so she saw no use taking an interest in things like this.
"Biimpé!" Tsie called, and a dark-skinned, stout woman with thick, long braids emerged from the back.
The woman smiled and immediately started rattling off in fast Vinkun. Sissalíne and Tsie politely engaged her for a bit before turning back to Elphaba, reminding them of why they were really there.
"Ah, ye futi prinzinne," Biimpé smiled, taking Elphaba's hands and giving them a harder-than-comfortable squeeze. She continued to rattle off, unaware that Elphaba had no idea what she was saying, and disappeared into the back.
"She getting kemis and kapa," Sissalíne smiled at Elphaba. "We go to changing area."
Sissalíne and Tsie ushered her to the opposite side of the store and pulled back the fringe curtain, where there was a large, circular stage in the middle of the room, surrounded by three large changing stalls. They followed Elphaba inside, but Elphaba insisted she could remove her dress on her own.
Biimpé returned and once Elphaba was clad in only her undergarments and a slip, the fitting began. The kemis was a white and purple ankle-length gown, made of soft, handwoven cotton. The skirt was white up until just below her knees, then turned deep purple. The white and purple sleeves went down to her wrists, with an underlayer hugging her skin, and a light overlay making the sleeves puff out.
"It feels nice," Elphaba nodded to Biimpé's inquiry. Everything fit perfectly, and she figured that her measurements had been sent over when she was measured for Naoleine's wedding.
"Kapa," Biimpé said, setting the thick, embroidered purple and gold cape on Elphaba's shoulders.
It was heavier than she expected, and had to adjust her footing. It flowered down her back and trailed behind her a few inches. It was different than the clothes she was used to, though she expected it to be. She had to admit; wearing the dress, even if just for a fitting, gave her a much-needed confidence boost.
She had to endure a bit more poking and prodding, but once everything was finalized, Biimpé helped her remove her ensemble with a promise to send it to the castle the following day. Once Elphaba was back in her normal clothes, she thanked Biimpé and headed out with her attendants.
She was about to get back in the carriage, but stopped. "I want to see the town."
"We can stay a bit," Tsie said cautiously, looking up at the clock tower. "But Grandness expects you for lunch."
"That leaves two hours." She hurriedly walked away from the carriage, hearing Sissalíne and Tsie hurry after her.
Now that some of the fear and frustration had ebbed, Elphaba allowed herself to fully experience the new sights and sounds of the town's marketplace. She looked at the carts of food and trinkets, but didn't buy anything.
"Where is the bank?" she asked, finding a few leftover Munchkin currency in her over-the-shoulder bag.
After exchanging the rest of her money, she went to a scarf stall, looking at the various traditional silk shawls and scarves. She browsed through the rack of scarves, pausing on a black shawl with red roses, and black and green fringe. She stared at it for a moment, then took it off the rack, giving the stall owner the exact amount. She carefully played with the fringe, letting it tickle her fingers before carefully folding it into her bag.
"Something for my younger sister, Nessarose," Elphaba explained to the two women. "She loves pretty things like this."
"What is your sister like?" Tsie asked.
"She just turned seventeen last month. She's a handful, but can be affectionate when she wants to be. She's horribly spoiled, and our father's favorite. She drives me insane every chance she gets, but I love her dearly."
"Is she to come to wedding?"
"No. She hates traveling long distances. She's paralyzed from the waist down, and gets uncomfortable during long journeys."
"What of your other family?" Sissalíne asked.
"I have a younger brother, Sheltergod. He's eleven, very energetic, and drives me just as crazy as Nessarose does. He's my favorite." She smiled inwardly.
"Big family?"
"I also have my great-grandfather, grandparents, aunt and uncle, and three cousins on my mother's side who I'm close with."
The family talk died down as they continued to browse around. It was a while before Elphaba realized that she was having such an easy time shopping because no one knew who she was, or who she was about to be. The entire square was decorated for the royal wedding, yet no one realized that she was the bride. She would've thought the marriage of the prince would've been a bigger deal that her picture would've been heavily circulated by now.
All too soon, their two hours were almost up, and they had to return to the castle. As they pulled up to Wistra Ir, Elphaba saw the Chieftain standing at the base of the steps. Once they got close enough to see his face, he looked less than pleased.
"Where have you been?" he demanded once Elphaba stepped down and bowed. "You were due to return almost two hours ago."
"I wanted to explore the square."
"Who gave you permission?"
Elphaba blinked. "I wasn't aware I needed permission. I was already out. I knew I had to be back for lunch."
The Chieftain's frown deepened, and he ran a hand through his thick beard. "Then you still have much to learn."
"I apologize, Your Grandness," she said, giving the elder man a deep bow. She was used to this from her own family, and knew apologizing was the best course of action to avoid conflict.
He hummed and turned to go back upstairs, giving Elphaba a non-committal gesture to follow him. The way she had to bend to everyone's demands and lectures made her feel gullible and spineless again, but she put on a brave face. She knew she had to do this for Munchkinland, though what had Munchkinland ever done for her to deserve this payback?
Lunch was much better than it had been the previous day. Hannalyn seemed to realize that she might have rubbed a sore spot with Elphaba earlier, and actively tried to rectify the start of their relationship. Elphaba let her, but kept her walls partially up. She didn't want to fall into whatever trap she might've planned for her. The Young Dowager Princess said as little as possible to her, which Elphaba was grateful for. As she expected, Prince Fiyero still wasn't there.
Perhaps if she spent time exploring the castle, she'd be able to find him. It was a large castle, but she couldn't help but feel that he was purposely avoiding her.
After lunch, she was left to her own devices once again. She walked the long halls, admiring the large tapestries and paintings that adorned the walls. It was quiet, save for her footsteps, which gave her a bit of an eerie feeling, but her adventurous side overpowered it.
Her footsteps weren't the only sound for long, since one of the doors directly in front of her flew open and three laughing and screaming children ran out, skidding to a halt in front of her. They looked like siblings. The two older boys took a few steps back, never taking their eyes off her. The youngest girl, however, stepped forward, wrinkling her nose in confusion, sticking her thumb into her mouth.
Elphaba noted that she looked too old to still be sucking her thumb, but didn't have much time to dwell on those thoughts before the children started hurling questions at her and each other.
"Who is she?" the little girl asked one of the boys.
"Who knows? Why is she green?" the middle child asked.
The tallest wrinkled his nose. "Why is she green?"
"Where did she come from?"
"She looks weird."
"Can she even understand us?"
"Children!" a female voice called. The children turned as the Young Dowager Princess rounded the corner, stopping short when she saw Elphaba.
Elphaba bowed to the princess, and Sarima returned her gesture with a curt nod.
"Amma! Amma! Who is this weird woman?" the children asked, running up to her and bombarding her with other questions.
"Come, children," she said, sternly placing her hands on her eldest son's shoulders and steering him away from Elphaba, and the other boy followed. She started walking away, but noticed her daughter was not following her. "Nor, come."
Nor walked backward towards her mother, not taking her eyes off Elphaba. She bumped into her brothers, and walked with them, but kept staring at Elphaba until her mother pulled her around the corner.
Once she was sure they were far away enough, Elphaba cautiously continued her exploration. The last door down the long corridor was ajar, and she cautiously peeked inside. She couldn't see much, but what she could see told her what room she had found, and she slipped inside.
The biggest library she'd ever been in was at Colwen Grounds, and while expansive, it was nothing compared to this one. Stacks of books that reached the high roof flooded her vision. A spiral staircase in the corner led to a second floor, and tall floor-to-ceiling windows made the room feel even grander. Her breath hitched and she smiled, taking in all the books. As she ventured further inside, her fingers scanned the book bindings. She squinted at the titles, and pulled a few books from the shelves. She had taken a quicker study to Vinkun reading comprehension rather than speaking, and she understood enough words to formulate context clues.
She settled at a table by the window and opened a hardcover book with a dark blue binding. But before she could get into reading, she noticed a newspaper on the far side of the table. She reached over and took it, realizing it was from months ago, and a large, color photo of Naoleine and Loiln on the chapel steps as newlyweds covered most of the front page, with only a tiny bit of text underneath, explaining the photo.
My cousin looked so happy on her wedding day. I don't think I will be that happy, Elphaba mused. It wasn't a full doubt, but she wasn't optimistic.
She pushed the paper aside and went to her book. The library was silent, which meant every small noise was amplified. Which is why it shocked her that she didn't hear anyone approaching her until she felt a bump against her leg. She looked down to see a dog, but she had a feeling she'd seen this dog before.
"Oh. Hello," she smiled when she recognized the beagle from the forest a few days ago, though it seemed like forever ago.
The dog's whole butt wagged, recognizing the green girl's scent. He licked her hand and placed his front paws on her lap.
"Wait… what are you doing here?" Elphaba asked. "Do you belong to someone who works here?"
The dog sniffed the air and turned, letting out a soft bark. When he didn't get the reaction he was expecting, he let out an even louder bark.
"Shh," Elphaba said, petting the dog to try and calm him.
The dog jumped down and sniffed the ground, tracking a scent. He walked away, but turned when Elphaba didn't follow him. He huffed, and Elphaba could've sworn he looked annoyed with her.
"Alright. I'm coming," she said, abandoning her books and following the dog.
The dog walked through the library with his nose to the ground, intensely focused on finding the source of the scent. He took her all around the library before stopping right back at Elphaba's table. The green girl looked out the window and saw the Young Dowager Princess and the three children playing outside. The dog huffed and turned in circles, went back to Elphaba, and nudged her leg.
Not knowing why the beagle wanted to give her an impromptu library tour, she looked around, but didn't see or hear anyone. She turned back to the window, noticing how the children were now playing tag with the Young Dowager Princess watching them from a blanket under the tree.
The dog heard the footsteps before she did, and startled her by turning around and grunting. She whipped around, seeing a young man approaching her. Like the dog, he seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't put her finger on it as quickly.
The man stopped a few feet away and looked from her to the dog, who was excitedly tapping his paws.
"Hunfter." He made a gesture with his hand and the dog came and sat beside him. He looked back up at Elphaba, but he seemed to recognize her before she recognized him.
Elphaba hadn't moved from her spot, staring at the man in a simple white shirt and black pants. She took in his long, black locs and ochre skin, and small blue diamond tattoos down his right cheek and neck.
Blue diamond tattoos? Elphaba blinked. Where had she seen those before? "It's you," she said, realization in her eyes. "The man from the forest."
It surprised the man that she spoke Vinkun, since she hadn't during their first meeting, but he simply smiled back. "It's you. The woman in the carriage."
"What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same. Though, I helped you get here, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
"I…" She didn't know how much she should reveal to this man she had recently met. She didn't know his name or what he was doing at the castle, and specifically, in the library.
"You have come here from Munchkinland."
"Yes."
"To wed the prince."
"You know a lot. Yes, unfortunately."
He frowned slightly. "What do you mean by that?"
"I have been here for two days, will be married in three days, and I still have not met the man I am being forced to marry."
"Oh. That is quite a predicament."
"I've met his family, and while they haven't been the most welcoming, I am putting on a brave face, for this 'bond between the East and West'." She bitterly quoted her great-grandfather with an eye roll, turning to the window. She noticed how the four people outside were now gone.
"So… you have no desire to marry the prince?"
"No one will speak of him, and I haven't seen anything of his likeness. I will not meet him for another two days, and will be expected to wed him less than twelve hours later," Elphaba grunted. "Unfortunately."
"What would it take to make this situation less unfortunate?"
She glanced at him, then fully turned to face him. "What could you possibly do to help me?"
His lips quirked. "Well, perhaps I could start by introducing myself, so you won't feel uncomfortable marrying me in three days."
Elphaba's eyes widened, and she stepped back, her back bumping against the window. "I…"
The man smiled and bowed, flourishing his hand. "I am Prince Fiyero Liir Tigulaar, grandson of the Grand Chieftain of the illustrious Arjiki Clan, Highest House of the Vinkus, His Grandness, the Chieftain Marilott Tigulaar." The girl still looked shocked, so he added, "But you don't have to say all that."
Elphaba snapped back to the present and bowed. "Your Highness."
He took her hand, causing her to look up at him. "To you, I am Fiyero. Just 'Fiyero'. Will you tell me your title so I may create an appropriate shortening of it?"
Despite herself, Elphaba breathed out a soft chuckle. "I am Her Excellency, Elphaba Melena Thropp of Nest Hardings, Thropp Eighth Descending, Great-Granddaughter of His Eminence, Peerless Thropp."
Fiyero nodded. "Your Excellency."
"I suppose you can just call me 'Elphaba'."
He saw the twinkle in her eyes, but it was overshadowed by her nervous smile. "As for my absence, I must apologize for that. My family has kept me very busy."
"Is it considered bad luck for the royal groom to meet the bride before the wedding?"
He laughed. "Not in the Vinkus, but my family has placed extra duties on my shoulders to make sure that I don't have time to meet you before I'm supposed to. But I have always been a curious cat with a mischievous rule-breaking streak."
The dog perked up at the word 'cat' and looked around, sniffling and growling.
"No, Hunfter," Fiyero said, scratching the dog's ears. "Expression."
The beagle relaxed and went back to Elphaba, stepping on her toes and licking her hand.
"Hunfter is a hunting beagle, but sometimes, he behaves more like a house pet," Fiyero chuckled. "He's very affectionate."
"I can tell," Elphaba smiled, scratching the dog's ears. "Has your curiosity been satisfied?"
"Only if you are less against this whole arrangement we find ourselves in."
"I… I didn't mean it like that."
"No, I know you did. But I am not offended. Quite the opposite, in fact. I value honesty." He tilted his head. "So you really are green. It's not a trick of the light."
Elphaba bristled, but he continued as if he hadn't noticed.
"It's exotic. I've seen many different skin tones, but never one like yours."
She didn't know how to take it, but since it didn't sound like an insult, and he'd been nice to her so far, she decided not to get defensive. "Thank you."
"While I'm happy we met beforehand, Elphaba, perhaps it would be best if we kept this meeting between us. And at the feast, it would be best if we both act like we haven't met yet."
"I agree with that plan," Elphaba nodded, already becoming distracted.
Fiyero sensed that she was probably done with this meeting and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Until then, Elphaba."
Elphaba watched him and Hunfter go, and collapsed in the chair. Now that she met Fiyero, she didn't know if she was more prepared for her wedding or more nervous.
Elphaba's wedding kemis is posted on my Tumblr and Twitter.
And did anyone spot the very specific book reference I put in this chapter? Drop a comment down below and let me know. Virtual cupcakes to whoever guesses correctly! XD
That's the end of PART 1: Elphaba's Munchkinland. The next chapter starts PART 2: Fiyero's Vinkus!