6.
There was whole new silence as Elphaba hesitantly made her way to Glinda's side, thick and tense and utterly unbearable. The same people who seemed so joyous moments before looked stunned, almost betrayed. If Glinda noticed the change, she didn't acknowledge it. Rather, she decisively grabbed Elphaba's hand, and spoke on. "Here's what you need to know. Facts, not vicious rumors. Elphaba was born and raised in Munchkinland. She had a sister. She's a wife. She's a mother. She's my dearest friend. And all she's ever wanted was to make our Oz a better place."
Glinda paused, as if to allow the words sink in. He was quite literally on the edge of his seat. He tried to decipher any reaction from Elphaba, but she was standing with her back to him, the complete opposite to his restlessness. Unable to sit still any longer, he stood up and began to pace the tiny space.
"Now, most of you have never seen the Wizard of Oz in person. As I told you many times before, he had no real power. Which is why he found it necessary to adorn himself with such bells and whistles. He could not send Dorothy home, or make the Lion braver. He could not give the Scarecrow a brain or the Tim Man a heart. Elphaba did better. She was able to reversify them."
"Isn't she the one who has created them in the first place?"
He flinched at the venom each word carried. He saw Glinda prepare to tell off the heckler, but then Elphaba gently touched her arm. Glinda started, then stepped back ever so slightly, and let Elphaba take the stage.
"Yes," said Elphaba, her voice trembling, but soft and resolute. "It's true, I have. But solely for the purpose of saving their lives. I'll spare you the gory details; suffice it to say that both of them would certainly have died unless I did something, and under the circumstances it was the best I could do. Surely you'd agree that the alternative was worse."
There was a rustle through the crowd, but no one interrupted her, and that seemed to encourage her to continue. "I was told - we were told - that the spells I've performed where irreversible. But as I fled I learned that was a lie as well. I was able to reversify F - the Scarecrow." Their eyes met briefly. He nodded reassuringly. "And gave Glinda the book no one has told us about, which allowed her to reversify the Tin Man. We have yet to find the spell to reversify the Winged Monkeys, but in the meantime they're free to come and go as they choose, and some of them regain speech abilities with remarkable speed."
"What about Dorothy? Can you honestly tell us you didn't mean to hurt her?"
"Dorothy… killed my sister," said Elphaba. He noticed the way her hands clenched into fists beneath the podium. He could tell she was making a huge effort to keep it together; whether because of the mention of Dorothy or the deceased Nessarose, he couldn't say. "It was not my finest hour. And it's not an excuse, but I was mad with grief - "
"And do bear in mind that Dorothy was ordered to get rid of Elphaba - by the Wizard," interjected Glinda, "so really, Elphaba acted in self-defense." He smirked. In another life, Glinda would have made a fine lawyer. "Besides, when all is said and done, no harm was done to the little girl. As far as we know, she's back with her aunt and uncle."
Silence stretched on and on, or so it felt. Eventually someone asked Elphaba, "Why would we believe you now? For all we know, you're telling lies as well, just like the rest of them." Murmurs of agreements echoed all around.
"Because ask yourselves this: why would I risk my safety, the safety of my family, coming back here, if none of what we've just said is true?"
"And she's right here, in front of you, not hiding behind a fancy title, or a smoke screen in a dark room," said Glinda. Glancing at the audience, he could see some people nod to themselves. There was less hostility in the air. Glinda seemed to sense it as well, for she went on to say, plead really, "Look, she isn't perfect. Can anyone really claim that they are? Yes, she's made mistakes, but so have I. So have every single one of you. None of us is without faults. It's what we do after those mistakes, how we handle their consequences, that matters."
Glinda stopped for a breath; he realized he'd been holding his. "So as a first step, I want to plead with you to cease this talk of the Wicked Witch of the West. If she's existed, it was only for a little while, and not without good reason. If you have to call her names, how about a more appropriate title? Elphaba, I hereby declare you... The Spectacular Sorceress of Oz."
This time, the murmur in the crowd was more pronounced. Elphaba meant to say something, probably protest, but Glinda didn't let her, and spoke on.
"I believe that side by side, Elphaba and I can do great things, make our Oz wonderful, for the sake of your children, and ours." Gently, subtly, Glinda touched her baby bump. "Together, we'll discard the old tradition, and create a new one. We're not perfect, but I give you my word we'll do our very bestest. Whom of you will join us?"
He found himself holding his breath once more, wondering what she would do if the mob suddenly rose in opposition, the memory of the previous night's dream still so fresh in his mind. But once again, he had completely underestimated her; before long, I will, Miss Glinda! echoed one by one throughout the throng. He didn't even notice when the enthusiastic calls ceased and the deafening applause began. All he saw was Elphaba, standing there clasping Glinda's hand, overcome with emotion. He knew exactly what was on her mind. It sounds truly crazy, that was how she had sheepishly described to him the hazy vision of her youth in a late night confession some time ago. It seemed the complete opposite of crazy now.
And he felt enormously proud as he watched her become a half of Oz's favorite team.
They spent a pleasant evening in the library, still euphoric in the aftermath of Glinda's statement. The children were safe and warm in their beds with the governess watching over their peaceful slumber, so his only concern was whether to open another bottle of wine. Avaric and him finished the first one pretty much on their own; Elphaba's glass was still mostly full (much to Avaric's dismay). As Avaric was staring thoughtfully at the chessboard, contemplating his next move, he looked up at her. She was sitting by the desk across the room, writing to the Dillamonds, looking considerably calmer than she did earlier. Glinda, somehow, was not tired in the slightest, making lists and chatting endlessly about the banquette she had planned for the the final evening of their visit.
"This banquette is all about you, Elphie, so don't even think about making some sort of excuse to not attend it or else," she threatened.
"Look, it's Galinda," he joked, and saw a flicker of a smile break Elphaba's air of concentration.
Glinda herself ignored him, and went on. "And it won't kill you to wear a sparklier outfit. Or more colorful. Or generally less dull."
"Maybe I would if you were able to turn my frock into a magnificent ball gown," said Elphaba without raising her head from the parchment in front of her.
"Don't force my hand, I swear to Oz I - "
A servant poked his head inside the library, putting an end to their banter. "Boq is here for Lady Tiggular," he informed solemnly.