Apologies for not updating on Wednesday. I needed some time after Tuesday, and yesterday was also a bit crazy.
When she awoke the following morning, Glinda was surprised to see a small plate of buttered toast, apple slices, and juice waiting for her on her nightstand. She pushed herself up and rubbed her eyes, her sleepy gaze landing on the note next to the plate.
Glinda,
I was able to sneak a small breakfast for you to tide you over for the rest of the day. Tell no one.
E.
Glinda giggled and quietly munched on the food. She knew Elphaba was just looking out for her, regardless of what she said before. She cleaned the plate and drank all the juice, then decided to get ready for the day. She quickly washed and dressed in a simple purple dress with a black ribbon belt. She wasn't told an itinerary for the day, and hoped she was appropriately dressed for whatever was planned. She figured it wouldn't be too much, since everyone was fasting, but she never knew.
She brightened at a knock at the door and jumped up, bubbling even more when she saw her favorite person on the other side. "Hi, Elphie!"
"Good morning, Glinda," Elphaba chuckled, already dressed in a simple, dark brown blouse and black skirt. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very well. And thank you for my special, sneaky surprise."
"I haven't the faintest idea of what you're referring to. I did nothing out of the ordinary."
Glinda got the hint and smirked. "Are you saying you used to sneak food during the fast-time, Elphaba?"
"No. I did during every other time, though."
"What's on the agenda for today?"
"Not much festivation, I'm afraid. Everyone takes it easy for the day."
"Well… what do you normally do?"
"I would stay in the Emerald City, still fast, and have a small celebration dinner alone in my apartment. I wanted to follow my routine as much as possible. Though, I didn't bring any work with me, since I was sure Nessa would, if not keep me busy, keep me from doing opera house work."
"What about your family?"
"Well, Nessa and my father went to the chapel an hour ago. Shell's still sleeping, and I doubt he'll wake up anytime soon, unless Nessa personally wakes him when she returns. I was just going to take a walk and read."
"I'll take a walk and read with you."
Elphaba smiled and held out her hand. Glinda flashed a questioning glance, before slowly slipping her hand into Elphaba's and locking their fingers. She let out a relieved sigh at the return of the simple affection and grabbed her cardigan before following the green woman outside.
The sky was cloudy, with bits of sunlight fighting to push through, but slowly losing the battle. Glinda pulled her cardigan closer against her body to try and ward off the chill.
"The grounds are beautiful," Glinda commented, striding side-by-side with her love.
"My mother used to oversee the maintenance of the garden. It was her idea to carve a maze from the overgrowing hedges. It used to be my favorite hiding place." Elphaba smiled at the faint memory. "Then my siblings also learned the routes and would find me, and it became less special."
"Your father oversees it now?"
"Actually, Nessa does. I don't know if she remembers the walks we took out here with our mother, or if she's just going off my stories, but she now oversees the garden as a personal project. It keeps her calm and helps keep our mother's memory alive."
"That sounds wonderful, Elphie," Glinda smiled, letting the nickname slip.
"Shell actually helped with some of the landscaping."
"Shell doesn't have a title?"
"Legally, he does. He's His Excellence, Master Sheltergod Thropp, Thropp Third Descending. But he's not much of a 'title' person, like me. Since he's a man, the rules are less strict around his title. He isn't required to use it the way Nessa and I are. He uses it when he wants something, and Nessa doesn't stop him."
"Will you use it so I can get the best sweets at the festival tomorrow?"
Elphaba laughed. "For you, I will use my full title to get you the best Munchkinland has to offer." She squeezed her hand and began to pull her through the tall hedges. Glinda, having a feeling she knew what was prompting this sudden sneakiness, smiled as she easily kept up. They finally came to a dead end and Elphaba pulled her close.
"Is this why you wanted to go on a walk?" Glinda asked, standing on her toes to kiss Elphaba.
"No, but it is why I invited you."
"You didn't invite me. I invited myself."
"But I didn't say 'no'."
"You couldn't. I'm irresistible. That's why we're hiding in a maze. To steal irresistibly sneaky kisses."
Elphaba stole another one. "You're right. I knew I couldn't last the entire weekend without holding you."
"I trusted you to put your sneakiness to good use." Green hands traveled down her side, and she shivered.
"Cold?"
"Hot flash."
She pulled her closer, verdant-tinted lips nuzzling across soft, pink-tinted ones before capturing them in a kiss.
"Elphie."
"Mmm?"
"Elphie, did you –"
"Shh."
"Elphaba, did you feel that?"
The green woman opened her eyes, annoyed that their intimate gesture was being interrupted. "Feel what?"
Glinda gently pulled away and held out her palm. A few raindrops hit her hand and she looked up at Elphaba. "It's starting to –"
Without warning, the sky opened, and the downpour started. Glinda's yelp mixed with Elphaba's cry. The blonde instantly remembered one of Elphaba's most guarded secrets and quickly shed her cardigan, draping it over Elphaba's head. It did little to protect her, but it was better than nothing. She regretted not paying attention to where they were going, for now, she couldn't lead Elphaba back.
Thankfully, she didn't have to worry long. Elphaba grabbed her hand, the other securing the cardigan to her head, and pulled her back through the twisted path. Their shoulders roughly brushed against the hedges, but neither registered the slight pain, though for different reasons.
Finally, they reached the mansion, and stumbled through the door, now safe from the rain.
"Elphaba!" Glinda cried when Elphaba collapsed at her feet, breathing heavily. She reached down to help her up, but jumped back when Elphaba hissed at her arms being touched. "Oh, Elphie." She knelt next to her friend to try and get a better look at the damage, but Elphaba turned away. "Let's get you dried off," Glinda said, wrapping her arms around Elphaba's waist.
The green girl winced, but didn't pull away, and allowed Glinda to help her up and into the parlor. They stumbled over to the crackling fire, and Glinda helped Elphaba to the floor. It wasn't graceful, but at least she didn't collapse again.
The mansion was quiet, and it didn't appear that Nessa and Frex had returned, nor that Shell was awake. Glinda reached out, her hands hovering over her lover's trembling body. She had to get her out of those wet clothes, but knew undressing in the parlor wasn't an ideal predicament; then again, none of this was an ideal predicament. She removed the cardigan and tossed it aside, ignoring the wet 'splat' when it hit a nearby chair.
"I'll get a change of clothes from your room. Which one is it?"
"Upstairs… third… left…" Elphaba breathed.
"Okay. I'll be right back." Glinda pushed herself up and hurried up the stairs. She found Elphaba's room and slipped inside, taking a brief pause to realize how empty it was, and then went into her practically bare closet. She grabbed the first dress she touched and hurried out, accidentally slamming the door behind her. She was in such a hurry that she didn't realize how she had accidentally awoken the sleeping Thropp.
When she returned downstairs, Elphaba's shivering form was huddled before the fire. Glinda reclaimed her spot next to her. Elphaba's hair had come loose from its braid, hiding her face, but Glinda could see red, irritated splotches covering the back of her neck and cheeks. "Oh, my poor Elphie."
"What's going on?"
Glinda squeaked and whipped around. "Shell!"
The youngest Thropp slowly came into the room, rubbing his eyes. "Have Nessa and my father returned?"
"I don't think so, but…"
"By the Time Dragon, what happened to Elphaba?"
"We were taking a walk and got caught in the rain. She needs to get out of these wet clothes, but… she can't undress out here, and I don't know how injured she is, but she can't make it up the stairs."
Shell looked at his older sister. His strong, seemingly invincible older sister. He rarely saw her this vulnerable, and knew it was because she wouldn't allow him to. "I'll get a blanket." He ran out and soon returned with a thick, wool blanket and a towel. He unfolded it and held it out, shielding Elphaba from the door and window's view. There was no one there, but it provided the feeling of privacy.
Glinda helped Elphaba undress to her undergarments as quickly and gently as she could, all while assessing the damage as she dabbed her skin with the towel. The green girl's neck, hands, and face sustained the most damage, while her arms and shoulders were less so. The dress she brought down had short sleeves and a lower neckline, which exposed Elphaba's burns, but gave Glinda access to tend to them.
"Better?" Glinda asked once Elphaba was dry and changed.
"A bit," Elphaba admitted. She looked up at her brother, blinking like she wasn't aware he was there the whole time.
Shell looked up and started counting ceiling tiles.
Glinda's bottom lip quivered, and she almost burst into tears at the sight of her beautiful Elphie covered in those angry burns.
"They're mostly superficial," Elphaba said, wincing as she tried to move.
Glinda stopped her. "The ones on your arms, maybe. But Elphie, your face and hands…"
"The superficial burns are the most painful," she whispered, almost shamefully. "In my bag… I have a bottle of healing gel."
"I'll go," Shell offered.
"Stay out of my room, Shell," Elphaba hissed.
The younger man grinned, glad some of his sister's usual bite was returning. "There's nothing in your room worth snooping for. I'll be quick." He hurried out, his footsteps fading and growing within the minute. He reappeared with the vile in question.
Elphaba reached for it, and Glinda would've slapped her hand away if not for the burns. Instead, Glinda just made sure she was quicker and snatched the bottle. "Thank you, Shell." She turned and knelt in front of Elphaba, squeezing the clear, thick gel into her hands.
"Glinda," Elphaba whispered unsurely.
"Let me help, Elphaba."
Realizing she had no choice, she nodded her consent to apply the gel. Glinda started on her hands, rubbing the gel atop the red spots. It had a mildly earthy scent, fresh with a bit of a botanical scent, and Glinda figured it came from some type of plant. She moved up her arms and to her neck, noticing how Elphaba relaxed as the gel went to work.
She removed her glasses to do her face, placing them on the nearby chair with her cardigan. Elphaba closed her eyes as Glinda's fingers traveled across her cheeks, the bridge of her nose, and up to her forehead. She bit her lip, hating that Glinda was seeing her like this.
"It's okay, Elphaba," Glinda whispered, trying to sound reassuring.
This moment was just as intimate as that time in Elphaba's office when she tended to Glinda's sore feet. Glinda's hands were just as soft and caring as Elphaba's.
Glinda pulled away and her gaze shifted to Elphaba's legs.
"What is it?" Elphaba frowned, feeling Glinda's hands leave her body.
Glinda remembered that she couldn't see facial expressions. "Your legs…" she said. Her thin tights had protected her legs, but not enough for them to remain unscathed.
Had Elphaba's hands not been covered in the slippery gel, she would've insisted on doing it herself. Hell, she would've insisted on doing this whole process herself. But she couldn't. She needed the gel on her legs, but Glinda couldn't. Not here.
"I'll be gentle," Glinda whispered.
"It's not that."
"I'll be quick."
"It's more than that."
"Just lift the skirt a little. I don't have to go all the way up." She placed a hand on her knee. "It's fine, Elphaba. We'll be fine."
Elphaba took a deep breath. "Alright."
Glinda worked quickly on Elphaba's legs. She was almost finished when the door opened, and the sound of wheels and footsteps approached the parlor.
"Shell, you've finally decided to get out of bed and…" Nessa's voice trailed off as she laid eyes on her sister and guest.
Glinda's hands were still working on Elphaba's legs. She could've stopped. She knew how improper this scene looked, but she also knew how much pain Elphaba was in. The quicker she finished, the quicker Elphaba's pain would ease. And that was her main concern.
"By the Unnamed God, what happened to you, Elphaba?" Nessa quickly wheeled into the parlor and Glinda pushed herself to her feet and dipped into a curtsy.
The blonde grabbed Elphaba's glasses and carefully fixed them on her face. Elphaba looked over at her sister. She didn't expect to see concern, and wasn't surprised when she was met with Nessa sitting over her, looking down her nose at her.
"You've been away from Munchkinland for so long, you forgot about Sudden Storms, haven't you?"
Elphaba turned away from her sister's accusatory tone, the pain not eased enough for her to deal with her lack of concern.
"What's a Sudden Storm?" Glinda asked.
"Exactly what it sounds like. It's when it suddenly rains heavily for only a few minutes, then stops, almost magically," Shell explained. "They're very common this time of year. Quick spurts of rain help keep the soil fertile."
Glinda spared a glance outside and realized it was no longer raining.
"You look like a Lurlinemas decoration," Nessa continued, ignoring the explanation.
"Nessa," Shell frowned. "She's hurting."
"Serves her right. She forgot to go outside with protection, and now look at her. This is what happens when you're living somewhere you don't belong." Nessa took a deep breath and turned to Glinda. "I apologize, Miss Upland."
Glinda, who was ready for Nessa to verbally rip into her, wasn't expecting the apology. "Your Eminence?"
"I apologize for you getting sucked into Elphaba's carelessness. She had you in such a precarious position. Her recklessness shouldn't have been your duty to aid, especially in such an improperly intimate way."
"I wanted to help, Your Eminence. Elphaba is my friend."
"Then perhaps you're a goodlier person than I perceived, because she doesn't deserve you."
"Knock it off, Nessa!" Elphaba hissed, pushing herself to her feet. "Yes. Okay, yes, I did forget about Sudden Storms. I made a mistake. But I made an even bigger mistake by coming home."
"Elphaba!" Frex called after his daughter as she ran past them and out of the parlor.
"Elphie!" Glinda called, hurrying after her.
Elphaba slipped into a small hall closet, closed the door behind her, and sank to the floor. She brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. The pain was starting to dull a bit, which brought on the soreness.
"Elphaba?"
She didn't want to open the door for her friend. She wanted to be alone. But she also knew that holding Glinda in her arms would make the pain feel like it was going away. But she still didn't open the closet door.
Thankfully, she didn't have to. The door creaked open, and she looked up to see Glinda standing over her. "Perhaps you know me too well," Elphaba smiled weakly.
"Perhaps I love knowing you too well," Glinda smiled back, kneeling in front of her.
"I won't apologize to Nessa, but I will apologize to you."
"I wasn't going to ask for either. You have nothing to apologize for."
"I was probably being overdramatic and immature."
"You weren't. You were in a precarious position. Though, I doubt your current position is less precarious."
"It's more comfortable than being out there." She took a breath. "I haven't hidden like this since I was a child. I was never found… until now."
"You're much too good at hiding. But it's okay, because I'm much too good at finding you."
Her weak smile increased in strength. "That you are, my sweet."
"I can't cuddle you in a closet, so can you come out now?"
Elphaba chuckled and stood, brushing a coat sleeve from her face as she exited the closet. She closed the door behind her and pulled Glinda into her arms.
"You're still in pain," Glinda said.
"Not as much as before. The gel helped, but a pain pill could help more."
"Then let's get you one."
"I… I can't take the pain medicine without eating."
"Break your fast, Elphaba," Nessa spoke up from behind them.
Elphaba looked up over Glinda's shoulder at her sister, but didn't release her grip. "Why? So you can hold it over my head for the rest of the weekend that I didn't make it through the morning?"
"Shell already went down to the kitchens."
"I don't need him to –"
"Don't be stubborn, Elphaba. I need you to be better by tomorrow. So take the medicine and rest."
"Is that a command, Your Eminence?"
"It can be, but I'd rather keep it as a plea from a younger sister."
Elphaba looked from her sister to her girlfriend, then slowly nodded. "Alright." She kept a firm grip on Glinda's hand as she led her away.
"Miss Upland!"
Glinda stopped and turned. She reassuringly patted Elphaba's shoulder as she gently pulled her hand away, and went back to the younger girl. "Yes, Your Eminence?"
"Go get the medicine, Elphaba!" Nessa called, looking past Glinda. "I promise she'll still be here when you get back."
Glinda let out a soft giggle and nodded for Elphaba to go.
"I haven't been able to figure you out, Miss Upland," Nessa continued once Elphaba was out of view. "No one has ever cared for Elphaba the way you do."
Glinda smiled softly. "Elphaba is a wonderful friend."
"What do you want from her?"
"What do you mean?"
"She owns the opera house, where you're currently employed. Surely there must be a reason you wanted to befriend her."
"I befriended her because I wanted her to be my friend. I haven't asked her for anything. She's not going to because I don't want her to."
"What has she done for you? What has she done to you?"
"I am not receiving special favors from her, Your Eminence." At least, not the ones you're thinking of. "The only thing she's given me is a beautiful, true friendship. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve her."
Nessa gave her a once-over. "Elphaba has many secrets."
Why was everything always about Elphaba's secrets? She had secrets of her own, didn't she? She hadn't thought she shared too much up front, but perhaps her life was simpler than she thought. "I'm aware."
"I'm wondering; why were you singled out by Elphaba?"
"I don't know. Every time I'm onstage dancing in the corps group, I ask myself that question. She says it's because she saw a passion in me that she's never seen before, and while I believe her, I still think there's more."
"And I might believe you, too."
"Your Eminence… I'm an only child, so I don't pretend to understand the dynamics between siblings. But… Elphaba has missed you. Both you and your brother. I don't know the full reason why she wants to stay away from Munchkinland, but it's not you."
Nessa remembered her conversation with Elphaba during her preplanned, unannounced visit to her apartment. But who was this girl to tell her what her sister thought? It's her sister. But now that she thought about it, perhaps Glinda needed to tell her because she didn't know what Elphaba thought. Or she did, and she didn't care and ignored it so much that she forgot. "It's been years since she's been home. I've tried to get her to come back for the Harvinight Feast, but she'd always decline. I never made as big a deal before, and I was sure she wouldn't return this year, but here she is. With you." Her expression turned unreadable. "I believe you have a deep passion for more than just dancing, Miss Upland."
Glinda fought to keep her face neutral. Had Nessa figured them out? Ozdamnit. It was the leg rubbing, Glinda. You blew it with the leg rubbing, she chided herself. She was saved from asking the most damning question by Elphaba's hurried footsteps towards them.
"Calm yourself, Elphaba. Your guest is still alive and well," Nessa said, waving a dismissive hand as Elphaba returned, clutching a small pill bottle.
"I didn't say anything," Elphaba frowned.
"You were thinking it. I know you. But I don't know what's keeping Shell. I swear to Oz, if he's sneaking food, I'll –"
"Calm yourself, Nessa," Shell said, impersonating his sister as he rounded the corner with a large bowl of various fruits and a glass of juice.
"My voice isn't that high-pitched."
"Keep telling yourself that."
"Shell!"
"You're right, Nessa. Your voice gets high-pitched and squeaky," Elphaba smirked.
"Elphaba!" Nessa scowled, high-pitched and squeaky.
Elphaba turned to try and hide her laugh. She failed and watched Nessa's face turn red. Deciding to quit while she was ahead, she took the food and juice from her brother and hurried back up to her room, Glinda following without being prompted.
"Is the day over yet?" Nessa groaned.
"It's only eleven forty-seven," Shell blinked.
The noise that emulated from the Governor's throat was so unladylike and unlike her that Shell looked around, not knowing where the noise came from, but knowing it couldn't have come from his pious, pretentious older sister.
The next chapter is still coming Sunday, so… silver lining for a late update is a shorter pause in between. *Hopeful smile*