Chapter 2: Good Riddance
Scratch what she had said before. This was the definition of awkward - no, uncomfortable. The reception was lavish and grand in a beautiful ballroom. It could've been yet another party where she simply faded into the background as she had many times before, if it weren't for the fact that this party was in part for her.
At least her dress was somewhat comfortable; definitely much easier to wear than the wedding dress had been. It was a simple, long, smooth dark blue gown, ever so slightly off the shoulders with bell long sleeves. And her hair was infinitely much more simple than it had been the day before. The maids had done a number of intricate braids on her hair which they'd then twisted and crossed and pinned to her scalp; a simple tiara to keep it out of her face while leaving her natural waves down was definitely an upgrade, even if she wasn't particularly fond of leaving her hair down.
She plastered on the best smile she could, trying to give off the act of a young, bashful, newly wedded bride to her husband. Who up until yesterday had been a complete stranger. And who was keeping up the act next to her, standing so close they were practically sharing their body heat.
She really shouldn't complain; it's not as if her situation was anything contemporary or out of the ordinary, and she figured it could've been a lot worse. He could've physically hurt her last night.
They were never alone for long, with so many people coming up to them to offer them their congratulations and gifts and, some of the older citizens, their advice on marriage. People seemed to believe they were an actual love match and she couldn't fathom where the Hell they had gotten that from, they couldn't possibly be that good at acting could they? And they had never even been seen together until yesterday. But it was a good thing they weren't alone for long. Even with just a couple of seconds to themselves, she felt her whole body seize and it became difficult to swallow. She could even feel the smallest of movements from the king when he shifted from one foot to the other.
Despite the close proximity, they hadn't made eye contact the entire time. She almost refused to.
She gasped softly when she saw her little sister and her father enter the ballroom.
Finally.
"Excuse me," she whispered, then swiftly left his side, not allowing him to say anything, not that she would have listened. She might be willing to do a lot of things to keep up appearances, but she wasn't going to ask for his permission to go to Nessarose nor wait for him to grant it.
And if he was offended by it, she would deal with it later. If he even sought her out later. Hopefully he didn't care and was as relieved as she was.
"Elphaba!" Nessarose exclaimed once she had spotted her and Elphaba bent down to hug her sister tightly.
She kissed Nessarose's temple and tightened her hug before pulling away. "My sweet girl. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too," the 15 year old touched the green girl's headpiece. "Look at you. Married, and a queen. I'm the sister of a queen," Nessarose chuckled and Elphaba really smiled for the first time since she'd last seen her sister.
It didn't last long.
Their father cleared his throat and Elphaba stood to her full height. "Father," she said.
"Elphaba," he returned in the same monotone voice she had addressed him with.
"Your travels went fine, I hope?" she looked mostly at Nessarose, only giving her father a quick glance.
Nessarose had opened her mouth to answer, but Frexspar Thropp gripped her wheelchair, giving it a small yet hard enough pull that the teen gripped Elphaba's hand in fear. Frex didn't seem to notice this action, having been too busy glaring at the green girl. Elphaba's glare hardened, but she didn't look away from his stare; she gripped Nessarose's hand just as tight.
"Yes, they were," he answered.
"I'm glad," Elphaba knelt down, Nessarose's hand still in hers. "I requested for them to make blueberry pie, your favorite. Let's go get you some, and a meal."
"Sounds wonderful," Frex said and grabbed the handles of the wheelchair.
"Actually father," Elphaba stood up. "I was hoping to talk to my sister alone. So much has happened and there's a lot we need to catch up on."
"Anything you need to say to her, you can say in front of me," he was getting angry and Elphaba could feel Nessarose shaking, but Elphaba knew their father wouldn't dare cause such a scene in front of all these people. At least, she hoped so.
"I'm afraid not."
"Why?"
"It's none of your concern."
"Listen, you witch," he spat, leaning over Nessarose's chair. The young girl leaned forward and hugged her older sister's torso, just barely being able to hold back her tears. He put on a fake smile; to everyone else, it looked like a family reunion instead of what it truly was.
But Elphaba didn't want to be afraid anymore and oddly fear for her own safety had vastly diminished since the last time she'd been face to face with her father. Her own words rang true. So much had happened in the days since she'd left Munchkinland. She was out of the house, she had a title, and she had power now. Her fear was for the girl in her arms.
"Don't forget who set up this arrangement and therefore who's still in charge of you. I would tread very carefully if I were you; you wouldn't want me to call your husband over? Tell him of the blatant disrespect you're speaking with and the spectacle you're about to cause, would you?"
Elphaba took a deep breath. If Frex was to call the king over and tell him this, she didn't know how he would react. But Nessarose's safety was her utmost priority at this moment. She swallowed. "He would listen to me, father."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Governor Thropp," Frexspar's eyes left Elphaba's and the green girl let out a breath she'd been holding, but she didn't let herself feel relieved just yet. "Welcome," the king said.
"Your Majesty," he bowed…almost reluctantly.
"Your youngest and yourself must be famished after such a long trip, which thank you for coming by the way. I'm sure Her Majesty appreciates your presence here."
Elphaba turned to look at him and they made eye contact for the first time today. He was smiling at her, but he was communicating with her with his eyes. His blue bore into her brown ones. There was a questioning look hidden in his stare, as if he…as if he was asking if she was ok, if she needed help.
She nodded, never looking away from him, hoping they understood each other. "I was just saying how I would love to talk to my sister alone. We have so much to catch up on and I would like some privacy for us."
He quickly glanced at Nessarose. She might've missed it if she hadn't been so intently focused on his stare. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Frex open his mouth, but he never got the chance to speak.
"Of course. Might I suggest one of the living rooms? You should both be comfortable there, and take as much time as you need. It's so great to finally meet you, Miss Thropp," he extended a hand out to the girl on the wheelchair.
Nessarose pulled back from Elphaba's stomach, keeping an arm around her older sister's waist and gave him a handshake. "Nice to meet you too, Your Ma - "
"Just Fiyero, Miss Thropp. You're family now."
She smiled. "Well then you can call me Nessa. I can't believe the king is my brother-in-law," she laughed softly.
Elphaba ignored the look of anger mixed with shock her father was giving her and smiled at Nessarose. She had stopped shaking. She looked at the king and gave him a soft smile. It was small, but she hoped he saw her sincerest gratitude. She was so thankful for him, he had no idea.
"We'll try not to take long," Elphaba walked behind Nessarose's wheelchair and started to push her to their destination, but before she passed him, she slowed down and mouthed, 'Thank you'.
He only responded with a curt nod.
Once Elphaba wheeled Nessarose away, her little sister relaxed in her seat and only then did Elphaba allow herself to feel relieved.
"Nessarose, I'm so relieved now that you're here with me, darling. Are you alright? Did he hurt you in any way again?"
"I'm fine, sister. No, thankfully; he was too busy…celebrating, I guess. He went on a spending and drinking spree."
Elphaba sighed in relief. She was sure it would hurt Munchkinland, Frex probably spent thousands if not tens of thousands of pounds on his little 'celebration' of getting rid of her. But just this time, she was thankful for it if it kept him away from Nessarose.
"But let's not talk about that. Fabala you got married! You're a queen! Oh I wish we could've been able to make the ceremony but…well…"
The green girl nodded in understanding.
"Was it beautiful? Tell me everything! Ooh, that smells so good!"
A staff member came in with a plate for Nessarose. It contained a small piece of fish and fresh roasted vegetables with a decorative red sauce, and as promised, it came accompanied with a recently warmed slice of blueberry pie on a smaller, separate plate.
"Here you go, Miss Thropp. Enjoy."
"I will, thank you."
Thank you, Elphaba mouthed. And the waiter bowed his head before exiting. "Eat up, my sweet," she must be so hungry. "But pace yourself."
Nessarose nodded and took a small bite of the fish. She made an appreciative sound and began cutting up the rest of the fish into smaller pieces. "It's delicious. Now tell me about the wedding, please Fabala?"
Elphaba chuckled. "Alright. It was very beautiful," she admitted. "The entire first floor of the church was empty; the floor was so clean it was practically a looking glass, there were gorgeous arrangements of flowers at each pillar, and there was a white carpet rolled out for me. The balconies were full of choirs and some guests though I'm not sure who they were exactly," both sisters chuckled a bit. "I supposed important members of the government though."
"What kind of flowers were they? Did they match your bouquet? Oh! What played as you walked down the aisle? And your dress! What did it look like, will I ever get to see you in it?"
"Nessa, breathe," Elphaba rubbed her sister's arm.
"Sorry," Nessarose laughed softly. "I'm so happy for you, I really am. I just always thought I'd be there when you got married, but I missed it."
"Through no fault of your own," Elphaba reassured. "And if I'm honest with you, I don't remember much of those kinds of details. I was practically numb and terrified the entire day."
Nessarose's face turned solemn. "All the more reason I wish I could've been there with you," she took Elphaba's hand in both of hers. "but…Fiyero's nice right? Please tell me he's not like - "
"No," Elphaba vehemently shook her head. "We don't know each other that well - obviously - but, so far he does seem like a decent person," he'd helped her with Frex.
The young teen exhaled. "I'd thought so too. You're…you're not keeping anything from me right? He didn't hit you or," she can't bring herself to say it. "You don't have to keep this stuff from me, Elphaba. You don't have to protect me anymore."
Elphaba took both her sister's hands and looked her directly in the eye. "No. He didn't. It's…it's awkward Nessa. Like I said, we're strangers. But he's nothing like Father. I guess we just need to…acclimate ourselves to each other. Find out how we fit into each other's lives now," she scoffs softly. "Maybe we might not even have to get used to each other at all, we might just need to learn how to rule together."
"Is that what you want?"
"What I want is to keep you safe, and that means keeping you here in the Vinkus with me."
Nessarose's mouth parted, but the words struggled to come out. "Fabala, I can't. I know your new home must be incredibly spacious, more so than the governor's mansion, but…I just can't take up so much of your time, especially now that you have an entire country to look after."
"I had a feeling you might say that. I don't suppose me insisting that I love you and that you're no inconvenience to me at all, no matter how busy I am, will change your mind?"
"I think this time you can't fully argue with me, sister. With you being so busy the staff will be in charge of helping me get through the day and that's one of the last things I'd want."
"Alright. Then how about this: we find you a home of your own here in the Vinkus."
Nessarose's mouth dropped and her head began to shake. "Fabala you can't possib - "
"Yes I can. I have the means to do it and you are not going back to Munchkinland, alone, and with Father; end of discussion. I refuse to let you go back to a dangerous living situation. Nessa, I've been worried sick for you since the day I was forced to leave."
Nessarose bit her cheek and played with her sister's green fingers. "I…are you sure it won't be any trouble?" she whispered meekly.
"Of course not, my sweet," Elphaba searched her eyes. "I want you here with me, I want you safe. And I promise I'll provide anything to make you happy."
"Oh Fabala, just staying in the Vinkus with you is enough to make me the happiest girl in Oz. I'd love nothing more."
The green girl engulfed her sister in her arms and squeezed her tight. Thank Oz; Nessarose would be safe. "Alright, finish up your dessert, Nessa," Elphaba pulled back from their embrace, moved the empty plate away from Nessa, and pushed the plate with the slice of pie closer to her. "We'll find you a comfortable room for tonight. You don't have to see Father ever again."
"Is…is it bad that I'm really happy to hear that? Does that make me a horrible person, Fabala?"
"No," she said adamantly. "Father a monster. Who wouldn't be happy to never have to see a monster ever again?"
The teen visibly relaxed at her sister's reassurance. But then she swallowed hard. "H - how am I going to tell - "
"Leave that to me," Elphaba said. "Don't worry about anything, Nessa; I'll take care of everything. I'll take care of you, I promise."
"You always have, sister. I love you."
"I love you too."
"It's about time," Frex said with no attempt in hiding his annoyance. He stood up from the table and began to wipe his suit with a napkin.
"Father, may I speak with you - " Elphaba cut herself off. She didn't want to speak with her father completely in private, she didn't want to give him a chance to hit her once she revealed her plans for her little sister. She turned to the other occupant of the table, "...with His Majesty?"
Frex narrowed his eyes at her while the king slowly stood up from his seat.
"Is everything alright?" the king asked.
"Yes. I - there's a family matter I need to discuss with my father and seeing as you yourself are now family, I think you should be included, Your Majesty."
"But, Your Majesty, if I may, I would actually prefer to discuss the matter alone with my daughters."
Elphaba bit her cheek and took a deep breath. Dear Oz, if he granted her father's wish, there was no escaping being alone in a room with Frex, not without revealing why she didn't want that. And if she did, they would surely cause a scene and her father would most definitely find a way to blame Elphaba for everything. He'd convince everyone she was the poison in the family. The last thing she wanted was the king to turn against her. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed him right now; she didn't have anyone.
The king turned to her. "What does the queen say?"
Elphaba squeezed her hands together and held her head a little higher, feeling a much needed surge of confidence. "I want you there, Your Majesty."
He nodded. "Then it's settled."
She felt her father's burning glare on her face, but it was nothing compared to the weight that's been lifted off her chest. "It shouldn't take long, we'll be back before anyone notices our absence," hopefully. "This way please."
She quietly led them to the room she and Nessarose had been chatting in. As the king was about to shut the door, they made eye contact. Her eyes were wide and she held her hand up; she wanted the door open, or at least not fully shut. He let go of the doorknob, leaving a small opening gap. Elphaba sighed and gave him a thankful, small nod, which he returned.
"What is it you wanted to discuss, Elphaba?"
Right. "Father, Nessarose and I talked - "
"And where is Nessarose?"
"She's getting ready to retire for the night - "
"Shouldn't she be here then? You made a big deal about this being a 'family matter'."
"Well, this actually concerns Ness - "
"Why would this have anything to do with - "
"Governor," the king's loud and harsh voice cut Frex off. Elphaba's lips immediately pursed shut. He kept his eyes on Frex, letting his stern stare do all the talking. There seemed to be almost a threat in his eyes as well, but maybe Elphaba was imagining it. After a couple of seconds of silence, the king turned to her. "Please continue."
Elphaba turned to Frex. "After talking with Nessarose, we both think it's in her best interest that she remains in my care, h-here," she cursed herself for stuttering at the end, but at least she'd said what she'd needed to.
Her father's face was blank. Completely devoid of any emotion. Not even a small movement of the eyebrows. Somehow that scared Elphaba more than if he'd just screamed at her. At least then she'd know what to expect, but now she had no idea how he was going to react.
"Why would you think that?" Frex seemed to be choosing his words very carefully.
"I've been her primary caregiver all her life, more so after her accident," that was a generous way of putting it. Frex's eyes widened ever so slightly. "And I know I'll be busier than ever now with my new duties and responsibilities, but I will make sure that Nessarose has everything she needs and that she is well taken care of."
Silence.
"I'll be at ease knowing she's alright, and she will be comfortable knowing I'm close were she to need anything,"
"You doubt my ability to take care of my daughter?"
Elphaba merely stared, desperately wanting to just plainly spit in his face that yes, she doubts he can take care of Nessarose because of all the harm he's done to her. He's never even shown that he at least cares for her. Maybe she could at least imply it.
"With all due respect Father, when left alone to care for Nessarose in the past, you've shown that you're incapable of seeing even to her most basic care…exhibit A: the wheelchair."
Frex's fists came up and he took a step forward, Elphaba took one back - and the king placed himself in front of her.
"I fear you may be overestimating your authority and audacity here, Governor Thropp," the king's tone was dark and cold, Elphaba was glad she couldn't see his face. It must be as frightening as it sounded.
Whatever trance Frex had entered, the king's words snapped him out of it and an unfamiliar look crossed his face. He looked genuinely horrified; not for the fact that he'd been about to hit Elphaba, but for the fact that he'd been about to do it in front of someone else, someone who had no idea of what went on behind closed doors in the governor's mansion. And a king no less, someone who could punish him for daring to try and lay hands on a queen.
Elphaba let out a quiet breath and bit her cheek. She squeezed her slightly trembling, cold green fingers. "I'm Nessarose's sole caretaker and guardian; I believe the staff in your house can attest to that, Father. She will stay with me for her safety and well being and because she wants to. End of discussion," she spoke with the harshest tone she'd ever directed at her father in her life. And she felt an odd sense of pride.
"Now, I believe there needs to be a punishment for what almost transpired here."
"Your Majesty, please, I didn't - "
"That won't be necessary," Elphaba said.
The king turns around, never removing himself from between her and Frex. His arms stayed slightly out at his sides and he pursed his lips before asking, "Are you certain?"
She nodded. "I believe we can just resolve this here and now," she shifted her gaze to Frex. "Don't you think so?"
Frex was angry, she could tell by how red his face was. He was holding back whatever he wanted to do to her for talking to him in such a tone. But he couldn't do anything to her, not anymore. And he would never hurt her little sister again either.
"Name your will, Your Majesty," Fex said with whatever dignity he had left.
She doubted he'd been addressing her, but when the king looked at her expectantly, she looked to the side deep in thought. She couldn't banish him from the Vinkus, no matter how much she wanted to; though she didn't know exactly what the Vinkus depended on Munchkinland for, they helped each other in some way. She couldn't break that relationship and possibly harm both countries because of personal matters.
"Just…you are never allowed to see Nessarose again. And if and when you and I see each other for government matters, you are to address me as 'Your Majesty'...and stay at least an arm's length away from me."
Frex couldn't hold back a scoff. "You're su - "
"Governor, I believe Her Majesty has been more than generous in trying to spare you any further shame or embarrassment. Frankly, more than you deserve," the king backed away from Frex, stepping closer towards her. He leaned his head a bit over his shoulder. "Is that all you wish for?"
"Yes."
"Alright," he nodded and slowly put his hand in his pants pockets.
"Leave," had she said that out loud? Elphaba touched her lips with her finger.
Frex looked absolutely gobsmacked.
"Leave," she said more firmly this time. And he still didn't move.
"Did you not hear her?" The king took a step forward and suddenly Frex was practically racing towards the door.
When he reached it, he looked back at them and sent her one last stare. He looked disgusted and beyond furious at her, there was an intensity there that she'd never seen before. She didn't give him the satisfaction of glaring back. Elphaba merely looked at the door then back at him. What are you waiting for?
Finally he opened the door, stepped out, and slammed it behind him. Elphaba could feel hot tears sting her eyes. She placed a hand on her stomach and walked towards the fireplace. She gripped the edge of the brick wall and pressed her head to the back of her hand. Her bottom lip trembled even with how hard she was biting down.
"I'll give you a moment," she heard. There were some footsteps, and then the soft opening and closing of the door.
She was alone.
Tears still stung Elphaba's eyes, but they didn't fall. She felt like she should be happy, ecstatic even; she'd gotten what she'd wanted. Maybe she should be sad, after all, she'd effectively broken any sort of familial ties with her father. But…she didn't feel much of anything. She was incredibly numb. She stared down at the fire, keeping her head on her hand.
Had she truly lost her father? How could she lose something she'd never felt she had? Had he ever been kind to her, had he ever shown her any ounce of affection? She couldn't remember.
Her mother had died giving birth to her. Then her stepmother came along, but Elphaba hadn't even known her a year before she'd also passed giving birth to Nessarose. She didn't remember her either, she didn't know if she'd been nice or if they'd even gotten along.
She'd only ever really had her father. She knew there'd been a time where she'd loved him, perhaps even idolized him. She knew because she remembered the first time she'd seen him hit little Nessarose, who had not even been three years old. At seven, Elphaba had figured that when he hit her, she'd deserved it. It was normal. She'd tried so hard to stay in his favor then. But Nessarose hadn't done anything; he'd just slapped her. He'd hit her so hard by the time her cheek bruised, she could see each individual finger.
That was when she'd stopped loving him. She truly had no fond memories of him. There was absolutely nothing good she could say about Frexspar Thropp.
Her vision blurred and heavy tears began to roll down her cheeks and splattered onto the floor. What now?
He was out of her life as her father. It's a closed chapter. But that chapter has been all she's ever known. As horrible as it had been, it had been her normal. Her days had mostly consisted of carefully navigating her way around her father, she'd never wanted to draw his attention. If she somehow did and he beat her, she'd take it, at least he wasn't hurting Nessarose. If she saw that he intended to harm Nessa, then she'd step in between them and do whatever it took to prevent Frex from touching her, even if it meant taking beatings that had been meant for her sister; it'd been worth it. Everyday had been a brew of fear and nervousness and resignation, even on the days he hadn't hit them, because even if he wouldn't harm them physically, he would find other ways to do so.
Was it really, truly over? No more beatings, no more screaming, no more being afraid for her sister's safety.
She'd figured it would be. From the moment she'd been set to get married, this is what she'd planned for. But now that it was…she almost couldn't believe it.
Elphaba choked on a sob that threatened to escape and slid down the wall until her knees touched the floor. She cried into her arms, soaking her sleeves with tears. She rested her head against the wall and hugged herself, seeking some sort of comfort, and just let the tears come. They didn't seem to end. She kept herself as quiet as possible.
Eventually, she didn't know how long had passed, she stopped crying. She hadn't even realized it until suddenly she found herself staring at the opposite wall, her arms still wrapped around her, and her face was sticky, but dry. Her tears had finally ceased. Elphaba closed her eyes and took a deep breath in. She felt some pain on her head, but other than that, nothing else hurt. Nothing…nothing else hurt.
Elphaba swallowed and stood up, using the wall to steady herself. She stood in front of the fireplace and looked at herself in the large looking glass hanging above it. She took off her tiara, placed it on the coffee table behind her, and straightened out some wild strands of hair, even managing to peel some of the shorter strands off her face. Once she fixed that, she looked around and found the white door that was inside nearly every room in this castle; a washroom. She placed a towel under the faucet and let it absorb some water then she passed the towel over her face. She padded herself with the dry side then looked at her reflection. Her face was a bit puffy and her eyes were ever so slightly reddened, but it was fine; nothing she couldn't shake off as being a little fatigued.
She went back into the room and spotted her tiara. As she took it in her hands, she caught her own eyes in the looking glass and breathed in. Her eyes fell closed. The diamond adorned tiara felt cold under her fingertips. She traced the design, feeling out the smooth curves and surprisingly sharp tips of the tiara's shape. When she breathed out, Elphaba felt somehow so much lighter than she ever had before. She opened her eyes and watched as her own arms almost instinctively began to lift the tiara over her head. She slowly lowered her arms until the tiara fell back into place in her head.
Her arms dropped to her sides. Elphaba straightened her posture, took another deep breath, and even saw how the corner of her lips slightly curled to the side. Tears burned her eyes again, but they felt completely different to the ones she'd shed mere minutes ago.
She knew that what she felt was no longer sorrow or anger…it really wasn't anything negative. On the contrary, she felt rather serene and relaxed and…relieved. That was it, that was what she felt. It was an overwhelming sense of relief mixed with an unprecedented level of joy. Her father, Frexspar Thropp, was gone. Good riddance!
A couple tears rolled down her cheeks, but this time Elphaba just chuckled softly and quickly wiped them away. A full smile reached her face. Her and Nessarose would make the most of this situation, of this new chapter of their lives.
Elphaba checked herself once more in the looking glass and strode over to the door to rejoin the reception.
Elphaba scanned the room and quickly spotted the king; there was no mistaking his tall stature and curls of golden hair, not to mention the silver crown that sat atop it. He was speaking with a couple of men, most of whom she recognized as having been guests at the wedding ceremony. She slowly approached the group.
As she walked, she realized the ballroom was more empty than it had been before she'd left it. The music that had once bounced off the walls was now softer, not loud enough to block out soft whispers of the guests that remained.
A gentleman standing next to the king spotted her first. "Oh, Your Majesty," he bowed. The rest of the group followed, each of them turned and bowed once they faced her.
Elphaba gave them the best smile she could manage and nodded in greeting.
"Are you feeling better, Your Majesty?"
"Pardon?"
"I had mentioned to our guests that you suddenly felt light headed," the king stepped in. "and had chosen to retire for the night."
Oh. "Right. I was merely a bit dehydrated. I feel much better."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
"Gentlemen, I thank you for keeping me company. If you'll please excuse me," the king began making his way over to her.
"Of course, Your Majesty. My Queen, we look forward to working with you," one of the older men said.
"I as well," she hoped she hid her confusion well.
The king led her towards their table. "Those men are part of our Privy Council," he whispered to her. "They'll assist us in passing and amending laws as well as keeping us updated on our economy, military, and relate any messages from neighboring countries. I'll formally introduce everyone at our next meeting."
"Noted," Elphaba nodded. "I…I wanted to thank you…f - for helping me."
"Of course."
"No I…I truly mean it," she stopped walking. "What you did for my sister…and m-me, and that…that meant a lot to me. Thank you…Your Majesty," she bowed her head in respect.
"Don't - you don't have to do that," he whispered. He motioned for her to stop bowing. "And please, there doesn't need to be any formalities between us, unless you'd prefer it that way."
Elphaba fidgeted with her fingers and shrugged. "If that's what you'd like."
"I'm asking you," he said, though not unkindly.
She glanced at him and sighed. In that moment she realized how oddly…comfortable she felt with him compared to the last time they'd been alone together. He'd defended her and consequently, she'd been able to protect Nessarose. She'd told Nessarose that up until now he'd seemed kind, now she was convinced that he was. Perhaps it won't be so awful to make some sort of acquaintance, they'd have to rule a country together after all.
"Alright," she agreed.
The corner of his mouth curled upward ever so slightly.
Elphaba looked down at the ground then to the ballroom. "How much longer?"
"We're down to the last hour," he followed her gaze. "I'm drained as well."
"Hm, though you're in a much better state than me."
"I've grown accustomed to it; you will as well. And you did have an emotionally draining encounter," he whispered. "I don't fault you for being as exhausted as you are."
"Thank you."
He nodded. For a moment, it's quiet and yet not uncomfortable. Elphaba simply let her eyes wander around the room and allowed her mind to remain blank.
Somehow, the minutes went by and the reception finally came to an end. She stood by the king as they said goodbyes to the remaining guests. The staff meanwhile prepared to clean the ballroom.
She found herself looking at them as they worked; an instinctual part of her itched to join them and help. Back in Munchkinland she was practically part of the staff in her home. Only…she wasn't in Munchkinland anymore, and she would never go back, nor would Nessarose. She was a queen now, Frexspar couldn't control her anymore. Even though he was truly gone, Elphaba realized it'd take her some time to get used to it. Old habits die hard.
"Have you been introduced to your lady-in-waiting?"
Elphaba blinked, then shook her head.
"Come," he beckoned her with the tilt of his head. "Mrs. Crox!"
A woman rapidly came over to them. Her hair was a mix of gray and light red tendrils all tucked into a bun at the center of her head. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"I believe one of your daughters is now Her Majesty's lady-in-waiting. If you could see to it that they meet before she escorts the queen to her chambers," the king turns to Elphaba. "The night's over, be sure to get some rest."
Her whole body began to sigh in relief. How she desperately wanted to retire to bed and sleep the day away. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "I just need to make sure some matters are in order. You can prepare for bed."
She gave him a nod accompanied with a tired and small, yet genuine smile. Elphaba turned to the red-haired woman who motioned for the green girl to follow her.
"It's a pleasure to formally meet you, my Queen. And on behalf of the entire family, congratulations," Mrs. Crox bowed her head and continued to lead Elphaba out of the ballroom.
"Thank you, it's a pleasure to meet you as well."
"As you now know, my daughter, Mina, is officially your lady-in-waiting. My darling girl has been incredibly anxious and eager to begin her duties to you."
"I look forward to meeting her."
"Oh! There she is," she gestured to a small circle of maids.
The girls were folding what looked to be freshly washed linens. At further glance, Elphaba was sure she spotted Mrs. Cox's daughter. There's a young lady among the group with a different uniform than the rest. She had fiery red hair; a shade she's sure Mrs. Cox's must have looked like when she was that age and without the gray. Instead of the full black attire with the white apron around the waist, she was clad in a dark brown fitted dress.
"Mina!" Mrs. Cox called. Sure enough, the girl Elphaba had spotted looked up. Her eyes widened and a big smile followed. She quickly folded the linen in her hands, placed it on one of the baskets, and walked - skipped, practically - over to them.
From a closer distance, Elphaba was sure this girl was closer to Nessarose's age than her own. She was definitely a teen, and in addition to her hair, she shared her mother's gray eyes. The girl, Mina, smoothed out her dress, and did a quick curtsy.
Her voice cracked and she bashfully cleared her throat before she tried to speak again. "Your Majesty. I'm sure you've tired of hearing it all day, still I feel I must say it, congratulations on your wedding. And I very much look forward to being your lady in waiting!" her voice radiated with excitement and ardor, Elphaba couldn't help but return the smile.
"Thank you," Elphaba said.
"Her Majesty is ready to retire for the night, I'll leave you to it," Mrs. Cox bowed. "Goodnight, Your Majesty. I'll see you in the morning, darling."
"Goodnight, Mother," Mina said, then turned back to the young queen. "Follow me please. Did you enjoy the reception, Your Majesty?"
"To be entirely honest, I don't remember much of it," at the time, it seemed the celebrations would never end, but now that it was finally over, all those hours now blended together. She couldn't recall much of anything, except for the final two hours which she'd also like to forget.
Mina chuckled. "It may not mean much coming from me, but I commend you for being able to get through it. These kinds of events can get tiresome and you handled yourself with grace despite being tired."
"I appreciate it, really," Elphaba said.
Mina seemed to be leading her through a maze. Each turn was almost immediately followed by another and when they would enter what Elphaba thought was a room - a study, a parlor, living room, anything - it turned out to be yet another hallway. Finally, they approached a staircase. The green girl looked over her shoulder, if all the way to her chambers was anything similar to the hassle they'd gone through to just reach the second floor, there was no way she was going to remember the way back downstairs - or where Nessaarose was, dear Oz.
"Mina, are you, by any chance, aware that my younger sister is staying the night here as well?"
"Yes I am, Your Majesty. I was asked to help prepare her for bed. She's right below your chambers on the ground floor. We passed her not too long ago. My apologies, did you wish to check on her?"
"No," Elphaba shook her head. "No, I'm sure she's fine and sleeping like the dead. You know this castle well then, Mina?"
"Of course!" Mina answered enthusiastically. "I was born here. Well, not here in the main castle, but in the staff quarters. I've lived here my whole life."
"Would you mind giving me a tour someday, as soon as my schedule permits?"
"Not at all! I'd be honored, my lady."
"Thank you."
"These are your chambers," Mina gestured to the double doors they were approaching. At least her chambers wouldn't be hard to miss. The doors were wide and pure white - a stark contrast to the light brown walls. They were also quite beautiful; the wood was intricately carved with gorgeous floral designs.
Mina opened one of the doors and allowed her mistress to step through first. The green girl's jaw dropped. The chambers were practically living quarters.
It was incredibly spacious. Even with the large bed in the center, up against the wall on the left; the large settee and cushion chairs on either side on the opposite wall, in front of the fireplace, there was a substantial amount of room to walk in between the two set ups. It was larger than the hallway. To the right of the - very impeccably, she had to admit - made bed was a door which was opened. Elphaba saw that it led to a relatively large washroom with yet another door inside. A closet perhaps? On the opposite side was an opening separated from the rest of the bedroom with a currently opened curtain. There was a window and cushions above a stone, L-shaped windowsill. The room also had a couple empty bookcases; two in opposite corners of the bedroom and a smaller one, no taller than the windowsill, in the little room. Elphaba would probably appreciate filling them herself, to truly make the space her own.
"Is it to your liking?" Mina asked, a hint of nervousness in her tone.
"Yes," Elphaba answered honestly. "I think I'm going to be very comfortable here, thank you."
Mina smiled. "I'm glad to hear that. If there's anything you'd like to do yourself, Your Majesty, before I help you with your nightgown, you can go right ahead; I'll need to go fetch it from the closet, anyhow."
Elphaba nodded. She spotted the looking glass hung on the wall, below it was a desk with hairbrushes and oils laid out. She further inspected a particular green bottle. It looked just like her favorite body oil back in Munchkinland, made from cocoa butter. Did the Vinkus make it as well? Curious, Elphaba removed the tap from the bottle and brought it to her nose. The smooth, delicate scent transported her back to her childhood room; there was no doubt that this was the oil she loved.
She heard Mina come back into the room. "Where can these be purchased, Mina?" Elphaba raised the green bottle in her hand.
"Oh! I believe many boxes were purchased a couple weeks back from the street markets" Mina laid out the clothes she'd brought out on the bed. "Miss Nessarose sent a letter to Kiamo Ko with a list of items you'd need or would like to have once you arrived here, my lady. We saw to getting every item right away."
Elphaba sighed, a warm feeling filled her chest. Oh, how she loved Nessa. She held the bottle delicately in her hands. "Thank you, and please be sure to give my sincerest gratitude to anyone else who helped in getting those items for me."
Mina nodded. "I will. Shall we get you ready for bed, Your Majesty?"
Elphaba placed the bottle back on the desk and walked over to Mina.
Since her dress was a simple gown, it was thankfully quick and effortless for Elphaba to step out of it and into the black nightgown. Mina pulled out the small bench under the desk for the queen to take a seat. While Elphaba cleaned and moisturized her face, even experimented with some products she'd never seen before, Mina helped brush and style her hair in a loose braid. Elphaba took a chance to get to know her new lady-in-waiting.
Elphaba had been right; Mina was 17 years old, not much older than Nessarose. Her mother and father worked in Kiamo Ko as well. Mrs. Cox, whom Elphaba had already met, was one of the head cooks while Mr. Cox was a slaughterer.
"Any siblings?"
"Three, Your Majesty," Mina pulled back the bed covers. "All born here as well. My older brother - the eldest - he's working alongside my father. My younger older brother works and lives in the town; he's an apprentice to a blacksmith. Then there's my twin sister, Val; she mostly helps Mother out in the kitchen, but she's done other things as well."
Elphaba had a thought. "Such as?"
"She's taken care of maidservant duties, laundress, chambermaid; anything you could think of to get done in the castle, she's done it. Val likes to keep busy all day."
"Do you…well…I'll soon be finding my sister a home of her own, and while she's very capable of many things herself, she'll need some sort of assistance if she's going to be living on her own. Might your sister possibly be interested in being a companion of sorts to mine, and help with taking care of the household?"
"She might," Mina nodded. "I can talk to her about it tonight and she can personally give you her answer in the morning if you'd like?"
"That sounds perfect. Thank you, Mina."
"Of course, my lady."
Elphaba glanced around the room. "Everything is in order; you're dismissed for the night."
Mina bowed her head and turned to leave the room, but suddenly caught herself. "Oh, how could I forget? I'm such a blockhead. Your Majesty, this door," she walked over to a door on the far left of the room. How had Elphaba missed it? Mina opened it and, strangely enough, it was a walkway. "It leads to the king's chambers. These doors have no lock; if either of you need to see the other, you're free to simply cross through here."
Her face nearly falls.
"And if you were to exit your chambers and turn right, his main door is grand and blue; you can't miss it."
The green girl swallowed hard and nodded.
"Now that will be all from me," Mina chuckled and bowed again. "I'll see you at sunrise. Goodnight, Your Majesty."
"Goodnight," Elphaba heard the door close and sat on the bed, feeling slightly lightheaded.
She suddenly felt wide awake. She felt ill, a familiar burning, tingling sensation threatened her eyes yet again. The king's last words to her before they'd parted rang in her ears. Prepare for bed. He hadn't meant for sleep, had he? Amongst their duties, there was the matter of an heir.
She paced in front of the bed, her own fingers picked at her nails harder than usual. The wedding night had been one thing; it'd been expected and unavoidable, but also excruciatingly uncomfortable. She didn't want a repeat of last night, she didn't want to have sex. Did he? It hadn't been the most enjoyable experience for either of them, no matter how their bodies had reacted. The fact that the king could just walk in whenever he desired made her uneasy.
Elphaba reminded herself that the king had been extremely understanding earlier in the evening. Surely, if he came into her chambers and she voiced her objection, he'd understand. Right? But men always hungered for one thing at all times, that's what the maids in the governor's mansion had always said. And if it wasn't willingly offered, they saw no wrong in simply taking it.
She took a deep breath and simply braced herself. If it was his intention to come into her chambers, she would simply keep him out - no she couldn't. The doors bore no locks. Elphaba cursed them. She was certain he'd barge in any minute now. She would simply refuse then.
But time passed - enough that Elphaba tired of pacing around the room; she grew confused. She didn't let herself relax just yet. Taking a seat on the bed, she mused about what she'd attend to tomorrow, granted if any of her new duties didn't take up all of her time.
No matter what the rest of her schedule looked like, she knew she would meet Mina's twin in the morning. If she wanted the job, Elphaba would like to question the young girl before she met Nessarose. And if she happened to not be busy the remainder of the day, it wouldn't hurt to begin house hunting with Nessa. However, if she was to commence her role as a sovereign, Elphaba didn't know what to expect. Would she spend the entire day practically locked inside Kiamo Ko, or would she be out until it was time for bed once again?
The night was silent and Elphaba felt the familiar tiredness calling her to sleep. Her eyes burned no longer from incoming tears, but rather from needing to rest after a long, tiring day. Her heart began to slow; it seemed the king wouldn't come tonight. She let out a breath; thank Oz.
Before she could no longer find the will to leave the bed, Elphaba hurriedly walked to each oil lamp on the wall and dimmed the fire, letting the room darken. She eagerly crawled into the bed, this time allowing herself to lay back on the pillows. She pulled the soft, cold duvet to her chest.
She found sleep unexpectedly quickly, ironically more at peace than ever before.
Lyric Inspo:
In 50 years, will all this be declassified?
And you'll confess why you did it
And I'll say "Good riddance"
- 'The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived', TTPD, Taylor Swift.
How fitting, haha. Tell me what you thought :))