Chapter 3: Sacred New Beginnings
A knock on the door sharply pulled Elphaba from her sleep. She sat up on the bed, throwing the duvet off of her. She breathed heavily and wiped her eyes. She cleared her dry throat. "Yes?"
"It's me, Your Majesty," Mina. "May I come in?"
Elphaba steadily reached for her ankles, hoping the stretch would help chase away the slight drowsiness she still felt. Had dawn come already? When she glanced at her left, she saw that rays of sunlight painted the floor through the window. She straightened up with an exhale. She fixed the sleeves of her nightgown and slowly stood from the bed. "Yes, Mina, come in."
The door creaked open. "Good morning, Your Majesty," Mina greeted. She closed the door behind her. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did," once she deemed the room was properly lit, Elphaba turned to face her lady-in-waiting. "And yourself?"
"Very well, thank you. Let's begin dressing you for the day," she smiled and headed towards the closet. "I was told that the day is yours to do what you please, Your Majesty," she said from inside. "Today and the next ten, in fact; a holiday of sorts to celebrate your new union," she spoke slower and Elphaba turned in her direction. Mina sounded almost hesitant to keep speaking. The teen came back into the room with garments in her arms, her face bore a small frown. "But the king apologizes to you; he was called away suddenly and left before sunrise. Unfortunately, he's not sure when he'll come back."
Elphaba's eyes went wide and her lips parted. He's gone? She breathed in and breathed out through her mouth, moving her gaze to the floor. Most girls don't dream of spending what should have been their honeymoon alone, but as the news sank in, her chest felt infinitely lighter, a knot loosened in her stomach. She would be spared from awkward talks - and activities - for a while, but more importantly, she could see to Nessarose's needs.
Slowly, she nodded, making sure her facial expression remained relatively neutral. "Alright. Thank you for letting me know."
Mina gave a curt nod. "Do you wish to freshen up before getting dressed, my lady?"
"Yes. Allow me a moment."
Mina stepped aside to let Elphaba enter the washroom. After finishing up, Elphaba discarded her nightgown and Mina began helping her throw on the various pieces of her ensemble. First came the chemise. Then came the many layers of white, silk skirts, all of which had to be pinned tighter than normal due to Elphaba's too-thin waist. Once the skirts were done, the two of them maneuvered the dress so the green girl could quickly fill the sleeves and slide her head through while Mina focused on pulling the dark purple gown down.
Elphaba tied the laces of her sleeves. Mina tightened the laces of the built-in corset as well as buttoned the high collar. Elphaba could see her reflection from where she stood. It was a rather nice gown, very comfortable for something that looked complex. The middle of her torso and skirt gave the impression of a parted curtain; a lighter purple sat in between. The border between the two colors consisted of a diamond pattern. Mina fixed her shoulders so the puff could be showcased the way it was meant to.
"How does it feel, Your Majesty?"
She nodded. "Good."
"Would you like me to help with your hair as well? Or would you prefer to do this yourself?"
Elphaba bit her lip. "I think I'll take care of it today."
Mina pulled out the stool for her and kept her company nonetheless.
"Did you happen to ask your sister about helping mine?"
"Yes!" Mina passed her another pin. "Val is extremely interested in the opportunity. I can call on her this instant if you wish, my lady."
"Actually," Elphaba pulled on some hairs on each side of her part, letting the loose tendrils frame her face. "I would like to move our meeting someplace else," she examined her bun and stood. "Perhaps the gardens?"
"Of course! I'll escort you there, and if by chance we don't run into her, I can then send for her or fetch her myself."
Elphaba agreed.
Once everything in her chambers was in order, Elphaba followed Mina through the halls of Kiamo Ko once again. She tried to make note of the turns they took as well as the decor to help her memorize the halls.
"Oh, Your Majesty. This is where Miss Nessarose spent the night," Mina pointed out a red door. "Would you like to drop in on her?"
"Is she awake?"
"No."
"Then no, I'll let her rest as much as she needs."
Mina nodded and continued to escort the queen to the gardens. Elphaba was taking a liking to her lady-in-waiting. Though she'd been rather shy the night before, it seemed Mina knew she could be at ease with Elphaba and felt confident enough to keep a conversation between them, even if it was just Mina voicing small thoughts that came to her head. She even made her mistress crack a smile with a couple jests.
In addition to the castle, Mina also seemed to know all members of the staff. Each one they passed, the teen addressed them by name along with a small greeting. If the quick glance Mina gave after each encounter was anything to go by, Elphaba would say Mina was doing it deliberately in order to help her put names to faces. After a couple of times, she caught on, and Elphaba lingered on Mina's eyes to return the smile with a grateful one of her own.
They finally reached an exit and Elphaba was hit with a powerful scent of sweet flowers. The gardens were quite exquisite.
What she'd thought had been bushes, were actually large arches covered in leaves above a trail. She heard the faint sound of water dripping, a fountain no doubt. The large open space in front of her was very well cared for, the grass was flourishing. There seemed to not be a color the garden didn't have, and they were beautifully grouped to make different color schemes and patterns. Trees were minimal, but enough; they naturally provided the perfect balance of sunshine and shade.
"Would it be alright to leave you for a couple of minutes, Your Majesty? While I fetch my sister?"
Elphaba blinked and turned to Mina. "Oh, yes of course. Go on."
Mina nodded and swiftly entered the castle.
Elphaba turned her attention back to the garden. As much as she wanted to explore it, she didn't want to wander far from the entrance. She knew would lose herself from taking in the scenery instead of paying to mind the path she'd take. She settled for simply closing her eyes. Just for this moment, she allowed her mind to remain clear. She banned thoughts of upcoming duties and the fiasco from the night before and instead welcomed the soft whispers of the wind. It was all she focused on.
It was only when she heard the distinct sound of footsteps along with voices ringing from inside the castle that Elphaba opened her eyes.
Mina stepped out and was trailed by a near identical copy of herself. Her sister, Val, Elphaba remembered, was truly identical to Mina. Aside from the different uniforms, their faces were the same. Their structure, their features, their light green eyes; the girls were indistinguishable. There was one distinction, however. Though they shared the same red shade, Mina however, wore her hair in a braid that reached her shoulder blades while Val kept her short hair down. It was barely long enough to touch her shoulders and a headband pulled it back from her face. Had Val had her hair tucked in and were they dressed the same, Elphaba had no doubt she wouldn't know who was who.
The teen girls approached her and Mina stood between them. "Your Majesty, this is my twin sister, Val."
"Your Majesty," Val curtsied. "It's an honor to formally meet you."
Oz, even their voices were the same. "It's good to meet you as well, Val. Mina tells me you're interested in possibly working in assisting my younger sister."
"I certainly am."
"Is there somewhere we could take a seat?"
"Yes!" Mina chirped. "This way, my lady. There's a lovely spot near the fountain."
Mina quickly led them to the left and, after passing through a narrow walkway, they found themselves in an open space. A small fountain was surrounded by small bushes and was more of a waterfall of sorts. There were three staggered bowls, each one slightly smaller than the one before, and the water spilled from one bowl onto the next. Further behind the fountain were large, marble benches.
Elphaba ran a green hand on the white surface, finding it slightly cold yet impeccably clean. The sisters elected to leave her an entire bench for herself while they sat together in another, Val in between Mina and Elphaba. Once they were settled, Val picked up the conversation where they had left off.
"My sister mentioned that you were hoping to find a companion for your sister, Your Majesty?"
"Of sorts," Elphaba nodded. "My sister, Nessarose, is 15 and in a wheelchair. As soon as we find a place for her, she'll be living without me for the first time. She can do much for herself, however she does need assistance from time to time. There are days when...due to how she came to be wheelchair bound, she's in excruciating pain. And if it's not me, I want someone trustworthy to be there for her when she needs it."
Val nodded as she spoke. "Would I be living with her then?"
"I would like that, yes. Nessarose is also good at communicating when she needs help. Mina has told me that you have quite the catalog as far as all the jobs you have done here in Kiamo Ko."
Val nodded, albeit bashfully, and Elphaba smiled.
"I have no doubt that you'll be able to assist my sister in whatever she needs, but I'd also like to see if the two of you could get along, if she feels comfortable with you. "
"Understood."
"Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself, Val?"
Val was a competitive person, Mina attested to it. Growing up, and even now, she got a thrill from challenging her brothers and sister in anything she could think of. She told of how once she'd left her home in shambles from trying to prove she could lift the heaviest flour bag. When she'd been close to her moment of victory, the bag had slipped from her hands onto the floor and flour spilled everywhere. The momentary mist of the flour caused the siblings to crash on to and break many of their decors. Needless to say, they all got a harsh word from both parents.
"When I have the time to leave Kiamo Ko, I visit my brother that lives in the town, see how he's doing. I enjoy a promenade, the outdoor theater, and I do love a good round of chess, Your Majesty."
"Do you?"
Val nodded enthusiastically.
"If I remember correctly, I believe Nessa does too."
She gasped. "Really?"
"I may be misremembering, but she recently told me she'd gotten into a board game that's more intricate and complex than people think. It might've been chess."
"If I get the chance to meet her, I need to ask her then. Not many people know how to play and everyone in my family has refused a lesson," Val pouted.
"That's because you'll just turn it into yet another tournament," Mina mumbled and Val glared at her.
Elphaba suppressed a chuckle at the exchange and addressed Val. "I would love for the two of you to meet today if you have time."
"Are you sure, Your Majesty?"
She nodded. "You seem like a friendly girl and if you and Nessarose can get along just fine, I see no reason to not hire you."
Val pressed a hand to her chest. "Thank you, Your Majesty, truly."
"There's no need to thank me. Speaking of Nessa, she may already be awake, and hungry. Would the two of you like to accompany us for breakfast?"
Mina and Val glanced at each other. After a shrug from Mina, Val turned to Elphaba and happily accepted the offer.
"Excellent," she clapped her hands.
"I'll lead you to Miss Nessarose's chambers, Your Majesty," Mina stood and her sister and the queen followed close behind.
Elphaba asked Val a few more questions as they walked and she noted how she was very keen on involving Mina in the conversation, asking her to collaborate or confirm small details. She liked that and she was sure Mina appreciated it too.
"I'll help her get ready," Elphaba said once they reached Nessarose's room. "In the meantime, Mina, is there a room besides the large dining ones where we could eat? Something more casual and comfortable?"
Mina nodded. "There's a small parlor near the ballroom. If we rearranged a few chairs and tables, we could easily sit close together and eat there if you wish, my lady."
"That sounds lovely."
"I'll do that, you wait here to escort Miss Nessarose and Her Majesty when they are ready."
"Thank you, Val," Elphaba called as Val headed over to the parlor. "I'll be back in a moment."
"Take your time, Your Majesty," Mina assured.
Elphaba smiled and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
"Good morning."
"Fabala!" Nessarose reached out with her arms and Elphaba eagerly ran into them, squeezing Nessarose tightly.
"When did you wake, my sweet? I'd thought you'd still be in bed," in fact, Nessarose seemed ready to simply step out of the room. She was washed up, dressed, and her hair was brushed out.
"Not too long ago, but it was the best sleep I ever had, sister. I had so much energy, I simply decided to get ready entirely by myself," she beamed.
"Are you hungry?"
"Oh yes! What will we be having?"
"I don't know, but we have people accompanying us for breakfast."
"Who?"
"My lady-in-waiting, Mina. She helped you get ready for bed last night."
"I remember," Nessarose nodded.
"And her twin sister, Val."
"Oh lovely!" she began to wheel herself towards the door. "Is she also a member of the staff?"
"Yes, and Nessa, hang on," Elphaba stopped her and Nessarose wheeled herself around, an expectant look on her face. "The reason I asked them to join me is because I'd like you to meet Val. Remember what I said about finding you a place of your own?" the younger girl nodded. "Well, I'd like for Val to live with you as well, to help you when you need assistance," Elphaba finished.
Nessarose pursed her lips. "That's going to be hard."
"What is Nessa?" Elphaba kneeled down, frowning at seeing the sad look cross her sister's face.
"Living with someone who isn't you," Nessarose sighed. "I do need someone around, I know that. And I definitely don't want to stay in the castle long term. No matter what you say about me not getting in the way of your duties, I'll never stop feeling like I shouldn't take up so much of your time now that you have an entire kingdom to rule…but I've never trusted anyone else the way I do you."
Elphaba took Nessa's hands. "Well, that's partly because we were rarely allowed to make conversation with other people besides the staff members," she joked and Nessa cracked a smile. "But I understand. It's also going to be hard for me to get used to you living under a different roof than mine, but at least you're here. And anyways, that's what breakfast is for. I'd like to see how you and Val get along, and if you don't we'll find someone else. I want you to feel comfortable with whoever we decide to hire to help you."
Nessarose took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright."
"Do you feel better, my sweet?"
"Much," she said.
"Let's go eat then," Elphaba pushed Nessarose's wheelchair while the young teen opened the door.
"Good morning Miss Nessarose," Mina greeted. "How are you feeling?"
"Well, thank you."
"If we're ready, let's head over to the parlor. The food should be no more than 15 minutes if it's not already there by the time we arrive."
"Let's," Elphaba said.
"Won't Fiyero miss you at all, Fabala?"
Elphaba halted for a split second before keeping pace again. She hadn't thought about the king since Mina mentioned he'd been called away. "Oh, he had to leave early today. I'm not sure when he'll be back."
Nessarose frowned and looked up at Elphaba. "I'm sorry, Elphaba. Not ideal when you've just married."
"No, but that leaves me time to spend with you," the green girl tucked her sister's hair behind her ear.
"But you two should be getting to know each other."
"There will be plenty of time for that later," if they even saw each other that was. If this was anything to go by, it seemed the king would be pulled in many different directions. She certainly wouldn't mind being on her own and married only by law.
Nessarose tilted her head. "I suppose so. It smells heavenly."
"Here we are, my lady, Miss Nessarose," Mina allowed the sisters to go in first before following behind.
Elphaba spotted Val placing plates on two circular tables. "Just in time," she smiled and quickly set down the last plate. She wiped her hands with a cloth and approached Nessarose. She held her hand out. "You must be Miss Nessarose. I'm Val Cox, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"You as well, and just Nessarose or Nessa, please," Nessa shook her hand and glanced between Val and Mina. "You two really are identical."
Val chuckled. "That we are. Have you ever had bagels before?"
"I can't say I have," the young teen shook her head. "Do we have those in Munchkinland, Fabala?"
"Um," Elphaba was sure they did, but she didn't exactly want to reveal the food restrictions their father enforced on them. It would only lead down an endless tunnel she desperately wanted to avoid as much as possible. "I'm not sure."
Mina made a strange expression and Elphaba quickly turned to her. She pursed her lips and made a cutting motion with her hand at her neck, wanting her lady-in-waiting to not question what she'd said. The girl's lips parted then she swallowed and nodded. Elphaba nodded as well.
"Oh, well that's what we're having for breakfast today, come," Val said and beckoned Nessarose to follow her.
Val had pushed two high tables together and gathered chairs tall enough to reach. The food was set up for them to build their meal; one plate contained the small bagels, another different assortments of meat, then there were two bowls, one with slices of different vegetables and another with cheese spread. It was still steaming and two water pitchers sat in the middle of the arrangement.
"May I?" Val asked Nessarose.
"Of course," Nessa carefully wrapped her arms around Val's neck and the older teen gently lifted the younger from her wheelchair. She effortlessly raised Nessarose up to the chair, mindful of her skirt. The corner of Elphaba's lips curled up. "Thank you," Nessarose smiled and adjusted herself with her arms.
"My pleasure."
"Do I just pick whatever I want?" Nessa asked, almost incredulously.
"Yes, go ahead darling," Elphaba said as she took a seat herself.
Nessarose happily chose the ingredients she wanted. As Val and Mina also took their seats, Val explained how Vinkuns usually stacked their bagels and Nessa copied her movements.
Elphaba watched as she placed a bagel on her plate, feeling elation at seeing Nessarose so happy and eating whatever she desired. She poured herself a glass of water and waved Mina off when she'd tried to do it for her. "Eat Mina, don't worry about serving."
The girl blushed and nodded. "Thank you, my lady."
Elphaba gave her a curt nod.
Val took the lead in the conversation, asking Nessarose questions about her likes and dislikes which prompted Nessa to do the same. Meanwhile, Elphaba picked at the food on her plate. She's only taken a small bite and the bread felt like a rock in her stomach already. Her stomach churned, though thankfully, the girls were talking loud enough for it to fade in the background. She tried to keep her face neutral, hoping to mask the discomfort, and forced herself to keep eating, even if it was in bites small enough to feed a mouse.
"Her Majesty tells me that you like to play a certain board game?"
"Yes!" Nessarose exclaimed. "It's called chess. I learned to play not long ago with staff members back in Munchkinland. I could play for hours."
"I as well!" Val smiled. "I can rarely find an opponent who's already knowledgeable in the rules."
"Oh well we just have to play a round together soon!"
Elphaba smiled and silently offered what was left of her bagel to her sister who, in her excitement, was thankfully too distracted to question why she'd left practically the entire piece. She was glad Nessarose seemed to adapt quickly to larger portions. The green girl focused on her water instead. She locked eyes with her lady-in-waiting and they smiled at each other. Evidently, their sisters were getting along very easily.
Mina leaned in and Elphaba followed her lead. "I dare say they'll have no problems living together," she whispered.
Elphaba nodded. "Definitely."
"Would you like something different for breakfast, Your Majesty?"
The young queen shook her head. "I fear nothing will agree with my stomach at the moment."
"Oh, well I could ask the cooks to prepare you something small if your appetite returns later?"
"I'll let you know."
"Alright."
Val and Nessarose seemed to never run out of things to talk about. One topic would inevitably lead into another. Mina and Elphaba chimed in occasionally, mostly whenever their respective sister asked a question, but for the most part, they let the two girls converse with each other.
Once the food had been finished, Val and Mina began to condense the plates and cups. Elphaba helped Nessarose get back into her chair.
"Do you have time for me to take you up on your challenge?" Nessarose asked Val.
"I'll check in with my mother and father. If neither needs me, I'll find you immediately," Val grinned. "Is that alright, Your Majesty?"
"Definitely."
"Fantastic," Nessa squealed. "Did we pass a library on our way?"
Mina nodded. "Yes."
"I'll wait for you there!"
"Noted," Val gathered as many dishes as she could.
"Here, I'll give you a hand," Mina picked up what was left. "I'll be back in a moment - "
"It's alright Mina," Elphaba assured. "I remember where the library is located."
The two girls excused themselves, taking the plates and glasses with them. Elphaba pushed Nessarose's wheelchair while the young girl held her stomach. She felt stuffed in a good way.
"I don't think I'll be able to stomach anything until tomorrow."
Elphaba chuckled. "We'll see if you say that when it's time for dinner."
Nessa groaned in response.
"It seems you and Val got along very well."
"I think so too. I like her, though I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say I'd like to share a home with her yet. I'd like to spend more time with her."
"That sounds perfectly reasonable. This must be it," Elphaba wheeled Nessarose through a large walkway and into the library they'd seen earlier. It was larger than it seemed from the outside. "There's another matter I wanted to discuss with you."
"Hmm?" Nessarose took over and wheeled herself to the nearest table, where Elphaba removed a chair to make space for her sister.
"As far as your schooling goes…"
"I see."
"Would you like to continue?"
In Munchkinland, it was customary for young women to finish their education at 14. Elphaba had continued behind her father's back. She would sneak into his study in the late hours of the night, when everyone was asleep, to devour as much as she could form the books he kept there. Luckily, she'd made do with what she'd had. But she didn't know if Nessarose wanted that.
"I'm…I'm not sure, Fabala," Nessa shrugged. She sounded almost timid. "I never did like the lessons; our tutors weren't the kindest people there were," Elphaba nodded in agreement. "But what else can I do to support myself in the future? I certainly don't want you to look after me forever - even if you don't mind," Nessa spoke before Elphaba could cut in. "My wheelchair already disqualifies me from most employments."
"Sister, if you don't want to continue that's completely alright."
"But how will I be able to make my own money?"
"There's many things a young lady can do here," Elphaba took Nessa's hand. "Even with your wheelchair. You could care for small children, cook, be a clerk of some kind. You could even be a teacher."
"Fabala, I have no knowledge I could possibly teach."
"That's not true. You made it all the way to level three of the secondary level. With some review and practice, you can be fully qualified to teach that level and the ones below."
Nessarose was silent for a moment. "I'll think about it, all my options."
Elphaba nodded and squeezed her sister's hand. A knock makes them turn to the entrance. Nessarose's smile returns.
"I'm available," Val grinned, a bag slung over her shoulder, and Mina on her heels.
"I'm excited to see your board," Nessa clapped and Elphaba raised a brow.
"It's not much," Val said. She placed the bag on the floor and pulled a wooden board out of it. It had a black and white checkerboard pattern painted on it and had imperfect, curved sides, as if it had been broken from a larger piece. Elphaba could see the natural wood patterns in the unpainted areas.
"It's lovely, very rustic," Nessarose said. "I've never seen one quite like this," she delicately touched the surface.
Val took a seat in the chair across from Nessarose and began pulling out small, carved pieces of wood. There were quite a variety of shapes, though some looked the same. Some were white, others were black.
"Oh these are different from the ones I'm accustomed to. Which are which?"
"These," Val began to separate the little pieces by shape and color. "Are the pawns. These are the bishops, those are the knights…"
Elphaba squeezed her sister's shoulder and silently pointed at the bookshelves to let her know where she'd be. Nessarose nodded and quickly turned her attention back to Val. The green girl went to the farthest corner and began to scan each title. A particular one caught her eye: The Ethics of War. That seemed…contradictory. She pulled the book out.
"Your Majesty?"
"Yes?" Elphaba turned to Mina.
"I know you haven't asked for anything, but I scratched up something for you in case your hunger spiked up," she offered a white bowl and Elphaba could spot a variety of freshly picked berries.
She was in fact feeling more and more peckish. "Thank you," she took the bowl from her lady-in-waiting and dismissed her with a nod.
She settled on the comfortable looking chair near the window and cradled the bowl of berries in her lap. She didn't think it would be this hard to increase her intake of food. She was hungry, she wouldn't deny that, but any food she'd managed thus far had only intensified her pain. But maybe the bagel had been too dense for her feeble stomach. Maybe the berries would agree with her more.
Her bony green finger reached for the smallest fruit in the bowl, a blueberry. She pressed the cold sphere to her lips and bit down the middle. She slowly chewed on the piece then gleefully swallowed. Elphaba greatly enjoyed the flavor, it was fresh and tangy and she felt herself craving for more. She paced herself and tried one of each of the different berries in the bowl. There was a perfect balance between sweet and tart fruits that Elphaba forced herself to put the bowl aside for a few minutes lest she inhale the entirety of it.
With one last bite of ripe strawberry, she focused back on the book she'd picked up and opened the cover. The first couple of pages were blank followed by a repeat of the title and author.
'I.I: Realism.
Realism resists the application of morality to war. Such resistance is typically part of a more general moral scepticism that is applied not just to the extreme circumstance of war but to international relations in general.'
Elphaba reread those first sentences. She leaned back on the chair and continued down the page. Each new paragraph made her head turn, forcing her to think of things she'd never given much thought to before. As the book dove into utopianism and previous records of conflict and literature, Elphaba's fingers itched for a quill. She wanted to write notes; no doubt much of this would be very useful to keep in mind should the Vinkus, Oz forbid, were ever on the verge of war.
She stopped reading after turning a couple pages and set the book on the table. She would keep this with her for a few days.
She stood, grabbed the bowl of berries, and began searching the bookshelf once again. Her height allowed her to easily reach the highest shelf if she needed to. A book about the history and culture of the Vinkus also caught her attention. Even though she'd read as much on it as she could before her nuptials, a book written by a Vinkun author was sure to have details others may have missed. There were many on the process of establishing laws. Upon closer inspection, Elphaba realized the volumes were a continuation of each other, not separate accounts.
She felt an incoming headache. Perhaps starting with one would be best.
She placed the two new volumes she'd selected on the table. Once she'd reached the bottom shelf, she had a hefty collection piled on not only the table, but the chair as well. Not all books were educational, there were many fictional stories that caught her eye. They were sure to entertain her whenever she had time for herself.
The sun shining through the window stung her eyes and Elphaba stood. How long had she been going through the books? The sky had turned a dark orange with hints of an upcoming dusk.
Elphaba hurried over to where she'd left Nessarose and - she was still at the table with Val. A plate with only a handful of cookies sat next to the chess board.
"What match is this?"
"It's our first one. Sh!" Nessarose sharply silenced her. The green girl's eyes went wide, more amused than anything.
The girls were just staring - leering - at the board. Neither of them moved a muscle aside from the natural rise and fall of their chests. As if any sudden motion would be disastrous to their focus. There were pieces scattered over the board. Val raised her hand, but as quickly as it had moved, it stilled again. Nessarose didn't bat an eye.
Elphaba slowly backed away. She caught sight of Mina sitting by the fireplace. "Have you been here all this time?" she whispered.
The teen stood from the lounge. "I stepped out for a couple hours to help wash a few floors. Other than that, Yes, Your Majesty, I've been here," she gestured to the book in her hand.
Elphaba nodded, then what Mina said was fully processed. "'Hours'? How long has it been since they began?"
Mina pursed her lips. "I'm not entirely sure. I do know that dinner will be served in an hour," she offered.
Dear Oz, the day had evidently passed them by. Elphaba sighed. "I hope it wasn't a drag for you."
"Not at all, my lady!" Mina assured. "I managed to keep myself occupied."
"Good. Excuse me a moment," Elphaba stepped out of the library, nearly colliding into someone in her haste.
"Oh! Your Majesty," a young man bowed and was about to walk away.
"Wait," she knows this man. Mina had said his name when they'd crossed paths with him in the morning. She knew it, she was sure of it. "Ezra?"
He smiled. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Would you do me a favor?"
"Of course!"
"Come with me," she led him into the library.
"Hello, Mina!"
"SSHH!"
The black-haired man flinched at the harsh command.
Mina waved and mouthed, 'Hi, sorry," while gesturing to her twin and Nessa.
He blushed and kept up with the queen.
"I would like these," Elphaba picked up one book from the stack she'd created. "Taken up to my chambers along with some paper, ink, and a quill. If there's an empty journal in this castle somewhere, I would very much like that too. Also," she handed him the now empty bowl. "Would you mind taking this back to the kitchens?"
A tanned hand removed the bowl from her green one and he bowed. "I'll see to it, Your Majesty."
"Thank you," an idea struck her. She placed the book back and strode over to her lady-in-waiting. "Mina, where are the wedding gifts?"
"SH!"
Elphaba instinctively turned and opened her mouth. She breathed in and bit her lip, her hands slowly fisting tightly. These girls. Mina held a laugh.
"They're tucked away in cubicles, near the ballroom."
"Would you like to help me go through some of them?"
Mina's excitement shined. "Definitely, Your Majesty!" she whispered. She silently motioned for Elphaba to follow her.
"I know they've been separated into some sort of categories, though I'm not sure what they are. But these," Mina gestured to the silver cubicles. "Are meant solely for you, Your Majesty."
Elphaba approached the first cubicle, which was smaller than the rest of them. When she opened the door, she immediately identified what was inside. "This is all jewelry."
There was so much of it. Some items laid free from any sort of packaging, most of them tiaras, while the rest were in boxes. She had a feeling they wouldn't finish rummaging through everything before dinner.
"Alright," Elphaba sighed. She hadn't gotten the chance to wear much jewelry before. She supposed she would have to start getting used to it. "I think I will hand you one item at a time and what stays will go to your right, what goes to the left?"
"Understood," Mina nodded.
The green girl pulled her fingers, carefully sat down, and started with the boxes at her feet. They were smaller in size and Elphaba reached for the only black box in a pool of green ones. She propped it open and immediately felt an on-wave of guilt. They were earrings. Elphaba couldn't wear earrings, her ears didn't have holes. As beautiful as they were, she asked Mina to place them to the left.
Her guilt only swelled as she opened more of the small boxes. There were countless earrings. The last thing she wanted to do was offend those that had gifted them to her, but she couldn't keep them when she had no use for them. Perhaps she could re-gift them - or even auction them. Elphaba made note of the latter thought. An auction would certainly raise funds.
"Do you not like them, Your Majesty?" Mina asked with a slight frown. Her mistress had sent every item thus far to the left.
"On the contrary, they're beautiful. But I can't wear earrings," Elphaba pointed to her lobes.
Mina breathed out an 'Oh'. Her cheeks turned red and she bashfully said, "My apologies."
"No need, it was only a question," Elphaba soothed.
A bright diamond caught her attention. She'd almost closed the box again, having come across countless earrings, but this one carried a ring. It white with the barest hints of purple placed upon a smooth, silver band. The simplicity only amplified the jewel's elegance.
"Right," she closed the box and handed it to Mina.
Slowly, the small boxes were cleared and Elphaba reached the tiaras. They, like the rings, were easily classified as 'left' or 'right'. She mostly based it on appearance; were they tasteful, appropriate, something she could wear out? The vast majority of them were. The only reason she seemed to not keep them was their weight. Some tiaras weighed more than the crown, those she definitely wouldn't be able to comfortably wear for long periods of time. Her personal favorite was a tiara with a slight point in the center adorned with white and blue rhinestones.
The larger boxes contained either a collection of bracelets or a single necklace. The bracelets took some time to classify. Elphaba tried each one of them on. Some could be adjusted to fit her thin wrist, but others completely slid off no matter how tight she made them. The necklaces were sorted through much quicker.
"What am I holding?" Elphaba asked, genuinely baffled.
It was the last box, bigger and heavier than the rest. Inside it were pearls, but it wasn't a necklace. At least, Elphaba didn't think it was. There were many large pearls towards the top of…the design. Then they seemed to cascade down in a variety of patterns as well as decrease in size.
"I believe that's what they call a 'body chain', my lady."
"Mhm," Elphaba pursed her lips. "And how does one wear this?"
"May I?" Mina reached for the box and Elphaba gladly handed it to her.
The teen set the box on the floor and delicately removed the pearls. She motioned for the queen to stand and unhooked the pearls from the top. Mina placed the body chain on Elphaba's chest, holding it in place at her neck, then stepped behind her.
"They're usually worn over simple gowns; ones that are solid in color and tight on the body, the body chain serves as the main attraction of the ensemble," Mina hooked the pearls and made sure they rested squarely on her mistress' shoulders. "It may feel a tad uncomfortable now with this particular dress, but the intention is that they feel as though they're part of the dress."
"I see," Elphaba nodded. "I think I will keep it then. Thank you, Mina."
Her lady-in-waiting removed the body chain and placed it back into its box. Elphaba went to open the next cubicle when Mina spoke. "My lady, if I may, it's nearly time for dinner. Perhaps it's best to wait?"
"We will. I just want to see what we'll entertain ourselves with tomorrow," Elphaba smiled and peeked inside. "Oh dear Oz."
"Is everything alright, Your Majesty?"
"Yes…we may have to set aside an entire day for these gifts," she opened the door more to allow Mina to look inside. It was filled to the brim with clothes. Clothes that she would have to try on to determine if they'd even fit.
"Oh dear Oz," Mina's eyes traveled up and down. Then she squealed. "Oh Your Majesty, you're going to look so beautiful in all of these! I promise, if anything doesn't fit correctly, I'll do everything I can think of to fix it."
Elphaba chuckled. "I appreciate that," she closed the door. "Alright, these," she held her hands over the items she'd chosen to keep. "Can be taken up to my chambers. I'll organize them myself when I get the chance. And these…" Elphaba pondered. "I'd like these to go back in the cubicle. I'll decide how to deal with them later."
Mina nodded and quickly called for a staff member. "Someone will be here shortly and do as you asked. Shall we go back to the library?"
"Yes, let's fetch our sisters. Do you think they are on at least a second match by now?"
"Well, if Miss Nessarose has as much fervor for the game as Val, I fear we may be out of luck, Your Majesty."
"I'm inclined to agree with you there Mina."
Mina was right, Nessarose and Val were still in their first match. With dinner practically ready, Elphaba opted to have the food brought to the library again and helped Mina set it up. The soup and bread was ready whenever Val and Nessa were, which Elphaba honestly couldn't say if they would be anytime soon.
"This is the longest I've gone without talking to Val," Mina joked and Elphaba swallowed her laugh to avoid being silenced by the girls.
"Even if they don't end up living together, I think they could build a nice friendship. Speaking of," Elphaba sat down. "I would like to begin searching for a home for Nessarose tomorrow, yet I have no idea where to start."
"I could help with that, Your Majesty."
"How so?"
"My mother and father have friends in the town with their own businesses. No doubt there's someone out there who may know if there's property being sold. I could ask them to get diagrams as well as directions for houses on the market on your behalf and to let the owners know to expect you to visit them over the next couple of days?"
Elphaba radiated with gratitude. "Mina, that would be fantastic, you wouldn't mind doing that for me?" the words spilled one after the other.
"Of course not, my lady! I'm here to help you."
The green girl let her body drop onto the sofa. "You're a gift. I promise once I figure things out I won't hassle you too much."
Mina smiled. "Well, as long as you still hassle me enough for me to still have a job," both of them smiled - then jumped in their seats.
"CHECKMATE!"
"WHAT?!"
Elphaba and Mina quickly strode over to Val and Nessarose, the latter of whom had her arms up in victory.
"I win! I caught you off guard! You shook my hand and when you turned your back to me I pounced and sunk that dagger right between your shoulder blades!"
Elphaba's jaw dropped. She'd never heard her little sister talk like that before. Mina covered her mouth with her hand, no doubt she was hiding a wide smile on her lips. Her shoulders shook and her other hand held her stomach.
Val stood with her hands on either side of the playing board. She desperately scanned the pieces, as if she could not believe she'd been outsmarted. There was no way she'd really been defeated. Her mouth opened, but no coherent words came, only broken sounds. Finally, she swallowed and held a finger to Nessarose. "I demand a rematch."
"How about," Elphaba cut Nessarose off before she could accept the challenge which she was absolutely sure she would. "We have dinner beforehand?"
Nessarose's stomach growled and she coughed. "Good idea, sister," she pushed on her wheels and before she passed Val, she gave a cunning smile.
Val's mouth dropped and she turned to the queen who was just as surprised. Who knew Nessarose was…audacious? Elphaba shrugged and tilted her head with a soft smile, signaling to the table that held their dinner.
Lyric Inspo:
Barefoot in the kitchen
Sacred new beginnings
That became my religion, listen
- 'Cornelia Street', Lover, Taylor Swift.
A. J. Coates, The Ethics of War (Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 1997), 17.