Raincheck

Three…two…one…

Another sneeze rang out from the bathroom, followed by a tired, half-hearted blow into a handkerchief. Galinda heard the water running in the sink briefly before the doorknob jiggled, and Elphaba emerged, unaware that she wore the cutest, grumpiest-looking pout on her face. Galinda felt her heart flip and bit her lip to refrain from squealing how she desperately wanted to about how precious the green girl looked, knowing she was feeling awful. 

She waited until Elphaba had crawled back into bed and propped herself against the pillows and headboard with a heavy, defeated sigh. “Bless you,” she said softly, brushing her fingers against an emerald cheek. “I’m so sorry your poor nose won’t let you rest.” 

Elphaba lifted her hand briefly as if to say, “Oh well,” and dropped it back to her lap. She had been laying comfortably in Galinda’s arms for ten minutes, enjoying the soothing feeling of the blonde’s hands running up and down her back, gently kneading at her neck and shoulders to loosen new tension, when her eyes began watering in response to a prickly tingle just behind them. She had tried to ignore it, turning her head inward to nudge her nose against Galinda’s collarbone to alleviate the tickle. Unfortunately, that only seemed to encourage it to bloom. 

Elphaba quickly pulled away, prompting a startled “Oh!” from Galinda. She pulled the collar of her sweater over her nose to contain the sudden sneeze, unable to make it too far. She ducked between them, staying propped up on her right elbow. “Tschhiew!” Her breath hitched uncontrollably as the tickle grew. “…tschh!…TSChh!…hehh….hehh’tschiew!” As she came up for air once the fit ended, fumbling for her handkerchief lost somewhere in the bed, she heard Galinda giggling and looked up to shoot the blonde a glare. 

“You are so precious,” Galinda practically gushed. “I’m not even going to apologize for embarrassing you,” she continued, seeing Elphaba’s blush deepen. She reached forward to grab the handkerchief sitting out of Elphaba’s line of sight and handed it to her, watching the girl quickly bring it to her nose. 

But, this continued for the better part of the last hour. Elphaba would tend to her nose and settle back down against Galinda before needing to pull away minutes later just as she started to drift off. It was beginning to take its toll on her. She finally, after a particularly intense fit of sneezes that had Galinda cooing something about a pile of kittens, got up and went to the bathroom to blow her nose properly, sneeze a dozen more times, and pout where Galinda’s loving brown eyes couldn’t ogle her.

“How about I try diffusing some of the herbs the apothecary provided?” Galinda offered when she returned from the bathroom and settled back down, stroking Elphaba’s cheek once more before moving a finger delicately down the bridge of her nose. Elphaba hitched suddenly, nose unbearably sensitive, and turned her head away, causing Galinda to quickly pull her hand back and laugh out an appropriately chastened “Sorry!” before she moved to get up and out of the bed to prepare the simmer pot.

“It’s worth trying, I suppose,” Elphaba rasped out, clearing her throat slowly and carefully, wincing against the shock of pain it sent through her. “I think I’ll make another cup of tea while you do that.”

Even the birds—who had been singing all day just outside the balcony doors—stopped their song for but a moment to allow Galinda the time and silence required to curate a truly dramatic moment. Galinda stopped and turned her head carefully toward Elphaba until she was staring directly at the side of the girl’s face, and she waited for a clock tick, two, three... 

“Elphaba.” 

“Hmm?” The green girl dabbed her nose with her handkerchief once more before shifting her eyes to meet Galinda’s. 

Galinda smiled - dimple nowhere to be found. “You said something about tea?”

Elphaba muffled a cough with her handkerchief. “Yes. I said I was going to make…” she trailed off as Galinda cocked her head to the side, the same affected smile stuck in place. What is she doing? “Tea?” Elphaba finished weakly, voice giving out almost entirely. 

“No, you’re not.” 

“I’m not?” Elphaba whispered, giving up on trying to speak aloud for the time being as her voice was indeed on its final legs. Galinda’s smile faltered slightly at this development, and she lost the spark of mischief she first had going into this scene, as it was quickly replaced by sympathy. 

The blonde sighed. “No, Elphie. You’re not. I’m going to make the tea for you.” She reached out to grab an emerald hand, noting how much hotter it felt now than the hour before, and gave it a gentle squeeze. 

“Oh, right. Th..ank you, G..linda.” Elphaba’s voice, even in a whisper, cracked slightly. “Galinda” sounded more like “Glinda,” and the blonde was thoroughly tickled by this development. She left Elphaba in the bed to begin puttering around the suite to get the tea brewing and to start collecting herbs, oils, and everything she’d need to get a simmer pot brewing beside the bed to hopefully soothe Elphaba’s overtaxed sinuses. 

As she was pouring tea into their two cups, she heard Elphaba sneeze twice into her handkerchief before stifling the next few silently, likely in an effort to interrupt the fit. Galinda waited another moment before blessing her, anticipating that the poor girl wasn’t done as had been the pattern up until now. She was stirring honey into Elphaba’s cup when she heard a quick inhale and felt her chest tighten in sympathy. As adorable as she found Elphaba’s little fits of breathless sneezes, she knew it was exhausting her, and she really needed relief soon to rest and recover. 

“Hehh….eeshiew-ishhiew…hiii….oh, hehh….hh’iitschiewW!” 

Galinda stepped forward, passing Elphaba her teacup once she finished blowing her nose. “Bless you,” she whispered, kissing her forehead. She frowned, lifting her hand and resting her palm on Elphaba’s forehead. “We need to start keeping an eye on your temperature, Elphie.” 

Elphaba nodded, thanked her for the tea, and leaned back into the pillows as she prepared to take a sip. Galinda gave her a sad little smile and continued preparing the simmer pot. She brought the amber-colored glass pot and gold-plated tea warmer she had inherited from Ama Clutch to Elphie’s side of the bed, using matches to light the circle of tea lights before placing the glass pot on top. She returned to their tea station for the kettle and picked up her bundle of herbs and oils as she made her way back over. Elphaba watched her curiously as Galinda expertly prepared the brew.

Rosemary and thyme sprigs went in first, then were covered with boiling water. Galinda carefully selected three eucalyptus leaves from the bundle, taking a moment to smell them before dropping them into the pot too. She uncorked a small bottle and added two drops of what Elphaba believed was lavender oil. She gave everything a swirl and declared the pot ready with a perky “All done!” before turning around to bring the kettle and extra supplies back to the other side of the room. 

Elphaba leaned closer to the pot and felt the steam tickle her face. Taking as deep a breath as possible through the congestion and pressure she felt, Elphaba found she immensely enjoyed the earthy scent. She leaned back, pleased that the steam and scent wafted her way naturally due to the light draft coming through from the balcony. She turned toward Galinda, ready to thank her for her efforts, when she saw the blonde standing in front of the open balcony doors, absentmindedly waving a hand in front of her face.

Elphaba could only see her profile, but the blonde was clearly anticipating a sneeze. Her eyes were shut, lips parted slightly, breath hitching delicately. Suddenly, the blonde dipped forward, turning slightly to the right and away from Elphaba, the hand she had waving gently in front of her face to encourage the sneeze held flat out, ready to catch it. “Hehh..hehhPtchii!” Elphaba snorted a laugh. It was exactly how one would expect Galinda to sneeze—a dainty, annoyingly adorable, high-pitched squeak. 

“Oh my goodness! I forget how sensitive I am to eucalyptus,” Galinda exclaimed, turning back toward Elphaba, touching her index finger beneath her nose momentarily. Elphaba smiled at her as their eyes locked and mouthed, “Bless you,” still not trusting her voice. Galinda giggled and silently mouthed “Thank you” back to her before grabbing her own teacup and the custard and crackers she picked up that morning, and then she returned to join Elphaba in the bed. “Can you smell it alright from here?” Galinda hummed happily when Elphaba nodded and reached out to rub the top of her thigh in thanks. 

They finished their tea and snack together, relaxing quietly and enjoying the maturing scent of the simmering pot the longer the herbs and oils infused. Elphaba felt herself begin to tire, and the burning irritation in her sinuses faded. She held her empty teacup up toward Galinda, who took it and her own empty cup and placed them on her nightstand. When she settled back in, Galinda felt Elphaba tremble slightly beside her and opened her arms up again, encouraging Elphaba to snuggle back in. 

“Let’s see if we can try this again, hmm?” Galinda said, waiting for Elphaba to finish straightening out her sweater and adjusting her hair wrap before folding her arms around her and pulling her head back down to her chest. She was startled by how much warmer Elphaba was now compared to when they first got into her bed a couple of hours before. “Oh, Elphie, you’re burning,” Galinda said emphatically, concern coloring her tone. She slipped a hand under Elphaba’s black sweater to touch her bare back and pulled the shirt up slightly to expose her to the air. Elphaba shivered at the contact and turned inward, pressing her forehead against Galinda’s collarbone again.

Galinda pushed back the top quilt haphazardly, leaving their upper bodies covered only by a light sheet. “Let’s stay like this for just a bit, alright?” She said gently, knowing it was likely uncomfortable for Elphaba. “I’ll try to keep you comfortable, and you just try to sleep. Okay?” Galinda ran her right hand up and down the arm Elphaba had thrown over her waist. “You need to sleep, sweetness.” 

Elphaba nodded and pressed herself more tightly against the blonde. Galinda continued her ministrations from before, slowly running her hands up and down her back, being mindful of the likelihood that Elphaba’s skin would become more sensitive as her temperature rose, and she may not appreciate the contact for that much longer. Hopefully, she could soothe her to sleep before then. 

“Sweetest dreams, Elphie.” 

~~~

“Governor, please…”

“I’ll hear nothing more of it, Dulcibear. It is a fever. It is not plague or mortal injury. We do not need to bother a healer.” 

Frexspar turned on his heel, coattails whipping around as he walked down the hall. 

“Governor, I beg you to reconsider.” Dulcibear was near desperate, her voice trembling and increasing in volume as her panic grew. She stepped forward, calling out once more. “Let me stay with her tonight, then! To help keep the fever at bay!” 

He stopped abruptly but did not turn around when he spoke next. “But who will care for dear Nessarose if you are with her, Dulcibear?” 

To an outsider, Frexspar’s tone was simply curious, sincerely wondering, and seeking an answer to the question he posed. 

To Dulcibear or to anyone familiar with what went on inside the Governor’s mansion, his tone was dangerous. A warning, a threat. 

“Governor…” 

Their voices and footsteps faded as Dulcibear and her father moved down the hall and away from her bedroom. Elphaba turned her head toward the door and tried to keep her eyes open while waiting for Dulcibear to return. But, as the sun moved along the sky, casting shadows that morphed into monsters along her walls, Elphaba drifted off, unable to stay awake. 

~

“I don’t understand, Governor. You and Miss Nessarose are leaving for Nest Hardings today?”

“No, no, Dulcibear! We are all leaving today. The planning commission for the upcoming harvest festival has convened early, and my presence has been requested.” Frexspar smiled as he unveiled a rack of new dresses for Nessa. “Please pack all these dresses so my darling has options.” 

“But, Governor!” Dulcibear called out to stop Frexspar from leaving Nessa’s chambers. “Miss Elphaba is in no condition to travel!”

Frexspar cocked his head to the side. “I’m aware. This is why she is not coming. She will remain here.” His eyes hardened at the devastation that crept into the nanny’s eyes. “The kitchen staff have been notified and will ensure she is fed. And looked after.” He glanced down at his timepiece. “We leave in two hours, Dulcibear.” 

The Governor’s boots clicked briskly down the hall in time with Dulcibear’s breaking heart. 

“…Dulcibear?”

The nanny spun around to see little Nessarose heading her way. “Yes, little one?” Dulcibear dropped to all fours and padded over to her. 

“Can we bring my blue dress to the festival?” 

“…yes, Miss Nessa. Let’s get you packed and ready to go.” 

~

“Are you so excited, my beautiful darling?” Frexspar asked Nessarose, bending down to kiss her chubby cheek lovingly. “You’re going to have such a wonderful time!” 

Nessa giggled and clapped her hands. Frexspar motioned for Dulcibear to come over and wheel Nessa down to the carriage that would take them to the train station. “I’ll be right behind you!” He called out as he walked up the main stairs and back into the manor. As he passed room after room and made his way toward Elphaba’s chamber, he dropped all pretense and let his smile fall. Upon reaching the door, he listened to see if she was awake. At the sound of a weak, raspy cough, he grimaced. Opening the door, he stood at the entry of the common area, with no intention of venturing any farther in toward the bedroom on the left. 

“We’ll be gone a fortnight,” he called out. “You are to stay in your rooms. Your meals will be brought to you.” He waited a moment before demanding acknowledgment. “Is that understood?” 

A small, weak voice responded. “Yes, Father.” 

Frexspar nodded, turning to leave. Another series of coughs could be heard from the bedroom, followed by a tiny whimper. He paused but did not turn back around. “Get well soon, Fabala.” He stepped out of Elphaba’s chambers, shut the door behind him, and locked the door.