Raincheck

Galinda ran her fingers across Elphaba's face while her head lay safely cradled in the blonde’s lap. The sun had long since set, but the air outside tonight was warmer than usual, blowing sweetly across their balcony and into the suite, carrying with it the light scent of the natural waterways and honeysuckle that was so uniquely Shiz. Their wind chimes gently rang with the breeze, each ring lightening Galinda’s heart little by little. 

She counted to five while taking a slow, deep breath, closing her eyes, and exhaling in the same controlled manner. After hours and hours, Elphaba had finally drifted off to sleep. Galinda gathered the older girl’s braids and began running her fingers through them, along her scalp, gently stroking her temples, cheeks, running her fingers along her jawline…

"I'm so sorry, Elphie," she breathed, letting her head fall to rest against the headboard and her eyes shut for a moment as she thought back on the hours earlier.

~~~
Earlier
~~~

"Elphie," she whispered. "I think I remember my dream." Galinda exhaled heavily against Elphaba's neck, her hold on the other girl as tight as it had been at the beginning of the embrace. "At least I think it was a dream."

"Okay… okay," Elphaba hoarsely responded, slowly extracting herself from the blonde's grip. "Tell me about it?" She wavered briefly, putting a hand out to grasp Galinda's shoulder.

Galinda quickly moved to steady her. "I'm so sorry, Elphie, oh Oz… let's get you back into bed, please." The two girls moved back to Galinda's bed and crawled in; Elphaba propped up against the piles of pillows near the headboard once more. Galinda sat facing her, legs crossed, her hands nervously rubbing together in her lap.

"I have a question for you first." Galinda's voice trembled as she started, eyes still averted. 

Elphaba nodded, then quickly whispered, "Alright," when she noticed Galinda wasn't looking at her. The blonde looked up, brown eyes shining with unshed tears darting between Elphaba's emerald green. 

"Did you dream last night? O-or have a nightmare?" Galinda trailed off somewhat. "You mentioned you get them often… did you, last night?" 

Elphaba tilted her head curiously, then nodded. "I did dream last night, yes. I usually… when I'm," she gestured toward herself to fill in the blank. "I have… vivid dreams. Not many good ones, but they're not all terrible. Last night was bad, but-" she shrugged. "Nothing scary," she felt compelled to reassure. "No monsters," she teased, hoping Galinda would smile. 

Galinda paled dramatically at that, her face hardening in a way Elphaba had never seen. 

"W-will you tell me about it?" Galinda asked quietly. "B-before I tell you mine?" 

Elphaba stared at her, trying desperately to be patient with the girl but feeling her fear and panic build up and nag at her. "Sure, okay." She took a breath and quickly tried to sort out what she would share. Not too much, Elphaba. 

"It's a little silly," she started. "But I dreamt about a time I wasn't allowed to attend the annual Harvest Festival - remember the little one Boq and I took you and Fiyero to, where you bullied me into those wind chimes," she teased again, eyes darting around Galinda to look toward the balcony. "I was sick that year, really sick - many children in Nest Hardings were ill and unable to attend the festival." She shrugged. "But Nessa wasn't sick and was allowed to attend. I must have some unresolved jealousy to sort out around that." Again, with the teasing, making light. 

Galinda stared at her, unblinking. Elphaba was worried. She reached out to take the blonde’s hand, noting how cold it felt, moving then to take both of Galinda's hands in her own to warm them. Elphaba cleared her throat, wincing once more, not having done that much talking in quite a while and feeling it. "Your turn?"

The blonde inhaled slowly, nodding just the same. "My turn," Galinda breathed, removing one hand from Elphaba's grasp to run across her face. She left that hand covering her eyes while she spoke, posture perfectly straight while cross-legged on the bed, her left hand held lovingly by Elphaba's two. 

"I dreamt," her voice shook, heart immediately in her throat. "About a little girl…" she shuddered through another breath. "A terriblysick little girl, who was left alone for two weeks, locked in her room, with no one" - Galinda's voice broke then - "to look after her, while her father," the word practically spat, "took her sister" Galinda dropped the hand from her eyes then to meet Elphaba's horrified stare "to the Harvest Festival." 

Silence. Deafening, stifling silence consumed the room. 

"I don't…" Elphaba brokenly whispered, her eyes filling with tears as she wrestled with her utter confusion. Her fear, hershame. Oh, no.

Galinda let the tears spill from her eyes. "No monsters," she whispered, "that's what you said." Her bottom lip trembled as she caught Elphie's eyes. "You said there were no monsters in your dream last night." 

Silence, except for Elphaba's heavy breathing, occasional sniffle, and Galinda's desperate attempts to gulp back the sobs she knew she couldn't stop if she let them come. 

"Two weeks, Elphie?" Galinda weakly asked, voice impossibly tiny, wet sounding, and devastated. "They kept you in there… for weeks?" 

"How do you… Galinda, I don't… I don't understand," Elphaba managed to rasp out, her throat feeling torn to shreds between her illness and the emotion choking her at that moment. 

"I saw Dulcibear," the blonde whispered next, "in my dream, and little Nessa with all those beautiful curls and so many… ugly little dresses." She quickly brought her hands up to her face to wipe her tears, abruptly pulling the one in Elphaba's grasp away. Her eyes met Elphaba's fiercely. "I saw Frexspar the Godly," she whispered harshly, mockingly, more cruel than Elphaba ever thought possible for someone as bubbly as Galinda. "I saw him lock you in."

No.

No, no…

"And they would leave you… bread, broth? Just inside the door?"

No. No, please. 

"You," Galinda's eyes shifted erratically away from her as she seemed to recall some other missing piece - not seen, but inferred. Understood. "There were times… you couldn't walk, or stand, so you'd have to… or just…”

A loud sob finally broke free, and Galinda quickly brought a trembling hand up to her mouth to stifle any more. "How many times did he do this, Elphie?" 

Elphaba was frozen and on the edge of a full-blown panic attack. She closed her eyes, roaring in her ears, blocking out almost all other noise… except Galinda. She could still hear Galinda. Galinda, who was quickly tamping down her sobbing to get a handle on herself. Galinda, who moved forward and pulled Elphaba into her arms, cradling her head to her chest so she could hear the blonde's aching, beating heart while it broke into a million pieces… for her. 

"Elphie," Galinda whispered, sniffling as her tears continued to fall. "I don't understand what happened today. Magic, something." She ran her hands along Elphaba's back and took deep, emphatic breaths to encourage the older girl to copy her and begin to calm down. "I know you don't understand either. But I know it came from you. It was yourmagic. It was you." 

Elphaba kept her eyes closed, her face buried in Galinda's chest. Her breathing was still erratic, but her heartbeat began to slow little by little the more she began to accept her new reality. 

"I think... maybe, some part of you wanted to tell me? Like some part of you wanted - needed...someone to know?"

No one was supposed to know. 

"I think," Galinda bit her lip hard. "I think she wanted someone to know what they did to her." The blonde choked up, hitting her limit. "And she knew you'd never tell." 

Elphaba gasped for air like she had broken the surface, her hands feeling numb from the lack of oxygen. 

Yes. 

Her erratic breathing, combined with her illness, sent her into a fit of coughing so intense and overwhelming that Galinda had to hold her tightly to keep her upright. She tried to pull away from Galinda to avoid coughing directly against her, but the blonde held her close to her chest. "Stop, my love, stop. You're fine. Let yourself catch your breath."

My love. 

"Just breathe," Galinda whispered, continuing to run her hands anywhere she could. "I have you." 

I have you. 

~~~
Later
~~~

Nessa stared at Galinda for a clock tick before responding. "Sure, yeah. What's your question? Or two?" She half-heartedly joked to diffuse the tension overwhelming the room. 

Galinda's affected smile stayed fixed in place - no dimple and nowhere near her eyes. "When you warned me about Elphaba's nightmares this morning," Galinda started, stepping closer to Nessa, who remained close to her desk. "Did you have a particular reason for doing so?"

To her credit, Nessa did not waver. She paled slightly, yes, but maintained eye contact. "Yes," she whispered.

The blonde's eyes flashed, smile unchanged. "And the reason?" 

Nessa swallowed thickly. “What happened, Galinda?” She flexed her hands and moved herself forward. 

"Nessa."

The girl closed her eyes momentarily before meeting Galinda's gaze head-on. "It's something I noticed," she moved her hands to her lap, twisting them nervously. "A few years ago." She sighed. "She's only done it to me once or twice... but I guess, I was told, she did it a lot more when she was younger, to our nanny." She looked away. "To our father." 

Galinda inhaled sharply, smile finally faltering. Frexspar. 

Nessa's throat bobbed a couple of times as if she were fighting to swallow, not to be sick. "She seems only to do it when she's sick or hurt. Physically, I mean. Injured." The brunette suddenly clenched her hands into fists. "Our nanny thought…" 

"What?" Galinda practically hissed, startling herself - and Nessa - for a moment. "She thought what?" She said, calmer than she had started, but only just. 

"She thought it was the only way Elphaba could ask for help." Her voice trailed off so meekly and quietly that Galinda could have convinced herself that Nessa hadn't spoken at all. "Since she was always kept away."  

She felt sick. Oh, Oz, Galinda felt sick. 

"Thank you, Nessa. You've been most helpful." Galinda spun on her heel and prepared to leave Nessa's room as quickly as possible to calm her turning stomach when a desperate "Galinda!" rang out behind her. 

Galinda willed her tears not to fall. "Yes?" She refused to turn around. 

"Did… was there something else?"

Oh.

"Yes," Galinda said, her voice growing hoarse. She cleared it delicately. "Is Dulcibear still alive?" 

A soft whimper behind her gave Galinda her answer, and she closed her eyes. She had hoped…

"I see," she said softly. "Thank you, Nessa. Goodnight." The blonde pulled Nessa's room doors open with shaking hands and quickly returned to her and Elphaba's suite.

As expected, Elphaba was still asleep, curled tightly around a large pillow Galinda had slid in place when she left the bed searching for Nessa. She was snoring lightly, which told Galinda she was sleeping deeply. Finally.

Galinda was exhausted and knew she'd fall asleep within moments of laying beside Elphaba. She changed her clothes in a daze, slipped on a nightgown, left her hair in the braid it had been most of the day, and resigned herself to wiping her makeup off with a wet washcloth. She pulled the balcony door shut, pleased she could still hear the faint wind chimes through the glass and walked over to the wardrobe holding her grandmother's travel chest. Pulling the white and gold chest up and out, Galinda removed a large amber-colored candle that smelled of spiced wood. She placed it on a small table near the balcony door and struck a match to light it, whispering "Dulcibear" as the wick caught. She waited until the wax melted enough for the scent to fill the room and closed her eyes.

"It's alright now," Galinda whispered. "I have her. I'll take care of her. I promise."  She waited a minute longer, allowing the words to leave her heart and to be known, before leaning forward and gently blowing the candle out.

As she crawled into bed beside Elphaba, the older girl's eyes opened briefly although it was clear she was still asleep. She reached for Galinda, who gladly took her into her arms and kissed the top of her head. "Close your eyes, Elphie." 

Elphaba mumbled incoherently against her, making Galinda giggle. "Hmm?

"Love you…”

Galinda smiled and, for the first time today, felt the pressing heartache begin to fade. "And I love you."

~~~

Wind chimes. It had taken Galinda three weeks to convince Elphaba that they should hang wind chimes on the balcony. She went into great detail about how they were crafted, how they were tuned, how they were not "noisy" or "excessively loud" or a "nuisance" to those around them - a nuisance, honestly! - but with zero luck. Elphaba did not care for them, so they did not get them. Galinda could be respectful of other's wishes…at times. And this was one of those times. It was!

Then, she found herself sailing away from Shiz for the day with Fiyero, Boq, and Elphie, heading to a nearby town in north Gillikin with a large Munchkin population, so Boq and Elphaba could do…something… Munchkin related. Galinda and Fiyero convened near the bow, desperately trying to figure out what they didn't pay attention to, worrying if they were supposed to know what was happening that day. Is this a shopping trip for…Munchkin…wares…? Or was it an event? Culturally significant? Will Elphie and Boq be deeply offended by their lack of awareness-

"They don't know we can hear them, do they?" Boq asked, amused as he watched and listened to Galinda spiral, dragging the typically arrogant, confident prince down with her.

"We can't be this ignorant, FIYERO!"

"Big word there, darling."

"Oh Oz, oh Oz!"

Elphaba snorted. "No, I don't think they do." She watched Galinda work herself up into such a tizzy that she threw the back of her hand against her forehead, collapsing against Fiyero. Boq choked upon seeing the dramatic display and nudged Elphaba. 

"So sorry for your loss," he said woefully, gesturing toward Galinda's slumped-over frame. Elphaba nodded solemnly. 

"We had so little time together," she lamented. Then, paused, looking at Boq to gauge his reaction. He was already staring at her, a crooked smile slowly appearing. 

“So… are you? Together?" 

Elphaba raised a brow. "Are you?" She jutted her chin toward the Winkie prince, who was doing his absolute best to convince Galinda her life was worth living, at least until they were off the boat. 

Boq shrugged. Elphaba returned it in kind - then they both burst into laughter. 

Galinda leaned back fully in Fiyero's arms, looking at the two of them upside down. "Do you see, Fiyero? They know," she wailed. 

Thankfully, they were saved from the blonde's dramatics by the small town coming into view around the bend, and Boq stepped up to steer them into port and ease both their sweethearts' minds. 

"No, you didn't forget anything, so you can both calm down. There's no need to fret - promise," he said, giving Galinda what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "This weekend marks the start of the Harvest, which is traditionally celebrated for two weeks in Munchkinland. Elphaba and I wanted to pick up a few things that are usually only available at Harvest and see how it's celebrated outside of the territory proper." 

Galinda nodded, clapping excitedly. "Fun!"

Boq turned back to speak to Elphaba as Fiyero hopped off to tie their boat to the dock. "Do you usually attend The Prayer at Harvest with the burning of the whole…" He waved his right hand repeatedly, seemingly trying to convey something catching fire and burning up toward the sky.

Fiyero and Galinda made eye contact. "Prayer?" He mouthed silently at her. Galinda shrugged. 

Elphaba let out a rare, genuine belly laugh that caught everyone off guard but had Galinda's heart doing little backflips. 

"Boq, are you asking me - Elphaba THROPP…" Boq groaned, recognizing his error. "Daughter of Frexspar THE GO-

Boq waved his hands. "I know, I know, I know."

"GREAT-Granddaughter of-"

"Yes, yes, my mistake, Your Excellency."

Elphaba rolled her eyes at the rarely used honorific and snorted. "Yes, I do attend The Prayer," she said as she stood, carefully balancing as she exited the boat, missing the baffled looks Fiyero and Galinda exchanged on the dock. "But I will not while we’re here," she said, accepting Boq's hand for help stepping from the boat. "I don't care about attending when I am obligated to by order of Colwen Grounds. I absolutely will not now."

Boq nodded. "Right, right." He shrugged. "My family doesn't attend, ever. Most Munchkins I know don't…" he trailed off, assessing Elphaba's expression, continuing when he saw no immediate reaction from her. "It's just…"

"…outdated, backward, offensive, and will likely ruin our people?" Elphaba finished agreeably. "Yes, I know, and I agree." She reached a hand out to take Galinda's before making one final comment to Boq. "But what His Eminence wills…" 

"…will be," Boq finished grimly. "Let's change the subject and never come back to it again."

"Gladly." Elphaba looked to Galinda while Boq clumsily made his way over to Fiyero. "What would you like to do first, my sweet? Eat or shop?"

Galinda wanted to comment after listening to Elphaba and Boq's odd exchange and learn more about this Prayer and her Elphie’s involvement with it but decided against it as it seemed the conversation had come to a clear end. She was starting to get hungry and was preparing to ask if they should seek out any traditional Harvest delicacies when she heard a beautiful collection of wind chimes blowing in the distance, the sound coming from straight down the visible market line just off the dock. 

She squealed. "We must shop." 

~~~