It Was Just Casual

It was never casual. Never simple. Glinda had just been an arrogant brat, an arrogant Alpha, who thought she could keep it casual. Use her friend as a willing body. She was an idiot. She had been halfway in love with Elphaba even before that night her suppressants failed. That night that had started the best thing that had ever happened to her. Her relationship with Elphaba. Because that’s what it was. A relationship. One they never spoke of or pretended that it wasn’t. But it was. She was crazy in love. But she never could be sure that Elphaba was. There were moments she suspected of course, but the Omega kept much of her hidden. Too afraid to be that vulnerable. With hindsight Glinda could not blame her.

It had been three years since her death. Three years since that girl Dorothy had taken away the one bright light Glinda had in her life. The Wicked Witch of the West they called her. What a joke. Elphaba had played her part well while Glinda played hers. Somewhere down the line, Elphaba had grown bitter. Or maybe she had.

She had much to regret. There was not a single day that passed without her wondering what she could’ve done differently. It was easy to see her mistakes in hindsight. So easy in fact that she could not believe that she had ever been that stupid. She had somehow managed to make every wrong decision she could with Elphaba. She had given the slippers to Dorothy as a way of protecting the girl. Elphaba wanted them, so Glinda had hoped that she would not harm the girl who was wearing them. Another mistake. Paired with the idiotic decision of taunting the witch as she did so. Playing up the part of the good witch to the young girl. She was an idiot!

Elphaba had tracked her down after that encounter. Cornering her and angrily demanding to know just what Glinda was getting at. What she was thinking. For all her anger, Glinda could only focus on how good Elphaba smelled. Even with the ragged clothes she was wearing, and that stupid hat. Even with the slight edge to her eyes, it was still her Elphie. Her Elphie who always made her heart race. “Don’t do that to me.” Elphaba had said suddenly.

“Do what, Elphie?” Glinda said as she stepped into the witch’s space. Sending out calming pheromones to soothe the rage she saw in brown eyes. She only wanted to soothe. Only stopping her advance when her forehead touched the brim of Elphaba’s hat. She was now so close that she felt Elphaba’s ragged breathing. The way her eyes had softened, the way her body had leaned into her. Only for a moment before being overtaken by that same angry look.

“THAT!” She shrieked. “Don’t do that!” The sound of her screech alerted every nearby guard. Elphaba’s eyes then started darting around in a panic and Glinda urged her to go. Told her to get away from there before they arrived. Get to safety wherever that was. Elphaba had stared at her then. Angry eyes turned heartbreakingly sad in an instant before she hid her face under her hat, jumped on her broom and flew off.

The guards had fawned over Glinda when they arrived. Asking if she was alright and looking around for any perceived danger. “Oh don’t worry, boys. I’m quite alright.” She had kept them distracted long enough to make sure Elphaba had gotten away.

They both played their roles well. Too well. And they both suffered for it. Elphaba was gone and Glinda was filled with a pain that would never ease. But she could not let it show. To the outside world, she was happy. Glinda the Good who did her best to spread joy, protect and improve the lives of anyone calling Oz home. Glinda the Good who was carrying on the crusade Elphaba had started. Only hidden behind a pretty smile instead of a witch’s cackle. Glinda the Good who had everything that anyone could ever wish for.

Everything. Except for the one thing she needs. The one thing she so desperately wants. Love. The one thing she could never truly have. She had her chance and she destroyed it. Her punishment was that she had to exist being consumed by love. Love that she always felt but never got to express. Love that made it hard to breathe some days.

She had grown to hate it. Hate how she had to pretend to be fine. That she was happy. Hate the mask she wore in front of her subjects. Hate that she was married to someone who wasn’t her mate. Elphaba wasn’t her mate either, but she was the only one Glinda wanted. The only one she thought of as such. Some nights at Shiz it had taken all her restraint not to give in and take the green woman. Mark her and make her Glinda’s.

But she had wanted Elphaba to want it. She was not that kind of Alpha. Never wanted to be. That part was still true. So, they never crossed that line. They shared everything, except the one thing Glinda desperately wanted and needed. There had been moments during the years where their paths had crossed, and her more basic instincts had delighted in the fact that Elphaba had no bite. That she remained unmated. She had not be able to dwell on it, had not been able to ask about it, it was never the right time. But she had noticed.

Those encounters had ended in a myriad of ways. Some with them arguing and screaming at each other. And others with them driving each other crazy in a more physical way. Despite the strain of their relationship, of the fact that they should be on opposite sides, all it took was a look from Elphaba and Glinda's undergarments got significantly tighter. If she had cared more about it, she would have been embarrassed that the "Wicked Witch" still had such an effect on her. But given how those encounters usually ended, she couldn't care less. 

She was sure the people of Oz would faint if they knew the amount of times that Glinda the Good had the Wicked Witch bent over her desk, wantonly moaning at each thrust. Saying vile things to provoke Glinda into going deeper and harder. If only they knew that the Wicked Witch had been known to sneak into the castle to ride Glinda silly, sneaking back out before anyone realized what those wails were. If they only knew how Glinda could make the Wicked Witch come undone with just a few carefully selected words. Or her tongue when she felt bold enough. If only they knew that no one sucked or licked quite like the Wicked Witch. Or moaned like her. That no one even came close to the magic that she was in every way.

If they only knew that this affair had lasted for almost two decades. Or that it probably would have lasted decades more if fate hadn’t been so cruel. It had been just physical. A return to how their first time had been all those years ago. But she gladly took whatever Elphaba was willing to give. Which seemed to be her body and nothing else. She was more closed off than she had been during their time at Shiz. Almost unresponsive beyond her obvious pleasure. She let Glinda see how much she enjoyed what they were doing, but kept her walls up regarding everything else.

Glinda couldn’t blame her. It was not like she had been an open book either. For all Elphaba knew, she was just a willing body. Someone to fuck when the mood struck. And why wouldn’t she? That was all Glinda seemed to offer. Ever since the beginning. So, Elphaba treated her as such as well.

Glinda hated herself for making Elphaba think that. Even if she often wondered why Elphaba always seemed to take the offer. Even when they were enemies. When she was hunted. She always came back. She was sure that Fiyero would be happy to be the one Elphaba spent her nights with. Perhaps he was. But she always came back to Glinda. She could never figure it out. She was too caught up in her inability to confess. Angry at herself for never telling her the truth. That Elphaba was everything. That the world could burn for all Glinda cared as long as she had her Elphie by her side. She was angry with herself for never being brave enough to say three words. The only three words that mattered. The words getting caught on her tongue each time.

In her weakest moments, she was angry with Elphaba too. Angry at how badly everything spiraled out of control. At how stubborn the witch could be. How she could never seem to make up her mind about Glinda. Pulling away one moment and seeking out her company, her body, the next. But it only lasted moments before Glinda began wistfully thinking of her again. She found herself longing for sleep. In her dreams, she could say all the right things, do all the right things she wished she had all those years ago. Leaving with Elphaba. Telling her of her feelings. Making love until neither of them could move. Finding a new life somewhere else. She dreamt of a cottage. Of gardening. Of nights spent making love. She wished to stay in her dreams.

But she never did. So now she has to smile and pretend that she is happy. That she adores the people who shunned Elphaba. Who celebrated her death. She had to grin and pretend that she hadn’t been happier in fleeting moments with Elphaba than years spent with them. She had to grin and pretend that the work she was doing was something new, even though the truth was that she was only continuing the same work that labeled Elphaba as wicked.

She had to grin and pretend.

For Glinda the Good had everything that she had ever thought she wanted.

And she was miserable.

***

Another day. Another responsibility. She had to travel to Gillikin Country. There was some unrest there, and the presence of Glinda the Good had been requested. It was deemed necessary that Glinda, a native from this land, would be the best option to diffuse the situation. Glinda was all too happy to get away, opting to travel by carriage to make the trip longer. With the bonus of keeping her busy and give her space from the City she hated so much on her darkest days.

Going back to her homeland felt wonderful. She had missed her home. The people. The sights. The purple .

Once arriving in the village that had asked for aid, she had been more than a little disappointed to learn that the problem that so required her attention was something that, frankly, they could’ve dealt with themselves in a matter of hours. Glinda had been nothing but a figurehead for the Mayor to prove a point. She had stewed in anger in her room for the remainder of the day when she realized that. She had wasted a trip and would soon be forced to plan for her journey home sooner than she liked.

That is until she heard the stories of an enchanted forest close to the border of Munchkin Country. Two or three days' trip by carriage from where she was now. According to the villagers, the forest was enchanted with animals and other dangers lurking within. No one ever came back once they ventured inside. Many Gillikinese had been lost in that forest, and it had been made law that the forest was strictly forbidden.

Glinda had tried to dismiss the claims at first. Stating that they had plenty of forests with dangerous animals. The Giant Purple Spiders had given her nightmares as a child. But the people were insistent. Stating that the dangers in this forest were unlike any other. “It’s as if the trees themselves are alive, Miss Glinda.” The town Mayor had told her.

“Do any of these ‘dangers’ leave the forest?”

The Mayor had looked confused at her question. “No, Miss Glinda. They seem to stay within the forest itself.”

She smiled then. “Well then, the solution is simple. Stay out of that forest. We don’t bother it, it doesn’t bother us.” The Mayor easily agreed. He then asked Glinda to remain within the village for a few days as their honored guest. She had agreed, she was in no hurry back. If there was some way she could delay her return she would take it. There was nothing for her in the Emerald City anyway. Nothing but fake smiles and haunted memories.

That night, she had been restless. Sleep eluded her. Moving to the window, she found herself staring at the sky. It was a beautiful night. Looking at the moon, she almost deluded herself into thinking she saw a familiar silhouette fly by. Glinda never slept well. The only times she got something close to a good night’s rest was after Elphaba’s visits, when her body still tingled. Probably the only thing that kept her sane all these years.

Her thoughts then turned to the supposedly enchanted forest. The Mayor had been all too happy to drop the subject, but some of the other villagers had asked her to investigate. To heal the forest if possible. Surely Glinda the Good would be able to root out the evil. She had helped fight the Wicked Witch after all. It was all so stupid. Words they thought were praise only being insults. Glinda had gritted her teeth and agreed. She hated that she was seen as some kind of hero for Elphaba’s demise. They should be cursing Glinda, not praising her. The world had lost something great and they never even knew it.

She couldn’t deny that the forest was intriguing. Ever since hearing about it, she felt a pull towards it. There was something there. Something she had to know. But she could not figure out what. But she had to know.

***

She had spent a few days in the village as promised. Keeping up her facade of Glinda the Good. When it was time for her to leave, she revealed that she planned on investigating the forest. For the entirety of her remaining visit, the Mayor would try to convince her that it was a horrible idea. That the forest was too dangerous. That she could be lost forever.

It all fell on deaf ears. Glinda was going to investigate the forest and that was final. The people had asked her too, and who could she deny them? She told them that if she didn’t come back, then it was meant to be so. She was meant to be a symbol of the dangers of that forest then. No one was allowed to search for her. “No more lives lost to that forest. If I don’t return then the forest is forbidden. Off limits.” He had reluctantly agreed. Glinda knew he would. Few would deny Glinda the Good anything. Even becoming a martyr to an enchanted forest.

The idea of becoming another victim of the forest did not scare Glinda. Quite the opposite. If the forest truly was as dangerous as they said and she lost her life, then that’s it. Her penance would be done. She had opted to leave for the forest as soon as possible. Her drivers looked a little too worried about venturing so close to it, but she reassured them that they didn’t have to come with her. “I’m just going to investigate the forest. See if there is anything I can do to make it less… dangerous.”

The ride there had been conducted in silence. The closer they got, the stronger the pull became. There was something in that forest that gnawed at Glinda. She knew that they had arrived before the carriage even stopped. The pull was unbearable. Stepping out of the carriage, she took a look at it. “Is that it?”

“Yes, Miss Glinda.” The driver sounded nervous as he answered her. The forest almost seemed to be glowing. Beckoning her to discover its secrets.

“You can return to the Emerald City. No point in you waiting here for me.”

“But… Miss Glinda...”

“Now, now, no arguments.” She said with her usual false cheery tone. “You go on now. I will return on my own once this is done. If I don’t then I’ve entered my next phase.” They hesitated for a moment longer, trying to plead with Glinda to return with them to the City. Glinda shooed them away.

The horses appeared nervous as well. A fact illustrated when the drivers finally relented and climbed up the carriage to leave. The horses could not get away fast enough.

Now finally alone, Glinda turned back to the forest. Now closer to it, the pull of it was so strong that she felt her legs moving towards it on their own. As she approached she thought she saw the forest opening up. The trees seemed to be observing her every move. Once walking in the forest surrounded by those trees, she felt them oppressively around her. Hungry for the slightest mistake.

It was eerily quiet. But the worst part was the sadness. The forest felt... sad as it pulled at her. Trying to get her to keep moving. Leading her in a specific direction. She quickly found a path and opted to follow it. Better than to stumble around in the woods anyway. With her luck, Glinda would trip over every single thing on the forest floor. Opting to trust the feeling, she moved deeper into the forest. She had no idea what it wanted her to see, but she was curious to find out.

She wasn’t sure where the path would lead her, but she could not stop walking. The pull was only getting stronger. She could not stop even if she had wanted to. Deeper and deeper into the dense forest until she came upon a clearing with a small cottage. There was smoke coming from the chimney and Glinda wondered just who would live here. The pull was almost painful now. This was where she had been meant to go. Investigating this picturesque scene.

As she was only a few feet from the door, it suddenly swung open to reveal a flash of green skin that almost made her faint. She gasped. “Elphaba?” The person standing by the door was tense as she faced the intruder. Faced Glinda. Shock, disbelief, anger, apprehension. All emotions flashed over Elphaba’s face before she was able to school her features into a passive mask.

“Glinda.” The word was monotone. Guarded. Elphaba’s face barely moving as she said it.

She stumbled in her hurry to reach the green woman. “Is that…? Are you…? How…?” Her heart shattered at Elphaba flinching away.

“Isn’t it obvious? I would never be able to live in peace. So I opted to die in peace.” Elphaba then looked behind her, causing Glinda to turn and do the same. She saw nothing. Turning back to the witch, she took her in. It was Elphaba alright, as unbelievable as it was. No longer dressed in a black dress, she had opted for a simple tunic and trousers. It looked good on her. “Why are you here Glinda?”

She opened her mouth a few times to answer, but found none coming. “I… I don’t know…” She realised. Ignoring the piercing gaze coming from the other woman, Glinda wrapped her arms around herself. “I felt like I had to investigate this forest. Something was… I don’t know…” Her breathing was unsteady now. “I just didn’t want to go back.”

“Go back? To the Emerald City?”

Glinda nodded, no longer seeing anything, her heart pounding in her ears. “I wanted to escape. Just for a bit. This forest was the perfect excuse.” Tear-filled eyes then snapped to Elphaba. “I did not know you were here. I swear. I just... needed to get away.” She laughed then. Sounding crazy even to her own ears. “Maybe I’ve finally gone insane. Seeing you here… You are here… Aren’t you? You really...” Glinda broke down then. “…And you didn’t…” Collapsing on her knees as her body wracked with sobs. Three years of grief hitting her all at once.

Elphie faking her death to hide from the rest of Oz was one thing. She had been hated. Hunted. There was no one in Oz that wouldn’t attack the horrible Wicked Witch with the green skin. But Glinda? She couldn’t tell her? “You couldn’t tell me you were alive?” Her life would still have been painful, but knowing that Elphaba was safe would make the pain easier to deal with. “Do you hate me that much?” That was somehow even more painful than just the grief. Losing Elphaba the way she did had felt like a piece of her had been ripped out. But this… this was worse. She had been alive the entire time, but made Glinda think she was dead? She had been heartbroken, grieving over someone who didn’t even deem her worthy of telling her the truth. A piece of her hadn’t just been ripped out, it had been stomped on for good measure.

Looking up at Elphaba, she once again saw many emotions warring on her face. Pain being the most dominant this time. But she settled on anger. “Shouldn’t I? You hate me after all.”

The word was said with finality. As if she really believed that. It was a slap in the face. “NO, I DON’T!” Glinda shrieked, making Elphaba flinch. “How could you think… I’ve never…” Mind and heart were both racing. Glinda soon found herself trying to steady her breathing. Trying not to break down in tears once again. Her ears were ringing, and she felt like throwing up. Her head was suddenly killing her, the forest suddenly far too bright.

She thought she could hear Elphaba saying something, but the words were muffled. As if underwater, and she could not make out what was being said. The ringing was so loud that it was painful. She felt hands grasp her shoulders, shaking her gently, making her look at Elphaba with bleary eyes. The witch now looked worried. “Glinda? Glinda, you need to breathe.” She kept repeating that mantra until it was all she could focus on.

The ringing would subside, but the sound of Elphie’s voice made her heart clench. Her breathing steadied. Glinda quickly grasped the hands on her shoulders as soon as she felt them let go. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

Her thumbs now lightly caressing the hands on her shoulders. “Let go. Feels better when you’re nearby. Always does.” She thought she heard a sharp intake of breath, but she could not trust anything. “Always want you near.” She was only half aware of what she was saying. Her heart was still beating a bit too fast. Her head was pounding. But Elphaba’s presence was soothing. She focused on the warm hands on her shoulder and tried to return to some semblance of calm.

Closing her eyes, she couldn’t see Elphie’s face. But she heard the anguish in her voice. “You… You can’t just say things like that to me.”

If she had been in a better state, Glinda would have questioned that statement. But now it was all she could do to not faint. She had no idea how long she spent as a crumbled mess on the ground. She couldn’t focus on anything but the pain she felt. And she began crying again. Right there on the forest floor with Elphaba sitting close. Glinda’s hands holding her in place. She tried to get herself under control several times. Once her cries had reduced to hiccups, she looked up at the apparition. Still not trusting it. “You are real, aren’t you?”

Elphaba looked torn then. She closed her eyes and took several breaths before opening them again. They looked a bit too shiny. “I… Yes, my sweet, I am real.” The words accompanied with a little squeeze on her shoulders then helped ground Glinda.

“Am I real?” Glinda then found herself asking and was rewarded with the best sound she had heard in three years.

Elphaba laughed. “Oh, I’m quite certain you are.”

Falling into silence once again, Glinda tried to get her emotions in check. She had carried her grief bottled up for years. But now she just felt drained. The tears came unbidden once again. "I am so tired, Elphie." She rubbed at her eyes, hating how shaky her voice was. Looking up at Elphaba through blurry eyes. Ignoring the twitch she felt in green fingers at the nickname. "I am so tired of being Glinda the Good. I am so tired of pretending to be happy. Pretending that I am something I'm not. That you're something you're not." She could see Elphaba's throat bob as she swallowed uncomfortably at that. “I am so tired of pretending that everything is fine. That I don’t feel the way I feel… That I don’t hate myself.”

She rubbed at her eyes again, trying to pull herself together. She was not some blubbering teenager anymore! Closing her eyes, she began counting her breaths like Elphaba had told her to before. Completely missing the stricken look on Elphaba’s face. “You… you don’t mean that.” The words were then accompanied with calming pheromones.

Even now, all these years later, Elphaba was still trying to take care of her. Not knowing what else to do, Glinda found herself laughing. The sound more akin to a crazed witches cackle than anything else. “Don’t I? I am a failure! And I’ve had nothing but regrets for years! It’s pathetic! I’m pathetic!” Her crazed laugh ended in another sob. “I couldn’t even grieve you!” She was practically hysterical now. “Don’t you get that? I had to pretend that everything was fine when all I wanted to do was wake up from this nightmare. I had to listen to them rejoice your death and pretend I didn’t care. That I didn’t love you.”

She felt the hands grasping her shoulder stiffen. "You... What?" Elphaba’s shock quickly turned to anger. “You lie! How dare you?” The calming pheromones were replaced by rage as Elphaba tore her hands away. It was enough to shock Glinda out of her hysteria.

Confused at the reaction, it took her more minutes than she would like to admit to realize what she had done. What she had said. The words slipping out without her meaning too. Finally breaking free in her hysteric ramble. She couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry. “Sitting on the dirty ground crying like a schoolgirl. Of course that’s how I finally tell you.” Tear-filled blue eyes met anguished brown ones. “It’s the truth, Elphie. I love you. So much.” It was like she could finally breathe. Her chest felt so light that it was almost overwhelming. She was suddenly glad to be sitting, her earlier fear of fainting might actually be realized otherwise. “I always have.” She made sure to keep herself open so that Elphaba could sense the truth in her words. Smell it on her.

But Elphie was the most stubborn person in Oz. “No! You used me. Hated me. You hate me!” Her voice grows louder with each word. “You must have! Why else…?” The words break off into a sob. Now Elphaba was the one crying. She looked… heartbroken?

Taking a risk, Glinda moved closer and gently placed her hands on Elphaba’s face. Looking into her eyes. “I never hated you. I never could. Even if I wanted to. Which I never did.” Her fingers were now gently caressing Elphaba’s face. The witch closing her eyes. “As for the other thing – we used each other. At least after the mess with the Wizard. You were the one who sought me out in the City, remember? Most of our trysts were not instigated by me.”

Elphaba scoffed but her eyes remained closed. “You could have said no.”

“Yes, I could have, but I didn’t want to. Anything with you was better than nothing. Because I loved you. Love you.” She met Elphaba’s eyes as they opened to look at her. Her expression was pained. Glinda wondered if it was the same pain she had been feeling. “If you thought I hated you, why did you keep seeking me out?”

“You really have to ask?” The words came out croaked as if the witch had a lump in her throat. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Her eyes were a little more open now. Glinda thought she could see her own feelings reflected back. A foolish hope perhaps. Taking another chance she gently traced the side of Elphaba’s face, moving dangerously closer to her lips. Hope surging when she didn’t pull away. Instead she leaned into the touch, eyes fluttering closed once again. Immediately opening at Glinda’s next words.

“I was a coward. That’s all there was to it. You had been right all those years ago. I was… I am a coward.” Fingers now gently traced green lips who parted at the sensation. “But I don’t want to be. Not anymore. Not ever.” With those words she leaned in and replaced her fingers with her lips. It was the first kiss they had shared since before Elphaba went to see the Wizard. In the years that followed, she had refused to kiss Glinda. Only seeking to make the relationship physical. Glinda had acquiesced, but she hated it. She longed to kiss her. And now that it seemed like she could, she would take full advantage. She felt the sharp intake of breath, and expected Elphaba to pull away. To resist. She did none of those things. Instead she grabbed Glinda’s face, kissing back almost desperately. Clawing at Glinda to pull her closer. Holding her so tightly, as if Glinda could disappear at any moment. She knew the feeling, she felt the same as she grasped at Elphaba. This was almost like a dream. The best one yet. Please don’t let her wake up.

They kept up their feverish kissing until the need for air finally forced them apart. Elphaba was panting as she caressed her face. "My sweet…" Gasping as Glinda playfully bit at her fingers.

"My Elphie." She punctuated the words with another kiss. "I can't believe I found you. That you're really here.” She suddenly had a panicked thought. “Please tell me I'm not dreaming." Oh how she loved that chuckle.

"If this is a dream then I think we're both having it. If so, I'd rather not wake up." She gasped again as Glinda began trailing kisses down her neck. "Glinda, I..." Her words broke off into a moan as teeth nipped at her pulse point followed by a long lick of a tongue. Taking a deep breath, Elphaba pushed gently until they were looking at each other. "How did you find me?"

"I… don’t know? Accidentally I suppose.” At Elphaba’s incredulous look, she continued. “I wasn't looking, believe it or not. You were dead , Elphie. Dead. I grieved for you while having to pretend that I wasn’t. It was torture." She broke off, trying to collect herself, push the pain away. Gentle hands tucking her hair behind her ear pulling her back to the conversation. "I had received news that there was unrest in Gillikin Country, and had gone there to help. To get away from the city for a while. Think about everything. All my regrets." She laughed bitterly. "It was there that I heard about this forest. Bad things happen here. Rumors of a curse. Of dangerous animals and hungry trees. That people get lost in there."

"They are not just rumors. It's all true. Because I want it that way. The animals and I have a pact to help each other. The trees themselves are enchanted and dangerous.” Elphaba closes her eyes for a moment. "But that doesn’t explain how you found me here. The forest should have hidden me."

"I... I just followed the path? It led me straight here."

"Path? What path?"

Turning to point at the path she had walked to the cottage, Glinda found herself stunned into silence. Behind her there was nothing but thick forest and dense fog. There was no path. There was nothing. "But... I walked a path. It led me here. I'm sure of it!"

"There is no path. There couldn’t be. The forest constantly shifts." Elphaba slowly caressed Glinda's arms. “Anyone who ventures in never finds their way out. Never finds me. Because I wanted it that way. I get to live in peace and the forest itself takes care of whoever was foolish enough to try to explore it."

"It's not that I don't believe you, Elphie. But I walked a straight path here from the clearing." Glinda then let go of Elphaba to look at the forest some more. “It was just there.” She then looked around. The cottage still remained within a small clearing. But there was no end to the trees surrounding them. No way to simply walk here. “It was so easy to walk here. Like the forest was leading me.” The only path she could see was one around the cottage. Worn down by its lone occupant as she moved around her home. “I actually wondered what people were talking about. The forest was so easy to navigate. But…” She turned back to where the path should be. “I don’t know how…”

"Hmmm…" Elphaba’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Of course it wouldn’t affect you…" The words were almost said with wonder. As if Elphaba couldn’t believe it herself.

"Why?” Glinda said as she looked at the witch. “Do you know?”

Elphaba smiled at her then. “Guess.”

“Uh…” Glinda took a moment. She was sitting next to the most powerful witch in all the land. Powerful to enchant an entire forest to bend under her will. But it had invited Glinda in. Let her take up space within the forest with no issue. Could it be? “Because you want me here?" She tried to hide the hope in her voice. Tried to not seem too eager. She wanted Elphaba to say yes. She needed Elphaba to say yes.

As if casting another spell, the confident Wicked Witch suddenly transformed into that shy girl Glinda had first fallen in love with. She tilted her head down and looked up from beneath her lashes. A shy expression formed on her face. Stealing Glinda's heart all over again. ".... Yes… Because I want you here." She met her eyes then. Shiny with so much feeling. “Will you stay with me? For good?”

She seemed to hold her breath. But no question has ever been easier to answer. Smiling, Glinda kissed her. Softy. Deeply. With all the love she felt. No more wasted opportunities. "Darling, there is nowhere else I’d rather be.” Another kiss. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me now.”

Another one of those chuckles that Glinda loved. “I can live with that.”

“Good.” She leaned in for another kiss. And another. And another. “I love you. I always have. I'm sorry it took me this long, but I’m here with you now and I’ll never leave." The kiss Elphaba gave her made her dizzy.

They spent the rest of the evening talking. Revealing truths that they hadn’t able to see before. Realizing just how foolish they both had been. But now they had all the time in the world. Nothing would keep Glinda away from here. As they cuddled in bed later that night, she sent a thank you to whoever saw fit to give her this gift. She wasn’t sure what she had done to earn it. But she would spend the rest of her life earning it.

This was where she was supposed to be. With who she was supposed to be.

***

The death of Glinda the Good had shaken the lives of every person living in Oz. There was not a single citizen that did not grieve for her. For the good witch who had tried to heal a dangerous forest. For the living symbol of their hope. After news of her death spread, the law regarding the forest was changed. It was still forbidden to enter the forest. Not just because it was dangerous, but to respect the last wishes of Glinda the Good. The forest was to be her grave. Her final resting place.

It didn’t take long for rumors to begin spreading about how Glinda’s life had been the sacrifice needed to heal the forest. It did not seem as oppressive anymore. As angry. But the rumors of its dangers persisted. The animals, the trees and there was even talk of a spirit, perhaps Glinda herself, haunting the forest. People could swear they heard high-pitched wails and moans coming from deep within the forest at odd hours. But no one dared break the law or disturb Glinda’s resting place to find out what the source of the sounds were.

Glinda the Good was lost. And lost she would remain if she had anything to say about it.

It wasn’t casual. It never was. It was forever.

Finally.