Think Of What We Could Do, Together

While Glinda and Elphaba got ready for a necessary night of sleep, Fiyero of Tigelaar spoke to his parents, the King Cornalious and Queen Franza of Tigelaar. They sat, rather ceremonially, upon their thrones at the royal court in their castle in Kiamo Ko. The throne room itself was impressive, a large room capable of holding long audiences that would queue to see their leaders. Large windows decorated in stained glass lined the hallway, the sun casting coloured shadows on the castle ground. Fiyero always admired the artistry of this palace, but he could not draw his usual comfort. 

‘I don’t understand, how do we not know what happened to them?’ Fiyero asked angrily. He didn’t mean to get angry at his parents, he knew they were trying to get an audience with The Wizard, but the Emerald City was blocking all private communications to him. Even the royals were barred from talking to him, an access Franza had never been denied and vexed her in turn. 

‘This angers me as much as it angers you, Fiyero. But we will find out, I am sending scouts who can find out what is happening, more inconspicuously than a formal emissary. It may take some time, but we will find out what is happening.’

Fiyero gritted his teeth in frustration. He did not want to waste any more time than he already had. Glinda needed him. Elphaba needed him.  

‘Please, send me as one of these scouts.’ he pleaded to his parents. He almost put his hands out in supplication, but the small, rational part of his brain held himself back. He already raised some eyebrows with his mad dash back into his kingdom. His apprehensiveness to be expressive, however, was not based on shame, no never. He did not feel ashamed of his feelings for Elphaba, but rather, he did not want to draw more attention than necessary to her. He could only imagine how the Tigelaar court would open their jaws at the sight of her, snapping before they could understand how wonderful she was. He had to protect her, and he would. 

‘Please, mother. I won’t draw attention to myself, I can go there under a different means, and perhaps find information “on the down low”. He raised his fingers in quotation marks with a sly smirk, trying to employ his effortless charm and diffuse the tension, but his father saw right through him. 

‘Why do you want to help this girl so badly anyway? I understand the Uplands could be a strategic ally, but not at the risk of your own life.’ It was the first words his father had spoken since their meeting had started, and his words did not surprise Fiyero. He had written to his parents of his and Glinda’s partnership, but figured that updating them on his confused feelings for Elphaba were unnecessary. He scarcely understood them himself. 

Still, he was grateful for the cover their obtuseness provided. 

‘I love her, I promised her that I would be there for her. I cannot break my promise now.’ Every word was true. 

His parents sighed, Franza even covering her face at her son’s dramatics.

‘Perhaps I could escort him, sire.’ The interruption, phrased as more of a statement than a question, came from a guard standing at the palace doors. With a sigh, Fiyero realized the guard was Alden. 

Alden, who would be imposing even without his silver plated armour and purple cloak. A longsword was strapped at his hip that he thumbed at absentmindedly, and his curling black hair almost covered his brown eyes. Even at this distance, Fiyero could still see the scar that puckered pink at his lower lip, still taking its time to heal from the last time he spent time with his former friend.  

‘Alden, while I am always grateful for your services, especially when it is in service of protecting my son, now is an inopportune time to be going to the city. I cannot risk either of you getting hurt.’ 

Heat flared in Fiyero’s chest, ‘I am perfectly capable of taking care of mys-’

‘You want to go, don’t you? This might be how you can.’ Alden leveled a quizzical gaze at Fiyero, his lips upturned in the slightest smirk.

Infuriating , Fiyero thought. 

There was an amused smile on his mother’s lips before she spoke, ‘Maybe Alden can accompany you to the capital, if you’re so set on going to the Emerald City.’

He sighed, but looked back at Alden, unable to keep the look of expectation off of his face. Alden smiled back at him, nodding his head in understanding. 

Alden, however, did not understand why Fiyero was hell bent on finding Glinda. Of course, Fiyero has always had an entourage of women swooning after him, and it was not uncommon for Fiyero to develop an affection for them in turn. But he had never seen him so devoted . He had changed since coming back from Shiz. Seeing him so focused churned a feeling of discomfort Alden could not name, but his personal feelings did not matter. He was a royal guard, sworn in blood and oath to protect the royal family. To protect his prince. And so, nodding his head, he strode forward to stand beside Fiyero and knelt to the king and queen. 

‘On my life, I would be honoured to protect his royal highness as we journey to the Emerald City.’ Even from his kneeled position, Alden could see Fiyero roll his eyes. It seemed that his parents agreed with their son. 

‘Oh Alden, we can dispense with the dramatic formalities. You and Fiyero have been friends since you were boys, of course we trust you.’ Franza said to him, another smile gracing her lips. 

‘Ah lovely, a bodyguard.’ Fiyero replied dryly to his mother. 

‘I still do not understand why you want to go to that infernal city.’  His father’s sharpness surprised Fiyero, and seemingly, even Franza as they both looked at the patriarch of their family. 

After a moment of silence, Franza ignored Cornalious’ outburst, tentatively replying to Fiyero’s unspoken question, ‘If you are so determined to go, this is the condition in which we will allow you, as an emissary of our kingdom.’

Fiyero felt a lump in his throat before swallowing and meekly nodding in acquiescence at his mother. They were both usually so relaxed, indulging his whims and fancies and his generally relaxed attitude. Their serious tone struck Fiyero, and he felt, for once, the need to listen to their request. 

‘Okay, I will start packing my things to prepare for the trip. Alden, we will leave at dawn tomorrow morning.’ Fiyero’s words left little room for further debate, as he turned on his heel and strode out of the court.  

Alden stared after him, before turning back to the king and queen, nodding his promise to them again before following after Fiyero.

—---

Glinda woke to the sun streaming through the window. The sun was the first thing she noticed. The second thing she noticed was Elphie’s green arm draped over her shoulder, and her friend almost ensconcing Glinda in her arms. Glinda froze, utterly shocked that they had slept through the night like this. Truth be told, it was the soundest sleep Glinda had in a while. 

The night before, after Glinda returned from the shower, she and her friend exchanged brief words with one another, two people accustomed to sharing one room together, but not one bed. Elphaba offered to sleep on the floor, but Glinda could not bring herself to push her friend to the stone floor, no matter how cramped the bed would be. They fell asleep side by side, their arms barely touching. Clearly, they migrated even closer into one another’s company.

Glinda felt quite comfortable in Elphaba’s arms, and she stared at her friend’s face, marvelling at how beautiful she was. She never noticed how cute her freckles were, or how long her eyelashes were, conveniently hidden beneath her glasses. 

Before she could stop herself, Glinda touched her finger against Elphaba’s cheek. Her skin was softer than she thought it would be. When Glinda’s knuckle almost grazed her lip, Elphaba blearily opened her eyes. 

Glinda’s eyes widened in surprise, jerking her hand back as if she burned herself. 

‘Um-uh good morning Elphie.’ Glinda said cheerily, but softly. She tried to keep her voice level, and she tucked her face in to hide the blush that warmed her cheeks. 

‘Mmmmm morning.’ Elphaba replied. She seemed to not notice Glinda’s touch, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She stretched her arms out, jostling their tiny bed. Glinda quickly sat up, throwing back the covers and letting the cool air wake her up fully. 

‘Well best be getting to, um, brushing my hair. You know what it can be like in the morning.’ Glinda said, trying to play it cool.  

Elphaba sat up a little on her elbows, raising a curious brow at Glinda, ‘Brushing your hair -’

‘-Ah you know, it's just so tangled! I am so sorry you had to see me like this!’ Glinda finished, almost at a shout, running towards the bathroom. Elphaba winced at the thought that they were bothering Hilde and Byron, but remembered that this was just Glinda’s normal volume, and they would hopefully acclimate, just like she did. 

While in the bathroom, Glinda splashed water on her face, flinching as the cold water washed the rest of her dreariness away.

Those feelings were strange, unexpected , Glinda thought to herself. She wasn’t sure if they were feelings, or merely a flashing whimsy for … something? What was that ‘something’? She couldn’t even begin to identify it, as the only thing she ever wanted to accomplish was to become a serious sorceress. Truth be told, Madame Morrible’s comments of her lacking any potential stung, but she truly felt that she could still grow into something notable, even if her starting point was somewhat overwhelming. That was what she truly wanted, that and only that. When she met Fiyero, she felt relieved to want something else, to want him. And then he began to act strange before they left for the Emerald City, and she didn’t know what to make of it, but she still cared about him.  

Before the Emerald City , Glinda thought with a sigh, as she looked at herself in the mirror. She scarcely recognized herself, although her much needed night of rest lightened the dark circles wrung beneath her eyes. Her entire life changed in just one afternoon, and a part of her wondered if there was any way that they could go back. If she could go back to school, with Fiyero. She could tell that Elphie felt that they were at a point of no return, but was there any point in going back without her? 

She took a deep breath, inhaling air into her nose and exhaling out of her mouth. With that she felt centered, just enough to steel herself. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair, tamping down the frizz with some water. Hilde’s cosmetics were predictably limited, but she could make do with what she had. 

Just a bit longer, just a little bit longer, until I figure out what to do , she thought to herself.

—-----

At breakfast, plates of toasts, cheeses and fruits lined a long wooden table. The fruit gleaned in the sunlight, and Glinda’s stomach grumbled at the sight of it.

She was coming down the stairs when she heard Hilde’s voice ring out in a passionate squeal as she talked, or moreso lectured to Elphaba, ‘-And that’s why nurturing a library's soul is so important. Even if things are not organized in the most conventional way here, she really prefers the messy placement of books. Byron and I can find things more easily this way because Bates is not hiding books from us.’

‘Whose Bates?’ Glinda asked as she spooned some berries onto her plate, unsure if she actually wanted to know the answer. 

‘Ah Bates is the name of the entity that occupies the library. Quite helpful in maintaining the books and ensuring that the records are updated regularly.’ Hilde said cheerilly, as she handled the sizzling pan of eggs. She said this as a library entity was the most normal thing in the world, but one glance at Elphie told her that perhaps they were a normal occurrence, as her friend nodded in agreement as she dipped her toast in the yellow yolk. There was a small smile on her face, and Glinda suspected that her friend felt at ease listening to Hilde’s lecture. She was always so capable, brilliant in class.

‘How did you sleep last night?’ Elphie asked.

‘Quite well, actually.’ Her voice betrayed nothing, or at least she hoped it didn’t. She looked up at her friend’s face but she continued eating her eggs and toast, none the wiser to the confusion inside Glinda. 

‘Well that’s enough lecturing at you two for one morning.’ Hilde said, as she brought the pan over to Glinda. The end of the handle was hollowed out to fit Hilde’s hoof and she placed it on a hot pad so it wouldn’t burn the counter. 

‘Next steps are very important. Elphaba, since you are the first person who has so openly stood up to the Wizard and had not, well, disappeared, I think it would really mean a lot to the animals if they could see you.’ Hilde’s voice was kind, but firm. 

‘I guess on the grand scheme of what I have already done, this is the least I can do.’ Elphaba looked withdrawn when she said this, moving the leftover eggs over on her plate. Her shoulders were hunched in, as if to protect herself. 

As if forgetting Hilde was there, she had the impulse to try and stop Elphaba. For the first time since their escape, she decided to indulge that impulse, ‘Elphie, you don’t have to keep doing this if you do not want to.’

She looked up at Glinda. 

‘What else can I do? Where else can I go?’

‘I am not sure. Perhaps you can come with me to the Upper Uplands, and we can stay with my parents.’

‘Me, with your parents?’ Her face had a dry, knowing look on it, as if to provide Glinda the answer they both already knew. 

‘I will vouch for you. I will protect you, I promise.’

‘Glinda, I-’

‘I understand this is important to you. It's important to me too, I promise. But I don’t want you to get hurt, more than you already have been.’ She could hear the plea in her voice clearly now, as all attempts to mask herself fell away. 

‘It’s not just important to me,’ she said with a small smile, almost looking sad. She brushed a curl that had fallen in front of Glinda’s face behind her ear, and Glinda closed her eyes and leaned into her touch without thinking. 

‘They have been the only ones that have really cared about me. Before you, that is.’ She smiled again, bigger this time. ‘But before you, I only had Dulcibear and Nessarose. And Nessa was not in any position to protect me. I can’t just let this happen to them, I can’t.’ She placed more emphasis on the last word, emotion and pain bleeding into her voice. ‘It’s hard to do, but I have the power to do it. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t at least try. But Glinda, I am not going to keep you here, not if you do not want to stay.’

Glinda could hear the words left unspoken from her friend. If she did not want to stay with her. She took a few breaths, in through her nose, out through her mouth again, and shook her head. 

‘What’s done is done. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I left, and something happened to you. I am staying.’ Glinda’s eyes were fierce, as she took her friend’s hand in her own. 

Elphaba let out a breath as in relief, and squeezed Glinda’s hand in return. 

Hilde cleared her throat, and both girls looked up at the antelope, the spell broken. Glinda felt her cheeks burn as she withdrew her hand from Elphie. 

‘So, you have a way for me to talk to the other animals?’ Elphie asked Hilde. 

Hilde’s nose twitched in excitement.  

‘Yes, in Kiamo Ko, east of us. It’s a pretty significant place for us to congregate, and one of the last places animals feel truly safe. I have friends there, and I know it would make a world of difference for you to see them.’

‘Talk, that’s all you think has to happen?’ Glinda asked.

‘I understand your skepticism, but I will not have animals be the one to escalate the violence in Oz.’ Hilde said firmly. 

‘You mean, beyond what has already happened.’ Elphaba interjected, somewhat grimly. 

Hilde sighed, ‘Yes, beyond what has already happened. But Miss Elphaba, the Wizard tricked you into hurting the Guard. I know that, and it's important that you know that too.’

Before Elphaba could protest, Glinda interrupted her, ‘Will the animals she’s seeing, risking her life for? Will they know that?’

‘Glinda.’ Elphaba murmured. 

‘I'm serious Elphie. You are, to put it lightly, Oz’s most wanted person. Going to a place to meet with others on Oz’s most wanted list does not sound like a good idea. You know, the more I think about it, it is a bad idea! Something bad is going to happen Elphie, I can feel it.’

Elphaba looked at Glinda again, and saw that her friend was being serious. 

‘Okay, I agree that there is inherent danger with this. But I also agree that it's important for me to go to Kaima Ko. I want to go.’ She paused, before continuing. ‘Perhaps there is a spell I can use in the Grimmerie to disguise myself.’

She raised her hand at Glinda’s protest, anticipating her discomfort with using the spell book. ‘I will not use the invisibility spell. It’s difficult to explain, but I felt parts of myself beginning to loosen the longer I was under it. I read some of the book while you were getting ready last night, and some spells are dangerous to use. There is a lot I have to understand about what spells are safe, but we will find one that I feel comfortable with.’

Glinda puffed out a breath, ‘Okay, a safe spell to use?’

Elphaba smiled, ‘A safe spell to use.'