Chapter 11
Fiyero hasn’t reached yet when Elphaba lands in a small clearing on the outskirts of the forest. Of course, finding said clearing would be hard as well as the added weight of Glinda making travel a bit longer, but it still doesn’t stop her worry.
She can see the poppy fields in the distance, yet no sign of the Vinkan prince. She tries not to think of days enjoyed in the Poppy fields back at Shiz with Glinda. She fails. The girl would always end up falling asleep on Glinda’s shoulder as the sky began to darken, after which Elphaba had no heart to move. So she just waited until it was far too dark then picked up Glinda in her arms who would sometimes wake blearily, but Elphaba always told her to go back to sleep, and Glinda always obeyed, snuggling closer into her chest.
How can anyone hurt that girl?
She draws her bottom lip in. As much as she hates it, she can’t do anything other than wait.
“Are you okay?” She asks not really looking at the prince, instead at the still unconscious form of Glinda.
“We’re fine.” Fiyero reassures before sparing a hesitant glance at Glinda and correcting himself. “I’m fine, Glinda’s unhurt.”
As much as Elphaba wants to check on the blonde, she shakes her head when Fiyero moves to dismount the horse. “We should travel while it’s still dark and find a place to rest. There will be guards looking for us and we’re too close to the city for comfort.”
Fiyero nods, staying planted on Feldspar's back. “You know a place?”
“I do.” She quickly gives the general directions to Fiyero. Now that they are far enough away from the palace with no listening ears, the information flows freely from her mouth. “I’ll meet you there.” She says, and before she can lose her nerve, she walks over to Glinda and places a chaste kiss on her forehead. “Hang in there, my sweet.” She whispers. If Fiyero hears it, he does a good job of pretending not to have heard it. Then she’s off in the night sky, the wind rushing past her like a barrier. She revels in the sensation.
The early hours of dawn bathe the world in a bluish-grey light tinged with purple when she lands just outside the unassuming cottage, hidden by foliage. The Deer standing at the entrance perks up when she sees Elphaba. “Miss Elphaba,” she bows slightly. “Corvex enlightened us about your… situation.”
Elphaba breathes a sigh of relief at that. “So he’s safe?” She asks.
The Deer nods.
The room is cold and dark when Elphaba enters it. It will probably be a few more hours till Fiyero and Glinda make it. She hopes Glinda stays unconscious till then. She doubts this Glinda would take very well to being transported on horseback through unknown terrain.
Shaking out of her thoughts, Elphaba meets the beady black eye of the Bird, his silhouette highlighted by the small amount of dawn’s light entering through the windows.
“I almost thought you weren’t coming.” He shifts. “It’s been days, Fae.”
“Is that nickname permanent now?” She quips before softening at the Crow’s agitated ruffling of his feathers. “I’m fine.” She sighs, burying her face in her hands. “It’s Glinda I’m worried about.”
“It worked?”
“Yeah, it worked.” She closes her eyes, remembering Glinda’s living quarters. Oz, she had been living like an animal. “Remember what I told you about that night?” The Crow nods. “Worse.” She mutters, her throat aching.
“Shit.”
Elphaba laughs. “Sounds about right.” Her laughter soon turns to something else though, her shoulders shaking with tears instead, and silent sobs wrenching out of her throat. “I don’t-” She breathes. “I don’t know what to do.”
Because what is the point of all her magic if she couldn’t use it to help Glinda? No amount of magic can change what her best friend has been through. It can’t bring her lively, overexcited spark back, can’t erase what Morrible and the Wizard had done to her, can’t erase what Elphaba had done to her. Because Elphaba was just as involved as the other two, wasn’t she? Not only had she mutilated Glinda, but she’d also left her broken and alone in the hands of two monsters.
Through her tears, she can see Corvex shift uncomfortably before hopping onto her shoulder, and brushing her cheek with a wing. “Whatever happens,” he says softly, his voice filled with conviction. Elphaba doesn’t know where he gets it from. “you’ll figure it out.”
Elphaba closes her eyes allowing herself a deep inhale for four beats, holding it, then exhaling for six beats. She quickly swipes at her tears on her cheeks, giving Corvex a weak, but grateful smile.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Corvex glides over to the empty bookshelf in the corner. Well, it would be empty if it wasn’t for the hexagonal book sticking haphazardly out of the top shelf. Elphaba follows him, pulling out the book feeling the familiar energy thrum through her as it reacquaints itself with her.
“Thank you.” Elphaba finally tells the Bird who just tilts his head in acknowledgement. The words encompass more than just the magical book and, judging from the look in Corvex’s eyes, he knows it.
For the next hour, Elphaba busies herself with menial tasks that feel meaningless, but they keep her busy. She flits around the room, adjusting things, sweeping away dust, practicing small spells, and pacing agitatedly.
“You’re going to wear the floor out, Fae.” Corvex sounds amused from his perch near the window.
Elphaba shoots him a withering glare. The amused look doesn’t fade. Then she hears it. The faint sound of hooves. Quiet as they try to be, Elphaba picks up on the sound. She rushes to the window, watching Fiyero hoist Glinda’s still unconscious form from Feldspar's back, exchanging a few words with the Deer, smiling then disappearing from view, no doubt having entered the cottage. Elphaba spares Corvex a nervous look, and the Bird simply nods before busying himself with preening his feathers.
Elphaba sighs when the footsteps near her door, steeling her nerves.
Time to face the music .