I dunno what it is, but today has been a VERY good writing day for me. I think I managed to write 15 new pages in my word doc.
Just a quick word on format for the story- I've decided to break this story up in to two "Books". Book I ended with my previous post, and Book II will begin with the post after this one (or, two... since this entire update was too long for one post). It's all still the same story, though- just divided up a bit. Thanks to all of you who have kept reading right along with me... I'm so happy you like my work!
And now for the interlude...
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((( INTERLUDE )))
To her recollection, the sky had never been as beautiful as it was tonight. Dark and almost impossibly starry… not a cloud around. The faint tinge of green that usually reflected off the evening clouds from the Emerald City was nowhere in sight. Just the endless heavens stretching out for miles and miles. This was the kind of freedom she hadn’t known in…. well, she could hardly recall the last time she’d been able to do this. Being a fugitive witch had denied her many things- including something as basic as walking around the countryside unnoticed.
With a contented sigh, she leaned back and set her head on his shoulder. He was so warm. So loving. He was the only one she’d ever known to touch her skin without the urge to cringe and pull back; the only one to ever love her so completely. Even her mother had handled her with sanitized gloves as a child. Now, as he rubbed her bare exposed arms and let his fingers trace around her hands, she felt such… complete… joy. “I love you.”
His breath was hot on her neck as he kissed behind her ear. She tried to turn her head to return the favor, but he gently held it in place. Gently, but insistantly. “No… don’t look.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“
Why not?” She repeated. Why wouldn’t he let her see his face? “What are you hiding from me, dearie?”
“Shhhh.” His lips brushed her hand and he rubbed her back one last time before standing up. “I have to go take care of something, but I’ll be back soon. I promise.”
So completely consumed was she by his loving caress that it took a moment for his words to really sink in. “N-no...” Elphaba reached out imploringly… into nothingness. No more warm breath. The dancing tingle on her arms had been cut off abruptly.
“What kind of joke--?” She opened her eyes. He was gone. “Where--?” Anxiously, her head whipped around. “No. N-no!” She crawled around on all fours like a small child searching for its favorite blanket. “Don’t leave me here.” Elphaba fought the lump forming in her throat. “Not now.” She violently forced the burning mass back down and took a shuddering breath. “Not when we can be together and leave this nightmare—“
“Elphaba… trust me…”
The voice seemed to be coming from her left. Though he didn’t sound that far away, since she couldn’t see him it was pretty clear he had a long head start on her. Elphaba jumped to her feet and took off after the voice. Down the steeped knoll she went, ankle-high grass parting and crushing underfoot.
“Elphaba…”
Closer!
Now she followed at a dead sprint, positive that he was just around the next bend. And the next. And the next. He would be standing there waiting for her. Just a few feet ahead. Just… a little… bit… longer. She willed her body to hold out, a difficult request considering she’d never been one for long distance running. Her childhood had been of combat boots, not jogging shoes.
But this is all going to be worth it in the end. We can leave Oz. Live somewhere nice where no one will ever think to look for me. All she had to do now was find him. “Where are you?!” But only her voice echoed back to her mournfully…
... until…
There! It was him! It had to be. He had stopped under the limbs of a Sicomb tree to rest.
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“It’s just me. You know me.”
Glowing green eyes blazed indignantly. “I know you’re standing between me and her. Get out of the way, straw man.”
Though it was risky, Fiyero took another step forward on the yellow bricked road. He had to make sure she really saw his face. She would never intentionally hurt him. And she wouldn’t hurt Dorothy if she knew the little girl was with him. “Listen… something happened… that- that spell!… You cast a spell and it… it changed things. It changed me. But I can prove to you that I’m—“
With a vicious glimmer in her eye, Elphaba reached up for a torch hanging on the wall and used it to light the end of her broom. “How about a little fire, Scarecrow?”
Oh hell no. Fiyero’s mind flew into panic. “It’s me! For the love of Oz, Elphaba!”
She stopped short. “How do you know my name?”
“I’ve been trying to tell you! I’m—”
~ ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ ~
A few feet from the trunk she stopped to smooth her hair and straighten her skirt. All that running had made her appearance more than a little “mussed” as Glinda would have put it. Though Elphaba had never been much for cleaning herself up to impress a boy, things were different when it came to him. He made her feel beautiful and desirable; always helped her to laugh off the odd stares and forget the nasty comments. He was her darling, loving…
“Fiyero?” Elphaba looked up from her clothes… and gasped.
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“LIAR!” She flew into an explosive rage. “How
dare you?”
“I’m not lying! It’s me!” Fiyero tried to back away, but found himself pinned to the stone castle wall. Nowhere to run.
As the fire made contact with his arm, Fiyero screamed her name.
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The man whom she had been so positive she knew stood up and turned to face her. But instead of the light-skinned Winkie prince, Elphaba found herself face to face with—“You.”
Painted-on eyes blinked back from the rough burlap face of the Scarecrow. Dorothy Gale’s Scarecrow. And if that wasn’t enough, there, hiding behind his legs was the little farm girl herself.
Trembling, Elphaba backed away. Where was he? Why were
these people here instead of
him? “No!” Elphaba wailed. “Yero! Where are you?”
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“STOP, ELPHABA!”
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“FIYERO!”
* * * * * *
Elphaba rolled over, eyelids undulating wildly, clenched fistfulls of blanket trembling. Chistery watched her intently, worry lines creasing his brow… Miss Elphie was quite upset… he only wished he knew how to make her feel better. How to chase the nasty dream away.
“Yero..” The green woman mumbled longingly.
“Ye-ro.” Chistery echoed in an attempt to be helpful.
Great job! I can't wait to see what happens next! *sits on edge of seat*
