WICKED FIC :: "Secrets Revealed: Part 1 - Chapter 2" [Elphaba/Glinda, Rain/Tip]
PLEASE SEE INDEX PAGE [ DW || LJ ] FOR DISCLAIMERS & OTHER CHAPTERS
Chapter 2: The Reunion
Upon waking in the morning, she bathed again, a far less hedonistic affair this time, and took her breakfast with her in the form of an egg sandwich and some fruit. She set out again with the broomstick and her travel pouch, the folio weighing heavily on her soul. She'd dreamt of both Tip and Lady Glinda the night before, and the specter of whom she supposed was her grandmother. It hadn't been good sleep by any stretch of the imagination, but she was used to that. What bothered her the most was that she would have sworn Tay had been curled around her at some point in the night. But she knew that wasn't possible. She didn't even know if the green-tinged rice otter had stayed with Tip or not, but it was no longer her concern.
She also knew that she couldn't put off this forced reunion with Tip, not if she wanted to get as far from the jewel of Oz as quickly as she possibly could. No, it was time to face up to her past, so she could move on toward her future. Whatever that ended up being. As if by memory, her feet guided her toward Madame Teastane's Female Seminary, but she let her eyes take in all of the sights around her as if it were her first -- more likely last -- visit to the Emerald City.
As the building came into view, her heart began to pound in her chest, forcing the breath from her lungs unceremoniously. It took several moments before she could calm herself enough to cross the street, walk up to the doorstep, and knock on the door. She smoothed down her clothes, wishing she'd had something more fitting to wear when requesting an audience with the Ozma Regnant. Even if Tip never took up her royal office of lineage, she should still be afforded all the rights, privileges, and courtesies of the title until she chose to abdicate. But would she abdicate? Could she abdicate? Did Oz really need to continue the royal Ozma line to survive?
"You must be here to see Her Highness?" came the stuffy voice of the pretentious looking woman staring at her from the other side of the entry. "Of course, you are. With that green skin, you can be none other than Miss Rainary Ko. Her Highness has been waiting for you."
With that, the woman turned and began to walk back into the foyer of the building. She followed behind quickly, not wanting to get lost -- or lose her nerve. Suddenly a green blur came out of nowhere and coiled itself up around her legs and torso until it rested on her shoulder, chittering angrily.
"Hello, Tay," she said softly, unable to reach up and pet her little friend. "It's good to see you, too."
Tay hissed something, nipped at her earlobe, and leapt off her body in one fluid movement. The rice otter disappeared into the room at the end of the hall, then came back out to stare at her, as if beckoning her closer. She ignored the stuffy woman at this point, who seemed to be making some sort of obsequious introduction into the very same room. She took a deep breath and stepped into the room, coming face to face with the only person with whom she'd ever felt the love of companionship and lovers.
"Hello, Rain."
She didn't look any different from the last time they'd seen each other, and yet this still wasn't her Tip. Upon closer inspection, she could see a kind of heaviness had settled on Tip's shoulders, darkening the eyes she'd once adored to stare into. What was she saying? Tip was gone, replaced by Ozma Tippetarius.
"I'm still Tip, Rain, no matter than I am also Ozma Tippetarius, and I still love you just as much as I did then."
She blinked at the admission and saw the doubled image of Tip superimposed over the young woman standing before her. Nodding slowly, she stepped further into the room, but still couldn't come quite close enough to touch her erstwhile lover.
"I've come for Lady Glinda's things," she finally said, feeling every bit the uncouth broom girl she was growing up. "My things, I suppose."
"And then you'll leave again, is that it?" There was reproach in Tippetarius' tone.
With a kiss upon the seal…
She started at the joined voices in her head, Lady Glinda's and the unknown woman. This time, they were joined by an image of two hands entwined, one pale pink, the other green. Where was this coming from? Was she losing her mind?
"I -- I don't know," she finally said, meeting Tippetarius' eyes again. "So much is still confusing and painful."
"I know." Glancing up at that, she could see the love and pain reflecting in the other girl's eyes, and she knew that her turmoil was not hers alone. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I don't know." The words came out in a whisper, as if anything louder would make this whole situation even more surreal.
The soft sound of Tay's claws clattering against the floor grounded her; rice otter wriggling up her body to perch on her shoulder again fortified her. She crossed the last few feet to stand directly in front of Tippetarius, close enough to feel the heat emanating from her body. They just stared at each other for several long moments, the only sounds in the room were their breathing and Tay's grooming.
"Please, sit down, Rain," came the request after she'd swayed slightly on her feet. "Miss Havershim, please bring in the tea service," she called toward the door.
She no more than found herself settled on a comfortable settee than the door opened to admit the pretentious woman who'd led her to this room. A tray laden with tea and all sorts of breakfast foods was brought into the room before the woman was dismissed without so much as a single word. She had to give Tippetarius credit for having that royal attitude down. Lady Glinda would have been so proud.
She accepted the cup being pressed into her hand, then hissed at the electricity of the brief touch of their fingers. It was enough to push away the crushing grief she was still dealing with over the news of Lady Glinda's death. They ate quietly, the food and companionship more of a balm than she'd ever have guessed. Perhaps it was because of Tay. But she knew it was more than that.
"Can -- can you tell me if she suffered much in Southstairs?" she finally asked, unsure where she'd gotten the courage to utter the words.
"Not that I know of," came the reply. "I saw her only a handful of times. It wasn't considered seemly for the Ozma Regnant to be seen down in the hellpit of Southstairs, regardless of her reasons. Apparently the advisors were less inclined to allow Brr to see her, but I found ways to get my way. She was well cared for, Rain, of that you can be assured."
"But no one would allow her release? Allow her to live out the rest of her life as befitting a former throne minister of the realm?" She couldn't stop the bitterness from tainting her words.
"I petitioned for a full pardon, Brr petitioned for a full pardon and a release, but the advisors refused every single time. We did what we could, Rain. Please don't hold it against either of us."
She sighed and slumped forward to rest her forehead in her hands. "She was the only family I had that I understood to be family."
"That's not true, and you know it."
The words were sharply spoken, and she knew she deserved them. "No, you're probably right. I just…" She paused a moment, trying to collect her thoughts. "Do you know if anything's left of Mockbeggar Hall?"
Tippetarius shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "I can't say I'm not surprised that they'd keep that from you, too. Apparently the advisors are enjoying too much their power over all of Oz."
"They're no worse than my great-uncle or my great-grandfather in that respect. I wonder if they're distantly related to the Thropps at all. They certainly have the insanity down pat."
Tippetarius laughed at that. She glanced up to see the guilty pleasure in the girl's eyes before joining in on the laughter. It eased a tightness in her chest she hadn't recognized. She hesitantly reached over to touch Tippetarius' hand again.
"Your Highness--"
"Tip," she interrupted. "To you, I will always be Tip, no matter what anyone else calls me. I would give it all up in a heartbeat if it meant that you stayed, Rain."
She blinked at that, breath caught in her throat. "I… I don't know what to say to that."
"Just say that you'll consider staying. I'll even go with you to Mockbeggar Hall to see what is still salvageable there. You own it all, you know. She was quite thorough and insistent in her demands and final wishes."
With a kiss upon the seal…
"I'll consider it, Tip."
And for the first time in a long time, she actually believed that she meant it.
*****
"Some of these things, as well as any parts of her library still intact at Mockbeggar Hall would be wonderful additions to the royal library," Tip said as she pointed to several items on the inventory. "That is, of course, if you are willing to part with them. I wouldn't presume to take ownership of anything that is rightfully yours."
Except for my heart. The thought came unbidden, and yet, she knew it was the truth.
"As long as they're not destroyed by the advisors" -- the word began to take on a distastefulness every time she spoke it -- "I have no issues with that. There are certain books I remember from her personal library at Mockbeggar Hall that I would like to keep for sentimental reasons, but the rest mean nothing to me."
Tip nodded, absently stroking Tay's green fur, as she studied the list again. Her lower lip was caught between her teeth. She suddenly shook her head as if rejecting some idea in her mind. "There is something here that Lady Glinda was very insistent you have upon the event of her demise."
She found it interesting that no one could say the word "death" when speaking of Lady Glinda. It was as if no one could marry the concept with the larger than life woman they'd all known in one way or another during her lifetime, as if saying it made the whole situation more final than it already was.
"Oh?"
Tip took a deep breath, as if to shore up her resolve, then reached into the box of Lady Glinda's possessions and pulled out a smallish book. She placed it into her hands, not quite able to meet her eyes.
Just the sight of the book took her breath away. Feeling its familiar heft in her hands nearly undid her composure. She remembered this book very distinctly. It was smaller than most of the books that Lady Glinda had owned, but larger than the magically shrunken size of the Grimmerie, and yet it had a heft to it that felt at odds with its size. The deep green leather, so dark as to nearly be black, had become more dried out and brittle since she'd last seen it in the older woman's hands. She knew that some oil and tender loving care would return it to the age-shined appearance it had when she was growing up, and she vowed to restore it as soon as she was able.
With a kiss upon the seal…
And suddenly she was transported back to the countless mornings and evenings at Mockbeggar Hall when she would watch Lady Glinda lovingly stroke the book and write upon its pages. There were often tears in her bright blue eyes after she'd written in or read it. She'd never understood Lady Glinda's attachment to the book, especially when it wasn't shared with her. How was she supposed to learn her letters if Lady Glinda wouldn't let her read the book that was most treasured in the whole of Mockbeggar Hall? Well, the most treasured book besides the magically hidden Grimmerie, of course. She held the book up to her face and swore she could smell Lady Glinda's perfumes and powders. The sensory memory brought tears to her eyes. What she wouldn't give to have just five minutes with Lady Glinda again, to be able to tell her what she had meant to a stupid little broom girl all those years. But it wasn't meant to be.
"Is it familiar?" Tip was asking her the question, but she could tell by the girl's voice that it had been asked more than once.
"Oh yes," she finally said hoarsely around the lump in her throat. "Very familiar indeed."
"It was imperative that you have this. Lady Glinda was insistent, to say the least. I daresay she left bruises on my arm the last time I saw her. She made me promise that you would get this book, Rain, no matter what. She said it would explain everything, if only you could remember what you'd learned at her knee. Does that make any sense to you?"
"I'm not sure." In all honesty, she wasn't sure. But she was determined to figure it out, out of respect for the woman who'd raised her. Even if it took a lifetime, she'd figure it out. "But I'll find a way, Lady Glinda, I promise," she whispered.
*****
Dear Diary,
This is the very first time that I am writing in you. Isn't that truly fantastical? I just love having a beautiful, pristine diary to fill with all of my innermost thoughts and dreams, don't you? Well, of course you don't feel that. You're just a diary, aren't you? But you're mine, and you'll take everything that I want you to have, won't you?
You were a gift from Elphaba. Honestly, I don't understand that girl. She is so very strange. We've been roommates for a couple of months now, and I'm still not exactly sure what she's all about. She's so exasperating most of the time, all sarcastic and dreary. But then she'll turn around and do something to surprise me. Like giving me this diary. Giving you to me.
She said that she knew I used journals, and she wanted me to have a special one for my time here at Shiz, and beyond. Honestly, I don't know how she expects me to believe that you will last longer than my time here at Shiz. It's not like you're all that large or thick. You might hold out until the end of the year, but I don't know. I guess it depends on how much I want to write on your lovely, decadently pristine pages.
But now I must dash off to meet Pfannee and Shenshen for lunch. Perhaps Avaric will come by as we have our picnic.
All my love,
Galinda
***
Dear Diary,
Oh what a day! I don't understand why things have to be so difficult! I am pretty, I am popular, and I should be able to get good grades without trying. Like Elphaba does. Then again, she spends all of her time studying, so I suppose her grades are going to be higher than mine, aren't they? I just get so bored by all of that dry reading! Why can't these things be more lighthearted and fun?
Oh well. I guess I can't have everything I want, can I? Time for dinner and then studying. Yuck!
All my love,
Galinda
***
Dear Diary,
What am I supposed to do about that Avaric? He'd be the perfect husband, but he's so confusifying! He's just far too cavalier about his studies, and yet somehow he gets good grades, too. How is that possible? I must learn his secret!
Elphaba took me on a picnic today. Well, she didn't actually take me on the picnic. She said she wanted to gather some herbs for some tea she's trying to make. I invited myself along with a picnic lunch because it was such a beautiful day. She clearly wanted to be alone, but I ignored that. No one can want to be so alone all the time as she does. It's just not natural.
I tried to get her to enjoy herself, have a little fun, but she didn't like that. She shrieked and jumped as if a snake was going to bite her when I tried to splash her with a little water from the river. It's just river water. I mean, it's not as good as bath water, but it's still acceptably fine water. Her weird aversion to water is strange.
Oh, Pfannee and Shenshen are here to go to dinner. I'll write more later on hopefully.
All my love,
Galinda
*****
"Was Lady Glinda always this way?"
She shrugged, staring at the page a moment longer. "I guess so? I mean, I don't remember her being quite this flighty at Mockbeggar Hall, but we're also talking about an age difference of about thirty or forty years. I do know that she tended to act flightier when others were around, less intelligent than she really was."
There was something about the diary that was niggling at her, but she couldn't quite place it. Idly, she flipped through the pages, trying to see if she could guess what it was. The curly, effusive penmanship was so very much a part of what she remembered of Lady Glinda's handwriting. And yet, it seemed to be lacking something at the same time. There was something more that she should be able to decipher, but it was shrouded just out of her reach, like the Oz mists.
"I've talked to Brr this morning, before you arrived," Tip said suddenly, causing her to glance up sharply at the tone in her voice. She regretted the movement the moment she saw the smile tugging at the corners of Tip's mouth. "I am going into seclusion for the next several weeks, in preparation for attaining my majority. A time of reflection and seeking out the enormity of my coming role as Queen of all Oz."
She nodded, studying Tip through half-lidded eyes. This information shouldn't have come as any sort of surprise to her, and yet there was a hint of mischief and subterfuge to her words. "That is your right," she finally said, wondering what it meant for her own time with the other girl.
"You really can be dense sometimes, Rain," came the reply. "No one will disturb me if I'm in seclusion."
"Of course not. That would be the height of rudeness."
Tip sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Weren't you saying that you'd like to see what's left of Mockbeggar Hall?" She nodded, still confused. "If everyone thinks I'm in seclusion, and you need to go to Mockbeggar Hall…"
Realization struck like lightning out of the blue. "Oh! I didn't think that you'd want to-- I mean, there's probably nothing left of the place after everything that's happened over the last couple of years."
"It doesn't matter. You need to settle things in your own mind and soul, Rain. Even if that means we travel to find the burned ruins of your former home. I think it would be something that Lady Glinda would have wanted you to do."
She nodded, unable to get any words past the thumping lump of her heart in her throat. Just the thought of Mockbeggar Hall thoroughly destroyed terrified her now more than it had when she'd lived there and they'd had to deal with all of the dragons and Cherrystone's armies. But she would do this, for Lady Glinda, for Puggles, for Miss Murth, for everyone who had come to mean something to her at Mockbeggar Hall, even if she didn't realize they were important until it was far too late to say so. She even felt a strange sort of kinship to General Cherrystone, if only because he was just as instrumental in her learning to read as Lady Glinda was.
"When do we leave?" she finally asked, after clearing her throat several times first.
Original post @ Dreamwidth with
comments. Commenting is welcome on either post.
Chapter 2: The Reunion
Upon waking in the morning, she bathed again, a far less hedonistic affair this time, and took her breakfast with her in the form of an egg sandwich and some fruit. She set out again with the broomstick and her travel pouch, the folio weighing heavily on her soul. She'd dreamt of both Tip and Lady Glinda the night before, and the specter of whom she supposed was her grandmother. It hadn't been good sleep by any stretch of the imagination, but she was used to that. What bothered her the most was that she would have sworn Tay had been curled around her at some point in the night. But she knew that wasn't possible. She didn't even know if the green-tinged rice otter had stayed with Tip or not, but it was no longer her concern.
She also knew that she couldn't put off this forced reunion with Tip, not if she wanted to get as far from the jewel of Oz as quickly as she possibly could. No, it was time to face up to her past, so she could move on toward her future. Whatever that ended up being. As if by memory, her feet guided her toward Madame Teastane's Female Seminary, but she let her eyes take in all of the sights around her as if it were her first -- more likely last -- visit to the Emerald City.
As the building came into view, her heart began to pound in her chest, forcing the breath from her lungs unceremoniously. It took several moments before she could calm herself enough to cross the street, walk up to the doorstep, and knock on the door. She smoothed down her clothes, wishing she'd had something more fitting to wear when requesting an audience with the Ozma Regnant. Even if Tip never took up her royal office of lineage, she should still be afforded all the rights, privileges, and courtesies of the title until she chose to abdicate. But would she abdicate? Could she abdicate? Did Oz really need to continue the royal Ozma line to survive?
"You must be here to see Her Highness?" came the stuffy voice of the pretentious looking woman staring at her from the other side of the entry. "Of course, you are. With that green skin, you can be none other than Miss Rainary Ko. Her Highness has been waiting for you."
With that, the woman turned and began to walk back into the foyer of the building. She followed behind quickly, not wanting to get lost -- or lose her nerve. Suddenly a green blur came out of nowhere and coiled itself up around her legs and torso until it rested on her shoulder, chittering angrily.
"Hello, Tay," she said softly, unable to reach up and pet her little friend. "It's good to see you, too."
Tay hissed something, nipped at her earlobe, and leapt off her body in one fluid movement. The rice otter disappeared into the room at the end of the hall, then came back out to stare at her, as if beckoning her closer. She ignored the stuffy woman at this point, who seemed to be making some sort of obsequious introduction into the very same room. She took a deep breath and stepped into the room, coming face to face with the only person with whom she'd ever felt the love of companionship and lovers.
"Hello, Rain."
She didn't look any different from the last time they'd seen each other, and yet this still wasn't her Tip. Upon closer inspection, she could see a kind of heaviness had settled on Tip's shoulders, darkening the eyes she'd once adored to stare into. What was she saying? Tip was gone, replaced by Ozma Tippetarius.
"I'm still Tip, Rain, no matter than I am also Ozma Tippetarius, and I still love you just as much as I did then."
She blinked at the admission and saw the doubled image of Tip superimposed over the young woman standing before her. Nodding slowly, she stepped further into the room, but still couldn't come quite close enough to touch her erstwhile lover.
"I've come for Lady Glinda's things," she finally said, feeling every bit the uncouth broom girl she was growing up. "My things, I suppose."
"And then you'll leave again, is that it?" There was reproach in Tippetarius' tone.
With a kiss upon the seal…
She started at the joined voices in her head, Lady Glinda's and the unknown woman. This time, they were joined by an image of two hands entwined, one pale pink, the other green. Where was this coming from? Was she losing her mind?
"I -- I don't know," she finally said, meeting Tippetarius' eyes again. "So much is still confusing and painful."
"I know." Glancing up at that, she could see the love and pain reflecting in the other girl's eyes, and she knew that her turmoil was not hers alone. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I don't know." The words came out in a whisper, as if anything louder would make this whole situation even more surreal.
The soft sound of Tay's claws clattering against the floor grounded her; rice otter wriggling up her body to perch on her shoulder again fortified her. She crossed the last few feet to stand directly in front of Tippetarius, close enough to feel the heat emanating from her body. They just stared at each other for several long moments, the only sounds in the room were their breathing and Tay's grooming.
"Please, sit down, Rain," came the request after she'd swayed slightly on her feet. "Miss Havershim, please bring in the tea service," she called toward the door.
She no more than found herself settled on a comfortable settee than the door opened to admit the pretentious woman who'd led her to this room. A tray laden with tea and all sorts of breakfast foods was brought into the room before the woman was dismissed without so much as a single word. She had to give Tippetarius credit for having that royal attitude down. Lady Glinda would have been so proud.
She accepted the cup being pressed into her hand, then hissed at the electricity of the brief touch of their fingers. It was enough to push away the crushing grief she was still dealing with over the news of Lady Glinda's death. They ate quietly, the food and companionship more of a balm than she'd ever have guessed. Perhaps it was because of Tay. But she knew it was more than that.
"Can -- can you tell me if she suffered much in Southstairs?" she finally asked, unsure where she'd gotten the courage to utter the words.
"Not that I know of," came the reply. "I saw her only a handful of times. It wasn't considered seemly for the Ozma Regnant to be seen down in the hellpit of Southstairs, regardless of her reasons. Apparently the advisors were less inclined to allow Brr to see her, but I found ways to get my way. She was well cared for, Rain, of that you can be assured."
"But no one would allow her release? Allow her to live out the rest of her life as befitting a former throne minister of the realm?" She couldn't stop the bitterness from tainting her words.
"I petitioned for a full pardon, Brr petitioned for a full pardon and a release, but the advisors refused every single time. We did what we could, Rain. Please don't hold it against either of us."
She sighed and slumped forward to rest her forehead in her hands. "She was the only family I had that I understood to be family."
"That's not true, and you know it."
The words were sharply spoken, and she knew she deserved them. "No, you're probably right. I just…" She paused a moment, trying to collect her thoughts. "Do you know if anything's left of Mockbeggar Hall?"
Tippetarius shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "I can't say I'm not surprised that they'd keep that from you, too. Apparently the advisors are enjoying too much their power over all of Oz."
"They're no worse than my great-uncle or my great-grandfather in that respect. I wonder if they're distantly related to the Thropps at all. They certainly have the insanity down pat."
Tippetarius laughed at that. She glanced up to see the guilty pleasure in the girl's eyes before joining in on the laughter. It eased a tightness in her chest she hadn't recognized. She hesitantly reached over to touch Tippetarius' hand again.
"Your Highness--"
"Tip," she interrupted. "To you, I will always be Tip, no matter what anyone else calls me. I would give it all up in a heartbeat if it meant that you stayed, Rain."
She blinked at that, breath caught in her throat. "I… I don't know what to say to that."
"Just say that you'll consider staying. I'll even go with you to Mockbeggar Hall to see what is still salvageable there. You own it all, you know. She was quite thorough and insistent in her demands and final wishes."
With a kiss upon the seal…
"I'll consider it, Tip."
And for the first time in a long time, she actually believed that she meant it.
*****
"Some of these things, as well as any parts of her library still intact at Mockbeggar Hall would be wonderful additions to the royal library," Tip said as she pointed to several items on the inventory. "That is, of course, if you are willing to part with them. I wouldn't presume to take ownership of anything that is rightfully yours."
Except for my heart. The thought came unbidden, and yet, she knew it was the truth.
"As long as they're not destroyed by the advisors" -- the word began to take on a distastefulness every time she spoke it -- "I have no issues with that. There are certain books I remember from her personal library at Mockbeggar Hall that I would like to keep for sentimental reasons, but the rest mean nothing to me."
Tip nodded, absently stroking Tay's green fur, as she studied the list again. Her lower lip was caught between her teeth. She suddenly shook her head as if rejecting some idea in her mind. "There is something here that Lady Glinda was very insistent you have upon the event of her demise."
She found it interesting that no one could say the word "death" when speaking of Lady Glinda. It was as if no one could marry the concept with the larger than life woman they'd all known in one way or another during her lifetime, as if saying it made the whole situation more final than it already was.
"Oh?"
Tip took a deep breath, as if to shore up her resolve, then reached into the box of Lady Glinda's possessions and pulled out a smallish book. She placed it into her hands, not quite able to meet her eyes.
Just the sight of the book took her breath away. Feeling its familiar heft in her hands nearly undid her composure. She remembered this book very distinctly. It was smaller than most of the books that Lady Glinda had owned, but larger than the magically shrunken size of the Grimmerie, and yet it had a heft to it that felt at odds with its size. The deep green leather, so dark as to nearly be black, had become more dried out and brittle since she'd last seen it in the older woman's hands. She knew that some oil and tender loving care would return it to the age-shined appearance it had when she was growing up, and she vowed to restore it as soon as she was able.
With a kiss upon the seal…
And suddenly she was transported back to the countless mornings and evenings at Mockbeggar Hall when she would watch Lady Glinda lovingly stroke the book and write upon its pages. There were often tears in her bright blue eyes after she'd written in or read it. She'd never understood Lady Glinda's attachment to the book, especially when it wasn't shared with her. How was she supposed to learn her letters if Lady Glinda wouldn't let her read the book that was most treasured in the whole of Mockbeggar Hall? Well, the most treasured book besides the magically hidden Grimmerie, of course. She held the book up to her face and swore she could smell Lady Glinda's perfumes and powders. The sensory memory brought tears to her eyes. What she wouldn't give to have just five minutes with Lady Glinda again, to be able to tell her what she had meant to a stupid little broom girl all those years. But it wasn't meant to be.
"Is it familiar?" Tip was asking her the question, but she could tell by the girl's voice that it had been asked more than once.
"Oh yes," she finally said hoarsely around the lump in her throat. "Very familiar indeed."
"It was imperative that you have this. Lady Glinda was insistent, to say the least. I daresay she left bruises on my arm the last time I saw her. She made me promise that you would get this book, Rain, no matter what. She said it would explain everything, if only you could remember what you'd learned at her knee. Does that make any sense to you?"
"I'm not sure." In all honesty, she wasn't sure. But she was determined to figure it out, out of respect for the woman who'd raised her. Even if it took a lifetime, she'd figure it out. "But I'll find a way, Lady Glinda, I promise," she whispered.
*****
Dear Diary,
This is the very first time that I am writing in you. Isn't that truly fantastical? I just love having a beautiful, pristine diary to fill with all of my innermost thoughts and dreams, don't you? Well, of course you don't feel that. You're just a diary, aren't you? But you're mine, and you'll take everything that I want you to have, won't you?
You were a gift from Elphaba. Honestly, I don't understand that girl. She is so very strange. We've been roommates for a couple of months now, and I'm still not exactly sure what she's all about. She's so exasperating most of the time, all sarcastic and dreary. But then she'll turn around and do something to surprise me. Like giving me this diary. Giving you to me.
She said that she knew I used journals, and she wanted me to have a special one for my time here at Shiz, and beyond. Honestly, I don't know how she expects me to believe that you will last longer than my time here at Shiz. It's not like you're all that large or thick. You might hold out until the end of the year, but I don't know. I guess it depends on how much I want to write on your lovely, decadently pristine pages.
But now I must dash off to meet Pfannee and Shenshen for lunch. Perhaps Avaric will come by as we have our picnic.
All my love,
Galinda
***
Dear Diary,
Oh what a day! I don't understand why things have to be so difficult! I am pretty, I am popular, and I should be able to get good grades without trying. Like Elphaba does. Then again, she spends all of her time studying, so I suppose her grades are going to be higher than mine, aren't they? I just get so bored by all of that dry reading! Why can't these things be more lighthearted and fun?
Oh well. I guess I can't have everything I want, can I? Time for dinner and then studying. Yuck!
All my love,
Galinda
***
Dear Diary,
What am I supposed to do about that Avaric? He'd be the perfect husband, but he's so confusifying! He's just far too cavalier about his studies, and yet somehow he gets good grades, too. How is that possible? I must learn his secret!
Elphaba took me on a picnic today. Well, she didn't actually take me on the picnic. She said she wanted to gather some herbs for some tea she's trying to make. I invited myself along with a picnic lunch because it was such a beautiful day. She clearly wanted to be alone, but I ignored that. No one can want to be so alone all the time as she does. It's just not natural.
I tried to get her to enjoy herself, have a little fun, but she didn't like that. She shrieked and jumped as if a snake was going to bite her when I tried to splash her with a little water from the river. It's just river water. I mean, it's not as good as bath water, but it's still acceptably fine water. Her weird aversion to water is strange.
Oh, Pfannee and Shenshen are here to go to dinner. I'll write more later on hopefully.
All my love,
Galinda
*****
"Was Lady Glinda always this way?"
She shrugged, staring at the page a moment longer. "I guess so? I mean, I don't remember her being quite this flighty at Mockbeggar Hall, but we're also talking about an age difference of about thirty or forty years. I do know that she tended to act flightier when others were around, less intelligent than she really was."
There was something about the diary that was niggling at her, but she couldn't quite place it. Idly, she flipped through the pages, trying to see if she could guess what it was. The curly, effusive penmanship was so very much a part of what she remembered of Lady Glinda's handwriting. And yet, it seemed to be lacking something at the same time. There was something more that she should be able to decipher, but it was shrouded just out of her reach, like the Oz mists.
"I've talked to Brr this morning, before you arrived," Tip said suddenly, causing her to glance up sharply at the tone in her voice. She regretted the movement the moment she saw the smile tugging at the corners of Tip's mouth. "I am going into seclusion for the next several weeks, in preparation for attaining my majority. A time of reflection and seeking out the enormity of my coming role as Queen of all Oz."
She nodded, studying Tip through half-lidded eyes. This information shouldn't have come as any sort of surprise to her, and yet there was a hint of mischief and subterfuge to her words. "That is your right," she finally said, wondering what it meant for her own time with the other girl.
"You really can be dense sometimes, Rain," came the reply. "No one will disturb me if I'm in seclusion."
"Of course not. That would be the height of rudeness."
Tip sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Weren't you saying that you'd like to see what's left of Mockbeggar Hall?" She nodded, still confused. "If everyone thinks I'm in seclusion, and you need to go to Mockbeggar Hall…"
Realization struck like lightning out of the blue. "Oh! I didn't think that you'd want to-- I mean, there's probably nothing left of the place after everything that's happened over the last couple of years."
"It doesn't matter. You need to settle things in your own mind and soul, Rain. Even if that means we travel to find the burned ruins of your former home. I think it would be something that Lady Glinda would have wanted you to do."
She nodded, unable to get any words past the thumping lump of her heart in her throat. Just the thought of Mockbeggar Hall thoroughly destroyed terrified her now more than it had when she'd lived there and they'd had to deal with all of the dragons and Cherrystone's armies. But she would do this, for Lady Glinda, for Puggles, for Miss Murth, for everyone who had come to mean something to her at Mockbeggar Hall, even if she didn't realize they were important until it was far too late to say so. She even felt a strange sort of kinship to General Cherrystone, if only because he was just as instrumental in her learning to read as Lady Glinda was.
"When do we leave?" she finally asked, after clearing her throat several times first.
Original post @ Dreamwidth with
comments. Commenting is welcome on either post.