Title: Farewell

Author: Angel Leviathan

Disclaimer: Wicked, characters, concept, etc, aren’t mine.

Spoilers: Everything.

Notes: Written for the Wicked10 challenge.

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When she returned to Shiz alone, Nessarose was every bit as furious as Glinda expected she would be. There were no words she could say to try and comfort the girl at the loss of her sister, she was still trying to come to terms with the turn of events herself, and so, initially, she didn’t try to be eloquent or emotional. She stated the facts and fell silent. There was nothing else she could say. On the verge of tears, the rage in Nessa’s eyes only threatened to send her into a fit of sobbing. The sheer confusion on Nanny’s face did not make the situation any easier to handle.

“What do you mean she’s gone?” Nessarose repeated, for what must have been the fifth time. She was glaring at the heap of a blonde who sat hunched over on her bed, knees drawn to her chest, eyes downcast, “What do you mean?” she continued, determined to get a better answer than the one she had received.

Glinda had no desire to speak. She had said her piece. She had informed Morrible, against her will. She didn’t understand it herself – how could she explain reasoning and feelings she couldn’t comprehend to another if she couldn’t muddle through them herself?

“Nessie-“ Nanny began.

“No!” Nessa shouted, “She left with Elphaba and returns alone – she must have answers.”

“…She’s gone,” Glinda said, again, voice low, “She sent me back here. She stayed… She didn’t like what she heard and she stayed…”

“You chose to go-“

“She kidnapped me,” she said, broken. If nothing else, she could at least recount the story Elphaba had told her to say.

“She no more kidnapped you than she did me!” Nessarose exclaimed.

“Pretty has a mind of her own these days,” Nanny agreed, “Our Elphie would not have led you astray had you not wanted it.”

Glinda was almost angry. ‘Their’ Elphie. How dare they. Because one claimed blood and the other kin relationship, how dare they believe she meant more to them than to her.

“Elphaba wouldn’t just abandon me…” Nessa uttered, expression tinged with a sudden fear.

She wanted to snap that she wasn’t the only one to have been abandoned. The fact that she had been graced with a goodbye somehow made it all the more painful. She was suddenly jealous of all the years Nanny and Nessarose had spent with Elphaba. Glinda had seen all too often the way Nessa had spoken to her sister. She had taken her for granted. Well, no more.

“Well she has…” Glinda answered, hoarsely.

“Glinda!”

“Now that’s not nice,” Nanny stepped in.

She got up from the bed, “She has!” she repeated, voice growing stronger, “She has chosen her path and she has abandoned us,” she stressed. Glinda glared at Nessa, “You, me, Nanny, everyone. Elphaba chose. She didn’t do it to spite you, Nessa, but she is gone. She didn’t want to return and she doesn’t want to be found.”

“How could she!? She’s always been so selfish-“

“Selfish!?” now Glinda did shout, “How can you say that when she has taken care of you all her life! She loved you! Maybe this is her one selfish act, doing something for herself! I can’t explain it and I don’t know why she did it, but I’ll defend her right to have done it!”

“She abandoned you too!” Nessa shot back.

“I know!” she screamed, shaking. Glinda clamped a hand over her mouth, taken aback by the force her of reaction, “I know…” her voice hitched and now her tears fell. She exhaled slowly, trying to regain her composure, “But Elphaba’s gone. Its just us now. She’s said her farewells. If anyone can take care of themselves, its her.”

Nanny wiped the tears from Nessarose’s eyes and took her by the shoulders, “Elphie will make herself known to you again at a time of her choosing. Not before. You know that as well as any of us. Until then, you have Nanny. And,” she glanced across at the blonde, who nodded, “…you have Glinda.”

Glinda sank back down onto her bed, determined not to look at the empty one across from her. She had to be the adult now. She had to put aside her silly notions and childish ways and be the strong one. Elphaba had asked that much of her. To hold out, to be strong. Until she found them again.

Fin