Chapter Text
The thunderous rumbling echoed for miles, although this was not the sound of a storm. Speeding across miles of land, Glinda could still hear the stomping of the mob that was on their way, their only intent to kill an innocent woman. An innocent woman Glinda had to get to before they could. If she could warn Elphaba of their intentions, perhaps she could save her love friend.
Glinda could feel her heart racing in her chest as she swiftly dismounted Feldspar. He wasn’t hers, but he was kind enough to get her here quickly; she’d be sure to thank him for that later. The blonde took the steps of the castle two at a time– the boots had been for stealth, but really they were better suited for climbing the stairs as well. Glinda felt sick to her stomach at the wave of urgency that rushed through her. Why she had to be urgent. Whose life was at risk here.
Letting the adrenaline drive her further up the tall castle, she knew she’d need to sleep for a week after this. Glinda could hear distant crying, and beyond that, footsteps. Familiar footsteps. She could almost weep. Almost. Glinda hardened herself against the swell of dread that rose and, in its place, allowed false braverism to rise. Elphie had always been better with braverism.
“Elphaba… They’re coming for you.” Glinda considered it a miracle her voice didn’t break. That her walls didn’t shatter in that moment at the sight of her friend. Were they still friends? After everything that happened? Glinda didn’t want to let hope bloom. Didn’t want to let that dreadful little emotion blossom into this idea inside her that everything would be okay. Because it won’t be. Because they’re coming to kill Elphaba.
Green eyes met brown, and for a brief moment, Glinda was taken back to that first interaction they had at Shiz. How unshakable Elphaba looked then. How hauntingly terrified she looks now. It broke Glinda’s heart all over again. And the passing of the next few minutes only hurt more.
Their brief argument over Glinda being here. The fact that Fiyero was dead. Then Elphaba, sweet, precious Elphaba, admitted that it was time for her to surrender. Glinda found herself scrambling, begging Elphaba not to. Finally willing, finally ready to tell Oz the truth. Expose the Wizard, expose his lies, show Oz how good Elphaba was. But Elphaba just looked at her with so much pain, so much grief, and shook her head.
“Promise me you won't try to clear my name.”
“What?” Glinda was shocked by this. She was so ready to do so, ready to risk it all-
“Promise me!” Elphaba raised her voice, though Glinda knew it wasn’t with any malice. Glinda felt the tears once again, but had they ever really stopped?
“I promise… but I don’t understand.”
“They need someone to be wicked, so that you can be good.” Elphaba was suddenly approaching her, pressing the Grimmerie into her arms. Green hands lingered for a split second, barely perceptible to anyone. Except Glinda. Because no one loves Elphaba Thropp like Glinda. So of course she sees it.
“Elphie… you know I can’t read this-” Glinda blanches, her mind unable to form proper words at the fact that Elphaba was so ready, so willing to give up.
“You have to learn. For both of us.” There was the shortest of breaths where Elphaba leaned in. She was so close that Glinda could have leaned forward and kissed her. Finally quelled that curiosity that had raised within her whenever the green witch was around. Would she kiss me back?
“You know… you’re the only friend I’ve ever had.” Elphaba’s words pulled Glinda back to the present, her heart shattering at the words. She wanted to protest, but a lump formed in her throat and she found herself unable to speak for a moment.
“And I’ve had so many friends. But only one that mattered.” Glinda watched as Elphaba, teary-eyed, turned to her with a small, sad smile on her face. She’s accepted her fate. Glinda knows she has. Heavy grief weighs down on Glinda, and she can't help but move closer to the other woman, letting the Grimmerie press between them as she wraps her arms around her for what may be the last time. A small barrier, but Glinda knows it's there. She knows because it’s a stark reminder that she will have to let go.
Elphaba’s arms tighten imperceptibly around her shoulders; Glinda buries her face in dark braids, doing everything in her power to memorize this moment. To memorize her. She’s still her Elphie, still that same woman that she’d sat with on their Shiz bedroom floor all those years ago and shared secrets with. The same woman who would allow her to lay her head in her lap while she read their assigned passages aloud, and would reread them because she knew Galinda fell asleep.
The tears wouldn’t stop falling, and Glinda dreaded the feeling as Elphaba started to pull away, calloused green hand slipping into a soft pale one. Pulling her gently deeper into the room of Kiamo Ko.
“Hurry. No one can know you were here. You must hide yourself,” Elphaba whispers, though Glinda isn’t sure if it’s because they can now hear footsteps echoing through the halls or because the moment is too delicate for them to break with words. “You mustn’t make a sound. Promise me.” Elphaba’s looking at her so intensely now, green eyes boring into her soul. Glinda can only nod.
“Stay here. Everything will be fine… I love you.” Elphaba says it so surely as she’s pushing Glinda into some darkened closet. The blonde barely has a moment to react.
“I love you too.” Glinda chokes the words out; Elphaba’s tearful, smiling face will forever be burned in her memory as the door closes between them. Glinda can’t stop the sob from escaping, but she’s mindful to keep it silent. Leaning against the door, pressing her head into the wood, trying to wake up from this nightmare.
Glinda can hear every footstep outside, even as her tears pour down her cheeks, she covers her mouth with a hand to keep completely silent. Watching through a crack in the door, Glinda is able to see every moment of what happens. She’s not able to see it directly, but the shadows on the walls are telling enough.
The argument. The fire. The shouting. The water thrown. And the scream. That awful, terrible scream that will be scarred into Glinda’s memory for life. Elphaba’s crumpling form as she watches her best friend. her love. Die.
Glinda’s legs give out beneath her as she hears the commotion, her ears ringing with the sound. Her heart is pounding so loud in her chest it sounds as if it’s about to burst. She covers her ears, trying to block the sound, but it only gets louder. The tears come uncontrollably now as she’s forced to witness the murder.
If anyone were to ask her, both women died that day.
But only one stopped breathing.