AN: So glad to finally be able to share this first chapter with you guys. I'm sufficiently far enough with the writing that I feel comfortable posting this. I know I'll post twice a week (and maybe earlier depending if my job doesn't work me to death!)

Four years, three months, and twenty-seven days since Elphaba had been declared the Wicked Witch of the West. Two years, six months, and eleven days since Fiyero left her.

Two years, five months, twenty-eight days since she lost the two of them.

One year, three months, and twenty days since the Animal Bans had been lifted.

Her shoulders lifted and she heard her shoulders crack. She sighed, tired of being hunched over and reading countless letters of enraged farmers thinking she had the power to stop the sun from shining or of high Gillikin socialites inviting her to one organized event or another. It was days like that that she missed Chistery and his helpful hands. He would often help her reply to all of them and keep her company, but after he had gained further knowledge and education he had wanted to leave and explore the world. So she let him and with his leave, the last person she trusted in the Emerald City was gone.

She grew tired of it all. Glinda would wake up with a smile everyday and most of the time it was genuine, because people loved her and they trusted her, allowing her and aiding her in reverting the Animal bans. There was still those that did not trust the still young witch as the leader of Oz and they were right to not trust her. She never did break her promise to Elphaba, she never did tell them the truth about her, nor did they know the real reason she had sent Morrible into a highly secured cell in Southstairs.

Glinda blinked, letting her eyes close for a moment and letting her shoulder loosen as she let herself relax after a long day. She still had things to do but just for that moment she let her mind wander to old times.

She was startled awake by a sharp knock on her door.

"Lady Glinda?" The voice called through anxiously.

"Coming!" She chirped as she straightened in her seat, patting her hair and finding her mirror to check herself before she opened the door. She lingered in front of the mirror for a second more seeing the tiny wrinkles appearing across her face, only visible from up close. Only twenty-three and she already had wrinkles. She would have been horrified with the tiny wrinkles five years ago, but now it only made her realize how much she had gone through. Almost by instinct a smile appeared on her face as she opened the door.

A smile that fell slightly when she saw who was behind it.

"Captain Ori, what can I help you with?" She made it clear she wasn't enjoying the presence of the Gale Force Captain.

"Lady Glinda." He nodded again as he ignored her look. "It's Morrible." He said without missing another second of her time.

"Yes?" She wondered, composing her features as to not show any emotion. "Did she try to escape? You know what to do, why would you—"

"This time she wasn't trying to get out, she's called for you." That pushed aside any difference she had with the Captain.

"Did she tell you why?" She asked, keeping calm.

"No," He shook his head, his eyes not meeting hers. "She said very little about it other than what she had to say was important."

Captain Ori was quiet as she contemplated what to say. "I assume guards have been doubled for her cell and you didn't just come straight here to tell me? I hope you didn't purposely leave that information from any of your men with the expectation that you would be getting to see one of them hanging from a pole." She told him with disinterest, looking just off to the side.

His jaw hardened and he cleared his throat. "That's actually why I came here. I ordered everyone out of that cell. They are guarding from the outside. No one is to go in. "

Her head turned back to him sharply. "What purpose does that serve? She is dangerous and you decide it's better to leave her to her own devices?"

"She is—"

"I knew you enjoyed other peoples pain, but I never knew you wanted her to break out and—"

"—She wants to kill you."

Her entire argument died that very second, her face paling. "She...what?" She didn't pretend to hide the worry that grew in her.

"I don't know whether or not any of my men would betray you for a chance at power. That is why I ordered them out. She wanted me to kill you."

She was silent for a moment unable to thank him for the information and his quick actions. Though she could not help but be terrified of the prospect that Morrible would ask him to kill her.

"Tell me exactly what she told you!" She said, hastily ushering him into her room. The Captain looked surprised but entered when she pulled him by the arm.

"Well?" She huffed impatiently, "I have no time for you to want to be quiet now, talk!"

"Yes, of course," His eyes turned down to where she was still holding his arm. She let him go quickly and he looked back up before opening his mouth, "One of the guards informed me that Morrible was trying to call them in, as far as I know no one entered until I arrived and went in myself. She began talking loudly about how much better Oz would be if you weren't around, and she hinted at how easy it would be for a man of my strength to...snap your neck. I ordered her to be quiet but she started whispering about how she knew something you didn't, something important that she wanted to see you immediately for. That's when I left and came straight to you, Lady Glinda."

Glinda let the information sink in. Wondering what she was to do now. "You did well. You may leave now." She needed time to think of what to do.

"Very well. " He nodded once turning to leave before he whirled around again. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about—" She didn't let him finish shutting the door on his face. She did not want to speak to him, she had too much to do, even more than before.

"We have nothing to talk about Captain. You have a job to do right now and so do I, so please get to it."

"I would advise against going to see her." He called through the door.

"Your opinion has been received Captain, now if you please, I have things to do."

"If you do agree to go, I would be grateful if you allowed me to oversee for your own protection."

"You may leave now Captain." She said more firmly. A moment later she heard his heavy boots leaving.

Glinda heaved a small sigh brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear as she went back to her desk.

Another thing to add on her already enormous list of things to do. She was torn about getting up and seeing what Morrible wanted and letting her stay there with no contact and only trusting one person to see to her for food. She glanced in front of her and Glinda frowned at the letters piled before her.

She made the decision of going and seeing what Morrible could possibly say to her. She was powerless in that cell of hers, but listening to the old bat beg to be let out was something she would not miss for anything in the world. And honestly she could use a bit of rest from all the writing.

She rose from her chair and made sure she was looking perfect before exiting the room.

It was difficult to suppress her frown when Captain Ori began following her. His heavy boots echoed beside her clicking heels while they walked trough the hall. Maids greeted her warmly as she passed by and Glinda waved happily back. The five minute walk down the palace and into the dungeons underground were silent, albeit uncomfortable for her. A couple of guards outside the dungeon doors seemed to straighten in their spot once they laid eyes on her, fixing her with love struck eyes. They were nice to look at but they only admired her because of her beauty, so any invitation for 'drinks' or 'walks' were turned down as politely as she could. She knew what they were after and she wasn't going to hurt herself or go through that again.

Beside her, Captain Ori cleared his throat giving her a glance but Glinda ignored him.

"I'm quite capable of entering by myself Captain. So if you would please wait for me out here."

He pressed his eyebrows together, "I'm not sure that it is the safest choice."

Glinda didn't look at him when she answered, "If I need her beaten or hurt I'll come get you."

The Captain's jaw set firmly and Glinda fought back a small grin at his frustration before she ordered a guard to open the prison doors.

He didn't follow her inside which gave her great relief. She took a lit lantern from the wall, her heels seemed to echo even louder in the dungeon walls, the clicking the only thing heard in the dimly lit place. It didn't take her long to find Morrible, sitting there and staring up at her as smugly as she could. She was looking at her as if she was the superior person, as if she was standing in front of her and not actually confined behind a metal encasement.

"My dear Glinda the Good, come to graze me with her radiating presence." Morrible drawled sarcastically, moving closer to the light of her lantern.

"What is it that you want?" She went straight to the point not needing or wanting to stand there and look at her any longer. Morrible seemed to have aged years from being kept in a prison cell and it showed in the deep wrinkles that decorated her face.

"No chitchat just straight to the matter. I like that."

"What do you want?" She asked again, absentmindedly smoothing the collar of her dress.

Morrible rolled her eyes. "I want to get out of here and I have some information that may cause you to think of my future release."

Glinda stared at Morrible and Morrible stared back, Glinda began to giggle which caused Morrible to raise a unmaintained eyebrow high up.

"Your release?" She laughed into her hands, "What makes you think anything you say could persuade me to release you?"

"Because I'm sure you'll find what I have to say about your green friend, Elphaba, intriguing?"

Her smile faded and it was Morrible's turn to start laughing. "That shut your dainty little lips didn't it?"

She was done, no amount of begging was worth this, "If you called me in to merely taunt me —"

"Oh, shut it Upland." She said sharply. "Taunting you is not my very reason for existing. I have information for you that you would very much like to know. I don't know why it never occurred to me before but after so many years of being kept in a cell with nothing to do, a mind begins to wander...and wonder. " Morrible stopped and looked behind her pensively.

"Can you please just spit it out." She sighed in frustration. Morrible took that as a good sign and smiled slyly.

"Only if you promise me that if it turns out to be true you release me." Morrible asked her, watching her every move like a beady little hawk, to Glinda's discomfort. Still, she didn't let it show, she had worked too hard pretending not to let things affect her just so Morrible could give her a look and make her do what she wanted.

"Just say what you have to say." Glinda said through her teeth.

Morrible shook her head. "Promise me first."

"I will not promise a thing, but I can consider a release if that makes you happy." If Morrible's information was amusing and not an insult to her deceased friend she would consider thinking, about the chance of ever being as absurd, as contemplating releasing a dangerous person such as Morrible.

Morrible thought about her words and nodded. "Done. It will be more than you've thought of me since you threw me in here…"

Glinda felt like rolling her eyes, but she managed to blink twice. Oh, the poor old woman was playing victim.

Morrible continued, "Haven't you questioned yourself over your green friends unusual death?"

Glinda felt her hand fist and she turned away. "Hear me out before you walk out," Morrible sounded desperate as Glinda walked off. "She melted. "

"I know." She uttered pressing her teeth together as she neared the door. Tearing up in front of the old woman would be something she would never do again in her life.

"Hasn't that bothered you at all? Doesn't that make you think?" Morrible's voice rang clear in the dungeon. Glinda stopped mid step and turned around.

"Think what? That you and that miserable old man sent a child and two goons to get rid of her, and they did, in the most gruesome way possible? Tossing acid at a person to get rid of them?" She fumed wanting nothing more than to leave now but it seemed that Morrible had gotten under her skin.

"That's where my mind starts to think, I never sent any acid," Morrible said in what sounded like sincerity to Glinda. "I don't know what sort of acid would or could even melt a person."

"Well," She huffed crossing her arms and returning to Morrible's cell. "I was never foolish enough to believe she actually melted."

Morrible smiled annoyingly, "You could have fooled me."

"To the point before I leave." She should have left by now. Gone back to all the work she had to finish instead of falling into Morrible's demands and being here. The woman was trying to have her killed for crying out loud! Why would she believe anything coming from her mouth.

"My point Upland, is that the child, Dorothy, said she threw a bucket of water, water…" Morrible pointlessly emphasized the word. "And unless our rebellious witch was practicing with magic and turned that bucket into something poisonous—even an acidic death or whatever, would leave behind some remains, bones or something."

The memories she had pushed away from the second she saw them came flooding in.

The green stains on the floor, the crushed hat she had struggled to fix through tears, the bottle that she cherished…

"She did leave remains. The only thing left of her was her bottle and hat." She whispered fighting back tears at the reminder of the items she had hidden beneath a locked box deep within her closet. Items she would bring out only when she was alone.

"If her entire body melted, no bones, no hair…don't you think a hat and a glass object would disintegrate as well?"

Glinda felt a chill run throughout her entire body.

"You know what I'm suggesting."

"It couldn't be possible she wouldn't— " Her words got stuck in her throat and Morrible noticed.

"She was running around with that prince behind your back, wasn't she?" She taunted and Glinda's jaw locked at her grin,"she was perfectly capable of lying about this as well."

She merely blinked at Morrible, "Is there anything else you wish to remind me about while I'm here?"

Morrible blinked back innocently, "Looks can be deceiving. Not everyone around you is as they seem. You could use a bit of out of the box thinking to avoid falling into a trap. It can mean your downfall..."

Glinda pursed her lips together, "Is that a veiled threat?"
Morrible waved a hand freely through the air, "I have nothing to hide, If I wanted to threaten you I would do it openly. My words are whatever you make of them my dear."

Glinda made a noise in the back of her throat, having had enough of Morrible's words. She was trying to make her afraid and paranoid and she was not going to fall for it.

"I think it's time for me to go—"

"Hiland. Loland." Morrible said suddenly.

Glinda paused, wondering what they meant. "I'm sorry?"

"It's the two places out of Oz's jurisdiction. They wouldn't care if she killed an entire village or if she stepped on a puppy. They'll welcome anyone and they wouldn't hand anyone over. It's not their way."

Glinda pondered on that and left the dungeon. The Captain was still standing outside when she came out.

"I will be making an impromptu trip to Loland, maybe Hiland for the next two months. You do not need to know why. I need you to inform my advisors of this as I will be leaving when morning comes and need time to get ready." She told him, mulling over what items to bring with her on her trip. If there was a chance that maybe Elphaba faked her death she wanted to see it for herself. Now that she thought it more thoroughly it was very plausible that she could have done it. All she knew was that she wouldn't be able to sit and respond to letters or talk to people now that Morrible planted that seed of doubt in her mind. Even though she was clearly trying to mess with her head, it had something of truth to it. Elphaba could be alive and if she was she would be hiding somewhere far away from Oz. What better place to hide than past a desert that was nearly impassable to the majority of people?

"If Morrible has threatened your life some other way..." His words fell to a whisper and Glinda felt disgusted by how furious he looked.

"Not to my face, and I will not contemplate a hanging—before you ask." She added before he said it himself.

He frowned and put his hands behind his back. "I will inform your advisors of this and prepare for the trip promptly as ordered. "

Glinda raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me? You are ordered to stay here and watch over the city, as is your job."

"I'm afraid that is an order I cannot do. As Captain my first priority is to keep you safe. My men, the officers and guards are there to make sure the people are safe. I make sure you are safe. "

Glinda shook her head. "I refuse it."

"That is not something you can refuse. Either you have me accompany you on your trip or you must have a group of guards with you. You are crossing a desert called the impassible desert, I am required to be there."

"I am Glinda, Glinda the Good, I do not require any guards with me." She scoffed continuing on her way.

"Even more reason for someone to go with you. Especially going into a land where you have no power." He pointed out carefully, but Glinda shook her head once.

"I prefer to go alone. " She told him, walking off.

He followed swiftly, walking beside her, "If the problem is with me I understand. I am still required to send two dozen of my men with you no matter what you order. It is unsafe to travel all the way there."

"I already said you are ordered to stay here. I hope you aren't forgetting I am a sorceress and I can travel by myself anywhere I so desire."

"You are our leader since the Wizards departure but that does not make you capable of—"

She held a hand up to quiet him, "I do not appreciate your tone with me Cap—"

He interrupted her however, " You cannot do whatever you want, you have to abide by the rules like the rest of us. Being leader does not mean-"

She cut him off, "I don't need you or your help, and I'd like it very much if you would just be quiet—"

"—You are being irrational. It is not—"

"—Do not interrupt me when I am giving you orders to follow!"

"I will not follow orders that creates conflict with my fundamental duties, Lady Glinda. I-"

"—Enough of this!" Glinda said sharply, and the Captain closed his mouth firmly, keeping his head high. "You may be Captain, but I do not take orders from you. I will leave first thing in the morning to Hiland." She paused momentarily. If she really wanted to find her friend one nosy person was easier to lose than two dozen. She blinked and stretched her neck a bit, finding the correct words, "If law requires me to have someone accompany me for my safety, then fine, you can accompany me. But that does not require you to watch me at every moment; You will ride and guard from a horse, separate from my carriage, and you will maintain a distance from me wherever I may go."

The Captain didn't seem to like it but he seemed satisfied that she agreed to let him go, "I understand. I will make sure you are safe. "

Glinda turned away from him, "Whatever you say, just make sure you are ready when morning comes."

She didn't hear anything else but the clicking of her heels as she left.

Let me know what you think so far (if you want)