Journey On

Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Summary: Two ships passing. Strangers sharing the beginnings of a journey. Can a chance encounter really be the beginnings of a journey? Can two strangers pass through the darkness and journey on with the darkness of the Dawn to guide them? Will it bring them together once the journey ends?

A/N: Lyrics belong to one of my favorite obsessions: Ragtime the Musical. Act I. Scene Three. Characters: Father (on his way to Antarctica), Tateh (going to America), and Mother (at home in New Rochelle). The ending of the song, which are the lyrics at the beginning, gives me chills every time I hear it.

Update: Sorry guys, I had to delete the lyrics at the beginning. Threat of account termination.

He wasn't planning on going to the ball that the governor was holding. As far as he was concerned, he was only there for show, to make his parents look good. He'd just as soon skip it. And that's what he planned. Checking quickly to make sure no one was watching, he slipped out the door of the ballroom, and rushed down the hall. Hearing voices, he ducked into a nearby room, not checking that anyone might be inhabiting it.

Catching his breath, he turned, and stumbled.

"Hey!"

He looked up. It was dark, and so he went to the table and lit a candle.

Once the candle lit, he turned towards the direction of the voice. No one was there, and it appeared that he was in a library. Bookshelves lined the walls, a fireplace sat opposite him, a sofa and a chaise were placed just so in the room, along with a desk and several nightstands. The whole room was done in beautiful, deep emerald. For a moment, he felt like he'd walked into a room in the Emerald Palace.

"Put the light out."

He turned again, searching for the voice. No one. Turning to the window, he finally caught sight of something that looked like a wood nymph trying to blend into the emerald tapestries. She was a very beautiful wood nymph; her skin was the color of a fresh cut emerald- an unusual color for a wood nymph- but it was pretty. She had long, thick, black hair that went to her waist, and deep, deep brown eyes.

"Please. Put the light out. Please."

Ignoring her plea, he stepped closer, and she backed up, pressing herself against the tapestry. She ended up sitting on the windowseat, clutching the curtain in desperation. On closer inspection, he noticed that she wasn't a wood nymph at all, but a young girl with emerald skin, black hair, and brown- no, now that he got a good look at her eyes- aquamarine eyes. She was dressed in a white strapless gown, with white, elbow- length gloves. Her long black hair was obviously falling out of the elaborate hairstyle it'd been forced into; one stubborn curl was hanging in front of her ear, sticking to her cheek.

"Who are you?" He asked softly.

"Um...E...Elphaba. Who are you?"

"Fiyero." They shook hands, and he set the candlestick on the desk.

"So, what are you doing here?" She asked, making room for him on the windowseat. He joined her.

"My parents dragged me to this. They think that they can arrange a marriage between the Governor's daughter and me. I don't want it."

"Oh." Elphaba looked down at her hands, crestfallen. "I...I don't want to be here either. I just...want to go upstairs and read. I don't belong down there." She said, wringing her hands.

"Why not?"

"I...that ball's for girls who are beautiful. I'm not beautiful." She said, ashamed. He gently lifted her chin.

"You're very beautiful." She gave him a small smile.

"Thank you. Well, do you want to go for a walk?" He nodded, and they left the library, blowing out the candle. They wandered the halls, talking and laughing, getting to know one another, until someone came upon them.

"There you are, Miss Elphaba! Come on. You're father wants you in that ballroom now!" Elphaba looked up, horrified to see her mother's Nanny hurrying towards her.

"But...I don't..."

"Don't say it! You are needed down there now." Nanny said, grabbing the girl's arm and tugging her along. Fiyero followed. They hurried to the double doors leading to the ballroom, and Nanny stopped, turning to the girl. "Now, be a good girl and go down there."

Elphaba looked back at Fiyero. She looked to be no more than Fiyero's age- fourteen. Thinking quickly, she reached out, grabbing his hand and latching on until Nanny grabbed her arm and pulled her away, turning her and shoving her towards the doors, that were slowly opening.

"But Nanny!"

"Now, Miss Elphaba!"

The girl looked back at Fiyero.

"Fiyero-" She started, as she was pushed through the doors. Nanny looked back at him.

"Well, get going you!" Nanny snapped; Fiyero did as told. He didn't want to be at this stupid debutante ball anyway; didn't want to meet the stupid debutante debuting into society; didn't want to be anywhere but the library with Elphaba.

If he'd stuck around long enough and watched, he would have seen that the 'stupid debutante debuting into society' was his wood nymph, Elphaba.