Days passed and Galinda was kept busy, for preparations for university life were of a rigor she had not previously known. In the breaks between orientation sessions, she found herself waiting, hoping for a glimpse of the raven-haired girl. But it seemed they belonged to different groups with different timetables, for the squares and hallways revealed no sight of the green-eyed beauty.
And then one day, Galinda received a notice: a meeting was to be held amongst the residents of Crage Hall.
“There’s been a terrible mix-up,” Pfannee, a fellow resident informed her. “The heir to the Eminency of Munchkinland is arriving, and there isn’t an apartment in the Hall left for her.”
“That’s not really the core of the trouble,” Pfannee’s friend, Shenshen, also a resident, butted in. “Nessarose Thropp could have stayed with Elphaba Thropp; they’re cousins after all. It’s just that there’s no love lost between their lines.”
“I wouldn’t stay with Elphaba Thropp,” Pfannee retorted, shuddering. “Cousin or no, one gets gooseflesh having her around.”
“Well, if Madame Morrible has her way, it’ll be Elphaba Thropp out on the street. I saw her talk to Elphaba once, and I don’t think the Madame’s too fond of her either.”
At this point, Galinda excused herself and walked away. It had been gossip and in other circumstances she would have left earlier, but the mention of Elphaba’s name had drawn her interest. She would not have guessed the tall girl to be a Munchkin; she defied her race’s physique on every count. But it seemed that Elphaba was not only a native—as a Thropp she was a member of Munchkinland’s ruling clan. Galinda was acquainted with Nessarose Thropp however. The Thropp First Descending and future ruler of Munchkinland was a petite and red-haired beauty. It had been years since they had last met though, and Galinda could not recall having been told of an internal rift among the Thropps.
Whatever the conflict was, however, it appeared that the raven-haired girl was in trouble. With a small shake of her head, Galinda set off for the meeting room of Crage Hall.
~~~~~
By the time Elphaba arrived at the meeting hall, the room had already gotten quite full. Earlier that day, Madame Morrible, the Head Mistress of Shiz University’s Crage Hall, had informed her that there was some trouble concerning her apartment—something about “expecting a different Thropp”—but had said little beyond that. It was only when Elphaba saw the red-haired girl at the front of the room that she understood what the trouble was, and her heart sank.
“Ah,” Madame Morrible smiled at her thinly. “Here at last, Miss Elphaba. Now we can begin.”
“I called this meeting,” she said, addressing the room, “to resolve a dilemma concerning Crage Hall. There’s been some…confusion regarding one of the reservations, and the apartments that were intended for Miss Nessarose Thropp were unfortunately given to Miss Elphaba Thropp.”
“There has been no such confusion,” Elphaba spoke quietly. “My reservation was handled months in advance and reconfirmed twice.”
Miss Morrible’s eyes narrowed. “Looking for scapegoats will hardly resolve anything, Miss Elphaba. The reason I’ve assembled everyone here is so we can address the situation collectively. We are a small and intimate community after all. What I propose, and this is really over and beyond my duties as the Head Mistress of Crage Hall, is for you to stay temporarily with one of the other residents–until such time as you can find alternative lodgings.”Elphaba clenched her jaw. There was no mistaking it; it was part of an effort to have her removed from Shiz–and to have her removed in as publicly humiliating a manner as possible. She wondered how much Nessarose’s father had paid to instigate all of it.
Miss Morrible had gone on addressing the room. “Is there any one amongst you here who would suffer the temporary…inconvenience of sheltering our dear Miss Elphaba?” She glanced lazily around the hall.
Elphaba knew the question was a farce; no one would raise their hand. Even if her presence didn’t evoke an inexplicable dislike amongst the other girls, the fact remained that no one would dare contest the wishes of the heir to the Eminency of Munchkinland. Elphaba glanced at her cousin’s face. The aristocratic features remained impassive and aloof.
A silvery voice broke the silence. “She can stay with me, if she wishes.”
The shock Elphaba felt was matched only by the surprise that suddenly displayed itself on her cousin’s face. She turned round to trace the source of the voice–and found the same blonde beauty who had rescued her days before.
It was Galinda.
Madame Morrible opened her mouth but Galinda spoke before she did.
“She would be doing me a favor actually. I’ve recently discovered that I very much dislike living alone, and my father’s been far too occupied to find me a chaperone.” Then looking straight at Madame Morrible, she added. “The House of Arduenna would be very grateful.”
Elphaba blinked her surprise. She’d guessed from Galinda’s carriage that she was nobility, but she hadn’t anticipated meeting the daughter of the ruling House of Gillikin herself–or being rescued by her, for that matter.
“Well, now,” Madame Morrible faltered. “That’s very kind of you, Miss Galinda, but there’s really no knowing how long Miss Elphaba will have to stay. The search for lodgings here in Shiz once the term starts is terribly difficult. I wouldn’t dare impose on you for such an indefinite period…“
“Oh, I didn’t mean for Miss Elphaba to stay temporarily,” Galinda replied with a dazzling smile. “She can stay with me for as long as she wishes. My accommodations are really rather spacious.” Then turning to Elphaba, Galinda asked her directly.
“What do you think Miss Elphaba? Would you very much mind moving in with me? It would help me solve my own intractable dilemma.”
Elphaba looked at the golden-haired girl’s eyes. If she found pity there, she would decline and leave, much as she wanted to study in Shiz and defy the wishes of Nessarose’s family. But the amethyst eyes held only kindness–and just the slightest hint of mischief.
With a slight smile of her own, Elphaba nodded. “Only because it solves your…intractable dilemma, Miss Galinda, I accept your offer.”
Galinda beamed at the rest of the stunned room. “Well, that’s all taken care of then. I really must commend you, Madame Morrible, for convening this meeting. It appears that we’ve found collective solutions to collective problems.” Then she added brightly, “Is there anything else that needs to be discussed?”
Madame Morrible started. “Yes. That is, no.” Then continuing stiffly, she said. “The meeting is adjourned then.”
In the sudden rush of babbling voices and moving bodies, Elphaba sighed in relief for the first time since she had entered the room, and smiled.
~~~~~
In the quiet of the room that her estranged cousin had just recently vacated, Nessarose brooded.
The intervention by the daughter of the House of Arduenna had taken her aback–and had also reignited the hatred that had lain dormant for so long. Galinda had grown even lovelier since they had last met. But even more importantly, she had become as politically adept as her father–if her demonstration in the meeting hall earlier that day was any indication.
Not that Galinda had done what she did for political reasons. That, perhaps, was what Nessarose particularly despised about the golden-haired girl. She didn’t hate Galinda for her beauty, for Nessarose possessed a cold, haughty loveliness of her own. Nor did she hate Galinda for what she stood to inherit, for while Galinda was only second in line to the crown of Gillikin, Nessarose was already the designated heir to her kingdom’s throne. No, what she hated about Galinda was her lack of interest in politics itself, or in worldly affairs in general, for that matter.
For as long as Nessarose could remember, there had always been something solemn and weary about the Gillikin princess, as if her very existence in the world was something she had to endure. She did everything she did with ease and perfection–to an extent that had the nobility of Oz use her as the benchmark for their children–but behind it all was an almost resigned dispassion. Nessarose found it infuriating. It was worse than any arrogance or conceit she had ever seen.And today, Galinda had used her effortless competence to rescue Elphaba, and she had done it in a way that had made it seem as if Elphaba had rescued her. Nessarose’s mouth tightened in a grim line.
Her father was not going to be pleased.