confusifying | wicked | book 3/3

Elphie

"Another victory for Nessarose!" Glinda cries waving the signed contract about the carriage, Boc and I cheer and Nessa blushes awkwardly.
"When do we leave for the Winkie country?" Boc asks, turning to Nessarose.
"Tomorrow morning." She replies, looking rather exhausted, "the king has arranged for some sort of a send off gift so we have to wait for that to be bestowed upon me."
My sister smiles wearily and rests her head in her hands, I tilt my head towards her.
"Are you wanting to lie down Ness?" I ask gently.
My sister ponders silently for a moment.
"Perhaps in a few minutes." She replies dully. "I think id like to fight this sleep for a little while longer." She chuckles, smiling behind her hands.

I'm nervous for my sister as I know the Winkie kind can be quite stubborn and brash, she demanded that she go in alone this time and as much as I want to tell her no I really can't do that as she's a grown woman.
Instead I'm going to have to sit in the carriage with Glinda and Boc, hoping that the Winkies don't somehow hurt my sister.
"Elphie." My sister whispers gently, I turn to look at her. "Would you put me to bed now?" She asks kindly.
I don't hesitate to carefully place her down upon the mattress, she thanks me heartily and apologises for being quite so tired.
"Get a good nights rest Nessarose." I whisper sweetly, as my sisters eyes swing shut.
I go back to the seat and sit beside Boc, with Glinda on his other side.
Words want to be said, we all exchanged awkward glances back and forth between looking at eachother and looking anxiously at Nessa, hoping that she falls asleep soon.

Once we are sure she's out cold, a flood of doubt begins to pour out of us.
"I'm not sure Nessa going in alone is a good idea." Boc airs quietly.
Glinda nods passionately.
"I'm glad I'm not alone" she whispers back harshly.
I nod hurriedly in agreement.
"There's not much we can do about it" I reply with a hushed voice "she's a grown woman, she gets to decide what she does and doesn't do."
Glinda widens her eyes and flickers between starring at Boc and starring at me.
"So that's it then Elphaba? Your just going to let her go in alone?" Glinda hisses.
But Boc seems to be on my side.
"Glinda you have to let Nessarose have some sort of independence."
And with that, the conversation Seises.

I'm awoken suddenly, it seems that I'd fallen asleep sat at the long chair on the carriage, I look beside myself to find that no one is there and I turn to see that they are crowded around my sisters bed.
"Nessa?" I whisper, unsure of what the time is.
I don't get a response and so I stand up hurriedly and walk towards my sister, she looks unusually pale and has her eyes starring straight up at the detailed ceiling, Glinda anxiously moves out of my way.
"Nessa what's the matter?" I whisper, still unsure of the time.
"Hold your tongue Elphaba!" My sister snaps, sounding clearly in some sort of distress. "Please."
The volume of her voice lets me know that it's okay to speak at a normal dynamic.
Nessarose suddenly reaches out a hand and grasps onto me, she looks as though she may burst into tears.
"Nessa?" I ask again.

Nessa finally looks at me, water brimming her eyes.
"Elphaba." She whispers before abruptly erupting into tears.
Nessa loosens her grip on my and I place my hand on the side of her face.
"What's wrong?" I ask a final time.
"My back!" My sister sobs "Elphaba I must have been laid down wrong or something because it hurts so much."
My heart suddenly sinks because I'm the one who put Nessa to bed, I've done it hundreds of times, thousands of times and somehow I must have done it wrong.
Suddenly a knock at the carriage door sends a shockwave through my entire body.
"Oh no, it's King Gregory's gift." Nessa gasps in between her sobs.
"We'll go and deal with it." Boc replies swiftly, ushering Glinda out of the carriage with him.
Once they're both gone I'm left with my bawling sister.

"Nessa do you want me to sit you up?" I ask shakily "do you think that would help?"
My sister continues to cry so I take on an initiative and slide a hand under her back.
She cries out in pain loudly.
"Stop stop!" She shrikes, "Elphaba don't."
I immediately pull my hand back and look at my sister, she looks exhausted.
"Elphaba," my sister mumbles after a short while "I need you to lie me on my front for a minute."
I grit my teeth and ignore my sister sobs as I slowly shift her onto her front, her head laid on its side facing away from me.
"Is that any better?" I ask timidly.
My sister doesn't answer me, she just lays there silently seething.

Boc and Glinda return suddenly, Boc is holding a large wicker basket, containing a larger blanket.
"King Gregory wanted the future Eminence of Oz to have a better blanket." Boc says emptily, he sits down with the basket and Glinda sits beside him, I perch myself upon the bed and the carriage starts to move.
Nessa is stilly crying sorrowfully.
"Nessa is there anything I can do?" I ask tearfully.
My sister still doesn't answer, I can't tell if she's blaming me for this, though I wouldn't blame her even if she is, this is my fault, it has to be.
Boc and I exchange worried glances as we listen to my sisters cries.
Glinda soon joins in with the anxiety filled stares and we're all thinking the same thing.
If her back doesn't stop hurting between here and the Winkie country, then Nessa won't be able to go at all.