10 years later…

Esaias glumly dragged his feet down the long halls of the castle. He had just come from a meeting with his father, which was exactly what he thought it would be; long, boring, and filled with facts and figures he knew he should understand, but didn't. He managed to fake it, since he was only there to observe, and he managed to not doze off, which was a major accomplishment on his part. It was so much work to be the heir to the throne, and while he was grateful for the duty, he also hated it.

His father's office was so stuffy. It felt very kingly and regal, but he couldn't help but feel that all of history had their eyes on him, waiting for and expecting him to fail. He knew that someday, it would become his office, and that thought terrified him. He knew it wasn't inevitable, but he still wanted to put as much time between himself and that day as possible.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed, feeling someone grab his arm and pull him behind a curtain. He barely had time to see who it was before they gently pressed their lips against his. "Oh, it's you."

"How romantic," the hidden culprit deadpanned, rolling her eyes. "My original plan was to scare you."

"I'm glad you chose this instead, Faire."

Even after her father left office, Faire had stayed friends with the prince and princess, eventually getting closer with the prince. Even though Fiyero and Enan were still friends, they weren't seen together too much, since Fiyero didn't want it to look like he was speaking advice from a past prime minister and going behind the current one's back. As far as Esaias knew, his father and the new prime minister got along well. But Fiyero saw no harm in letting the children stay friends.

She giggled. "I just wanted to get some alone time with you before your birthday party. Happy birthday!"

"Thank you."

"And it's your big twenty-first!"

"It's not that big of a deal."

"You're kidding, right? You're now legally allowed to –"

"Shh," he whispered, hearing someone approaching down the hall. But instead of footsteps, he heard wheels squeaking.

"It's your sister," she whispered, pressing herself against the prince, recognizing the princess' roller skates.

The couple stayed pressed together in the tiny space as the wheels grew louder and louder, then stopped right in front of the curtain.

"Esaias?" Kenzin called. "I know you're down here! I heard your loud voice."

Faire bit back a giggle, covering her mouth for extra protection when Esaias shot her a look. Without warning, the curtain was thrown open, causing both hidden figures to yelp.

"Well… I had no idea what I was hearing was a criminal conversation," Kenzin exhaled, her eyes widening in amusement.

"No one even says that phrase anymore," Esaias deadpanned. "And I don't think it means what you think it means."

"Regardless of the phrase, Mama's looking for you. Both of you, actually."

"She knows I'm here?" Faire blinked.

"You know she has eyes and ears everywhere in this castle. Nothing happens without her finding out. She doesn't even have to ask; she just knows, so she stopped asking."

"The same, however, doesn't apply to Kezi," Esaias frowned, annoyed.

"As with most things, it usually doesn't."

"Did she say why she wants to see us?"

"No. You think I asked? And even if I did, you think she would tell me? You two better hurry to her office, and make sure to de-wrinkle as much as possible." The princess skated away before her brother could get the final word.

The two hurried down the halls, and up the main staircase to the queen's office. Esaias tentatively knocked, only peaking his head in when he heard his mother's 'Come in'.

"Come in, Esaias," Elphaba repeated.

The prince pushed the door open and took a small step inside. Even though his mother's office was much more homely than his father's, and the couches were more comfortable, he still hated being called into any office. The conversation that always ensued behind these walls always involved him being scolded for something.

The queen looked up from her papers and the two with a soft smile. Esaias noticed how tired she looked. She almost always looked tired, but this was more than usual. "Esaias, Faire."

The prince bowed his head and Faire curtsied. "Are we in trouble?" Esaias asked before he could stop himself.

Elphaba glanced at them over her glasses. "Should you be in trouble?"

"Uh… no?"

She sighed as she stood. "Both of you can have a seat."

"Are you alright, Mama?"

"Yes. There's just so much last-minute work for the party tonight. Are you excited?"

"Yeah."

"It's been a while since you've seen your Aunt Hanna, Uncle Zephyr, and Neama. And even longer since you've seen your Auntie Glinda."

"I'm a bit nervous about everything."

"Your father was the exact same way before his party. That's actually why I call you here today."

"Why?"

"I believe things might be a little different this time. Do you remember the Tigulaar Rose?"

"Was that the story Nessa used to beg you to tell that story every night before bed?"

Elphaba looked over to the flower in question sitting on a pedestal that neither of her young guests had noticed. Perhaps it was because they were too preoccupied with why they were called in. "Yes, that story."

"The flower's real?" Faire questioned. "I… I thought that was just a legend."

Elphaba chuckled. "No, Faire. It's quite real. It's how I ended up marrying the king."

"I think I know where this is going," Esaias grumbled so only Faire would hear him.

"I don't think you do," Elphaba said, and Esaias remember that his mother had ears like a hawk. "The story of the flower is –"

"I know. The flower chooses a bunch of girls who they think the heir will match well with, and then I have a week to choose who I want to spend the rest of my life with. It's a very low-pressure situation."

"Esaias, don't interrupt," Elphaba frowned, taking off her glasses.

"Sorry."

"I was going to remind you of the original story of the rose, that your great-great-great-great-great-grandfather –"

"I think he was very great," Faire whispered, and Esaias had to fight a chuckle.

Elphaba, of course, heard her, but kept going. "King Magnus gave it to his fiancée, Princess Ebaline, this rose, enchanted by the castle sorcerer so it would never wilt. When their son, Prince Mavric, became of age to choose a bride, the flower showed him that he belonged with the girl who held his heart, not the girl who held his duty."

"Is that what happened between you and the king?" Faire asked, still not seeing why she was called in.

"Somewhat. It was very usual for us, especially since I wasn't considered an 'eligible maiden' at the time. But the flower still chose me to enter the competition."

"So you're saying that I might have to marry a servant?" Esaias quipped.

Elphaba didn't look impressed. Faire gave him a nudge, which he shrugged off, looking to his mother for the answer.

"No. Your father didn't have to marry me. He chose to. And you will have that choice, too." She turned to the dark-skinned girl. "And that's where you come in, Faire."

"Before you say anything, Your Majesty, I just want to say that I understand," Faire said quickly.

"You understand, yet you don't know what I'm about to say?"

"That we need to break things off. That Prince Esaias needs to accept his destiny and duty to the crown and –"

Elphaba held up a hand to stop her and ran her other hand down her face. "No. Honestly, both of you should just let me say what I need to say and stop interrupting and assuming."

"Oh. Sorry." Faire shrunk in her seat.

"I'm saying that we might not even have to have this competition at all."

That got both of their attentions. "Why?" Esaias wondered.

"The flower's magic is ancient. There's so much we still don't understand, nor attempt to understand. The flower has revealed that the two of you will be together. Not because of your preexisting relationship," she added when she saw their faces. "I didn't have a preexisting relationship. But Fiyero would need help that only I could provide, and vice-versa, and that's why we were destined to be together."

"How do you know it's us – me?" Faire asked, her mind clearly reeling.

Elphaba walked over to the flower and lifted the glass cover protecting the rose. She motioned for the two to come, and as they drew closer, the rose became to glow. They all shielded their eyes as the bright light filled the room before bursting into a rainbow. Faire slowly uncovered her eyes and grabbed Esaias's hand as the rainbow enveloped and swirled around them before slowly vanishing.

"H-Has… has that ever happened before?" Esaias asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

Elphaba slowly shook her head. "No. At least, it's never been recorded. But it will be. I was just going to show you the petal with both your names on it, but I think that's already taken care of."

"Fae?" came Fiyero's voice and a knock. "Is everything alright? I saw a bright light and –"

"Come in, Fiyero!" Elphaba called, and the king slipped inside.

"What's going on? Is that the Tigulaar Rose?" he blinked.

"Yes."

"Does this mean I have to propose right now?" Esaias asked.

"Does this mean I have to accept right now?" Faire countered. "I don't think I will if that's the attitude right now."

"No, it means neither. Just that you two will need each other in a way you probably can't understand right now. You two don't have to do anything right now, but this will probably manifest in a way you didn't think possible. That's the way the magic works. It knows things we don't."

Esaias raised his hand. "So, I won't have a bunch of girls swooning over me tonight?"

"Oh, you will," Fiyero confirmed.

"And how much control do we have over this?"

"Not much."

Elphaba gave her husband a look. "The rose's choice doesn't just consider the duty to the country. It considers the heart just as much."

"I was lucky enough to get both," Fiyero smiled, and Elphaba accepted a quick kiss.

"I… I don't have any problems with the flower's choice." Esaias said, turning to Faire. "I'm relieved that it's someone I'm friends with, understand, and respect. I was hoping you were the one, now I'm happy you are."

Faire smiled, then her face became questioning.

"No, that wasn't the proposal. I just wanted to let you know."

"Good," she and Fiyero said in unison, making Elphaba chuckle. Faire turned back to Elphaba. "But, Your Majesty, how will I –"

Elphaba was prepared for all these questions. She had just as many all those years ago. "Perhaps we should all have a seat and talk. I'll send for some snacks."


Thanks for coming on this journey with me, everyone! Hope to see you again for my next story!

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