The royal courtyard had always been a place that was well known for uprooting ideas, both notorious and eminent. It was the go-to place of anyone within the endless kingdom of red who sought peace of mind. Those who had visited it often bragged of its lush green grass and vibrant crimson roses. It had always been famous for its countless number of rose bushes and fountains. It was often referred to as "the secret Eden of Underland."

If Underland could have an Eden, that was.

Sitting upon a bench of carved stone, at the very edge of the courtyard, beside the largest fountain in the vicinity, sat fourteen-year-old Nell Cerise. She spoke not a word, but took in the relaxing noise of the water running in the fountain. Small birds chirped in the distance. Nell, having not been this relaxed in a long while, closed her eyes and allowed the soothing environment to overtake her. A trance-like state was obtained immediately.

In truth, this quiet time she required essentially, for her everyday life was composed of endless gossip, ruthless beheadings and the strident rantings of none other than the Red Queen, of whom she served in her court. The monarch was impatient, irritable, and irascible. She was a remorseless tyrant with a head larger than any creature in Underland.

Underland was restrained under her reign, and Nell, was nothing more than a slave to the queen's every whim.

Life at court was draining, so she salvaged what little quiet time she managed to squeeze into her schedule.

Only to be interrupted.

"Nell!" shrieked a shrill voice across the courtyard. She recognized the voice as Dahlia, her mentor, and the queen's right-hand-woman.

Nell slowly peeled her eyes apart. No doubt the queen was summoning her. Many a time a day the queen called for Nell, and for mostly the most obscure reasons. Odd thing was that as soon as she went to the queen, she was ignored. The queen hardly asked her opinions, as she asked the other ladies of the court. Nell was often sent on errands for the queen, and if she were a tad late, on the queen's watch, she received a vile tongue lashing.

"Nell!" called Dahlia again. The call was followed by the click-clacking of heels on the cobblestone.

Sighing, the girl arose from the bench and headed across the courtyard to Dahlia, who halted and began to huff breaths.

"No need, Dahlia," assured Nell. "I understand she's summoning me."

"Yes, she is," Dahlia confirmed between breaths.

"What is it this time?" Nell asked. She crossed her arms and allowed her eyes to look upward, tracing the points on the towers of the castle.

"The Knave has returned with news," replied Dahlia.

The young red head rolled her eyes. "As if I really need to be present to see Stayne," she spoke Ilosovic Stayne's name with utter predictability. She had known the Knave for years, and she was having a difficult time grasping the concept that the queen summoned her to sit in for such a common thing as his return.

With a shake of her head, Nell strode from the courtyard, rounded the backside of the castle, and entered through the front gate. As she made way through the great hall, those who knew her gave her a quick greeting as she walked past, which she returned politely. She walked right up to the immense red double doors that led into the throne room.

Idly standing before the doors, Nell took notice of her friend, Mallymkun, the dormouse, scatter to her side. The mouse's regular day consisted of scurrying behind the queen as she paraded about the castle. Whichever room the queen decided to use, it was a guarantee that Mally was guarding the opposite side of the door. Each doorway was bedecked with a mouse hole that ran between the two spaces, allowing Mally to approach the queen if someone requested an audience with her.

Mally unsheathed the sewing needle she used as a sword, and placed the tip to the ground. She leaned on it as if it were a staff. She smiled up at her friend.

"The queen is much too enthralled about Stayne's return," the mouse informed her.

"Isn't she always?" Nell commented, winking at the mouse.

Mally giggled. "I suppose I shall have Anubis announce you." She bound from her needle and it fell to the floor. She darted through the mouse hole. It was only but a few moment before she popped back out and retrieved her needle. "Alright," she said, "he's going to announce you." She twitched her ear when she thought of how nasty the queen could be. "Good luck."

Nell shot her a small smile, as the doors opened before her face. Anubis, the four-foot tall man with the thin black mustache raised his trumpet and tooted the same tune that was required of him whenever someone gained an audience with the queen. Once the tune was complete, he lowered his instrument and twirled the end of his mustache between his thumb and forefinger. "I present Lady Nell, your majesty!" he called.

Nell gave a small bow of her head to Anubis, and approached the queen.

The monarch sat, perched stiffly on her throne, which was at least twice as tall as she herself was. The size of the throne was meant to off-set the size of the queen's head, which was beyond bulbous. Scepter grasped in her right hand, feet upon the belly of a snoring sow, the queen's bottom lip twitched slightly and her nose wrinkled. This was the queen's way of acknowledging her presence, always had been since day one of her servitude. The queen spoke not a word to her, nor motioned for her to sit. She knew the girl knew what to do, she had her trained.

Nell took her usual place at the queen's right side.

A few moments passed, and the figure of Ilosovic Stayne crept in from the hidden door at the very back of the throne room. He bore a sly expression and his one good eye seemed to gleam with pride. He went to the queen's side, she grinned hugely, and offered him her hand, which he placed a small sensual kiss upon her pale skin.

"Ilosovic Stayne, you knave," said the queen lowly. Her tone was nothing less than purely seductive. "Where have you been lurking?"

Stayne reached a gloved hand into his doublet and produced a scroll. "Majesty," he said oddly. "I have found the Oraculum." With one swift mood, he flung the end of the scroll across the queen's lap. It tumbled down her skirt, rolled to the center of the room and halted.

The queen tilted her head. "That?" she asked, tracing the black lines with a thin finger. "It looks extremely ordinary for an oracle."

Nell observed in silence. She knew of the Oraculum and what it stood for. It was the calendrial compendium that foretold of each and every day in Underland. Each day was given a title and a specific event that was to take place on that particular day was the inspiration for such a title. That particular day was Griblig Day, according to the Oraculum.

"Feast your eyes upon this, majesty," Stayne beckoned her. He placed his finger on a certain spot on the Oraculum. "Frabjous Day."

The queen's posture stiffened. Conveyed before her was a detailed likeness of an armored girl who held an item high above her head. In the background, an image of the queen's most beloved champion, the Jabberwocky, its jaws spread widely.

The queen scrunched her nose. "I'd know that tangled mess of hair anywhere," she chided. "Is it Alice?"

"It is," retorted Stayne.

"What's she doing to my darling Jabberwocky?" she asked curiously.

Stayne leaned against the throne and examined his gloved hand. "She appears to be slaying it."

Nell felt her stomach knot. The Jabberwocky was the queen's champion, her beloved pet, her reason for breathing, even. She had befriended the creature many years previous, and it rewarded her by obeying any command she gave it. Factually, she owed the creature, for it was the very reason she had a crown atop her towering skull. Even the mention of harming the creature cause the queen to tip-off, let alone even the passing thought that someone dare attempt to slay it.

"She killed my Jabber-baby-wocky?!" the queen asked hysterically.

"Not yet. Only if we do not stop her," Stayne suggested. "I am prepared to take any precaution necessary to protect the Jabberwocky from harm's way," he said smoothly, with hope of calming the queen's temper.

"You must find her!" hissed the queen. "Find Alice, Stayne! FIND HER!"

Stayne did not waste another moment; he slipped behind the throne through the hidden door, his cape flailing behind him.

Nell, not daring to say a word, laid her eyes on the queen, who sat stiffly. The monarch gripped her throne with so much force that her pale skin began to turn purple. Her anger seemed to eradicate even the smallest opportunity that could be used to speak to her.

Finally, after a few moments of stewing, the queen swallowed hard.

"Anubis!" she hissed. "Tea!"

Anubis flinched conspicuously. He bowed his head. "Yes, your majesty; Straight away, your majesty."

The queen rose to her feet and Nell mirrored her. As she made way toward the dining hall, she took car not to wander to close to the queen as she followed her. That had been one of the most stressed lessons that Dahlia had taught her, when she had first come to court. One was to never invade her majesty's personal space, especially when the monarch was steaming angry.