a heart enclosed in steel

only love would make her take up arms and only love could make her leave... and only love can bring her back.

Prolog:

Their eyes met and Alice felt her heart lurch strangely in her chest, it was as if it was trying to escape the tight confinement. the queen had been right it had to be her choice but she was wrong as well one can live one's life for another. Alice would live or die for her queen, alone. torn between her fear and her love for the queen but love winning out every time she clad herself in steel to face the jabberwocky.

Later as the monsters head bounced down the stairs and the cheers started. she stood by her queen as the champion of underland for the first time. The choice to leave was given and refused.

Alice stood to the left of the white queen her gaze locked on the people in the great throne room. they were all there to serve underland and Mirana of Marmoreal just as Alice herself was. She could see her own love reflected in their eyes as their queen spoke of peace and rebuilding what her sister had destroyed. Her heart screamed at her that yes their love was as her own but for the lust that that was all consuming to the young woman. Her hand rose of its own will to reach out and touch Mirana but froze as a loud cheer greeted the queens words. Earlier in the small reception room Alice had asked the queen what was to happen now.

"My queen, what is my purpose now? I slayed the monster. I don't think you need a champion to keep the masses in fear as your sister did with her champion. Tell me why should I stay?" Her heart was in her words, her need for the queens love and her eyes held unshed tears.

"Why you will be my trusted warrior and advisor. Have I not consulted you on many things?" her queen was focused only on the work at hand and she did not see the single tear roll down Alice cheek "and when I marry and have children you will be their protector as you are the protector of underland."

Married. the word pained Alice to the core of her being and she knew she could not stay in underland. She thought of a lord taking Mariana to bed and her heart broke and shattered in her chest. Her armor had protected her flesh but to protect her from the desire for her queen there was no armor not even in a magical place such as underland. The meeting had ended without her noticing and she was alone in the big room. As she walked up to her old armor still stained with the jabberwocky's blood she could more feel than see the queen enter. Alice picked up the magic sword once again and spoke without turning towards her queen.

"Mirana I cannot stay here like this."

"Alice wh..."

"You don't need me here anymore so I must go" She knew if she turned and looked at the queen or heard her speak the resolve to leave would vanish in her love for the pale flawless woman. "But my heart will stay here with you and if you ever truly need your champion call me."

"but Alice I.."

"I shall leave and find my life in the upper world" she took the potion of blood that she had carried since the battle on Feabjousday and drank it as she turned to see her love one last time as she disappeared.

"Alice wait!"

But she was gone however she had promised to leave her heart that was filled with love with her queen while holding a magic sword in a magic kingdom. So as the sword clattered on the floor a heartbeat was heard from the empty armor.