The next morning, Ledney set back for the islands with five men from the Red Queen's court. As they boarded the ship, Ledney's daughter was kneeling before the Queen's throne as the rest of the court openly sneered at her.
The Queen scowled at the girl, her eyes cool.
"I don't like you." She said coldly. "If I was not… in need of soldiers, you would not be here."
"I understand, my Queen."
"Do you?" The Queen rose. "You are not fit for my court. Do you understand this? You're far too plain-looking. There's nothing extraordinary about you."
The girl lowered her eyes, but didn't respond.
"You're uncivilized, as well." The Queen continued, sitting once more. "I know you've lived with those barbarians all your life, but while you're here, you're expected to drop those idiotic behaviors. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my Queen."
"I've half a mind to cancel this agreement and send you home right now. I can hardly bear the thought of you stinking up my castle."
Stayne saw the back of the girl's neck go red, but she simply gave a light shudder.
"Will you… permit me to speak freely, my Queen?" she murmured.
The Queen hesitated, scowling.
"Very well." She finally said.
The girl rose and looked straight into the Queen's eyes.
"All of the girls back home are trained early on to be companions." She began. "We are taught the three pillars of companionship: total honesty, total obedience, and total loyalty." Her voice shook slightly, but her tone was determined.
"My Queen, I will never lie to you. You will always receive from me the truth to the best of my knowledge. I will tell you all that I know, all that I am aware of, and I will neither conceal nor embellish. This, I swear to you."
She paused for breath, then continued.
"My Queen, I will obey you in everything. Whatever you command of me, big or small, I will fulfill your wishes to the best of my ability. If you ask me to kill, then I will kill. If you command me to throw myself into a fire, then I shall do so. I will never question your instruction. This, I swear to you."
She let out a shaky breath. The Queen's expression had softened. She leaned forward on the throne to listen.
"My Queen, I will never betray you. I will never speak ill of you, nor will I allow others to speak ill of you. I will always come if you call for me, without hesitation. I will never intentionally cause you any harm, and I will never allow harm to come to you or your name. This, I swear to you."
The girl raised her chin, and Stayne caught a glimpse of something in her eyes. Pride, perhaps?
"My Queen, I swear myself to you on this day. I belong to you in body, mind, and soul. I am yours to do with what you wish, when you wish, from this day until the day you tire of me."
The Queen was silent as the girl finished.
"You would… swear all of this to me, even though I've just told you that I dislike you?" the Queen clarified after a moment.
"Yes, my Queen." The girl finally lowered her gaze. "My purpose is not to be liked."
"What is your purpose?"
"Whatever you wish it to be, my Queen."
The Queen smiled.
"Come here." The Queen gestured to the steps to the throne. The girl quickly walked over, stopping when the Queen raised her hand. "Those are pretty words, my dear, but how do I know that they are more than words?"
"Ask anything of me, my Queen, and I shall do it."
"You say you will kill for me if I command it?"
"Yes, my Queen."
The Queen smirked.
"Stayne, go down to the dungeons and select one of the prisoners. One of the larger ones."
A few minutes later, Stayne returned, leading a burly, trembling man by his chains into the throne room. He had once been a smith, one of the best in Underland. But he had chosen to give his loyalty to the White Queen. And the Red Queen couldn't have that…
The girl looked at the smith curiously, then back at the Queen.
"Is there a method you prefer, my Queen?" she asked gently. She looked back at the smith, who was eyeing her with confusion. "Do you wish it clean, or… may I be creative?"
"Oh, by all means, be as creative as you like." The Queen gave a dark smile, and Stayne suddenly understood her plan. The girl was so dainty… She wouldn't last five minutes against that brute of a man. She would be killed quickly, and the Queen could explain it as an accident to the girl's father. There would be no blame. "Stayne, unchain him."
He did as commanded, leaping back just as the girl lunged.
The girl was fierce. Ruthless, even. She'd taken the man by surprise and knocked him to the ground. She slammed the man's head against the floor and dug her nails into him. He fought back, trying to knock her off of him, but she persisted with bestial intensity, snarling at the man and biting his hands when they drew too close to her mouth.
The Queen laughed, shocked, as the girl overpowered him. A flash of pride appeared on the girl's face as she buried her mouth against the man's throat, biting down savagely. The man screamed as his blood began to gush forth, his body writhing underneath the girl. She slammed his head one final time against the floor, and he went still.
The Queen rose, applauding loudly. The rest of her court reluctantly joined in, quickly trying to mask their disgust at the blood that was now coating the girl's dress and skin, staining her mouth and teeth scarlet.
As the man's remains were cleared away, the Queen gestured for the girl to come forward.
"For the time being," she said with a surprisingly genuine smile. "You are my new favorite."
The girl grinned, dropping to her knees and kissing the hem of the Queen's gown. The smith's blood dripped down her chin onto the velvet, but the colors were so close it was almost impossible to tell.
The Queen smiled at the girl, reaching out her hand for the girl's, who grasped it after wiping the smith's blood onto her own skirt.
"Since you've sworn to me," the Queen said softly. "You're allowed to have a name now. Isn't that correct?"
"Yes, my Queen."
"What shall it be, then?"
The girl frowned.
"I'm sorry?"
"Your name, dear girl! What would you like your name to be?"
"Well… whatever name you like best, my Queen. I'm sworn to you. I belong to you."
"I want you to pick your name, dear. Surely, you must have some name you've thought about. One you've heard that you liked particularly?"
The girl's cheeks went red. She stared, wide-eyed, up at the Queen.
"I've never been told to choose anything for myself, my Queen." The girl whispered. "I'm sorry. I… I never gave it much thought."
The Queen's eyes softened.
She rose, gently pulling the girl to her feet.
"Leave us!" she called, waving the rest of the court away. "Go on now!" Stayne bowed obediently and started to turn, but she caught his arm. "Not you, Stayne."
As the court left, bowing and curtsying as deeply as their oddly-formed bodies would allow them to, the Queen turned her full attention to the girl.
"Why don't why we take a stroll, and I'll list some names? You can pick what you like best."
"Al-alright."
The Queen smiled, offering the girl her arm. Hesitantly, the girl hooked her own through it and allowed the Queen to lead her out to the grounds. Stayne followed behind them, allowing himself to study the sway of the two admittedly well-shaped bottoms of the women before him.
"Lisellie?" the Queen asked after a moment.
The girl made a face, causing the Queen to chortle.
"No, then. Hmm… Teranimuk?"
The girl winced, shaking her head.
"That sounds like a rash." She said softly.
The Queen giggled. Stayne couldn't help but smile.
"May I make a suggestion?" he asked before he could resist.
The women turned to him.
"Of course, Stayne." The Queen said sweetly. "My most trusted companion."
"What about…Sera?" he suggested off the top of his head. "It's a bit plain, but it's certainly pretty enough."
"Sera." The girl said softly, looking at the Queen. The Queen smiled.
"I like it."
The girl nodded, smiling slightly.
"I like it, too."
"Sera, it is. Sera... do you wish to keep your father's name? Parrisha?"
"I… Unless there's one you'd prefer, yes."
"Parrisha. Sera Parrisha. Beautiful."
