LbN: Hey there Ladies and Gents! I'm finally done with school! Celebratory chapter is in order :)

The maze was the only truly frightening thing in Marmoreal. Its ten-foot hedges carried the sound of the wind and made everything seem a little dodgy. Even the lanterns casted an eerie glow over the bushes and flowers. Alice wasn't afraid though. She knew the way to the fountain in the middle of the maze from every entrance. She walked quickly, but quietly, finally spotting Mirana sitting next to the white fountain. "Mirana?" she said.

"Alice." Mirana held out her hand for Alice to sit next to her.

Alice noticed, for the second time in all the time she'd known the queen, that Mirana looked worried. "I don't understand what's happening," she said, taking Mirana's hand. "How does one escape from exile?"

Mirana smiled at her. "Well, when I said exile…Iracebeth was put into a small jail in the Outlands. I knew she would challenge me for the crown every day if she was free. She's escaped from the jail."

"What kind of jail was it?"

Mirana quirked a dark eyebrow at her. "I don't think I understand, my dear Alice…"

"What kind of…er…building was she in? Who was guarding her?"

"It was a cottage. There were different shifts of guards, about 60 in all."

"I think Underland needs a maximum security prison."

Mirana chuckled. "We'll have to send out a team of guards to try and capture her. I've got some of the flowers on the lookout to see about this supposed Vorpal Sword."

"I want to head the team," Alice said.

"No, Alice."

"I'm supposed to protect you, and Underland," Alice argued. "I'll be careful, and I won't fight the traitors if we can't win."

Mirana was silent for a moment, watching the water pour out of the fountain. "Let me think about it. At very least we need to wait for the report from the Flowers."

"Very well," Alice said with a smile.

"Come, back to the castle. We need to rest. I have a feeling the next week is going to be a trying time."


The next few days were marked by a quiet tension. Alice could tell that Mirana was emotionally preparing herself for something traumatic, but the queen would not talk to her about it. On the third day, she was still in the process of finding her way through the castle, which was actually more complicated than the maze. She'd figured out her and Mirana's floor, and was now trying to find her way from the kitchen to Lily's room (the seven-year-old had invited her to a tea party). She looked to her right and saw a door she noticed standing ajar. She slid into the dark room and stopped while her eyes adjusted to the dim light. After a moment, she saw a staircase in front of her. The walls around her were covered in interesting drapes. "Hatter?" she called quietly down the stairs. She could hear the whirring of a sewing machine, but he didn't respond. "Tarrant?" She walked down the stairs and looked for him. The workshop was a maze of dummies and fabrics and designs. She finally found him working at one of the back tables, but as soon as she saw him she knew he wasn't well. She stood there, not sure what to say.

When he finally spoke, it was in his deep Scottish voice. "So…you'll be wanting to fight?"

"Of course," Alice said quietly. "I'm Underland's champion—I should be out there finding Iracebeth."

"Mirana won't let you go. Not until you make her show you the Oraculum."

"Why? What's wrong with the Oraculum?"

"Nothing's wrong with it. But there's another prophecy. You should talk to Mirana."

Alice slowly approached him, but she could see the sense returning to his eyes. "Where's the Oraculum kept?"

"It's in its own room. In the left wing of the castle."

Alice smiled and hugged him, before leaving him to his work. She ran back up the stairs and found her way to the entrance hall and left staircase. She started on the first floor, randomly opening doors. This, she suspected, was the children's wing. All of the rooms she found were playrooms, with different themes. The first she found was a bubble room, with iridescent balloons. The second was a room with a bouncy floor. The third, she wasn't quite sure what the point was, but the children of the court, including Lily, were running at the walls and sticking…. After about an hour and a half, Alice was tired, hungry, and lost. She reached to open another door, and ask whoever was inside directions back to the kitchen, when Mirana came out of said door.

"Alice, whatever are you doing here?" she asked, closing the door.

"I was looking for you. And I wanted to see the Oraculum."

"Whatever for?" Mirana asked without meeting Alice's eyes.

"Mirana, this is silly," Alice said after a moment. "Whatever it is, I can handle it. Just let me see what it says."

Mirana nodded after a few seconds and took Alice's hand. She led the way into the room and stopped in front of the scroll. "Look, there."

Alice looked down at the Oraculum. It showed her and Mirana seemingly hurt as Iracebeth towered over them.

"Iracebeth is going to have her revenge," Mirana said. Quietly.

"Not if I have anything to say about it."


"Alice, are you sure about this?" Mirana asked.

Alice sheathed the Vorpal Sword and mounted Bastian. "I'm positive. If you're not there, you can't get hurt."

"Please be careful," Mirana whispered, squeezing her hand.

"I will. I promise." Alice turned and faced the guards. "Move out!" she called. She bowed toward Mirana as she and the guards rode out of the gates of Marmoreal.

LbN: Hope you liked the chapter! Send reviews! And, as always, there's a poll up on my profile if you want to vote :)