Author's Note
Hello, ladies and gents! I apologize for the long wait. I have no excuse.
As for the Poll:
Charles & Mirana = 7
Charles & Helen = 2
Charles dead = 2
You all better hurry up and vote as well, because I think that I'll be closing off the voting soon.
Chapter 4:
}-{
A heavy silence followed her words, but this time, she did not turn away. She gazed directly at her companions, eyes clear and unclouded by memories of times passed. She had to look, for Alice will have questions, but more than that, Mirana needed to know what her champion – what her daughter – felt after finally learning the truth.
}-{
Alice opened her mouth to speak, but no sound escaped her lips. She was stunned. It was the first time she heard the White Queen acknowledge her as her daughter. It felt a bit overwhelming, to say the least. Before anything else could be said, Nivens rushed into the room, nervous as ever.
"My sincerest apologies your Highness, but uh, she-she wouldn't take no for an answer." He stuttered out nervously and before anyone could ask who 'she' is, their question was answered before they even saw the woman entering the doorway. Her voice had done all the work for her.
"Sister, you won't believe what Tick-Toc gave me!" And there she was, heart shaped fiery red hair with no sign of the silver streaks Alice remembers from her last visit, large head standing out as her most striking feature and lips painted in her signature red heart. She'd also gotten taller.
Iracebeth came into the room before stopping when her eyes landed on Mirana's company. "Alice . . ." She whispered, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What, awe you doing here?" Her tone wasn't rude or accusing as it might have been on the times Alice had seen her before, but she seemed cautious . . . and curious.
"I invited them." Mirana said gently, knowing that her sister might take the news better if it wasn't dropped on her like one of Thackery's scones. "Invited? Why, siste' thank you for appreciating my company so much," Iracebeth said with an eye roll, turning around to leave. Mirana was quick to get to her feet.
"Racie, I promise you, it wasn't anything of the sort. As a matter of fact, why don't you join us?" The Red Queen was silent for a moment, looking between Alice and Mirana. "Do you have strawberry tarts?" She eventually asked and Mirana nodded, smiling sadly.
She hadn't seen her sister in a while – always so busy helping Time, as much as he was helping her. The realization that came when she found out just how drastic her choice to banish her sister had been, weighed heavily on her heart. And now being reminded of it . . .
Again, she was silent for a moment. "And chamomile," Mirana added, walking slowly back over to the table. Slowly, the Red Queen nodding, seemingly to be won over by her sister's words. "All right . . ." She agreed, following after to sit with them. It was in that moment that another revelation hit Alice full force.
Iracebeth, Red Queen, "Bloody Big Head", sister of the White Queen and – former – tyrant . . . is her aunt. And she's attempted to have Alice's head on more than one occasion. She wondered if this is what a typical Underlandian family is like, or if it's only this one.
A mother who'd lied to her and sent her away after she was born because of having a affair with her father – who is a married man – and an aunt that would like nothing more than to see her demise. Oh yes, she really wants to be part of this messed up family. "Racie, this is Helen Kingsleigh, Alice's . . . mother."
Speaking those words felt like a physical blow. She couldn't help but suddenly be very tense and stiff. She had known that Alice might not be willing to listen to anything she had to say, even if she is her birth mother, but still . . . Helen has more right to that honorific than Mirana ever did . . . or will.
The thought was terrible enough to cause her stomach to turn and her heart to flare with a burning pain, but she pushed it aside. It had been her choice to send her daughter away. It is her fault that she couldn't be there as her little Alice grew up. She forfeited being Alice's mother the night she left Charles' study.
She had been greatly blessed to even see her child again, let alone be able to guide her as a child and help her find her way again – twice – as a young woman. She was blessed to have had Alice's friendship. She can only hope that one day, she can earn Alice's trust.
She's well aware though, that to do so will be difficult and will likely take far longer than she will be comfortable with, but this is something she will have to do as much as Alice had to slay the Jabberwocky. Of course, if she succeeds, the relationship they will have then, will be strained at best.
To have someone break your trust is a heavy blow and though time can heal most wounds, scars still remain and so will the memory. Although, in a way, Mirana supposes, it is probably best this way. At least in this way, she can earnestly attempt to ear her daughter's trust as she should have done to begin with.
And of course, this will give her the opportunity to learn more about Alice and her ideals and personality – though she believes that she already has a fair grasp of what the second could be like. On the other hand, she also feels truly pained. What would things be like had she told Alice the truth when she had helped her as a child?
Would things have been better? Though the White Queen struggled to hide her discomfort, she knew that she shouldn't complain. She may have no right to call herself a mother, but Alice is still her daughter and that will never change. Mirana swallowed to clear her tight throat and turned back to Helen.
"Mrs Kingsleigh, this is my sister, Iracebeth of Crims." Her tone was a bit more formal, but still calm even though it was not quite as relaxed as it had been a moment before. If her sister noticed, she didn't say anything. "Kingsleigh, you say?" Iracebeth asked thoughtfully, tapping the table edge, her eyes narrowed in thought.
"Wasn't there a man that had that name, Miwana? Tallish, walked 'round with your wittle Vorpal Sword, blue eyes?" The Red Queen asked absently, having taken up a cup of tea while pondering. "Brown eyes," Mirana corrected without really thinking about it.
Alice's eyes widened upon hearing that her father had wielded the Vorpal blade. "Whatever. His name was Charlie- or something, wight?" Iracebeth asked. "Charles," Mirana nodded, going back to her own tea. Iracebeth nodded back impatiently. "Yes, yes, Charles."
"To be honest, when he won back the Vo-pal Sword fwom Thanatos – which by the way, you lost – after the battle I had hoped he would stab you with it." She added absentmindedly and Mirana gave her sister a sideways glance, frowning deeply. "I did not lose it, Thanatos stole it and I have no doubt that you wished he would kill me."
Helen raised an eyebrow at the display, whispering to Alice as she watched the scene unfold before her. "Are they always like this?" "I'm not sure, this is the first time that I've actually seen the Red Queen being even semi-civil to her sister." Alice whispered back, the Red Queen's words sinking in.
Alice was reminded once again that Iracebeth didn't just want Alice's head, but Mirana's as well. Hopefully, things have changed. Alice quite likes her head where it is and even though she and the White Queen are not on the best of terms at the moment, death does sound a bit extreme.
"I said stab, little siste', not kill." Iracebeth said with a slight hint of a grimace on her face. For a moment Alice actually wondered if Iracebeth wasn't perhaps being rehabilitated, because that had to be one of the nicest things she's heard the Red Queen say to her sister.
"Are those the same orders that you gave to Stayne?" The words had slipped passed her lips before she could stop them and she immediately wished she could take them back. As far as she and Iracebeth have come in restoring the relationship they had once had as young girls; there were a few things that both have never dared mention.
Things – for Iracebeth – that made her feel beyond terrible for not realizing how wrong it had been to say or do and things – for Mirana – that were just too painful or traumatic for her to remember. Iracebeth was trying to make amends, while trying to not become consumed again; this time, by guilt and regret.
Mirana didn't want to be reminded of how weak and broken she truly is. It would only bring back her insecurities and doubts about being a worthy queen and honestly, she very much doubts that the Underlandians would appreciate another breakdown from her.
After all, her last breakdown had led to Marmoreal's defenses shattering and Underland falling into turmoil for a little over seventeen years. And that had been so much fun – if her thoughts had been animate, they would have been overflowing with sarcasm in that moment.
"I'm sorry, that was uncalled for." Mirana said with downcast eyes, regret etched onto her features. Iracebeth stared at her for a moment, apparently looking for something. Mirana struggled to keep her gaze, shifting uncomfortably under the scrutinizing of her older sister.
The last time that her sister had really used that gaze, she'd still been very bitter ad was plotting against Mirana. The very same day that she had been on the receiving end of that gaze, Mirana had found out she was with child. Sometimes, her sister's gaze seemed soul-piercing.
After a moment, Iracebeth nodded as though having found whatever it was she had been searching for. It made the White Queen a bit nervous. Who knows what secrets her sister might have just unearthed? "We'll be talking about this later, Miwana. So what were you all snickering 'bout?" Iracebeth asked; her expression neutral.
It was almost unreal how her sister could be so intuitive and serious one moment and then back to her – apparent – normal self, the next. Sometimes Mirana wasn't sure how to react when things like this happen. In a way, it felt surreal, watching her sister's persona change so suddenly.
Iracebeth's words returned them all to the conversation at hand, though. Alice was able to quickly recover – used to seeing odd things by now – and Helen blinked slowly, unable to fully comprehend what had just happened. "Charles is Alice's father." Mirana said, remembering that it had been there that they left off.
Iracebeth blinked, surprised. She turned to Alice and studied her for a moment. Alice stared right back, arms crossed. Iracebeth actually smiled slightly at the sight, remembering the little girl that had painted her roses red; "Now that, I believe without a doubt." She said, returning her focus to enjoying her tarts and tea.
"We should enjoy the day while we can, I trust you two will be staying for a while?" Mirana asked, turning to look at the Kingsleigh women. "That is the plan." Helen smiled uncertainly. "As long as there isn't anything else, I should know about, I think I would like to spend my day catching up with my friends, if you don't mind your highness."
Alice's tone was accusing and her words made Mirana inwardly flinch. Outwardly, only her eyes betrayed the harm Alice's words had done. "Of course, Nivens shall escort you to Tarrant's workshop and he will take you the rest of the way." As if on cue, the White Rabbit came around to Alice.
For a moment, she was surprised that he got here so fast, the she realized that he likely never left after bringing in the Red Queen. Alice left with him, leaving the two queens and Helen alone at the table. Iracebeth and Helen eyed each other, each wondering if they should speak while the other was present.
Mirana sighed, bringing one hand to her forehead and used the other to bring the teacup to her lips. Heavens help her when these two finally do decide to speak with her. And may Underland help her if Alice continues to push her away, because Mirana was already tired of crying.
The last thing that she needs right now is reason to shed more tears. She sipped her tea quietly, despite the tension she could feel in the air between her sister and Charles' wife. Whatever their decisions on how to proceed with conversation, it will come from them, not her. She's too tired to play savior of teatime.
Thank you for reading.
Until we meet again, Fairfarren.
~ Lyrical-Light
