There was a croquet game going on later that afternoon. Aurora stayed back a little way from the rest of the crowd. She didn't really prefer being in the thick of things when everyone assumed she couldn't understand them. She got the most irritated when Lady Big Nose and Lady Big Ears spoke slowly and in exaggerated tones as though she were a toddler. She resisted the urge to flip them both off and wondered (with some amusement) if such a gesture even carried meaning in Underland. Her mental bashing of the residents of Salazen Grum didn't improve when she saw that Iracebeth used birds and hedgehogs for croquet equipment. With all the animal furniture around, it really shouldn't have surprised her in the least.

The game was interrupted by a giant girl. Aurora looked up at her quizzically…her face seemed familiar. She wondered how on earth that girl had gotten in the bushes without anyone seeing. She'd been here longer than anyone else had.

"I've been growing an awful lot lately," the girl was telling the queen, "I tower over everyone in Umbridge. I came here because I knew you'd understand…"

"Of course, my dear girl. Anyone with a head as large as yours is welcome in my court."

She shouted at the servants to find some clothes for the giant girl. The crowd dispersed, muttering. Aurora ventured closer with a raised eyebrow. The girl had to squint to see what was written on the page in her book.

Do I know you from somewhere, Um? I could swear I met you before.

"I'm sure you haven't," the girl replied, "do you know many giant people?"

Aurora held up one finger. So far, she'd only met one giant and that was Stayne. She wondered if he was having any luck finding the Alice person.

"You can't talk, can you?"

I don't have much to say…I don't really think anyone cares what I have to say, though. I prefer to talk through my pictures.

She held the book up. Um's giant hands took the book and she flipped through it.

"These are really good."

She handed the book back to Aurora.

I was hired on as the court artist.

"I can see why."

Umbridge must have been a lot like my world…people who are different aren't well accepted there, either.

Despite being as naked as a newborn, Aurora suspected Um of hiding something, but she chose not to ask. Martha came outside with the tape measure to get Um's measurements.

"I'll be right back, Um."

"Thank you," Um said awkwardly.

The little white rabbit with the watch stayed outside with them. He and Um spoke to each other as though they knew each other. The little mouse was also talking. They were discussing a man that was called "Tarrant." Aurora had not yet met him, but she thought she recognized the name. As soon as Martha brought out Um's dress (a patchwork-like garment made of drapes and sheets), Aurora scribbled something in her book.

I don't know the guy personally, but I think I know where he is. The Queen was talking about a Mad Hatter upstairs…I've been meaning to go investigate anyway.

"Wonderful," Um sighed, "would you take us up there?"

Aurora and the white rabbit led the way. She learned that his name was McTwisp and that the mouse was Mallympkin, Mally for short.

The Hatter, Tarrant, was very happy to see Um again. Aurora watched the reunion and felt a slight pang in her heart. A pervasive sense of loneliness invaded her mind. She left after a moment.

Stayne returned around lunchtime. He was not in a good mood. Aurora decided it might be a good idea to give him some space. She was working on Iracebeth's latest demand for a portrait when he joined them in the throne room. He caught sight of Um and an unusual twinkle graced his eye.

Aurora frowned.

"And who is this lovely creature?" he whispered to Iracebeth.

"Um, my new favorite?"

He looked over at Alice.

"What is your name?"

"Um," the queen replied impatiently.

"I do believe your name has slipped the queen's mind," Stayne said with a smile.

"Her name IS UM! IDIOT!" Iracebeth shouted.

"From Umbridge," Um said, almost apologetically.

He still smiled, but there was irritation underneath it. Aurora didn't blame him.

It didn't escape her notice the way that Stayne looked at Um. It was…hungry. Lustful.

He's undressing her with his eyes…uh…eye, Aurora thought bitterly, no one's ever looked at me that way.

She wondered the sudden sourness stabbed like barbs at her mind. What should she be upset about? Ilosovic Stayne was, after all, a man. And other than his missing eye, he was a healthy man. He was human. Um, unfortunately, didn't seem to return his interest. She averted her gaze from him and refused to look at him. Aurora didn't know what to think. Part of her was a little relieved.

He may be selfish, but he helped me, she thought, he's the first one that helped me in a long time. Of course I don't want to share him.

That thought left her deeply troubled.

It escaped Stayne's notice that Aurora seemed preoccupied throughout lunch, throughout the rest of the afternoon, and throughout dinner. He had other things on his mind.

Iracebeth was in one of her dark moods this evening. As the storm rolled in, she sighed discontentedly.

"Everyone loves my sister more than me. Why?"

"Is it not better to be feared than loved?" he asked without any conviction.

"Perhaps…I'm beginning to have second thoughts," she answered, "I've had to kill an awful lot of people to instill that fear."

"Even your own husband," he said absently.

"You know I had to do it…he would have left me."

Stayne didn't look down. He would have seen Gabriel's crown glinting gold against the grayish-tinted heads. He wondered why she didn't at least give him a proper burial.

"What do I need them for? I have you," she said, flinging her arms around him suddenly. Her face rubbed against his stomach. Ilosovic glanced down at the top of her enormous head. Nothing but coldness and bitterness was present in his heart. He didn't even pity her. She deserved to be lonely after what she'd done.

Aurora was wandering the hallway. She stalked past the others, not caring whose attention she drew. She was angry. She couldn't figure out why she was angry and that made her angrier. Um swished past her and didn't even seem to see her. Aurora chased after her, wanting to talk to her, but Um was moving too quickly. Though Um continued to walk, Aurora decided not to keep trying to catch her.

Then, Stayne appeared. He, too, walked right past Aurora and moved towards the large blonde girl. Aurora frowned.

Stayne pinned Um against the wall. The disgust on her face was evident. Aurora also detected a trace of nerves.

"I like you, Um…" he said huskily, "I like…largeness…"

Um pushed him back.

"Get away from me!" she snapped.

Aurora heard a chuckle. She saw someone sprinting down the hallway, but she didn't see who it was. Either way, the air suddenly turned dark and foreboding. The anger was now mixed with nerves. She stalked towards Stayne and grabbed his hand. His expression was pure nastiness.

"What do you want?" he snapped, obviously angry that he'd been rejected.

Aurora glared at him reproachfully. She pointed to the other hallway and did a very exaggerated imitation of one of the court ladies. Then, she pointed at Stayne and the spot that Um had just been standing in.

"Someone saw us?" he asked.

She nodded.

It was the first time she'd seen the color drain out of his face the way it did. He scowled, but she could see the fear underneath. A mixture of nerves and loathing made his body stiffen.

"Aurora…" he couldn't seem to figure out what he wanted to say, "…I must ask you not to tell anyone. Can you swear to me that you won't?"

She nodded. Though she didn't like the situation, she understood. His ridiculous behavior was pent-up lust and loneliness. Iracebeth was as likely as a porcupine to be his lover. The ladies of the court were too frivolous and gossiped too much. Aurora was the only other woman besides the rest of them that he'd been exposed to and he still treated her as if she wasn't all there. That left Um as the only candidate…it was in that moment that she despised male logic.

"Thank you," he said grudgingly. His pride was hurt, she knew. There were a million things that she wanted to say, but she wasn't sure she should. He walked away and she followed him. He wasn't sure whether he minded or not…his intention was to grab some Outlandish wine and get completely smashed. It was about ten times stronger than regular wine.

The kitchen was dark, as the servants had finished cleaning up a few hours ago. He went straight to the pantry and retrieved the bottle.

"Don't look at me like that," he said without turning around. He could sense Aurora giving him a Look. When he turned back to look at her, she was conspicuously not looking at him. He retrieved two glasses and sat down at one of the tables. She watched him pour the blood-colored liquid into them.

"If you're going to stay, then stay. But I'd prefer it if you aren't completely sober either."

She accepted the glass with some hesitation. He downed the contents quickly. Slowly, she raised the glass to her lips.

It wasn't what she was expecting. She'd only smelled wine one time on the breath of one of the orderlies and it stunk to her…this didn't have that noxious smell. Instead, it smelled sweet, like fruit juice. She took a cautious sip. It tasted even better than it smelled. It was hard to believe that this drink had any alcohol in it whatsoever. Still, she drank it slowly. Stayne was already on his second glass.

"I hate this place," he sighed, "it's lonely. The only women I've ever been around for years are Iracebeth…enough said…and those court ladies with the fake body parts."

Aurora nearly choked. She couldn't suppress her smile.

"Of course they're fake…how many people do you know that are born like that?" Stayne asked. He was smiling now as well.

"They giggle like schoolgirls, but I despise every one of them almost as much as I despise Iracebeth. I do hope you keep better company when you run this castle."

Aurora nodded. He refilled her glass, but she drank this one even more slowly than the first. She was already beginning to feel a pleasant haze settle over her brain. Her face felt flushed as though she had a fever and a sense of dreaminess clouded her thoughts.

"I might not have known Um for even a full day," he said warmly, "but I'll miss her! She was quite beautiful. Aurora…do you think you could draw her for me?"

Aurora's hand moved of her own accord. She quickly sketched the blonde girl and tore the page out for him.

"Thank you."

He was clearly buzzed now…there were pink patches on his cheeks.

"Aurora, I think you're the only friend I've got," he sighed, "you listen and you don't repeat anything. You're not anything like Iracebeth…it's hard to believe that the two of you are even related. You remind me more of Mirana…I think you'd like her. She's beautiful, but a bit eccentric. You have the same eyes, come to think of it."

Aurora rested her chin in her hand. The wine warmed her insides and she no longer felt the evening chill brought on by the storm. Thunder growled outside and lightning split the skies. The storm seemed miles away, though…

"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful your eyes are? They're so dark…you wear your heart in them."

Stayne was vaguely aware that the filter between his mouth and his brain wasn't working very well. Aurora's face flushed brightly. She froze when his fingertips grazed her cheek.

"Don't turn away…you have color. You look more alive this way."

She leaned into his touch, her eyes sliding closed. Was it so wrong to accept a little affection? His fingers were cool and felt good against her burning face. Smiling a little more, he moved closer to her.

"Touch me, Aurora…"

She leaned into his arms and was vaguely aware of his breath stirring her hair. A feeling of intoxication that had very little to do with the wine flooded her.

"Ever been in love, Rora?" he purred. She shook her head.

"Ever been with a man?" he asked, his breath in her ear sending pleasant tingles down her back. She shook her head. She'd been institutionalized since she was a child…she wasn't ignorant in the ways of the world, but she hadn't been allowed to participate.

"I could show you, you know…"

Aurora jerked away from him. Her heart was thundering and she felt as though a bucket of cold water had been thrown on her. Her sudden intake of air was as close to a gasp as one could get while being a mute. Somewhat annoyed, Stayne looked at her as though she'd lost her mind.

"I wouldn't hurt you, you know…I've been with virgins before."

She turned and bolted out of the kitchen. She didn't stop running until she made it upstairs to her room. Locking her door behind her, she didn't allow the tears to come until she'd collapsed on the bed.