A/N: I'm sorry to have abandoned you for so long :( Some of you have probably already read this on DA, but that doesn't excuse the tardiness of this chapter appearing on here _
Disclaimer: I don't own Alice in Wonderland (2010) :(
Chapter Eight: Forbidden
They walked the halls, like they had many times before, Mirana's arm tangled in that of her keeper's. Her father had left for Marmoreal about a week before, two days after Alice signed the covenant, and things had returned to what passed for normal. Alice's hand was healing well, Mirana having been concerned with her keeper's wound, her keeper having lied to her about the circumstances from which it was borne.
Like the many times before, the two spoke of various topics, occasionally drawing a chuckle or smirk from their companion. Unlike the many other times, they stuck mainly to the second floor of the estate and walked a long hall with many windows which overlooked the atrium. As the afternoon wore on, and the two diverted from their worn path in favor of a new, the topic fell upon Mirana's future duties-having been brought up in their discussion of lessons-and Alice found the girl's spirit to have fallen.
"Mirana?" she inquired, stopping and looking into the woman's eyes. "Are you all right?"
"If...If I declined the throne, Alice, if I'd never been born royal: would you still be here with me?" the younger woman asked in response, meeting her keeper's eyes.
"Of course, why do you ask?" she replied, brow furrowing.
"Since I was young I've wanted to be queen, but there's something I find I want more–a part of myself I would give anything to please, if only because without it I find myself to be incomplete," the young woman replied, searching Alice's eyes. "Broken, even."
"I don't quite follow," Alice muttered, heart pounding. "What is it you're missing?"
"You," Mirana whispered as she swiftly pressed her keeper against the wall, her dark eyes jumping from the woman's throat to her eyes, "There was strike and spark, now flame..."
The young royal trailed off and leaned in, Alice's breath catching in her chest as Mirana's lips met hers' in powerful exchange. Mirana eased back, looking up at Alice and, finding what she sought in her keeper's eyes, went back for more. Eventually the keeper regained control of her wits, or perhaps, lack thereof, and was easily able to pry herself from Mirana, heart aching all the while.
"We can't," the keeper muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as she recognized confusion in the young woman's eyes.
"Why not?" Mirana inquired, confusion overcome by fire.
"I can't love you," Alice replied softly, trying to convey what she couldn't say with her eyes.
"If this is because we're both women, then I don't care, I love you Alice Kingsleigh," Mirana quickly responded, rubbing the older woman's arms, her brow furrowed slightly.
"That's not it at all," the woman replied, chills running down her spine as she looked into the young Mirana's eyes.
"Why then?" she inquired, brow furrowing further as her emotions grew.
"The time is not yet right for me to love you," Alice responded, escaping the stunned woman's grasp.
"That's it?" Mirana called after her, watching as the lady walked away, brow furrowed, anger and confusion sinking from her eyes to her mouth. "That's why? The time is not right? Who is to say it is wrong? Who is to say it will ever get better than this? Alice!"
"I'm sorry," Alice whispered, leaving the hall (and Mirana) behind.
The keeper descended the stairs, Chessur joining her halfway down. His usual grin dull as he floated alongside her, his silence a question.
"I never wanted to hurt her, but now I fear I have," Alice finally said. "I'll be leaving; somehow, sometime–leaving nonetheless. I've suspected for some time that such a thing would happen, but as of yet I haven't found a way back to the right time."
"Would you like my help in the matter?" Chess inquired.
"Of course: please do," Alice replied, heading out into the atrium and taking a seat upon the edge of a fountain.
"Well, I find it off that you wouldn't simply tell her that you must leave," Chess responded. "I should think it impossible that your actions change the future: for these actions have already happened to the woman you wish to return to."
"I was hoping you would help with finding a way back, not with this mess I've created," Alice muttered, resting her chin in her hands. "I hadn't thought of that possibility though, perhaps Absolem was right after all...I doubt Mirana will have anything to do with me now."
"I disagree, give her time–She may be an iron fist in a lace glove but she would sooner die than lose you," Chess replied.
Alice did not respond, instead looking up at the windows high above-wondering if Mirana was still up there, if there was any chance of her being forgiven. She supposed there was–after all, when her younger self returned to serve as Mirana's champion years later, the woman treated her kindly. She wondered if Mirana's feelings still carried in the future, and hoped they did, for while it was not yet the time for love there was love nonetheless. There always had been.
