Tarrant sat on the floor before the White Throne, where Mirana sat. They were the least happy pair in the land at this time, for different reasons. The Knight had failed. For Mirana, it was hard for her to trust his competence as a champion. She had practically left his task to him upon a platter, but he had to make it more of a game, she would now have to find a new way to take Alice out of the picture, and soon, if Alice's word reached her people, she would have a revolt on her hands.

Tarrant's eyes were a dull lifeless gray. The official word was that Alice had been ensnared by Stayne just before the escape. Mirana tested out the lie to him first, better to see the results on a mad man, in case he doesn't take it.

"I would suspect by now, that Alice has had her mind poisoned by Stayne's black artists. Any number of potions could have been slipped to her by now…" She mused. "A truth teller for her tongue, something with catfish whiskers to fool her mind, and maybe even for her heart." She said, eyeing the hatter for a reaction. Devastation was the only word that fit the man now.

"Is there nothing we can do for her now?" He asked, his eyes watery from the thought of Alice, no longer being Alice, not even Almost Alice. The Queen shook her head sadly.

"All we can do now is send a feathered friend to spy and see what damage has been done Tarrant, but my finest knight swears that he saw Alice forced to drink something." Tears now freed from his eyes. Mirana tried to console the man, but Tarrant could not stay in the room any longer. He fled for his work room, where his friends waited for him.

Slamming the door behind him Thackery and Mally jumped at the display, but Chessur remained unphased.

"Me Alice, me poor Alice!" He wept falling to his knees, his hands going to his hat to pull on the edges as though it was the hat that kept his mind from running off now. The March Hare and Door Mouse looked to the floor, sadness taking them, but the cat could only growl with impatience.

"Tarrant, stop that. Last time you were told that nothing could be done for her you ran off in pursuit of her!"

"An' dat set 'er up fer failure!" He snapped, his mix matched eyes full of pain and confusion. "Te bloody knave, he poisoned her! Now Alice won't be right and proper ane'mor. " He spat, heartbroken. The cat flicked his tail in discontent. None of this sat well with him. His eyes shifted to his less intelligent counterparts in frustration. They all lost the will to think otherwise it seemed.

"If that is the case, you know what is going to happen now." He muttered floating for the window. "War is going to come again, and now you can have that revenge that you thirst for." He hissed which caught the hatter's attention, but he did not reply to the statement. Without another exchange of words, the cat leaped from the window, floating of to who knew where. The three remained silent for some time until the dormouse found her voice once more.

"Maybe Alice won't be affected by the poison, after all, she isn't from around here!" She said hopeful but Tarrant shook his head.

"It will. My sweet Alice, she won't know up from down." He whispered getting to his feet and went to his desk, his hands reaching for a strip of ribbon that had belonged to Alice's dress on her last visit. "Why is a raven like a writing-desk?" He asked sadly, but none of his friends could produce an answer for the hatter.


Alice awoke suddenly to check her surroundings. She had hoped it was a nightmare, but the bandages on her form proved otherwise. Mirana wished her gone, and the preferred method was death. She didn't even take the life of her cruel sister, nor Ilosovic, even when he begged for death! Yet Mirana fooled her in believing that she would be rescued. Tears of rage and self-pity began to burn her eyes, but she refused to release them. Instead she put herself on the balcony, hoping the wind from the sea would help dry her eyes.

Her predicament went from horrid to worse in hardly anytime. She was nearly murdered by Mirana, proving that she was only seen as a pawn to the Queen, her friend Tarrant managed to escape along with Chess but she hadn't a clue of what Mirana would do with them. Were they imprisoned, or killed? Did Mirana tell them that she was dead or that she had chosen to remain with Stayne? Then there was the matter of her betrothed. After the battle at the cliffs, Stayne had gave the word to not postpone the wedding, but to bump the date. They were to be married today. Her train of thought was interrupted by the door creaking open, revealing Az dressed in a charcoal gray dress.

"Alice, it's time." She said simply. Her eyes giving some sympathy. Though Az believed this was the best thing for Alice, as well as the kingdom, the maiden pitied the Queen to be. She had endured betrayal from the kingdom she spoke so strongly of. Alice nodded, no longer having the will to fight against the current.

"Let us get this over with then." She muttered back, breaking away from the balcony and went with Az to prepare for the ceremony.


Stayne stood still as his armor was tended to, polished to perfection, eyeing the clock nervously which caught the attention of the squire who had volunteered for the honor to help prepare his King for the day.

"My King, if I may ask, why do you seem as though you are going to war rather than marry?" The question made the man scoff.

"War would be far more calming than this, idiot." He muttered, irritated that the young man was grinning now.

"Nonsense!" He shouted gleefully. "This is a joyous thing indeed! How on earth can you shake with fear?" Stayne glared at the unsuspecting squire who had his back turned to fetch the cape to be clasped on. A beautiful silk, Black with silver stitching, the inside of the garment a light gray. "Why, when I got married to my Elaine, I could hardly sit still. Happiest day of my life."

"Well your 'Elaine' never slayed a Jabberwocky." He spat which much to Stayne's discomfort made the man laugh full heartedly.

"Aye, you're right about that, though with the temper she has I wouldn't put it past her." He said making his way back to clasp on the cape. "But, my King, you are marrying Alice! The Alice! Why, I would imagine nearly any man to be gloating this to all of Under and back again." The comment made Stayne shift nervously. It was true that Alice was a bit prized spouse. He knew he should not worry on anyone attempting to court her now, but the girl still had not taken a liking to him.

He wouldn't confess the fact, even though a lowly squire could see his fear perfectly, but he was frightened. It was what he wanted, but it was not even achieved to its full entirety. This was Alice of legend, and even though their fates had been intertwined, she was still rebelling.

"She hates me." He muttered more so to himself, but perfectly audible to the squire.

"I don't know about that M'lord. She is a very interesting woman… When I asked my wife to marry me, she turned me down three times!" He said with a grin, now dusting the shoulder plates the best he could. "Why, I thought she would never have me until I told her the truth."

"The truth that you were incapable of acknowledging her refusal?" Stayne asked hopefully but was shut down with a simple shake of his head.

"No, no, no! It wasn't that at all! I knew that she was not interested, but it was because I didn't express my true interest!" He said with a chuckle. "I had been so concerned with getting her to say yes that I never stopped to tell her why I wanted to marry her." Stayne waited patiently to hear the answer, refusing to give in to ask what the reason was.

"It was because I loved her. Why.. The moment I saw her, I loved her. The good and the bad bits too!" He confessed. "And that's what you need to do M'lord, you need to confess your-"

"Who said I loved her? I'm a King, and she is a Champion. It's a logical union and-"

"M'lord, if I may be so bold. It is obvious you have feelings for the girl." He began, catching a look from Stayne that was a mix of anger and shock, but he did not threaten to have his head, so the man continued.

"…. The Knight which I normally tend to told me how you went out to meet the white knight who had come to slay Alice. He described how in battle you were composed, but something told him in the way you went out there was fear within you, but clearly not for your own well-being." He whispered now, Stayne's eye still on him and he sighed lightly.

"You can deny it all you like M'lord, but it's plain to see. You may just need to see about expressing it in the right manner."

"I don't have to do such a thing as express such a.. Trivial speech to her…" He muttered. "We're already commencing with the union." He muttered bitterly.

"Yes, M'lord." He said giving a bow to make his leave.

"Wait." Stayne snapped as the Squire placed his hand upon the handle, stopping the young man in his tracks. "… What is your name?"

"Gareth, M'lord. Gareth Acker." He replied, now thinking that speaking his mind may not have been the best choice, but was relieved with a simple nod, and he left without saying another word.

Stayne pondered briefly on the words given by the squire. He wasn't sure which was more irritating; that a squire had offered better advice than all the advisors he had ever come into contact with, or that he was seriously considering said squires advice.

He didn't expect Alice to ever take a liking to him, but maybe she didn't hate him. She had saved his life after all, but that may have been her way of repaying her debt to him. He couldn't say, and he didn't dare to ask. The girl's wit was by far the most frustrating and admirable trait from her.

She could make even the brightest and boldest knights sound like a bubbling idiot at times. She would twist his words, or worse, see his confession as a weakness, after all, she was crafty. She managed to become one of Iracebeth's favorites, even if just for a day.

His thoughts went over to the prophecy, its words only spoke of the Queen's, making no mention of him or his fate. For all he knew, Alice could still reign over all of Under and beyond without him in the picture, and though he would agree that Alice could be a great ruler, he would prefer to be alive and well. There was one skill that no one could deny, and it was that he was a survivor, and he had more than enough scars to prove it.

His gaze went back to the clock. The ceremony was to begin soon, and Time help him, but he was a nervous wreck. He considered have a bit of liquid courage to help ease his nerves, but Alice was surely already repulsed by him, having the scent of any such alcohol on today of all days would only increase her distain for him. Or did she even care for such spirits at all? He cursed his lack of knowledge. Master at military tactics and battle and he couldn't even get the girl to lower her walls! She was an 'easier' target now, after last night's event, Alice lost much of her muchness, but he knew she would bounce back.

He only prayed that it would not erupt during the ceremony.


Alice stared at her reflection in the mirror once she was finished being prodded and poked. Tarrant's clothing did not need any adjustments, but the hand maidens had insisted on a few last minute alterations, and they did not go unnoticed. Nor unfelt. Alice dislike the bodice more than any other garment her mother had forced her to wear.

Her gown was an obsidian lace black on the bottom met by a slick midnight black for the top. It was a ball gown, but not overly puffed out, giving it more of a princess style appearance. All along the dress, diamonds had been stitched in, which reminded Alice of the night sky, pitch black with the lights twinkling far off in the distance. The sleeves were a lighter tone of black, a bit of mesh sort of sheer material and they were formed to make simple butterfly sleeves which was one of Alice's favorite qualities of the dress, giving her the freedom to move her arms freely.

The bust of the gown was probably her least favorite, but it was very flattering. The neck line was cut into a Queen Anne style, and with the help of the added corset, it gave the illusion of fuller breasts. The back of the gown, much to Alice's displeasure, was open revealing nearly her whole spine, the material missing from the back however was made up for in the train that would be pulled behind her as she walked down the aisle. The maids agreed that for the purposes of the wedding, it was a little to revealing, so they had added a veil which dropped just before the floor.

Her hair had been done partially up with a waterfall braid to keep the said veil in place, the comb kept in with a pure silver pick comb. The strands the remained free of the braids were allowed to remain in their loose curls. Her makeup had been done, but it was kept simple. Stayne's words about Alice's face being her most redeemable trait had reached many of the servants, and no one wished to alter her appearance too much, only a light foundation of powder and an odd tasting balm for her lips. When Alice asked what it was, the maids explained it was a secretion from a local plant, and Alice lost her curiosity, not wanting to know anything more.

Her hazel brown eyes looked over her form in misery. When she had tried it on before with Tarrant, it had meant something else. She had agreed with Tarrant that it was a beautiful dress, she could not say it was his best work, but he claimed it was. It was a cruel joke, when he had made it and as she wore it now. For Tarrant, he meant for it to mock Stayne in the loss of his prize, but now it mocked Alice, being wed to a man as unforgiving as the night, and cast away from the light which was Mirana.

"Alice, you're the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. " Az whispered looking her over. Black was far too dark for her complexion, but it gave her an enhanced exotic beauty. "I would not be surprised if our king took you at the altar."

The comment made Alice's eyes go wide. Stayne had promised to wait until she had given the alright to advance, but he had already proved to be unable to contain himself. Twice. Alice's legs felt as though they would give out at the thought alone and she suddenly felt very sick with fear. She would have nothing to control him now, not with words of Mirana to aid her or of Tarrant to shield her temporarily.

Alice didn't even take notice when Az had placed a diamond tiara upon her head. Alice looked to Az without a word. She knew it was time.

All eyes were on Alice as the doors to the throne was opened and the sound of a violin began to play. Alice's eyes met everything as she slowly made her way down the carpeted aisle, a bouquet of black roses in hand. She was shocked to see the amount of individuals who had come to see the wedding, both humans and animals alike.

Her gaze finally made its way to Stayne as she neared the end. He looked as though he was geared for war, not for a marriage. She was intimidated by the display of onyx and silver armor, and little did she know, that his intentions were just that. He, however he did not expect her to look as devastatingly beautiful as she did now. Even angels would envy her beauty.

The pair stood, sizing one another up, just as they had done on the stage when they met each other again, only now the audience was not bidding for her. Their eyes never met, because Alice couldn't bear to look him there, Stayne took it out of a sign of defiance, but Alice did it out of knowledge that she would break if she did.

The man, or in their case, the black crane who would form the union began to read from a scroll, but the words never made it into either of their heads. His voice, as annoying as it was, couldn't tear the pair from their thoughts. Stayne was admiring the corset's work when he nearly missed his cue to give Alice her ring. Clearing his throat, Stayne held up the ring and displayed it to the honored guest before them.

"With this ring, I take Alice Kingsley as my wife, my queen and as my eternal love." He began before turning Alice and gently took her hand to place the ring upon her finger, slipping on every so easily. Alice now was staring at Stayne with confusion. She had never given her family to him, or at least, not to her knowledge. Her eyes quickly went to the ring to observe it.

A simple silver band, no extravagant diamond or design, which made it a little easier to bear. Now her gaze met Stayne's eye which made her question why he looked so fearful. She quickly turned her gaze to the Crane who nodded to the ring before her, another simple silver band. Hesitant, she carefully took the ring and presented it to the crowd, just as Stayne had done before her, swallowing hard she tried to form words in her dry mouth.

"With- … With this ring I… take Ilosovic Stayne as my husband, my king… and my e- eternal love." She mumbled, hardly audible, but it was good enough to commence the union. The crane gave a nod before looking to Stayne once more.

"I present The Queen and King of Deces. Long live the Queen! Long live the King!"

"Long live the Queen! Long live the King!" The witnesses called back without missing a beat.

Alice shifted a glance to Stayne, waiting for the kiss to be initiated, but no order to do so came from the Crane's beak. Instead, Ilosovic took her by hand and walked her down the aisle, and the music rang though her once more.

She felt sick, terribly sick as he led her down at a rather quick pace. It had happened so suddenly, she recalled her sister's wedding to have felt like an eternity. She blamed it on her nerves, the very nerves that made her stomach churn now as Stayne led her out of the throne room. His pace quickened once in the halls, free from the prying eyes.

Alice knew where he was leading her, and for the life in her she couldn't muster up her muchness now. She was not at all herself. No, she was no longer Alice Kingsley, but Alice Stayne, and she had not the slightest clue of who that was, or what she was like, which made her current state worse. Alice saw as they neared the Royal Chambers hall but was taken aback when her didn't made the turn but continued on just past the hall and entered a room which Alice had not investigated yet.

It was a study, one which reminded Alice of her Father's, books littered all about, and she could almost hear her mother threaten him now. He released her hand just as he shut the door and locked in behind them, triggering the fear once more until she noticed that Stayne did not seem to take attention to her whatsoever at the moment. He made his way to the desk and began to write furiously, all Alice could do was just watch in confusion and hope that he would not release the same amount of force on her as he did on that quill, the feather snapping between his fingers.

Finding Alice's silence more frustrating than relieving, he cast her a heated stare, but sighed in hopes to calm himself, not wanting to make it seem as though he was upset with her. How in Under could he? She was ravishing, and she was far more enticing when she was nervous. He felt like a proper predator, but he would keep to his word, not acting on his accord but hers.

"I am writing to Mirana." He muttered.

"What for? 'Terribly sorry you could not attend the wedding, but you did almost kill my wife'." Alice snapped, now finding her feet and joined Stayne beside his desk to look over his work. Stayne released a chuckle. She bounced back quickly, given the right set of words that was.

"Something along those lines… Yes." He purred, satisfied she no longer saw the white witch as her ally and friend. "I did not tell you the benefits of our marriage, Alice, but now that you are Queen, no one can attack you without proper arrangements." He said setting back to his letter.

"As a Champion, one could come in to slay you any time the pleased, but as a Queen, a date must be arranged so that you or the other party can gather the forces necessary for a…. 'proper' fight." Alice thought over the words carefully. It had explained why he had bumped up the wedding day without thinking of letting her heal fully first.

"So are you calling her to war now?"

"Not just yet." He replied looking her way. "I'm waiting for a certain… advantage to come our way before I wish to request a date for our war to begin. Would you like to add anything else to this letter, Alice?" He asked.

Alice thought of saying something to warn Mirana to not bring harm to Tarrant, but she imagined that this would only hurt Tarrant in the end. She shook her head and Stayne nodded, rolling the parchment up and securing a string around it to keep it rolled up nice and tight.

His eye lingered back now to Alice who was propped up against his desk, the promise he had made to her gnawed at him painfully now, but he would prefer to consummate their marriage in a place worthy of such a conquer. Clearing his mind for the time being he went back for the door. He would have to find a crow or a raven to take the letter. As he went to unlock the door, he was interrupted.

"My last name." Alice whispered. "You knew my last name. How?" Stayne paused at the question turning back to her, just as puzzled as she was now.

"You told it to me." He answered back. "When you first arrived here."

Alice nodded, though she never recalled doing such a thing. She hardly remembered him her first trip down, only that it plagued her mind at night, but by morning she had lost half of it. Her eyes moved the books, in search of something else to occupy her mind, but nothing would suffice now.

"Can you tell me? Of when we first met?" She asked, looking back to him now, surprised to see that he no longer looked stern, but almost in distress. She nervously turned her gaze to the floor once more. "Nevermind- you do-"

"You don't remember?" He asked in a whisper.

"Remember what?" His face now directed to the floor. A mixture of sadness and joy upon his face. A smile to his lips in rememberance of that fated and nearly fatal moment, but his eye held such regret that she did not recall the time herself.

"Alice. That was the first time you had saved my life."


The Red court was filled to full capacity for the trial against the Knave, having been accused of stealing the Queen's tarts, and so far with all the evidence that had been brought in, things were not in the Knave's favor.

He knelt before the King and Queen, bound, shackled and somewhat bloodied by a beating he had received for resisting arrest. Anyone who knew him would have known that he did not care for tarts, and especially ones baked by the Queen, she was as lousy of a chef as she was a Queen. Whoever had framed him for such a petty yet serious crime would pay dearly, if he managed to get off without a beheading that was.

Tarrant Hightopp had just gotten off the stand, he was a horrible excuse for a witness, though what seemed like stage freight to the crowd was clearly the Hatter's way of confusing the jury, singing songs and speaking of tea. From the corner of his eye he could see the jury all shifting anxiously. It was nearly tea time and it would be a terrible shame to not take their time at that time. Tarrant had successfully persuaded his peers to want a swift and unfair trial.

A cook was next, but he did not even make it to the stand, having no evidence to prove whatsoever. Stayne began to exit the crowded room and bury himself in his thoughts. He was a dead man, and though he did not fear death and knew fully well he deserved death, he did not want to die over some stupid tarts. He tried to come to terms with his end when a voice broke him from his trance.

"Here!" cried a young girl from behind him, and she made her way over past the jury box, knocking it over as she did. Now the entire court was in chaos over the size of this girl, fearing she was far too large to be a witness, but the case continued. She knew nothing of the business but that was very intriguing to the king. They moved to a letter, which had been found within the cell he was kept in before the trial.

It was unopened, not marked on the outside, and once opened by the White Rabbit, it was revealed that it was not a letter, but a set of verses. It was also unsigned, and the writing was not of the prisoner's. The King declared that the Knave must have forged someone else's hand writing, another offense worthy of a sever whipping.

"Please your Majesty," said the Knave, and he went on to claim that he did not write it, nor could they prove such a thing, being that it was not signed. The King also never liked Stayne, always had it in for him since he was courting Iracebeth.

"If you didn't sign it, that only makes matters worse!" The Red King shouted. "Clearly you were up to mischief, or else you would have signed it like an honest man!" A round of cheers and applaud went around the court at the king's wit. Stayne could already feel the axe at the back of his neck.

"That only proves his guilt, of course," Iracebeth said promptly, eyeing Stayne with disgust. " Off with-"

"It doesn't prove anything of the sort! Why you don't even know what they're about!" cried Alice, who was proving to be the only ally he had in the room. Without question, the king ordered the rabbit to read the verses to further commence with the trial.

"They told me you had been to her,

And mentioned me to him:

She gave me a good character,

But said I could not swim.

He sent them word I had not gone

(We know it to be true):

If she should push the matter on,

What would become of you?

I gave her one, they gave him two,

You gave us three or more;

They all returned from him to you,

Though they were mine before.

If I or she should chance to be

Involved in this affair,

He trusts to you to set them free,

Exactly as we were.

My notion was that you had been

(Before she had this fit)

An obstacle that came between

Him, and ourselves, and it.

Don't let him know she liked them best,

For this must ever be

A secret, kept from all the rest,

Between yourself and me."

The verses did not make a drop of sense to Stayne, but the king felt as though it were the most important thing to have ever graced his ears. Once again Alice interjected, and once again she was on his side. She also continued to grow in size.

"I don't believe there's an atom of meaning in it." Alice said triumphantly, which caused a great deal of controversy in the jury, but the king had to prove Stayne's guilt.

"You can't swim, can you?" He asked, with a wry grin. It was common knowledge that the knave was not only able to swim, but feared any body of water deeper than a fountain. The King continued, winning the jury over once more, that was until Alice had pointed out that the supposedly stolen tarts, had been in the court room this whole time. Right under their bloody noses.

Stayne could only laugh at it all. He had been accused of a crime that had never happened, and the one to save him from losing his head was a little girl who was three times his size. He turned to look to the girl, he knew he must have looked a sight, because she gave him the most frightened look he had seen in quiet some time.

"Young girl, what is your name? I should have the right to know the name of the person I owe my life to…"He whispered softly in her direction. She offered a smile, still showing fear on her face.

"Alice Kingsley." She whispered back before chatter from the queen began again.

Unfortunately for him however, the pair loved their beheadings and torture, he knew mainly because normally he was the one to carry out the torture. The Queen motioned to have the sentence carried out before hearing the verdict, but Alice, his angel of mercy, had not only defended him yet again, but had insulted the Queen.

The whole court went into a fit, but Alice had suddenly vanished before she could be apprehended by the royal guards. How a girl her size could vanish without a trace was beyond him, but all he could do in this moment was laugh.

"Alice Kingsley." He whispered to himself, a grin that could not only compete, but trump the Cheshires smile, was on his bloodied lips. His eye rose up to meet the Red King and Queen, both of whom looked less than displeased.

"Can we chop of his head now, my dear?" The King asked leaning over, and Iracebeth shook her head.

"No, dear husband. We can't! He'll die happy, and I couldn't bear to see that. We'll torture him for a bit. When he loses that smile for good, then we'll rid of him." She said simply. With that Stayne was hauled off back to the dungeon, laughing the entire trip down.


Alice stood in silence once Stayne had finished telling Alice of the missing memory, she only really recalled the end however, calling the court nothing more than a pack of cards. She smiled gently at her childish behavior before looking back to Stayne who still looked very taken aback.

"I wanted you the moment I saw you as Um." Stayne confessed. "Because you reminded me of the girl who save my life, the girl who I could never have because of her crimes against the crown." He whispered, searching for his place. "Alice, I need to confess something to you." Alice lost her smile now, unsure if she was prepared to hear whatever Stayne wished to tell her.

"Stayne, I-"

"I owe you everything I have, Alice," he muttered as he stood before her, "And even though you hold not an ounce of affection for me, I will make you safe. No one, creature or queen, will harm you. Not again." He vowed, turning his back to leave. "Now that you are Queen of the Black, you hold more power than I, more influence, more riches and I hope far more joy. I know this means little to you, and maybe you wish you could have went back to allow my beheading, but I will somehow make it up to you, Alice."

"You wish to come out of your debt to me?" Alice asked, her voice carried stronger now, making the king turn to face her once more. He could only nod to the question. "If you truly wish to repay me, you will teach me how to properly fight." Stayne's eye widened at the command, now wishing he could take back those words.

"Alice, you don't need to worry for yourself.. I will protect you. You are far too precious to be placed on the battle field."

"Be that as it may, I should still know how to fight properly." She retorted moving closer to him now, her muchness returning. "Had you not come to my aid last night, I would be dead. Now either teach me how to fight, or I shall go to the armory and order your- no, our men to teach me." Alice warned.

Stayne sighed in defeat. The girl was stubborn, but it was one of her greatest assets. Without any further objections Stayne nodded. Not even a day into their union and she was already working him over, proving how well of a Queen she was going to be.

"Very well, Alice. If you wish for me to train you, I will. But it won't be enjoyable, I assure you."

"Very well then." She replied, turning her chin up in victory and moved to walk past him, only to be caught by her arm. She gave him a questioning look, and was caught off guard when he placed a kiss on her lips.

"To seal our deal, of course." Stayne whispered as he pulled away with a grin making Alice frown.

"Our marriage, or for your agreement to train me? She asked whick made the king's grin widen.

"Are kisses normal in the wedding ceremony where you hail from, Alice?"

"Well a kiss to seal a business agreement certainly isn't." She muttered folding her arms, less than pleased with how giddy Stayne appeared in this moment.

"I think I should like to visit this place you come from." He said with thought, but gave a shrug. "That of course is very unlikely, but it would be nice to see where you came from. Meet the family." Alice went slack at the mention of her family. Time was so odd here, she wasn't sure if The Wonder had made it to London yet. If it did, her family would think she was dead.

Her mother would be devastated, as would her sister, the thought torn though Alice like the very storm that had swept her away in the first place, she felt light headed and rather faint. Stayne caught on immediately that something was amiss.

Alice moved to the desk to better steady herself, shaking violently until Stayne wrapped his arms around her in hopes that she would remain still, he began to fear the worst. Perhaps Winthrop had poisoned his blade, or if she had poisoned herself in hopes of dying, finding death more suiting than his company or-"

"My family, my friends, they all think I'm dead!" Alice shouted, how could she have not thought of them. Too consumed by her own troubles to even take a note of those she left behind. The members of her may never get the image of Alice sinking to the bottom of the ocean from their minds, yet here she was, just made a Queen! She glanced up to Ilosovic who looked upon her with gunine worry.

"I came back here though a whirlpool while at sea. Everyone I love must surely think I swimming with the fishes, so to speak." She whispered as she gently removed herself from Stayne's hold. "I imagine they will hold a funeral for me. Only no body to mourn over, but knowing my mother she'll still have an empty casket." Stayne watched as Alice seated herself in his chair.

"How have you come to Under before?"

"Both by rabbit holes. I very much doubt I can get back and inform them all that I am not dead, but a Queen. Oh, no one would take me seriously then. Lock me away for sure if I came back from the dead, ranting on that I married a King." She said with a sad sort of smile before looking to Stayne.

"… I'm sorry Alice, I wish I had means for you to get home, but I don't." He whispered wishing he could present her with at least means of getting word to her family. His eye darted to the scroll in hand once more and sighed. "Alice, I'm must deliver this now, will you be alright?" Alice nodded in response, and he left swiftly, with intentions to return once the task was complete.


Grail silently walked through the white halls of Marmoreal dressed in fine royal clothes that he had taken from the sheep in the wood, paranoid beyond belief, but a sense of relief was in him now. Word of Alice's 'failed rescue' spread fast, giving the wolf a new found hope that he would not return to Stayne with fear of losing his tail, so long as he could bring the king what he asked for that was.

He stayed clear of areas that produced large gatherings as he searched for the scroll. It was said that the Oraculum was normally found beside the thrown, but with the current events, Grail feared the Queen took it wherever she went, for the times that he had checked the throne room, the scroll was missing, as was the vopal sword.

His eyes scowered the all too bright and clean palace, but he couldn't even locate the queen, let alone any of her advisors. He had nearly given up on the search when a rabbit had collided with him, turning the corner of a hall.

"Oh heavens! I do apologize for that, terribly, terribly sorry s- Oh, what, my word, I did not know we held a wolf in our council!" Nevins stuttered as he fought to recollect himself as well as the items in hand which he had dropped. Grail now began to panic.

"Yes! Well, you see the- the Queen thought it wise to hire a less.. 'noble' creature for these less than noble times.." He lied, helping the rabbit collect the items from the floor. All of them scrolls.

"Oh! Yes, of course. I'm upset that she would not hold a council to such a decision, but I cannot say that she didn't have the right idea in mind!" He replied, snatching each of the scrolls before the wolf had a chance to lay a paw on them. "What position were you hired for?" The rabbit asked, mainly out of curtesy more than anything else.

"Ah, well I'm to be- to be her, uh to be her-" The rabbit was eyeing him suspiciously now.

"You were hired yet don't even know what you were hired for?" He asked disgruntled now, how could the Queen take on extra help that was not even qualified to remember what they were?! "Well, judging by your robes, you are in the legistration committee, I happen to be going there myself now, I've been tasked to recite out Time's plan, and your and your colleagues will write it down for historic purposes."

"Oh, yea, that's real fascinating stuff." He said looking over all the scrolls in his paws now. "So it's the Oraculum, right? That's how Time tells us what's going to happen?"

"Precisely!" Nevins beamed setting all the scrolls but one opening it up to show the wolf in sheep's clothing the fated scroll and how it worked. "See here! This is how Time communicates with us, now mind you it's not always the same picture when opened, but of either what is happening now, what is about to happen, or end up like a calendar! Now see here! The picture is forming! Now, look there! See? Oh, actually this is odd indeed, why am I asleep on the floor, very odd indeed."

Looking at the scrolls picture of the rabbit knocked out cold with his likeness making his escape, the wolf needed no other motivation. Clocking the Rabbit on top of his head, sending the poor thing crumpling to the floor, the wolf took the scroll and made his predicted escape, already spending the gold he would make in his head.


Winthrop stood before his queen with his head held high, even in shame one of nobility had to keep appearances. Mirana's eyes were dark, far darker than usual, the rings which surrounded her eyes had grown in size and deepened in color. True, she did not need sleep, but he mind was truly restless now. Everything which she had set up to win over Time's will was falling apart. She held the letter which Stayne had written in hand.

Alice was a Queen now. A Queen that had a kingdom, and with it a militia that was doubt trained under the watchful and cruel eye which belonged to Stayne. Alice was a Queen, with an army, and she knew that she was wanted dead. Though all of this, she still managed to smile as though nothing was wrong at all, but her eyes said it all.

"You failed me, Winthrop. I was really counting on you." She cooed from her throne.

"I'll take whatever punishment you see fit with dignity, my lady." He responded in suite, but she shook her head.

"I wish I could, you certainly deserve something for disobeying me, but I can't afford to lose you now." She whispered rolling her head to the side in self pity. "You still are one of my greatest assets, you managed to wound my opponent rather severely, did you not?"

"She'll be needing stitches to say the least." The knight replied, now wishing he had just off'd her as he was told. Seeing Stayne fight the way he did made it clear that Alice meant a great deal to him. Had Alice been killed, he would have imagined that the stain would have thrown himself over the cliffs to reunite with the girl.

Suddenly the doors were thrown open, startling the pair, the conversation that they had was not for anyone's ears but their own, but relief came to Mirana when it was only a nervous Niven's scurrying down the hall.

"Your highness! The Oraculum!" He shrieked in terror.

"What of it?! Does it display war?"

"No, well maybe, but it has been stolen!"

"Stolen, by whom?"

"A wolf! A wolf who claimed to have been hired by you!" Niven's shouted looking to the knight expectantly who eyed the queen now, awaiting orders.

"Shall I retrieve the scroll and the mongrel?"

Mirana was silent, thinking cautiously over the current predicament. She did not have to guess who may have been behind that order of this theft, but it could work to her benefit.

"No." She said simply getting to her feet, which shocked the pair before her.

"No?!" the inquired in unison.

"If Stayne wishes to know of Time's will, then I shall grant him the burden." Mirana said with a sadistic smile, knowing fully well that though Time may have a soft spot for Alice, but Stayne was only a pawn to him in this. "The knowledge of the Oraculum sent my sister mad with fear, perhaps it shall do the same for Stayne."

"But your highness-!" Niven's began, fearful himself. "How are we to know of what is to come? Will there be war, and if so when, and who shall start it? And whatever shall become of Alice?!"

"She has been poisoned, Niven's." Mirana spoke with a tone that could only be seen as sorrow. "Her mind, that is. She has married Stayne to an extent of her own will. She is no longer our champion, but our enemy." Niven's looked to the White Queen in horror before bowing his head.

"I must inform the rest of the kingdom.. Is there nothing we can do for her?" Mirana shook her head in response.

"I fear not, my friend. My powers can only remedy so much. Black sorcery is nearly impossible to undo, Nivens. Please break the news to Tarrant gently. His mind is already broken, it's such a pity his heart will be too."


Alice managed to calm down a great deal, her breathing no longer hitched but steady. She jumped in her seat when the door opened once more. Stayne returned, just as he intended, only he had a servant with a cart in tail to add.

"Dinner for the newly wed bride?" He asked, continuing on before she could respond. "We've both missed out on our own party. Personally I'm not one for such things, and I take it you aren't fond of large gatherings either?" Alice smirked.

"What horrible leaders we make. Not able to stand in a room full of people who are here for us," she mused looking to the tray as it was placed upon the desk before her, her stomach growling painfully. She had not eaten since before her attempted escape.

"On the contrary. I think you make an extraordinary leader because of that." Stayne replied at the Servant scurried out of the room, leaving Stayne to serve the meal to his Queen. "Unlike Iracebeth and Mirana, the pair of them craved the attention. Iracebeth more so.. Mirana was just naturally sought after, by nearly everyone." He whispered as he lifted her tray to reveal plenty of fresh vegetables, steamed and roasted. Turning back to te cart he pulled out a bottle of not wine, but champagne.

"Do you drink?"

"I do, but not often. Not terribly fond of it, but I suppose the occasion calls for it, and I could use with something to lessen my aches." Alice confessed as he poured her a glass. "Iracebeth and Mirana… how long have you known them?"

"Since I was a child myself." Stayne recalled pouring his own glass now. "I worked in their kingdom's stable," he said preparing to take a sip before he became aware of Alice holding up her glass. A gesture of a toast. " uh, here is to us, and-"

"To us and to those who miss us." Alice whispered clanging her glass with his and took her sip first, shaking as she took it down. Setting the glass down to settle herself she looked back to Stayne, still very curious. "So you have worked from them your whole life?"

"Well unfortunately I was unaware that I was in position to be King in my youth," Stayne snarled looking away at the thought of the bitter memories of his childhood, "but yes. I worked for their family for nearly my whole life." He muttered, his finger trailing around the ring of his glass.

"I'll take it that the experience was less than pleasurable.."

"Quiet, yes." He responded looking her over, still in that dress that was far too tempting. He had to hand it to Tarrant. He may be a mad man, but he knew how to dress a woman. But that may be as close as it came for Tarrant and the opposite sex. Dressing them up for other men to undress.

"What did it consist of? Working for them?" Alice asked. Stayne, noticing that she still had not touched her plate, decided he had to get the girl to eat. He could not have her wither away, or worse, drink until she became sick.

"Tell you what, Alice. For every bit you eat, I will answer a question of yours. Deal?

"Do we have to kiss on it?"

"Take a bite and I will answer it." He jived. Frowning, Alice took a fork to a piece of broccoli and ate it.

"No, we do not have to kiss. Take another bite and I'll answer that last question of yours," She replied by taking a bite out of a steamed carrot.

"I worked primarily in the stables. Mucking them out, tending to the horses and the riders. It was a grooling labor, but not without its perks. I was always within range of the knights and guards, hearing their tales of battle. I enjoyed my job at that time, it kept me occupied, however it was my employers I did not care for. Not just the sisters, but nearly the whole kingdom."

"Why?" Alice asked with a green bean within her teeth, making Stayne sneer.

"Don't talk while you chew." He said sternly to which Alice gave a glare of her own in response. "I did not care for them, because they did not care for me. If you had not noticed, my dear Alice, but I'm not like most others, given my form. My childhood was painful enough as it was, but my features made me an easy target."

"That doesn't seem fair at all. Being picked on for what you look like."

"Life isn't fair, Alice. You should know this."

"I do!" She shouted setting her fork down. "I do know how unfair life can be sometimes. I am only saying that it's not right."

Stayne sighed and nodded, taking in his full glass of champagne then set it down to refill it once more. His eye on the fizzing liquid.

"I'm sure your childhood was more delightful than mine, calling kingdoms no more than 'packs of cards' having tea parties with mad creatures, and falling down rabbit holes."

"It wasn't horrible." She whispered looking to the plate, already having devoured a quarter of it. "It was pleasant, normal I guess, except for being brought down here. My father praised me for what we both thought was my imagination, but my mother detested it."

"Your father sounds like he is an admirable man."

"Was." Alice corrected. "He- He passed several years ago." She whispered, making Stayne bite his tongue.

"I'm sorry Alice, I-"

"No, it's fine… Really. It is."She whispered giving off yet another sad smile. "He would have found this place absolutely fantastic. I mean sure it's normal to you and anyone else who lives here, but where I come from… It's so very dull. At least the people are." She whispered. "It seemed like my father was the only one who understood me, and he didn't have the slightest clue of what was wrong with me."

"Alice look at me." Stayne demanded, forcing Alice to look his way once more. "Nothing is wrong with you, do you understand?" Alice stared at Stayne in astonishment. "Whatever you see as flaws, they are not. They are what make you, Alice."

"Why are you doing this?" Alice asked suddenly, her voice full of fear and doubt as she stood up from the desk, Stayne standing as well in confusion. "When I first came around you were much more cruel! You were rough and cold and you threatened me! And now you're going on about wanting to protect me and make things up to me, and tell me that I'm not wrong? What would you know about that anyway?! You killed people!" Stayne winced at the verbal slap.

"Alice-"

"No, just… Stop." She pleaded moving to move past him only to be caught by her arm.

"Alice, please. I'm sorry." He whispered as Alice wretched herself free from his grasp, but did not continue for the door.

"Why did you have the sudden change of heart?! Is it so I'll give in to your desires?" She asked. "You have already won my hand, must you pollute my mind and my heart as well?" She asked in tears. "I- I'm just so utterly lost now! Must you be like this? It was do much easier before!" She began again, the pent up emotions now finally catching up once more. She crumpled down to the floor, just as a child would in distress, as she had done many times in the past. "When you were cruel and Mirana was kind, and Tarrant so hopeful, so dreadfully hopeful." She cried wiping her eyes, unaware that Stayne had followed her to the ground, on both knees before her.

"Alice, I know how troubling this must be."

"Do you? It's a world of trouble! I feel as though I've completely bonkers! My friends are my enemies and my enemies are now my subjects, and you…" She whispered now looking him in the eye, and only now did she see its color for what it was. In the past she had seen it dark, black at points, but now it was a blue, and so very light and pale, much like her favorite color, and this caught the poor emotional woman very off guard. "You-…"

"I know I'm not what you want Alice, but I-" But now Stayne cut himself off now. He knew that look in her eyes now, something close to hunger, but more so longing. He knew the look because he was giving it to her now, and now she was waiting on him. "Alice, I love you."

She did not know where it came from, but it came none the less. Alice soon found herself wrapping her arms around him as she pressed her lips against his, over and over again. The sweet balm mixed with champagne and tears set Stayne nearly over the edge, but her restrained himself as best as he could, he did not wish to rush her, and certainly not now.

His lips met hers with the same amount of need as hers, but he soon found that she had now placed herself upon his lap as best as she could, tears continuing to pour from her eyes as the kisses deepened. Stayne reposition himself so that his knees were no longer beneath him but at his side, and his hands were now burrowing themselves into her fine golden yellow hair. By Time's hands, he did not for see this happening, but he could not let this happen fully, not here at least, and it felt as though the girl's body agreed with his thinking. She was trembling now, and he did not wish for her to flee from him, even though she still advanced on the kisses.

It took nearly all the will he had now to stop and pull his lips away to break the kisses, Alice's weeping now coming into sound.

"Shh shh shh… It's alright Alice.. It's alright." He whispered gently as he stroked her hair, and out of instinct the girl rested herself upon his chest, the cool steal against her almost feverish warm skin left her somewhat paralyzed. Her body heaving as it tried to calm itself down. She went silent, no longer weeping, but the last remaining tears began to make their exit from her, giving Stayne the opportunity to kiss each of them away, the act nearly killing Alice's tremors completely.

"Stayne, I- I don't"

"Alice, you're fine.. Just rest.. Rest." He pleaded gently as he tucked a few strands of curls behind her ear. "Rest.

Alice could only nod, her eyelids heavy from the water that she had shed. She allowed herself to drift into sleep as Stayne continued to hush her and cradle her until he eventually dozed off where he sat. The light from the moon rained down upon the married couple, setting up the perfect stage, all of which had been witnessed by a pair of cat eyes in the dark.


I hope you enjoyed that bit, I know a few of you were really looking forward to the wedding, and I hope it lived up to everyone's expectations, and if not I hope the end of the chapter made up for it. So what side of Stayne do we prefer, Snarky, Sarcastic and Wicked, or the Sweet, Sensitive and Thoughtful Stayne? I like them both. Next chapter we'll be diving into Stayne's past, so to speak.

As always reviews are sought after because after all, I practically live off them. Thanks for reading!