Chapter IX: Follow the Royal Calling
Mirana swiftly flowed through the many walkways from the dining hall to the entrance hall where she and Alice had met again and where she was reunited with the Vorpal sword. Although the other dinner guests had gone off to discuss their thoughts of Alice's choice, Tarrant stayed with her and walked closely behind to show his support.
Mirana opened the hall doors slightly and looked at Alice as if to tell her to go first. Alice bowed her head slightly and walked through the small opening. Tarrant went to step forward, but Mirana placed a soft hand against his chest.
"I am sorry, Tarrant," she apologized and pushed him back just slightly, "This is only to be heard by queens and queens-to-be."
"I understand," Tarrant nodded and looked over Mirana's head to Alice, "I will be in my work shop off grounds when you are finished. Something tells me it will be a while until you are done. Stop by and we could have another tea party. Do not be late."
Alice laughed at the thought of being late to a party that had no start time and nodded, "I was hoping to see your workshop soon, and tea sounds lovely."
"Fairfarren, Alice," he smiled back at her and then nodded his head to Mirana, "Fairfarren, Mirana."
"She will see you soon," Mirana promised and nodded her head for his exit. He looked over her head to Alice once more before walking back down the hall they had just traveled. Mirana shook her head in amusement and then shut the door behind her. She locked the hall and then turned to Alice, "That man is so in love, it is almost too sweet."
"Tarrant is in love?" Alice asked as her heart sunk and then rose in hope at the same time, making her hand shoot up to cover the center of her chest in response.
"Isn't it obvious, dear Alice?" Mirana giggled lightly and walked to her throne where a large crown sat upon a pillow to the side. Alice followed closely behind.
"Apparently not, your majesty," Alice looked worriedly at the door and then at Mirana who stood at the foot of her own throne.
Mirana sighed in exasperation, "Call me-"
"Mirana, I apologize," Alice said quickly although her eyes traveled back and forth to the door.
"And apparently he isn't the only one," Mirana curled some of Alice's blond hair between her fingers, "One might think a talk and revelation is in order."
"A revelation has already been made on one side," Alice admitted and felt her cheeks burn.
"It is good feeling to have," Mirana nodded and put her hands on Alice's shoulders to focus her attention, "But on to your crown."
Alice looked around Mirana to stare at the crown at the side of the throne. It was much different from the crown she had as a child. The crown she had was heavy and a bit top heavy, this crown was the same that Mirana had worn on the Frabjous day.
"This is my crown?" Alice pointed at the one on the pillow.
"No, my champion," Mirana laughed airily, "This one is mine. Your crown will reappear when you have finished your trial."
"Trial?" Alice asked and furrowed her brows as Mirana put her crown on her head.
"For every queen and king of Underland, there is a challenge to prove her worthiness not only to the people they are to govern, but to the land itself," Mirana began to explain and gestured to the pictures of the queens and kings of past that lined the walls. Alice hadn't noticed them there the last time she was in the throne room. They were more than likely put up to illustrate Mirana's point for this discussion. In each picture a queen or king of Underland was set in front of a challenge that they had defeated, "Even if we are chosen by fate, by birth, or by the land itself, we must have a challenge to prove ourselves. And in a way to discover ourselves as well. Only after completing our challenge will our crown appear to us on our brow."
Alice noticed the picture of the white king, Mirana's father. He was dressed in common clothes- or what would be common for Underland- and held what looked like a hook and rope in one hand. He faced a few dozen Jub Jub birds and something in a bright light behind them, "Your father even had a trial?"
"He and mother loved one another greatly," Mirana sighed from the memories of her parents telling her and her sister the story of their fight to be together, "But to be with her he had to prove himself a worthy king. He had to battle a flock of Jub Jub birds to reach my mother's engagement ring. It took skill, cunning and a bit of madness to face that flock by himself. But he felt mother was worth it."
"Is that what my king would have to do?" Alice asked and frowned a little. She couldn't imagine asking Tarrant to do something like that for her. That is, if he even wanted her in that way.
"If that is something that is awaiting you," Mirana smiled knowingly and looped Alice's arm through hers to pull her to the next picture. They viewed the pictures in companionable silence as if they had gone on an outing to the museum. Alice looked at the trials with a studying eye, but her mind marveled at the feats in front of her. How was she to prove herself like those before her?
They stopped in front of the portrait of Mirana herself and her supposed trial. Her portrait did not hold any major exploit as those before her had. She sat upon her throne with the smaller crown on her head and a straight, unexpressive smile on her face. Her hands were folded on her lap on the pure white dress that seemed to shimmer even in her portrait. It seemed… almost normal. Alice titled her head a bit in confusion and tried to see something that she was possibly missing.
"Confused?" Mirana asked and Alice took a step closer to the portrait.
"Fairly," Alice nodded and turned to her, "What was your trial?"
"To be a queen," Mirana said softly and looked at her portrait.
"I don't quite understand, Mirana," Alice said truthfully.
"When my parent's crowned me as queen, I was younger than you are," Mirana explained as she studied her own portrait, "I had to leave my dreams and my thoughts of possible futures behind to take up the throne. I wasn't perceived as ready to take a kingdom. And I hadn't been given my trial by Underland at that point."
"Then how did you have your crown?"
"I didn't," she shook her head, "My parents could not give me their crown, but they could give me all the responsibilities of the land."
"So in essence, you become the caregiver of Underland."
"Of my portion, yes," she nodded, "When you are in the mind set of taking the crown, Underland will give you your calling."
"How did you know yours?"
"I was studying some books in the library on trading laws when I became frustrated and threw a few of the lesson books against the wall," Mirana chuckled to herself, "I lost my temper and everything seemed to crash down. Aunt Gabriesme was dead, my sister, the perpetrator for her murder along with thousands to follow, my grandparents were gone, my parents did not know how to fight their own child and were no help to me. I was just crowned not two weeks prior and I felt I couldn't even hold my own emotions. It was then I felt the earth beneath my feet shift."
Alice listened patiently and Mirana patted her arm, "I heard this voice speak into me. I didn't catch it with my ears, but my heart. It told me to be strong. It told me to be a queen."
"That seems to be too broad of an answer," Alice said suddenly, "What kind of queen did it want you to be?"
"One that I knew the land needed," Mirana answered swiftly, "I put everything I had felt at the moment away. In that instant I sacrificed everything I thought I knew of my life and laid it out for Underland. I stood straighter, walked lighter and wore the crown that appeared on my head with the dignity that I believed it deserved. I remembered what my mother was like in court functions, and that is what I became. Permanently."
"You gave up your happiness."
"I gave up what I thought was my happiness," Mirana smiled and looked at her portrait, "It was my trial, and the hardest day and decision I have ever made. But I found new happiness in time and I have never regretted my choice or my crown. Though, I do miss my innocent days that I gave up to grow up and change into a queen so quickly."
"Just how old were you?" Alice asked and looked at the portrait closer. She hadn't noticed it, but Mirana was very young looking in the picture under all the pomp and circumstance of her dress and hair.
"I was equivalent to a sixteen year old in your Otherworld," Mirana said carefully and Alice gasped. Mirana smiled a little, "I grew seven more years when time stopped me from growing further."
"That is a great sacrifice that you gave for your land."
"It was something that had to be done."
"So I will hear my calling just as you did?" Alice asked and tried to move the conversation along.
"Some queens hear it the way I had, some hear it differently," Mirana mused, "Aunt Sophanna swore that she heard her calling from her soup one morning at breakfast. And not two minutes after she heard it, she started her trial and a crown was on her brow by brillig."
Alice had to giggle at the visual she had of the exchange.
"You will hear it when Underland knows you are ready."
"Thank you, Mirana," Alice smiled and quickly hugged the queen. Even if they were born worlds apart, she still felt as if they were always meant to be sisters.
Alice followed the long pathway from Marmoreal gates to Tarrant's workshop. It seemed a lot further when she rode on his shoulder, but the world was much bigger then as well. She spotted a clearing, still marred with scorch marks, and a larger building shaped much like a hat. She brightened instantly and took a deep breath.
"I do believe that a talk is in order, Mr. Hightopp," Alice said to herself and swatted at her dress as if that would make it lay flat. She knocked at his door to which it immediately opened and two arms wrapped around her quickly. She squeaked as Tarrant pulled her into his home and hugged her closely.
"Hello to you too, Tarrant," Alice laughed after she got over the initial surprise.
"Welcome to my workshop and home," he said and placed her on the floor of the first room. She began to look around and saw a small, modest kitchen- complete with three sets of mismatched tea sets- a larger sitting area and a hallway which led to three doors. She assumed one would lead to his bedroom, which she would not ask to see- it would be most improper- the second door was probably a washroom and the third his workshop.
"It is not the most exuberant of areas, but it suits me just fine. Not the royal workshop, to be sure, but it is home. Do you like it Alice? It is missing a bit of a blue flare, though it does have the brown of your eyes in many places. Not that they should be any other-"
"Tarrant, it's a beautiful home," Alice put a hand on the side of his arm.
"-color. I'm fine," he squeaked and smiled at Alice's approval.
Alice took a breath as if she was going to ask him something, but he acted quickly.
"I am just finishing the royal courts order and the queen's latest hat," he announced with a skip to his step toward his workshop, "Would you like to see?"
"Very much so," she nodded and followed him to the furthest door. She was in one way happy that he had interrupted her. She didn't know exactly how to lead a conversation to tell a man that you very well may be in love with them.
He opened it and Alice seemed to find herself immediately lost. Rolls upon splotches and cuts of colored material littered every area and piece of floor. There were tubes stacked in one corner while forms covered another. Even though she knew she should see the area a mess, she couldn't see it as anything other than its own masterpiece. No wonder he felt better working in here.
"These are the last of the order, I am taking them back to Marmoreal as soon as I finish this last piece," Tarrant sat on the one clear stool in front of a large brimmed silver hat.
"Do you mind if I watch you finish?"
"Not at all," Tarrant smiled and quickly pushed a tub of swatches off of a large chest so she could sit.
"Thank you," Alice smiled and sat comfortably on the chest.
Tarrant took his position back on his stool and began to touch up the hat in front of him. Alice watched entranced as his hands danced over the material as they bunched, teased and sewed the material. It was as if he was making his own kind of magic. Her eyes traveled from his hands to his face. He looked content, but focused, as if this is what he was meant to do. Instead of leading rebellions and sacrificing himself to let one girl escape, he was meant to make masterpieces of lace and ribbon.
It was in that instance Alice vowed to make sure that he, or any other in Underland, would not have to give up their dreams or callings to fight for their right of freedom.
Alice felt the chest beneath her shift a little and she looked down confused. Then to her side one of the finished hats moved and shifted toward her. Then her own hat on her head began to tilt. She gently took it off her head and held it in her lap. It was then that the ribbon looped around her wrist and she felt something shift in her heart.
'You are ready, Queen Alice.'
"What?" Alice whispered so low Tarrant hadn't heard her.
The voice returned and grew louder in volume that she felt more than she heard, 'It is your turn to face your challenge. To take up the crown you must find the throne which was lost. Remember, dear girl, that which you have lost.'
The ribbon suddenly fell from her wrist and the voice was gone. She shook her head a little and looked at the immobile hat.
"Alice?" Tarrant asked from his seat putting the last of the hats into hat boxes, "Would you like me to accompany you back to Marmoreal?"
"I think that would be a good idea," she wondered how long the exchange between her and the hat had lasted. She put her hat back on her head and shuffled a couple of the boxes under an arm. After a small argument of a future queen carrying hat boxes, Tarrant relented her to carrying two while he carried the others.
The two entered the throne room before Mirana was able to retire for the evening.
"It looks as if you have finished in record time, Tarrant," Mirana beamed and looked at Alice, "A little inspiration drove you, I imagine?"
"Something like that, yes," he nodded and opened the box with the large brimmed hat and handed it to Mirana, "Your newest addition."
"Tarrant, it is absolutely marvelous. Your greatest creation for me to date!" she squealed and placed it on her head since she had taken the crown off after her talk with Alice.
Alice watched the exchange, but her foot began to tap in nervousness. Mirana noticed her movements and narrowed her eyes, "Alice? Are you feeling well?"
"I heard it," she whispered.
"Heard what?" Tarrant looked around and then back at the woman beside him.
"The calling."
Mirana's eyes widened and then looked at her closely, "And what is it asking of you?"
"To find the throne that was lost. Which I have lost," Alice said a little confused. She then chuckled a little, "I do believe that I have a quest in front of me."
"I believe you are right," Mirana stood from her throne, "How many horses will you need?"
"I will take none," Alice shook her head, "I believe a journey on foot will treat me well. I still need to discover this land anew."
"So be it," Mirana nodded.
"I may need some kind of map."
"Then you must travel back to Salzen Grum," Mirana frowned, "Iracebeth took many of the maps and the ones I have would be of no help to you."
"That's my first stop, then."
"I assume you will want to leave immediately?"
"In the morning would be best," Alice tried her best not to look in Tarrant's direction because she knew how he may be hurt by this. She was leaving, just when she promised she would stay forever.
"Then we leave after morning tea?" Tarrant asked as both women turned their head to him, "We did skip the tea I promised you after you visited my workshop."
"Tarrant, this is a journey that may take a good portion of time," Alice said, "It will take you away from your trade for quite a while. You have given that up for way too long now, and I saw how you enjoyed it so. I couldn't ask you to leave it again."
"You are not asking, I am offering to go. It's nice to have a break from it, and that was a very large order for Mirana and the ladies of the court," Tarrant gestured to the dozen hat boxes they had carried over, "Besides, my favorite trade is being with you."
"You are allowed companionship on your trail, unless told differently," Mirana smiled under the brim of her hat.
"I wasn't told any differently," Alice shook her head.
"Then I do believe you have a traveling companion," Tarrant smiled and hooked his arm through hers.
"A fairfarren breakfast will be served in the morning, and our friends will see you off," Mirana walked toward the doorway to the dining hall, "I will make the preparations with Nivens."
Alice nodded toward her as she disappeared behind the door. She turned to Tarrant who watched her with careful eyes.
"Why?" she asked.
"Did you not want me to come?"
"Quite the opposite," Alice smiled which was contagious for him, "But won't you miss everything here?"
"It will be here when I get back. We are not leaving Underland from the sound of it," he argued and held her face in his hands. She closed her eyes briefly to feel the thimbles topping his fingers and the roughness of his worked hands, "Besides, you are worth it. Always have been."
Her eyes shot open, "Thank you."
"I will never leave you, Alice," he tilted her hat up with his thumbs to keep his hands on her soft cheeks and carefully placed his forehead on hers, knocking his own top hat back, "I don't think I ever have."
"No, you haven't," Alice wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his neck, "And I will never leave you."