I don't own Alice in Wonderland or any of its characters. Based on the 2010 Tim Burton Film.

Rated M.

A Pawn In Her Game?

Epilogue

Iracebeth paused in her eating and stared seemingly at nothing. Stayne looked about the tavern. Of course no-one was to speak to them by the terms of their Exile, but he knew that no-one had spoken her name.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"I...I've had the feeling for some time, but...I'm certain now. I know in my very bones, Ilosovic. My sister is dead."

"No, she isn't!" Stayne retorted. "We hear of her and her decrees all the time. If she were dead everyone would know."

"I'm sure of it! There's a connection between sisters, and I can sense it! She's dead!"

Stayne took a huge swig of ale. "You're Mad," he said. "I don't want to hear another word about this foolishness. Let's just finish eating and move on. Preferably in silence."

Iracebeth frowned at him. "Fine, don't believe me. I suppose it doesn't matter anyway. We're still stuck out...here!"

Stayne grunted. "Just shut it and eat."

Penara and Mirana sat together in their private Chambers. Penara was seated at the vanity peering at her reflection angrily and critically while Mirana sat on the edge of the bed and smiled indulgently at her beloved.

"You're beautiful, Penara! And I love you in any body."

"And I love you, Mirana!" Penara said more loudly than she had intended, still frustrated by her new appearance even though she had borne it for almost a year. "But...this still troubles me so. There are things that can be done, however. For both of us. There are magics and methods now. We can restore our original appearances almost completely. I've been researching."

"Almost?" Mirana inquired, standing now and joining Penara on the vanity bench.

"Yes, almost. Not completely, but very close. I've been researching with Phibbs and it can be done. I suggest we go about it gradually, however. But there is one other thing, Miri. How would you feel about..." Penara hesitated, wondering if Miri would like her idea.

"Go on, darling. What is it?"

"I...I want to formally rename myself. Any monarch can do so, and many have in the past. I would like to resume my own name and become Penara the Second. And you can either keep your name, or change it slightly."

"If I change it slightly," Mirana pondered, "it would make the People think less frequently of their former...you know. I like it. How about if I become...Miri Anna? After all, you call me 'Miri' anyway!"

Penara smiled broadly. "I like that. And I spoke with Phibbs and Absolem just today."

"Oh? What did Absolem have to say?"

"He said the Oraculem shows that there will be no problems with us doing this. My Return was Foretold and I will have a very long and successful reign."

"Of course you will, Penara. You've really been applying yourself to your studies. I've never seen you so determined! I think this is your chance to be a Great Queen."

Penara was not offended. She knew she had not been the most successful Queen her first time and she and Miri always were completely honest with each other. It was the basis of their Trust and Love.

"Absolutely. Queens and Kings have both at times adopted names of previous monarchs for one reason or another, and changes in appearance are not unheard of. No-one will suspect a thing. How would they? No-one believes in or knows of the Old Magics anymore save for one who is Bound by Oath and one who is indifferent as long as I reign benevolently and it's in the Oraculum."

"You were never evil, Penara," Miri said. "You were just young and inexperienced."

"But I knew what I wanted." Penara turned to Miri and caressed her cheek. "And I know who I've always loved and always will."

"You never needed to Charm me," Miri whispered and touched Penara's caressing hand.

Penara chuckled softly. "No, darling. I need True Love, not False Love." The two leaned in to each other and kissed tenderly.

When they separated they gazed at their reflections in the mirror.

"I can honestly say I won't miss this dull brown hair," Miri said. "I'd like my shiny black hair back."

"And I can't wait to have the Enchantment done to these awful eyes!" Penara said. "Brown? Ugh! I'll have my blue-white eyes back and you'll have your green eyes back, if you wish."

"I do," Miri said. Then she looked at her lover again. "You said that your Return was Foretold?"

Penara smiled. "Well, in a way. You see, the Oraculem was Blank for 'her' after her Champion returned. There were two panels of Blank, which indicated that either she would remain Queen of Underland or not, depending upon her actions. Well, due to her own machinations she...did not."

"Indeed," Miri said and smiled a sly smile, "she was the perfect Pawn, was she not?"

"Oh, indeed she was," Penara said. "And to think she believed all along that her Champion, the Lady Alice Hightopp, was her Pawn!"

"The irony is incredible!" Miri said. "I never would have wished such a Fate upon a Queen, but she was succumbing too much to jealously and selfishness. We've had to work hard to regain the trust and friendship that she nearly destroyed. When Phibbs told us what she had done; seducing a young woman who loved someone else, why, I thought we'd never win them over!"

Penara smiled at the memory. "Yes, our own True Love, along with our complete understanding and support of theirs helped them to overcome the discomfort and resentment of the Past. We actually brought healing to the Hatter and restored Alice's confidence and faith in Mirana's, I mean, my friendship."

"I'm also pleased that they've taken so well to me," Miri added happily. "They accepted me as if they had known me their entire lives! It's so good to be around such kind and loving people, Penara. I must admit that I had feared that when we Returned it would be to a colder Marmoreal. But the people are very friendly and kind. It's refreshing in comparison to how we had it Before."

"So true, Miri. The people now make it easier for me to be...myself. I don't have to struggle every day to be taken seriously as a Queen. I used to be nothing more than a puppet! But now I am myself and I am accepted for who I am! I don't even worry anymore about behaving as she would have. And I can love you openly now and not have to constantly Charm people any more. Once was enough and now they are tolerant! I love our people, Miri. I really do. And I'll do my best to be a wonderful Queen for them!"

Miri leaned her head on Penara's shoulder. "I have to admit to being biased, my love. Of all the people here, though I love them so, I adore Alice and Tarrant the most. They truly are wonderful."

"Yes, Miri, they are. I dearly love them! They are wonderful friends."

"Indeed. They haven't a trace of the jealousy and selfishness their former friend had!"

Penara frowned slightly, but wasn't overly disturbed. "Darling, sometimes those are my faults. Please, continue to keep me in check, won't you?"

Miri embraced Penara and kissed her cheek. "Very rarely do you succumb, dear. But yes, I'll keep you in check; I promise. You'll be a Great Queen very soon."

Penara took Miri's hand and pressed it to her lips, kissing her palm tenderly. "What we can do is alter our eyes, hair, and skin tone. If we want to alter our faces, such as our noses and cheeks, that can also be done. However, as of now there is not much, if anything, that can be done about our heights."

Miri shrugged at that, but shivered at Penara's delicious kiss, which now consisted of her soft tongue tracing the lines of her palm. "I...I don't mind our heights. The rest...oh...sounds wonderful...ah, though!" She gave in completely to her passion and the two women tumbled onto the bed, fumbling with each others clothing.

One year later -

Queen Penara II and her Royal Consort Lady Miri Anna held a grand celebration in honor of the Resurrection of the Hightopp Clan. Alice and Tarrant stood in the middle of the Ballroom with Queen Penara and held up their baby daughter, Helena Terrana Hightopp, to the assembly.

Tarrant beamed and hugged the Queen, who giggled and hugged him back.

"Your Majesty," he began, but the Queen waved him into silence.

"Call me Penara, Tarrant. You and Alice are my friends! And Miri and I love you both so much! We've been close for too long now to not be on familiar terms when we are alone!"

"That's true!" Tarrant grinned and then smiled at Miri, who was letting little Helena grasp her finger while Alice giggled. "We are the best of friends, aren't we?"

Penara laughed and nodded. "We would have it no other way!"

"We sometimes forget," Tarrant admitted with an embarrassed blush, "that you changed your names. If it isn't too presumptuous to ask; is it because you and Miri can share your love openly now?" he asked quietly.

Penara touched his arm. "Yes, Tarrant. When I had Alice research the Histories it got me to thinking about my True Love. Oh, Tarrant, do forgive me for ever being jealous over you and Alice! I've...I've only ever truly loved Miri."

Tarrant kissed her hand. "All has been forgiven and put behind us. We need never speak of it again."

"Then you'll remember to call me by my first name?" she asked with a wink.

"Of course, Penara. It will still take some getting used to, but I usually catch myself whenever I am about to speak the incorrect name!"

Alice and Miri approached them with the baby, having heard the last snatch of the conversation.

Alice smiled at Miri and then at Penara. "I am getting used to it quite quickly. After all, since you've both changed your names and your appearances, it's easier and easier!" She smiled into Penara's eyes. "I am astounded at how much you resemble the painting of Penara in the Histories! There's barely any difference now. How does it feel to Renew yourself?"

"Wonderful!" Penara cried out, circling gracefully, her white lace gown floating like a cloud about her ankles. "I've never felt better! Underland is prospering, the Trade Agreements are benefiting everyone, and two of my best friends have just had a baby!"

"And the Hightopps are assured!" Miri chimed in. "I've hoped for that!"

Tarrant was grinning widely. "All the credit for that goes to my Alice!"

Penara took a glass of champagne from a passing butler and raised it high for everyone to see. "Let us all make a toast to Underland's Champions, Tarrant and Alice Hightopp and their new daughter, Helena! May the Hightopp Clan prosper!"

Everyone toasted.

In one corner even Phibbs and Absolem drank; Absolem from the rim of Phibbs' glass. Both were now comfortable with the Situation. Queen Penara was proving to be kind, benevolent, generous, and friendly; and her Consort no less so.

Phibbs was no longer afraid of Queen Penara. She was making the most of her second chance at Life and being the White Queen. She would enter into an arranged marriage of convenience in the next year or so to a noble she had selected from the from the Land of Purple near the Amethyst Ocean. Lord Kenan was bisexual; hence he was perfect. The two would bear heirs and live their own preferred lives. All would be well.

Absolem occasionally missed Mirana. He had liked her and had watched her battle with the Darkness and the Light within her. In the end she had succumbed to the Dark. Her downfall was assured when she had used magic to seduce Alice; and then attempt to force her love.

Would Alice and Tarrant ever know? Absolem almost smiled. No, they would never know. And now, thankfully, they were happy and content.

He missed Mirana sometimes, yes, but he was mostly pleased with Penara and was coming to like her quite well. Despite her Dark Spell, she was making the most of her New Life.

All in all, Things were going very well indeed for Underland.

All comments are welcome!