Alice at Last

Chapter Seven

"Alice." The child groaned in response, burying her face into the red pillow. "Alice," the queen tried again, gently shaking her to wake her up. Alice grunted tiredly in retaliation, Iracebeth chuckling to herself. "Come on. It's time to get up."

"Why?" the six year old huffed, pulling the covers over her head when the pillow was taken away from beneath her.

"Because I've caught up on my work which means that I'm free for the full day and I want to spend it with you." The blonde immediately sprang up at that, wrapping her arms around Iracebeth, the redhead laughing as the fatigue disappeared entirely as though it was never there to begin with.

"The whole day?" Alice inquired, holding onto her guardian happily. "Really, you mean it? No meetings or work? Just me and you the whole day?"

"Yes. Just you and me." Iracebeth knew that she was neglecting the child but it wasn't on purpose. She was simply overloaded with work. There were plenty of things around the castle grounds that would keep Alice busy and entertained but she always stayed with her. Either sitting in the armchair next to her or in Iracebeth's lap, much like she used to do with Mirana. Iracebeth was rather shocked to find the girl comforting, having thought that she would merely get in the way. In fact, she preferred it that way and if Alice did fall asleep on the armchair, she would gather her up and hold her for the rest of the time.

She had never met anyone as affectionate as Alice before. Even her younger sister, as loving as the White Queen is known to be, had never once stayed the whole day wanting to be as close to her as Alice did. She asked one time why she always wanted to be held or at the very least int eh same room as her. She told her that she felt neglected by her own parents and sister and simply wanted what she lacked in the Above lands.

"So what do you wanna do first?" she asked.

Alice pulled away, thinking for a moment. "I wanna go in the forest," she concluded, Iracebeth telling her in the past that she couldn't leave castle grounds without her. "I wanna explore. Please, please, please?" she begged, her blue eyes large, immediately melting the queen the way only Alice could.

"Alright, alright," she laughed, nodding. "But first, you got to eat. We'll probably skip lunch so I don't want you to be hungry until dinner. Come on," she grinned, picking her up.

Alice ate as quickly as she could, growing impatient when she was done, pacing up and down the dining hall. Iracebeth eventually cut her own breakfast short, not wanting to see the girl so frantic.

The queen saddled up a black horse, keeping an arm around the girl securely upon heading to the woods. The blonde asked about everything and anything that they passed, many of the conscious plants and animals taking a liking to the girl and tagging along despite the monarch, seeing that her attitude was entirely different. And Iracebeth was content, happy, for the longest time in a long time… Since her childhood, before the tragic passing of her parents, before Mirana got the crown, before the tart incident. When everything was simple, when she was Alice's age and exploring the world through large and curious eyes, wanting to know what everything was. Then Mirana came along and she wanted to explore it all again with her baby sister, teach her what she knew and learn alongside her of what she was unfamiliar with. She forgot what that was like but now she was re-experiencing it with Alice. She had no kingdom to worry about, nothing large or grand. Just tiny object to identify and take keen interest in, something so insignificant becoming significant again. To see Alice's eyes sparkle with wonder and amazement, like she knew her eyes once did, like she saw Mirana's eyes do the same. She felt content, her heart was happy… filled with love for the girl in her arms.

Stayne said that it was far better to be feared than loved and she had once agreed with him for it had been far too long since she had loved and been loved but now, she didn't, she wouldn't give this feeling up for anything. She wouldn't give Alice up for anything, the girl that made her innocent again, made her happy and loved once more. She would hold onto the feeling, onto her, and would never let go.

Iracebeth pulled on the reigns, stopping her horse as she heard more than one set of hooves arriving. She held Alice close to her chest, ready to protect her at all means necessary. She saw who it was come to view and before she had time to react, Alice had already jumped out of her arms. "Mirana!" she exclaimed, rushing over, holding her arms out.

The White Queen got off her own horse, scooping up Alice immediately, holding her tightly as she buried her face into her hair, tears of joy and relief escaping. "Oh, thank God you're okay. I was so worried," the queen whimpered. "I was so scared that something had happened to you and I-… I-… Oh, just… I'm so happy you're okay." She attacked the child's face with kisses, the girl squealing happily, having missed the affection.

"I'm fine! Racie protected me!"

"Racie-?" she whispered her sister's nickname, gathering the blonde and standing up with her, finally meeting the redhead's gaze. Her expression grew blank now. "Mind explaining how she went missing and miraculously ended up in your care?" she inquired coldly, Iracebeth rather taken back at her sister's attitude. It was strange for her to ever see her that way, especially towards her but she supposed that this was a different matter all on its own. She knew. It was clear that Mirana knew. And she was angry.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she responded, getting off her horse, fixing the skirt of her dress casually.

"I saw her in your dungeons," she spat, anger laced in her voice. "The moment I thought you couldn't go any lower-."

"I didn't hurt her," she interjected. Mirana turned her attention to Alice for confirmation.

"She didn't. She cared for me. After what a man tried-…" She grew quiet when her dark eyes turned even darker with a look so unfamiliar to her.

"What is she referring to?" Mirana demanded.

"Stayne… tried to rape her," Iracebeth answered softly.

"You left her alone in the same room as that bastard?!" She instinctively held Alice tighter, fuming now.

"I didn't know he'd go that low! He's in the dungeons now…"

"You have yet to kill him…" she stared at her sister. "He's manipulated you so much that you'll kill an innocent person without thought but you'll hesitate to kill someone who truly deserves it? Iracebeth, he tried to rape a child. Even Mother and Father would see that as death worthy."

"He was the only one cared for me!"

"I care for you. I love you! I've been trying to tell you for years!" Her face turned red, tears rushing down. "Why can't you see that?! It wasn't my idea to take the crown! I've wanted to rule side by side with you but you'd never listen! So you decided to let a child rapist into your heart but not your own sister?!" Her voice grew soft, hurt plastered upon her features. She shook her head, her anger replaced with sorrow and sadness. "Let's go, Alice," she mumbled, beginning to walk away, still holding the child.

"No!" Iracebeth walked forward. "Please… Don't take her…"

Mirana stopped, her back facing her older sister. "This is the one thing I'm not willing to compromise on. Alice isn't safe with you."

"Yes she is! She hasn't been hurt since Stayne's been imprisoned! She's been happy and healthy! She's brought me joy that you can't even fathom! You've taken so much from me, regardless of it being conscious! Please… don't take her."

The White Queen stood still, never hearing her sister become the emotional wreck that she did now, never hearing her beg for anything… Could she actually care? She looked down at Alice, her heart aching at the thought of not having her. She realized how lonely she was since the girl had left and now that she had her, she was unsure of what to do. She was also hesitant for she feared for her safety, regardless of what her sister stated. "… Alice… should have a choice in this," she finally concluded as she set her down. "It's not our decision to make… It's hers… She's a bright girl."

Alice looked between the two of them, her heart aching. She loved the two equally. She didn't want to leave either of them. She didn't want to hurt either of them so all she did was look back and forth between them, absolutely hating what was occurring. "I- I don't know," she whimpered. "I love the both of you! I don't wanna choose! Please, don't make me!" she cried. The two watched, their respective hearts hurting at seeing the girl so distressed.