Mirana's furious pants softened as Time made his way from beneath the covers, greeting her lips with his own.
"You, my dear, might be my favorite afternoon treat," purred Time, leaving a trail of kisses upon her neck now, but the Queen, now satisfied, moved to get out of bed.
"When do I get to remind Stayne of his place?" Time sighed heavily at the question.
"Mirana, it's very impolite to speak of past loves after bedding one." He muttered as he sat up. Mirana, now slipping on a silver and white robe glared at him from over her shoulder.
"He was never a love of mine," her words like venom. Time couldn't help but chuckle.
"Had it been up to you, you would have married him." He stated in matter of fact tone and with a shrug to match. "Sounds enough like a lover to me, even if he never shared your affections."
Mirana moved for her balcony, the normally graceful woman now stormed across the floor. Where her sister was a young volcano, constantly erupting with rage, Mirana was a hurricane. Giving warning to her rampage and forgiving after her devastations with gentle rains and warmness. With her back to the railing, she glared at Time with fury.
"We shall not talk of this anymore. What's done is done."
"If it was done, why are you still so worked up by it?" Time challenged as he moved to meet her, not bothering to cover himself. "There is no shame in it, Mirana, he had spurned your sister as well. At least he let you off clean."
"He humiliated me," She hissed bitterly, recalling the moment of the event they now spoke of. She laid out her feelings and heart for him to take and he may as well have stabbed her where her heart was kept. It would have been less embarrassing at the very least. "I offered him my life, and he treated it like I was giving him a stale cup of tea."
"You've already had your revenge then Mirana. The man was asking for mercy, and you sentenced him to what was a never ending death sentence," He said standing before her, her eyes shot up to meet him once more.
"Had I known that he would have prospered out there I would have never-"
"What would you have done, hmm? Kill him on the spot? Have Tarrant go at him once more, or would you have taken him prisoner?" Time asked, narrowing his eyes. "You have no use for the living, and while you speak of being able to deliver death I'm not sure I believe you are capable of going through with such a task.
"I would have sent him into the sea to drown," Mirana said with some hesitation as she eyed Time. "Which is what I will do now, along with Alice if I must."
Time smiled at the response. The sand within Stayne's hourglass was nearing its end. It would be such a pity to see Alice go, but Mirana was making out to be a wonderful substitute, and it didn't hurt that he could come and go from her chambers as he pleased now. He knew after she had been refused by Ilosovic that she stopped all thoughts of marriage, or any union for that matter, but she longed for a child. Normally he was not fond of giving new life, there was already so much to keep track of, but a child to White was far more appealing than an heir for the Black.
"If the threat of the Black Crown is no more, I will reward you with a child," Time said softly.
Mirana's eyes shot though Time, her dark eyes normally like stone now lit up like the night sky they were beneath now.
"A daughter?" She asked softly, frightened that if she pried too hard her prize would be taken away.
"If you wish for a girl, then a girl I will give." He whispered, a gentle hand caressing her cheek before she knelt before him.
Alice cursed silently as she was disarmed by Stayne for the Umpteenth time. However was she to learn how to properly fight if he never gave her a chance?
"Pick it up and try again, Alice." Stayne muttered as he relaxed his guard.
His disposition was nothing like it had been the days beforehand. His tenderness had all but withered now, and it wasn't just on the training ground either. It had been two days since their discussion in his chambers. She was sure that he was displeased with her choices, but she could not prove it, and if she were to ask, surely he would deny it.
Alice gingerly reached for the sword once more which was when Stayne tipped her over with a swift shove from his boot.
"Too slow Alice, you have to be quicker." He warned, and Alice couldn't tell if he was taking pleasure in the abuse he delivered. Mostly he just seemed irritated or bored of the trials.
"How do you expect me to learn a thing when all you do is-"
"I cannot coddle you, Alice!" He interrupted, the tension in his voice making her wince. "How you managed to slay a Jabberwocky, I will never know!"
"Well I did it!" Alice replied sharply as she got to her feet once more, sword in hand. "He wasn't nearly as difficult as you are though."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Stayne said as he turned his back to her and gave Alice some distance. "Mirana might not allow carelessness the next time you have to face one of her subjects. Regardless of who your opponent might be, you have to be swift and thorough in your movements. There is no room for errors now, and you can't simply aim to win. You must have the intention to kill."
Alice glared at Stayne as he moved to a fighting stance once more. He was equipped with a short sword, only for her benefit. His normal blade was far too much to take on knowing his current blade now was a handicap that should be in her favor.
Without warning, Alice charged, the attack easily blocked before he moved to strike her armor, slapping the metal with the flat side of the weapon.
"You're dead, try again."
"Stayne! I cannot learn like this! I asked for instructions, not for beatings!" Alice shouted as she threw her blade to the ground, a twitch began in his eye.
"Alice, this is the best way to-"
"Perhaps for you! I can't be expected to know how to block or strike when I don't even have the sword in hand for a single minute, can I?"
Stayne paused, his jaw clenched once more, no matter how ridiculous the girl was she always had a point to it. Caving, he sheathed his own blade and approached her once more.
"We'll have you begin on some burlap bags. How's that?"
"Better than this I suppose." She muttered, following him out of the training ring.
Alice felt to her knees exasperated. She had thought that by training with stationary objects would have been easier, but it seemed that Stayne was against the very idea of making things easy. Her heart pounded as she struggled to get to her feet once more.
To make up for the challenge of a physical fight, Stayne had attached weights to her for conditioning purposes. She would swear that her arms would detach themselves from her at any given moment and flee. She would say the same for her legs, but she could hardly move them herself.
"Had enough, Alice?" Came the mocking tone of her mentor, husband and this point in time, the most irritating person in Under, Out and Above.
"What's the use in saying yes? If I do you'll give me a new training method that is worse than this," She muttered, sending him a glare which he returned with his own.
"I'm sorry, but if I recall, it was you who had asked for me to train you. Did you think I was going to serve you tea while you clumsily swing your sword about, hmm?" The glare from Alice intensified, but she knew he was right. The only battle underneath her belt was when she fought the Jabberwocky, and winning against may have not been entirely her after all. If this Time fellow was really insistent of having his way than maybe luck wasn't even a part of that deal either.
Alice managed to get to her feet once more before she started to free herself from the weights, all the while still glaring at him, as well as observing him. He smiled now with his mouth, but there was no indication in his eye that he was happy or even snide, not in the least.
"Something troubling you, Alice?" Stayne asked, receiving a shake of her head.
"No, I need water. That's all."
"Fine, take a moment to rest, get some water in you," Stayne allowed as he seated himself on a stack of hay. "When you come back we will go for a run."
"Whatever for? I need to learn how to fight in a battle, not run from one."
"You need discipline, Alice." Stayne warned, he was not going to negotiate with her now, or at any point it seemed to her. "We'll need you to work on your stamina. If you tire in battle you can't just step aside and wait until you are well again, can you?" He asked. Treating it as a rhetorical question, Alice stormed off in search of water, so long as it was from him.
Making her way for the garden, she was nearly there when she collided with the Carpenter, sending his tools to the ground and Alice down as well, thankfully in a nice soft patch of snow that had yet to melt in today's crisp autumn air..
"Oh my, terribly sorry Miss, oh! Oh it is you Alice!" The poor man shouted, shackles jingling as he hurried to help her to her feet.
"That's Queen Alice now, fool," bellowed The Walrus in tote. Unlike his human counterpart, he was not adorned with shackles, his shear size was enough of a binding force for the creature.
"Oh! Yer' Majesty! Terribly sorry, I am!" The man said in a panic, moving to dust the snow from Alice, who backed away from the pair swiftly.
"It's fine, really. And it's just Alice, thank you." She muttered eyeing the pair with suspicion. "What are you doing out here anyway?" The Carpenter greeted the question with a smile as he began to collect his tools once more.
"The King has tasked me to repair what I can from the damage caused in that jailbreak! I'm no good with stone, but I've nearly fixed all the doors, though a few I had to replace altogether." He noted, proud of his work. Alice was slightly shocked that the Stayne would allow the two to roam about the kingdom, let alone live. The only thing that surprised her more was how pleased the man seemed.
"The King also promised that our sentence would be shortened when finished," called The Walrus who was now inspecting a bush for berries.
"How long is your sentence?"
"Oh indefinitely!" The Carpenter replied with a curt nod. "But it'll be a good deal shorter with my hands at work. It was lovely to see you again, Alice, but I better be off now, the doors won't fix themselves, ya' know." He stated before giving her a bow and went off in search of other things to repair, the aquatic mammal trailing behind him.
Alice watched the curious pair until they were no longer in sight before she continued on to the garden. She could have sworn she heard someone shivering, maybe it was her imagination, or perhaps it was the flowers, buried beneath the snow. She considered brushing away what she could, but recalling how flowers had a natural disposition to her as it was, she decided against it.
She made her way to the gazebo when a familiar face showed itself, but lacked the rest of his body.
"Hello, Alice," The feline purred, however his tone was not at all pleasing. More of a growl, making Alice hesitate before approaching closer.
"Chess? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing, however that might be silly, especially if you were under the influence of something…" He purred, eyeing her with suspicion as the rest of him came into view.
"Under the influence? Whatever do you mean? Are you suggesting that I am-?"
"I'm not suggesting anything, Alice. However, Mirana is claiming that you are no longer yourself, due to something that the Knave gave you." Chessur replied, remaining still. Alice scoffed as she folded her arms. Mirana, she was fooling everyone after all.
"And I suppose you're here to try to 'purify' my illness?" She asked as the cat rolled upon his back in midair.
"At first, yes, however it is rather clear to me that you are quiet in control of yourself, at least for the time being. You were a little off your mark on your wedding night," the cat said in gibe, making the young woman blush.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Alice muttered, feeling no need to explain herself. "What are you here for now then?"
"I only got involved in this for Tarrant from the start, he is madder than ever, and not in his normal madness either." Chess explained, flicking his tail about. "Not angry or neurotic but… broken. The man looks like someone had gone and smashed his favorite tea set." Alice frowned at the words.
Tarrant. If anyone had hopes for her, she would have thought that her favorite hatter would see through the lie, but he was so very loyal to the White Queen. Alice's eyes fell to the floor at a loss with news of her friend.
"Convince him, Chess. You have to tell him I'm very much me!"
"I'm quite afraid to do that, Alice."
"Why?! Don't you see that-"
"Tarrant is fragile to begin with, Alice," hissed the talking cat. "He has been informed that you had agreed to wed Stayne due to a poisoning of your mind. How do you think he will react when he finds out that not only are you yourself but that you married Stayne by your own will?"
"What does that matter?!" Alice shouted, throwing her hands in the hair. "It's all very trivial when compared to the fact that Mirana lied! Who knows what else she is up to?"
"I agree Alice, but if you knew Tarrant as well as I do, he is better off thinking that you are lost to him."
"But I'm not! I'm right here and-"
"And married to Stayne. The man who led the attack which killed his entire family," Chess growled. "Tarrant not only adores you, Alice, but he loves you. Far more than I think you can imagine." Alice was dumbfounded by the statement. "To learn you chose to marry him, without proper coercion, it would be devastating. I don't believe in lies, but I'm not so fond of telling the truth in this case." He whispered, now perching himself upon a railing.
"So that's it then, is it? Mirana has already won then. If I cannot speak with my friends, how am I ever to hope to pull them away from Mirana's lies?!" She shouted, flustered by it all.
"This is why I don't get involved in politics." He spoke, inspecting his dagger-like claws. Alice longed to scream with rage, but she held her tongue.
"If I can't speak with Tarrant, so be it." She muttered. "I will just arrange a meeting with Mirana then."
"What?!" The cat asked, perking his ears up, his eyes only slits. "Alice, I don't think that is very wise. Or do you not remember the last arrangement she had made with you?"
"Do it for me Chess. Tell her I wish for a parley. Upon the Chess Field. Alone. No Champion's, no friends or guards. Just the two of us. Can you do that for me?"
The cat sighed heavily, his entire body going slack at the request, but nodded in response.
"This is a terrible idea, Alice," Chessur warned.
"Well it's a terrible situation I'm in, isn't it?" Alice retorted as she turned to leave, Stayne would no doubt begin to wonder where she had run off to by now. "Set it for mid-morning, if she is going to ruin my life, I may as well spoil her morning tea," she muttered as she marched away, leaving the cat to ponder all the terrible things that were to come of this.
Stayne was just about to search for Alice when she stormed into the training ring once more. A smirk trickled across his face upon her expression of discontent.
"Was the water not to your liking, Alice?" He asked as she drew up her sword from where it lay on the ground. Unaware of the fire which was raging inside of her, he continued to mock her. "I'm sure it'll be enough to sustain you on our run don't you-" His tongue stopped once he felt the tip of her blade as his throat.
"Draw your sword," She hissed, making him chuckle. What had gotten into the woman while she was away he could not say, but it was just what she needed. He swept the sword away and evaded back to draw his own sword, narrowly dodging a swing of her blade once more, then after another slice at the air, their blades clanked at one another.
"My, my,... was that water, or wine you drank, Alice? You've grown bold in such a short time." He teased pulling away and she advanced upon him once more, nearly knicking him with her blade. He smirked before disarming her once more.
In his victory he did not expect Alice to continue to attack, successfully landing a fist to his jaw.
Staggering back, Stayne brought his hand to his mouth, he tasted blood. Felt it upon his lip. His gaze returned to meet Alice, still full of rage and vigor, but she had stopped now. Perhaps she had what she wanted. A winning strike. And what a strike it was. As cunning as he was, he would have never suspected such a move from her. He motioned to congratulate her, but she was already exiting the ring.
"Alice?" He called out, sheathing his sword and made his way after her, once on her heel he took a hold of her arm, and her response was swift. A slap to the area which she just hit. When he did not release her she went to assault him once more, but now he was prepared, catching her hand in mid-strike.
"Release me!" She warned, struggling to break free.
"Alice, what has come over you?!" He asked, searching for the answer upon her face, but she was not a book to be read, not now at least. Her face was as cold as stone, a statue with eyes that burnt like torches. "Alice?"
"I'm not feeling well, Stayne. Let me go. I wish to go to bed." She muttered pulling away again, this time released from his grasp. Stayne watched in confusion as she stormed off.
Tarrant toiled away at his fabrics that was all he now, in order to keep his mind at ease. He hadn't eaten a bite or slept a wink since the news of the wedding. He only had tea and work to fill him.
His friends sat in the room, watching silently for quite some time. The dormouse speaking up every so often in hopes of lifting Hatter's spirits.
"Rumor has it that the queen may replace the White Knight as her champion," Mally mumbled glancing towards Tarrant who paid her no mind. "Maybe I'll go in for a run at it?" She spoke, drawing her needle of a sword, swinging it at invisible opponents. "Show the White Queen what a real Champion looks like! I'll give that knave a run for his crown yet!" She laughed, but still had not won her friend's attention, making her frown.
"Hey! Atter, maybe you could be the next Champion?" Mally shouted to him. "You are such a grand fighter, nearly did the knave in the last fight you two had. Maybe you could even rescue Alice?!"
Tarrant slammed his palms down upon his work desk making the dormouse and Thackery jump.
"Ye not know de techery o' Ilosovic Stayne, mouse." The Hatter stated bitterly, "De Alice we know an' love is no longer with us. Only a shell of who she was..." He continued, wishing he had slain the knave when he had the chance. His yellow eyes with flecks of orange glared across the room, piecing his rodent friend until the door swung open. Winthrop entering without introduction.
"Tarrant, my dear boy! It's been ages!" His voice boomed, startling the hare and sent the door mouse into a defensive position. She hoped his hearing was just as bad as his skills as a champion. Making his way over to Tarrant, the white knight surveyed over the craftsman's work with interest.
"Wut do ye want, Knight?" Tarrant spat as he turned his back to the Champion.
"This isn't about what I want, Tarrant, but what the Queen wants." He replied eyeing him, the hatter scoffed.
"I shan't be tak'n any requests." Tarrant spat as he began to rifle through his fabrics.
"Not even to see Alice?" The older man purred, making the madman freeze. "It would seem that Alice has requested an audience with Mirana on the Chess Field." He cooed inspecting an odd feathered hat with scrutiny. "I've been told if anyone can pull Alice together, it would be you."
Tarrant's heart ached at the news.
"What is the meeting for?" He asked.
"We believe that it may be an ambush," Winthrop spoke, his chin held high. "Alice requested only the Queen's presence, but we cannot allow that. I'm setting up a small brigade to help oversee the perimeter of the battlefield, in case Stayne tries something."
"And Alice... What of her? Will we-"
"We'll do all that we can for the lass, you'll see." He replied gently placing a hand upon the mad man's shoulder. Tarrant shuddered at the contact but nodded steadily.
"No harm will come to her?"
"So long as she is not a threat," The knight noted, removing his hand. "If possible, we'd like to offer her sanctuary by sending her back to her realm," Winthrop continued making Tarrant's heart stop.
"Alice can't leave!" He shouted, turning on his heel to face the man now. "Why she's only just come back, and she's in no condition to be going back to to – to wherever and-!" His eyes were bright green with panic, but Winthrop could only smile.
"Tarrant, that's where you come in…" He whispered softly. "You can go with her. You can go with Alice."
Alice made her way up into the tower, where she was once held captive. She had not returned to that place since being freed from its door, but something had been left there, something that would serve a great purpose.
The shackles which were placed on her at the auction house laid upon the bed. She hovered over the chains that once binded her, thinking over her plans. Would this be the right choice? She gave herself very good advice, but she knew this was not the best choice, but nonetheless, she felt she had to go through with it.
Snatching the manacles, Alice bounded down the staircase once more to prepare for her plans.
Stayne cursed himself endlessly as he concluded his search for Alice. He had looked everywhere on the grounds for her. Her room, the garden, and the kitchen. He searched the dungeon up to the room in which Tarrant had fitted her gown, but to no avail, she was still missing.
Was it possible she ran away? Of course, it was, but he would not send out his men on a search just yet. So far he was the only one to be aware of Alice's disappearance. Entering his room exhausted, he did not expect to meet the sight before him now.
Alice laid nestled before the pillows of his bed, her golden yellow hair cascading down freely, and her eyes looked darker than normal, but her lips. Oh her lips looked ripe and sweet. And it was because of those lips that smiled at him in such a manner that could only make him question her intentions.
She had smiled only a handful of times at him, but this was different. This was unforeseen, and yet it was told to him earlier.
She was wearing a light blue nightgown, but the color wasn't what drew him but rather the familiar pattern of the cloth. He swallowed hard at the sight of her in his bed as she sat up to greet him.
"Ilosovic," She called gently as she rose up and crawled off the bed to meet him. He could hardly move even as she advanced upon him.
"I searched everywhere for you," He murmured in shock, the smile on her lips grew to the point where she revealed her teeth briefly.
"Clearly not everywhere," She whispered back, her eyes shooting down to the floor, but slowly returned up to meet his gaze. "I wanted to apologize. My behavior earlier was uncalled for. My mind hasn't been right today, and you didn't deserve the brunt of my anger."
Stayne felt relief wash over him now. He had been sure that he had been the cause of her displeasure. He knew that his training methods were not the best when it came to emotions. He lacked understanding others due to his own experiences. His childhood, his career as the Red Queen's guard dog did not improve his empathy skills either. He knew guilt however. He did not wish for Alice to know the weight of guilt.
Gently he placed a gloved hand upon her cheek, his thumb brushing over her skin.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Alice. You know I just want you safe. You were right to fight me on the training. There might come a point where you'll have to fight alone," he said softly.
Alice nodded quickly. How true that was.
She raised her hand to take a hold of his, feeling his whole body tense at the motion. He was nervous. It was plain to see, but she could scarcely believe it herself. This man, who was a king, who had battled with such power and grace, who had even killed mercilessly, was nervous now. She smiled gently and stepped back, leading him to the bed.
He laid upon the mattress in awe as Alice took the reins. It was better this way, he told himself, that she should make the pace. He swore he had self-control, but when it came to her, he felt torn at times. Wanting so much to love her, praise her and worship her very soul, and yet this possessiveness of his would flair. That she was his and his alone, and that even she could not tell him otherwise.
Her hands were placed in his now, her fingers lacing with his, but only just making the cut. He went to chuckle at the gesture, but could not once he felt her lips pressed against his. This was not like their wedding night. This was different, but yet she had still made the first move.
She had more control now, he felt it. Her heart and her mind were made up it seemed, and yet he was just as hopeless as that night. Time help him, he wanted this so much. He returned her kiss with his own, more forceful, hungry even, and she responded in kind intensifying the speed and force.
Alice, still locking her hands with his, motioned to place his hands over his head, to which he allowed with little resistance. He wanted his hands free so that he could hold her, caress her skin, entangle his fingers within her lovely locks of hair, but those ideas came to a halt when he heard the unmistakable click of shackles being locked into place.
He moved to pull his hands free but was met with defeat. The chains ran through the head board's railing, not only binding his hand but locking him to the bed. He tried to assess the situation, still in shock at it all.
"Alice, what have you done?" He whispered unsure of her intentions as she still remained on top of him, her eyes looked distant, they were on him, but she was already so far away from him.
"I'm going to see Mirana and you must not interfere, Stayne." She whispered. Panic set in now for the Black King.
"Alice, I'm telling you that if you go you'll die!" He warned trying his hardest to sit up, but could only succeed in lifting himself an inch from the bedding. "Release me, Alice, I beg of you, just don't go I-"
She kissed him again, and he knew why the kiss was different before. It was not a kiss of passion or lust. It was one of farewell. Breaking the kiss she removed herself from him, now standing over the bed.
"I informed Az that I would consummate our marriage tonight," She said, her eyes darting to the floor once more to avoid the pain that was expressed on his face. "So I requested to not have anyone within the wing until morning. I also requested that breakfast be served in your bed so you will be found in the morning. Please don't be upset with her. If all goes well I will be back by mid-day."
"And if it's not?" Stayne asked bitterly. He was like a wounded animal, caught in this unbearable trap. "Alice, I beg you to reconsider, Mirana will not allow you to leave alive! She'll kill you or worse!" He warned tugging at the chains once more.
"Which is why I intend to kill her first." She said, shocking Stayne to his very core. The innocent girl that had saved his life all those years ago was now speaking of taking a life as though she had done it for a living.
"Can you kill her? Tell me, Alice, would you kill?" the man asked, giving a tug at the shackles again.
"To save the lives of others, yes, I would." She whispered, unable to meet his eye. It didn't create any confidence for Stayne.
"Don't go, Alice. This game is not to be won, not like this." He warned.
"If I don't return, I ask only that you don't bring harm to Hatter, if it can be helped. If I do return… " She paused now, hesitation made the room thick, a cloud overcoming the man in the bed. "I wish I knew you better. I think I would have liked to have known you better. Fairfarren, Ilosovic." She whispered, and retreated, leaving Stayne to call after her and struggle with the chains as well as his thoughts.
Next Chapter could be up as soon as Sunday, and I'm sure the lack of fluff is disappointing to some of you, but I'll make up for it very, very soon.
Keep the reviews coming! Please and thank you!
