Disclaimer: Not mine. Not one bit of it.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favorite, and/or alerted this story. You guys rock! And it really does encourage me to write more. ^^
Warnings: No Alice and Stayne interaction here (I know, I'm a horrible tease), just a bit of background I'm hoping will appease you for now. Promise to deliver next chapter!
As Stayne reached castle, dismounting and throwing the reigns to the unprepared stable hand, watching with amusement as Erebus' nostrils flared, casing the boy to tremble slightly. He walked past the entrance into a secret passage at the side of the castle, climbing up the staircase that would lead him to his private rooms. By now the knights had long since arrived, depositing the prisoners in the dungeons and informing the Queen. Nonetheless, he took the opportunity to enjoying the brief moments of peace before he would once again be swarmed by the ruckus of court. Being the Queen's consort may have had its advantages- higher ranking position of power, more freedom than most in what they could get away with, despite all, better accommodations and the like- though it came, as with everything, at a cost.
S~s~S~s~S
It had all started when the king was alive. Despite the Queen's complaints, the old King doted on her constantly, letting her lead and giving her high rank in most everything, getting her everything she demanded- without restraint. He was ever faithful to his 'darling love'. Though despite his constant assurances and affection, he remained obvious to her insecurities, her need for control as a means to hide her fear of rejection. And most importantly, he had remained completely obvious to the darkness that lurked within her nature and beneath gaze.
Stayne had been nothing but a common soldier, a foreigner, abnormally large, and scarred for life. An ex-convict and thief, a common rogue who had the 'fortune' of receiving a pardon from the King and to be offered a position of court. Having no other appealing prospects, he had reluctantly accepted the position, and soon found himself regretting it. He had no place with his cheerful comrades, who jeered at him, in what they called a 'friendly, good nature sort of way'. Because of his deformities, he was underestimated by them all, never promoted, never placed in the 'mock battles' of Wonderland, where no one ever seemed to die, at least not for long, and no reason seemed necessary. They were quite frequent an occurrence, usually followed by the revels. Here the King, and occasionally the Queen would join them for a feast to celebrate their various 'victories' and song and dance would ensue.
Here Stayne would usually take guard duty, rather than listen to the prattle of court, the stupidity and debauchery of his comrades, the madness of his Kind, or suffer the impossibility of getting a decent meal where the food remained still. On occasion he would take the chance to ride Erebus, his only companion from his past, equally dark and longing. It was one night here, where of course nothing was the matter, that he noticed a lone figure walking by the forest.
Ever one for subtly, he blended into the shadows, rather than alert the possible enemy of his presence. Though it could have well been one of the more drunk knights, he was never one for chance. Grabbing the hilt of his scabbard, he entered the vast greenery through the side entrance. Waiting until the figure was only feet away before shouting from behind, blade raised. "Halt in the name of the King!" The figure stopped, turned, and seeing who it was the whole forest seemed to still.
It was none other than the Queen. "How dare you?" She screeched. "I am Queen Iracbeth, the Queen of Hearts! And you dare to raise your blade at me? Idiot! I will have you tried and convicted for treason! It will be off with your head by..." During this time, she had raised her fist as though to strike him, gazing up, only to stop mid-motion as she appeared to falter for words.
"Who are you?" She gasped softly, surprisingly so. "You're... You're enormous..."
Stayne, who had remained silent, awaiting the strike, took a breath and in his most diplomatic voice responded. "Ilosovic Stayne, majesty." A moment's pause. "You may laugh if it please your lady." What else was there to do but make light? She wouldn't be the first, and it would be quite fitting to break the otherwise icy situation. He would probably be held in content, and unlike the other crimes committed, treason for one, was taken quite literally, however ridiculous the accusation may have been.
The Queen merely stared at him. "Ilosovic..." She coughed lightly, a slight blush tainting her cheeks, which though normally red with fury, now showed a sense of vulnerability Stayne didn't believe anyone had been shown before. It was nonetheless however, present in her gaze. A certain cord of understanding had been struck, for the Queen herself was aware at the own criticisms that followed her enormous head- not that anyone would dare to say so in her presence, or when it might be used against them- but it was common knowledge nonetheless. Yet another one of her insecurities. A slow smile came to her lips. "There's no need for such formality. Please, call me Iracbeth..."
And so it had begun.
It wasn't an affair, not in the true sense of the word. It simply began with innocent chatter- mostly hers, she was mouthy when she wanted to be- during the revels. While most everyone was inside, she would meet him by the gate, as him to 'escort her' through the forest, where he would give ear to her various complaints about her sister, her husband, her parents- The King and Queen of old- the animals, the citizens, court and all that nonesense. Through this he began to learn of her many insecurities: in appearance, the lack of respect by her people, and most of all, her loneliness where it became more evident her fear of being alone. Most interesting was when she spoke of her ambitions, for power, glory, to be loved by all. Here was where Stayne saw potential opportunity for himself to gain advantage.
At first he simply listened, as a 'caring and concerned' subject, giving polite comforting words of flattery and encouragement when opportunity arose. She seemed to respond to it quite positively. Then one night he began to 'open up' about himself. He would talk about the drudgery of being an ex-convict, the judgments and prejudice against him, the hardship of being an outsider, the mockery of his fellow men in combat about his size and eye, all of which she seemed to lap up, completely sympathetic, and he could see the seeds of suggestion being planted in her eyes.
He soon found himself promoted, first as general, able to participate in combat next to the king himself, invited to his hunting parties, once even saving the king from a Bandersnatch, further on he was soon after placed as right hand man and servant to the king. All the while he continued to see Iracbeth, knowing she was the behind the initial cause of this chain reaction. By then their relationship had reached a more... Physical level. She would 'borrow' him from the king from time to time, mostly when he was out hunting, when most all the noblemen would trail behind or entertain themselves elsewhere, meanwhile they would become... Reacquainted. He made the most of it. He'd tell her she was beautiful, that she was powerful and worthy of uttermost devotion and loyalty. While coming into rank had made the noblewomen notice him more, if not in attempt to gain equal advantage, the Queen had silently ensured without doubt that he was to be hers only.
It was then that she began to become bolder. More outspoken. More ambitious. Finally having found that assurance of affection she' d longed for. He'd hear her talk of power, with him at her side, but still procrastinated constantly, unwilling to act against her fool of a husband, closing up once more the darkness that had only begun to surface. Stayne could only watch silently for opportunity to intervene before it was gone completely. Until then, he was her constant companion, offering her encouragement and assistance to play on her darker desires.
It came with an unexpected visit from Mariana, the White Queen, and the golden child of the King and Queen of old. She was beloved by all, if not slightly mad, her only power words and even then a vulnerability that seemed to be her strength rather than her weakness, as it was with Iracbeth. As she came to visit, so grandly displayed on that ridiculous unicorn, so welcomed by all, including the King... Iracbeth had been the oldest and therefore first chosen to marry, however it was obvious to all that Mariana and the were rather comfortable around each other, perhaps a little more than necessary, or so Stayne had hinted one hot afternoon, as the queen watched the two fools laugh and joke merrily, from a corner of the room. It was sickening. They were both equally naive and unambitious when it came to seeking power, both so sweet and generous with all, both mad. And because of this, they became the perfect victims with which to play on the Queen's insecurities.
Stayne watched in fascination as the Queen's paranoia grew, using her own past words and complaints against her, emphasizing her fears of her sister overthrowing her, her husband straying to find comfort elsewhere, and being left alone, unloved, without place in all of Wonderland. Her paranoia grew such until finally one day a well placed handkerchief he'd tricked from Mariana- paying a fellow soldier to play injury in front of the kind monarch, who quickly assisted to bind his wound- in the King's private chambers, made her crack. Found the night before her sister departed. As Queen Mariana departed the next morning, the Queen that night employed Stayne as her private assassin, stealing into the chambers as she innocently went to visit him, waiting in the shadows until she confronted him. Of course he denied everything (there was nothing to confess), though there was no stopping the crazed royal. She had simply screamed in outrage, never stopping to listen to the pitiful man who gazed upon her with only love in his eyes, and a sadness in his heart at her distress. Another minute before finally giving her signature. "Off with his head!" An order which Stayne was more than happy to comply with.
The next morning, the White Castle was attacked, and the rest as they say is history.
S~s~S~s~S
However, this Alice business had come quite unexpectedly and was a most inconvenient threat to his current position. Even before the news of her return, Iracbeth had become more crazed, more dependent on the puppets of court for comfort, himself especially, striving off the fear and thrill of acting on her violent whims and impulses. She was also demanding, of his time, his skills, his... Love. He shuddered at the thought. Since informing the Queen of the news however, she was sure to become insufferable, even more so than unusual. Who knew how long his favor would last as her 'favorite'. He had to find the girl, quickly. The little brat couldn't very well stay hidden forever... He would have to break the Hatter somehow. Or at least use him as an excuse to bide some time...
Speaking of little girls and Hatters, emphasizing on the 'little', he looked down at the pot clutched firmly in his hands. It was an ordinary enough teapot. White, with a simple light blue floral pattern strewn along the sides and handle. The lid was decorated with a small sapphire at the center of its tip. And yet it housed a girl of a most unusual stature. First of all, who was she? Where had she come from? And what business did she have with the Hatter, or rather what business did the Hatter have with her? He set the teapot on his dresser. Now that he thought of it, she had been unusually quiet, ever since her capture; he had yet to hear her voice. Most women would have been screaming, outraged, or fainted, no matter their size. She had done neither. It was most peculiar. Perhaps...
Just as he was about to lift the lid to take a peak, a courier- a fish to be exact- ran up through the hallway, note in hand, which he quickly read out. "The Queen... Requests your presence in the throne room." He panted, stopping as he waited for a response.
Ilosovic hesitated a moment, hand still poised over the tip of the lid. "Inform the Queen I will be there momentarily." A pause. "Now!" He sneered the last word, successfully startling the fish into action. He waited a moment, relaxing only as he sensed the fish was out of range. Quickly, Ilosovic released the lid, placing the teapot out of immediate sight and ample height behind a pile of books atop the dresser. He then moved to straighten his robes and switch his black eye patch for the red, as it was her favorite. With that he turned and left the room to meet the woman that was his Queen.
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