Sorry it took longer than I thought it would, here's the turning point of the story, in which things become much more cheerful. Tea anyone? *Holds up virtual teapot*
***
"Today is the greatest
Day I've ever known.
Can't live for tomorrow
Tomorrow's much too long"
Today ~ Smashing Pumpkins
Alice and Tarrant were on a visit to the queen when it happened. They generally visited around once a month, sometimes more, never less.
They had been having lunch when Ruth came in and said those wonderful words.
"Presenting miss Elsabeth Hightopp!"
Tarrant dropped his tea cup, which promptly smashed, and Alice fainted. Everyone was in such shock that they didn't notice these things.
The girl who walked through the door looked completely and utterly bewildered. Her messy red hair was sticking out all over the place from under her purple spotted hat, and she was dressed all in black (apart from the hat of course), and she was carrying a picnic basket.
The first thing Tarrant noticed (Alice probably would have noticed it too, but she was unconscious) was that Elsie looked quite sad behind the bewilderment. This worried him no end.
By the time Elsie was halfway across the room, the hatter had regained his senses and Alice was awake again. They ran towards their daughter and hugged her, making her even more bewildered than she already was.
"Um, pardon me," said Elsie, growing evermore nervous, "but who are you?"
"You didn't tell her?" It was Mirana who said this, directing it at Ruth.
"Well Majesty, I thought it would be better if she heard it from themselves."
"I suppose you were right in thinking that. Tarrant, Alice, I think it would be best if you tell her before she faints, she's looking rather faint."
"Elsie," said Alice, sounding a little nervous herself, "we're you're parents."
And then Elsie fainted.
***
Okay, I know it's really short, but there wasn't much I could write about in this chapter. The next one will be longer, I swear.