10.8.2010 Sorry, I just edited it slightly. Mostly, I added some more information so if you wouldn't mind...LOL
BOOK TWO: Interesting & Confusing Twisting Events
By Rurple101
Chapter FIVE
The Three Royals
It was once foretold that a certain royal and her only child would be separated by mystery. A certain royal would rest in Underland's family of the throne and that that child lost would be so precious, it had to be lost.
Princess Mirana was a charming princess at the age since her birth. She had been destined by the oraculum that she would bear and give birth to this special young girl. Mirana married well, in love and with the throne (not to the delights of her older sister) to Prince Philip, the most desired man in all the land. Again, he was destined to marry the young princess to become the King and Queen.
A few months into the beloved marriage, her sister demanded the throne as a royal order – something very powerful with law. The whole kingdom witnessed it like a ceremony as her sister only ruled the average sized town of Salazen Grum, a port town with a jolly spring in its steps.
Iracebeth literally screamed at her younger sister, the whole kingdom could hear her.
"I want my land back now! It's MY THRONE! MY CROWN! MOTHER MADE A MISTAKE AND YOU DON'T DESERVE IT! YOU ARE WEAK, PATHETIC AND STUPID! YOU'RE BORING AS HELL AND I WANT MY BIRTHRIGHT BACK THIS INSTANT!"
The words rang around like curses and a raging wind flooded into the courtyard at the front of the palace. Mirana leaned into her husband for support as she covered her swollen belly, as if to put her hand over the baby's ears to cut off her auntie's screaming.
"Racie, that's not a nice thing to say." Came a calm voice behind the royals. Everyone turned to see Camilla, the Golden Queen came out. Her voice was sweet, scent of honey and sweet as sugar. She was the kindest royal in the whole kingdom (even better than Mirana!) and they all loved her. She was more of an adult than the other two sisters and was more like her mother; her instincts were closer and happier.
"Oh...I didn't know you were visiting Mirana this week, Cammy" Iracebeth stuttered slightly.
"Don't play dumb with me Iracebeth" Camilla snapped. She was a perfect clone of her mother, making her sound like anyone's mother when she told them off. "You are over stepping the line our parents drew for us. I seem to be the only one who has learnt not to bicker, not to be selfish and never order someone to death, unless they fully deserved it!"
For once, Iracebeth was quiet as her sister lectured her. She hated how Camilla was her favourite sister but also a bit of a know it all as well. Even worse than Mirana.
"I only came to visit Mirana this afternoon as I have found the contents of...well if you would kindly step inside I can show you." she explained. Mirana and Iracebeth nodded and followed her inside.
They went to the study and Camilla sat down in the chair opposite her two sisters. She was always the one to sort them out.
"You will remember that after the unfortunate death of our beloved father..." Camilla started, eyeing Iracebeth with a cold glance. "Mother has been living with me, or rather she moved out of the family castle in Queast. But sadly just nearly three days ago, she collapsed as she was walking to bed. She had a heart attack and has now passed on."
"Mother's...dead?" Mirana gasped, not wanting to believe it. Camilla nodded sadly.
Even Iracebeth was gob smacked. She loved her mother as well, she just hardly showed it.
"This is why she left me the duty of showing and reading out her will. It is roughly the same as when Father died but this time, one of you will receive her wishes and delights of the throne. I will act as the mother figure if you ever need me guys." Camilla comforted her sisters. They nodded slowly in return.
Now Camilla picked up a piece of long paper and un-wrapped it. It was like the oraculum only it had words instead of moving images.
"To my dearest Iracebeth" Camilla read aloud. "I hope you bear me no ill will. It was after all your bad temper that got hold of you which lead both me and your father to not give you the throne. It was only because we had to choose over the kingdom of Underland or you. But instead Mirana and Camilla have to allow you some authority. You will be allowed to remain at your castle on the lovely Crimson Sea coast. Just be good to know that I won't point the finger of blame at you for past events (even if your sister's do). So I am trusting Camilla to hand you over my Royal Bracket. It is a family heirloom and quite price-less. Hopefully you will like it as it has red rubies incrusted in it. In return I ask you to treat this kingdom like your friend. Love Underland and I shall forever love you, my daughter. Love Mother."
Camilla paused reading and out of her pocket she took a case and handed it to Iracebeth. Her hand trembling and eyes watering, Iracebeth took the case and opened it to reveal a dazzling rubies encrusted bracket. Her mother wasn't kidding when she said it was price-less. She nodded and Camilla read on.
"To darling Mirana. You shall be the one to receive my blessings, sweetheart as I read ahead of time before I wrote this and sweetheart, this is it! The child growing in your belly is the historic of all of Underland. It says from The Oraculum, that you name her Lily (my middle name) and that she will be the most desired princess of all the land. There is also another part of the future I will read and fear it shall be the cause of my death as Absolem warned me. Listen to him. When he says 'don't read it' he means it. I bless you and King Philip. I am sad not to see the beautiful Lily grow up and play with me, but maybe that will be something you can always remember me by. I support all of you, my daughters as you are all very special to me, including Iracebeth (though I wouldn't understand why you'd cast her out). You listen to Camilla. Help Iracebeth and you will be rewarded. If the time turns dark (again I cannot reveal) from the family, another stroke of luck will come. Sigh. I have already said too much! Goodbye my darling. Love Mother."
Mirana was sobbing so hard now that her black make up was running down her face. Iracebeth too wasn't crying, but looked very sombre. Camilla handed a bigger box to Mirana with shaking hands, she took it. Opening it she let out a cry and dropped the box. Iracebeth picked it up and rested it on the desk. Inside laid some little girl's clothes, including a small tiara with diamonds in the rim.
"Mother's funeral will be in a week." Camilla said, hugging each of her sisters carefully before leaving her sister's castle, towards her own in Queast.
Alice walked along the corridor towards the Royal Gallery and was permitted entrance by one of the guards standing there.
She quickly looked towards the portraits of the Royal Family.
She searched endlessly for a few minutes, running along the aisles looking until finally she found what she was aiming for.
The portrait was of the original royal family. It also had a family tree on the side, to show the position of the royals.
Queen Esther married to the late King Henry of Underland, mother of Iracebeth, Camilla and Mirana.
Mirana married to King Philip of Sandhurst.
Iracebeth courting (but not shown) Prince Justin of Snud
Camilla married to Prince Thomas of Iplam, mother of Angela Charlotte.
It showed a much younger Mirana with her husband to the far left hand side. She was beaming while her husband, the King Philip had his arm round her back. He had a kind looking face, with a slight flush on his cheeks, as if someone had made an embarrassing comment.
Next to the right was who Alice guessed was her mother, the former Queen Esther of Marmoreal, but was without her husband.
This must have been painted after their father died; Alice guessed and continued to the next part of the photo.
Next was Iracebeth without her husband also.
Maybe her husband didn't come until later? was Alice's next said that he wasn't shown so she shurged it off.
But she was interested to see yet another two people in the painting on the very far right hand side.
The older lady had golden cream hair and was curled at an angle to make her face look smaller and kinder. She was nearly as identical as the former Queen and Alice wondered if she was Mirana's auntie. Alice's eyes went to the younger girl who was also being held in the strange lady's arms.
Only Alice thought she recognized the face. It looked like…
Without a moment's hesitation, Alice fled out of the Gallery and ran all the way to the Royal Library.
She went straight to the section on 'History' and then looked for the royal family.
Twenty minutes later, she found what she needed. It was a book called 'The Kings, Queens and Royals Of Underland.'
She grabbed it of its shelf and laid it down on the round table in the centre of the room. Quickly she flipped through until she found the time period she needed. Settling down, she began to read.
It had been foretold that this century's series of changes in the Royal family would be the deepest.
There was of course the introduction of three children instead of the healthy one or two was shocking. First there was bossy, bad tempered and greedy Iracebeth Matilda, who wanted the throne to use at her disposal (which was shown shortly after this book was published) when she ruled over Underland in chaos.
She used animals (after being captured) for her furniture and made her home in her castle by the sea a horror castle. Anyone who went in usually never left it, as their head may end up in the moat floating around her fortress. Only when the time came, Lady Alice defeated the Jabberwocky and ended her rule.
Alice rolled her eyes; of course she'd be slipped in somehow.
Then the darling, caring and sweet Mirana Florence, the bird of the children who originally was given the throne by her mother, Queen Esther of Marmoreal and father, King Henry of Underland.
She immediately was the better solution to greedy Iracebeth, helping by creating numerous potions which have helped Underland's health and security systems, including the famous Upelkuchen and Pishsalver potions which help guard the rabbit hole portal from Upperland (which the famous Lady Alice is from) and which the Champion used several times.
Mirana also helped bewitch Underland from such people as the champion to 'lose their memories' slightly to help normal people forget. But this was ages before Lady Alice was even destined in Underland.
I wonder if she regretts that choice, Alice thought darkly.
She'd hated that her memories could wash away from her, despite being quite easy to remember if she tried.
She helped the security of Underland and the Outlands, helped maintain a peaceful atmosphere about the kingdom. She loved each and every creature, no matter what shape or form. She was selfless and kind, battling her elder sister through her childhood and later in life. She even went as far and made an oath to never harm a living creature, which is a very strong bound.
Maybe it was to make herself not hurt anything which (is guessed) runs in her blood. (Being related to Iracebeth).
Mirana married Prince Philip of Sandhurst (a foreign land to Underland) when she was twenty one and together they had a child named Lily Esther, after her mother who died three months before she gave birth. Lily was also the mysterious type as the most interesting story to cross hands is of her disappearance.
When Lily was eight years old, her father and her went on a trip to see her auntie, Camilla at her castle in Queast. Only they never got there. Princess Lily disappeared completely and her father came back with absolutely no memory of his daughter at all.
He even forgot his wife, Mirana and his purpose as a king. He then soon married Iracebeth which made her Queen and Mirana was heartbroken as well as worried sick for her daughter.
Lily has never been found to this day. She should be roughly twenty by now. She was a dark haired child with dark blue eyes and a spring in her step. She had a charming personality which the kingdom dearly misses.
Alice was amazed.
Poor Mirana!
Her husband forgot her, married Iracebeth and her daughter went missing!
But she saw the information she needed from the Gallery was only in the next few paragraphs.
But the last princess sibling to Iracebeth and Mirana, who was slightly older than Mirana, was by far the best and most remembered.
It is unknown where she and her daughter are now, but there is no doubt that Camilla, the Golden Queen was the most prepared, organized and most pure for the throne.
So Underlandians wonder why on earth their parents chose between Iracebeth and Mirana when Camilla was clearly the most perfect for the job?
The answer was simple; she didn't want to be Queen. She wanted to be normal like anyone else and didn't like the idea of being a royal that much. But over time, she got used to the idea.
Camilla married quite young, ignoring her other sister's bickering and stayed to her chambers, studying and generally knowing her surroundings and rights to the kingdom. She knew how to act in public, she understood her mother's actions and dealt the best of the grief when twice, and death came close to her.
The first time was on her sisters Mirana's nineteenth birthday party (This date is the most well-known date of the assignation of their father, King Henry).
From what the sisters have said, Mirana accuses her sister Iracebeth, stating she cut her father's throat in public, in the ballroom while dancing with their mother.
Iracebeth said that Mirana had cast a potion in their father's drink which made him have a sudden heart attack.
But Camilla's view was stated as the truth. She very rarely spoke in public, even while celebrating when she was younger.
She was twenty one at the time and Iracebeth being twenty six.
Camilla witnessed a man on top of the dais in the main ballroom (Where the dance had been held and left abandoned while everyone danced) and threw a sword across the room, nearly missing herself and her mother, Queen Esther.
This case meant that no matter whose version was true, blood spilled from the King's throat and he collapsed onto the dance floor as he was held by his beloved wife.
Camilla's second visit with grief was when her husband of six months, went on quest across Underland to socialise with some people from the Outlands, and never returned. He was pursued dead after several failed rescue parties tried to find him. Only his clothes were found in the remains of a burnt out fire to the south of Iracebeth's castle.
She hated her sister ever since, as it was the week after he went missing, she found out she was pregnant with Princess Angela Charlotte.
Later in life, something caused the Golden Queen to slowly vanish over time. But all we know is that Angela is still out there but in disguise. She said (before she vanished) that her mother 'died' when she was four years old.
Alice closed the book.
Mirana must have known all of this.
How can a group of sisters be so different yet so mysterious?
But one thing was for sure, she knew where the Princess Angela was…
Sorry it took so long! I'm getting there! But remember I need to do my other stories as well. May be a while till next chapter. I hope it's long enough! :D
Please review kindly :) xx