The Fugitive
Disclaimer: The Alice books and the 2010 film are not mine. This is only for fun and no money is being made.
Chapter 5: The Queen and Three Maids
As soon as Alice entered the white Throne Room she saw Mirana gliding towards her with characteristic elegance. She attempted to curtsey but Mirana forestalled her.
"There is no need for such formality between us, Alice."
To Alice's surprise, Mirana stepped forward and hugged her warmly. She returned the embrace awkwardly, a little embarrassed at being treated with such affection by the White Queen.
Taking her arm, Mirana led Alice to an alcove where a table had been set out for tea. At the White Queen's invitation, Alice took one of the two chairs.
"Will you take milk and sugar, my Champion?" Mirana inquired as she poured tea for both of them.
"Yes please!" Alice responded.
Mirana added milk and sugar to one of the cups and passed it to Alice. She herself took sugar but no milk.
Alice sipped her tea gratefully, feeling quite thirsty after her journey. The tea tasted a little odd; there was a subtle flavour she could not identify but she found it very refreshing.
"Now Alice," Mirana began after sipping her own tea. "I am delighted that you have returned to us. Do you plan to stay here long?"
Alice grimaced, remembering the circumstances that had led to her return. "I have no plans to leave," she answered briskly.
Mirana stared at her keenly. Alice met her gaze for a moment then looked away, wondering if the White Queen could somehow read her thoughts. She hoped not; Mirana would hardly want a murderer as her Champion.
"I perceive some unexpected trouble has occasioned your return to us, Alice." Mirana spoke quietly. "Do not fear, I shall not inquire further if you do not wish it."
"I would prefer not to speak of it." Alice hastily gulped down the rest of her tea. "I fear I can never return to my own world now, but I hate to impose upon you and I have no idea what I could do here anyway."
"Oh my dear Alice!" Mirana reached over the table and squeezed her hand. "It is no imposition at all and you are quite welcome to stay here forever. As for what you could do here, well you are still the Champion of Underland and therefore nominally commander of all my armed forces. But in addition to that I would like you to become one of my Royal Advisors."
Alice blinked in surprise. This was certainly unexpected.
"Just what would that entail?" she inquired cautiously.
"Nothing too arduous," Mirana assured her. "You would be part of my Royal Council and help to advise me on affairs of state."
Once again Alice was nonplussed. She couldn't imagine why Mirana would need her advice of all people. It was not as if she knew much about Underland. But she was rather tired now and was finding it difficult to think clearly. Her mind felt oddly fuzzy.
"I'm honoured," Alice said at last. "But I don't really know that much about Underland. I can't really see why you would need advice from me."
"But that makes your counsel all the more valuable to me," Mirana explained. "You bring a fresh perspective, and in any case from what Absolem has told me you've travelled extensively in your own world so you have a wide experience of different peoples and cultures."
Her words reminded Alice of something.
"Mirana," she said hesitantly. "I met Absolem just before I came here and he said some rather puzzling things. It there some new danger threatening Underland?"
"Perhaps." The Queen's expression darkened. "But I cannot be certain yet and I would prefer to explain at the next Council meeting rather than here."
Alice felt that she ought to enquire further but she really could not be bothered. Everything felt vague and strangely disconnected from her.
"Alright," she heard herself saying.
"So you will agree to be my Advisor and serve on the Council?"
Alice nodded and smiled.
"Wonderful!" Mirana exclaimed. "Well, I suppose we had better start preparing for the ball."
"What ball?" Alice asked anxiously.
"Why, the ball I am hosting this evening in your honour, of course," Mirana explained, as though this was perfectly natural.
"Oh, but I really don't think…"
"All of Underland has been awaiting your return, Alice." The Queen said gently. "They are eager to greet you and celebrate this happy event. You would not disappoint them surely?"
Alice sighed. "I suppose not."
It was hardly what Alice really wanted at that moment. She had just come from a ball in her honour and the thought of facing another was not exactly enthralling. She had never cared for formal occasions at the best of times and after everything that had happened just wanted to lie down and sleep. But she couldn't bring herself to say so and disappoint Mirana after she had been so kind to her.
"Well then," Mirana said, rising from her chair so that Alice hurriedly stood up as well. "I expect you will want to change into something more suitable for the occasion." She glanced at the ball gown Alice was wearing with ill-concealed distaste.
Alice could understand her scorn. Compared to the elegant simplicity of Mirana's own dress her gown, with its frilly lace ruffles and ludicrous bustle, was hideously ornate. Hopefully Mirana could provide her with something rather more restrained. But she wasn't too concerned about what she wore to the ball as long as it didn't require a corset!
Mirana clapped her hands sharply, and a moment later the doors of the Throne Room opened and three women entered. Alice guessed at once they were sisters or at least closely related, for they shared the same severely beautiful features and dark curly hair. Like Mirana they were dressed in white ankle length gowns, although rather plainer than hers, and with green sashes tied around their tightly corseted waists. She judged two of them to be a few years older than her, in their mid twenties, while the third, standing between the other two, was perhaps twenty nine or thirty.
Approaching Mirana, all three sank into a deep curtsey.
"You sent for us, Your Majesty," the eldest said respectfully.
"Indeed!" Smiling, Mirana turned to Alice. "May I introduce Elsabeth," pointing to the eldest of the three women, "and Katarina and Drusilla," pointing to the others. "They will serve as your personal maids here at Marmoreal."
"Oh!" Alice gasped in surprise at this news. "But I don't really needs maids, Your Majesty. I can manage quite well by myself."
"Nonsense!" Mirana spoke quietly but in a tone that brooked no opposition. "You are a Lady of my Court now, Alice, and must be treated accordingly."
Alice couldn't help feeling vaguely resentful about the way events were spiralling out of her control. She had always prided herself on deciding her own destiny but now decisions were being made for her. But she made no protest; she was still finding it difficult to focus her thoughts.
"If you will follow us, Lady Alice" Elsabeth said deferentially, "we will show you to your rooms."
"Go with them, Alice." Mirana smiled at her encouragingly. "I will see you just before the ball is due to start."
The three maids curtseyed to the White Queen once again, and after giving her friend an uncertain smile Alice reluctantly followed them out of the Throne Room.