Alice at Last

Chapter Thirteen

"Am I what you've been expecting?" Alice inquires as they enter the large castle. She looks around in awe at the sheer grandeur and beauty of it.

"No, not necessarily," Mirana returns. "You're even smaller now than when we first met you since you were a child," she jests lightly, getting off the horse and carefully taking Alice inside. The teen sits on the palm of the queen's hand, not knowing if the castle is so large due to her miniscule size or if it would still take her breath away if she was normal height.

"Well, believe me, this isn't my normal size. I can't say that I'm too comfortable like this, either. Is there an antidote? A solution to this? Something?"

Mirana nods, heading to the kitchen which is unsurprisingly white just like everything else. She sets Alice on the countertop, beginning to gather the ingredients in silence. She takes a glance back at the young woman, watching her as she looks over everything, seeing a curious glint in her eyes, telling her that she is her Alice.

Iracebeth walks inside of the kitchen after putting the horses in the stables, sitting down on a stool in front of the counter. "Something intriguing?" the Red Queen asks, seeing Alice's fascinated gaze.

"Yes. No? I don't know," Alice responds truthfully. "I keep telling this to everyone here and my answer never seems to change. I suppose I don't know much anymore except the certainty that I don't know. It feels like everything I know isn't what I know. Everything simply isn't what it seems to be." Her voice is underlined with sadness, even a tinge of fear and uncertainty. "It's all familiar. All of it, yet none of it. It's a dream that I just can't wake from. But it's so realistic that I'm questioning my own sanity."

Mirana gives a small, almost sad, smile. "We were afraid that you wouldn't remember at all," she says as she works on the antidote. "When you first came back, you had a lot of trouble getting through the door. Nivens has already brought several Alice's here but it was your mass of hair and… well, you, that confirmed that it was you. Of course, I didn't have a doubt when I first saw you but suspicions were there, even if that sounds contradicting."

"… You seem to be quite fond of me," Alice whispers. It feels strange for it truly appears as though she's talking about another person entirely, not even referencing herself. All of it is surreal to her and it feels like déjà vu and she's unable to comprehend it.

Mirana chuckles softly. "In a way, yes," she returns. "We absolutely adored you when you were a child. You were precious. Now that you're older, we still only see you as that child… which I know we shouldn't. It's not right, I know it isn't."

"It's okay," the teenager returns gently, just watching out of fascination everything that Mirana puts into the potion, grimacing at some ingredients that look especially horrid. "Am I to drink that?"

"Eat it," she responds. "I'll be baking it into a cake like food. Upelkuchen. You've already eaten it before so you're familiar with the taste."

"Yeah, but I didn't expect these… things to be ingredients. Especially not so many." She watches as a rather large amount of an opaque liquid is set into the more solid of ingredients and her stomach seems to lurch at the thought of having eaten it before. "I don't understand. These things look horrid. How does it taste so sweet at the end?"

"Bumbleberries," the White Queen says, smiling when she sees Alice's eyes light up in recognition towards the word. "Ever had them before?" she tests a bit more.

"Remember what I said just moments earlier?" Alice asks, moving back and forth on her heels, feeling a bit antsy now that she has been standing there for a while without doing much, if anything. The sisters seem to notice and Mirana gives a knowing smile.

"Racie, why don't you give Alice a tour of the castle? She seems to be wanting to do something whilst I bake."

"Of course." Iracebeth gives a nod. Alice looks up at her, wondering how she's to be carried around before a sudden thought crosses her mind. How could she possibly forget? Hatter!

She immediately jumps up. "I forgot!" she cries out, startling the queens. "Hatter was taken away by your men!" she announces as she turns to Iracebeth. "Where is he?! Is he hurt? Why did you go after him if you don't seem too interested in harming anyone? What's going on?"

Iracebeth seems to pale before meeting her gaze with her younger sister's. "Stayne," she rasps out. "Fuck! Alright! Mirana, you keep an eye on Alice. I have to get back to Salazum Grum!" She instantly turns to leave, the doors slamming shut behind her and Alice looks more than confused.

"Does she not have control over her own men?"

"She does. All but one, though. He's been nothing but a thorn in our side for years. He's a murderer and rapist." Mirana explains, bitterness in her voice. "He tried to… commit unspeakable acts towards you when you were a child." She watches as her face pales. "Do you remember?"

"… Why hasn't she killed him yet? Everyone says that she's killed others before. Why is he different?"

"Even she doesn't know. After what he tried to do to you, he was going to… But you spared him."

"So, it's my fault that he's still alive?"

"Yes and no. You spared him that one Time but he didn't change. I should have sentenced him to death myself before my vow at the very least." She trails off, shuddering at an unpleasant thought before she puts the mixed ingredients into a white oven. Alice runs across the kitchen counter, looking over at the oven and wondering if she could make the leap, wanting to get her mind off of Stayne. She begins to brace herself and Mirana sees what she's attempting to do. "Whoa! Hey!" She rushes over, catching her after she jumps. Alice huffs as she's set back down.

"I could have made it across if you didn't stop me!"

"Right and if you missed, you could have fell and gotten yourself hurt. Probably break an arm," she reprimands her, as if speaking to her like she did when she was younger.

Alice rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Whatever you tell yourself," she answers, mostly to herself. "Taking the fun out of everything."

"Because getting hurt is always fun?" she questions with an amused smile on her lips nevertheless. Alice takes notice of this and she can't help a smile that forms.

"No, but taking risks is. I wanted to see if I could get from here to the oven. I've never been this tiny before and if I failed, I had a feeling that you would catch me," she hums, seeing the amusement sparkle in Mirana's eyes.

"You really haven't changed, have you?"

"I don't know. I don't know what my personality was as a child and how much it differs now. I would suspect quite a bit since I've been… disciplined when I was younger."

"Disciplined?" Mirana's face immediately fills with worry. "What do you mean disciplined? What did they do to you up there?"

Alice doesn't answer, seeing the mood ruined and she sighs before undoing the top part of her dress, turning around and revealing her back that is filled with scars, all old and faded but still prominent. Mirana's eyes sadden as she looks at them. She hears the oven ding and she takes out the Upelkuchen, handing a small bit to Alice after helping her onto the floor.

"Before I eat this, think you can give me some garments?" she asks, looking up at the queen. "I don't really want to… be exposed in front of you," she admits, turning a bright red.

Mirana nods and heads off, coming back a minute later before carrying her to a separate room, placing the dress next to her. Alice gives a small thank you right before the door closes. It's only a minute more before Alice comes back out in the light blue dress, looking down at it. "I wouldn't have expected you to have a blue dress," she admits, looking up at Mirana, only slightly shorter than her, now.

The White Queen stares at her in silence, shaking her head before regathering her thoughts. "Huh? Oh! Yeah… I think a change of colour was in order for my wardrobe. I never wore it though… I do much prefer white to blue. Blue suits you more than anything else."

"Well, it fits perfectly. It's nice to be back to my regular size. This whole dream has been a mess, my size doesn't need to be one of the messes. I miss being normal in regards to this, at the very least."

"Are you not normal?" Mirana asks, sitting down across from Alice, motioning for her to take a seat.

The younger of the two sits down in silence, feigning a thought. "No," she responds after a while, rather absolute in her answer. "No. I suppose I've never been normal."

Mirana gives a small, gentle smile in return. "I'm not sure what is considered normal up there but down here, everyone is so abnormal that it is the norm. It makes it more fun, I suppose, if you can see it in that light."

"Oh, I most certainly can."

The White Queen nods now before she allows her gaze to wander, noticing the scratches on Alice's arm now, wondering how that could have slipped from her view in the first place. "Oh, my dear, what happened?" She gently takes her arm, running her thumb instinctively over the first laceration, pulling away when Alice flinches, hearing the suppressed whimper. "I'm sorry!" she immediately apologizes. "But what happened? The only thing that could ever cause these scratches that deep is from…" Her throat constricts and she shakes her head in disbelief. "But that doesn't make sense! Why would he-?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Alice returns, her voice bitter. "He's a monster. Of course he would do something like that. Why is this even a question?"

"Because he knows you! He was a pup when you were a child! He grew up with you, at the very least for two years. He should have recognized your scent."

The younger of the two shrugs, unfazed by the information. "Then I guess he doesn't remember me, does he?" she returns. "Because he gave me no second thought to scratching me. Although…" She pauses. "He had his eye ripped out… by the mouse, Mally. That could have been the determining factor."

Mirana grimaces at the information, not too keen upon hearing about any form of brutality. "Well… regardless of the reasoning, it must be treated. Come," she returns gently, taking her hand and leading her out of the kitchen and to a separate bedroom. It's decorated nicely, mostly either white or gray. Alice looks around the décor, holding back a comment. Mirana seems to notice and she grins. "Too white?" she inquires, her voice jesting.

"Just a bit."

"Well, I have a better place, more suited to your interests." She leads her away and opens another door, not telling her that that specific room is right next to her own. The room itself is painted a light blue, the bed sheets having a light blue rose pattern on them. The bed is neatly made and it's obvious the room belonged to a child once, the shelves filled with books and stuffed animals. There's a small chess table in the corner, the chess pieces skillfully handcrafted out of wood. The curtains that go over the windows are also a light blue, drawn over the windows and muting the sun rays. Finally, there's a small desk, designed specifically for a child. It's a miniature replica of Mirana's desk in her office. Alice walks over, picking up the small vase that has three roses in it: red, white and blue. Alice runs her fingers over the petals.

"These are real," she whispers. "But it seems that everything else is untouched." She runs her finger along the desk, a layer of dust coating the digit. "How are these still alive?"

"Magic," Mirana responds, allowing some white sparks to appear at the tips of her fingers and she smiles widely. "The water in the vase is enchanted. Keeps the rose alive through everything… See how it sparkles ever so slightly?" She lifts the vase, showing it to Alice. "We use this specific water for a lot of healing potions and antidotes. Very, very powerful medicinal properties. But you loved the roses so much that I didn't want you to see them wilt and die. You were too young to care for them, regardless of how often you said you weren't," she teases. "Speaking of healing, I have to do your scratches. Please. Sit on the bed."

"God, you sound like my mother," Alice jests as she sits down, unconsciously rubbing her arm right below the cuts in an attempt to soothe the slight burning and itchiness. Mirana rolls her eyes.

"Well, I took care of you for plenty of Time. I might as well be your mother," she teases before she sees Alice tense up when she takes her arm. "Sorry," she mumbles, carefully examining the wounds now that she's close enough to. "It's irritated," she observes, carefully moving the arm so she can inspect it better. "Seems to also be infected in some parts. Though it seems that it has been slightly treated. Not nearly enough as it should be but just enough to be noticeable. Has anyone looked at it?"

"I have," comes the baritone voice of Chess as he appears.

"You have? When?" Alice asks, not even remembering. Certainly, I would remember something as strange as a cat behaving as a doctor."

"You fell asleep so I decided to take the opportunity. I couldn't let it bleed or leave it open, else dirt and other bacteria would get into it, which is precisely the last thing you need. You don't need to get your arm amputated before you go and fight the Jabberwocky."

"Chessur, shush," Mirana gently scolds him, her eyebrows furrowing with slight warning.

"What? She needs to do it anyway. She is your champion, after all."

"Champion?" Alice turns over to Mirana and the White Queen turns a light pink.

"Er… Technically… The Oraculum states that we both have a champion. Well, Racie and I, that is. She has a Jabberwocky and… I technically have yet to find a champion."

"But he just said-."

"That's only if you agree to be," Mirana whispers. "I cannot dictate what you choose to do. You are in charge of your own destiny. You cannot live your life pleasing others… And… I personally don't want you to be my champion. I mean, I know that you're more than capable of being it but in the slight off chance that somehow, the Jabberwocky gets a lucky hit on you, it can be lethal and you'll be dead in a matter of hours if the poison sets in before you can contrive an antidote."

"Is that all I need to know?" Alice mumbles. "Is that why I'm here? Just to help you get your shit together?" She looks rather hurt with that statement and she knows she's being quick to judge but she also knows that no one is nice to her without their own selfish reasoning. She's had too many experiences where people who seem to truly mean well always turn and demand something of her.

Mirana is quiet and she looks over at Chess for help before Mally runs over. "Technically, yes," the dormouse says simply. "McTwisp went up to the Abovelands to get you for it is you in the Oraculum who shall defeat the Jabberwocky."

"Mally!" Mirana exclaims, shock on her features. "That is not the only reason and you are very aware of that! I know that you don't know her and don't have a high opinion about her but there's no reason-!"

"No, she's being honest," Alice says, raising her hand to silently quiet the other woman. "I'd much prefer curt honesty than have you lie to my face. You need someone to fight for you. That's the only reason," she says matter of factly.

"But it's not!" the monarch returns, taking the young girl's face in her hands gently, forcing her to look at her. "It's not," she repeats sternly. "Alice, we loved you when you were a child before we knew anything about what is to come. We loved you like our own and we still loved you for years on end afterwards. Even Racie did! And she still does! That is no easy feat for one to accomplish. We love you like our own and nothing will ever stop that. Look around this room! It was made just for you! There's another one like this in Iracebeth's castle. She and I were both so nervous about you coming back as an adult because we were unsure of so many things. We didn't know if you remembered us. We didn't know if you would want anything to do with us. There are so many factors. Alice, look at me and believe me when I say this. You have grown up to be an exceptional, beautiful young woman. Even in the little Time that we've seen you, we know that you still hold that spirit, that love and warmth that you had for everyone since you were a child. You're still adventurous and brave and, even if you are a bit suppressed, we can only blame the Abovelands for that. You are so much ore tan a pawn in a game. And… quite frankly, I would… I would want far more to do with you…" She turns a light pink and pulls away now, growing quiet, especially after Mally's gasp of shock.

"Okay," Alice laughs now, incredulously. "Now I know you're lying."

"… I wish I was…"

She stops, looking up at the White queen now, turning even a darker pink. "You're… you're not?"

"No… Alice, I don't know how or why but… I know it's only been a matter of days since you've come here but I'm already infatuated with you… I really am. You're gorgeous. You're humorous… You have so many amazing qualities about you and for me to not see that would mean that I'm blind…" She walks over, taking her face in her hands gently. "… I've been watching you since you first arrived in Underland and…" It's her turn to blush as she steps forward, placing a gentle kiss on her lips, testing the waters, unsure whether or not the response will be something she wants. She feels Alice hesitate and she waits for her to back away, to spit at her feet, to look disgusted but to her pleasant surprise, she receives a rather eager kiss in return. She feels a shiver rush up her body when she hears a soft moan of satisfaction from Alice and she pulls away, seeing how red the other's face has gotten. The queen smiles, gently running her thumb over her flushed cheek. "You're rather cute, all red like that," she teases gently, smiling when the girl whines in return and places her head on her shoulder, hiding her face. "Please, don't hide from me. You're gorgeous, my dear."

Alice shakes her head even more, gripping her tighter in response before grimacing in pain when a sudden throb from her arm rushes through her. "F-fuck," she gasps out, pulling away, clutching her arm.

"Right, I forgot. I'm so sorry!" Mirana quickly gathers the supplies that were left forgotten on the bed, grasping her arm and draining any form of infection, soaking it up with a warm cloth. Once done, she lathers the wounds in a light green cream that quickly numbs it before finally sewing it up and wrapping it in a tight bandage. "There you are…" She whispers out of satisfaction, quite pleased with her work. She tenderly runs her thumb along the bandage. "Does that feel better?"

"Much," Alice nods in return, watching Mirana. She then notices that Chess and Mally have yet to leave and she averts her gaze. "Fuck. I forgot you were here," she says. Mally doesn't say anything, just looking shocked while Chess has a broad grin on his face, looking elated for the both of them.

"Would you mind if you leave?" Mirana whispers, looking at them. "Forgive me, please, but Alice seems a little tired and I have a lot of catching up to do with her."

Chess nods with a smile and disappears with that. It takes Mally a few moments before she registers what Mirana has asked before she scurries out of the room through a small hole under the door. Alice collapses on the bed at that, groaning as she places her hands over her face, looking rather mortified.

"Oh, come on. Don't be that way," Mirana chuckles, placing a light hand on her stomach. "They were going to find out one way or another."

"I know, but they didn't have to be there for our first kiss," Alice returns, still covering her face. She grabs a pillow, groaning into it more, muffling it. Mirana just watches her in amusement, finding it absolutely adorable. She pulls her hands away, glaring up at the woman, watching as she tries to stifle her laughs, unable to do so.

"Well, they won't be here for our second kiss," she offers softly. "If… you want to, that is…"

Alice sits up, smiling now as she leans closer. "… Of course I do," she returns gently before placing a tender kiss against her lips, absolutely content.