I gulped. Me? Meeting a Queen? The closest I've been to royalty is the local Baron back home, when she would collect rent personally. She wasn't evil per se, she was only doing her job, but she could have been more kind about it...

I walk into town, intending to sell my latest catch. I pass multiple cottages while humming to myself. I turn a corner and am stunned by what I see.

"-right now! But I can get it! I'll have the money by tomorrow!" A middle aged man sits on his knees, begging, in the middle of the road. He looks dirty, beat up and his expression is full of desperation. He is thin and his clothes has holes in them. He is in front of a tall woman who is covered head to toe in lace, frills, beads, and shiny jewelry. She stares angrily down at the man, her painted lips in a grimace.

"Your payment is due today!" The woman harshly smacks the man and he slumps to the ground. I gasp.

Without thinking, I'm suddenly standing in between the man and woman. "What are you doing to him!?" I raise my voice at her, despite the fact she is nobility.

"And who are you?" The woman looks at me in distaste and raises her nose in the air.

Long story short, I paid for the man. I used some of our savings as well as the money from that day's catch. My sister was furious with me, but it was worth it. The man visited me with his 8 year-old daughter a week later; he thanked me and offered to pay me back but I refused. He needed it more than I did.

   Before I know what is happening Peter pulls me into the throne room. I see the queen, 'She's so beautiful!' I think. The Queen has curly purple hair, hearts are incorporated in every article of her clothing, and she has a beauty mark on the bottom left of her chin. 

"There you are Peter, where have you been? We've beheaded a number of servants during your absence." The Queen speaks in the Royal We, and I am promptly intimidated. Her tone sounds as if she isn't bothered, but even I am left stinging as if I'd just been given a scolding.

Wait... "beheaded"!??

   I look at Peter, hoping he'll tell me she's joking; but the look of minor annoyance on his face fails to reassure me. Did he just lure me into a death trap? I like my head right where it is, thank you very much! I would not hold it above him, he did just pull me into an impossibly large hole that should have killed me.

Peter releases my hand and presents me like a treasure, while bowing, "I was out gathering another Outsider."

   For the first time the Queen's venomous eyes fall on me. I flinch and look away, her scrutinizing gaze burrows into me before suddenly softening. My hands itch to grab my bow, fight-or-flight reflex, but I know I could lose my head for that. 

I feel a familiar tinge of frustration at myself for showing weakness.

"So we see." She speaks softer now, kinder? But still confident. But why did calling me an outsider diffuse her contrary attitude? What does being an outsider mean here?

"But why? We already have Alice." She continues. Alice?

   Peter raises from his bow and stands with good posture. "Nightmare told me it was time for another." The Queen seems to except Peter's words without argument. Who is Nightmare? Are they someone with power here? Also, for Peter to talk so comfortably with a Queen... A new question crosses my mind: Is Peter White nobility?

All these questions I have frustrate me further. I look at Peter, probably glaring. I want to demand Peter tells me exactly what he has dragged me into, but incessant fear of the situation I'm in locks my mouth shut.

"You, what is your name?" I notice the Queen is looking at me. It takes a moment to realize she is addressing me.

"Oh! My na-name is Lily Wells, your majesty." I struggle to do an awkward curtsy, and I try to look like I know what I'm doing.

 "We like her already, Peter." The Queen almost smiles. "We are the Queen of Hearts, you may call us Vivaldi."

Queen of Hearts? Is that what this land is called? Hearts? I nod and avoid eye contact. I look in her general direction though, trying not to be rude and to show I am not completely afraid. 

"Lily is just the cutest, isn't she!" Peter pipes in. Cute? I send Peter a confused and slightly irritated glance.

* * *

   Vivaldi offered, more like demanded, I stay at her castle until further notice. It was a short conversation and I couldn't bring myself to object. Currently I am being led through a labyrinth of hallways by Peter. A permanent smile rests on his face. He hasn't attempted to hold my hand again, much to my relief. 

   This is the perfect time to come up with a plan! I bite down on my bottom lip and start to brainstorm. I can't run now, Peter would alert guards and they would catch me before I could find a way out. I could shoot one of the guards but I could lose an arrow and seriously hurt someone. Of course I could always make more arrows. Or I could go to the room he is leading me to and find a window. But what if--!

"What are you thinking about so hard, Lily? I'm surprised you haven't split your lip." Peter looks back at me and chuckles. I realized I'm biting my lip with way too much force.

"You must realize how confused I am by this place, right?" I answer smoothly and pointedly look at his adorable bunny ears. Wait-- I meant rabbit ears, just normal, human sized rabbit ears.

He does not seem to suspect a thing, "Ah yes, don't worry. I plan to answer all your questions in due time."

"Hmph."

   Peter finally stops in front of a door. "This will be your room! Mine is right next to yours." He points to the door to the left of mine. "Do not worry about getting lost, I or one of the guards will always be available to personally escort you wherever you wish to go."

"May I get answers now?" I ask without hesitation.

"Uh, Ah, Actually! The Queen needed me to take care of something, so later I will! You must be tired from all the walking anyway, please get some rest!" Peter is definitely avoiding the much needed conversation.

   He opens the door for me and gestures for me to go in. I sigh and give him a death glare, walking in. It may have been my imagination, but I think I saw his ears lower a bit before I turned away. How adora--! I mean, how weird. The door shut quietly behind me.

  The ornate room is larger than my bedroom and living room back home put together! This room is certainly fit for a castle, but not quite fit for a simpleton me. I'm overwhelmed by how much gold colored furniture there is and the abundance of hearts on everything. But wow, everything is so beautiful! The bed is huge! The view outside the window is amazi-- The window! I found my escape route!

   I start walking straight towards the window. When I get there, I see I am on the third floor. I open the window with little to no trouble and look down. I see that the wall below is covered in wall climbing vines! How convenient! I lean back in and take a deep breath to calm my excitement. I put my dark green hood up and tuck my blonde braid in. I take a moment to make sure I still have all my belongings. Everything checks out! 

   I look outside once more to see if anyone is there. Better safe than sorry.  I see nothing except maybe a flash of purple in one of the bushes, yards away from my window. It must have been a flower. With another deep breath I turn around and start climbing out. I test my weight on the plant, holding onto the window seal, it isn't sturdy but it doesn't snap. If I climb fast enough, I should be able to to make it down without falling.

   One foot and one hand after another, I start to climb down. I try to recall all the times I climbed trees to get a better shooting angle. I go down faster and faster. I will make it to the ground in no time! I am about halfway down, I giggle with exhilaration. That is when my excitement made my foot slip, and my entire body after it. In the few seconds I am airborne, I feel my excitement die and disappointment take it's place. Then I land and everything goes black.

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Hey guys! I've been working on this long chapter of and on since I last updated. I hope you enjoy it!