Villainess Of Hearts

Mary Ann waited and waited. Then she waited some more. It had started since last night鈥攕he hadn't been called at all by the Queen to deliver her meals. And yet the reason for it was obvious, brought on by the Knight's sudden fall. Silence filled the kitchen that she worked in, similar to how it quieted the noise in the Royal Kitchen.

A hush warning that hollowed out the halls, forcing people to continue their work as more guests flowed into the Castle of Hearts. Other servants busied themselves with the increased need to provide and service the guests and yet like an undercurrent, anxiety ran.

Silently questioning if somebody else would experience a terrible thing.

It had been the Queen, now her Knight had fallen.

Who else would be sought?

Mary Ann found herself avoided even more by others, as if they had found the answer to the riddle. Not the crown itself, no, not the castle but the evil Queen and all her closest allies. They were the ones being troubled by attacks, stricken with some karmic justice and vengeance.

Before, it would have struck her heart to sweltering panic and fear. Alienated by her fellow servants and distraught with her appearance, but now the young woman had other, more substantial things to worry about.

Everything was true, the sudden trouble that befell both Queen and her Knight, and yet they couldn't abandon and forsake them. The Queen needed to eat despite it all, and Mary Ann could not falter now. The servant finished preparing the lunch she had and added it to the tray filled with breakfast she had made hours earlier.

Surely the Queen was ravenous, wasn't she?

Not eating for more than half a day, that would weaken anyone. Be it a Queen or a servant, the need to eat was still the same. Her Majesty of Hearts needed to keep her strength, and this was the least that Mary Ann could do for her.

Something then caught her eye. A couple of soldiers passed by her kitchen, weapons in their hand. And one of them she knew, Mary Ann placed the tray down and stormed out, "Ace!"

Her voice echoed in the halls and he stopped in his tracks, the other soldiers carrying on, but he threw her a look. "Mary Ann?"

"What happened?" A grim determination set on her face. Her hands quivered and shook as she tried to steel her nerves. "Why are you and the others rushing? Has something happened?"

"Besides some Noble Houses arriving?" A scoff escaped his lips, a bit belligerent as he announced. "There's a madman at the gates. Did he really think he could enter the castle and seek an audience with the Queen? After what had happened in recent weeks, surely someone should learn their lesson. He'd taste our blade if it weren't about to cause a鈥?

The memory struck her. A man that dined with the queen in a good number of situations. She had served him tea. Absurd it may be to think of something. An idea blossomed in her mind. "Let him in."

"Hah?" Ace gave her a look鈥攁 telling look, as if that said she was insane.

Only she would have known it.

Well, everybody knew she'd only upset the Queen if she visited. Mary Ann couldn't help but consider it. She hadn't exactly forgotten Her Majesty's temperamental nature, but surely if the Queen would see someone like him? A person she seemed to be fond of鈥?then the pain in her heart would ease.

But nobody would believe her.

She eyed Ace and crossed her arms, "He is my friend鈥擨 know him. Let him in."

Ace blinked again, "Wait, what?!"

Dawdling around would be no good. She shook her head and turned to the door, "I'm going to get him myself鈥攁nd I'll let him pass through the servant's entrance." She smiled at him. "Please watch the food, it is for the Queen's and I'll deliver it to her once I bring him."

"Can you hear yourself?" Ace, the usually willing-to-gain-favor soldier, snapped at her. He threw up his hands at her, a touch of disbelief in his tone and a hint of fear. "The Queen of Hearts didn't request this! Do not do this!"

And yet Mary Ann had already stepped out of the kitchen to even offer a reply.

.

.

.

A door thrown open.

Queen caught in reverie.

Hot iron struck with a loud thwack鈥?br>
And a gloved hand caught the fire poker. Caught the metal rod before it could hurt anyone else. A wince erupted from the man. Nicholas Hatter stared at the red-eyed Queen who had bashed it at the exact moment she swung open the door. And with the presence of her servant just behind him, it became apparent that he was called to act as some kind of shield.

While initially glad to have entered the Castle with fewer repercussions unlike the last time, he found himself in another situation altogether. Each meeting required their own trials to pass before he could fully and confidently address the Queen.

Nicholas Hatter would comply with it.

He bent his head lightly in polite greeting, trying to ignore and fight against the sweltering heat pressing against his palm and fingers. Protected only by a glove, he had forgotten to take off in a rush to meet with her. "Your Majesty of Hearts鈥攆orgive me for coming unannounced, it seems my presence is displeasureable enough for you to strike me while the iron is hot."

The Queen of Heart's grip loosened slightly.

Her gaze fleeted past him, possibly over to the cowering servant, and then back to him. She released her hold completely at the same time as he did. The rod clang in between them and nearly snagged her gown to fire.聽

The Queen stepped back uncertainly and gave him a confused look. "W-wh鈥擸ou have come unannounced indeed and have barged here." Her face melded into fury and she pointed a finger at him. She stabbed her finger into his chest. "I could have you be thrown into jail."

It was an unnatural feeling鈥攖o be at the mercy of her wrath once more.

And yet the heat in her voice wasn't truly hot, there was a weakness to it, akin to a flame bursting out of its last embers before it finally gave out. His forehead creased and he couldn't find a retort to say, or even a phrase to make her smile.聽

Her servant, Mary Ann, hadn't exactly explained anything beyond telling him that he might appease an angered Queen. Aware he might be of what could happen, he had risked it. Similar to how she had decided to give him medicine in the past, despite knowing he could refuse it, he would try his own to make her less upset.

However, he didn't know that it was to this extent.

Grief laced in her eyes. Mary Ann had rushed him here without even giving the full picture? Nicholas Hatter held a hand to his chest. He couldn't muster anything except a weak smile. "Forgive me, Your Majesty鈥?but I had come here to only deliver a gift. I will not trespass on your hours any longer."聽

The Queen of Heart's expression steeled and finally eyed the bag. He clutched it in his left hand and then back to him. Her right hand tightened momentarily as she pulled her hand away from him, "Come in and present your gift, if it doesn't appease my nerves鈥攊t will be off with your head."

Even her threats didn't hold as much ounce of authority to it, and yet she turned away from him and sat on her couches. A silent beckoning for him to follow after her.

Nicholas Hatter gulped and then walked after her.

Why did it feel like he could hear a somber sound of funeral music? He needed to be braver! He was the Hatter! The man who had laughed in the face of danger and the right hand of ___鈥攁nd yet even the last part eclipsed him. His own self-ramblings took a turn to somewhere he hadn't known.

Who? What?

Somehow it felt important鈥?Nicholas shook his head and then finally took a seat across from the Queen. Once again he mustered a smile, but the Queen looked away from him. Whatever it was, it wasn't as important as this meeting. This event took precedence over other things in this hour.

"What are you waiting for, Mary Ann?" She snapped at her servant. "Do not keep me waiting, I will dine with this man. If you wish to keep your work, then move faster. If Gine was here鈥? her voice lowered and she shook her head.

Mary Ann stumbled in the office and was quick to serve their meal, and she also left the room immediately. She left Hatter with the Queen of Hearts. And unlike their previous encounters, an unruly nature swept through her.

This hadn't exactly been the best time to visit鈥攂ut Nicholas could not escape this.. He would live through this event鈥攖he Hatter quickly placed his gift on the table.