Meeting Mary Ann

Chapter One: The Rabbits House

The sound of knocking on her door woke Mary Ann, she groaned, rolled over, and threw a pillow over her head.
"Go away," she yelled through the pillow. The knocking didn't stop and she moaned and threw her pillow at the door, "Go away!"
Instead of going away, her visitor opened the door, and a chubby, pale man with pointed rabbit ears and a top hat. His small red eyes found her on the bed and he made his way quickly to her.
"Mary Ann, honestly this is ridiculous, You should have been up hours ago, the queen will be here any minute and you're still in bed," he tugged at her blankets but wouldn't take the entire thing off and ruin any idea of modesty she had left. Mary Ann sat up quickly the blankets falling around her waist, she had forgotten the queen was coming today. She threw back her covers and slipped on her slippers.
"Why didn't you wake me earlier?" she asked rushing to her mirror, grabbing her brush and trying to work out the knots of her brown hair.
The man huffed and put his hands on his hips, "For your information Mary Ann I have sent two maids up here this morning already and neither got an answer. Besides I needn't remind you that you are supposed to be my personal maid, not the other way around."
She stopped brushing her hair and smiled sweetly at him, "I know, but honestly, why wouldn't you remind me she was coming?" Her stomach did a little flip, the queen, gods she hated seeing the woman. Her larger-than-life persona matched her large frame, and she was the crankiest woman Mary Ann had ever met. She was so thankful the Rabbit had taken her into his home.
Mary Ann was a changeling, and she wasn't just anyone's changeling, she technically belonged to the Queen of Hearts. When the queen had finally produced an heir to the throne it had been decided she would be better off growing up in the world above so she had been swapped for the princess. Usually, the family of the original child took in the changeling, and she had lived with the queen for twelve years, but eventually, the queen had decided she couldn't stand looking at the girl who was taking the place of her daughter, so she decided to send her to live with her court planner. Rabbit was supposed to take her in as one of his maids, and every once in a while she did help around the home, but he had also taught her court etiquette, how to read and write, and had treated her more like a daughter than anyone had ever done before.
"I did remind you twice, you just don't like to remember when she is coming," he said gruffly his beard and mustache twitching into a small smile.
She turned and glared at him, their eyes locking she knew he was teasing but she really did hate it when the queen visited. The only reason she ever did was to look in on Mary Ann and be sure she hadn't tried to run away. Not that she would, she had tried a few times as a small child but the queen's card guards always seemed to find her, she suspected that had had a lot to do with the queen's decision. She hadn't run away since she had moved in here, though she wasn't exactly happy about being here away from her actual family, even though she had never met them, she was nowhere near as unhappy as she had been in the queen's castle.
"Fine, but you need to leave if you want me to be ready in time."
"Yes, I know I just want to remind you to wear that-"
She let out an anguished groan, "Yes I know I have to wear the hideous dress, really Rabbit I know what is expected." She went to her wardrobe and pulled out the dress. Her face scrunched up as she looked it up and down, it was black and maroon, floor length, and had little red roses all over it. The lace twisted up in weird angles, and the black apron was covered in green vines. She turned and gave Rabbit a look.
"Fine, but hurry you know she doesn't like to be kept waiting," he scurried out the door.
She went and stood behind her dressing screen and slipped on her dress, she slipped on her shoes and bundled her hair into a bun atop her head, swearing when one of the pins poked her in the finger. She rushed down the stairs passing the other two maids, who smiled at her and giggled, they knew what today was and they loved seeing her rushed like that. They were jealous of her relationship with Rabbit, one, Beth, had even started a nasty rumor about their relationship, but one punch from Mary Ann and neither had ever tried that again. She smirked at them.
"Good morning ladies, I suggest you run along before Her Majesty arrives, we all know how she feels about commoners." The girl's faces paled and they scurried off in the direction of the kitchen. She laughed to herself as she stepped off the last stair and turned to the foyer. Rabbit was already standing there his pocket watch in hand.
"You know that thing is slow why do you continue to use it?" she asked stopping in front of him and tapping a finger on the face.
"It is not slow, I do wish you would quit talking to Hatter, he mumbles all sorts of nonsense," he made a drinking motion with his hand to indicate the Hatters habit of adding mercury to his tea. Mary Ann was laughing quitely but stopped quickly when there was a loud knock at the door. The sound made her suck in a breath, she felt like she was going to be sick but there was nothing in her stomach to get sick with, she had missed her morning meal. Rabbit looked at her and she nodded, he turned and opened the door. Standing on the other side was a large woman whose black hair was pinned tightly to her head with her small gold crown ringed with bright rubies. Her small squinty eyes fell on Rabbit as he bowed to her.
"Your majesty, this is an honor," he straightened and moved aside his arm turning to invite her in. She waddled her large self through the door, the large red and black skirts brushing roughly against the sides of the entryway. She stopped and studied the foyer her lips pinched in aversion. When her eyes landed on Mary Ann the aversion turned into disgust but she tried to quickly cover it with one of her even tighter smiles.
"Mary Ann it's lovely to see you again, and you look..." she trailed off her eyes trailing up and down her body, "Well you look well taken care of at the least."
Mary Ann had to bite the inside of her lip to keep from snapping off a snotty response, after all, she wouldn't be wearing this ridiculous dress if it weren't for her random visits. Instead, she curtsied and smiling said, "Thank you, your majesty, you look beautiful as ever." She straightened and looked pointedly at Rabbit, why hadn't they gone to the sitting room yet?
He cleared his throat, "Shall we have tea?" he led them into the sitting room and Mary Ann took the teapot and began pouring tea for them. Setting the pot on the tray she handed each of the saucers to them. She stepped back and stood behind one of the taller chairs Rabbit had sat in, she was never invited to partake with them, instead, she was expected to serve them and behave like the maid she was supposed to be.
"This is such a surprise Your Majesty, a lovely unexpected surprise," he quickly added at her sharp glance.
"Yes, we haven't seen you since the holiday," Mary Ann quickly added.
The queen set her teacup down on a table, placed her hands in her lap, and, ignoring Mary Ann's remark she looked to Rabbit and smiled sweetly. Mary Ann's stomach fell, she knew that smile, meant the queen had something not so great to share and she was quietly enjoying the moments before she dropped whatever news she had in their laps.
"It is time for Mary Ann to come back to the castle, she has been here long enough and I would enjoy having a young woman to talk to now that the king has died," She looked up at Mary Ann with a wicked sparkle in her eyes. She knew what she was doing, she knew she was taking Mary Ann away from her home, well what she considered home anyway. She had no desire to go back to the castle. She had known the queen was cruel but she hadn't thought she would do something so mean just because she could.
According to Rabbit, the queen hadn't always been so heartless, though Mary Ann couldn't imagine it. When she had become pregnant with the princess her kingdom had been at war with the white queen. After many arguments, the queen and king decided to send her above and leave her with a family there. Once the child had been taken away everyone had hoped Mary Ann would help her adjust to it. It did not, in fact, every time she saw Mary Ann it seemed the queen had gotten angrier, she was never able to accept her as her child and she had no desire to try. Eventually, she gave up and made up her excuses to send Mary Ann away. So why did she want Mary Ann to come back now?
"Your majesty?" Mary Ann asked trying to keep her voice strong.
"Yes Mary Ann?" the queen asked warmly, making goose bumps crawl up her arms.
"Well it's just that Rabbit," she cleared her throat, "I mean Master Rabbit, needs me, he is so busy with court planning he needs someone to help him run his household."
The queen looked at Rabbit, "Is this true Rabbit, is Mary Ann so useful to you that you would deny your queen her rights to her own changeling?" Her voice was sweet but her words held a note of warning in them and Mary Ann knew as soon as Rabbit set his cup down and looked back at her sadly that he was not going to fight to keep her.
"Of course not your majesty, I can find another housemaid, and I believe Mary Ann would thrive in your court," he turned to look up at Mary Ann but she wouldn't look at him, Her heart felt as though it was breaking, she knew Rabbit was afraid of the queen but she had at least expected him to try and convince her to let her stay. Sighing quietly he looked back at the queen, "How soon would you like me to send her?"
"Oh you won't need to send her, she can come back with me."
"Now? Today?" Mary Ann cried out in shock.
"You will not raise your voice to me you ridiculous child, I am the queen! You will come home with me and you will behave with honor and respect!" the queen shrieked jumping to her feet and stamping her foot. Both Rabbit and Mary Ann looked at her in shock, the queen had always behaved a little childishly but this was a new level altogether. The queen collected herself, and after a moment she turned back to them, "Mary Ann go to your quarters and collect your belongings we will be leaving before the sunsets." With that, she turned and left the room. As soon as she was out of earshot, Mary Ann knelt in front of Rabbit.
"Please don't make me leave, this is my home, you are my family, please don't let her take me," she grabbed his hands and pleaded with him, though she knew it was futile, if the queen wanted her she would have to go.
"Mary Ann, you know I can't stop her, you must go and collect your things," Rabbit said avoiding her gaze. She searched his face but there was no giving in. She rushed to her feet and fled up to her room, she was leaving her home and she had no idea what the queen had planned.