Crowded Upstairs

Title: Queen's Gambit
Fandom: Alice in Wonderland (Tim Burton)
Pairing: Tarrant Hightopp/Mirana of Marmoreal; implications of possible Tarrant/Alice; mentions of Iracebeth/King of Hearts and Iracebeth/Stayne
Rating: PG-13 at worst
Notes: This was just supposed to have been a one-shot piece of Tarrant/Mirana fluff, because I wanted to know that there was at least one good story about that pairing. Instead it exploded into Mirana's entire biography. If there's anything you don't understand or would like explained (e.g. "where'd you get that idea?"), please feel free to leave comments as the story progresses; it's a habit of mine to present a bonus chapter at the end of my longer fics in which I provide references and stuff, and I'll answer any questions there. My brain has an annoying/awesome tendency to try to spackle plotholes no matter how small, so there's an absurd level of detail forthcoming. (Chapter one is here, although when the story is finished I'm considering going back and merging it with this chapter, since it seems oddly short compared with this one.)
Story Summary: When you have the power to make anyone love you, how do you know who loves you for who you really are? Mirana has been certain only once in her life.
Chapter Summary: Mirana gains a brother-in-law, a court of her own, and one particularly valuable courtier.

( Chapter Two: Naught For Usal )