"It is," Dahlia agreed. "I have a... natural immunity. There aren't very many other humans up there. Ice creatures, yes. But not many humans."

"If there are no people, how's there a queen?" Will asked, raising an eyebrow. "Sort of defeats the purpose of ruling if there's nobody to rule, doesn't it?"

"I rule the creatures. They have human aspects to them. Jealousy, certainly, and they have a tendency to go cause mischief for people along the borders if they're left to their own devices," Dahlia said with a shrug.

"Weird, but okay," Will said. "Though not the strangest thing I've ever heard of, I'll give you that."

Dahlia snorted. "It is an inherited title," she said. "I'm not entirely sure I fit what most people consider a queen, and my kingdom isn't what most people think of a kingdom. But it's mine. Or would be normally without this curse mucking up everything."

"No kidding," Will said. "The curse is bloody awful, and it's making Anastasia absolutely bloody insane."

"It seems to me that she has issues seeing what she has," Dahlia said with a shrug. "She's so busy looking at what isn't here."

"Cut us some slack," Will said. "We're not even meant to be here. Was just bad luck that we are, is all."

Dahlia raised an eyebrow at him and prodded at the soup.

"You know, there are ways to get her to look past her own nose. None of us are supposed to be here, if you'll recall, so she'll get no more leniency from me than anyone else in this town."

"You misunderstand me," Will said, looking at her. "We didn't even live in the Enchanted Forest anymore. Not for a long bloody while."

Dahlia nodded her understanding of that, staying quiet for a few moments.

"Soup is ready," she said, glancing at him as she got out bowls.

"Great," Will said, getting up to go help. "Smells great."

Dahlia smiled a bit. "I'm glad you think so," she said quietly. "I do apologize if I offended you. But, in my defense, you two are both a little unpredictable."

"Guilty," Will admitted as he took a bowl. "We just do what we can to make it, is all. Y'have to, in Wonderland."

Dahlia nodded. "Indeed," she murmured, taking her own bowl and moving to the table to sit. "And I don't believe anyone sane would fault you for it."

"I bloody well hope not," Will said as he sat down at the table as well. "Everyone knows you need to be a certain kind of crazy to survive in Wonderland. Especially the Red Queen and Knave."

Dahlia just nodded, quiet for several moments as she let her soup cool some.

"Well, you can stay here for as long as you need."

"Thanks for that," Will said as he tried the soup. "Prob'ly be out of your hair soon, once Anastasia calms down again." He blinked and looked down at the soup, and then back at her. "This is really good."

"Thanks," Dahlia said after a moment, blinking. She didn't cook for other people often, so the compliment was unusual.

Will ate the rest of his soup quickly. He definitely enjoyed it, and the new flavors weren't ones he was used to, even from Wonderland.

Dahlia was a bit perplexed. She wasn't sure she'd done anything different to the soup than her mother had, but apparently it was new to him.

"There's more if you're still hungry," she offered.

"I'm good for now," Will said. "But thanks. Dunno what you put in it, but it's not something common back home."

Dahlia shrugged. Hey, if he liked it, that was great.

"Shall I show you to the guest room for now, then?"

"If you like," Will replied. "Couch's just as good for me. I've slept in places much worse than a couch."

Dahlia shrugged. "Your choice, then," she said. "The guest room is over there, if you'd prefer a bed."