Hatter: There were those words I'd been longing to hear "Yes! Yes I will!" Alice shouted and I leapt to my feet shouting "Oh Frabjous Day, callo callay!" Futterwacken vigorously as she laughed, again, I have been Futterwacking for the past hour until I'd fallen to sleep. I was the happiest hatter in all the land! I stopped and slipped the ring onto her finger, and tears shone in her eyes, she was sitting, clutching her side as if it hurt, kneeling down I said "Alice, you really shouldn't be sitting up, your still healing," scolding her, she smiled "I'm fine hatter-I'm more than fine! I'm fantastic!" she replied grinning, staring at her ring, I grinned with her, "I love you Alice Kingsleigh!" smiling tenderly at her, her face softened and she said "I love you too, hatter," I leaned forward, a million Absolem's fluttering inside my stomach, she put her hand on either side of my cheeks and pulled me to her. Sharing a mind boggling kiss, it made all my insides feel like jelly, my heart dropped to the floor, it was an Alice kiss; and it was mine. It was becoming heated and I found it hard to pull away as hidden desires decided to surface. When I did, Alice blushed fiercely, and giggled at me, "what?" I said and she giggled even more, "what is it?" I ran my hands through my hair, was it sticking up? "It's nothing, really" she said through giggles; which was so adorably Alice, "Alice, is there something on my face?" I wiped fiercely at it, she put her hands on mine, "oh hatter, no. It was the expression on your face," she giggled. Satisfied that there was nothing on my face I let her take my hands, "what about my expression?" I then asked and she blushed "you looked so serious, hatter; I've never seen you use that expression," she grinned "and your eyes are purple, by the way," yet again she had managed to surprise me "purple-you say?" I grinned "and Alice, it's you that makes me serious, you are my sanity," I told her, she blushed deeper "oh," I liked this shy Alice, she should come out to play more, serious Alice was just so-serious. She's much more muchier like this. "I'll go get you something to eat, you must be famished, yes?" I asked "now that you mention it…" I held up my hand in a 'say no more' gesture and left to fetch her breakfast.

Alice: he really was a sweet heart, kind and attentive. I relaxed into the sheets as I waited for my fiancé to return. Fiancé, it was strange to say it. It was hard to believe, really. I wonder what Margret and mother would say…mother! Margret! I don't suppose they'll ever know. It saddened me thinking of them, I mean it's supposed to be the biggest day of my life and they won't be there to see it. Just then Mirana floated in through the door, "how is my Champion doing?" she smiled-it was a mothers smile, "just great thank you," I genuinely smiled back at her, this last visit it seemed our relationship was strained-because of our feelings for the hatter, but this was genuine affection. It was a relief because I care for her. She sat on the bed beside me, "well you'll have to thank Irasebeth for that," she pulled a not do pretty face, "yeah, where is she now? What are you going to do with her?" I asked she smiled "not so many questions Alice, has your mother taught you nothing?" she grinned showing me she was just joking "sorry," I grinned "now, first things first, she is in the kitchen, and no, I have no idea what to do with her. She seems changed, but I keep wondering if it's another one of her plots," she looked sadly at me, I sighed "can-can you send her up? So I can say thank you?" I asked feeling strange asking this, she smiled "of course," something twinkled on her hand, bright, and I caught glimpse of a silver ring with a huge diamond in the centre. "Is that what I think it is?" I asked grinning and she looked down at it, love and happiness shining evident on her face. "Congratulations!" I squealed-scaring the calm natured queen "warren's a lucky man," they would be great for each other, they both had jealous siblings. "Thank you, Alice," her eyes found my ring and she grasped my hand, "Oh Alice! It's gorgeous! Why didn't you say?!" she had a strong grip-I noticed, if her smile was any wider it would take over her whole face, but then again so would mine. My face hurt with how much I was smiling-who'd have guessed we would act like little girl when a little ring was on our fingers? –no wait it isn't just a ring, it symbolises eternal love, that's worth giggling like schoolgirls. "It's so exciting! I mean there's so much to sort out!" she grinned "I mean have you set out a date yet?" she threw at me-at was all becoming overwhelming "I-I!" I stuttered "now, really sister-you know she need's her rest, surely," we turned to the doorway to see Irasebeth standing in it, she walked into the room-her bulbous head out of place in this place, but then again hatter and I were out of place here-with our favour to colourful clothes. "Yes, yes your right, our Champion needs her rest, what was I thinking?" she patted my hand apologetic "your fiancé is looking for you-wedding preparations and everything, you can leave her with me, she will be fine," she smiled at me-it looked strange on Irasebeth's face, "I don't think that's …" I interrupted Mirana "no, it's fine-really, you go, I'll be fine," she sent a worried look at me before leaving me alone with Irasebeth, she turned to me then, her face twitched, "how is your wound?" she asked I looked down "I'm not sure," I said sheepishly "I haven't looked yet," she sighed and marched up to the bed, and looked expectantly at me, "well? What are you waiting for-I don't have enough time to faff about," I gaped at her "but I am in my nightdress and undergarments!" I protested and she laughed "and how do you suppose you got into them?" her sneer made me feel like a petulant child. With a huff I pulled the nightgown up revealing my pantaloons and my bandaged waist, she pushed me down on the bed and lifted up the bandage, she clucked her tongue and I really wanted to look looking up to her face I asked "how bad is it?" she pulled up the bandage "not too bad-you'll heal, but you'll scar, a pity really, such nice skin." She plonked onto the chair beside me, and I pulled down my gown. I sat up against the mound of pillows. I really wanted her to go away so I could go into the bathroom and have a look for myself but she looked like she wanted to talk.

"So?" she said finally "oh, I um, thank you, for saving me," I replied flabbergasted over again at her change of heart, she laughed "your forgetting I put it there in the first place," this was strange, talking with her like this-I wouldn't put behind me all the lives she had taken, no matter that she saved me, I didn't trust her. "Yes, I know," I said no so friendly and she smiled at me "there's the Alice I know," I narrowed my eyes at her "why did you do it?" I asked cutting the pretence she sniffed "I don't know what you mean," her face turned away from me "why did you save me? What plan have you got up your sleeves?" I asked peppering her with questions she wouldn't look at me, "There's nothing up my sleeves," she was being very evasive; "I need to know why!" I demanded "don't you think I deserve the answer?" she turned to me, "I saw the love!" she shouted at me, then more calmly she said "I saw the love you shared-I was in love like that, a long time ago," she smiled tenderly at the memory but snapped out of it when she realised what she was doing. She glared at me "happy?" she said and it was my turn to look away nodding, fascinated with a thread on the nightgown "sorry," I said faintly and she sniffed. A long silence took over, "how are you and Mirana getting along?" I asked and she laughed humourlessly "like peaches and cream," she laughed again I smiled "not good then?" I looked at her then "she doesn't trust me, I don't blame her, I don't trust myself half the time," she smiled for real, a genuine smile and it felt weird to be in this situation "this is…" she said "strange," I finished for her "yes, it is, isn't it?" she smiled she looked at my ring and sadness took over her face "congratulations Alice," I smiled down at the ring blushing and said "thank you," another silence fell before, something niggled at me, it was foolish really but I had to ask her anyway just in case, "your highness?" I asked "hum?" she turned to me "I-I um, was wondering, well I was hoping that I might still…" she sighed "spit it out girl," she said "…that I might still have children, I mean the blade went in so deep I was worried that…" I swallowed around the hard lump in my throat she looked down her nose at me "stop snivelling child it is not befitting," I looked hopeful at her and she said "yes, you can have children-don't know why anyone would like to have one, nasty little things" she stood smoothing down her skirts "thank you," I beamed at her, she smiled "your welcome" and with that she was out the door.

The next few weeks were spent in the bed, resting and healing while the Hatter and Thackeray waited on me, the March Hair cooking fabulous foods and broths for me and the hatter running off to do errands for the upcoming Wedding of a certain Mirana of Mamorial and Warren Talmadge Stayne. Our wedding was to be set two days after hers, (it was foreseen on the Oraculum we would be wed on this day alone) so she was busy planning for her wedding. Mine was very simple: we were having an outside wedding in the gardens of Mamorial, with just close friends-it made it more intimate and special. Absolem was doing the ceremony, on my request, and that just left the venue to be decorated and food to choose and the entertainment- I had a trick up my sleeve, a gift for the Hatter, if only I could corner Mirana to get in contact with the Hatters favourite band, it was time someone did something for him. To top it all off I needed to get my dress-hatter couldn't make it, it was bad luck for the groom to see the dress before the wedding day. I will have to ask Mirana where I could get a hold of a wedding dress…I was walking about now, and my scar was almost healed, I hoped I wouldn't limp down the aisle-pain gripped my heart, my father should be the one walking me down the aisle, who would walk me down the aisle now? I always thought it would be lord ascot, I had told the hatter about this, about my sadness that my friends and family wouldn't be there to see me married, I had no choice, he guessed my sadness and asked me what was wrong-I wouldn't lie to hatter. I made my way down the stairs to the great hall where Mirana was pointing to where the decorations were to go, after all it was in three day's time, and it looked elegant but completely white, with loads of crystal dining wear, the white flowers were made with feathers and shaped into roses and lilies. She pointed here and there saying "no, over here, a little to the left, good, now where is the…?"

"Mirana?" I asked her, still in my dressing gown she turned to me, wide-eyed "Alice!" she shouted "what are you doing down here?" she looked shocked and a little angry "I needed to ask you a few questions," I said rather hurt, her face softened and she guided me into one of the white soft chairs of the long table, "I'm sorry Alice, all of this stress is getting to me," she sat next to me and I smiled "I know what you mean, there is so much to do," I grinned and she sighed "I can't believe it is only three days away," she said "I hope I'm healed by then," I said and she patted my hand "what is it you wanted to ask me?" she said "well it was two things really," I said "first I wanted to ask you if you could get me in contact with 'the mad tea-potters', I want the day to be special for hatter too, and second I need to ask where I can get a wedding dress at such short notice?" she grinned gesturing to a servant "I want you to send a letter to OZ, addressed to 'the mad tea-potters'," and the servant said "right away Ma'am," bowing as he went, "thank you," I smiled feeling less worried "now, about a dress I could take you shopping in OZ, they have a fantastic range of dresses, I just prefer mine to be hand made by Tarrant," I nodded in relief "great, get some clothes on and meet me in half an hour," and with that everything seemed not so daunting.

I had on a simple dress, a light blue soft loose dress making sure it was easy to get off. I had my light coat on and simple white boots. Getting to OZ had been simpler than I thought-I had been told stories that it was beyond a rainbow, but all I had to do was walk through a mirror into the other dimension smack bang in what Mirana called a 'shopping centre'. It was lively and colourful in OZ and everyone was either dressed in green, red, blue, gold and silver but the clothes were strange- something that Mirana called 'Modern casual'. All the buildings were green and there was a long yellow brick road connecting the shops. Mirana's guards were on edge, searching the crowds for potential dangers as we entered the wedding shop. There were tons and tons of wedding dresses of all kinds but one called to me from the corner of the room. It was ice blue, and had a tight corset, which was covered in pretty lace work. The skirt was made of some strange kind of netted-lace, and the bustle was a darker blue of silk, and it bunched up in various places by taffeta blue roses. It was perfect and matched my colour scheme nicely. It came with blue silk shoes and a silk 'slip'. The undergarments the 'sales representative' gave me made me blush- she called them a 'bra, suspender belt and panties'- they were ice blue lace and they came with white stockings. I nodded my thanks and flushed a bright red in my embarrassment, Mirana told me they were more open about undergarments here…they were certainly different, a lot more comfortable, I will have to get more of these, but loose the stockings.

Anyway the 'mad tea-potters' got into contact with me and planned to come to the wedding and sing a few of Hatters favourite songs. The great thing about my wedding was that Mirana was paying for it all. It was all going so smoothly it was a bit disconcerting…

Hatter: it was like I was walking around in a cloud of happiness-Alice loved me and she wanted to marry me! Me! And it was all happening in just a short few of days. I just hoped Alice was well enough. Mirana was to be married on Qiameth day (from what the Oraculum states is the day of the union of the house of Mamorial and of Stayne) there wasn't another day they would marry and it was the same for us, the name given to the day we were to be wed was Alerrawia day, I liked it, it reminded me of Alice's name. If I had a daughter I would call her that, I could picture pretty little Alerrawia, just like Alice, golden ringlets, little blue dress, and it gave me a warm feeling inside. No this wouldn't do-this kind of thinking, I needed to get back into business. I bowed to the Snookle snackle then after he was good and calm, I handed him the wedding invitations. It would not do for Alice to be sad on our wedding day, so I made invites for Mr and Mrs Kingsley-Hartline, (Alice's mother and Stepfathers new last names,) Mr and Mrs Hummer (Alice's sister and company) Lord and Lady Ascot, plus a Mr and Mrs Ascot Jr. were added upon the list of names coming. Alice was going to be thrilled when she walked down the aisle. Now we just had to get ready for Mirana's Wedding this afternoon.