Alice paced the court coblestones back and forth. Back and forth. There was no sound, but that of her breathing and the sound of her feet hitting the ground. Tip-tap. Tip-tap. Tip-tap.

Hatter was beside her. He sat on the floor, meditating. His eyes were closed. "If you keep doing that, I don't think I'll be able to get any concentration, Alice. So let me ask. What's bothering you?"

"It's nothing. It's just the queen has been acting so strange lately. I fear that she may fall sick."

Hatter smirked at that. Then he replied, "That's what you're worried about? If that's so, I'm gonna have to ask you to stop pacing. For there's nothing wrong."

"How do you know?"

"I don't know, could it be the fact that the queen is still working. Do you honestly think that she would be, if she was, indeed, as you say, sick?"

"Shut up."

He chuckled wryly, but added, "You know I'm right." He patted the ground next to him. "Come. let's meditate. Perhaps it will set your mind at ease."

She nodded, then sat next to him. What did surprise her was that he was right. That it did take some stress away. They stayed like that for a few minutes, then a royal court messenger came and called for Alice's attention.

She stood up and went inside.

The queen sat on her throne on the other side of the door.

She was a lovely woman with white hair and green eyes. Her name was Queen Sofie. And although her hair was white, she was barely older than thirty. But she already had two sons. Prince Klaus, the elder and Prince Julian, the younger. She was married to King Wales. And was an old friend of Alice.

"You summoned me, My Lady," Alice began.

"Uh, yes, Alice. Come in." She gestured for the fourteen year old to enter.

Alice did. She gently straightened out her skirt, then ran her hands through her maroon hair.

"My Lady, I do not know what this is about."

The queen stood up and went to the large window overlooking the kingdom.

"It's pitiful, don't you think?" The queen said.

"I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, Malay."

"I'm saying that this world is defiled with such filthy peasants. They should find their place in this world, should they not, My Dear?"

"Malay, why would you say such a thing?! This is your kingdom!"

"Yes. And I'm sick of all the riffraff running around my kingdom."

Alice found that she was actually scared in the presences of one of her old friends. She did not like where this conversation was going. Or what the queen was saying.

Alice took a step back. "Malady, are you feeling all right?"

"Oh, yes, I'm fine."

"I'm not so sure you are."

"Why, I'm in the soundness of mind that I was in in my prime."

"My queen, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I've finally opened my eyes, and they are clear for the first time ever. I will never let those so weak hold me back from helping those who can afford it. My advisers agree. Join me, Alice. With my brain and your moves we can save this world from those who would make it unclean."

Alice took more steps away from her old friend. The Queen was sprouting nonsense. But she also knew that she had to take a stand for every peasant in the kingdom.

So she said," I will not, malady. And with all due respect, what you are saying is pure nonsense. I will not stand for you abandoning those in need. I'm sorry. But I refuse your offer."

She actually looked upset. Alice thought that she might actually change her point of view, but instead she said, "I'm sorry, too. I must not let those evil peasant kill this earth. If you will not help me, you are against me. Good bye, Alice. I will miss you."

Guards came forward and grabbed her arms, also with two of them, there was Hatter between them.

The queen stood up from her thorn and said, "Take them to the dungeons."

The guards pulled them away and dropped them into the same cell. And that was their first mistake.