I was not as bummed by Alice Through the Looking Glass as much of the Burton's!Alice fandom was, I think partly because I waited so long and partly because it was an unexpected birthday present (thanks, Disney), but there were certainly parts that I felt were poorly handled and either were from a lack of clear and definite writing or completely ignored canon.
So I've been imagining these part few months what I would change about the film, if I had the power, and in the large chunk of time I've not inherited, I decided to flesh these ideas out. Thus I present to you the first part of Righting Alice Through the Looking Glass. I hope you enjoy it, and I'm so sorry the first chapter is so darn long! I am not sure how many parts this will have, but I expect somewhere around 10 or 12? We'll see.
If you wouldn't mind leaving a comment, good or bad, when you've finished, this author would so appreciate it. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy!
Rain was falling heavily on the churning waters, sending the large ship rocking to and fro. Waves high enough to spill onto the deck soaked the sailors' boots as all struggled to grab hold and stay aboard. A slip would mean surely tumbling into the pitch black briny depths below.
Whether the crew would be lost to the storm or to the Malaysian junks that followed closely on their tail, was yet to be seen.
The helmsman white-knuckled the wooden steering wheel, trying to see into the dark ahead, rain pelting his wind burned face. He was doing his best to ignore the encroaching pirate ships behind, but the sounds of cannons and the whipping of the black flags furling in the tempest caused his heart to beat in his chest. He shook his head. It would seem to be no good; trouble was certainly behind, but there was further danger up ahead.
He turned to the first mate beside him, a weathered British officer, who was concentrating on the scalawags behind them, standing tense as he braced himself on the poop deck behind the helmsman.
"Sir! Shores on every side!" The helmsman tried his best to cry out atop the booms of the cannons and the howling storm above. "Sand or reef I cannot say!"
The first mate shook his head; clearly their leader was not understanding the brevity of the situation, and this was a moment of decision he prayed she was ready for. "Captain! The Malay pirates have us cornered!" He yelled to the Captain before him. "We must surrender!"
It was their only hope. Certainly the pirates would take hold of the only goods that they had left on the ship, but perhaps they would spare the crew for future negotiation purposes. They would have a great chance against other humans than the cruel hand of nature.
The Captain, who had been standing looking out a telescope at the enemy behind, turned now, her blonde braid whipping over her shoulder as stern green eyes showed her disdain for the suggestion. "Surrendering my father's ship will not guarantee survival, Mr. Phelps," her sharp tongue lashed the first mate for the suggestion.
Of course sentimental value had to keep her holding on. That and her stubborn nature, Phelps thought brusquely, wishing to start an argument with her about how the reefs would certainly provide death, but knowing there was little time to talk sense.
He watched her walk forward past the helm, telescope swinging about as she searched for something intently on the horizon. A small utterance of "there" could be heard as she lowered her scope with a look of determination.
"Shallow water!" Alice exclaimed as she saw the narrow pass between the rocks ahead. "Dead ahead, full sail!" She shouted to the helmsman and crew alike.
"Captain!" Phelps yelled back, his head reeling with annoyance at this novice sailorwoman. "The ship will run aground!" He shouted over the storm as he watched her walk away. "It's impossible!"
At the utterance of that word, she turned around once more with a look of anger and frustration, her eyebrows knitting. She held tightly to the mast ropes to keep from falling over as she scolded him, "You know about my views on that word, Mr. Phelps!"
He had gone and used the word she was most fond of and had lost any chance he had of turning around the argument. He said a prayer to Saint Nicholas before shouting with trepidation, "Full sails," and another louder, more confident, "FULL SAILS!"
He watched as the obedient sailors leapt into action, shouting down the line to one another the instructions given by the first mate. The men dressed in Royal British sailor uniforms quickly began to let go of their anchors as they scurried to their positions. Several men were beginning to climb the slippery, waterlogged ropes. Most of the men sported beards as well as long hair due to the length of the voyage, water dripping into their eyes and off their chin as the rain pelted down merciless on the exhausted crew.
Phelps looked at Alice who had grounded herself with the ropes of a mast. She looked ahead steadily, before turning and shouting with her pink mouth, "Hard to port, Harper!"
The helmsman looked to Phelps cautiously, knowing what would happen as much as the seasoned first mate did.
"Hard to port with full sails will tip us over," Phelps scolded the young woman. She might be in charge, but she certainly was not as seaworthy as her cockiness led her to seem.
A twinkle in Alice's eye led Phelps to roll his eyes once more. She turned forward to watch the ship cut through the waters, "Exactly!"
The crew was hurriedly scampering up the ropes in order to let loose the sails that had been tied down in anticipation for the storm. The thunder above roared mightily, an angry cacophony with the sound of cannon fire behind. One cannonball met its mark, blasting onto the deck of the ship and sending several of the crew flying to their bellies on the wet deck. Phelps continued praying to Saint Nicholas, wanting to curse the girl who had sent all of them scattering from the safety of the main deck and secured luggage. Sure, she had proven to be resourceful and formidable on the trip so far, and extremely eccentric to boot, but Phelps couldn't help but think that even this stunt was just a little too far.
Phelps and Harper both stumbled as the unfurled sails began to pick up the wind, going taut against the gales and sending the ship lurching forward at several more knots an hour. Combined with the roaring force of the oceans below, it was enough to make even a seaman sick to his stomach.
"Hold on, everyone!" Alice shouted above the ruckus, Phelps wanting to comment about the uselessness of the advice, since thanks to the cannons there was less and less of the ship to hold on to. He held his tongue nonetheless and watched as the men who had let loose their masts slowly return to the safety of the deck, grabbing for whatever was tied down and would keep them from tumbling overboard as the ship picked up speed.
The ship began to tip as the winds caught it at just the right angle, sending it into the shoals. The bottom of the boat began to scrape along the sands, Harper begin to cry out as he held onto the steering wheel, "It's too shallow!"
Alice looked about with frustration, her head scanning the ship from left to right, clearly not having achieved the result she wanted from the full sails. "We need full sails!" She yelled again, and that was when Phelps and Harper had spotted him as well.
A young sailor, a greenhorn, was struggling to unfurl the top sail; without the added area the ship would not tip over to the angle needed to escape the crags. Phelps shook his head in dismay and failure as he saw the boy slip on the wet wood of the masts, his hands grabbing to the sails. The boy had lost his footing and there was surely no way he would regain it in time to unfurl the sail and set the boat back on its course.
"Will, hold on lad!" Harper called out to the boy above, as the sailor lost hold of the ropes and was holding on for dear life on the wood of the mast.
Alice began to look frantically around. If we don't have full sails, my father's boat is not going to make it, she thought as she searched wildly for a solution. In her movement she felt the sword hilt tap her side and she knew what she needed to do. With a deep breath she jumped from the poop deck to the webbing that would lead to the top sails. She began to climb them rapidly, the rain stinging her eyes as she struggled against the storm to move up the waterlogged hemp to the dangling soldier above. Cannon fire, thunder, and coursing blood were the soundtrack in her ears as she climbed upward. Like the Jabberwocky, Alice. Only much simpler. It's not moving around trying to attack you.
She reached the ascent, climbing onto the mast and hugging it like a tree climber stuck on a limb. Once she had maintained her balance, she was able to grab hold of the rope holding the sail, unhitching it from the hook. The sail burst open with a sharp thwack, sending the entire vessel leaning onto its side. Alice clutched the mast, praying that indeed her plan would work. It's an impossible, she tried to convince herself as she gripped the wood fiercely.
She looked forward as the ship tilted, letting out a gasp, and watching as Will now dangled inches from the water below. She could hear the crew shouting about items going overboard, bodies slamming into the sides of the ship as the Wonder began to sneak through the shoal. The ship jumped as it scrapped past several rocks, Harper trying to keep the boat straight as it slid through the rocks like a thread through a needle eye.
Alice let out a sigh of relief when they passed through the rocks, but then a gasp followed when she realized that one rock was still in their way; it lay right before the tipped mast and would surely break the wood in two, sending she and Will into the water and leaving the Wonder damaged in dangerous harbors. Thinking quickly, Alice pulled the sword from her thigh, a last minute tool she was going to use in case the sails wouldn't open, and steadied herself on the mast. She raised the sword above her head, chopping down and letting loose the top sail which went flying into the dark sky above.
The ship quickly lurched upright, having lost some of its pull from the wind, narrowly allowing Will and the end of the mast to scrape past the giant rock unharmed.
The Wonder, now up-righted after its sail was cut and several more let down, sailed triumphantly forward up the coast, leaving behind the trapped Malaysian junks carrying, what Alice assumed were now unhappy, pirates.
Alice slid down the wet rope leading to the deck below, her boots make a triumph clump when she hit the wood. The crew gathered around her, clapping as she watched the junks in the distance. One of the boats attempted to take the same path through the narrow channel, but its belly hit the rocks, putting a hole in the hull and sending it sinking into the depths below. Alice realized with pale cheeks that the image could have been them had her trick not worked.
She smiled all the same as the men came in closer to clap her on the shoulder and shake her hand. Even Phelps provided her with a satisfied smile when she returned to the helm, Harper looking exhausted as he leant over the wheel.
"The only way to achieve the impossible," Alice began her mantra, looking at Phelps who had turned to watch the Malaysian boat sink, "is to believe it is possible."
Phelps' long mouth was hard as he looked down at the Captain, but he nodded his head in understanding. If anyone else were to say those words, he would think they were a madman; but not Alice Kingsleigh. If rumors were true, the lass was much like her father, and if she put her mind to her, the impossible was merely just another task to be checked off the list.
As she had just proven.
"Set a course for London, Harper," Alice commanded the helmsman, Phelps leaving her side to begin his own work in navigating and speaking with the crew. Harper turned to watch Alice take one more look at the impossible she had just achieved. "Our work here is done."
Several Weeks Later
The sun was bright off the blue water of the Thames and the gulls were crying as Harper sailed the ship into harbor, docking it alongside other fine looking vessels. Alice was in the captain's cabin, finishing gathering her belongings before going ashore in her beloved London, a place she hadn't seen in nearly three years.
Her fingers swept over a map of China, a completion of her father's life work that she herself had finished. She was proud of the adventures she had just completed, filled with memories and stories to tell everyone she would reunite with back home. She would miss the daily uncertainty of the strange and vast land, but even a wanderer could grow homesick. Besides, she was ready to hug her mother after so many nights without her, and see how her sister was faring with her husband Lowell.
Alice grabbed hold of her father's pocket watch, which she had hung by her bunk, looking at the old timepiece with nostalgia, remembering her father always looking at the time and surmising he was eternally late. Late for what? She would ask. And he would say some great wonder like high noon tea with a Persian prince or the boat for the next great adventure.
She noticed with slight sadness that the hands had stopped moving, the comforting tick-tick of the second hand had ceased and the clock had gone uncharacteristically quiet. No matter, she thought, tucking the pocket watch into the inner pocket of her navy blue Captain's coat, I'll have a clock worker take a look at it while ashore and fix it in my time home.
Home. It was what prompted her to throw some last minute keepsakes in her bag, which she slung over her shoulder, and head quickly out of the cabins to the deck of the ship, and then off the gangplank to the port below. She passed through the crew who stood at attention on either side of her; a respect she admired, but a spotlight she would much rather shy away from. Harper blew his whistle at the end of the line and announced her arrival ashore regardless of her plea not to, but Alice continued onwards anyway.
London was as crowded as she remembered, and smelled as salty and stale. Nonetheless, it was where she had spent many a summer running about while waiting for her father, and despite its gloomy façade, was a place she was happy to be welcomed back to.
A slender figure dressed in black, and looking several years older and more worried than Alice had left her, waved across the way to the blonde haired woman. A smile crossed Helen Kingsleigh's stern face, and while she stiffly received Alice's enthusiastic hug, Alice knew her mother was glad to see her all the same.
"Here you are…finally," Helen took a moment to assess her daughter, wrinkling her nose at the tan breeches Alice had donned in her time at sea and nearly gasping at the Captain's coat Alice bore proudly.
Alice shook her head, knowing that certainly her mother was full of questions, but now was not the time to answer them. She readjusted her bag's strap over her shoulder, grabbed her mother by hand and began to lead her down the familiar road to the Kingsleigh's flat in the city.
"Miss Kingsleigh!" A male voice interrupted Alice's walk with her mother, and the girl turned, worried that perhaps she had left something of value aboard.
Instead she was greeted by the sight of a smartly dressed blond haired man, outfit complete with top hat and gloves, making his way quickly toward the Kingsleigh women. Alice did not recognize the young handsome face, his youthful appearance would lead her to think he was about her age, making his way down the pier toward her.
Alice noticed that he had a thick file case in hand, and as he approached near enough to reveal that he had sparkling blue eyes to add to his already comely appearance, she also noticed the insignia stamp in metalwork on the file.
The Ascot crest. The firm was checking up on her. With a sigh she turned, letting go of her mother's hand to prepare herself for the unwelcomed guest and the lecture that was sure to follow.
"You and the Wonder have been expected for over a year," the man began. Alice rolled her eyes. So much for a 'hullo, welcome back, Miss Kingsleigh', 'how was your trip, Miss Kingsleigh?'. Alice didn't expect to be addressed as Captain, knowing that the only reason the title fell upon her was because of her relationship with the firm and the fact that she had proven some bravery and determination in their time up the Yangzi. She was a woman, after all, and she saw that women in China struggled as much in society as her fellow women in England did. With a sigh she shook her blonde braid, glad she was even able to be given the chance to sail at all. And angry that she and her crew were yelled at rather than congratulated for their hard work in securing goods abroad.
"There were…complications," Alice began, looking at the street as she began to try to explain their delay on getting home to London. Yes, she had made a pact with Lord Ascot that she should return over a year earlier, but surely one cannot truly expect or control adventure! Time had simply slipped away from her.
"Pirates and such," she almost began to explain all the adventures they'd been on, deciding that this man wasn't worth her time instead. "The ledgers are in my cabin," she told him where he could find her detailed journals about what was found, stopping to look at the interloper with a less than amused grimace, "and would you please let Lord Ascot know that I should like to see him immediately."
The request sent the man into a tailspin, his head dropping as he looked away. Even Helen tensed at Alice's side. The blonde looked to first the man and then the mother, looking for some further explanation for the sudden dour attitude.
"I'm afraid Lord Ascot passed away whilst you were at sea," the man managed to say.
Alice's stomach sank and her mouth dropped open. She immediately felt sorry for the sudden steamroll over this man. Perhaps he was only saying they were a year late in order to inform her of the sad news that they were unable to transmit to her abroad.
"The titles were passed on to his son," the man from the firm went on.
Alice shook her head in confusion, "Hamish?" She asked in astonishment. Her mother remained uncharacteristically quiet at her side.
"Indeed," the man nodded his head. "He's now chairman of the board."
"How unfortunate," Alice said flatly, hoping it would be read that it was unfortunate that Hamish had to pick up the business due to his father's loss. How dreadful, Alice thought to herself. But perhaps the impossible has happened and he's grown up and gotten a sense of direction for the business?
Here double entendre was not lost on the man before her, however, as his eyebrows crossed, looking at her peculiarly. Alice turned to her mother, ready to flee the situation and recoup her losses back in the Kingsleigh flat.
"Well, it certainly was nice to hear of some news," Alice said to the man with a frown, "I'm sorry it had to be unfortunate."
"I as well, Miss Kingsleigh," the man tucked the file case under his arm, holding out his hand for her to shake. "My name is James Harcourt, by the way. I don't think we've met."
"No, no we haven't," Alice took the hand pleasantly.
"I'm a clerk for the firm, currently. I've heard many stories about you, Miss Kingsleigh," he said with a smile.
"All of them good, I should hope," Helen Kingsleigh interrupted.
"Of course, Alice here made quite an impression on the late Lord Ascot," James ducked his head sincerely.
"I am sure we will meet again," Alice nodded her head in farewell. "Goodbye, Mr. Harcourt,"
"Goodbye to you, Miss Kingsleigh," the man agreed, letting Alice escape with Helen in hand.
Alice followed her mother into the small townhouse her father had bought for his trips to London. She shivered walking into the drab foyer; it was quiet and still in the house. With only her mother to occupy it, and perhaps Margaret when she was in town, Alice was not surprised that any sense of inhabitance had been lost.
Wandering through the small house, Alice saw that many of the things that had been kept there in her father's absence had gone missing. Outlines of where sofas and side tables had once stood could be seen against the sun-bleached carpets and wooden floors. She was surprised to find the house so empty and barren, thinking that even in her loneliness her mother should have at least kept some reminders of times before.
"Where's Mary?" Alice asked as she continued through the house with her bag on her shoulder. Usually the maid would have bustled to the door, giving Alice a kindhearted kiss and taking her luggage immediately, as she had done when Alice was in her late childhood and early adolescence. Father had found the maid several years prior in another house that was downsizing, and took her on to be his help in the townhouse he stayed in for business. Helen had not let the maid go when her father had passed, allowing the maid to keep up the London home while she raised the girls in the countryside.
"I let her go," Helen said with a sad smile. "She was getting old in her years, and well, I can manage all on my own."
"Seems so," Alice looked around again, shuddering against the cold chill. "It seems you've gotten rid of much of the furniture as well."
"I don't need it anymore, and it just brought painful memories of your father back to me in the nights that I sat in the kitchen alone," she said with a heavy sigh. "I did keep enough so that you were comfortable when you got home." She began her descent down the stairs to the basement kitchen. "Come on down here; it's warmer as I've been stoking the fire all morning, waiting for your ship to come near enough to harbor before going out to see you!"
Alice followed her mother into the kitchen, which was indeed a much more pleasant atmosphere to relax in. Helen set to fetching a tea pot, some cups and saucers, setting the kettle on to boil as Alice slipped her jacket from her shoulders to settle down at the chair at the head of the table. One that had been her father's in another lifetime with a different Alice.
"Your letters were so infrequent, I hardly know where you've been all this time," Helen said with her back turned to her daughter. Alice knew that her mother's attempt to guilt her was only a way to show her worry. Along with the added lines on her face and the gray in her blonde hair, Alice wondered how many sleepless nights she had inadvertently caused her mother in her absence.
Alice would be able to put all her mother's worries to bed, once she had heard of the amazing things she had done and seen. "China was incredible," she began, hanging her coat on the back of the chair. "We followed the Yangzi deep into the interior," she smiled as she thought of the stares she received stepping off the boat. She assumed it was because she was a woman stepping down amongst such a great gang of men, but instead she said to her mother, "Most of the people had never seen a person with yellow hair before." Which was certainly true among a people with straight black hair and some of the deepest tans she had ever seen.
Helen paused in her gathering of the tea ware, looking at her daughter with wide blue eyes. "Were you never afraid?"
"Of course!" Alice almost let out a laugh. She certainly wouldn't go into stories about the adventures that made her so, not with her mother, but what would bravery truly be without a little fear? "But when I was, I thought of father," she looked over at her mother with a bright grin.
"You sound just like him," her mother conceded with a tight nod of the head, a mixture of pride and dread, Alice assumed. She watched as her mother gathered the dishes on a tray, the image bringing back memories of her mother preparing tea for a young Alice and her father who had just come in from the harbor on days like today, watching the boats come in and seeing all the wonderful spices and silks that came from distant lands.
"I miss him," Alice confessed, reaching into her pocket to touch the watch that hid there.
Her mother didn't turn around, but Alice could hear her agreement, "I do, too," before continuing on, "but the years pass quickly for me now."
Alice pulled the pocket watch from her pocket as her mother continued to speak, reading the inscription on the back bearing her father's name. She ran her thumb over the eroded etchings solemnly. "But time is a cruel master," her mother seemed to say on cue.
"Time is a thief," Alice said harshly, "and a villain." If it weren't for time I wouldn't have to worry about trying to spend it equally ashore and at sea. She sighed as she quickly tucked the pocket piece back into her coat. Helen joined her daughter at the table, placing her tray laden with tea and cups on the table between them.
"I hear the Ascots are marking Hamish's succession tonight," her mother announced as she delicately sat in the chair besides Alice. Gossip, especially among the aristocracy, was her mother's greatest vice, and it was also the best subject changer her mother possessed as well.
"Perfect! We should go!" Alice smiled, sitting up and watching as her mother placed a cup and saucer before her.
Helen's eyebrows lifted in a sarcastic manner. "I'm afraid the invitation must have gotten lost in the post."
I don't understand why she would bring up such a subject if she doesn't want me to press the issue, Alice thought with annoyance. Alice decided it would be best to ring up the words of the dear Lady Ascot, reminding her mother of the promise that was made to the Kingsleighs, "Nonsense! Lady Ascot once said we would always be welcome," Alice smiled innocently at the incredulous glare she received from her mother at that statement. Alice knew her mother would know when her daughter was brewing up a true plot. She probably shouldn't have quoted her greatest nemesis. "Besides," Alice confessed, "I have a proposition for Hamish."
"Hamish married last year, Alice; he seems to have gotten over your public rejection." Her mother's tone continued to grow more bitter the longer Alice put off her true intentions for going to the party this evening. How dreadful for his new wife, Alice almost balked at the thought of Hamish marrying. But he was a proper aristocratic lord with a proud mother to boot; it was only really a matter of time.
Alice rolled her eyes, clearly wanting to display to her mother she had no regrets about making that rejection in the slightest. "A business proposition, mother," she replied.
Helen blinked twice in silence, but as soon as the realization of what Alice meant washed over her, she bristled. "You're leaving again, so soon?" Her tone was stern and unhappy.
Alice wanted to say something, but she knew her mother was right. She hadn't dropped anchor with intentions to stay; she merely wanted to extend her time abroad. A pang of guilt rippled through the girl as she saw the pained look on her matriarch's face.
"There are matters here which might benefit from your attention," her mother mumbled as she poured herself and Alice tea. Alice's head cocked at her mother's strange suggestion. Perhaps the missing furniture was missing not because of disuse but because of empty coffers.
Alice reached out, placing her hand on her mother's, "After my next voyage you won't have to worry about anything!" She tried to soothe the older woman. Besides, Margaret should be paying attention to some of their mother's financial needs!
Helen was clearly still wounded by her daughter's hasty intent to retreat back to the waters, and she knew that it would be of little use to convince the girl not to go to the Ascots. With a sigh she replied snarkily, "Am I permitted to worry about tonight?"
Alice grinned sadly, knowing she would not impress her mother, but she wouldn't surprise her either. She turned to the tea sitting before her without a word, causing Helen to sigh and shake her head, the two attending to their tea in silence.
When tea had finished and Alice was ready to settle in for the night, she took her luggage in hand and went up to her childhood room on the third floor. Little had been changed about it, seeing as the room was fairly unused in her adolescence. After the death of her father, Helen rarely brought she or Margaret into London, and little was made use of the city flat.
Alice noticed that her favorite childhood doll was propped up against one of the throw pillows at the head of her bed, the paper crown Alice had placed upon its head yellowed and crisp from age. Her collection of seashells lay cluttered on the bedside table, their once vibrant tones dulled by sun bleaching and a thick layer of dust over them. The bed was still in relatively good condition, though it clearly had not been slept in for several years.
Alice set down her bag by her old writing table, looking at the small museum of little Alice projects she had made over the years. Her embroidery sample was propped up against the wall, a coming of age domestic project she had started at the age of twelve. Looking it over, she couldn't help but smile as she noticed the letters at the top were shaky and uneven, but as the work continued on, so the letters became more precise and steady. Though she was certainly one for adventure, she was glad she was able to learn something of a lady's life; it would show all the nay-sayers who didn't think she had a proper bone in her body.
Next she turned to a stack of sketches and watercolors she had forgotten about on her time overseas. Slowly she went through the pile and warm tears came to her eyes as she recognized the faces and shapes of her friends from Underland.
The first picture was that of the garden of talking flowers she encountered after exiting the hall of doors, amongst the flowers was Uilleam, the kind hearted dodo bird. Following this picture was one of the brave and fierce dormouse, Mallymkun, followed by the Tweedle boys sharing the same space of paper. The next sketch was dedicated to her guide McTwisp, the White Rabbit, who always seemed to cause her adventures by leading her down the rabbit hole. She smiled as her fingers outlined the blue courtier cloak her wore, his giant pocket watch held firmly in hand.
The next few pictures were scenes from her last adventures among her daring friends. A painting of the Tweedles escorting her through a forest of giant mushrooms; they had been on their way to speak with Absolem, the Caterpillar, to discuss the hotly debated subject as to whether or not she had been the right or wrong Alice. The next picture was the small gang overlooking the Oraculum, Absolem looking down on them disdainfully as Alice looked upon her future destiny. One she had hotly debated taking up or not.
Another of the scenes was of Chess, the Cheshire cat, floating about the Tulgey Woods, his teal eyes looking up at her from among the pages. She tried to mimic his Cheshire cat smile, but knew her small mouth would never be able to do such a mischievous grin justice.
The next scene made her shutter; it was a dark watercoloring that depicted her battle against the Jabberwocky. She had painted the back of herself, dressed in the White Queen's Champion's armor of silver, holding the Vorpal Blade above her head while the Jabberwocky wrapped its dark snakelike body around the ruins of a castle. This was a moment she often thought of in her travels in China when she was most afraid; certainly nothing in this world would ever be as dangerous or threatening as the fearsome Jabberwocky. And she had already bested the beast. If she could defeat the old creature of nightmares, she could do just about anything.
The final scene was one that tugged at her heartstrings. It was a watercolor of the waterfalls of Marmoreal, the scene she had witnessed outside on the balcony of her room at the castle. Tarrant Hightopp, the Mad Hatter, was standing next to her as the two overlooked the views. She remembered that night as crystal clear as she had remember defeating the Jabberwocky. This moment was mere hours before she accepted the role as Champion, and Tarrant had come to her room to speak words of affirmation to her. She wasn't sure she would've accepted if it had not been for him.
When she had expressed to him that she had thought that her entire journey had been a dream, she had caught the disappointed look that had fallen across his face, his green eyes searching for something, anything, to convince her otherwise. What he had decided on, however, only seemed to solidify her conclusion, "Yes, yes, but you'd have to half mad to dream me up!"
Oh, how she had wished then and there that he was completely real. That he was someone he could keep beside her for forever, what with his splay of red hair and his gat toothed smile. His fierce loyalty and his heroic sacrifice on her behalf. "I must be, then," she had said to him.
She had turned in that moment to smile at him, to show him that she wished he was real and she wished she could stay. But in that moment she was so very convinced that it would all go away when she awoke. "I'll miss you when I wake up," she had said to him.
He had only sidled closer. She didn't lose him to a dream, however, she left him due to a choice.
Over the past few years, in the quietest of nights after a grand adventure, she found herself missing him very much. He understood her in ways she wasn't sure anyone would be able to, her nearest and dearest friend formed in such a short amount of time. Why had she been so eager to leave?
Because I had things I needed to do, she thought darkly to herself.
She wished she could have brought him with her; he would have loved China and all its rich colors and vast cultures. He would have savored every drop of tea with her. He would have stood by her and believed in her when all the sailors looked at her and saw a naïve, unmarried young woman. He would have championed her as he did in Underland.
Alice looked at the watercolor once more before setting it down; if she were to return to Underland again, would she leave it? Would she forsake such a rich place for more adventures abroad?
She had promised a return to the land, being back before Tarrant knew it, but she hadn't discovered a rabbit hole to fall down or a looking glass to slip through.
No, Alice had only discovered China, and in doing so had found more of herself.
Would Underland need her?
She pushed the thoughts aside, readying herself for the party instead, thoughts of her childhood nightmare turned paradise relegated to the back of her mind.
If she had turned to the window, she would have seen the brilliant blue butterfly taping on her window, desperate to signal to her that, no, indeed, her Wonderland was not quite done with her.
In fact, it needed her now more than ever.
The carriage ride from London to the Ascot estate in the countryside was one that Alice did not miss in the slightest. She wanted to return home to the Kingsleigh estate before the party, but her mother refused, saying that they would be late as it was coming from London on such short notice. So Alice had quickly unpacked her small bundle of possessions and readied herself for the evening at the city townhouse.
Her mother had certainly not been pleased with what Alice had chosen to wear, but the girl was certainly quite fond of the outfit, and no amount of groaning and suggestion from her mother would change her mind.
The carriage pulled up to the front doors of the estate, two butlers grabbing hold of the doors to open them, allowing the Kingsleigh woman to step from its depths. One butler helped Helen from her white shift, revealing a matronly hunter green gown below, cream elbow length gloves covering her age spotted arms. Her mother had matched the outfit smartly with pearl drop earrings and pendant.
The butler who removed Alice's cloak, however, tried his best to hid his look of shock as he devested the young blonde to reveal a bright outfit below.
"I do wish you'd worn that yellow dress," her mother muttered as she looked over Alice's attire in the candlelight once more before ascending the stairs.
Alice smiled down at the traditional silk Chinese costume she had picked for such an occasion. What better way to show the wealth she had discovered in China other than wearing it? The collar of the costume was cut to imitate the petals of a flowers, paneled in pink, yellow, and red. Beautifully embroidered butterflies circled the purple jacket below. Below her waist hung a pleated skirt of green and yellow fabrics, sitting straight when she stood still and swinging about her knees as she walked; a stark contrast to the petticoats and frocks about her. She wore tall lace up white boots with black soles and toes on her feet. Her hair was pulled into a tight twist with a jade fan comb, revealing gold dragonfly earrings that shone brightly by her cheeks. It was a bright ensemble against rather muted colors for an evening party, but Alice knew most of the people at the party, and most of them knew her. None would be surprised that such a flamboyant character had chosen such a flashy outfit.
"If it's good enough for the Dowager Empress of China, it's good enough for the Ascots," Alice replied with an air of annoyance.
"Must you always be so headstrong," her mother answered with an equal amount of exasperation.
Alice lifted her head proudly, a smile playing across her lips. "No, it's just more fun that way," she stated, playing on her mother's nerves even more.
Helen shook her head, trying her best to ignore the stares that were beginning to accumulate at the doorway and increased in number as the two entered the already filled foyer and ballroom. She was glad Alice took a moment to pause in the entryway to search about for her intended victims; it gave Helen a breath to steel herself, an armor she always needed in the presence of socialites when she accompanied her bombastic daughter.
Alice pressed headlong into the grand ballroom, London's elite flittering out of her way to create a wide breadth between them and the peculiarly dress Kingsleigh. Helen heard gasps of "What is she wearing" and "How odd!", but none seemed to phase the girl before her who looked around at the ornate ceilings, before returning her sights to the guests ahead of them. Alice was a rainbow of color in a room filled with golds and dark blues and champagnes and deep reds, a strange silhouette among the evening gowns and long skirts.
Alice caught sight of James among the throng of dancers; he balked at the sight of her, his blue eyes nearly leaping out of his head as he beheld the attire she had arrived in.
"Miss Kingsleigh," he was quick to her side, looking at her, and then sizing her up in the midst of ball gowns and smart suits. He himself was immaculately dressed in a fine tuxedo, wearing a tight black bowtie with white gloves gracing his hands. "What are you doing here?" He looked around once more at the onlookers.
Alice fought rolling her eyes at his clearly self-conscious glance around, instead looking directly at him as she folded her hands together, a smile playing across her lips. "I've come to give my report to Lord Ascot."
He looked at her with bulging eyes once more, swallowing with a quick nod of the head. "Right," he sized up her outfit, but turned all the same, gesturing with his hand to follow him, "well, come with me."
James led them to one of the rooms off of the grand ball room where Hamish Ascot stood beneath a glimmering chandelier, beaming proudly. Beside him stood a beautiful blonde woman, wearing a seafoam green ball gown, her hair pinned up in delicate curls. A screaming baby sat resting on her hip, clearly unhappy to be in the midst of so many people. She looked like all of the stuck up little girls Alice had grown up with, but standing at Hamish's side she looked perfect for the role.
Hamish had grown a rather ghastly mustache which sat upon his upper lip like a limp gingery caterpillar. Alice did her best to bit her cheek to keep from laughing at it, knowing she would need to present herself in a no-nonsense business type manner. They waited their turn to be announced to the couple, Alice watching as Hamish spoke animatedly with the people before him. He held a flute of bubbling champagne in his hand, taking long swigs of it between guests.
Lady Ascot hovered over his shoulder, a proud mother in a royal red matron's gown, looking adoringly at her son and then at the red-faced grandchild that he had whelped with such a beautiful woman. You know what I fear?. she had asked Alice once. Alice had smartly replied something about the decline of the aristocracy. Not far from the truth she guessed. Ugly grandchildren, had been Lady Ascot's reply.
Well, I am sure this beautiful woman won't give you those, Alice thought morosely. I can't say the same for Hamish, though.
When Hamish caught sight of Alice and Helen, he looked quickly to his mother, who returned the confused glance. Alice knew that they had not been invited to the soiree, she was relying solely on Lady Ascot's overriding need to be a good hostess and not kick the two of them out. She was right when Lady Ascot quickly dropped her look of confusion and annoyance, replacing it with a sickly sweet tone of welcome.
"Helen, what a surprise!" Lady Ascot acknowledge the elder Kingsleigh, forcing her son to greet the younger.
"Alice," Hamish began, sticking his chest out as he looked down at her. Alice watched out of the corner of her eye as the new Lady Ascot gave her screaming baby up to a servant, quieting the moment to a more bearable pitch. "Well, welcome home,"
Alice kept a smile on her face, but she highly doubted she was welcomed— back to London, much less to the Ascot manner.
"We were afraid you might never come back with our ship," Hamish replied hotly.
"My ship," Alice couldn't help but correct the red headed man smugly. "Hello Hamish." She replied courteously.
"It's proper to refer to my husband as 'Lord Ascot'," the blonde wife beside him spoke up, proudly coming to stand at her husband's shoulder. "That is why we're having this little soiree, after all." It appeared the woman, despite never having met Alice, seemed to dislike her all the same.
"Miss Kingsleigh," Hamish himself began the sentence with proper introductions, such a ridiculous manner not needed for two people that had known one another for years, but Alice did her best to remain polite. "This is my wife, Alexandra. The new Lady Ascot," Hamish said with a rise of his eyebrows that seemed to suggest that Alice should be embarrassed. The former Lady Ascot beamed down on the couple proudly.
"So," Alexandra spoke once more, "Hamish has told me you've traveled the world these last three years."
"Yes, I've just returned," Alice glanced to her mother, whose look begged her to remain polite with the new Lady Ascot.
"Well, how was it?" Alexandra inquired.
"The world?" Alice specified.
"Yes," Alexandra clearly did not like being made to look stupid. Hamish also looked bored with the notion.
"Highly enjoyable," Alice rocked on her toes, not helping her want to make the new Lady Ascot look like a fool. "You should visit it sometime."
Helen shot her daughter a glare as she snarked at the new wife. Alexandra looked far from amused and Hamish clearly wanted to kick her out of the building. Alice felt a bit bad for being so cruel, especially since for all she knew Alexandra could have been trying to make proper conversation. She was glad to see out of the corner of her eye that James Harcourt hid a snicker in a gloved fist, feigning a cough. She was glad someone found her amusing.
Alice tried to ignore the social faux pas she had just committed, and certainly one that would not help her cause, so she pressed forward toward the real reason for her appearance. "Apologies for the intrusion, Lord Ascot," she looked pointedly at Alexandra. "I've come to give my report."
Hamish appeared astonished, his red eyebrows lifting slightly, but he nodded his head all the same. "Of course,"
Alice looked at him expectedly, ready to give an argument in case he tried to fight he request. To her shock, her bowed gently to her and commanded, "If you would follow me, Miss Kingsleigh."
Alice beamed as she followed the man, rehearsing the words she had come up with on her carriage ride over so as to impress the board and further her chances of sailing aboard.
Helen watched her daughter go, knowing Hamish was up to no good and wishing she hadn't been so rude to Alexandra. The girl certainly looked like one of Alice's stuck up playmates from days of yesteryear, but she had tried to be kind and inviting when she could have sent them out on the street. She tried to offer Alexandra a kind smile, but the girl clearly was put off by the unpleasant way she had been treated, and with no good reason. Alice needed to learn to pick her battles more wisely, and to realize that not all were as cunning and witty as she was. A little grace would do to balance her pride.
Alice followed Hamish through the crowded room to the furthest side, closest to the fireplace. There stood a semi-circle of six older gentlemen, most of whom she recognized from her youth. Many of these men had served alongside her father. Certainly they would see the same fire and spirit in her eyes, along with some added success.
"Gentlemen," Hamish began amiably, gesturing to the men before him, "may I present Miss Alice Kingsleigh." He turned to Alice with a mock smile on his face. "Miss Kingsleigh, the board."
The older men looked at her dumbstruck, clearly put off her flamboyant attire. Alice did not allow the peculiar stares to put her off, instead she cleared her throat and lowered her voice, preparing herself for her speech.
"Good evening, gentlemen," she began, looking around at all the men, holding each of these gazes for a moment before wandering to the next. "The world is open to us, but we must move quickly," she reached into her pocket to retrieve some documents and papers she had stowed away as evidence for her argument. "It is my belief that further expeditions along the Wu River…" she leaned forward to begin handing the documents out, but was interrupted by Hamish.
"I'm sorry, Miss Kingsleigh," Hamish spoke over her, tucking his hands into his waistcoat pockets, "there will be no further expeditions."
Alice looked over at him with shock written across her face. She glanced back to the board, unassured, before narrowing her eyes at Hamish. "What?"
"There is a position in our clerking office," Hamish began, looking down at her haughtily. "You will start in files, but in time…" he shrugged his shoulders as if to say the choice of success was up to her.
Alice felt the fire light in belly, glaring Hamish down as she turned on the man, knowing what really made him tick. "This isn't about China, is it?"
He looked at her with a confused glance, the second one for the evening. Alice smiled triumphantly, "It's because I turned you down when you asked me to marry you." Hamish looked at her with wide eyes and then to the board, who looked on with fascinated interest at the domestic occurring before them.
"I'm sorry, Miss Kingsleigh, but this is all we can do for you," Hamish replied graciously. "No other company is in the business of hiring female clerks, let alone, ship's captains." He began a round of laughter at her, the board joining in with some chuckles. "Oh, don't think we didn't hear about your self-appointed elevation of status,"
"The original Captain died of yellow fever!" Alice retorted.
"So you decided to use your prestige with the company to gain you a right you've neither the experience, much less the gender or gravity, to lead?" Hamish responded. Alice was enraged that he suggested her being a woman was a failing for the position, but she could not argue about her lack of sea knowledge or her less-than-seasoned traveling experience. As it was, she was just learning the basics of navigation and steering a boat. She knew most great captains were weathered with time, experience, respect, and apprenticeship, everything she lacked.
She turned around to see that at least she had a friend in James, who clearly didn't agree with the way she was being mocked and laughed at. His glance burned her resistance. "You can't do this!" Alice fired back. "I own ten percent of the company! Your father set aside those shares for me!"
Hamish looked unsurprised by the argument, a smile playing underneath that horrid red caterpillar on his lip. "Correction," he held up his finger to stop her a moment, "he gave them to your mother, who sold them to me a year ago while you were gone. Along with the bond on the house."
Alice's heart began to pound. No wonder the flat seemed so bare, no wonder her mother had mentioned things that could use her attention.
Her mother was in worse debt than she thought!
Where was Margaret and Lowell? Why had she not mentioned any of this in her letters?
"What's more to say, Miss Kingsleigh, that you're a liability to this company. Do you think we, the board, are interested in funding a girl who runs off to the far East with our money, only to return when and as she pleases? One who returns with little time for us to review where she has been, how she has spent her time, revenue versus cost, before she demands that we send her out again?" Hamish shook his head. "No, Miss Kingsleigh, you have made your bed of arrogance and pride, and now you shall have to sleep in it alone. I will not put any more money into a sailor who, regardless of her inadequate sex, is willing to gallivant off and use her position and influence to take titles she isn't properly informed to take, gives little to her lenders in terms of reports and facts, and has the audacity to show up at a party, insult one of their wives, and then demand for more money. You would be mistaken to think we are going to give money to even a man who acts in such regard."
Alice felt dread sink into her as she realized all the accusations Hamish was making against her were true. Certainly she owned the idea and the willpower, but his father had funded her and helped her restore her father's ship.
Alice decided to ignore his accusations and focus back on what he said about her mother. "Her house?" Alice asked in disbelief.
"A bond which we will redeem against your ship." Hamish replied. "We will give it to a seasoned Captain who will make timely reports and return when his contract specifies, sending word if he is delayed."
"But that was my father's ship," Alice shook her head. No, this isn't fair!
"Indeed," Hamish nodded his head, gesturing for a servant to hand over a stack of papers. "Sign over the vessel and you will redeem the house. Report to work Monday morning and you will receive a salary and a pension."
Alice looked at the man before him dumbstruck. What was he confining her to? A day at an office, a day of sitting around? A day of doing whatever bland Mr. James Harcourt did? "And give up the Wonder?" Alice knew her phrase meant more than just the ship.
"Otherwise we cannot help you, or your mother," Hamish replied looking at her expectantly. He was expecting her to sign over the ship with no further thought. Revert to being a clerk in his office! This was all her mother's fault for putting her in such a position!
Hamish straightened up and Alice turned, sensing another presence in the room. Turning, she saw Helen Kingsleigh standing with guilt written across her face, her hands balled at her waist as she had certainly heard the exchange of conversation between her daughter and the new Lord Ascot. Alice felt the fire she had burning in her belly toward Hamish redirect and fly out toward her mother. Tears welled in her eyes as she glared the matriarch down, pushing past the board toward the furthest door that would lead her out to a hallway.
"Alice!" She heard her mother murmur behind her, footsteps following in her wake. But Alice did not turn to address her mother. Instead she stamped out the doorway, fueled by rage and frustration.
When she entered the hall she turned violently at the woman who followed her out into the dark empty hallways. "How could you sell our shares?" She questioned, venom in her words.
"Everything I do is for you, Alice," Helen responded with as much force, "so you can make a decent start in life."
Alice looked away from the woman who betrayed her, resisting every urge to reach out and shake her in her rage. "Five minutes ago I was a sea captain!"
"A sea captain is no job for a lady, and besides, you manipulated your way into the title, from my understanding." Alice didn't respond, but turned away from Helen with a look of disdain, wanting to put as much distance between her and her mother as possible. "Time is against you, and you're being careless with it!"
"I want to believe I can do as many as six impossible things before breakfast," Alice murmured to herself. "That is a child's dream, Alice!" Her mother scolded. Her sensible, unimaginative, traitorous, still alive mother! If her father was alive, he would never have put her in this situation. It took all her strength not to scream that she wished he was alive and her mother dead. Alice continued to look away as her mother tore into her now, reopening wounds and realizations Hamish had first inflicted. "The Wonder is just a ship."
With that Alice turned on her matriarch violent. Just a ship? "It's not just a ship, it's father's ship," Alice replied, nearly spitting fire with her words. "Everything he loved; everything I love!" She would not keep her thoughts inside anymore if her mother was going to be so cruel. "He never would have let this happen!"
Helen's voice deepened, filled with tears and rage as she lashed out at her youngest daughter's cruel words, "Well he's not here anymore!" Alice saw her draw up her face as her mother gently scolded her proud daughter. "You can't just make things however you want them to be. Every woman must face that, Alice." Consternation filled her mother's features as she looked down on her. "I've had to."
Alice hated this. She hated the betrayal, she hated her mother. She sneered up her face, her eyes narrowing, as she delivered a death blow to the woman before her, "Well the last thing I want is to end up like you."
She turned hotly on her heels, running quickly from the woman she wanted to do nothing more to than strangle at this moment. Rage in her belly, Alice felt hot tears come to her eyes. Was there no one in this world that was on her side?