Welcome back readers! This is the sequel to I am Madness I am Love, I hope you enjoy it!
Alice stood arm in arm with her betrothed, waiting for the arrival of the secret leaders of the resistance. Most were people she already knew, Chess, Mally, Mirana, and of course her Hatter, but some had been captured and held by the Red Queen. They were returning to Marmoreal at long last. Hatter was nervous, she could tell. He had known a lot of people that had been captured, and most of those who were captured, died. She squeezed his hand and he kissed her in thanks.
Mirana stood behind them, tall and pale. The former prisoners had started coming in a few minutes ago, they looked weary and all were injured. Tarrant hadn't reacted to any of them, so Alice guessed he hadn't seen anyone he knew yet. Before long the entire courtyard was filled with people, all scarred, but seeming happy at their freedom. Alice noticed that a large number of people were wearing a sort of uniform. It was a jacket that was black with white diagonal stripes along the arms, over a white shirt and black trousers, even some women, identifiable by the long braids they wore their hair in, wore trousers. Tarrant called greetings to a couple of these uniformed people, and they returned the greetings enthusiastically.
"Who are they?" Alice asked him.
"They are members of the White Queen's police force, they generally keep order in the kingdom. The lot of them joined the resistance, trained us all up for battle. These are the only survivors." He said sadly.
"Tarrant!" a young woman in a uniform yelled. She sounded happy even though her arm was in a sling and she had a limp. "I was made a full officer!" she seemed so excited that Alice had to smile.
"Congratulations Catherine!" Tarrant called back.
"You're not quite an officer yet." A woman said, she limped forward and returned the excited girl's embrace. The woman had short-cropped copper hair, her eyes were the lightest blue Alice had ever seen. Underneath the many scars that covered her face, she was very beautiful. Upon seeing her, Tarrant laughed.
"Helen!" he yelled. Her head whipped up, noticing him for the first time, and she ran forward and threw herself into Tarrant's arms. To Alice's dismay, he returned the embrace with enthusiasm.
"Tarrant you lucky son of a bitch! You did it! We won!" she cried.
"Downal wyth bluddy behg hid!" They yelled together. The crowd responded by yelling it back to them.
At this point, Alice was quite hurt at not being included and more than a little jealous about this woman whom she had never met. She seemed so friendly and comfortable with Alice's lover. Helen shoved Tarrant lightly and he returned it, Alice stood forgotten until Helen noticed her.
"Who's this, Tarrant?" Helen asked, Tarrant looked at Alice guiltily.
"This is Alice, our champion, and the woman I am to wed." he responded. Helen's mouth dropped open.
"You're getting married?" she asked in a state of shock. "To her?" she asked.
"Yes." Tarrant said happily. Helen's face turned serious. She walked over to Alice, and Alice was the slightest bit afraid. Helen's movements were smooth and deliberate, like those of a fighter; she also wore a wicked looking knife at her belt. Helen put her hand on Alice's shoulder and said clearly,
"My sympathies." A smile broke out on Helen's face and she dodged Tarrant's blow. Alice laughed in relief, and at the look on Tarrant's face.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, champion. Even more so that you are the one to finally find Tarrant's heart, where was it exactly, under the bed? In a teapot? You just never know when he's around. Would you mind if I introduced you to my comrades? They've waited a long time to meet you."
"Introduce me." Alice said gamely. Helen wiped the smile from her face and put up a perfectly bland expression as she faced the crowd.
"Former prisoners of the bluddy behg hid! We have suffered and waited a long time for this homecoming. We have all fought, and lost much in this battle. I think it is about time we all thank the champion who killed the Red Bitch's worst weapon, Alice." Of course a loud session of cheering followed this statement. Afterwards, Tarrant put Alice's arm on his own and grabbed Helen's arm.
"We need to talk somewhere private." He said, and led the two away.
I apologize for the amount of information I just threw at you, readers. Next chapter will be better… maybe…