Still Painting Flowers For You.
Just a short random one-shot I wrote after watching AIW for probably the millionth time today. To sum it up in a nutshell- Hatter's reaction to Alice leaving from Underland...
Her face was evaporating into the darkness. I was losing her slowly. The small vial of Jabberwocky venom fell from her hand and smashed onto the cold stone floor, the violet liquid spreading into a puddle around my feet. In a matter of seconds, she was gone, disappearing into a grey cloud of smoke. I stared at the spot she'd been standing in, before drooping my head in a solemn manner.
Why could she have not stayed? She never spoke very kindly of the world on the other side. A world which I simply cannot imagine. Alice had once told me that the animals do not speak there! How absurd, for an animal to not have a voice. Why would she want to return to such a wicked place?
A gentle hand on my shoulder broke me from my thoughts. I pivoted round to see Mirana standing a little too close for my liking.
"Farewell for now, Tarrant."
I gave a slight nod, staring into the distance behind her. She gave a small sigh before leaving me, taking my silence as a cue to leave.
I briefly looked around at the battleground, which beared an uncanny likeness to an oversized chessboard. Defeated playing-card shaped soldiers marched away in unison; their weapons lay strewn on the ground. It seemed like a lifetime since Iracebeth and Ilosovic had been dragged off, handcuffed at the wrists, anticipating a horrific future together. The thought brought a slight chuckle to my lips, but it died out within a second, for this did not feel like the time for foolish laughter.
Mere moments ago I couldn't have been happier: Alice had slain the Jabberwocky, the crown was rightfully returned to Mirana, I had futterwacken'd vigorously indeed- true to my word. But I felt incomplete now that Alice was gone. As though she'd taken a part of my soul back with her.
She promised she'd return one day, but promises were made to be broken. What if she'd forget me sooner than she'd expected? What if she no longer had any desire to return to Underland?
All these thoughts buzzed around my mind as I returned to my never-ending tea party. I outstretched an arm and traced my thimble capped finger along the edge of the table as I made my way over to my worn out leather chair. Little did I know that Mally was at the heals of my feet, following my every step.
"Tea?" She offered quietly as she jumped up onto the table in graceful little pounces.
I waved my hand dismissively.
"You know, I always did like to ride by hat..." She whispered, a hopeful tone could be heard in her faint voice.
My lip perked up at the side and I removed my hat, lowering it to her reach. The look on her face came across as both surprised and delighted. She leapt up onto the ridge of my top hat, turned around in a single circle, and lay down amongst the peach satin ribbon. I pulled out my chair from underneath the table. I took a seat and stared at the clutter in front of me. Broken china cups, half eaten cinnamon cake, floral-patterned tea pots. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel...mad.
I sat back in my chair, hearing hushed snoring from Mally above me. I pulled my hat down slightly over my eyes, placed my hands over my chest, and closed my eyes, awaiting the next time Alice would return to Underland.
