Just a quick note: I watched the Royal Wedding! Not at 3 in the morning, but the later re-showing ;) Kate's dress was BEAUTIFUL! And the Queen reminded me of my grandmother, but she didn't seem exactly…enthusiastic. Prince William looked so freaking happy once they were in the carriage. It was a fairy-tale wedding :)
On to the story! This is just a real quick conversation between Tarrant and Alice about Mirana. It shall continue into one more chapter…possibly two more, but IDK how long it'll take ;)
Go figure.
BUT! This is actually has slight Tarrant/Alice ;) Sighhh, breaking my own little tradition. So go crazy…have fun…because you never know…this could be the last xD
One of the Last
"If you'll excuse me, friends, I must be going. I have far too many documents and letters to attend to this evening. Please, forgive me for ending our lunch so early." She stood, as well as the other guests, who curtsied and bowed to her. She smiled at Alice and winked, letting her know that she never got tired of the formalness of this all.
The lunch ended there, very important people exiting the room and going back to whatever work they had to finish. The last two people in the room were the Royal Hatter and the Queen's Champion. Most people in Underland knew them as Tarrant Hightopp (or even The Mad Hatter) and Alice Kingsleigh. They scooted two chairs next to each other and, as Tarrant drew his arm around her shoulders, Alice leaned her head on the side of his chest.
Alice sighed when she looked at the place where her friend had been sitting. "Tarrant, why is Mirana always so busy?" After hearing the question, it took all of Tarrant's control not to laugh at such an idiotic question!
"Surely, Alice, you've got a Queen up in the Aboveland! Queens are busy- tending to papers, documents, giving speeches, building and rebuilding their land, keeping an eye on their people, family, friends- it's an unforgiving job! Of course, poor dear, she never complains; does all that work, and not a peep out of her. Bless her kind heart- she never gets a break. Day in and day out, she's working, working, working. Often, one of the last lights on in the palace is hers because she hasn't filled her quota for the day." Alice's confusion gently subsided as she got a new perspective on the situation.
"I believe that she deserves something that makes her happy. I suppose one can't be too enthusiastic when one's family has all but disappeared. The Red Queen was banished, her parents were killed, and I won't assume that she has a brother. What about suitors? Has she any?"
It was Tarrant's turn to sigh as he closed his eyes, remembering all the suitors she used to have. The number of suitors had slowly trickled down to one or two each month, not a good number. But Mirana was smart- she would marry for love, not duty.
"Alice- that woman deserves love more than anyone else; well, besides you, but you know what I mean. She's so kind, so wise, so brave…so lonely. And she's bloody stubborn, too," he added, spitting the words. He had come to her with tons and tons of suitors, all of whom she turned down. "She'd had one love- her Champion, Erik. She loved the man with all her heart, only to have the Jabberwocky steal his life," he said, sadly
"I doubt he's dead, Tarrant. Maybe he was just injured and someone took him in. Perhaps he-"
"Now, love, don't go into that. And especially- especially- don't go telling the Queen that. She'll get her hopes up and, if what you're saying is false…then we'll have quite the problem on our hands- one larger than Underland itself; one certainly more dangerous than the Jabberwocky," he warned her.
"And that problem is?" Alice inquired, her curiosity growing by the millisecond.
"The Queen."
