This is my first Alice in Wonderland fic, so it's probably not the best, but I hope you like it. I own nothing but my ideas. Enjoy.
"A ball?" Alice repeated. "Really?"
"Yes a ball!" Mirana gushed. "How else would we celebrate your return?"
"Tea?"Alice said dryly.
"Oh, but that's no fun! At a ball you can sing, and dance, and mingle…"
"Singing? Dancing?" Alice said. "Who do you think I am?"
"The Champion of Underland," she answered, obviously unfamiliar with the phrase.
Alice let it drop. "When is it?" she asked.
"Tonight."
"Tonight?" Alice cried.
"When else would it be?"
Alice never got to answer. A loud crash interrupted her. The crash was followed by a small blur running around the corner.
"I tol' ye she was back!" Mally cried.
Thackery ran up behind her, but he didn't make it far before her ran into Alice.
"A-A-Alice!" he yelped as he tugged on his disheveled ears.
"I tol' you!" Mally repeated as she climbed up onto Alice's shoulder.
"You're terribly late," McTwisp grumbled as he too came around the corner.
"Well I'm going to fix that by not being late anymore," Alice declared.
"'Ow are ye gonna do tha'?" Mally asked.
"I'm going to stay in Underland, if I'm allowed."
"If you're allowed?"Mirana asked.
"Well. I don't know the protocol for someone from Overland staying in Underland so-"
"Alice you are out Champion, you can stay here as long as you wish. I already have room made up for you."
"Well then I'm staying here until the end of my days."
There was a chorus of cheers from everyone, even the usually reserved McTwisp.
"It seems I have missed a piece of fantastic news," Chessur said, appearing in front of Alice.
"Alice is gonna stay in Underland!" Mally announced.
"Well that is fantastic!" Chessur purred.
Without warning, Alice was knocked onto her back. Atop her was the Bandersnatch, who promptly lick her from chin to hairline. Mally was sent flying halfway across Marmoreal, but the Bandersnatch took no notice, he just kept licking Alice.
"Can't! Breathe!" she gasped.
Seeming to understand her words, the Bandersnatch backed off of her and allowed her to stand.
Alice wiped her face on her sleeve, but to not avail. There was too much saliva on her face.
McTwisp offered her a handkerchief, which she took gladly. As soon as it touched her skin, her entire face was dry. The handkerchief was not soaked; on the contrary, it was completely dry.
"Minor enchantment," McTwisp mumbled as he took it back from her.
As sudden as the Bandersnatch "attack", an angry, yet familiar brogue came.
"Ge' back 'ere ye filthy pile o' spotted fur! Ye said ye wouldn' be runnin off li' this no more! Yer lucky Ah 'aven' turned ye into a fuzzy 'at! Ye filthy, slurvish, frimious-"
The Hatter broke off and stopped dead in his track when he rounded the corner and saw why the Bandersnatch had taken off.
A/N: Yes the reason the Hatter and the Bandersnatch were together will be explained later.
"Alice?" he asked, all traces of his brogue gone. "Is it really you?"
"Why I believe it is!" she exclaimed, feigning surprise.
Without another moment's hesitation, the Hatter took off at a sprint. He hugged Alice forcefully, only not knocking her over because he picked her up and spun her around. When he put her down, he didn't let go of her, he held her tightly.
"I missed you so much," he whispered into her hair.
"I missed you too, but I would appreciate it if you would allow me to breathe," she croaked back.
The Hatter immediately let go and stepped back. At the release of the pressure around her ribs, Alice took an automatic deep breath. She looked him over quickly, trying to see how he had changed. Alice could find nothing different except for his hair, which was a bit longer and pulled back into a ponytail.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cut off your air supply," he mumbled, stopping her examination of him.
"Its fine you're not the only one," Alice laughed.
The Bandersnatch whined apologetically and nudged her hand. Alice scratched his head. "Don't worry, I forgive you," she told him. He growled happily and flopped onto his belly.
"Stinkin' Bandersnatch sent me flyin' 'alfway across Marmoreal," Mally grumbled as she stomped back.
"Now, Mally he didn't mean to," Hatter said. The Bandersnatch growled affirmative.
"It was still rude," she grouched.
Hatter let the subject drop, he knew it was a losing battle to argue with her. Instead he focused on Alice, but before he could say a word, Mirana spoke up.
"We will be having a ball tonight in honor of Alice's return to Underland."
"A ball?" Mally groaned.
"Ball?" Thackery gasped. "I need to clean my ears!" he cried and darted away.
McTwisp sighed. "I'm going to make sure he doesn't try to flood the castle again," he called over his shoulder as he hopped away.
"Why is there a ball for everything?" Mally asked. Her question was left unanswered, for the White Queen had disappeared. "I'm going to go find her!" the mouse declared. She turned to the Bandersnatch. "Wanna help?"
He stood up and extended one paw, signaling her to climb up onto his back. She scrambled onto his back and he bolted into the palace.
"I will see you both tonight," Chessur said right before he disappeared, leaving Alice and the Hatter alone.
After a moment of awkward silence the Hatter spoke up.
"I find I should very much like to hug you again."
Alice grinned and opened her arms. The Hatter didn't waste a moment. He rushed into her arms and squeezed her, but not so tightly as to cut off her air again. He wanted this embrace to last longer than a few moments.
It did. They remained locked together for several minutes. He had his face buried in her hair and her forehead was pressed against his neck. Neither was willing to let go and neither would for a long time. Finally, with much reluctance, Hatter pulled away.
'Was that disappointment I saw flicker across her face?' he wondered. Whatever it was it was gone before he could figure out what it was.
"Would you like to go on a walk?" Alice asked.
The Hatters eyes lit up as he agreed enthusiastically. They set off at a brisk pace and were quickly out of Marmoreal. They wandered around for several minutes in silence, enjoying being together after such a long time. It was during this time that their hands became intertwined without either of them noticing.
"Hatter?" Alice asked suddenly.
"Yes?"
"How long was I gone?"
"Three years," he said sadly. "Three unbearably long years."
"Really? I was only gone for a year and a half by Overland terms."
"I wish Time had been kind enough to return you here after a year and a half, but alas, he was not. He had to cause endless strife by keeping you away."
"How would me living life in Overland cause strife?"
"Alice, I do believe you have made a rhyme."
Alice laughed at his ability to always find the rhymes in her words. In her giddiness, his words were forgotten.
"I've missed you're ability to always find rhymes," she admitted.
The Hatter grinned and they continued to walk in companionable silence.
"Alice?" he asked suddenly.
"Yes?" she responded.
"Why do you always cal me Hatter?"
"I don't know your name," she said simply.
"Tarrant Hightopp," he told her.
"Tarrant Hightopp," she repeated. "Interesting."
"Interesting good or interesting bad?"
"Interesting good."
"Good."
"Yes it is," she agreed.
"I'm glad you think so."
"I'm glad you're glad."
"I'm glad you're glad I'm glad."
"All this gladness is confusing me," Alice said.
"I'm glad-" he broke off. "You didn't do it that time."
Alice giggled at his dismayed expression. "No I didn't."
"Why not?" he pouted.
"The gladness was confusing me."
"How can gladness confuse you?" Tarrant demanded.
"You have to be special," she joked.
Tarrant stopped walking. "You are special," he said, suddenly serious.
Alice looked away, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks.
"I'm sorry," he apologized quickly. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"It's fine," she said, looking him in the eye. "I'm just not used to people saying things like that to me."
"What?" he gasped, his eyes shifting from green to the brown of shock. "Why ever not?"
"No one ever said anything like that to me," she said with a shrug. Tarrant felt a slight tug on his fingers but ignored it.
"That's not right!" he burst out. "You are the most beautiful, lovely, amazing, brave, smart, sensitive, wonderful, huggable, awe-inspiring-"
"Hatter!" she barked, cutting him off.
"Fez. I'm fine," he croaked. His eyes shifted back to green.
"I appreciate it, but it is wholly unnecessary," Alice said, a faint blush still coloring her cheeks.
"I disagree," he said. "It's true, every word of it, and people in Overland should've told you."
"Up there, I was just a strange girl who was never paid any mind."
"Ridiculous!" Tarrant cried, throwing his hands into the air. Only then did they notice their intertwined fingers. "When did that happen?" he asked incredulously.
"I haven't the faintest idea," Alice said in shock.
For a long moment the two of them studied their hands, how the fit together so perfectly, how his pale, bandaged hand looked so perfect next to her lightly tanned skin and how right it felt to be sharing such contact.
But both of them knew that the moment must come to an end, for holding hands was a symbol of courtship, and they were not courting. With great reluctance, Tarrant withdrew his hand and broke the contact.
'Why is it,' he wondered 'that every time I stop touching her, it seems as though I see disappointment in her eyes, if only for a moment?'
They continued walking again, remaining silent until Alice heard Tarrant mutter something under his breath.
"What was that?" she asked.
"What was what?" he asked, using his brogue on purpose for once.
Alice smile at the memory. "What did you say?"
"I told myself to stop being a coward," he said.
"A coward? How are you being a coward?"
"I want to ask you to go to the ball tonight, just as friends, but I can't seem to muster the courage and oh dear I think I just did." His eyes turned purple with embarrassment.
Alice giggled quietly and said "Of course I'll go with you!"
"Really?" he asked, eyes returning once again to bright green. "That's wonderful!"
"Why would you be nervous to ask me something like that?" Alice queried.
"I don't know," he admitted. "But I will look forward to tonight," he whispered. With only a brief hesitation, he gently grasped the same hand he had been holding earlier and kissed it lightly. He felt chills break out on her skin. "Fairfarren for now Alice," he whispered against her skin before her let go of her hand and walked away.
~Tarrant POV~
'Where in the world did I find the nerve to do that?' Tarrant thought to himself as he made his way to his room. 'I couldn't even find the courage to ask her to the ball, just as friends, but I have the guts to kiss her hand? What in the name of Underland is wrong with me? You are truly a madman, yes siree! Oh, I've made a rhyme…'
Tarrant opened the door to his room and saw the mess left behind by the Bandersnatch.
'Note to self: never let him back in here.'
His normally tidy green and purple room was now a mess. There was fabric and string everywhere.
The bed to the left of the door was much too large for only one person, with a patched quilt made by his mother on it, along with numerous pillows. Next to the bed was a small nightstand with naught but a candle and a book on it. The small drawer in it was filled to the brim with small bits of fabric that he was determined to find some use for. On the wall opposite the door was a window that ran the length of the wall with a small desk in front of it. The desk was where he designed new hats. On the wall to the right of the door was another door that led to his washroom. In it was a sink, bathtub, toilet and his wardrobe.
'This ought to be fun to clean up,' he grumbled to himself. 'I was really looking forward to making that hat too…'
~Alice POV~
'What in the world is wrong with me?' Alice thought to herself. She was attempting to find the room Mirana had prepared for her, but she was having no luck. 'A simple kiss on the hand should not affect me so! But I can't deny that it is affecting me, but that doesn't mean I have to tell anyone!'
Alice finally found her room and quickly opened the door. When she saw the room, Alice felt a grin break out across her face. Mirana had clearly obliged her need for color and had the room painted a color Tarrant had deemed "Alice-blue".
The entire room was blue with white trim, except for the wall opposite the door. It was large windows that lead to a balcony. In the corner between the wall with the door and the wall right of the door was a large bed with Alice-blue pillows and a matching blanket. Next to it was a wardrobe with a small shelf attached to one side that could be used as a nightstand. On the wall left of the door was another room, that upon further inspection, Alice discovered was her washroom. It had a claw-footed bathtub, a sink with a mirror above it and a toilet. Alice stepped out of the washroom and went to the wardrobe. She opened it, expecting to find it empty, but it was filled with dresses ranging from white to black. In the bottom was a drawer that had underclothes in it. On top of the drawer were shoes to match the dresses.
Alice grinned and decided to take a quick bath before she got ready for that ball. After she was clean, she looked through the dresses until she found the perfect one.
The bottom was a light blue and would be loose around her legs. When it reached her thighs, it shifted to white with dark flecks and blue flowers on the right hip that extended around the back. Around her chest, it was a darker blue with another light blue flower on the neck and white flecks. The back of the dress was almost nonexistent. It would cover her hips and leave the rest of her back bare. There was a third light blue flower on the back of the dress.
Alice slipped into the dress and went to fix her hair. She fixed it the same way she had at her engagement party, but this time she left a few locks free to frame her face. When she was finished with her hair, she slipped on the shoes that went with the dress and started for the door. Someone knocked just before she reached it. Alice grinned and opened the door to a very nervous Tarrant.
He was dressed in a dark blue suit that matched the top of her dress. His hair was pulled back the same way it had been earlier, and as always he had his ever-present hat on.
His eyes went wide when he saw her. He hadn't expected to see her looking so…Alice-y. She looked perfect. But then again, Tarrant always thought she looked perfect, tonight it was just more perfect.
Quickly covering his astonishment, Tarrant extended his arm. "Shall we?"
Alice smiled faintly and took his arm. "We shall."
Tarrant grinned and quickly led her to the party. She groaned when she what was in store for them.
Mirana had gone all out. There was a table as long as the Jabberwocky that was piled high with food. About thirty feet from it was a small stage where people could perform. Scattered all around were people who all turned to stare as their Champion approached.
Alice gulped and plastered a very fake smile on her face. But to her surprise, no one approached her. Unbeknownst to her, the Queen had instructed everyone to treat her as they would anyone else.
"Would you like to dance?" Tarrant whispered to her.
"Umm…yes?" she whispered back uncertainly.
Tarrant chuckled and pulled her into his arms as the next song started. It was a slow song, so he had an excuse to hold her close. Tarrant wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tightly. He felt her arms wind around his back and her head rest above his heart. He sighed contentedly, wishing he could hold her like this forever. But unfortunately, the song came to an end for too soon and he was forced to let her go, lest he looked inappropriate.
"Tarrant," Mirana called as she approached them.
"Yes Your Majesty?" he asked.
"Could I implore you to perform a song?" she asked.
Tarrant laughed. "Do I have a choice?"
"If I were my sister, then you would, but I am not, so you do."
"Either way, I will," Tarrant chuckled.
"Lovely!" Mirana gushed. "I shall look forward to it!" And with that she walked away.
"You sing?" Alice asked.
"Mirana seems to think so, but I'm not a big fan of my voice," he said.
"I'm sure you're voice is amazing. If it's anything like your futterwacken it will be!"
Tarrant laughed. Not a mad giggle as per usual, but a real laugh. It was deep and masculine and Alice loved it. She knew right then and there that she wanted to listen to his laugh for the rest of her life.
"I must go," he told her. "It is my turn to sing."
"Good luck."
"Thank ye, lass," he murmured.
Alice watched as he slipped through the crowd and made his way toward the stage. He moved without ever touching a single person. When he got to the stage, he climbed up without a moment's hesitation. He said something to the band then stepped up to the front of the stage. The band started playing and he started singing.
Maybe I'm a dreamer
Maybe I'm misunderstood
Maybe you're not seeing the side of me you should
Maybe I'm crazy
(Maybe I'm crazy)
Alice shivered at the sound of his voice. It was smooth, deep and unbelievably attractive.
Maybe I'm the only one
(Maybe I'm the only one)
Maybe I'm just out of touch
Maybe I've just had enough
Maybe it's time to change Maybe it's hopeless Maybe it's time to change And maybe it's time to change And maybe it's time to change
And leave it all behind
I've never been one to walk alone
I've always been scared to try
So why does it feel so wrong
To reach for something more
To wanna live a better life
What am I waiting for?
'Cause nothing stays the same
Maybe it's time to change
(Maybe it's hopeless)
Maybe I should just give up
(Maybe I should just give up)
What if I can't trust myself?
What if I just need some help?
And leave it all behind
I've never been one to walk alone
I've always been scared to try
So why does it feel so wrong
To reach for something more
To wanna live a better life
What am I waiting for?
'Cause nothing stays the same
Maybe it's time to change
And leave it all behind
I've never been one to walk alone
I've always been scared to try
And leave it all behind
I've never been one to walk alone
I've always been scared to try
So why does it feel so wrong
To reach for something more
To wanna live a better life
What am I waiting for?
'Cause nothing stays the same
Maybe it's time to change
'Cause nothing stays the same
Maybe it's time to change
When the song ended, Tarrant slipped off the stage and made his way back to Alice. It was no easy task though. For everyone was clapping like crazy and wanted to tell him how amazing his voice was. But he would not listen to any of them. He was focused on getting to Alice and wouldn't so much as glance at anyone else.
When he finally managed to fight his way free of the crowd and make it back to Alice, he was unnerved by the look on her face.
"What?" he asked uncomfortably.
"Wow," she breathed.
"Wow what?" he asked.
"Amazing…"
"It wasn't that good," he mumbled.
"That's a lie and you know it," Alice chided.
"Uh huh," he said, unconvinced. "Would you like something to drink?"
Alice noticed his attempt to change the subject, but didn't comment on it. Instead she nodded. They weaved their way to the Jabberwocky sized table and got a couple glasses of wine. They sipped their drinks and watched everyone mingle.
"Wha' in the world was tha'?" Mally asked, walking up to them. "I was yellin' for you the whole time ye were walkin' through the crowd, an' ye never once even glanced at me."
"Sorry Mally," he apologized. "I didn't hear you."
"Sure you didn't," she grumbled.
"If you didn't notice, everyone was screaming," he pointed out. "The voice of one mouse isn't likely to stand out."
Mally grumbled to herself and went off to search for the Bandersnatch.
Alice and Tarrant looked at each other and burst out laughing. They laughed for no apparent reason, they just laughed.
'I love his laugh,' Alice thought.
'I love her laugh,' Tarrant thought.
The party continued well into the night, and everyone got a little tipsy, for the wine was flowing like water.
When midnight had come and gone, Tarrant turned to Alice. Her eyes were drooping, from drowsiness or drunkenness, Tarrant knew not, but he did know that she needed to go to bed.
"Would you like me to escort you to your room?" he asked her. She nodded and he wrapped his arm around her waist. She leaned into his side as they walked inside.
They reached her room quickly. Tarrant faced her.
"Goodnight Alice," he whispered.
She blinked once. "Would you like to come in for a while?" she asked.
Against his better instincts, which had been dulled by alcohol, Tarrant agreed. They stepped into her room and sat down on the bed. Alice rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Tarrant wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she snuggled into his side.
"You're so warm," she whispered.
Tarrant shivered despite his supposed warmth. Her words sounded so innocent, yet so seductive at the same time.
'This night is going to be the death of me,' he thought.
Alice looked up at him with her big blue eyes. They seemed to beckon him closer. Without meaning to, he leaned in until he felt his lips brush hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.
Before either of them knew what happened, he was on top of her, kissing her lips, her face, her neck, everywhere he could reach. She had her head arched backward to allow him better access. Without either of them meaning to, their clothes hit the floor and the night went on and on and on…
Well the chapter has come to an end. I hope you enjoyed it. There will be more and I, unfortunately, own nothing.