.|. Time Waits For No One .|.

..: Chapter One :..

Wholeness

"Hatter!" the Queen, she was barely seventeen years of age. She hadn't been taught how to fight yet, which was rather unsophisticated for a Queen but necessary for that time in Underground Land. The war against the sets of Cards had taken its toll for the worst just at the point the newest, youngest Queen had gained the throne. Serafia was the newest Queen of the one half of Underground she nicknamed many a time Wonderland, a place where anything could happen and everyone smiled. She was to control the Diamonds and Hearts of the Card sets, all of whom were the black colours. The red Diamonds and Hearts had disappeared to another world many a year ago when the war had first begun. Then it was just a spoken war, threats and arguing between Wonderland the other half of Underground that was indeed called Underground. There was no Queen; there was a King who was named Albedo. He controlled the red versions of the Clubs and Spades. His land was one of darkness and it was said the argument between the two sides had gone back years upon years ago, steaming from Albedo and his brother Rubedo, both of whom had been invincible. Neither of the powerful men could die, Albedo having the ability to regenerate and Rubedo having the ability to control his cell growth. But unfortunately, the man who could prevent the war had been killed a year before Serafia's announcement to the throne. Rubedo had quite obviously been her father, her mother having been called Sakura, who died just after giving birth to the seventeen year old girl. That meant she would be battling against her own uncle, her blood relative but no one had prepared her for combat due to the King's sudden death.

Hatter had planned to train her once she had turned the age of eighteen so she had a taste of the throne and had fully grown. Never in his years had he even contemplated training a woman so it was something peculiar to think about but necessary. Once he had heard her yell in the Castle walls he spent no moment running up the spiral, black and white chequered stairs to her aid, thinking the worst of what could be wrong with her. Cardsmen had surrounded the door to the Chamber that belonged to the Queen. It was strange, Hatter thought, as he approached the large, wine red doors. This young woman, this child, was the Queen of Wonderland and was being thrust into a deadly battle, having the strain of caring for her people in a hard way. He had watched her grow up from her baby years; she was bright, spontaneous and full of life and it was peculiar.

Hatter placed a hand on the knob of the door and twisted it, feeling his thick bracelets move around his wrists. He pushed the door open seeing the mess of the Queen's bedroom. His eyes glanced around quickly, trying to find the woman he was meant to protect as best as he could. He spotted her, close to the wide widow that looked out to the main courtyard. Her hair was a white blonde colour, shinning magnificently in the midday sunlight. She was wearing a white dress, that puffed out at the lower half as all her elegant dresses would do. This one was white, covered in black suits of the card at the lower half where it puffed out. The neck was high, flounced ruffles at it and the chest, along with silk white lace to give it a more elegant look. There was a corset design at the back and it gave her the most beautiful figure ever. How she was so thin was beyond Hatter – she looked as if she could snap. Her eyes were a stunning ice blue, childish and framed with thick black eyelashes and finally her skin was ivory, almost a pure white colour.

"Your Majesty," he bowed lowly to her, holding the rim of his hat as he did so it wouldn't drop straight off his head. She turned to him, watching him with wide eyes as she waited for him to stand up straight. Once he did she looked at him for a moment. His hair was a copper colour, to his shoulders and layered. He wore the most lovely top hat ever, that was a dark brown, almost black colour. It was decorated with silk scarf's with strange patterns on them. He wore a pair of dark brown trousers, a white undershirt and a waistcoat along with a Victorian dress jacket. The ruffles from his dress shirt could be seen at the end of his jacket sleeves, and on his fingers were many rings with garnets, rubies and diamonds. He never smiled at her nor did he laugh. He was a peculiar man. "What may be the problem?"

"I had another vision, Hatter!" she breathed heavily as she approached quickly, almost stumbling as she did so. She was not the most elegant Queen he ever had to protect … "We have to leave. We have to leave this Castle."

"Queen Serafia, doing such a thing will alarm the people of Underground," he told her. She glared at him slightly from his word 'Underground' rather then 'Wonderland' but let it pass. She moved up to him, standing two inches smaller then he did. She put her hands hard on his chest, staring deep into his eyes.

"I am the Queen of this Castle and if I demand for us to evacuate, then we bloody evacuate!" she yelled up at him, determination sparkling hard in her eyes along with a mix of fear.

Hatter stared hard down at her for long moments, knowing she would not give up just yet. He raised a hand, getting the attention of the Cards. "Create a guard inside the Castle. Do not alarm the guests and do not allow the towns people to see what is happening. Work quietly and keep your guard up. Load the weapons and get ready. Leave us."

With strong hands, he took her wrists and pulled her hands off his chest where she was gripping his cloths hard. Once he heard the door shut, he took a few steps away from the Queen as she glared harder at him, more angrier then ever.

"I told you to make them evacuate!" she hissed hard. "Hatter you're meant to let me give all the orders!"

"When your eighteen you have full control of the throne, for now I am your adviser and I advise you to look at yourself, Serafia!" he told her, his voice hard yet not raised. "If there is an evacuation from the Castle and we go to Underground we put our people in danger. The opposition will change their tactics, thus killing innocent people as well as ours."

"You don't get me, do you Hatter?" she hissed hard, moving to the dressing table. She began to fiddle with pictures and items nervously.

"I do 'get you'," he told her, watching her carefully. "You need to keep yourself under control now you're the Queen. That includes no foul words and no demands like that. You cannot evacuate the entire castle."

"I didn't mean the entire castle," Queen Serafia told him, looking at him with breaking eyes. "I meant me and you. We."

The Hatter's brows furrowed as he leaned his head foreword, looking at her carefully. "What are you talking about, Queen?"

"The Jabberwocky …" she whispered, her hands shaking around a small piece of paper. "There will be an attack this evening and the Jabberwocky shall be here."

Hatter blinked, unsure of what to say or what to do. Many a time she had visions of things happening, big events and even little ones. Little ones like her tripping over a stone were ones that would most defiantly come true but big events like an attack on the Castle? The likelihood of such a thing happening was slim, very slim. The Queen had yet to have control of those powers just yet and he couldn't rely on it. It could have been just like a simple nightmare, an illusion she told herself after scaring herself for a long period of time. Sighing slightly, he walked over to Queen Serafia.

"You know no harm will ever come to you when you are by my side, don't you?" he asked her, taking her chin in his hand. He lifted it and looked her deep in the eye. Her ivory skin became the shade of red quickly and she nodded. "You are in no danger. I understand your father was killed by King Albedo but you are his niece. This war will continue to go on for a long period of time but hopefully he will not attack us nor will he attack you."

All the Queen could do was nod at him. "I believe in you Hatter," she smiled faintly. "Will you be joining me for afternoon tea?"

"I have no choice," he answered in such an emotionless tone she was unable to tell whether he enjoyed afternoon tea with her or not.

Queen Serafia was a little shaken up if that was the right word to use after having such a vision. Her fingers held the floral porcelain cup gently as she was chatted to by many a people at the Tea Party. They were seated in the North dinning hall where the walls were a sparkling dark blue and black colour and the chandelier was made out of pure diamonds. It was a beautiful, dark room filled with the most peculiar looking of people. Men were dressed with large top hats, with feathers and all sorts of items upon them. The women had beautiful makeup one, one being covered entirely of black and white stripes. Queen Serafia wore the same dress she had been wearing earlier with a spiralling pattern around her left eye, something that made her eye look like it was falling. She had a few Diamonds and Hearts painted on her right cheek, she did want a Spade but of course such a thing would have looked wrong.

The Queen helped herself to a piece of rainbow cake, eating it with delicate, long black painted finger nails. As usual she wasn't paying attention to the words being spoken to her, instead she kept glancing at the empty seat to the left of her. She sat at the head of the table, Hatter to her right and the empty chair to her left. She sighed sorrowfully, blinking a few times. Finally, she brought herself to speak through her ruby coloured lips.

"Has anyone heard from Noir?" she asked in a loud tone, causing all at the table to look at her.

Hatter cleared his throat. "Majesty, it is better to address someone without speaking."

"Yes but I had no one to address," she said, looking at him. "I wanted to ask everyone at the table rather then just one."

"Oh, I know where he is!" the stripped woman peeped up, her voice high pitched. "I'm sure he was having a bit of a moment with Rouge!"

The women at the table laughed while the men sniggered. Hatter stayed emotionless as Queen Serafia looked at them with confused eyes. "Having a moment?" she repeated.

"Yes, yes, he was under the sheets with Rouge," laughed another woman. Queen Serafia's eyes suddenly showed ones of hurt, understanding what they were talking about. "He's slept with her many an occasion too, has he not?"

Hunching her shoulders, the Queen returned to her rainbow cake. She was the youngest at the table and despite being the Queen she was rarely spoken to. She found herself so immature at times it was strange. She liked talking to the Caterpillars and the Cheshire Cat and all the childish beings in the Courtyard but Hatter had begun to stop her, telling her it wasn't the right thing for a Queen to do. She hated being a Queen, all she wanted was to have fun once more.

Suddenly, the door to the dinning room was swung open and a dozen Cardsmen entered the room. Hatter immediately stood to his feet as the guests began to grow silent. Queen Serafia raised a brow as she looked at the cards, wondering what was going on. The number Seven Diamond card bowed at the Queen and looked to the Hatter.

"There has been a penetration through the Castle," he informed him. Queen Serafia's eyes widened suddenly as she shot up to her feet, dropping her cake to the floor. Hatter calmly nodded as she turned to him.

"I told you!" she yelled. "I told you this would happen but you didn't listen to me. We have to leave Hatter, we have to leave!"

"Queen Serafia I would advise you to calm yourself," he told her sternly, turning to the Cards. "How many are there?"

"We are unsure at the number Sir," he replied. "Things are fierce out there."

Hatter grabbed the wrist of the Queen hard in his hand, his skin cold against her warmth. "Where is the fighting suitated?"

"South Gate, Sir," he replied. "The Southern Courtyard is covered in Clubs and Spades. My advice is to take Queen Serafia in the safety of North."

Hatter nodded seriously, pulling Queen Serafia away from the table. "You all will stay and protect these guests. Make sure everyone in the Castle is safe and secure, the people are own main priority. Do not come to North Secuirty. Have men here just incase but if we alarm Albedo and let him look like we're guarding something then he will get suspicious and follow us here."

"Guard my bedroom," Queen Serafia suddenly said just as Hatter pulled her to the opposite door. He froze suddenly and stared at her. She blinked a few times. "What? If they guard my bedroom it will make King Albedo think that I am there along with you. He will tell all his men to go there. My bedrooms in the East, right and there aren't many other people on that floor."

Hatter stared at her for long moments. "Do as your Queen tells you and guard the bedroom. If anything happens contact me on the Crystal."

"Yes Sir," the Cardsmen nodded and bowed for what would be their final time.