Chapter Two
Returns and confusion
Edward was upset. He was staring out of the window, into the rain that was heavily poring down. He looked at the fallen leaves of the trees and listens to the pitter patter of rain as it taps against the large window like wall. This was all Edward did: he stared out the window, lost in his thoughts of a certain queen. Edward smiled as he remembered the feel of her as he held her close, the white dress she was wearing constricting him from properly hugging her. Her hair a curly white that matched her pale skin and her big brown eyes; her eyebrows and lips were a dark that contrasted deeply with her snow white appearance. The crown was sat upon her delicate head, her arms at her shoulders, her dress tight against her body and then flaring at her small hips. Edward shuddered and closed his eyes as he tried to think about something other than the obvious erection in his pants. He listened to everyone's thoughts and shook his head: they wouldn't be able to provide him with a distraction. Carlisle and Esme and Alice and Jasper making love as silently as they could, Emmett was currently stroking himself, his thoughts on Rosalie and her beautiful face. He stood up and walked to the bathroom and turns on his shower, stripping off all of his clothes and getting in under the running water. He takes his penis in his hand and strokes himself, biting his lip and thinking of his Bella before he comes with a groan of her name. He steps out and changes his clothes, his thoughts still plagued of the White Queen.
The next day the Cullens were sat in the lounge of their home. They had taken enough money out their bank to take Underland but when they had tried to find the rabbit hole that took them their in the first place but they couldn't find it. They were devastated. They wouldn't be able to get back to Rosalie or Bella and Edward and Emmet had been inconsolable with sadness. They were sat on the sofas and armchairs watching TV when Alice gasped and looked out the window: the family following and smiling when they saw a familiar white twitching rabbit. They run out and the rabbit jumped and hyperventilated as he looked among the six vampires before running through the forest. The family quickly grabbed the bags they had prepared in case this ever happened and followed the rabbit where they came to a familiar hole in the ground. They jumped in and screamed: a reflex as they fell through the dark hole. They landed and groaned at the pain as they suddenly remembered they were once again humans. They jumped up and followed the same routine as last time and walked out the door where they grew and walked down the steps, coming face to face with their friends.
Mallymkun was looking at them all with her paw on her hat pin. The March Hare was twitching and muttering about spoons. McTwisp, the Bandersnatch, the Tweedles and the blue Dodo bird was there. Alice squealed and launched herself at the Hatter who giggles. Alice smiles as she feels the familiar tingly sensation run down her spine and smiles up at the still grinning Hatter.
"Welcome all to Underland," Hatter says and waves his arms as everyone speaks with the inhabitants of Underland. Alice stares at the Hatter who was speaking rapidly with Mally who was stood in the palm of his hand. He looks up at Alice and smiles, setting the glaring dormouse on the floor as she storms away. "It's good to see you Alice. And you're the right proper size Alice, not too big or too small, but you are actually quite small at you're proper Alice size, but that's not a bad thing, in fact it's a very good thing and..." Alice giggles and puts her hand on his cheek.
"Hatter." His eyes focus and he smiles sheepishly before looking at the Bandersnatch. "We best be going if we want to make it to Marmoreal in time for tea." Edward was suddenly animated and was walking with the Tweedles, not noticing the Hatter's glare. Everyone follows them, suspicious of Hatter's yellow eyed glare before they come across the White Queen's castle. The inhabitants of Underland and Alice had seen this before but the rest of the Cullens were shocked at its beauty. It stood tall and proud, the walls a shiny, untouched white that glistened in the setting sun. They all walked through the large castle doors that were designed to welcome guests rather than defend the people inside. The Cullens were aware of everyone's stares and whispers as they walk past. They saw a few white haired people who were staring at them all greedily with smirks on their faces which unnerved the family. They walked through many corridors before they come across a group of people.
"Would you all excuse me please?" A woman steps out and the group surrounding her bows to their queen and leaves, casting glances at the newcomers who were bowing to the White Queen. "Rise please and follow me," She says in an airy voice and with her arms held high, she walks past them as they follow. Edward was staring at the white haired beauty in front of him unashamedly. He had missed her so much and now that he was back they could be together forever. They arrived at a large room that had many sofas and comfortable chairs, a table in the middle, filled with tea and cakes. The only person there was a blonde haired woman with pale skin and violet eyes; she was wearing white of course and was talking to a laughing Mally and a grinning Chessur. She looked up and everyone gasped when they saw Rosalie. She stands up and glares before bowing to the queen who laughs. "Please, everyone, sit down and take a cup of tea." She herself sits down next to Rosalie. Edward runs and sits next to her as Hatter pours everyone a cup of tea before sitting opposite his queen.
"Your majesty," The queen waves her hand as Carlisle addresses her.
"Please Carlisle; we are old friends are we not. You may call me by my given name: Mirana." Everyone nodded and settled into a slightly uncomfortable silence before Mirana clears her throat and sets down her cup of tea. "We will have guests arriving in the next fortnight," She says pleasantly with a smile on her darkened lips. "Apparently, since I am of an eligible age and have recently regained my crown then I am required to hold the rites of matrimony." She says and all the Underlanders were staring at their queen – as well as Rosalie – as the Cullens look on confused as the Queen chuckles softly. "Forgive me; I forget you were not raised in the Underlandian customs. The rites of matrimony are where anyone of eligible lineage may ask for my hand. Many princes and Lords have shown interest but only four will be travelling to Marmoreal."
"NO!" Edward was stood up, his tea on the floor and staining the previously spotless white carpet. Rosalie shrieks in outrage and stands up before the queen raises her hand in protest, staring at Edward. "You love me! We were supposed to get married and be happy!"
"Edward. Stop." Everyone shivered at the tone of authority in her otherwise sing-song voice. Mirana stands up to her full height, her crown shining in the light. "The rites of matrimony are an Underlandian custom that must be obeyed. I do not like it as much as you but I will follow through with it as it is expected of me." She takes a deep breath and a serene smile was on her beautiful face again as she turned to Rosalie. "Rosalie will you please show everyone to their rooms." Rosalie nods and stands up. "Thank you. Tarrant, you're workshop is filled with orders; many people of my court would like a hat for the upcoming ball. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience." Hatter shakes his head and stands up with his gap toothed smile as he bows to Mirana.
"It's not a problem, Mir... your majesty." He stands up and walks out the room as everyone follows, leaving Mirana stood there. She floated out of the room and out into the garden, walking through the perfectly kept vegetation; the trees were whispering and they all started singing when they saw Mirana. She smiled and sat on a bench until they finished their song. "You've been practicing," Mirana comments thoughtfully.
"Yes, your majesty," They whisper and Mirana giggles and claps her hands in appreciation: she had been teaching the trees how to sing since she was only six years old. Iracebeth had rather played croquet with hedgehog's she had found or practicing with a sword whilst Mirana would rather talk to the trees and roses. "The Hatter was here the other day," A breathless voice of one of the trees say to Mirana who sits up straight and waits for it to carry on. "He was talking about you. Oh, some of the things he said were so romantic," The tree says with a giggle as all the trees laugh with it at Mirana's disbelieving face. Her mind was running and it was very hard for her to catch up, it was very fast. She stands up and picks her skirts up in her hands.
"If you'll excuse me," She says and the trees giggle as she runs through the gardens before floating as members of the Guard look at her. She floats with amazing grace that even astounded her before running to Tarrant's workshop. She knocks on the door and waits for him to answer but no one did. She opened the door and her eyes close as she hears the sounds of Tarrant and the Cullens laughter. She shuts the door and floats back to her chambers, sitting on the bed as her maid ran her a bath. She was sat there in a daze before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looks up and into the aged face of her maid Chantal. She smiles a painfully fake smile and drifts to the bathroom. The pretty little queen facade was back.
"Tell me Alice, do you have any idea why a raven is like writing desk?" The Hatter was making a hat for Lady Elaine whilst the Cullens watched dumbfounded, even Rosalie who had seen the Hatter work before. He was as graceful in his movements as the White Queen as he cut fabric, sewed buttons and other things that made one of his original and beautiful hats.
"No. Why is a raven like a writing desk?" Alice was leaning forward eagerly, Jasper watching her with a slight frown. He and Alice had been drifting apart recently and he knew that she was more than fond of the mad Hatter in front of him. However, he also knew that Alice wouldn't stand a chance against the White Queen. He may not have his empathetic abilities any more but he was an empath for over a hundred years and he knew what actions were associated with which emotions. The subtle glances, staring when the other wasn't looking, touching for more time than was necessary. The Hatter was in love with the White Queen and she loved him back. Alice was oblivious as she chatted happily with the Hatter who was focused on his work. The door opened slightly and Jasper saw a flash of white fabric before the door closed and he knew that the person had been Mirana. He stood up and excused himself, earning a few funny looks from his family and the Hatter and being ignored by Alice. He walked out the door and heard someone follow him. Rosalie, his 'twin', was behind him, dressed from head to toe in white. She smiled slightly, her lips dark but not as dark as the Queen's.
"You've figured it out." It wasn't a question but he nodded anyway as she sighed. "Tarrant looks at Mirana like Carlisle looks at Esme and she looks at Tarrant like Esme looks at Carlisle. They're perfect for each other in a strange way but I suppose that makes sense as everything here is mad. Alice might like him but his heart belongs to Mirana." She says with a smile that was strange. Whenever she had spoken about Bella she had a glare on her face.
"But what about Edward? And the rites of matrimony?" Jasper asks, upset that she knew that he was losing Alice.
"Edward was a complication in Mirana's quest to find Alice. She thinks of him as a friend whilst he is love with her. But he's in love with Bella, not Mirana. They're two different people and Edward needs to realise that they'll never be together. She's the Queen of Underland and she needs a person who knows Underland as her king. The rites of Matrimony are required for any queen who is unmarried and at a young age: Mirana fits both categories. Anyone of high blood lineage can ask for her hand: royalty or lords in other words. She can, however, choose anyone to marry. Only princes and lords can ask her to marry."
"So she could ask the Hatter?" Jasper asks and she nods before leading him away from the Hatter's workshop. "Where are we going?" Jasper enquires as Rosalie pulls him behind her.
"We need to find Mirana. We don't want her to go numb." At Jasper's questioning look she stops and puts both hands on his arms. "After she had been banished to Marmoreal she had given Tarrant and everyone jobs to do to help the Resistance. Tarrant wanted to stay but Mirana made herself go numb, emotionless in a way. She was nothing but the queen everyone expected of her. I wasn't here but apparently it was bad. Fake smiles, no emotions. It was like she wasn't there," She explains before jogging to the White Queen's rooms, Jasper behind her as they rushed to find Mirana, to explain that Tarrant loved her and that she just needed to speak with him. They came to a set of door with the initials 'WQM' which Jasper guessed stood for 'White Queen Mirana'. Rosalie knocked and the door opened and the White Queen stood there looking the most... normal Jasper had ever seen her. She was wearing a white sundress that came to her knees, her white hair pulled back in a bun and not wearing her crown. Her lips were pink and she looked at Rosalie and Jasper with shock before letting them come in.
"This better be important Rosalie." She says and Jasper flinches from the emotionless tone of voice she spoke in as she sat on the massive white bed. The room was massive; white of course with large windows and deep purple accents around the room.
"Your majesty, we just wanted to explain that what you with Alice and Tarrant..." Rosalie didn't finish as the White Queen stood up, her dark eyes blazing as the two blondes froze at the regal and powerful atmosphere that surrounded the fair haired Queen. She wasn't their friend Mirana anymore: she was the White Queen of Underland.
"You do not need to explain anything about the lives of one of my employees and their friend to me. Now, if that is all you have to say then you can leave." Jasper bows and walks to the door as Rosalie stands there in her stubbornness. "Rosalie, you may be a part of my court and one of my ladies-in-waiting but I am your queen and you will leave." Mirana says as she sits at her vanity, looking at her reflection, rather than at the two wide eyes people behind her. They bow and walk out the door and aimlessly around the castle before Rosalie stopped and looked at Jasper with sad eyes.
"We've lost her."
The rites of matrimony are inspired by Manniness and her story One Promise Kept. Read it, it's seriously the best Alice/Tarrant story you will ever read!