Hatter opened the door to the carriage and stepped out. He held his hand out to me and helped me out as well. I was so surprised to see where I was standing. My mouth must have literally dropped at the sight before me!
"Why are we here?" I asked.
"Well I did say that we were going to visit where I live."
"Are you seriously trying to tell me that you live here?" I was so shocked that he actually brought me here.
"Well yes I am trying to tell you that because it is true" he said trying to convince me.
"But this is the palace! Why? When? How?" I couldn't help but talk in such a confused and curious way. In a way I didn't want to know why because it could be something bad.
He led me up the steps and we started walking through the palace.
"Well I will start with the when. It was just after you left and Mirana was very grateful with everything that I had done to help her and you, that she actually asked me to move into some chambers at the palace. Plus it would be easier for work."
"That was very nice of her" I said and to be honest with you, it was the only thing I could say to that.
We arrived at Tarrant's chambers and when we entered I was pleasantly surprised.
It was a big white room with long burgundy red draped curtains and red patterned carpet. On the sofa there were some delightful scatter cushions, which no doubtingly was made by Hatter's fine haberdashery hands. I wish he would take his gloves off so I could see his hands for once because hands can tell you so much about a person. He signalled me to sit down on the sofa.
"Do you want some tea?" he asked.
"Why yes Hatter. Thank you" I said. Oh how missed the tea that Hatter makes because it is the best tea I have ever had; it always seemed so lovingly made.
Hatter came back over with the tea and just as he sat down there was a gentle knock at the door.
"Come in!" Hatter said rather cheerfully. The door opened and I strangely couldn't believe who was standing in front of me, even though they would obviously be there.
"Hello Tarrant" said Mirana.
"Hello Mirana" said Tarrant.
"Oh and hello and welcome back our champion! Alice it is so good to see you!" Mirana said as she came over to hug me.
"Hello your Majesty" I said and curtsied.
"Please call me Mirana and you do not have to curtsy to me" she said with a little giggle.
"I missed you." we both strangely said at the same time.
We all sat down and had some tea together.
"I can't thank you enough for saving the whole of Underland and everyone in it. We are forever grateful." Mirana was smiling the biggest smile I have ever seen her do.
"Well you are very welcome. I couldn't just watch Underland get destroyed; it means so much to me. I have so many great memories of this place." I had to hold back the tears here "I love Underland and everyone in it. Granted I do love some people more than others but-"
"Alice!" Hatter said. "I'm fine. Thank you Tarrant" I couldn't actually believe he had just stopped me from babbling on. My how the tables had turned.
"How long are you back for?" Mirana asked.
"I'm not sure. Hopefully forever!" The room went silent at that. Then I realized that Hatter's eyes had changed to the loveliest of shade of green with a slight tint of yellow.
"That's delightful!" Mirana finally said "Do you know where you are going to stay?"
"Actually I don't. I was wondering if there was a hotel or an inn nearby?"
"You don't have to go to an inn or a hotel; you can stay here at the palace!" Mirana said with yet another very big smile.
"Oh I couldn't do that, I don't want to be a burden."
"Nonsense! It would be an honour to have our champion Miss Alice Kingsleigh staying at the palace."
"If you are sure...then yes, I would love to stay here."
"Right I will go and get the staff to sort out your chambers and I shall see you later. Goodbye Alice. Goodbye Tarrant!"
"Goodbye Mirana" Hatter and I said at the same time and with that Mirana left the room.
"I'm so happy you are staying Alice!"
"You know what Hatter. So am I!"
"So shall I show you around the rest of my chambers?"
"Sure" I said and we went to a room which turned out to be his bedroom.
It was similar to the living room but with a really big four-poster bed instead of a sofa. The room was just as big as the living area.
"So what do you think?" he asked me as I moved around the room.
"It's really nice. I love your chambers."
"Thank you" and after a short pause (where Hatter had obviously been thinking!) I heard "If I am right, I shouldn't have brought you in here. You being a single lady and all."
"Oh don't worry Tarrant...I don't live in London any more. Underland is my home and I shall abide by the Underlandian society rules." He really was being a proper gentleman today!
"That's good I thought you would be worried because it is a big no no in English society I understand."
"I'm not worried Hatter because firstly I am no longer in London and secondly, I know that nothing will happen" after that we just started laughing and ended up sitting on the bed next to each other.
The next thing we know Mirana is in the room and we were trying to hold back the laughter.
"I'm terribly sorry if I have interrupted anything here but your chambers are ready."
"You haven't interrupted anything Mirana. We were just...catching up." at that point I sort of wished I could take back what I had just said because it certainly did not sound right.
"If you follow me..." and with that Mirana started walking out of the room. Me and Tarrant looked at each other and started to giggle; we were bright red!
"You can join us if you would like?"
"Okay" Hatter said as we got up off the bed and followed Mirana down the hallway.