She daresay the hole was even messier than before, as she flew past the random objects McTwisp had collected over the years. When she hit the floor of the Hall of Doors, she knew what to do.
But this time, the small door didn't open. In fact, the key only fit in the double doors next to it. Alice was frightened.
What if it didn't lead me to Underland? She thought. But she opened the doors anyway, figuring anywhere would be better than there. She gasped at where she was. She was standing in the gardens of Mamoreal, with the pink topped trees that sighed happily at her presence. This time, she slipped the key into her pocket, just in case she ever needed to get back here from London. She also hurried back into the Hall of Doors to collect the photograph album she had fallen with. She had brought it with her to the park, just in case.
She always did.
It was brillig. Always the worst time of day, Mirana thought. It was when she would visit Tarrant. That was not to say she didn't like visiting him. She just hated what had become of her beloved Hatter.
Every brillig, she would sit with him for tea, and Tarrant would call her Alice, and was always sweet with her, until he realized that she wasn't Alice. That usually happened about ten minutes after. He would sob, and then the madness would take him. That was always the worst part.
He would throw the table and break the tea sets, crush the scones and throw the clotted cream. He would scream at her to get out. The reason he realized she wasn't Alice though, was the most heartbreaking thing of all.
She would correctly answer his riddles as she walked in on time.
But this day, she happened to plan to be a bit late, perhaps to keep Tarrant in his fantasy a bit longer. He was always happy when she was Alice. On this day, she flitted through her gardens on her way to the Hat-Workshop. And Mirana saw the strangest thing.
She saw Alice.
Alice was clutching her album to her chest, as her eyes lay upon the White Queen, racing towards her in an almost ungraceful manner. Almost.
"Alice!" she breathlessly cried, "you've returned to us! And you're all ready to be presented, and- and - and you're wearing PROPER clothing!"
Ah, Alice mused, she noticed the stockings and corset.
"Your Majesty, it's been too long." Alice smiled, ignoring the comment on her attire.
"No time for formalities, you've got to come with me. I'll catch you up on the way."
Mirana grabbed Alice's arm and tugged her along.
As they neared the actual castle, the White Queen slowed her pace a bit.
"What is the matter?" Alice side glanced Mirana.
"Tarrant- er- the Hatter. He's not seen you in a decade, Alice. You broke your promise. And him. That's why you don't break promises to people in Underland, Alice, it breaks whoever you break the promise to. You need to be with him. Fix him. Any small thing, really. He really needs you."
As the two reached the Hat-Workshop door, Mirana pulled Alice close and whispered: "Don't cry if he yells. That just makes it worse."