The Kidnap

I woke up in the morning feeling refreshed. I found a lovely blue dress laid out on a chair. There was a note on top. "Miss Alice. I apologise for last night, I don't know what came over me. Please accept this gift. T"

I smiled because without realising it Tarrant had jogged my memory. I pulled on the dress. It felt lovely and light. I walked down the stairs and found Tarrant asleep on a rather squashy looking chair.

I lightly shook his shoulder. "Tarrant," he didn't respond. "Hatter," I said a little bit louder. His eyes opened slowly.

"Oh Miss Alice, your awake." I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Sorry, Alice, It's just I've always known you as Miss Alice."

"Tarrant, I remember." He frowned. "Last night after you kissed me I remembered everything."

He looked at me like I'd told him all hat material was free for the next five years. "Oh Alice, that's amazing!" Before I knew what was happening Tarrant had picked me up in a rib crushing hug and swung me round. Once he put me down he ran into the little kitchen and started rushing round like his bottom was on fire.

"Well know we need some tea to celebrate. What tea, what tea should we have? Apple, peach, strawberry, mint, camomile, lemon, lemon and lime, green, white, Earl Gray, Lady Gray…."

I walked into the kitchen and placed my hand gently on his arm. "Hatter."

"Or…oh, thank you." He stopped flapping about the room and looked at me. "What tea would you like Alice? You decide as it is your special occasion."

I thought about it. "I think I would like some jasmine tea if you have some." The hatter grinned and got to work. After we had our tea we decided to go and see the white queen.

"I'm sure she'll be over the moon to see you lassie," said Tarrant in a slight Scottish lilt that wasn't threatening.

We set off about midday so we wouldn't arrive too late at Marmoreal. Soon we got deep into the woods and it became very dark.

"It's ok Alice; I'm here to protect ye." I heard Tarrant say in his thick Scottish brogue.

"How did you know I was scared?" Tarrant didn't need to answer as without realising I'd taken hold of his hand.

"Thank you Hatter." But as I said it I realised I wasn't holding his hand any more. "Hatter? Hatter where are you? TARRANT!" I started to run. I didn't know where I was going but I needed to get out of the woods. Tarrant had disappeared without a word and I was scared. Once I got out of the woods I saw Marmoreal not that far away. I ran all the way to the gate.

"Bayard are you there?" I called out while trying to catch my breath. Bayard came bounding up to the gate.

"Hello Bayard. There's no time to explain. Something terrible has happened to Hatter. I need to see the Queen. Hurry. Please." Bayard nodded and ran back into the palace.

Minutes later the White Queen came hurrying out to the gate.

"Hello Alice. Come in and tell me everything. It is of the up most importance we find Tarrant. You can tell me all about your adventures later."

I nodded as the Queen led me into the palace and to a small room with two comfortable looking chairs. Once we'd sat down I told her everything that had happened from my arrival the day before until I arrived at Marmoreal. She stayed silent until I'd finished.

"Well, this certainly is very interesting. Tarrant wouldn't just disappear. Did he say anything unusual before he went?"

"No your majesty, that's just it he was perfectly normal, well as normal as a mad hatter can be."

"Please call me Mirana, now do you think you could find the place where Tarrant disappeared?"

I nodded and with that we stood up and walked out towards the woods outside Marmoreal. When we got to the place where I was sure was the last place I'd seen Tarrant I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. Mirana put her arm around my shoulder to comfort me. Suddenly we saw the Red Queen in all her bulbous headness.

"Well what do we have here? My wittle sister Miwana and Awice, Champion of Underwand. I suppose you are here for the mad man who makes those darwing hats. Well he's not here. I have captured him until you agwee to let me have my thwone back and when you I will keep him as my own wittle hat swave." The Red Queen giggled nastily.

"Why you little…" I spat tears burning down my cheeks but Mirana squeezed my shoulders to stop me going any further.

"Oh is our Champion getting angwy? Now now, control your temper." And with another little giggle she disappeared.

I collapsed onto my knees and started sobbing uncontrollably. I felt Mirana kneel down in front of me. She put her hands on my cheeks and raised my face so it was level with hers.

"Oh Mirana, what are we going to do?"

"Alice. We're going to save Tarrant, don't worry. Come with me. We can't do anything today as it is getting too late. We'll go back to the palace and get some rest and we'll figure out what to do in the morning."

All I could do was nod and I let Mirana lead me back to the palace. Once we were there she asked a page to show me to my room then floated gracefully away somewhere. When we got to my room I realised it was the same room I'd stayed in last time. I thanked the page then closed the door. I didn't feel like sleeping so I walked out onto the balcony. I leaned on the stone railing and looked out across Underland.

"Hello Alice."

I looked down and saw beside my elbow was Absolem.

"Hello Absolem. Nice to see you again. I want to say I missed you but you probably already know I forgot my memory."

"I do know Alice, because I made it happen." I looked at him, confused. "I did it because the only way you would come back to Underland was by mistake. If you forgot about us then you'd be able to find the rabbit hole again."

In an odd way, I understood. I smiled faintly. I loved being back in Underland and knew it was where I belonged but I also knew my life wouldn't be complete until we found Hatter.

"He's fond of you Alice. Stay strong for him. I'll tell him you're ok." With that Absolem flew away. Suddenly I realised that Absolem knew where Hatter was.

"Absolem wait, come back. You know where Hatter is. Please tell me where to find him and how I can save him. Please." All I heard was the wind blowing through the trees. Hopefully Tarrant could hear it too. I walked back in to the room and picked up the pyjamas that had been left on my pillow. They were sky blue and made of silk. I got changed and climbed into bed. As I fell asleep I saw Tarran't green eyes glowing in the darkness.