Chapter 2

Knocking on the door causes the cheerful voices to stop. Footsteps echo on a wooden floor; then the door slowly opens. A much taller man answers, he looks around then finally down at her. His hair is a wild orange in color; his eyes shine a bright yellow; as for his clothing it's vivid in color. He smiles softly at her and says "come in, come in your just in time for tea."

Grabbing her hand he gently pulls her inside the brightly lit room. She stumbles a bit trying to keep up with the tall man. He leads her to the table and sets her in a chair on his right. Pouring her a cup of hot tea he sits down. Although this table is much smaller then the one outside, it is still loaded with various tea settings.

Looking around the room Rin is surprised to see a March Hare, and a Dormouse sitting at teh table sipping tea. "To be honest with ye lass; you remind me a wee bit of The Alice."

Without raising her head, she replys; "my mothers name is Alice, but I'm afraid I have no clue of who you are."

Well then you are Alice's daughter. A sad look crosses his face but it instantly vanishes. Sticking out his hand and taking her very small one in his he shakes it gently. "I'm Tarrent Hightop, this is Thackery Earwicket, and in the teapot is Mallymkun; tis a pleasure to meet ya."

"My name is Rin," she replied.

He smiles warmly: "drink up, drink up mustn't let your tea grow cold."

Rin sips her tea politely and keeps her head down slightly.

"Tell me Rin," Tarrent leans closer to her to half whisper in her ear. "Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

"I have not a clue," she answered.

A knowing smile crosses his lips. Crossing his hands into his lap he leans back in his chair. Just then a stripped Cheshire cat appears out of thin air. "Hatter how holds the delicate hat upon your hand."

"Leave it Chess."

"I mean it no harm, just wanting to wish it all the best. However we have more pressing issues at hand. The Red Queen knows an outsider has come to Underland her knave; Ilosovic Stayne rushes to find the intruder."

"Really that is all very interesting Chess but won't you stay for some tea before we make hast to see the White Queen."

"How can we travel to see the..." turning around Chess spots Rin. "She's been here this entire time Tarrent and you didn't bother to tell me to turn?"

"Aye"

"You didn't even tell me."

"Aye, twas more fun watching ya fret over it. Not to add your mouth tends to not stay shut for long."

Feeling upset Chess disappears leaving only his voice behind. "Hurry to Mirana of Marmoreal before Stayne finds her here among you."

"There is plenty of time when time is on your side," Tarrent added.

He downs the rest of his tea and then offers Rin a small vial. "Drink up me lass twill be faster if you ride upon my hat, but at the moment you be a bit too large for it."

Taking the vial from his hand she downs it in one gulp. Quick as a wink she shrinks to the size of Mally. Tarrent goes to lift her up but her clothing no longer fits her. Covering her naked body with the folds of cloth, Tarrent raises his eyebrows. Quickly he makes a small dress from a corner of her old dress and passes it to her. "This should fit ya."

Covering his eyes as she dresses he waits quietly. Finally she taps his hand and he uncovers his eyes. All he can seem to do is stare at her with a silly grin on his face for a moment. Slowly he lifts her up and places her on his hat. Just then Mally gets out of the teapot. "Tarrent take me with ya too, I love traveling by hat."

"Very well Mally but only this one time, we need to hurry to Marmoreal."

Mally grins and runs up Tarrents arm over his shoulder and jumps onto his hat. She sits down just as Tarrent takes off walking. His strides are long and urgent and he quickly heads out the back door just as a knock comes from the front. He'll only be a little ahead of Stayne but even a small lead could get them close to where they need to go.

Back in the house the front door crashes to teh ground. "When I knock hatter..." he begins looking around he finds the house to be empty. Search the house they could not have gone far. Knights enter and rummage through the whole house not finding anyone Stayne realizes that they must have gone out the back. "After them you fools they can not escape!"

Tarrent increases his pace and begins running as he hears horses coming towards him. Rin barely manages to hold on when he was walking. As he starts to run she grabs hold of his hat firmly but can not hang on for long. She slides down his ribbon and falls onto the ground. The air is knocked from her and when she does look up Tarrent is no longer around. Letting out a small sigh she wearily gets to her feet and begins walking in the direction he was last heading in.

Back on Tarrents hat, Mally turns her head to check on Rin. A small gasp escapes her lips when she realizes Rin is gone. Pulling herself towards the brim of the hat she yells at Tarrent. "Hatter we lost her, she fell off the hat. I have no clue where she could be at."

Tarrent stops in his tracks and turns around quickly scanning the ground as he walks back the way he came. He can not believe his luck he lost the girl. He hopes he can find her before the Knave of hearts does. Mally climbs off of hatter to help search for Rin.

Taking a deep breath and keeping her eyes ahead of her Rin does not notice a gloved black leather clad hand scoop her up. A small shriek escapes her lips as she is swung round to stare straight into the face of a man with a black heart eye patch over his left eye. "Looks like I was able to find Alice after all." Rin faints in his hand and Stayne lets out a laugh. Tucking her into his armor he takes off on his horse towards the Red Queens castle.

Just as hatter spots Stayne he catches a glimpse of what is held into his hand. Groaning Hatter runs after him but the horse is much faster leaving him behind. Still running after him, Tarrent doesn't stop he knows he needs to get Rin back as soon as he is capable.