I don't own Alice in Wonderland or any of its characters. Based on the 2010 Tim Burton film.

Written for the Alice and Tarrant Advent Calander.

From Absolutely Alice, To Used-Up Alice

Chapter 1

Mirana couldn't persuade her Champion to talk about whatever it was that was making her so miserable. And she had no more Jabberwocky Blood for her, either. It had all soaked into the stones and was gone. Besides, Mirana suspected that Alice was reacting out of hurt and humiliation, and had not had a chance to think things through properly.

She called for a bath and for a maid to assist Alice in bathing and changing. As the maid began to help Alice, Mirana took her friend's hand.

"Alice, dear, will you be at the Ball tonight? It is in your honour, after all!"

"Yes," Alice replied glumly. "I'll be there. I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"Oh, of course you do! You are exhausted and..."

Alice read Mirana's expression; which was torn between concern and hope for a successful Frabjois Day Ball. "It's all right, Queen Mirana. I'll be there. However, please do not expect me to be friendly with your Royal Hatter."

Alice was surprisingly energetic when it came time for the Ball. She wasn't overjoyed to be attending, but she knew that it would only be proper for her to do so. At least she wasn't overly tired. However, she reasoned, slaying a beast as fearsome as the Jabberwocky would indeed raise someone's level of adrenaline, not to mention a renewed appreciation of life.

Tarrant earlier had a gorgeous blue gown and slippers of her favourite colour delivered to her room, but she had refused the delivery and selected a gown from another milliner. She wanted nothing to do with Tarrant. Not now; perhaps not ever.

She smoothed the satin of the pink gown she had selected and frowned at her reflection. Yes, the gown was lovely, but she knew that the one Tarrant had made for her would have been much lovelier; but she couldn't have brought herself to wear it no matter how beautiful it was. Caressing her skin all night, it would only remind her every single moment how horribly foolish and humiliated she felt. And now she was also angry.

But no, she refused to dwell on her anger. That was another issue entirely, and she didn't want to think on it it now. If she did she would not even attend the Ball, much less be able to socialize with any amount of civility.

Alice ran the silver hairbrush over her long, slightly unruly locks once more and then gave up. She wasn't going to look any better than she already did.

"Very well, time to go to the Ball," she sighed.

Alice arrived at the Ball and Mirana immediately greeted her. "I won't overwhelm you with announcing you just yet," Mirana told the nervous young woman, "so I'll wait until a few more guests arrive. I do believe that Tarrant has been searching for you."

"I don't want to see him," Alice said pointedly. "Please don't ask me why!" she pleaded, when she saw Mirana's lovely face sadden. "I just can't talk about it; not yet. Is is appropriate for him to approach me against my will?"

"Not unless he is on your dance card," Mirana replied. "McTwisp is in charge of those. You do not need to see or speak to Mr. Hightopp, but if he has claimed you for any dances, then it would be most improper for you to refuse."

"Well, then I'll get my dance card and keep him off of it!" Alice said with determination. "Please excuse me, Your Majesty."

Alice rushed to the nervous White Rabbit in his favourite blue waistcoat.

He was just about to greet her when Alice interrupted him. "Please, McTwisp, may I have my dance card? I can't believe the Queen even uses those dreadful things!"

"Oh, always!" McTwisp replied, sounded slightly wounded. "How proper would a Ball be without them, Champion Alice?"

"Perhaps not conventionally proper," Alice conceded, "but infinitely more pleasurable for a woman!"

McTwisp had no response for that, so he handed her the silver-edged card.

Alice glanced at it and groaned. "How...how dare he?" she spluttered.

McTwisp frowned. "Lady Alice?"

"You allowed Tarrant Hightopp to take all of the waltzes?"

"He is permitted to claim three dances," McTwisp explained, his eyes nervously squinting and his hands fumbling with his watch when he saw how obviously distressed she was. "I am not permitted to refuse any guest of the Queen his allotment of dances!"

Alice sighed. "I suppose not. Forgive me, McTwisp."

Alice saw Tarrant look towards her and she pointedly looked away. He would have to look dashing tonight rather than what passed for his 'normal'! He wore a dark blue suit and trousers with a light blue vest and a crisp white shirt. His ascot was light blue and tied flawlessly, and instead of his usual top hat he wore a deep blue one with a light blue band that was the same blue as his vest. It was her blue, he called it; and it was indeed her favourite colour.

He had done that on purpose; worn her favourite colour! If she had dressed in the ensemble he had sent her they would have appeared to be a couple.

But why? Why ever would he want that? Despite how he had pulled back from her kiss and disengaged her arms from him, she could not believe that he would want to embarrass her publicly. So, what was he about?

Well, she decided, it didn't matter. She would enjoy herself despite him; and if there was any way she could escape dancing with him she would.

Then she noticed a flash of white from the corner of her left eye. She turned and saw a young man gazing at her with wide-eyed appreciation. He was dressed entirely in white and Alice was certain she had never seen him before. Was this perhaps his first time at one of the Queen's Balls?

The young man had dark brown hair that was thick and wavy and barely brushed his shoulders. His eyes were a deep brown, and they had a look of innocence and kindness in them. His entire frame was slender, though not as slender as Tarrant's, and he was not as tall as Tarrant, either. He was actually quite handsome and Alice was relieved to see that his nose did not have the slight hook that adorned the face of many of aristocratic birth. He did not appear to be in the least arrogant, though Alice knew better than to judge someone by a first impression.

When she realised that she was staring, she quickly blushed and turned away. Yes, she was rather bold for a young woman of her upbringing, but not so bold as to wish to appear blatantly improper!

Apparently Queen Mirana had just welcomed a few more arrivals and saw that Alice and the young man were gazing at each other. She hurried over to man and spoke to him in a low tone. The man nodded eagerly and Queen Mirana lead him to the still blushing Alice.

"Alice, this is Lord Bertram Bowen. This is his first Ball, and so he, as you, will know few people here. Lord Bowen, this is Lady Alice Kingsleigh, my Champion and the Saviour of Underland."

"Oh..." Bertram looked surprised and embarrassed, but he remembered to bow deeply. "I...I had no idea that you were the Champion, my Lady! You must think me impudent to stare at you so!" He blushed and clasped his hands nervously.

Alice smiled. "Not at all, Lord Bertram. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

He smiled, but could not quite meet her eyes. "As I am to make yours, my Lady."

Mirana patted Alice's arm. "I must be away! More guests are arriving and I wish to greet them. The feast will soon begin and then the music will start. Oh, we shall have a most splendid time!" The Queen hurried off, somehow managing to do so with grace and elegance. Everything she did was graceful and elegant in one way or another.

"You are our Saviour, then?" Lord Bertram asked, his soft low voice filled with awe. "I...I had no idea. You seem so young and...I..." He blushed more hotly. "Forgive me, Lady Alice, I seem to have lost my tongue!"

Alice smiled, pleased and flattered. She was already liking this handsome young man. "It is all right, Lord Bertram. I am just shy of twenty, and I only did what needed to be done. I couldn't have done anything at all without the help of my..." She hesitated for a few moments. Her thinking had been changing regarding the term 'friends,' but she could not think of a better term, or one that would not sound offensive. "I had friends helping me every step of the way," she concluded.

"Ah," he replied, "yet the largest amount of the burden was placed squarely upon your shoulders," he said. "I cannot imagine what it must have been like to battle such a fearsome creature, nor to even look the former Red Queen in the face."

Alice laughed. "It has indeed been a strange and wondrous experience, Lord Bertram! I would emphasize the word "strange," however. Never in any of my queerest imaginings would I have conceived of such a creature or Queen. I must say, however, that I am simply relieved that the entire ordeal is over and that I may rest. Well, after the Ball, that is."

"Oh, you must be very tired, my Lady," Lord Bertram said, sympathy flashing in his eyes. "You appear to be vigourous, but you must, in truth, be exhausted, and not only in body, but in mind."

"I am, indeed," Alice replied, then suddenly saw her companion's gaze turn upwards. She turned and looked up into the face of Tarrant Hightopp.

Alice said nothing, but simply gazed into his face, which was obviously forced into blandness. His eyes, however, spoke more than his visage. The large emerald green orbs she had become so accustomed to were now a lime green flecked with pale yellow. She did not know what that meant, but she assumed they did not reflect one of his better moods.

"Lady Alice," he gently lisped at last, "I cannot tell you how pleased I am to see you here. I had hoped you would attend."

Alice shrugged. "Of course I would attend; I am the Guest of Honour. It would not be fitting for me to remain in my chambers."

"Of course not, my dear," he replied, not even acknowledging the presence of the young man with them. "But still, I am so pleased to see you. I have taken the liberty of claiming two seats for us at the banquet table, and Queen Mirana has approved the placing."

Alice felt her mouth tighten in irritation. How dare he?

"I was intending to ask Lord Bertram," she replied pointedly, "to sit with me if he has not been otherwise engaged."

Lord Bertram's face broke out into a wide and delighted smile. "I would be honoured, Lady Alice! And I have no prior engagements. You see...I am alone in my family. My parents...perished some years ago at Crims and I have no other family. I am a Ward of the Court, and therefore, under Queen Mirana's guardianship."

"A Ward, you say?" Tarrant asked, acknowledging the young man at last. "Well, you are fortunate, indeed. You have had all the luxuries the White Court can provide, even during the Red Reign. Some of us have not been so fortunate in our circumstances, despite the loss of family. Or entire Clan."

"Oh, I am dreadfully sorry," Lord Bertram replied, extending his hand in sympathy. "You are Lord Tarrant Hightopp, are you not? I have heard of your...loss." He truly looked sorry, his eyes even misting with tears. He himself had just admitted to having no surviving family.

Tarrant hesitated, then shook the young man's hand. "Thank you," he replied, his voice sounding slightly tight. "I extend my condolences to you, as well."

The two men bowed to each other.

"But I fear that the seat on Lady Alice's other side is already taken by our dear friend, Mallymkin, soldier to the Queen. I believe your placing is quite further down."

Alice felt her stomach clench in annoyance but she held her temper in check. She could endure this Ball; she would have to. But she did not have to allow Tarrant to dictate her every activity.

"Lord Bertram, I would be pleased to be able to become better acquainted with you. May we speak later?"

The young Ward's eyes lit up with delight. "It would be my greatest pleasure, Lady Alice!"

Tarrant's eyes became more yellow, but Alice did not care. Who was he to choose her friends for her?