Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed, fave'd and alerted this story! It makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside.
Chapter 2
It Only Causes Pain
"Our Champion has returned," Mirana declared triumphantly as the royal court watched Alice, Tarrant, Mally, Chessur and McTwisp approach the castle. There was a round of cheers that made Alice feel flattered and embarrassed both. It was a little strange hearing herself called the Champion again. "I declare a celebration to be held at Brillig. But first," Mirana flittered down the stairs like her feet had barely touched the ground. "I wish to speak to Alice," she smiled and turned, politely indicating she wished for her to follow.
Alice looked at Tarrant for a few seconds before following after the White Queen. She wondered what the queen might want to speak about and once they were alone in a part of the gardens, Alice realized she had a lot she wished to speak to someone about too. "It's wonderful to be back," Alice opted for a nice, polite greeting as opposed to bombarding the queen all at once.
"We've all missed you, my dear," Mirana smiled warmly. "How was your journey to Marmoreal?"
Only two moments stood out in Alice's mind from the day before, prompting her to answer favorably. "Wonderful," she said contently.
"I noticed Tarrant came with you. Did you stop first at Thackery's home?" Alice wondered how she should answer this particular question. She wanted more than anything to confide in the queen, but she wasn't sure if she should. "Thackery would have loved to have seen you sooner, I'm certain, but he has been in the kitchens since yesterday afternoon." Mirana raised one of her eyebrows in curiosity, realizing something was not being said. After all, Thackery had come to Marmoreal all on his own saying he had nothing to do and that alone was suspicious.
"Tarrant came to meet me actually. Near the door that leads to Underland," Alice could tell there would be no escaping some kind of confession.
"How wondrous!" Mirana exclaimed as her eyes widened and her dark lips parted in a wide smile. "How did he ever know I wonder," she shook her head as she said it, not really expecting an answer. "Well, I suppose he would know better than the Oraculum whenever you've returned," Mirana guessed.
"The Oraculum?" Alice had wondered what McTwisp had meant about her needing to come back and she had felt the urge herself quite strongly before deciding to return, but she hadn't expected anything to be said in the Oraculum about it.
"It's why I wanted to speak with you," Mirana's voice changed from happiness to a slightly more worried tone. She looked around to be sure no one had followed. She even, spun a few times, gracefully feeling the air around them as she did, to make certain Chessur was not eavesdropping. Finally, she looked at Alice again. "The Oraculum did foretell your returning to us again, although we have kept it a secret should it have taken the notion to change." By this she meant they had not had the nerve to tell Tarrant should something have happened.
"Can it change?" Alice remembered when Tarrant, followed by the others, had stepped forth to be Champion when she had not. However, it had not changed the Oraculum from showing someone besides herself.
"It is rare, but it has been known to happen. Often, however, attempting to change it leads to fulfilling it," Mirana tried to explain the strange way the scroll worked. "But you see, some parts of the Oraculum are hidden from our eyes until it is time to see them. We were allowed to see the Frabjous Day, but it wasn't until after you were gone that your departure appeared in the Oraculum." Mirana paused so Alice could process what she had said. "Therefore, we weren't sure if there was something else about your return we have not yet seen."
"Oh. Does it say why I'm here though?" Alice asked. She wanted to know what was expected of her. Why had the queen brought up the subject?
"I'm afraid not," Mirana frowned a little, causing Alice even more confusion. "More reason for why we chose to keep it a secret." Mirana hoped Alice wouldn't think less of her as a ruler for having kept something from her subjects. However, there wasn't time to dwell on it. There was something much more urgent which needed discussing. "It is what comes after your arrival that has me concerned. The Oraculum seems to predict something about Tarrant."
Alice felt her stomach sink. She could tell by Mirana's demeanor that whatever it was, it was not good. She suddenly forgot herself and demanded, "Tell me what it says! I have to know!"
Mirana responded a very undignified sigh. She couldn't be angry at Alice for her outburst. "What we have seen cannot be certain," she started, hesitating slightly. She then pulled out the scroll from where it had been discreetly hidden within the folds of her dress before. Very gently, she rolled it open upon a nearby bench.
Alice slowly took a few steps closer before dropping to her knees for a closer look. Her eyes immediately found the first image of Tarrant. He appeared to be ripping a hat and Alice could only guess it was a depiction of a fit of rage. The next image was curiouser as he appeared to be drinking something. Following that was what seemed like a perfectly normal image of Tarrant at a tea party, yet for some reason that Alice couldn't place, it appeared odd and made her shiver.
Mirana closed her eyes in anticipation as Alice's eyes narrowed on the last image. Tarrant was lying still with eyes closed and his hat within his hands on his chest. Panic washed over Alice as she moved away from the Oraculum as quickly as possible, standing to her feet as she did. "Why isn't he moving?" She asked fearfully. All of the other images moved, but this one didn't. "Is he…" Alice couldn't bring herself to say it as Mirana hurried to roll the scroll back up.
"I don't know," the White Queen stated coldly as she turned to look at the horrified Champion. "Alice, please remember there is no telling…" Mirana let her sentence trail as she placed the backside of her hand to Alice's cheek. Then, losing all of her royal dignity for a moment, Mirana wrapped her arms around Alice in a comforting hug.
"I can't lose him," Alice no longer cared what the queen would think about what she said regarding Tarrant. "Not after seeing him again. I didn't realize how much I cared for him until we…" she didn't finish, but Mirana didn't need her to in order to guess what had transpired between the two.
Mirana's heart ached deeply, a feeling she hated and had not experienced since she had first been banished by her sister. She regretted having chosen to trouble Alice so soon after her arrival and especially so soon after realizing her feelings for Tarrant. "Now is not the time to dwell on such things."
"But I…" Alice started to protest. How could she be expected to celebrate and be merry? How could she not dwell on the possibility that she could lose Tarrant? Especially now that she had been so certain she might have him.
Mirana gently shushed her before whispering strange yet soothing words of some Underlandian sort into Alice's ears. Before Alice could ask what they meant, she felt her eyes grow heavy and a haze fell over the world around her as she drifted to sleep.
There was a loud commotion to be heard from somewhere nearby as Alice's eyes opened and tried to focus on what was going on, or for that matter, where she was at. She slowly sat up in the chaise she had apparently fallen asleep in. As she looked around and took in one white object after another, she quickly realized she was somewhere in Marmoreal.
She was about to get up to go look around when she suddenly felt like she wasn't alone. "Chess? Is that you?" The Chesire Cat was the first creature to come to mind. At first, there was no answer, but then Alice thought she heard the distinct sound of a sniffing nose and wagging tail. She turned around to see a dog sitting nearby. "Bayard!" She exclaimed, but then took a closer look. "Wait, you're not Bayard."
The dog immediately came closer to the chaise. "I'm Belorn," the young dog said proudly as he looked at her. "Bayard's my father."
"So you're one of Bayard's puppies?" Alice could hardly believe her eyes at seeing how much the puppy had grown since she'd last seen him and his siblings. She marveled at how Time went about his business in Underland. She had been in her world for nearly four years and had suspected much longer would have passed in Underland as it had seemed when she'd returned previously to find her engagement party still going on. But Bayard's son seemed to be no more than a young dog of two.
Belorn came even closer and sniffed Alice's hand, jolting her from pondering Time any further. "You're the Champion!" His tail wagged even faster.
"You have a good memory, Belorn," Alice smiled in amusement as she reached out and scratched one of his floppy ears.
"Belorn never forgets a scent." He placed both front paws on the chaise so he appeared as though he might jump onto her lap entirely.
"But he does forget where he is and isn't supposed to be," the voice was a familiar one and caused Belorn to sit back down on the floor in a hurry.
"Now that's Bayard," Alice said as he joined them. She moved so that both of her feet touched the floor on one side of the chaise. She then reached out both hands and scratched both of his ears affectionately. "It's so good to see you again. How are you?"
"When Belorn here isn't up to something, I'm good," Bayard chuckled as Belorn groaned in embarrassment. Alice mused to herself that even a two year old dog (if he really was two years old) must still be like a child. "Of course, my family and I still have you and Hatter to thank for that."
"Mostly Hatter," Alice said humbly as she thought fondly of Tarrant. She could still remember the joy she'd felt seeing him coming towards Marmoreal safely. And she'd been just as taken by the fact he had thought to free Bielle and the puppies.
"If you ever need anything, just ask," Bayard offered kindly before turning to leave the room again.
"You can always count on me too, Champion," Belorn offered heroically, causing Alice to let out a small laugh.
"Well, as long as you call me Alice, I'm glad to hear it." She petted him a few more times and he licked her hand in return.
"Alright you, let's go," Bayard chuckled as he looked back at his son and motioned for him to come. After Belorn had hurried past, Bayard looked at Alice and shook his head as if to sarcastically say "kids" before leaving Alice laughing alone.
"I see you're awake," Mirana came into the room no more than a minute after Bayard and Belorn had left. "I hope you enjoyed your slumber."
All at once, Alice remembered the confusion she had felt prior to her conversation with the two dogs. She looked around again before looking at the White Queen. "It was lovely, yes, thank you, but I don't actually remember falling asleep."
"Oh, um, what do you mean?" Mirana asked casually, although Alice thought she heard a hint of uncertainty in the queen's voice.
"Well, honestly, the last thing I remember is you telling me you wanted to speak with me, then nothing," Alice shook her head just a little, trying hard to recall what had happened next. "Did we talk?"
"Yes, we did," Mirana nodded as an awkward silence seemed to fill the room.
"I must have been really tired," Alice finally shrugged indifferently. She didn't remember feeling tired, but apparently she had to have been.
"Well, it was quite the journey on foot," Mirana breathed an inner sigh of relief. She was nearly certain her vows would not have allowed her to actually lie to Alice had a question called for it. "But now you are yourself again and the celebration will begin soon." The White Queen held out her hand and Alice stood to her feet and took it. "Which means, we must get you ready."
"I don't believe I've ever felt freer in a dress in all my life." Alice spun as she admired how the fabric moved and breathed in a way she could scarcely describe. Even the breathtaking blue was one she had never worn, let alone seen, before. Although, Alice was certain simply calling it blue did not do it justice. It seemed more as though it were the color of the evening sky. If she didn't know it was impossible, she would almost think someone had found a way to weave twilight into the dress. Then again it was Underland so maybe it wasn't impossible.
Mirana looked her over and nodded approvingly (although she would approve of most anything since she was not one to say what was proper or not). She agreed that the dress suited Alice perfectly. "I told Tarrant you would adore it."
"Tarrant?" Alice stopped studying the dress and looked at the White Queen. Now that the queen had said it, she knew it only made sense. It surprised her she hadn't realized right away that the only person who could make such a dress would be Tarrant. "How did he ever find time?" For a dress of such craftsmanship, she wondered how he had managed it. Sure, he had made her a dress in just a few seconds the last time she had been in Underland, but that had been just a tiny thing. Not like this. Alice knew it would take any milliner in London days to create a beautiful dress like this one, if they were even able to replicate it at all.
"He went straight to the milliner's work room after he heard you had gone to rest," Mirana answered as calmly as she could manage. Queen or not, she had several things further about Tarrant she wished to discuss with Alice now that she knew of the feelings which existed between them – or at least now that they knew of the feelings that had always existed – and she was bubbling to get to the topic. "Of course, he first asked me if it was alright for him to do so to which I answered yes. He then asked me if I would take him back as royal milliner altogether. I am so happy Tarrant seems to be himself again." She eyed Alice, certain she might have something to do with his sudden change of disposition.
Alice, on the other hand, wasn't certain whether or not she should be pleased or worried for Tarrant. If he had said he couldn't handle the memories, why had he chosen to retake the position she wondered. However, the White Queen barely gave her time to think about it before speaking again. "So, about Tarrant," Mirana tried to sound casual and dignified, but Alice could see a familiar sparkle in her eye. It was a hope of something romantic. She'd seen it before in her sister's eyes. Only now, Alice wasn't wary of it.
"I have the oddest feeling we've discussed Tarrant already." Alice furrowed her brow a little as she gave the subject a bit of thought.
"We did," Mirana looked at her nervously. "Earlier."
"Did I mention…" Alice hesitated for a moment, but decided she was ready to open up to someone else. That is, if she hadn't already. Why couldn't she remember? "I kissed him," Alice finally admitted. "I mean, he kissed me. Or perhaps we kissed each other." The details were fuzzy since it had happened so quickly, both times. She knew there would be no figuring out who initiated the kiss, nor did she care.
Mirana didn't seem to care either as she could barely contain her joy over the simple fact that a kiss had happened. "I'm so happy for you both! It is exciting to think of the two of you together."
"It is exciting," Alice nodded in agreement, although she knew she and Tarrant were far from actually being together in the sense she knew the queen hoped for. After all, she had just returned and everything had happened before she'd barely had a chance to even blink. However, she had known the moment she had seen Tarrant again, all of the more than platonic feelings she had felt here and there on her previous adventure had blossomed into something she could no longer deny. Alice had never expected any man would be able to make her happy like the very thought of Tarrant now did. Then again, she had only been thinking in terms of her world and not Underland. Actually, she was now certain that her deep rooted feelings for Tarrant had spoiled her, even further than her own independent spirit, for any man in her world after she had returned home.
McTwisp entered the chamber, interrupting the two women from discussing the subject in more detail, and announced that everything was ready for the celebration to begin. "Thank you, Nivens," Mirana smiled, resuming her royal poise. "You may announce us both in a few moments." The White Rabbit nodded before hopping out of the chamber again. "I cannot wait to see Tarrant's face when he sees you," Mirana clasped her hands together in complete ecstasy. "Although, I'm afraid Tarrant will probably find himself having to share you this evening. Everyone in Underland will want a moment with their Champion."
Alice gave a hesitant smile before following the White Queen towards the party. Champion or not, Alice still wasn't sure if she would enjoy being smothered with more attention than she felt she deserved.
No clue WHERE the idea for Belorn came from, since I rarely do OCs anymore, but I picture him as the pup who leaned up against the bars in the dungeon scene in the movie. And, since Time really is funny in Underland, I can't say he really is two, but simply that he appears to be a very young dog and he is in a sense a tween or something of that sort. I guess, if he is 2, and if you went in dog years, he'd be 14 :) Also, yeah, I totally took liberties with how the Oraculum works - sense it seems sketchy enough in the movie. Not to mention, in case anyone caught it, I totally stole...uh...borrowed the "fulfilling the Oraculum by trying to change it" concept from Kung Fu Panda.
