The Madness of a Hatter
Disclaimer; I do not own the characters from Alice in Wonderland, although I wish I did.
Announcement: I will be trying my best to get back to all my fics. I haven't had time or motivation to write for quite a while now, and I apologize and thank everyone who's supported me. I will also be looking for a beta to help me. Please pm me if you're interested.
Chapter 2
"You've changed so much, Alice." The Hatter commented as they rode the Bandersnatch back to Marmoreal, his eyes back to green for the time being. He could hardly believe that his Alice was back, she looked quite... Muchier then last time he had laid eyes on her. Desperately hoping that this wasn't another one of his madness dreams, he kept his hands on her shoulders for balance as they arrived at the castle gates.
"I know, Hatter. It's amazing what a few years at sea can do to a person. I've got the most wonderful stories to tell you, and I've brought you gifts from Aboveland!" Alice exclaimed happily, a wide smile on her face, the Hatter's earlier weirdness forgotten for the time being. As the gates swung open for them, they were greeted by a barrage of their friends, all yelling gleefully as they appeared, Thackery being perhaps the most excited of them all, sending a volley of teacakes flying the Bandersnatch's way, screaming about teatime.
"Welcome back to the Champion and the Hatter!" Mirana cried happily, waving her hands about in her usual way, nobody noticing the worried glance she shot at the Hatter, her expression shifting from worried to gleeful again in seconds. Her deep red lips curled into a welcoming smile as the Hatter jumped down first, offering his hand to Alice to help her dismount, a wary but adoring look adorning his still paler than usual face. Alice took his hand and hopped down off the Bandersnatch, turning to ruffle the fur behind his ears before making her way through the crowd of her friends, the Hatter's hand clasped firmly in hers as she made her way over to Mirana. The Hatter couldn't seem to take his eyes off of his hand intertwined with Alice's, his eyes shiftng through a rainbow of colours before settling on a bright green flecked with bits of orange here and there. Taking note of that, Mirana curtsied politely to the pair before gesturing for them to follow her into the palace, the rest of their friends trailing behind. "It's so nice to have you both back, Tarrant, Alice." She said happily as she lead them down the pristine white hallways of the palace.
"It's nice to be back in the company of my friends." Alice smiled, chancing a look over at her dear Hatter, noticing the subtle change in his eyes and how quiet he'd gotten, she remembered their earlier conversation. "Mirana, would it be alright if the Hatter and I had tea alone? We have some things to discuss, and we were hoping to do so in private. If it's not too much trouble, that is." She asked softly, throwing a pleading look in the queen's direction. Mirana stopped in front of two large white marble doors, pulling them open and gesturing them inside.
"Of course, feel free to use this tea room. There will be guards posted outside, knock or shout for them if you need them." She smiled serenely, but it didn't quite reach her eyes, Alice noticed. Mirana curtsied to the both of them before gliding away, waving her hands in her usual queenly fashion.
"Well then, let's go have some tea!" Alice smiled at the Hatter, tucking his arm in hers and heading into the room, the doors swinging shut behind them. The Hatter smiled back at her, the orange growing in his eyes going unnoticed. As they sat at the table and Alice started pouring the tea, he finally decided to speak up.
"It's not tea ah've been wantin', Ahlice." His voice returned to the thick Outlandish brouge from earlier. "Ah've been waiting ten years for ya, lassie. Nearly gone mad waiting to see yur face again." He picked his cup up and took a careful sip of it, his burnt orange eyes looking deep into Alice's wary powder blue ones. She shifted nervously, taking a sip of her own tea, wondering to herself if this was why the queen had left the guards so close outside. As he set his tea cup back down with a rather noisy clatter, he cocked a bushy orange eyebrow and cleared his throat, a rather unsettling smile spreading across his face. "Ah've dreamed of you returnin' to me, time and time again. Ah've destroyed my house in fits of rage, scared our friends, and isolated mahself for the safety of them. These ten years have been torture. When ya first left us, I thought you'd be back in days. When the days turned into months, I kept my heid up, believin' you wouldnae forget about me. When the months turned into a year, I went into a deep depression. Not even the queen hersel' could drag me from mah house." He sighed, pink and white mercury stained fingers tapping rapidly on top of the table as he spoke, his other hand clenching the handle of a suddenly rather delicate looking teacup.
"Oh, Hatter.." Alice murmured, her eyes shone with unshed tears as she thought of her hatter, alone and worried, waiting for her all this time. The Hatter's lips drew back in a sarcastic snarl as he heard her, noticing her eyes and sad expression.
"Now, lassie. Donnae go pitying me, this was your fault after all. You said you'd be back before I could notice. Ya must think me pretty simple to think I wouldnae notice ten years." He hissed, a rather frightful look on his face as he stared her down, narrowed eyes and harsh scowl turned her way. She sat up straight, managing an annoyed expression as his sudden harsh words.
"Now Hatter, you couldn't have expected me to realize how such little time for me Aboveland would be so long away from Underland! I had to run a buisness, I had to make sure my mother and sister would be able to live comfortably when I returned here! I travelled across my world and faced things more dangerous than the Jabberwocky so that I could come here to be with you for the rest of my days!" Her fists clenched in annoyance, Alice ranted loudly. "I realize it may have been a mistake not to find out the time difference before going, but I certainly didn't stay away that long with the intent of hurting you!" She huffed, grabbing her cup and taking a sip, her lips pursed.
"Aye, you didnae think it would hurt me, lassie. I'll accept that. But ya lied. For that, I'll be punishing you well, before I make sure ya never leave me again." The Hatter growled. Her heart beating faster, Alice began to wonder exactly what he had planned for her. Putting her teacup down delicately, she decided to go talk to Mirana to find out what, exactly, happened to her dear friend. Ignoring the part of her that seemed to want to stay and find out what his plans were, she stood quickly, starting towards the door, before finding herself pulled up against the Hatter, who had stood as she did. "An' just where do you think you're going now, Ahlice?" He purred, leaning in close to her ear as he kept her pressed up against him, a dangerous smile on her face now.
"I'm going to talk to Mirana, to find out exactly what happened to you while I was gone, as you don't seem very inclined to do anything but threaten me at the moment. Now if you'd ever so kindly let me go, I'll see you at dinner. That is, if you'll decide to come." She huffed, rather confused and worried. Where was her kind, silly Hatter? The one in his place now didn't seem like the one she had been in such a hurry to get home to.
"Fine, lassie. Go get your answers. I'll see you at dinner, you'd better be there, or I'll be searchin' for ya." He growled, his eyes shifting to a bright orange with blue specks in them as he trailed off, letting her go and plopping back down in the chair ungracefully, a pensive look adorning his pale face as he turned from her, an indication she took as the conversation being over.
"Fine." She grumbled, hurrying over to and opening the door, glancing back at him one last time before hurrying down the hall to find Mirana. Worry was at the forefront of her mind now, what had she gotten herself into? What exactly was wrong with her friend?
