Chapter 4: A Queen's Advice

It did not take long for McTwisp to lead her directly to the White Queen's personal apartments; as they both now stood before the ornate double doors, waiting to be allowed entrance.

Looking down at McTwisp, she asked, "Should I knock?"

"Oh, no," he responded, "she will know that we are here."

Alice watched him straighten his white vest, with small silver flowers embroidered upon it, and use his paws to smooth his fur, so that not a strand would be out of place. She wondered if she should have dressed more appropriately, than the simple dress she wore, but then brush that thought aside.

Queen or not, Alice was most decidedly on a mission, and could not take the time to bother with what she should wear before royalty. Besides, she did not believe the White Queen would mind, considering what she had already worn before her; a dress made from the curtains of the Red Queen's castle, night clothes and armor. This simple dress was actually much more appropriate and a vast improvement.

So far, in the few minutes they stood waiting, neither of the double doors had opened, and Alice, impatient, raised her hand to knock. But before her knuckles met the heavy gilded wood, one of the doors quietly opened, revealing the White Queen herself.

"Come, come, my dear." She said, motioning her to enter, and stepping back to give her room to do so.

In truth, the White Queen did not seem to step back, so much as to glide upon the air. Even her hands seemed to be alive, always moving, with fingers dancing in the air. A gracefulness that Alice could never achieve, and did not envy. Although it would impress her mother very much.

As Alice stepped into the Queen's receiving room, she heard her say to McTwisp, "I believe this is a talk of a personal nature, so if you do not mind, I cannot invite you in."

"Of course, Majesty, and I do not mind at all" She heard him reply, and as she turned towards them, saw the Queen bend down, and kiss him between his long white ears. She would swear that McTwisp blushed, which once upon a time, she might have thought was odd, seeing a rabbit blush, but no more.

"Thank you so much." She answered, and did not close the door, until McTwisp had turned and hoped away.

Turning to her, the White Queen motioned for her to take a seat on the sofa, and as she did so, Alice looked about the room and noticed the personal touches that made the room her private retreat from the rest of the castle and her courtiers.

Knick knacks, books, plants, and even a painting easel, marked the room as hers. But like the rest of the castle, she favored white, with hints of pastels.

"Is he still looking for Cheshire?" Alice asked, as she sank into the very soft cushioning of the sofa.

Smiling, Queen Mirana took a seat on the other side of the sofa, "Yes he is," and dropping her voice to an almost a conspiratorial whisper, "cats, you see, are very confounding creatures, and I daresay, Cheshire does like to play his games, especially with poor McTwisp."

Alice could not agree more, and nodded her agreement, when the Queen asked, "Would you like some tea?"

"Tea?", she whispered to herself, and her stomach knotted because it reminded her of Hatter, and she did not know how to begin this conversation with a Queen, so she decided to gather her muchness and just begin at the beginning; which was only the proper place to begin.

"No, your Majesty, but thank you.", she began, "Tea is of course very important, you see, not the tea itself, but it reminds me of the man who drinks it, that person being, of course, Hatter, or actually, that would be Tarrant Hightopp, and I need to speak to him most desperately, you see!"

Alice could not seem to stop speaking, now that she had begun, and all her thoughts, concerns and feelings came pouring out, as if a dam had broken and a river set free. She knew she was rambling and could see the Queen's eyes grow wider and wider, and even her dancing fingers stilled, as her face grew serious.

Once she was done saying all that needed to be said, and some that didn't, Alice took several deep breaths, and apologized, "I'm so sorry, your Majesty."

The Queen reached out and grasped one of Alice's in both of hers. "Now, now, no apologies, my dear." Releasing her hand, she seemed to pull a lacy handkerchief from the very air, "Here Alice, wipe your tears, for tears do not accomplish anything."

Alice who did not realize she had begun to cry, as her words tumbled from her mouth, gladly accepted it, and wiped her wet eyes; with a tearful laugh, made a comparison, "Now you sound like Absolem."

The remark made the Queen laugh, "Well, you were not the only one he has used his biting charm upon. Did he call you stupid too?"

Alice nodded her head, and laughed a little brighter, "Yes, several times."

Shoulders shaking in silent laughter, the Queen rose, and glided over to stare out a large window, which took almost the entire space of one of the room's walls. Alice could feel the immediate change in the Queen's mood, a seriousness that seemed to come over her.

Alice was quiet too, as she watched her. The Queen seemed to be looking upon her kingdom, very still and quiet, before she turned her attention back upon Alice.

"Alice," her fingers dancing again, but slowly, "I shall never lie to you, and so I shall be perfectly honest, in what I will say." Gliding over, she looked down at the still sitting Alice, "I would very much like you to stay in Underland. My sister is ruler no more, but she still has her supporters, that would like to see her once again upon the throne, and my sister is clever, never doubt that, and is most likely already plotting how she might return to power. So, to have my champion at my side, Underland's hero and defender, would be very important to me, and a deterrent to my foes."

She gracefully knelt on the floor, her long white skirt billowing about her, "I shall not force you to stay, that is against my vows, and I should not do so, even if it wasn't." She took Alice's hands again, "Search your heart, and be very, very sure in the decision you make. Tarrant has been through so much, and has lost more than anyone else, and deserves happiness, so should you decide to stay, make absolutely certain that is exactly what you want. I should not like to see he, who has been my greatest supporter, hurt any more than he already has been, and that if you choose to stay, hope you will bring a measure of peace to him."

Alice squeezed the Queen's hand, "I know, and I would not intentionally hurt him, but before I can make my decision, I must speak to him first."

"Keep in mind too, we are not like you Alice. Our ways are different, our very being, and perhaps you would consider that odd, but should you stay, you will change."

Alice had suspected, no, known that they were not human, not in the way she considered it, magical and fantastical beings, and sometimes wondered if they were the ones that inspired the myths and legends she so loved hearing of, as she grew up. But she had accepted that fact, but the rest of the Queen's words did startle her, and she abruptly stood up, "What do you mean change? I very much like myself as I am. I do not want to change and become something or someone I'm not!"

Rising, the White Queen tried to calm her, "You will not become someone else, and you will most certainly remain yourself, never think otherwise, but you will.." and the Queen paused, and Alice thought she was trying to choose the right words, "become more like us, in terms of life. I'm sure you've realized by now, time is different here, than in your world, and should you stay, you will change according to how time runs in Underland."

"Immortal?", and Alice felt odd at the thought, to know she could outlive her family and friends, even though she might never see them again.

The Queen smiled, "Almost, but not quite, we can and do die, but you will live much, much longer than you can imagine. To us in Underland, it is nothing, it is how it is and has always been, but for someone from Upperland, where life is shorter, and time is more fickle, I would assume it can be a bit disturbing."

Alice stepped away, and walked to the window, and looked out. To know that at some point her mother, sister and even her aunt would one day be gone, be dust, while she continued to live, made her feel lightheaded. Alice did not hear the Queen approach her from behind, until she heard her speak, "Does that bother you?"

Continuing to look out upon Mamoreal, "Yes, no, I don't know, but it does not matter. I think mama and Margaret would be happy for me, if this is what will make me happy."

"Excellent, and regarding you family in Upperland. I believe I can help with that problem."

She spun around, and startled the Queen, "Really!"

"I believe that McTwisp can help, with a little assistance from me. Rabbits are diggers and creators of holes, and with a little help from the right potion, can dig temporary holes to your world."

"So that is how he was able leave Underland."

Taking her hand, the Queen led her back to the sofa, both taking their seats again, "Yes, it is, but it is very trying on him, and if done too many times, can do harm. I feared for him, when I had him searching for you. If he is willing, I can have him deliver a message to your family, but please know, I will only ask him to do it this once."

Before Alice could speak or argue, she continued, "Each hole weakens the barrier between our two worlds, which would be disastrous for both, should it collapse, and I fear I should not allow any more until the current damage done has healed, which will take many years, perhaps a century or two. But for you, I will allow it one more time, and then no more."

Alice felt thankful, and guilty for some strange reason, "Was that because of your search for me?"

Obviously seeing the look upon her face, "Yes, but that was my decision, and mine alone. We needed you. I needed you, and I was willing to take the risks involved with finding you. Had the barrier become too weakened, I would have stopped. Better the rule of my sister, than me bringing about the end of Underland itself. During all of this, however, Tarrant was most determine to keep sending McTwisp, no matter the cost. He was consumed with finding you."

The mention of Hatter caused Alice to blush, and she blurted out, without thinking, "Does he really love me?"

"That my dear, is not my place to answer, and you must speak to him about. Now you must go. I will have the bandersnatch readied for you. Go, and get yourself ready. You haven't much time, before the decision to remain here, or not, is taken from you all together.", the Queen's hands were moving in a shooing motion.

Alice, who had risen and headed towards the same door that she had entered, paused and turned back to the White Queen, "That is similar to what Cheshire said, something about the Jabberwocky blood."

"He is right, the Jabberwocky blood will only be potent for a few more days, and as it weakens, it's pretty glow will dim, before turning to dust and becoming useless. You will be bound to Underland, whether you would like to be or not."

"I should not like to have the decision taken from me." Alice answered.

"Then go, go now, for time is quiet literally of the essence, and Alice, please choose wisely, for the path you choose will affect more than just you, regardless of which world you decided to call home."

Alice opened the door, before turning towards the White Queen, who was still sitting upon the sofa, "I will your Majesty, and thank you for your advice and help."

Without another world she headed directly to her rooms. She had much to think on, and little time to do so; but the words and revelations of the Queen had brought a measure of peace to her. It also helped her draw closer to her final decision.

Now the world she would choose, the place she would call home, would depended entirely on a half mad hatter.

To Be Continued

I know it is a little late, but I want to give a big thank you, and some Upelkuchen (remember small nibbles only) to my reviewers: KittenCeez, luna andie, CameoRuby, and Inubaki. I also want to thank anyone who has taken the time to read my story!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and liked how I decided to explain rabbits, holes, and barriers. I really hope it seemed feasible…in a Underland kind of way!

Until next time, Fairfarren all!