Aannd... as promised: Chapter 4! I really appreciate all the reviews I've been getting! I love that you all love the story! :D So...dun dun dun dun!...

Chapter 4

Alice stepped out into the courtyard to join the others, seeing Mirana already mounted upon her horse and the rest ready to march alongside her. Alice began to walk towards them when she heard a soft growl from her right. She turned just in time to have a hot wet tongue wipe across her face.

"Bandersnatch!" Alice giggled, and threw her arms around the neck of the large creature that in response rolled over, begging for his stomach to be rubbed, to which Alice complied. "I missed you too old friend." She prodded him gently to roll back over and climbed onto his back, nodding to Mirana.

"Well then, it seems we are all ready. Once we exit the gates, the parade shall begin. You first, Champion."

Alice nudged the Bandersnatch forward, and quickly realized that the Hatter was keeping in step just beside her. Just behind her rode Mirana on her white steed, and all behind them, the chess piece guards. No sooner had they reached the gates that a glorious fanfare sounded, and in front of her Alice saw a large white and silver band and all along the edges of the streets, more people than she was aware that lived in Underland. Of course she knew others must have lived in Underland than her small group of friends, but this- this was unexpected.

She couldn't suppress the giggle that escaped her lips as she gave a small wave to a group of cheering Underlandians as they waved excitedly to her.

"What have you found so amusing? You must share the riddle, you know I love them." Tarrant lisped as he looked up to Alice.

"Are they…all here for me?"

"Of course! You did save them all on that Frabjous Day!"

Alice straightened her hat self-consciously, not so used to having an entire crowd ready to celebrate her. (Well, except for that one atrocious time at her almost engagement party.) The parade continued on, down a long street, and back around towards the castle, the crowd seemed never ending as it joined along in the parade, people cheering and waving as they passed. Soon Alice, Tarrant, the Queen and her knights and court all entered back through the gates, leaving the rest of the Underlandians behind to await the start of the ball.

As the music from the band died down behind her, Alice became blatantly aware of the ball that was coming. It wasn't that she hated dancing, but rather that she always found the dancing back home very boring. It never allowed one to dance to a merrier tune, nor enjoy themselves, but rather follow along lines and rules and pleasantries. Something nagged in her stomach as she slid from the Bandersnatch's back, giving him a loving scratch behind the ear, and headed back to her room to change.

The music and the dancing was definitely not something Alice had expected. It was livelier, the dance more of a jig, and everyone moved quickly, practically floating as they bobbed around in merriment, the music full of fun and joy. A smile graced her features as she looked around the brightly colored room. It was a vast difference from the normal white, and the many people who were in attendance, save for Mirana and her court who were still dressed in their whites and silvers, were all clothed in bright colors.

"Enjoying yourself, Love? Ah! That is a very lovely hat!"

"Cheshire!" Alice turned to her friend as he floated by her shoulder, giving him a large grin to match his own, a hand fondly touching the brim of her hat. "Are parties always this…fun?"

"Well we haven't had one in quite some time, but yes."

"But the music! And the colors... it's nothing like I've ever seen before!"

"Well dear, that is all because of you. When you slayed that wicked Jabberwock you brought life back into Underland. So: we celebrate!"

"I must say.. your dances are quite different from mine back home..." Alice looked off towards the many dancing couples, seeing them skip around gaily.

"It's easy enough to learn poppet...And of course, there is always the Futterwakken." Cheshire winked cheekily before disappearing in front of her eyes. Before she could really question what he had meant, she felt a light tap on her shoulder, and turned to find the Hatter smiling, his green eyes quite alive.

"I was hoping you just might want to dance!" Alice smiled, but her lips slowly turned downwards.

"I would…but I'm afraid I don't know how to do the Underland dances…"

"Well that is just fine indeed, because, it so happens, that I am an excellent teacher. Come! Come!" Tarrant took her hand and led her to the floor, placing one of her hands on her shoulder as he took her waist with one gentle hand, the other holding her empty hand out. He led her in a quick jig, weaving in and out among the other dancers. Alice let out a giddy laugh and quickly caught on, dancing along as the song switched to a slower waltz, allowing the duo to catch their breaths.

"I am glad you came back Alice."

"So am I." She smiled up to the Hatter, her brown eyes meeting his green. "Thank you again for my hat… and dress… and suit" she paused to chuckle "they're so lovely. I feel I don't deserve them."

"Oh what silly talk. Of course you do! Why you're-"

But Tarrant didn't get to finish his sentence as there was a loud collective gasp from the center of the room. The duo turned to see one of the members of the court, who had been dancing with Mirana, kneeling down next to Mirana, who had fallen in a dead faint, her dance partner cradling her head so as to keep it from the hard stone floor.

"Your Majesty! Someone call for the doctor!" Tarrant ran to kneel by the queen as well, Alice close at his heels. She looked around to see no one moving, all in a shock at their normally healthy queen in a collapsed heap on the floor, her long hair spilled out around her.

"You heard him! Go! Fetch the doctor! Hurry!" Alice's angry voice echoed throughout the silent hall. The clattering of footsteps left the room and barely a minute later had a doctor arrived, with two of Mirana's knights carrying a large stretcher. The crowd backed away to allow them access to the White Queen, watching as they carried her from the room. Alice's fearful eyes caught Tarrant's, as they looked to one another.

"Come. We should follow along." His voice was but a whisper as, without a thought, he grabbed her hand and hurried from the room and down the hall.

Well I really hope you all liked this chapter! Sorry to leave it on a cliff hanger.. buuut.. It's Halloween Eve AND I just can't resist a good cliff hanger when it beckons so to me! :P RXR! :D