"What the hell was that Helen?" James yelled as soon as the trio was in sight. She gave him a look and sat down, massaging her temples.
"A conundrum, and not my biggest problem right now. We need to get the Officers corps up and running, the army has had enough problems, its time for a relief force. We lost three fourths of our men in the resistance, so I'm thinking recruitment might be a priority."
James groaned and Helen grinned slightly.
"That's right James, more little trainees running underfoot and screwing everything up, getting themselves into trouble and generally being very entertaining. Yes, you're getting one, no you can't kill them, and if you break them you're getting me a new one." Helen said, predicting all his questions. James snorted and walked away.
"It's good to be home." Helen said, looking around. "And even better to see old friends, and hopefully make new ones." She added, with a wink at Alice. As they walked out into the courtyard Alice heard James yell, "May I present the new commander of the Officer's corps?" with a gesture towards Helen.
"No! Nononononononono! Don't you dare!" she yelled, pointing at the officers in the yard, one by one they tackled her and dog-piled on top. They laughed and some rolled off the pile. When Helen was revealed again, she took in a wheezing breath and said, "Bloody barbarians."
Tarrant was caught in a laughing fit and Helen, grinning evilly said, "May I present thee leader of the resistance?" and Tarrant got the same treatment. After Helen and Alice extracted Tarrant from the bottom of the pile, they walked across the courtyard to show Helen to her new room.
"You're new home milady." He said, with a flourish at the door.
"Thanks Tarrant, you-" Then never got to find out what Tarrant was, a giant boom came from somewhere near and the three were thrown to the floor in a heap. Before Alice and Tarrant could react, Helen was up and running. Tarrant gripped Alice by the shoulders.
"Are you alright, Alice?" he asked, his eyes a light green from the shock.
"I'm fine Hatter, what was that?"
"I haven't the slightest idea." He said, giving her a hand up.
They went down the hall after Helen and came upon a startling sight, the hallway was gone. It ended in a pile of rocks and some flaming debris.
"Wh-What could have done this?" Alice said.
"All I could think of would be the Jabberwocky." Tarrant answered, his eyes were haunted with memories of Horunvendush Day.
"Do you think anyone was in this hallway?" Alice asked. She watched as Helen walked forward through the rocks, dodging flaming debris, and stood in the center of the wreckage.
"I think you should see this." Helen called. Tarrant and Alice helped each other scramble over the wreckage and stood with Helen.
"Look." She said, and the couple gasped simultaneously. The black burn marks and debris formed a perfect, pitch-black heart.
"The Knave." Tarrant growled.