Chapter 4: The Attempt at Remembrance
Alice spent the remainder of the morning in the garden with the Tweedles, eating muffins, sipping tea, and talking about everything and nothing. But eventually, the boys had to depart and return to the castle to do whatever it was that Tweedles did. They both offered to escort her but Alice assured them that she was enjoying the garden and wanted to stay a bit longer. She watched them stumble away, each arguing over who would hold Alice's empty cup and muffin plate.
Sighing, Alice got up off of the grass, where she had been sprawled comfortably, and sat back down on the bench. She inspected the lovely lavender dress that Mirana had given her and was pleased to see that it had no grass stains on it. She couldn't say as much for London grass.
Chessur suddenly appeared on top of the rabbit bush's head a few moments later.
"If you don't mind my pointing out the obvious," the Cat said slowly. "I would like to say that the scene in the dining room was quite tragic."
Alice shot a look at him. "Really? Because I did not notice that I single-handedly crushed somebody's hopes today."
Chess's smile did not disappear. In fact, it widened. "Please accept my apologies."
"I'm sorry, Chess. I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just confused, that's all."
"As we all are," the Cat agreed. "But wouldn't you join me on a little journey to the castle?"
Alice hesitated. "I don't know."
Chessur began to float towards the entrance of the garden. "Do you plan to stay out here all night?"
Alice folded her arms. With the way things had gone that morning, it did not sound like a bad idea.
"Suit yourself," Chess said with a wink. "But I wouldn't recommend it."
"Why?" Alice asked him, and then felt daft. Because nobody in their right mind hides in gardens all night, Alice!
"Danger is lurking near," the Cat purred dramatically before disappearing completely.
Alice stared at the spot where he had just been, quite bewildered. Why was everybody talking in riddles today? First Absolem had made absolutely no sense and now Chessur was talking in tongues. She mustered up all of her strength and stood up, thinking about what they had each said.
Something tugged at Alice's mind. What if there was danger? Suddenly fearful, Alice ran out of the garden, searching the air for the Cheshire Cat and calling his name.
She realized that she was running back towards the Queen's castle but that was not altogether surprising, since there was nowhere else to run. She came to an abrupt stop when Chessur appeared at the entrance, lying in the air on his back.
"There's danger?" Alice asked breathlessly.
"Indeed."
"What kind of danger?"
"Danger of the utmost kind."
Alice stared at him. "You're not making any sense."
"I know," the Cat agreed. "But here is what you can do."
Alice stood up a little straighter, wanting to help.
"You must squat beside that bush over there."
Alice furrowed her eyebrows. "You are not serious."
"Would I lie to you, Alice?"
Alice took a step backwards and studied the lounging Cat. "I don't know, Chess, would you?"
"Oh my dear friend, that hurt." Chess put a paw on his heart.
Alice sighed and walked over to a lovely bush that was shaped as a dog. "All right, now what?"
Chessur disappeared and reappeared beside her. "Now you must lay in the grass."
Not wanting to provoke her mischievous friend, Alice did as she was told. She didn't know how this would help anything, but then again, there had been a time when she believed animals could not talk and cats could not grin. She gazed up at the bright, blue, cloudless sky and waited.
"Now levitate."
"Chess!" With a small, frustrated groan, Alice pulled herself to her feet. She strode past the chortling Cat and entered the White Castle.
She found herself in the regal throne room and saw Mirana seated on her throne. Alice was about to go to her, anxious to talk about that morning, but then she saw the figure that was standing before the throne.
It was the Hatter, his back to her as he faced the Queen.
Alice felt her heart rise into her throat and she immediately turned to leave the castle, but Mirana had already seen her.
"Alice!" she called brightly . "Would you come here for a moment, please?"
Alice hesitated, her heart sinking from her throat right back down to the bottom of her stomach. She turned slowly and the Hatter caught her eyes with his. She began to walk towards the throne, her eyes traveling to Mirana's. The sunlight gleamed through the tall windows, hurting her eyes and distracting her thoughts. She disliked being the sudden central point of attention; it seemed like the long walk to the throne would never end.
Mirana stood as she approached and took Alice's hands in her own.
"Alice, dear," she said gently. "I believe firmly in good starts. And I do not think that this morning was one of those. If you would please…" she positioned Alice in front of the Hatter.
"Alice," she declared, her voice strong and clear. "This is Tarrant."
She stood poised for a moment or two, as if expecting something to happen. When nothing actually did happen, she continued.
"Tarrant, this is Alice!"
The Hatter's eye twitched slightly.
The Queen let out a sigh that was very similar to a balloon deflating. "Oh dear," she murmured. "I was certain that would work."
Alice felt uncomfortable and found that she could not meet the Hatter's eyes. Instead, she looked at the Queen, who was deep in her thoughts at the moment.
"Ah!" she said suddenly, taking Alice's hand in her right hand and Tarrant's hand in her left. She joined Alice's hand with the Hatter's and took a step back.
Alice felt a curious tingling sensation in her hand, although she had no idea why. The Hatter's hand was warm, even through the bandages and cut off gloves, and she felt in his touch that he had been a very dear friend.
But other than that, nothing happened. Mirana pinched the bridge of her nose momentarily and closed her eyes, before taking both of their hands once more.
"I think that you both should talk," she said quietly, opening her eyes, catching their gazes, and holding them with hers. "Alice, I do not have the slightest idea why you remember all of us, but not Tarrant, but I sincerely believe that you will remember in time."
She turned slightly towards the Hatter. "Tarrant, do not lose heart. This is not in any way your fault. I sincerely believe that you can help her remember."
And with those encouraging words, she led them through a wide door and up a set of gleaming, marble steps. Another door occupied the top, and she brought them onto a beautiful balcony. And then, she released their hands and backed away. She smiled at them knowingly, before exiting gracefully.
Alice looked out over the railing and saw light blue sky wherever she turned. Below, the neatly trim grass stretched on for miles and the rest of the pristine white castle towered over them from above. She would have loved to sit here by herself and observe, but she found she could not fully appreciate the breathtaking views at that moment.
The Hatter had sat on a white, alabaster bench, twiddling his thumbs nervously. Alice sat next to him, unsure of what to say. After a few moments, she decided it would be best to start simple.
"Hello, Hatter," she said quietly, peering at him from the corner of her eye.
He lifted his gaze, staring straight ahead, as if her voice unnerved him. "Hello, Alice."
There was silence. Alice wrung her hands, quite sure that the painful awkwardness would be the end of her.
And then the Hatter turned towards her. "I've been considering things that begin with the letter F, you know."
"What kind of things?" Alice asked, hoping to encourage him.
The Hatter was silent, as if re-contemplating, before he spoke.
"Forgetting… friends…feathers."
"Feathers?" Alice asked, confused. She could understand the first two, but feathers?
"The raven," the Hatter explained quickly, as if it were perfectly obvious. "We used to wonder how a raven was like a writing desk."
Alice considered this for a moment before speaking. "Why is a raven like a writing desk?"
The Hatter turned back to his original position and stared straight ahead again, his mood and appearance once again becoming somber. "I don't know," he whispered.
That one exchange between them had been so unbearably sad that Alice felt she had to turn the tide somehow. She turned towards him more fully, deciding that she would be sincere.
"Hatter?"
He looked up immediately and gave her his full attention. "Yes?"
"I'm very sorry," she said softly.
The Hatter smiled sadly and said quickly, "It's fine. I'm fine. You're fine. It's all fine."
"But it's not fine," Alice told him. "I can't understand why I don't remember…" She trailed off suddenly.
Something was forming in her mind, almost a realization. She reached out, as if in a trance, and touched the Hatter's face. Remember, Alice, she urged herself as she watched the Hatter's eyes change from confused to hopeful.
"You said you wouldn't forget," he whispered, his eyes wide.
"I…I did?" Alice asked, feeling the guilt returning.
"Yes. I told you that you wouldn't remember me and you said 'how could I forget?'"
How could I forget?
Alice pulled her hand back, her gaze dropping to the ground as she let this information sink in.
And that's when Chessur appeared on the other side of Alice.
"Alice, I'm so dreadfully sorry about before," he said, rubbing his paws together. "Do forgive me."
Startled at his sudden apparition, Alice snapped out of her daze. "It's all right, Chess," she said.
Chess grinned up at her ridiculously and the Hatter stood up. Alice could almost sense that he was slipping back into the same melancholy mood she had seen him in that morning and it pained her to realize that.
"Tarrant, you silly thing, come back here," Chessur demanded but Tarrant only waved a hand at him and walked away.
"Oh dear," the Cat murmured. "That did not go according to plan, did it?"
"Plan?" Alice repeated, staring at the door that the Hatter had just walked through.
"I only interrupted because I sensed an awkward moment," Chess explained, dangling his tiny legs over the end of the bench and swinging them. "Awkward moments are not healthy for anybody."
Alice leaned back against a pearly white tree and began to lose herself in her thoughts.
"So," Chessur said conversationally, with a grin. "You are to be married?"
Alice closed her eyes. "I suppose."
"You suppose? I sense cold feet."
"Yes, well," Alice brought a hand to head, massaging her temples. She didn't like that her unfortunate engagement kept coming up in casual conversation. To her, it was anything but casual.
"I would not tell Tarrant," Chess muttered and Alice could have sworn that from somewhere inside the castle, she heard the sound of something being thrown against a wall and shattering into pieces. She sat up straight and looked up towards the looming towers.
"Did you hear that?" she asked.
Chess shrugged. "The March Hare?" he suggested, his tone mildly uninterested.
"Perhaps," Alice said, although she secretly wasn't so sure.
A/N: Thank you for the adds, and especially for the reviews! I really appreciate what everyone had to say and I would love to continue to hear feedback. =)
