A/N: sorry for the delay, I had a hectic weekend. As always thanks to those reading, I appreciate it and to those reviewing YOU GUYS ROCK.

The Fourth

Charlie was wondering what all the fuss was about.

He had led the man into the White palace, all the while reassuring him that everything was all right. The man seemed confused and tired. He told Charlie his name was Tempus and that he had been travelling for a long, long time from places far away. Charlie had thought that was interesting and as they walked through the orchards Tempus had reached down and lifted him up. After crying and running from his mother he was grateful for being carried. In fact the only man who had carried him in was Mr. Stayne.

"You are the first child I have seen in many, many years," Tempus had stated easily as they walked through the trees calmly holding him as if he weighed nothing, "I love children. Truly they are the most interesting creatures of my acquaintance. I did love to speak with them when I could."

"Why can't you now?" Charlie asked.

Tempus seemed to pause at that, a sad look passing over his features. For a moment Charlie felt really bad, as if he had made the man cry. He tightened his grip around his neck, pressing his face to the man's neck in an approximation of a hug. The strangest ticking sound filled his ears as he did just as quickly Charlie pulled away.

"They died." he whispered before fixing his eyes upon Charlie's, "Far before their time. I had no way of stopping it and nothing to do with it. It broke my heart to know my brother had slayed them all. Children are rare and exceptionally special, they stay children for so little time. Even those who are ageless and do not grow old will grow wise and lose their innocence. I took vengeances upon my brother for their deaths. I visited fate and together she and I bound him to the mortal realm. I feel his twin; my other brother never forgave me for it. We have not spoken in so long..."

"Well I've never had a brother," Charlie began tentatively, "But I knew boys that did. And Miss Iracebeth has a sister. She said that brothers and sisters seem to forgive one another everything."

"I don't know if my brother will forgive me," Tempus replied gently, "I am a hard headed creature at times, unrelenting."

Charlie grinned, "My mummy says I'm stubborn as well. Especially since I can draw things to life now."

The man stopped moving, his silver eyes fixed upon him and Charlie felt a tension seeping into his heart.

"You can do that can you?" he asked with great interest, "It is a very rare gift to have. I would know. I've known those who can do it"

"Really?" Charlie exclaimed happily.

"Yes, every eternity there is one born with that power. It is a great, great gift. You must be an extraordinary little boy."

Charlie beamed from ear to ear. It was the first time in his life someone who was not his mother had called him that. It made warmth spread through his chest and he puffed up a little. The man holding him smiled gently.

"I can see something in you." Tempus continued, "Something that is in me."

They had reached the edge of the orchards and were walking along the marble paths that led to the inside of the castle. Charlie had explored every single one of them over the last few months, (he loved a good wander) and knew them intimately. Tempus had gone quiet again and he decided it was far too much trouble to worry about adult things, childish things were much more interesting. His mind wandered to thoughts of his mother and the Hatter together and he frowned. It was silly of him to worry about it now. Adults did funny things. He would talk to her later and tell her he did not want her to see the Hatter (just as he had done with all the men in London who had wanted to marry her) and then that would be that.

Pleased with himself he pointed towards a large archway guarded by two knight shaped chess pieces. His mind immediately went to his chess set in his mother's quarters; he so heartedly wished to play.

"Do you play chess Mr. Tempus?" he asked eagerly.

The brass haired man seemed to regard him carefully before nodding.

"Then once you have a meeting with the Queen can we play together?" Charlie ventured.

"I should like that very much," Tempus replied happily.

Her entire life she had only see Time a handful of instances, the first when her sister had taken the crown and become the Red Queen, the second was at her sister's wedding and the third directly after Horunvendush day. In all three occasions he had appeared to her in different forms, she later surmised the forms reflected her own impressions of him. At the crowning he had looked like a courtier, at her sister's wedding he had appeared as a priest and after that fateful day on the hill he had appeared in the garb of a Hightopp. She had never spoken to him directly but she had known him. For the first two occasions she had seen him with an entourage, women usually dressed in long grey gowns with long hair following him around with candles. The last she had snuck out of the palace to go to Witzend desperate to see her Hatter and friend Tarrant Hightopp. She had approached the ruins of Hightopp hill with caution, fearful for Stayne and the Jabberwocky, but instead had found him. Time had been standing in the center where the maypole had once stood and in his arms he cradled the body of a small child.

She could recall his whispers and as she approached she could hear they were apologies intermingled with an intense one-sided conversation that made his silvery eyes gleam in the moonlight. Her curiosity was insatiable and after taking a few steps closer it became clear he was telling the dead bodies their own futures. He was naming their names, telling them the most important moments they should have had in their lives, telling them the names of those they would wed, those they would give birth to or sire, those who would be of great importance and those who would betray them. He included himself in their list. After a moment of bearing witness to this Mirana could not stay, she decided she would take a group to Witzend in the morning to check on the Hatter but until then she could not witness this burial any further. By the time they had returned in the morning and buried what was left o the dead no one dared question that the children were gone; their bodies missing from the carnage. The Hatter had no answer for them, or for anyone about anything that had happened on the hill that night and The White Queen had never told a soul about what she had seen but for the rest of her life it had stayed in her head and heart. The idea that time was stolen from the children had seemed logical but after that night at Witzend she realized the children might have been stolen from Time as well.

With the Hatter at her side she had entered the greater throne room and was no at all surprised to see Time standing at the center, dressed casually with Charlie in his arm. The boy was heavy (she had carried him a few times) but Time seemed unperturbed at his weight. In fact he seemed completely at ease with a child in his arms. Even as the White knights held him at the point of their spears the man seemed ignorant of any danger (although Mirana considered he probably wasn't in any danger). He was speaking animatedly to the boy instead of railing at the situation, ignoring the men in the room who seemed like they might try to kill him as if they were nothing more then ants crawling upon the ground.

"I like being the white pieces," Charlie smiled, "Mummy always lets me be the white ones because they go first."

"Ah, you like the advantage then?" Time teased, "I think I shall enjoy beating you."

"You won't beat me," Charlie cried indignantly, "And it is quite rude of you to say so."

Time grinned at the statement, reaching forward and running his free hand through riotous red curls, "Well I apologize then. I would hate to be rude. Manners are a mark of civilization."

Mirana turned to see Tarrant stiffen beside her. He was tensed up the same way Bayard had been when one of his pups had nearly been eaten by the jubjub bird. His entire body seemed ready to pounce, his hands were shaking in front of him and his face was dead serious. She felt the tension in the situation immediately and was certain to see him go madder then usual. So instead she did the only thing she could think of, she relied on manners.

"My Lord Time," Mirana stated congenially, gliding towards the center of the room where Time was standing with Charlie, "What a pleasure to see you here in my humble throne, is there anything I myself or the kingdom of Marmoreal might do for you?"

Time turned to look at her and she was struck by his appearance. He was a strong man but lean, his eyes were churning silver and his hair was long and brassy with curl to it. His clothing was immaculate and he looked at her with an almost casual interest. As if it were merely a coincidence he had arrived in her throne room.

"Were you not expected me?" he asked, "I would have thought you would be expecting me."

Mirana kept her smile in place but paused for a moment, "No my Lord but you are most welcome."

"Unexpected?" Time gaped, his silver eyes narrowed before he seemed to notice Tarrant, "And you seem to have my murderer in attendance. This is quite the day for surprises is it not my young man?"

Charlie didn't stay anything he just looked at Tarrant as well, fixing him with his best glare.

"Do you know Mr. Hightopp my young one?" Time asked the boy carefully, his eyes never leaving Tarrant, "He was once so enticed with a lady a few years ago that he attempted to kill me so that his tea party would not have to end before she was in attendance."

"Yes," the boy replied, "I know him. He was kissing my Mummy earlier."

Time seemed to smile at that statement, as if a hypothesis had been revealed. He looked closely at the boy and then once more at Tarrant. Mirana felt a knot of dread settling in the put of her stomach at the eyes the two were making at one another.

"I see it now." he drawled, "Is this your son Tarrant? I should have expected that when the children would return to Underland it would be the Hightopp clan to do it. You were all so prolific."

"Give me the boy," the Hatter growled, his accent getting in the way of his words, his stance aggressive.

Mirana took a step away.

Charlie seemed to be silent, sensing the danger; his golden eyes were staring at the Hatter with nervousness.

"No," Time replied as if it was the most ludicrous idea he had ever heard. He turned to hold Charlie away.

Tarrant stepped closer, totally unafraid, "You'll give me my son or I shall run you down again."

Time glared back, "I am a Lord of Underland and you are merely a Milliner. You are no match for me."

"I will kill you, you silly cur," he replied, "Give me my boy."

Mirana glanced back and forth worriedly; the situation was deteriorating so rapidly she could not even think to act against either party. The two were bearing down at on one another, like two angry dogs circling and growling. Tarrant's eyes were growing darker, the mask of ferocity setting into place. TO her great shock Tempus seemed to mirror those actions, his placid features turning on a dime, as his silvery eyes seemed to turn to iron.

"Put me down Tempus," Charlie stated to Time, his eyes darting between the two men "I'm not going get lost."

"No," Time replied sharply, "Hightopp's are not responsible enough for the care of children. I left children in your stead before and look what happened."

This seemed to be the wrong thing to say and Mirana cried as the Hatter lunged towards Time with a feralness that made the child in the man's arms cower. Time readied himself as if he were anticipating the attack. Mirana braced herself.

"Tarrant STOP!" the command was authoritative and cold enough to freeze water.

Mirana's eyes turned towards the noise as did everyone else's and for a moment she could only stand in awe of what she was seeing. Gryphon and Alice were at the threshold of the throne room, each standing in a different archway and each looking fierce. The tepidness the Gryphon had displayed over the last few months did not show in that moment. In fact every ounce of passivity Mirana had witness had disappeared leaving a man with the countenance of a king and the appearance of a god in its wake. His snowy hair was loose, moving as if an invisible breeze was lifting it up and down. His eyes burned like dark coals, blacker then black with a hint of fury behind them. The sunlight set his skin aglow, his eyes were focused on the man holding Charlie and for a moment he looked every bit the Lord of Underland he was supposed to be.

Alice was even more impressive; in a long dress of ebony her eyes were a matching to his, full black with no whites visible. Her smooth pale arms hung by her sides and even her golden blonde hair seemed to reflect an inner darkness rather then light. She looked intimidating, fearsome and beautiful. Her expression was one of cold fury and her eyes were fixed on her son with an intensity that screamed danger.

"Tarrant stand down," she whispered, yet her voice carried a clear warning.

She and the Gryphon stepped forward together, moving in perfect synchronization. As soon as the pair neared the two men her attention was drawn from Charlie and turned to Time.

"You will give my son to me." it wasn't a question, it was a clear demand and she was not asking.

The White Queen watched Time take the two in, quicksilver eyes going from black to light grey in an instant. His gaze shifted from her to the figure next to her before his mouth broke into a grateful smile.

"Brother!" he exclaimed happily, moving towards the Gryphon.

The Gryphon did not respond immediately but he did move towards the other man, opening his arms and catching in his grasp while the other man clung on desperately. Time's mood seemed to change in that instant and happiness drained away leaving the smaller of the two Lords shuddering and broken. Mirana did not know what to do. A Lord of Underland was weeping while a fallen Lord comforted. It was one of the most surreal things she had ever-bare witness to. She watched as Alice neared them and took her son from the tangle of limbs, holding him casually upon her hip. It was amazing that even in this surreal situation Alice looked natural as a mother. The blonde woman looked into the main throne room, her eyes meeting the Hatter's for only a moment before he stormed away. Watching her friend go Mirana was suddenly overcome with her own duties, feeling it best to allow the small family (?) to become reacquainted she set off to find her sister. Racie would definitely want to be involved with the upcoming ball.

Iracebeth sat on her small chair, her eyes looking out into the Underland sunset. Coming to Marmoreal felt wrong, it felt like walking backwards instead of going forwards. These were the halls she had summered in as a child. Her father had always told her Marmoreal was a sacred place of goodness and light, not really for them but an allowable indulgence for the White Queen and Princess. Her father had always been very understanding of that. He would gather her in his arms and say 'Racie, let us leave the delicate stuff for the woman folk, these White Queens bleed blue just as we do. You're mother and sister have their gentleness but us Racie, we have our fire."

She had loved it. It had made her feel so noble. So a part of something. Her father had always been a huge influence on her own life; it was he who had been her first Dominion over Living things Teacher. It was he who had placed the Red crown in her control and it was he who had kept her king in line. Then it had all ended. Her parents had gone. Her King had been executed and the people were terrified of her, and Stayne had betrayed her.

She shook her head, looking at her own small hands. Stayne. She feared his name would always send a chill down her spine. Ever since she and Charlie had escaped the Outlands had she been confronted with the horrible fact that Stayne had used her, hated her and had abused her in every possible way. She knew she could hold her head high on one account; she had never let him touch the boy. She had taken a great deal more pain and punishment then even Mirana had known but she had not broken. She had kept the little boy safe and now, almost as it were a reward, the boy stayed by her side. Then again, he might still be afraid, Stayne had never been found. Of course Iracebeth did not think he would dare set foot in Marmoreal, not with Alice and the Gryphon here. Stayne may have tried to become an Underland Lord but he had failed and Alice's position was absolute.

She looked around her room. Mirana had given her her old childhood room, the only room in White castle that had no white at all in it. Of course that had changed once Mirana had taken over and now there were plenty of rooms with colour in the confines of the castle. Still, this room reminded Iracebeth of happier times. Times when she was not jealous of her pretty little sister and her own future looked bright. Sighing to herself she draped the blanket over her legs and motioned for the card guard to roll her towards the balcony.

Walking was something of a challenge and so long after her near death she was still struggling to recover. Of course Charlie was there every step of the way, babying her and talking to her. He seemed eager to split his time between his two comfort zones, his mother and herself. She secretly pitied the poor Hightopp. She had seen the way the boy was with him, indifferent in the best case totally animus in the worst. Charlie didn't need to speak for her to understand what he was feeling. One of the courtiers had been exceptionally kind to her as of late, taking the time to speak to her when she was near, she had her best to avoid him. After being with Stayne she had had enough of lovers, paramours and romantic interests to last a lifetime. She just wanted to be left alone and she knew Charlie felt the same way. Stayne had pretended to be his father and to a boy no one wanted to father that was enormous. Then he had abandoned that commitment almost immediately. Going on to abuse the innocent trust only a young child could bestow on another human being. Stayne had done even more damage. It was almost as if he had set out to destroy everything the child had dreamed father's should be. He had poisoned them both against him and in the end it had lead to his downfall. Sadly she could observe Stayne had won, Charlie avoided the Hatter for the same reason she avoided that courtier, they were just not ready for another Stayne in their lives.

"Racie? May I come in?"

Iracebeth turned to look at her sister standing in the doorway. Mirana looked tentative, almost as if she would be denied but the Red Queen smiled and motioned for her to come near. Immediately the Card Guard slipped away, leaving the sisters with one another.

"I heard some commotion downstairs," Iracebeth started, "Is everything alright?"

Mirana sat down primly on a chair before she seemed to deflate before Iracebeth's eyes. She was worrying her hands together, a trait she had picked up from their mother, and her dark eyes were almost unfocussed as if in deep thought. She turned to Iracebeth and then immediately fell on her knees before her, placing her white head in her elder sister's lap. The Red Queen froze for a moment before giving into a smile and began running her fingers through the long platinum hair. Often times, when they were children, Mirana would do this. When she needed to think she needed to be dramatic and their parents had indulged it. Seeing no harm in indulging it for just a few moments (especially when Mirana had done so much for her in these last few weeks) she let her sister take her time to figure things out. It was part of being the elder; she had always been quicker to make decisions while Mirana agonized over every little thing. If not for Alice Iracebeth was certain she would have won the war, then again she had been paranoid and insane so perhaps life was better this way.

"Racie, I don't know what to do," Mirana stated after some time, "There is so much going on. The Champion is turning into some dark creature, the Lords of Underland are all here at Marmoreal and my old friend the Hatter is being tortured not only by his madness but also by his helplessness. My people are scared sister. What do I do Racie? What do I do?"

Iraebeth sighed. Perhaps Mirana should have taken her study over the dominion of living things a bit more seriously then she had.

"Come now," she crooned gently, "It can't be all that bad."

Mirana's head shot up to look at her, wide eyed and worried, "It is sister, it is! We must prepare a ball for the new arrivals. Lord Time is here."

"Time? Here in Marmoreal?" Iracebeth asked, intrigued, "He was always rather kind to me."

Mirana smiled, "Well, let us hope he shall be just as kind to the Gryphon. I heard he and Alice speaking and he shall stand trial for saving the young child's life. Apparently, he was not supposed to interfere."

Iracebeth clutched the side of her chair angrily, a familiar sensation of nausea rolled through her, "It was his interference that cost Charlie his life in the first place. Alice attacked Stayne because her son's safely was at risk, the Gryphon's part of the agreement was to save the boy. "

"The boy is another issue," Mirana replied softly, "Do you know he can bring his drawings to life? That he simply wishes upon them and there they are?"

Iracebeth sighed and nodded. It had bee rather upsetting and neither she nor Mirana had to speak the words out loud to recognize that his gift was not normal, not even among the Underland folk. The magic to bring something to existence by simply willing it so, that was not something either woman had encountered in their own lifetime. In fact, Iracebeth could think of only one instance in which it had happened. She tried to put it from her mind, she would ask Alice to speak with her privately tomorrow.

"Is that sort of thing common among the Hightopps?" Iracebeth asked.

"Not that I know of." Mirana replied, "Mother never spoke of it and my court records never mention a oracle Hightopp. I had thought they were all trade persons."

Iracbeth scoffed, "Well it seems as if they might not be continuing in that trend."

As the words left her mouth Mirana shot her a dark look and Iracebeth did her best to seem contrite. The death of the Hightopp's was not something she liked to think about, it was one of the many atrocities her own guilt would pay for in the end. The fact she had single handedly destroyed Underland's most prosperous clan was not something to be proud of. She was also well aware that after that no new children had been born. She was more then certain of it, especially considering her own lack of conception. She and her King had wanted to conceive (although she suspected he did so more from a position of fear then of lust) and had not be successful. She had heard rumours her own husband had father bastard children in the past but no amount of investigation had turned anything up. Then again, Stayne had been the royal inquisitor at the time and now she was loathed to believe anything he had told her. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach and barely managed to transmit the message to Mirana before throwing up in a wastebasket.

"Sister, are you ill?" the White Queen asked delicately, her eyes creased with worry.

"I am not sure," Iracebeth said after a few moments to collect herself, "Lately it's been happening at random. I don't think its illness."

"Perhaps you need the doctor." Mirana replied, "I shall send for him in the morning."

"Hardly," Iracebeth replied tiredly, "I need a new life. A new world."

Mirana smiled, taking her sister's hand in her own. They were exactly the same size.

Sorry this is shorter then usual but it's slowly coming along. Hopefully I will post again in the next few day. Editing takes so much time and even then I miss stuff!