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"There's something wrong!" Mally said, as she began pacing the floor again.
Mirana knelt down to her. "I have the utmost confidence in Tarrant and Chess' ability to get Alice back."
"They would have been here by now if they had been able to stop her," Mally argued. "You know how Tarrant is. If Alice finds herself in trouble-and no doubt she will-then it's as sure and certain as cold tea that he's gonna make up his fool mind to help her!"
Mirana frowned as she acknowledged the wisdom of the mouse's words. "Nivens said that he relayed my request for them to return if they were unable to find Alice before she entered Otherland."
Mally snorted. "Do ya really think Tarrant is gonna leave Alice behind there to ask for help? That smitten lump is gonna do whatever it takes to keep her safe."
Mirana's hands faltered slightly. Tarrant had always had a weak spot with Alice. She held her hand out for Mally to stand on. She raised her to the counter where she was working on her latest concoction. "I found my father's recipe for purification. If Iracebeth is willing to use it, I am going to need someone to deliver it to Otherland."
Mally's eyes gleamed. "I'd be willin' to do it!"
"It is a dangerous place," Mirana felt the need to remind her. "If what you fear is true, then that dreadful land has already claimed three of my most treasured subjects."
"I ain't scared!" she huffed. "You need someone who isn't so blinded by adoration or self-preservation to convince that Bluddy Begh Hid to use what you're cookin' up!"
Mirana turned back to the potion that was brewing, giving it a stir. "The only way to counter the dark magic of the dark prince is to use this purifying agent in the River of Life, but only the monarch has access to the mouth of the river." She added crystal tears to the mix, giving it a stir before carefully pouring the liquid in a clear decanter. "Iracebeth may not feel the need to use this," Mirana said, holding up the vial.
"Then I'll convince her otherwise," Mally said, whipping out her hatpin.
"Let's hope that you can find a less violent way of making Iracebeth listen to reason," Mirana replied softly.
With a scowl, Mally tucked away her pin and took the vial Mirana held out. "Is this going to be enough?" Mally asked, eying the small container suspiciously.
"It's amazing what a little bit of goodness can do," Mirana answered.
Mally seemed pleased with this answer and slid the vial in her belt strap. "I'll be back with the boys and Alice soon," she promised before scurrying down the counter.
"Fairfarren, Mally," whispered Mirana as the mouse ran out of the room.
o-=o-=o-=o-=o-=o-=
As the Bandersnatch approached the castle, Alice was struck by how pristine and full of light it was. The darkness of the land that surrounded it made Salazen Grum's brightness stand out even more. The moat that surrounded the castle was not filled with decapitated heads, as the Red Queen's castle had been in Underland, but croaking toads, which were watching her arrival with great interest.
She slid off the Bandersnatch's back and walked to the gate.
A lone toad, armed with a butter knife, stood guard at the gate. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"I'm Alice."
"Alice from Underland?" he croaked.
It was strange for her to be referred to as such a title, but it was certainly seemed appropriate.
"Yes."
The toad in front of her leapt for joy. "Come! The Queen has been eagerly waiting for you!" He reached up and grabbed the hem of her dress, pulling her forward.
"Where are the rest of the guards?" Alice asked they walked through the near-empty corridors of the castle.
"Her Majesty ordered that all card soldiers are to remain with her in the throne room until the threat of the rebellion is over," he explained.
He walked her to a large, ornate door. "She has been waiting for you."
So Hightopp was telling the truth, she thought, Iracebeth had sent her McTwisp to London to lure her down the rabbit hole. Alice thought of the rabbit meat at the tea table in the clearing and shivers with horror.
As she was about to push open the door, the toad spoke. "You will help us, won't you, Alice? The world is a dangerous place with Hightopp in it."
She paused. Would she be willing to place her life in danger to save another world again? She did feel an inexplicable tug to protect the land. "I'll do what I can," she answered.
She pushed open the door and allowed the toad to jump ahead. "Your Highness, Alice has arrived."
At this statement, Alice found herself at the center of attention. Everyone, card soldiers and creatures alike, turned to face her. There, seated on her throne was Iracebeth. Alice was taken aback by the stark contrast between the pristine condition of the castle and the frazzled, desperate appearance of the Red Queen.
Iracebeth stood up from her throne and ran across the room, to stand in front of Alice. She raised a hand to her face, patting her cheek softly.
Alice stiffened momentarily before Iracebeth pulled back.
"Forgive my forwardness, Alice, you see, it has been so long since I've any reason to have hope, but now seeing you here…" she paused and smiled. She looked behind Alice, a frown creeping on her face. "Where is Nivens?"
Alice swallowed. "He found me and led me down the hole to…here," she started, realizing she wasn't quite certain where "here" was. "But, it would seem that the Resistance found him and I have reason to believe that," she hesitated slightly, "Mally…that is she…"
Iracebeth took a step back, appalled. "Are you telling me that ravenous rat ate my courier?"
"I'm afraid so," Alice said, her voice full of remorse.
A large tear slid down Iracebeth's face. "It is worse than I have feared. Hightopp and the rebels have gone mad with power!"
Suddenly Checkers appeared in the room. "And I have even more bad news, I'm afraid."
Iracebeth's eyes fluttered shut. "What is it?"
"After Alice's escape, Hightopp became quite enraged. Now that Alice knows the location of the Rebellion's stronghold, he insisted that they move to Marmoreal," Checkers replied. "When the remnants of the white army attempted to hold its ground…well, let's just say that Hightopp has more blood on his hands now than he had at teatime today."
He disappeared briefly and reappeared next to Iracebeth. "We must start to prepare. Hightopp no doubt knows the Champion is here," Checkers replied. "He will come after her."
"He's right, your Highness," a sloth who was standing close to the throne added. "We don't stand a chance against him now that Marmoreal has fallen."
"Hightopp hasn't won yet. We just need a Champion," Iracebeth proclaimed.
Suddenly, Alice found all eyes on her. "What about Stayne?"
Checkers frowned as Iracebeth began silently weeping. "A while back, he was captured by Hightopp and tortured for information about Salazen Grum," Checkers explained, sorrow creeping into his voice. "They did things to him that were unimaginable, but he never revealed anything to them."
"How do you know?" Alice wondered.
"Because…I was there too. I tried to help him to escape but Hightopp he administered a True Colors potion to him, which rendered my ability to make others invisible useless," Checkers said, ashamed.
Iracebeth dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "You acted admirably, Checkers," she assured him. "But, now that does leave me with the unbearable situation of not having someone to protect me." She batted her eyelashes. "But you could be that person Alice…Would you be my Champion?"
"But I am already Mirana's, I mean, the other Mirana's Champion," Alice replied.
"Which is precisely why you are perfect to assume the role," Checkers replied. "You have already proven yourself worthy of the title by slaying the Jabberwocky in Underland."
"But…"
"Please, Alice," pleaded Iracebeth, looking forlornly at her. "I would not ask you to risk your life if the situation did not demand it."
Alice couldn't deny there was a strong pull to acquiesce to the Red Queen's request, but would she really be willing risk her life for Iracebeth? The image of Tarrant's-no! Hightopp's-wicked smile as he explained his reasons for murdering Mirana flooded Alice's mind. She looked at Iracebeth's allies - the few loyal servants that had survived Hightopp's revolution - and knew she had to become her Champion. It would be the only thing that could save Otherland from the blood lust of its revolutionaries.
She looked around at the creatures who gazed at her with how in their sorrow-worn-sloths, toads, rabbits and hedgehogs. They seemed quite pitiful when compared to Hightopp's army of griffons, lions and bears, she admitted. But, she would protect them as well as she could.
"What would you have me do, your Majesty?"
