Chapter Seven: Tea Rings.
Tarrant hummed in the back of his throat as he picked up the pieces of broken china and stale remains of various cookies, muffins and scones. He carefully picked up the remaining cups and saucers that were still intact, along with a few teapots and set them in the chairs around the table before picking up the tablecloth and flicking the crumbs off it.
He looked at the cloth, it was old and worn, in some spots there was no cloth only a hole; probably from having Mally or himself run over the fabric, as well as tea stained. It was a beloved cloth, but for tonight it would not do, tonight was the last tea ceremony with Alice and he wanted things to be just right, perfect really. And it all started with the table.
Draping the cloth over his arm, Tarrant studied the table for a moment and then began to pick up the bits of china from the chairs. The face of the table was fine, a little scratched in places, but nothing a bit of soap and water wouldn't take care of. After putting the dishes in the sink to soak for a bit, Tarrant pulled off his coat and hat and began to scrub the table, making sure to get the legs, since those were really the worst part it, mainly due to dirt. He was drying off the table when Mally coughed to get his attention.
"Hello Mally."
"Tarrant. Would you like me to begin the tea? Red and white roses with a splash of water lily, right?"
"Yes, Mally, but I'll be making the tea this time. It's the last ceremony, it needs to be perfect, and I need you to get something for me. Take Thackery with you, he can carry it."
Mally nodded and yelled for the March Hare, who answered with a a yell of "Butter knife!" and came running from around the house.
"Listen carefully, I need you to go to the end of Tuldgey Wood and look for the Wishing Tree. Thackery knows what it looks like. When you find it, dig in its roots and you should find a green wooden box wrapped in cloth, bring it back here. And be quick, what's inside is important to tonight."
The two nodded and took off for the woods, Thackery tucking Mally into his coat pocket. "Can't be late! Can't be late!" he muttered, mostly to himself. Tarrant looked at the table again, satisfied that it looked it's best, despite it's age, and went inside to retrieve a new cloth and wash the remaining intact china.
Soon the table was set with a tablecloth made of white lace on a pale blue transparent background. Tarrant had made it for tonight and no matter what the outcome was, he was very proud of it, and considered it some of his finest work. If one looked closely, they would be able to see that some of the lace work was in the shape of tea cups and of keys.
The dishes from before were set out, all of it gleaming. Tarrant had also baked a batch of mini cupcakes, two actually, a batch of pumpkin spice and one of strawberry. The serving tray sat on the table, the aroma of cinnamon, pumpkin and strawberry wafting lazily through the air, trying it's best to entice Tarrant into a nibble or two. Tarrant swatted away the scent with a gentle hand and a grin. "Stop that. You are meant for Alice." He was gently pulling invisible creases out of the tablecloth when Mally and Thackery came back. In Thackery's paws was a cloth covered bundle. "Found it just where you said." he said quietly, handing it over to the Hatter.
"Thank you, dear friend." Tarrant replied, setting the box on the table, gently unwinding the dirt strained cloth.
It looked to have been white at one point, but Tarrant wasn't quite sure of that, it didn't matter anyhow, it was just needed to protect the box. The box itself was of medium size and painted a pale green with silver handles and latch. On the lid was the Hightopp family crest, that of two crossed pairs of scissors and a card with the symbol 10/6 in the background, inlaid in silver. The paint had a bit of dirt on it and the silver was a tad tarnished, but the latch came undone under Tarrant's hand with little fuss. The inside was deep and lined with white velvet. Lying on it were several wrapped bundles in pale pink silk, which Tarrant gently removed, setting each bundle on the table.
"Can we see what's in the box?" Mally asked, Thackery nodding in agreement. She knew a little bit of the ceremony, but Tarrant hadn't been too clear on the details, saying that most of it was a Hightopp family secret, only passed down when one had found their hopeful intended.
Tarrant nodded, quietly unwrapping the silk from what was in the box. Soon he had a pile of fabric next to the box and on the table, a matching pair of cups and saucers, spoons and a teapot. All were made of a light green colored jade and the pattern carved into the pot and cups was that of a top hat with a smaller version of the 10/6 emblem on one side.
"It's beautiful." Mally whispered.
"They're meant for luck." Thackery replied looking at the tea set. The last time he had seen it was when one of Tarrant's brothers had used it several years ago. The set had worked its magic then and surely would now.
Tarrant nodded. "That they are, burying them under the Wishing Tree helps, but the stone has a magic all it's own. I need to make the tea and wash these up." he continued, putting the pieces and fabric back into the box. "Thank you again, both of you."
The mouse and hare nodded their thanks, asking if they were still needed. Tarrant shook his head, tonight was for him and Alice and he would take care of things. And with that Tarrant went back into the house and began preparing the tea.
While the spot they were using for The Endless Tea party was Thackery's home, he wisely stayed upstairs and left Tarrant to the kitchen, after saying that he'd clean up so Tarrant didn't have to worry about it. Tarrant only half heard him, but nodded his thanks again and while waiting for water to boil, washed and dried the tea set. The kettle's whistle went off, causing Tarrant to jump just a bit. "Need to relax." he said aloud, picking up the kettle and pouring the water into the pot, if it was noticeable that his hands shook just a little, there was no one to say a word about it. He poured the remains into a separate cup before reaching over to a nearby cub board and removing two small satchels. One he dropped into the teapot, wrapping it's string around the lid's knob and let steep. The other was just plain Chamomile and he dunked it into the cup. Tarrant slowly drank the cup and nibbled a few cookies when his stomach growled in protest. Alice would be here soon, he needed to finish setting up.
Alice had fallen into a fitful sleep, fingers twitching every once in a while in sleep, but soon she was relaxed and breathing deeply. When she opened her eyes, the moon shone heavy from the sky and filtered through the twisted branches of the surrounding trees as she walked toward Thrackery's home. It was clear out and Alice could see thousands of stars in the sky, each one like a diamond, each lending it's light to show her the path.
Even it was pitch black Alice would have known where to step, her feet knew just where to place themselves and she trusted them, letting them lead. Alice soon cleared the trees, eyes drawn to the table. What she saw there took her breath away. The table was laid out with a new cloth and tea set, Alice gently picked up the cup that was sitting before her chair and ran her hands over the pale green stone, turning the cup to catch the moonlight at different angles. Alice loved the way the light seemed to make the entire set glow and the carvings stand out. She smiled at the hat and putting the cup back onto it's saucer, saw that the tablecloth had little teacups and keys on it. She ran an appreciative hand over the fabric and giggled softly. The center piece was of peach-ish orange colored roses with red edges that had small streaks of red running onto the petals, in a small glass vase. She was leaning over to sniff them, when she heard a polite cough behind her.
"Do you like it? The set up I mean, not just the flowers."
Alice turned, seeing Tarrant behind her and gasped. "I- yes Tarrant, it's all beautiful."
"Thank you." Tarrant offered her his hand and pulled out her chair for her.
Alice sat down, accepting the cup of tea that Tarrant poured for her. "Thank you. The tablecloth is new, did you make it?"
Tarrant nodded, pouring his own cup. "Cupcake?"
Alice nodded, taking a sip of tea and a pumpkin cupcake. "Roses? I didn't know you could make tea out of roses." She took another sip, sensing another flavor, an undercurrent to the taste of roses. "Water lily?" she mused out loud.
"The petals are edible as well." Tarrant replied, watching her face as she pondered what was in the tea. He sipped his cup and nodded when she got it right. "Red and white roses and water lilies. The petals of the rose also make an excellent cake and the lilies are good for soaking in baths."
"What do they mean?" Alice asked, nibbling her cupcake.
"Water lilies are for pure heart, white roses mean you're heavenly, and red roses... Red roses mean I love you." Tarrant replied softly.
Alice blushed and smiled at that. "I like that. What's going to happen next?" She nibbled on her cupcake.
"You make your decision, and we either get married or we don't. Whatever you decide, there won't be anymore holes in the button."
"Does that mean I won't be able to come back here if I say no?"
"I don't know, the button has never been used with an outsider before. But in cases before hand, the two have parted ways, most have remained friendly." Tarrant set his cup down. "I'll respect whatever you wish Alice, but I would like being able to call you my wife, very much. I know that this was all very sudden, I apologize for that."
"Don't. You have nothing to apologize for, I'm honored that you asked. The last man to ask for my hand, did so because our families thought it would be a proper match, he didn't actually care for me."
"Other... man?"
"The son of a family that my family knows. His parents and mine, before my father died, were friends. It's an arrangement that was set up before I was born, I was at the engagement party when I fell through the rabbit hole and found my way back here."
"You can't choose you're own husband? Why not?"
"It's just the way it is where I'm from. I said no, my mother isn't happy with my decision. Neither is Hamish or his mother. There just something about him that makes my skin crawl, I couldn't see myself married to him and didn't want to be."
"What about me?"
"I think I could see us being married. Are you sure you want to?"
"Yes, I do."
Alice swallowed the last of the cupcake, washing the remains down with tea. "Then the answer's yes."
Tarrant's eyes widened, his eye makeup flushing darker in surprise. He had been wanting this answer, been wishing it with all his heart, but to actually hear Alice say yes was another beast entirely. He stayed silent for but a moment before he leapt to his feet, grabbing Alice's hands and whirling her around the table in a joyous dance. Alice laughed as they spun around, kicking up swirls of leaves, and scattering tendrils of the morning fog that was beginning to seep across Underland and twist around their feet. Tarrant pulled Alice close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "If we're going to be doing this, I should ask properly."
"What's the proper way for a person of Underland to ask for someone else's hand in marriage?"
"Normally, a person of Underland asks the other person they wish to marry, if they'll have them. That how most of the Hightopp clan has done things. For some there has been the ceremony and then the question. May I see the button for a moment Alice?"
Alice took off the necklace and handed it to Tarrant, who unstrung the button from the chain, refastening it around her neck. He wrapped the button in a bit of blue and green ribbon and pressed his hands together. After a quick pulse of light, Tarrant opened his hands. The ribbon was gone and in the button's place was a silver ring. The band was plain but sparkled in the available light and the four small stones in a line on top, alternating pale blue and bright green, winked at Alice. Tarrant held the ring in one hand, Alice's hand in another. "Miss Alice, " he paused, realization coming to his eyes. "I'm sorry Alice, but in all the time I've known you, I've never asked for your surname. How foolish of me, what is your surname?"
Alice chuckled, he was right, he had never asked and she had forgotten to give it. "It's Kingsleigh."
"Well then, Miss Alice Kingsleigh, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Alice nodded happily and Tarrant slid the ring onto her right finger. At her questioning look her explained that in Underland, engagement or wedding rings were worn on the right hand. "They're worn on the left hand back home. But I like how it looks on the right better."
"So do I."
The two kissed again and as the kiss ended, Alice found herself lying in bed.