Chapter 7! I'm tweaking the first chapter and trying to fix my mistakes sorry…
At some point on her journey, Alice must have dozed off because suddenly she heard a loud creak, the clang of metal and a loud howl. She sat up and clutched onto Bayard's collar tighter as he ducked through the gates of the Marmoreal and into the castle. The entire castle was still dressed in white and silver that made Alice smile as it passed behind her in blurs.
Nicholas would have loved this place. Alice thought absentmindedly then remembered. Nicholas! I left him in the woods! He's probably still there right now, looking for me! She laid her forehead onto the collar and sighed sadly. Just the thought of Nicholas searching through the woods, calling her name and lost, made tears prick at the ends of her eyes. Stop it. She commanded, wiping the tears with the back of her wrist. Tears won't help him, and he knows how to get back home. He'll just think you got lost or that you're back there.
But as Alice and Bayard walked through the castle, thoughts of Nicholas drowned into her mind, until they entered the familiar thrown room of Queen Mirana. Alice stood, leaning onto Bayard's head to look at her, as always she looked proper hands up as she stood, her dark lips into a smile and her eyes soft and kind. She was the perfect queen for Underland, and Alice was honored to have fought for her.
"Bayard." Her melodic voice breathed as she crossed the room. "What are you doing here so fast? I thought you were going for a walk."
"I was." Bayard panted. "But I found someone who had to see you." He bowed his head and Alice smiled, waving at the queen with eagerness.
"Alice." She breathed again and smiled wider. "Our champion." She said in a louder voice. "Has returned." She laid a hand for Alice to walk onto so she could be held up. "We've all missed you dearly."
"I've missed you too." Alice whispered feeling tears roll down her cheeks. "Do you think you have any upelkuchen? I want to be able to hug you and everyone else when I see them."
The queen smiled and nodded, and stood making sure Alice was safe in her hand. "Of course, I'll bring you to one of your rooms and I'll have someone bring it to you at once." She turned to one of the ladies who were waiting next to her and nodded once, while the girl took off quickly.
As the Queen took Alice through the halls of the castle, she was very curious to hear of what Alice had been doing in the above lands. Alice told Mirana all about the things that she had done and about the fun she had, had, but how she missed Underland terribly. No matter where Alice would go, Underland would always be her home.
The queen stopped and turned to a pale door in front of her, with a silver handle, looking up and down the hallway as if someone else was there. "This is one of your rooms." The queen told the tiny girl in her hand as she opened the door. "Penelope has left you some upelkuchen, on your bed. She smiled and placed Alice, delicately onto the bed. "I hope you find your things to your liking, there are some dresses for you in your closet too. She stood and went to leave, her hands up and elbows bent as always. "See you soon." She disappeared behind the door silently and left Alice on her bed. Finding the upelkuchen on her pillow, she pulled off a small piece and ate it, returning to her regular size, but naked.
First she ran to the door and locked it, incase someone tried to open it and catch her nude, then turned to the closet that was said to have been filled with dresses for her. As she pulled open the door she gasped at the hundreds of dresses hung up, in front of her. All of them, different colors, patterns, fabrics, lengths, fought for their spots in the closet. With a smile, Alice let her hand stroke against the dresses in a line, slowly.
Where did they come from? Alice thought as she pulled out a blue one with a skirt that draped to her ankles and had faint beads that made the bodice sparkle. She didn't even have to ask, she knew. The Hatter must have known she had been returning so he made them for her, it was amazing to see how much work he put into each one, making it different and unique from the rest.
Quickly Alice dressed and picked a pair of blue flats from the bottom shelf of the closet. She turned to look at herself in the three way mirror. The girl staring back had a steady gaze, wise yet still had a faint trace of curiousness. Her blonde hair tumbled down her back in golden tangles and made her skin glow.
She's beautiful Alice thought. I'm beautiful.
She smiled again and went to unlock the door when a sudden knock made her jump backward. She unlocked it quickly and pulled it open, hoping to see a man with stunning green eyes that she missed so much, but instead saw no one. Closing the door behind her she looked up and down the hallway and rolled her eyes, leaning her back against the wood.
"So." A voice from above her mused. "Our champion has returned to Underland."
Alice smiled wider as a gray tabby cat appeared in front of her, with huge eyes that glowed and an even wider smile.
"Chessur!" Alice cried throwing her hands around the cat and burying her face into he's neck.
"So you remember me?" The cat asked as Alice pulled back.
Alice nodded. "I remember everything, Chess. I've missed you so much."
The Cheshire cat smiled, "I'm glad." He purred. "And I'm quite eager to hear of all the things you've been doing." He pointed up. "Up there."
Alice smiled wider. "I'm going to tell everyone when they get here." She replied as she started walking down the hall. "What have you been up too while I've been gone?"
Chessur disappeared and reappeared in front of her, "You know this and that. Attending rather boring tea parties sometimes, and disappearing to hear about what you've been doing."
"You've been eavesdropping?" Alice mused, unsurprised, trying to ignore his comment about the boring tea parties. "What have you heard?"
"That you've made a new friend." Chessur winked as he floated by Alice. "You've told him about Underland too."
Alice blushed slightly and looked away. "Yes. Is that not allowed?"
The cat shrugged. "No, I don't think so, but the queen thought you would bring him here."
Alice sighed and whispered. "I was."
Chessur's eyes widened. "Then where is he?"
"I fell." Alice whispered. "And I left him."
The cat's face fell and he put a hand on Alice's shoulder. "He'll be fine." He told her certainly. "At least he's up there, if he was down here…" Chessur's voice trailed off but Alice knew what he was saying. If he was down here then he could have been seriously hurt, or even eaten, but he was safe in the Above land, far away.
Even though that Alice hadn't known him for long, Nicholas was one of her dearest friends, like the ones she had in Underland. He had helped her while she was in trouble with her mother and he had believed her about Underland, for that she would always be grateful. Always.
Alice paused at a door that was ajar and pushed it open slightly, behind it was Mirana, looking out of a telescope down to Underland. Alice pushed the door open wider and slipped through the crack to talk to the queen while Chessur followed, above her. Alice paused next to the queen, leaning onto her arms and looking out over all of Underland. It was breathtaking how beautiful it was and how big it was, Alice could stay here forever and she could never discover all the amazing things shed seen. The queen smiled and pulled away from her telescope gesturing it to Alice.
"Take a look." She suggested taking a step back; reminding Alice of the first time she had been here, with Mirana and the telescope. Her memory continued as she looked through the telescope and saw a very familiar man with wild orange hair and a large unmistakable hat. On top of it was a small mouse, looking down at the Hatter and next to him was a crazy brown rabbit, which was jumping quickly and spastically. In front of them where the tweedles who were fighting of wild branches with there sticks. Then something blue blocked her view and made Alice pull back to see what it was. Standing on the end of the telescope was a blue butterfly with a small hookah in hand.
"Absolum." Alice recognized.
"I'm Absolum, stupid girl." The butterfly said in the same deep voice the caterpillar owned.
"I know." Alice replied raising her hand for him to walk on. "I'm Alice."
"You still are." He agreed blowing a small puff of smoke from his mouth. "You came alone, didn't you?"
Alice nodded. "Yes, I did." She looked out against the sky, the blue color draining from it and leaving a swirl of pink and orange by the setting sun. "I came alone."
. . .
"She did come back." The high voice whined unhappily. "Sooner then we thought too."
"Sooner is better." The masculine voice snapped. "Now we won't have to wait."
She gasped. "You know what we're doing?"
"Of course." He answered automatically. "I always do."
Chapter 7 over! Hope you liked! She's back! Review? Please!
