I know, I know... chase me with your pitchforks and torches; I haven't updated in FOREVER. I've just been soooo busy with life and I honestly lost my inspiration for this story for what seemed like the longest time. Believe me, the Author/Other Person in me is mad at me for it. :/ I believe I am back, and this could be good news for you. . . How would I know? I'm just this random girl typing out my words of insanity, praying that they all come together to make a good story.
Inspirational song: "Issues (Ruxpin Remix)" - Escape the Fate
I own nothing of Alice In Wonderland (in exception of this 1941 edition of Alice's Adventures In Wonderland that my fantastical boyfriend got me!). Lewis Carrol, Disney, and Tim Burton do.
Hatter really liked to sing.
The entire ride to Marmoreal, all Alice heard was "A Man and His Shoe", "Alligator's Heart", "Popo's Galloon", and many other seemingly random songs. It wasn't that Hatter didn't have a nice voice; in reality, he really did. He had a deep and powerful singing voice. Alice just wanted to have a pleasant, heartfelt conversation with him since they hadn't seen each other for so long. But because Hatter seemed so happy and content at that moment, Alice felt that she should let him do as he wished.
Hatter was just getting into "Trees Are-A Miss'n" when the Bandersnatch broke through the outskirts of a purple forest they had been in for several hours (or so Alice guessed, for one cannot really know Time). Alice gasped at the beauty of the palace and Hatter even stopped singing (much to Alice's shock). No matter how many times Alice would visit Marmoreal, she would never get used to the sight of its magnificence.
The enormous, white walls of Marmoreal shone with radiance in the nearly setting sun. Towers stood as high as gods and the door itself had to be at least fifty feet high. White guards, walking and living chess pieces, guarded the front arch. Unlike most arches and protective structures, the White Castle's seemed to exist for decor, and not for keeping enemies out. Flowers and pink trees bordered the pathway to the entrance and Alice knew that it only had to be a few minutes until they arrived at the door.
Alice shifted her weight and turned to the colorful man behind her. "Hatter, how has the White Queen been?"
He blinked and looked at her, looking overfilled with joy. "Hmm? Oh. Queen Mirana has been wonderful, as far as I know. I haven't seen her since. . . " Hatter twitched and looked as if he was watching a scene that had played hundreds of times in his head already. His eyes darkened and his appearance seemed to droop a tad. "Since. . . " He struggled with words before dropping his head. He rolled back and forth with the Bandersnatch's movements. After a bit of silence, Alice slowly put a comforting hand on Hatter's hand. He raised his head and then looked down at their joined hands for a while. He put his other on top of her own. Hatter met her eyes. "Since you had slain the dreaded Jabberwocky." He smiled tentatively as his eyes slowly regained their vibrant, green color. "No, there haven't been any problems in Underland that are big enough to stress the White Queen. In fact, I can't think of any problems at all!" He grinned. "And now that you're back, all of Underland will simply be celebratory!"
Alice laughed contently and only laughed harder when the Bandersnatch took a sudden leap into the air (over a fallen Burnelbee tree) and she had nearly fallen off of the beast. Hatter caught her in time, but chuckled loudly along with her.
It was when they reached the doorway when they composed themselves. They were entering a castle, after all. Alice was Underland's Champion and she had to act like it. She bit her lip to keep from giggling and had to shush Hatter as the Bandersnatch slowed at the main door. They didn't have to wait long for it to open. With hardly a creak, the great doors opened and two white guards saluted the pair of heroes. The Bandersnatch slowly and (somehow) gracefully entered the throne room, which was also the Meeting Hall (according to Hatter). The Bandersnatch snorted contently and moved to the side in order to lean down for his passengers to slide off. Hatter jumped off the beast first and landed on the glossy, polished floor with surprising agility considering the time they had spent in the same position. He tried to assist Alice off the Bandersnatch, but Alice insisted that she could very well do it herself. That's very kind of you, Hatter, but after all I've done, I believe I can hop off of Bandy on my own. . .
"Alice! Hatter!"
The companions turned in search for the owner of the angelic voice as a guard came and lead the Bandersnatch away. Then they finally saw the White Queen herself, surrounded by only two members of the court, a man and a woman with shining white hair. Behind her sat the Queen's throne and the marble columns bordering the pathway to it. Mirana had this motherly aura about her that made you think that everything would always be okay. At the same time, you knew that this spectacular woman could never just be a mother. She radiated too much brilliance and importance. Alice and Hatter grinned and ran over to her.
"Queen Mirana." Alice smiled sweetly and politely at her superior as she stood before her. She relatively looked the same. The same white hair and dark eyebrows, the same dark red lips, the same arm-raised posture, the same wise eyes. . . The only change? She looked untroubled and extremely joyful.
The Queen sighed and smiled, as well. She leaned forward and hugged Alice tightly. "We're all so glad to have our Champion back at home, Alice," she whispered. She patted her back and stepped back. She clapped once and then noticed Hatter behind Alice. Her eyes lit up. "Why, if it isn't my favorite Hatter! Dear Tarrant, where have you been?"
Hatter kept his smile in place. "Oh, here and there. Not everywhere. But surely, somewhere."
The White Queen smiled. "Wonderful." She looked down and caught sight of their appearances. Her eyes widened considerably, but she kept her arms in place. "Oh , we have to get you two changed, don't we?" She giggled shyly.
Huh? Oh. Alice looked down and blushed. Her blue dress was in tatters and there were stains everywhere. Such a shame, Hatter's dress was so exquisite. Surely, he had made more. There were even a few scratches on her arms. Apparently, riding on Bandy wasn't as safe as she had thought. She looked over at Hatter. He wasn't as bad, but there were definitely several rips in his suit. She noticed him looking at her in the most peculiar way. Even after she made it clear she saw him looking, his gaze never drifted from her.
The White Queen raised one finger as if to say, You wait just one moment, and turned to the White Guards behind her. They couldn't hear what she was saying.
Alice took this time to turn to Hatter and whisper, "Why are you looking at me so strangely?"
He blinked at her. "Er, what? Yes, oh, well. . ." He started tying and untying his bow. "I just thought. . . Aren't you hungry? I'd imagine that the last time you ate was far too long ago!" He smiled an obscuring smile.
"Yes. . . I suppose I am," she stated, feeling confused.
Queen Mirana turned around and must've overheard their short exchange. "Hungry?" She looked at the pair and saw her and Hatter's nods. "Supper is just about to start; you dropped in with spectacular timing." Oh, how her Queen liked to smile. "Everyone will be seated at the Long Table once my guards announce my entry. I will then personally announce you. Both of you. As our heroes of Underland. First, you two might want to change." She pointed down a hall behind her. "Alice, your rooms are on the left, the third door down. Hatter, your rooms are on the right, you are the sixth door down. Your clothes are already laid out for you."
They both thanked her for being so welcome to them on such a short-notice arrival.
"Oh, it's my pleasure! Having you both back to me at the same time. . . Really, it's a gift to me. Now, go change. We wouldn't want your uijhra roast to get cold." She smiled and gestured down the hall with one arm.
Alice had no idea what an uijhra was, but she agreed.
She opened up the door to her rooms as Hatter passed her to get to his own (both were fairly famished) and had to laugh. Blue and white. They knew her taste. The furniture and walls were all white, but the carpeting was a soft blue. The curtains were translucent with a blue trimming at the ends. An elegant mirror stood in the corner of the room and the far wall was all glass. There were two other doors in this room off to her right. Probably the lavatory and sitting room. She shut her door and went to the downy bed. A simple, but elegant white dress with a wide neckline and a beaded torso was laid upon it. "Beautiful," she murmured. Alice took off her old dress from the Otherworld and saw herself in the mirror from the corner of her eye. What she saw surprised her.
She looked like a happy woman.
Sure, there were a plenty of scratches and scrapes along her arms, but other than that, Alice stood tall and straight. There was more color to her face, pale pink blushes, due to the excitement of her day. There was a spark in her eyes that had long since been forgotten. The content woman in the mirror hadn't been seen by anyone in a long while, but in Underland, she looked completely at ease. As if she belonged where she was. "And I do. . ."
Coming out of a daze, Alice shook her head. She put on the white dress (without the given corset or stockings, of course) and set off for the Dining Area. No need to keep everyone waiting.
She opened the door and nearly walked straight into the Hatter. His fist was in the air, as if he was just about to knock. Alice couldn't help gasping at his appearance. It was odd, not seeing him in a variety of colors. He was in a simple white suit with a green hem along the sides. He had his same brown boots on and, of course, his prized Wellington top hat. With him all tidied up, Alice realized that Hatter was actually. . . rather fine-looking.
"Eh, I was just. . . " Hatter dropped his arm. "Ready?"
"Mhmm." She closed her door behind her and walked alongside Hatter to the Meeting Hall.
After a second's silence, Hatter cleared his throat and turned to her. "Alice, you look simply. . . stunning." She could've sworn he was holding his breath.
And yet, how could she not blush? "Thank you, Hatter." Be brave, Alice. You've talked to men before! "You look incredibly handsome yourself, you know."
Hatter blinked. "Thank you. . . "
They arrived at the Meeting Hall and went over to the White Queen, who was waitnig for them at the Dining Area's doors. She was standing alone and didn't seem them coming. For the first time ever, Alice saw the Queen in a relaxed position! Arms down, leaning back, eyes closed, a slight smile on her face. . . Then she heard their footsteps and her arms immediately shot up. Mirana's back straightened and she caught sight of her heroes. "Ah, there we are. All nice and tidy." She smiled mischievously. "Ready for the praise that belongs to an Underlandian hero?"
Hatter waved the idea away. "Your Majesty, all the honor belongs to our Alice. It's she who has come back home. It's she who saved us all. I'll just sit along with everyone else, and come in as everyone else."
"Nonsense, Tarrant! You took just as much part in getting my reign back as Alice."
Alice looked at the Queen. "If not, more. He was the leader of the Resistance, correct?" Mirana nodded enthusiasticly. Without a doubt, Hatter was far too significant for her to let him insult or criticize himself. Alice turned to Hatter again. "I couldn't have gotten anywhere or achieved anything if it weren't for your help, anyhow. I owe you a thousand lives."
Hatter blushed intensely and his eyes got soft. "Nae, you're repayin' mea just by bein' here."
She just stared at him dazedly for a while then, and him her, when the White Queen suddenly cleared her throat and looked back and forth knowingly at the two. "Well, I believe it is time to head in." After a reassuring smile towards her friends, she nodded at her guards who each opened a side of the large, white doors leading into the Dining Area on their immediate left.
The White Queen wasn't bluffing when she said the Long Table. It was practically the length of the room, and room was quite large. All of her courtiers stood from their seats the moment the doors were swung open. A horn was blown no more than three times at first chance. Predictably, the whole room and all its furniture was white. The walls' details were chess-themed and pearly. Moonlight shown in through the left wall, which was all glass. Chandeliers set a warm glow about the room. The stars shone brightly, yet all eyes were on the Queen as she strode in.
Instead of sitting down at the large seat at the head of the table, Mirana cleared her throat respectively. "Please, sit."
They sat.
"I have an announcement to make, and I am very glad to be the one presenting it." She grinned as her courtiers leaned in out of curiosity. "I am sure you all remember the little event that occurred on Frabjous Day?" She raised one brow and received some giggles and nods. "Many heroes fought and helped that day, but two most recognizable have come back to us today. We are ever so thankful for them to back in Marmoreal's arms once again. My friends, I present to you the fearless and noble, Tarrant Hightopp!"
Alice looked beside her and caught Hatter's eyes. "Get in there," she whispered with a smile.
He grinned and tipped his hat towards her. "Gettin' in." He looked forward and marched in proudly towards the group of foremost people clapping for him, and even giving him standing ovations. A guard must have pulled up a chair for him at some time, because there was now an empty seat waiting for him at the Queen's right. Alice noted the empty seat for her to Mirana's left. Hatter bowed and saluted Mirana like a true soldier before heading for his seat. He nodded and smiled at the courtiers after finally sitting down. Alice could've sworn she saw him sigh with relief when he thought no one was watching.
The White Queen called for attention again. "No one in Underland shall ever forget our land's savior, our land's Champion. Without her, where would we all be now? She risked her life for ones she could hardly remember knowing. Her act of bravery was bold, daring, and gallant. No one could ever have accomplished the task given to her. We are forever grateful for Underland's Champion, Alice Kingsleigh!"
Alice's ears almost ached from the clamor that came out of that room! She turned the corner and passed through the Dinging Area's doorway. Every single courtier was standing for her. She saw Hatter and smiled. His grin was as wide as a Cheshire Cat's. The Queen turned around to face her and was laughing, probably at the bemused expression she knew was on her face. She blushed, but kept moving. She bent a bit towards Mirana for respective reasons and the Queen smiled and nodded at her in response. Alice turned then to the elated people of the court and smiled. She quickly walked over to her chair in front of the Hatter and sat. When she scooted in towards the table, the rest of the room sat, as well. The Queen sat after declaring: "Let our feast begin!"
TA DAAA! That would be Chapter Seven, for ya. But on a serious note, I do apologize for not writing for so long. It was incredibly irresponsible of me and I swear I won't do it again! :'(
SoooOOOoooOOOooo did you like this chapter? Love it? Hate it? Want to get a copy of it on paper only so you can rip it up? I won't ever know unless you give me a Review! They make the Author/Other Person in me oh-so-happy!
Which reminds me! I'm giv'n you guys a lil' job. :) My Author/Other Person in me needs a name! Correct? Just imagine walking into school/work one day and not having a name! :O Horrible! So, ONE OF YOU, MY FABULOUS BUT FEW READERS shall be the one to name a part of my brain! What. An. Honor.
I'm totally not manic right now.
See what happens when you guys let me get into my insane-babble-of-text?
